“Mom doing okay this morning?” Wyatt asked, taking my attention away from who he saw me eyeing, waving a hi quickly to our mother.
“She seems to be. She is glad her horses are already moved… I’ve caught her stopping to think of things or have a wave of memories hit her.”
“This will be a good thing, getting her out of here, starting fresh,” Wyatt said.
“Yes, it will. Memories can be just as haunting as they can be welcome.”
I walked him through to the main living area of the house. “All the boxes need to be moved into the U-Haul. She had most of the furniture already moved by the movers earlier in the week, but she didn't want her valuables in boxes to be touched by them. Afraid they would break things.”
“So let’s hope we don't break anything then,” he said with a smirk, thinking of the numerous things we had broken playing too rough when we were younger.
The women came in and Mom escorted them to the kitchen to show them how everything was packed around them. Mom offered drinks but no one wanted anything but Olivia.
“I didn't know Emma was coming,” I remarked to Wyatt, but not turning to look at his reaction.
“She wanted to get out of the house, and go on the road trip with us,” he said.
“Is she okay?”
“Seems to be. Breigh is mothering her like always, and of course Olivia thinks she is a living Barbie.”
“She is,” I said with a smile. “Any…”
“No, I don't know and I don't care. I don't want to be involved in it,” he snapped. “I want to get Mother moved and get back home so I can enjoy my day off tomorrow.”
“Got it.” And I did, but when I was with Wyatt and Breigh I was able to get some insight into Emma. The more I knew the better.
I was still sending Emma texts, and would continue, but still in the back of my mind I wondered if it was a waste of time.
This was new territory for me. I usually didn’t have to chase; I just waited and good things came to me. Whoever said that the chase was the fun, I’d disagree. It was frustrating as hell.
Four hours later, we had every box in the house loaded. I had always known where I grew up was huge but a person really didn't grasp it until moving from it. I was thankful the furniture was moved before, otherwise, we wouldn't have gotten this done in one day.
I was soaked with sweat, as was Wyatt, and the women had helped us move as much as they could, cleaning up along the way. Olivia was busy playing in an empty box we had let her draw on. She was in hog heaven.
Closing the U-Haul and using my shirt to wipe my face, I took a deep breath. I closed my eyes for just a minute to hide from the sun.
“You want a Gatorade or water?” Emma said sweetly, holding both out to me in front of her. I watched as a gulp formed in her throat as she looked down on how my shirt hadn't gotten back into place. I had always been blessed with a nice set of abs, and strong shoulders, all parts of my body had begun taking more shape with my working out more, preparing for the academy. I knew she loved them, loved when she ran her tongue up and down them in the center.
“Thanks… a Gatorade.” I took it from her and then held it in one hand while deciding to rip off my shirt. It wasn't doing any good anyway. I was shamelessly giving her a little of a show.
I put it around my neck to soak up some of the sweat.
She stood in front of me in a trance.
“You okay?” I asked her, smiling wickedly. I was aware of what I was doing.
“Just hot out here.” She used her hand to wave her face.
“You want to come for a walk with me before we leave?”
“What about everyone else?” She asked, turning around to see if they were behind her yet.
“Wyatt! I’m taking Emma to my spot, okay?”
“Was your spot! Mom is going to ride with us, so can Emma ride with you in the U-Haul?”
I glanced at Emma to get her approval. “That’s fine. We will be right behind y'all,” I said.
I reached for her hand and led her to my place along the back of the land, hidden by trees and our pond.
At first, she didn't really say anything and neither did I. I listened to her breath as we took our steps through the pasture.
“I don't know how your feet don't hurt in those shoes. Do you want me to carry you?”
“I’m used to them. I always wear heels so these are nothing!” She smiled at me confidently. “Where are you taking me?”
“Just a spot I love. It is really the only thing I am going to miss here.”
“Don't you think it’s kind of sad that your family has lived here for so long and you will miss a spot out here?”
“I guess. Let’s not act like we were this happy-go-lucky family.”
“I know,” she agreed. I’m sure she had heard plenty of stories from Wyatt and Breigh.
“I was lucky to get that. The older I get the luckier I feel.”
I walked a while longer, with little chitchat, until we got to the tree. I smiled as I raised my hand up to show her.
The shade alone was magnificent. The trunk was massive and showed the stability of the years.
It sat in perfect angle to the pond with other smaller trees around it. This was the only area that always stayed green throughout the entire property.
“Wanna take a seat for a minute?” I asked her, and took her hand to assist.
I sat next to her and we sat in silence for just a few seconds.
“Wyatt and I used to always come here when we were
