AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Ihaveto go with Zara. What sort of man would I be if I let her go on her own?” I pace the small space, dragging my hand through my hair. “What I want doesn’t come into it.” She goes to say something, but I hold my hand up. “Don’t, Mum. Don’t say anything. I have to do this and that’s all there is to it. I need to look for flights.” I leave them in the kitchen and head to the den in search of the laptop. Finding it, I sit down heavily on the sofa, spending the next half an hour searching for flights. I find one leaving Austin International at 11:50 a.m. If we hurry, we can just make it. That’s the only flight out today, so it’s that or wait until tomorrow, which I know Zara won’t want to do.
After booking the tickets, I make my way back upstairs. Thankfully, Jacob is still asleep, giving us time to finish packing our stuff before he wakes. Zara has done a lot while I’ve been downstairs and it’s only the last few bits left. By the time we’re finished, Jacob is awake, and my parents have given him breakfast and gotten him dressed. I need to do what I’ve been putting off all morning and say goodbye.
“I’m going to see Lib and everyone before we go. We have about thirty minutes before we need to leave. Do you want to come?” I ask Zara.
She shakes her head. “I’ll wait here.” I nod and leave her in our bedroom. I check Aria’s room just in case, but find it empty, knowing she’ll be in the stables by now. When I get downstairs, I scoop Jacob from his high chair. Everyone will want to say goodbye to him too, and I’m just about to head outside when my mum comes out of the den, phone in her hand.
“Jack,” she calls, stopping me in my tracks. “I’ve just spoken to Claire. Aria and Savannah aren’t here. They left early this morning for Llano. Josh and Hope went with them,” she whispers. “I’m so sorry.”
I remember Aria telling me she was going to Llano with Sav while we were at the river yesterday. With everything that’s happened this morning, I’d forgotten. An unwelcomed pain settles in my chest knowing I won’t get to see her again. I’m devastated for her too. I know how much Jacob means to her. She’ll be gutted not to be able to say goodbye to him. I can’t find the words to reply to my mum, so I stay silent, giving a small nod of my head before turning and jogging down the porch steps with Jacob in my arms.
I can’t stop thinking of Aria as I walk to Libby and Mason’s cottage. It would have been hard to say goodbye, but knowing I’m never going to see her again makes me feel like I’m going to throw up. I frown as I reach the cottage, not seeing Mason’s truck out front. An uneasy feeling settles in the pit of my stomach and I know before I even knock on the door they aren’t going to be home. I knock anyway, praying I’m wrong. When no one answers, I sigh and look at Jacob.
“I guess Aunt Libby and Uncle Mason are out too.”
We slowly make our way back to the ranch house, finding Zara on the porch with all our bags. Her eyes are puffy from crying and I give her a sympathetic smile as I go to her, pulling her against my chest. “Seems everyone is out.” I haven’t been to Brody’s place, but he’s likely to be on the ranch and could be anywhere. I’ll have to FaceTime everyone when we get back home.
“I’m sorry you can’t say goodbye,” she says softly.
“It’s not your fault. Come on, let’s get everything in the truck.” I grab as many bags as I can carry, my dad getting the rest, and we load up the truck. My dad is driving us to the airport and my mum is coming too. She’s still inside though, and my dad gestures for me to go and get her.
“Mum,” I call out as I walk into the house.
“Jack, are you really sure about this?” she asks as I find her in the hallway. “Going home with Zara is what you want?”
“Does it matter? It’s the right thing to do. She’s the mother of my child and she needs me.” I sigh loudly. “I don’t know who I am anymore, Mum. Maybe going home will help. I’m so confused about everything.” Her face is etched with worry and she pulls me to her, wrapping her arms around me.
“I’ve spoken to your dad. Here’s the key to our house. You won’t have anywhere to stay when you get home, and I don’t want you in a hotel.” She pulls out of the embrace and pushes a silver key into my hand.
“I’m sure we’ll be able to stay with Zara’s family,” I tell her, looking down at the key.
“Take it anyway… just in case.”
“Okay.”
“Libby’s going to be so upset she missed you.”
“I wish I could have said goodbye to everyone.”
“Have you tried calling Aria?” I shake my head. “I have her number.”
“I wouldn’t know what to say to her. It’s better this way,” I say sadly.
“Jack—”
“Please, Mum. Drop it.” She nods and we walk to the truck in silence.
My dad drives us away from the ranch and I look over my shoulder, watching the ranch house get smaller and smaller. The whole time, the feeling of dread in the pit of my stomach gets larger and larger. I’m doing the wrong thing, but I’m powerless to change it.
Aria
It’s mid-afternoon, and I stare out the window of the truck as we drive back from Llano. Savannah and I had left early to look at a horse she wanted to buy, and at the last minute, Josh and Hope had decided to come with us. I smile as I remember how excited Hope had been to help choose the newest ranch horse. She’d talked the whole way there about how this horse was going to be a friend for Misty, and that she couldn’t wait for them to meet. There was no doubt she’d inherited Savannah’s love for horses.
We stopped for lunch on the way home, and now we’re almost back at the ranch. I can’t push down my nerves at the thought of seeing Zara and Jack again, especially after my run-in with Zara after the picnic. God, I hate her. I’d gone to visit Lib and Mason last night, needing to be out of the house and away from the possibility of bumping into her. The ranch house is big, but when we’re all there together, it’s suffocating, and it feels like the walls are closing in on me. Now more than ever I need to ask Claire and Ryan about moving into the old cabin.
I realize I’m lost in thought when I feel the truck come to a stop outside the house.
“We’ll come in and say hi. I’m sure Hope would like to see Jacob,” Savannah says as she glances over her shoulder at me. “Plus, if she sleeps any longer, she’ll be awake all night.” I glance across at Hope to see she’s fast asleep. The excitement has clearly worn her out.
