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“True, but even then you were great with younger kids, like sleepy head there,” he said as Adam groaned and plopped down on the steps.
“Why do you guys insist on waking up at the crack of dawn every morning?” Adam yawned and stretched.
“That,” Charlotte said, pointing to the skyline as it broke into its crescendo for the morning.
“Oh, I see,” Adam said, mesmerized by the colorful sky.
“Careful, we might make a convert out of him,” Austin said with a laugh, secretly hoping they wouldn’t. He treasured this time alone with Charlotte.
“Oh, I don’t know. I think he’s one of those who needs beauty sleep,” Charlotte said, smiling endearingly at his little brother.
“See,” Adam said with a goofy grin, “she gets me.”
“Nah, you’re just taking advantage of Pops not being here to run us through drills before breakfast.” Austin’s stomach soured as he remembered why Pops wasn’t there.
“Mmm…breakfast. I’m going to start some right now,” Adam said, disappearing with a wave into the trailer.
“Any updates?” Charlotte asked after several quiet moments, as if she could read his mind.
“Nothing yet. Mama calls it the waiting game.” He sighed, gripping his warm mug, hoping to quell the urge to pace.
“That’s a hard game to play,” she said quietly, as if she had played it too many times. He turned to study her, wondering if they would ever catch up after being apart for eight years.
“How’re your parents?” he asked, realizing he hadn’t even thought to do so before and feeling sheepish.
“Oh, they’re fine and dandy. Neither wants to retire. Sometimes I wonder if being addicted to work is as bad as any other addiction.” Her brow furrowed, and she lowered her voice. “I’m afraid I’ll end up like that.”
“You?” Austin shook his head. “Never.”
“Well, in defense, you haven’t seen me over the last eight years. I have done nothing but study and throw myself into my future career.” She set down her mug on his folding table, letting her knee bounce.
“You’re really worried about that, aren’t you?” Austin leaned forward, closing the distance between them. “You aren’t like that. Sure, you’re dedicated, and while you’re going to school, you have to be focused. Once you’ve settled in your career, in your own office, you’ll find balance.”
She bit her lip, then looked at him, her eyes welling. “I hope so, because God help me if I am too busy to see my kid, grown or not, when they are only an hour’s me.”
“Oh…” Austin said. He set down his mug, stood, and pulled her up into his arms. “I’m sorry, Charly. They have no idea how good they have it.” He ran his hand up and down her back, holding her. How many times had he comforted her when her parents missed her gymnastic events, award ceremonies, and even graduation?
She pushed back and wiped her eyes. “Sorry. I guess…it’s just been a lonely eight years. At least back home, your parents always showed me that support.”
Austin’s heart crushed within him. She was right. Pops and Mama always came to her gymnastics events. They treated her like one of their own, and for a long time, that’s how he thought it would always be, that she was one of them. “It’s me that should be apologizing. I’m the one that messed it all up.” Austin stepped back and squeezed his fists together. “I hadn’t thought about what it would do to you. I not only took away my support but my family’s, too.”
She waved him off but turned away. Her shoulders shuddered, and he closed the distance between them again, wrapping an arm around her from behind. “It’s okay. I get it. Our lives were going in different directions.”
“That doesn’t mean we couldn’t have still been a part of each other’s lives.” He dropped his head, resting it on top of hers. “I sure messed everything up.”
She wiped at her eyes and stepped away again. “You…you did what you thought was best…and maybe it was.”
His heart dropped to his stomach, and the smell of bacon, which usually left his mouth watering, now left him queasy. “What…what do you mean?”
“You think I could have focused like I did and not run off to every rodeo of yours I could, just to see you? I probably would have failed my classes,” she said, but her voice quivered as if she were trying to convince herself.
“I think we could have tried,” he said. “We should have.”
“Well,” she said, rolling her shoulders back. “We could sit here and go through all the would haves and could haves all day, but it won’t change the past.”
“You’re right,” he said tentatively, watching her and wondering what would happen next. “So…where does that leave us now…in the present?”
“Here,” she said, smiling through her tears. “Right here.”
