"The rest of us," she finishes for me.
"Exactly."
"You'd tell me if I needed to step in, right?"
I turn to her, raising an eyebrow.
"Right, sibling secrets." She breathes in, her shoulders rising, and then lets out the breath, a puff of white in the air. "I forgot how nice it is out here. I haven't had more than a few minutes to myself lately."
"You aren't by yourself right now," I say.
She chuckles.
"Yeah, but this is nice too. No television, no phone, no cameras. Only nature's music and the morning sky reminding us there's always a new day."
We sit in silence, sipping our coffee and listening to the world around us. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be hearing, but my thoughts drown everything else out. What is next for me? If I take the commentator position, it means going back and settling back into my Baltimore life for at least the next five years. It's not a bad spot to be in. It would keep me busy. And let's be real, it'd be fun. I love talking about baseball. It's what I know best.
But Wilmont is finally feeling like home again. Addie and I are starting to fall back into rhythm, and it's been nice spending time with Mom and Dad without a time limit or end date.
"Want to help me make pies for tomorrow?" Mom asks.
"Pies, plural?"
She stands from the swing and turns, pinning me with a look.
Hand on her hip, she says, "Yes, plural. It's Thanksgiving."
I hold up my still half-full mug.
"Give me a minute to finish this."
Mom smiles and seconds later, the front door closes behind her.
Thanksgiving. Jade and Cooper will be here. It'll be our first time around the rest of the family since Baltimore, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous about it. Something shifted between us, and I know she felt it too. Am I foolish to add Jade, and Cooper for that matter, to my list of reasons I want to stay in Wilmont?
I am. I know I am.
It's what really matters if I'm being real with myself.
But I also know that regardless of what happens, I made a promise. To Jade and ultimately to myself. I won't leave Cooper. The punk has slithered his way into my heart, carving out a permanent spot just for him.
My phone vibrates on my lap.
TheBabs has tagged you in a photo.
When I tap on the notification, it brings me to a series of photos from Friendsgiving at Kyler's. I swipe through them. There's a handful of group shots of the few of us that were there from the team and one of me holding the baby with a heart covering her face. All the kids' faces seem to be covered, and that's when it registers it was posted on Kyler's public account. The caption reads: 'Family time with the team.'
I swipe through more photos, freezing when I come across one of me and Jade. It's a candid shot. My hand is on the small of her back, and we're both laughing.
Something shifted.
Even before she said the words I hear over and over every time I close my eyes.
I trust you.
Notifications flood my phone.
Kacey2312 tagged you in a comment.
