“What you may not know is that I visited him shortly after the trial finished, but before you condemn me for it, I’d like you to take a look at me. Take a long, hard look at the burden Idon’tcarry anymore. Because that’s what hatred is, son.”
She pauses, allowing those words to sink in before continuing softly. “Hate is a burden. For you. And for all those around you who want the best for you. So stop burdening yourself with the hatred you feel for the sins of your father, and start living the life you were born to live. The one fate intended for you. Because truly…the choice comes down toyou.”
Tears prickle my eyes as her words land precisely as she’d hoped, and I inhale sharply through my nose when she takes my hands between hers. Her thumb rubs soothing circles over the back of mine as my eyes hold her understanding gaze.
“Now that I’ve given you that food for thought, how about I rustle you up some real food?”
Her eyes shine into mine, silently sending me her courage. Her conviction. Her strength.
And I can only hope it’ll be enough when the time comes to confront my biggest demon of all.
EMERSON
“Aww, Momma,pleasedon’t make me do calculus today. I’ll doanythin’else?—”
Abigail Holloway pivots to face her youngest daughter, making a point of placing her hands on her hips as she regards her with a no-nonsense stare that even makesmesit up straighter.
“I am not havin’ this conversation with you every day, Fin. You wanna graduate? You do the work. End of discussion.”
Then she turns back to the kitchen counter where she’s been baking solidly for the past hour while I’ve sat through Finley’s schoolwork. It’s been rough, to say the least.
Finley Holloway is a very gifted student. With a borderline photographic memory, everything comes a lot easier to her than most, but as such, she bores quickly.
“Why do you hate calculus so much, Fin?”
Finley rolls big brown eyes identical to her mother’s before heaving a world-weary sigh. “Because I can do the math in my head, but Momma insists that I must show my calculationson the page.” She tuts loudly as she picks up her pencil. “And it’s so damn borin’—”
“Language, Miss!”
Despite Finley’s low intonation, Abi’s excellent hearing serves her well, only leading Fin to drop her head to the kitchen table with a groan. “As soon as I’m eighteen, I’m movin’ to New York with Faith. Because my present situation is a serious pile of horse manure.”
I note Abi’s shoulders moving up and down as she stifles a laugh, and I press my lips shut to do the same.
“So, Emerson. You and Fordy, hmm?” My cheeks heat at Abi’s words. “I must say, I didn’t see that comin’.”
Patting her hands on her apron, flour disperses into the air around her hips as she turns to me with a wide grin. “Not to say I’m sad about it.” She edges closer, her eyes bright, and despite the difference in color, there’s something in those depths that reminds me of Ford.
Having never had reason to visit Circle H—considering Easton was Ford’s friend and I was just his pesky younger sister—finally getting to meet the woman who raised the man I love has been eye-opening. Her innate kindness and inner strength are Ford to a T, and it’s easy to see where he got many of his other wonderful qualities.
I can already feel my life has been enriched through the simple act of meeting her.
“Does my son make you happy?”
I answer without hesitation even as my entire body flushes right to the tips of my toes. “So happy I could burst.”
She chuckles as she nods before returning to her work, and I can’t help but call out after her. “Aren’t you going to ask me if I make him happy?”
Abi glances over her shoulder and shakes her head just once. “Don’t need to. I can see it in his eyes.”
A small thrill zips through me at her words, and Finley nudges me with a giant shit-eating grin. “That’s the Momma sealof approval right there, Emmy. Next, she’ll start pesterin’ y’all for a weddin’ and grandbabies, just you wait?—”
“Less gibber jabber, more calculus, Finley.” Abi’s rebuke carries across the kitchen, cutting Finley off, and she scowls as her mother continues. “You still have your chores to get through. And if they’re not completed, you can kiss goodbye to that trip to the swimming hole that you’ve been plannin’ with Jonah for later this evenin’.”
Sufficiently motivated at last, Finley gives me one last eye roll before returning to her work, and I can’t help but grin when I catch Abi’s mischief-filled glance from across the kitchen.
And as Abi moves off to fetch more baking supplies from the well-stocked pantry, I’m filled with a sense of belonging, the likes of which I’ve never known.
A girl could definitely get used to this.
