AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“And that’s meant to mean something?”
She didn’t reply, just sat there radiating pissed-off-ness.
Situated at the foot of two mountains, Ryker Falls was named after its founding fathers. The mountains were called Roxy and Phil, after the original Ryker twins. He felt something settle heavy in his chest as he studied them. He’d done his fair share of tramping over them in his youth, and up to the falls where he’d often met a girl and spent some time getting to know her better behind the waterfall.
Heading his car down the main street, he took in the changes. Saw the fancy new storefronts that in his day had housed basics like the butcher and drugstore. Now there were homewares, a tea shop—that one was a shock—and clothing places. Tourists, he’d read, made up most of the income in Ryker now.
Fancy frosted globes sat in black wrought iron streetlamps, and people were everywhere. That was the biggest shock, the number of people walking up and down the streets. He’d left a sleepy little town, but not now.
“Where do you want me to stop?”
“Here is fine.”
He pulled up beside the grocery store, which had doubled in size since he’d last seen it.
“I’d like to say it was a pleasure, but that would be a lie,” she said, climbing out. “But I will say thanks—”
“Because your mom taught you how?” He couldn’t help throwing that at her.
She ignored him, slammed the door, and walked away. Dylan watched her long legs carry her down the street. He was surprised to feel regret. Dylan rarely regretted anything, but he had a feeling that meeting this woman under different circumstances would be a hell of a ride.
His eyes tracked left and right as he pulled back out onto the street. Plenty of leafy green trees had been planted, and a few bench seats were now in place. This Ryker Falls was unrecognizable from the one he’d left as an angry teenager.
“Sixteen years, bud, plenty has to have changed.”
Taking the right fork at the end of town, he headed down the hill, following the river, then took another right. The street was full of houses now, another change. When he’d been here his parents’ place had been one of only six, and it sat in pride of place at the end, big enough so anyone could see it, if they were looking, and be assured important people lived inside. That was his mother’s way of thinking. Mary Howard was all about appearances.
Driving slowly down the street, he raised his hand in response to the wave of an elderly man jogging. Winter would hit hard and fast soon, and outdoor activities would be done in thick, warm clothing. He remembered the cold; it got into your bones and didn’t leave till spring.
He wouldn’t know every person who lived here by name and reputation now either, as they had once known him.
Just the thought of the life he’d lived here choked him.
He sucked in a breath, exhaled loudly, then drove up the long drive and parked to one side. Looking at the large white weatherboard house, he wondered what waited for him inside. His dad wasn’t in there; he’d still be in hospital as the accident was only four days ago.
Gabled roof, and two floors; the bedrooms had been on the second. His mother had run a tidy house, and taught her kids to do the same. Well, he was tidy; he had no idea what his sisters were like. Deep blue trimmed the windows and the front door.
Getting out, Dylan stood in the circular driveway. He rotated on the heel of one boot, letting his eyes roam over the immaculately weeded beds and neatly pruned trees. He saw the Brant place, but only the top half, as the trees his mother had planted to screen out their neighbors were tall now. The Brants were never as diligent at garden maintenance as Mary Howard.
Making himself move, instead of jumping back into his car and speeding out of town, he walked up to the front door and knocked on the wood. It felt awkward, because this was his family home, but he did it anyway. Letting himself in might shock whoever was inside. He tensed as footsteps approached, and then it was opening.
His little sister stood there. Dylan had seen her precisely twice in sixteen years, and both times with his parents when they came to visit him. Ava was younger than him by nine years, which made her twenty-three, and a lot shorter. She had brown curly hair that sat just below her ears, and a heart-shaped face with high cheekbones. Her eyes were lighter than his, and she was light-years away from the pigtail-wearing little princess she’d been at seven. Willowy and delicate, she wore a soft mint-colored sweater and blue jeans. On her feet were flats. The frown between her brows suggested she had no clue who he was.
“Can I help you?”
Why her words shocked him he had no idea, because they were strangers, but they did.
“I’m Dylan, your brother.”
There was a flare of surprise in her eyes, and then it was gone.
“Hello.”
Her words were emotionless, which was pretty much how he usually operated so he couldn’t fault her there... but still, she was his sister.
“How are you, Ava?”
It was cold, and he was still outside on the doorstep, but she didn’t move aside to let him in.
