AllFreeNovel
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Once upon a time, we did have fun. Walks through the forest. Nights on the beaches staring up at the stars.
“Libby isn’t your birth name, is it? I don’t remember a Libby, although I barely remember Everest or June..”
“Juniper,” I corrected.
“What did they call you?”
I hung my head. “I chose Elizabeth when we left and I started school, as I’d read it in a book and fell in love with it, so Frank got all the paperwork set up, Libby was just a nickname. My real name is…”
Erin stood there staring, jaw wide open, at hearing the whole story for the first time.
“They call me Aspen.”
After also glancing over to Erin, Cedar blew out a long breath. “I’d never imagined I’d ever see anyone from that cult ever again, figured when I left, that was it. And yet. Here you are.”
“Sorry.” I threw my gaze to the ground, a little perturbed she kept referring to it as a cult.
It was a commune, not a cult, and the differences were astounding.
“No, I’m the one who’s sorry, especially since I don’t remember you. How old are you?”
I pulled into myself as shame and embarrassment took over. Poor Erin. It was likely I was going to lose her friendship too. I’d kept too much from her. “Twenty-one.”
Cedar didn’t say a thing. “Your brothers? How old? I’d guess mid-twenties?”
“Both are twenty-six-ish.”
She nodded, and her firm hands held my shoulders. “I barely remember them, but there were so many kids, and so many adults, and everything in between.” A weak smile formed. “Are they pains in the asses? They had to be, right? Twin boys.”
“Juniper, yes, but we don’t talk. Apparently, he was somehow let back into the commune you and I grew up in, but the numbers are dwindling. Allegedly, according to Everest, who he still speaks with, Juniper’s helping to contribute to population growth.”
Cedar laughed lightly.
“Everest moved out and owns a tree farm outside of Port Alberni. He’s a real good guy. Single. Childfree. Living his best life, however, he somehow wasn’t as shunned as our father and me were as he still talks to a couple of the members.”
“Well, that’s good. Interesting how three of Frank’s kids moved away.”
“Right?” I was feeling like I was finally making a connection. This had been what I wanted all along.
Her face tightened once again. “You know though, coming to me via Landon was a bad move. So bad. You could’ve reached out any other way.”
And that feeling of connection fucked off into the wind. Had a big sister for all of a few minutes, and I was already getting lectured. Typical.
“You should be ashamed by how you hurt him, but I blame your youth and the fact you weren’t raised better. Morals like that were never taught. Do what makes you happy and damn the consequences.” There was so much disgust in her tone, but oddly, it wasn’t directed at me, I sensed that. “God, I’m so happy I left and found this place, and Mitch, and my proper family.” She shook her head and looked down. “Guys like Landon are a rarity. If you want any shot at a future with him, you need to make it up to him. And pronto.”
“I don’t know how.”
“You’ll figure it out. You’ll have to.” Cedar rocked back and forth on her heels. “Were you really using him to get to me, or was there more to it?”
“It became more.” Trying as hard as I did to prevent that. “These feelings…” My hands hovered over my stomach. “They started growing, but I don’t understand them at all. I don’t know what they mean.”
She snorted. “Share that with him, not me.”
“Okay.” I swallowed and took a step back, my brows pinching together. “How? He won’t talk to me either.”
“Because he feels betrayed. Find a way. If he’s important to you, you’ll find a way to heal what’s been broken.”
We stood there, the air cracking between us, neither of us moving or saying a word.
