Jackson
Dad is still MIA, but I have a feeling Ray knows where he is. He’s assured me that he’s okay.
I don’t know why my dad would have reached out to Ray over his friends, but it’s proof that he has become a father figure to him. It makes me happy, because I know it’s something my dad never had. His parents were both killed in a car accident shortly after he ran away with my mom.
I pause my thoughts and take a deep breath before knocking on the door. When she doesn’t answer, I take a peek inside through the window. Maybe she ran. Her letter said she wouldn’t hide from me, but maybe she changed her mind.
Honestly, I can’t say I blame her after witnessing how terribly my dad reacted to the news.
Nothing looks amiss. The house is still furnished.
I walk around the yard, bending down to pet the fattest cat I’ve ever seen in my life. “Hey, buddy,” I say quietly as he rubs against my leg, leaving orange hair on my jeans.
“His name is Garfield,” a soft voice says from somewhere in the trees.
I stand slowly, my gaze searching for her.
When she steps into view, my breath catches in my throat. I’ve seen pictures of her. Of course she was much younger back then, but I think she’s even prettier now.
We stare at each other awkwardly. Me with my hands in my pockets, hers wrapped tightly in her skirt.
“You’re so tall,” she notes quietly.
“Six three,” I tell her.
Her blue eyes sparkle in the bright sun. “I hope you haven’t been waiting long. I was just out talking to my tree.” She points to the forest behind her.
A laugh escapes me, and her brows furrow just like Aspen’s do when I tease her. It tugs at something deep in my chest.
“I’m sorry. I’m not laughing at you. It’s just my wife has a tree too. Well, I should say trees. She talks to them all.”
A small smile tugs at the corner of her mouth. “I was hoping you’d come.” She pauses to scratch her head. “My mom, um, your grandma said you like cookies. I have some in the house. That is if you have time.”
It kills me that she’s so nervous. “Yeah. Fuck, I mean, yeah, I like cookies. Who doesn’t?”
She laughs and cautiously starts toward me. When she gets a few steps away, I slowly open my arms wide.
Her bare feet slow to a stop in front of me. “You … you don’t have to do this,” she whispers, dropping her gaze to stare at the ground.
“I know you don’t know me yet, but I’m kind of a hugger,” I say quietly.
“I’ve dreamed of this moment your entire life.”
“Me too, but in my dream we both had halos. Well, mine were held up by horns, but hey, the big guy let me in despite them.”
It makes her let out a sad laugh. “Grandma told me you were funny. Your friend, Brody, he disagreed, but I had a feeling she was right.”
“That’s because Brody thinks he’s funnier than me. He also thinks he’s taller, but we all know that’s not true.”
She chuckles again, because Brody is a damn giant.
Her laughter is nice. It’s nothing like I imagined, but I don’t have time to think about any of that because she steps into my arms, wrapping hers around me.
My heart lets out a ginormous sigh as I hug her. She went through so much to bring me into this world. I owe her a warm welcome, no matter what anyone else thinks. She’s my angel mom. Finding out she’s alive doesn’t change that in my mind.
I run my hand down her hair as she cries quietly against my chest.
“So, the cat, does he eat lasagna like the real Garfield?”
