Page 8 of Together Is Where We Belong

Why did I have such a visceral reaction to seeing that ring on her left hand and the child seat in the back?

So many questions ran rampant through my mind, and I couldn’t keep up with them all.

After I finished explaining everything to my brothers, I didn’t feel any better. I was more confused than ever. I shouldn’t care so much about Carolina’s return, but I did, and I wasn’t sure how to understand my reactions to it either.

With my head in my hands, I pulled at my hair, frustrated beyond anything I’d felt in so long.

“Sounds like you still feel somethin’ for her,” Brooks replied after a beat.

My head snapped up to him, ready to deny his statement.

Only I mulled it around in my head, and if I was honest with myself, I did feel something.

Hatred.

Anger.

Confusion.

Nothing romantic whatsoever.

I told Brooks as much, and he laughed at me.

“There’s a fine line between love and hate, dear brother, and you may say you hate her, but I do believe there’s still some love in there for her somewhere,” Brooks replied.

Holden remained silent. Not saying a word, which was unlike him.

“What do you think, Holden?” I finally asked when he continued to remain silent.

“I think you need to have a talk with her,” he replied, not alluding to the why of his statement.

I gave him a questioning look and waited for him to elaborate.

“You have tons of questions. Some of which you may deserve an explanation for. Others might not be any of your business. But this town is small, Leo. You’ll run into her. You’ll see her about. You at least need to ask her how long she plans on stayin’ and come up with a plan from there,” Holden explained.

I hated that he was right.

I hated that I’d have to ask her, but I couldn’t keep mulling over the whys without an explanation. I’d drive myself crazy otherwise.

“You’re right. I’ll have to find a way to contact her. I can have a peaceful conversation with her and be done with it.”

“Now let’s go have a couple of drinks and watch a movie. Keep your mind off the girl of your past,” Brooks said as I stood from the porch steps, and we all walked inside.

I was thankful I had such caring brothers, because if I trusted my gut, it was telling me after I talked with Carolina, I’d need them now more than ever.

three

Carolina

Thankfully, the repair shop in town was still open when I arrived and had my tire size in stock. I had too much to do this weekend to be worried about the donut on my SUV. I didn’t bother with asking about a repair to the tire that was flat. I needed the peace of mind a new tire gave me as a single mother traveling with her child.

“Thank you so much, Gus,” I said as I paid for the new tire.

“Anytime, Miss Carolina. It’s good to see you back in these parts,” he said with a smile.

“It’s good to be back,” I said before I left the office and headed back to my SUV. The smell of the rubber and oil from the tire shop brought back many memories of my childhood of me and my dad working on the tractor and his old pickup in the garage behind our house.

I got into the SUV and headed back to my parents’ house to offload the groceries. Checking the time on the clock radio, I didn’t have much time before I had to go meet with the owner of a house that was for rent. I loved my parents and missed them dearly, but I couldn’t stay with them after being on my own for so long. Luke and I were used to a routine, and I needed to get him back on it as soon as possible for both of our sanities.