Page 7 of The Leaving Road

“Don’t be a stranger, Magnolia, I mean it.” Momma’s playful tone held a serious note to it.

I’m sure I broke multiple laws with how fast I drove back to the house. Once inside, I sat on the sofa and tore open the envelope.

Magnolia,

Hey, kid, well, I guess if you’re reading this, I’m long gone. I gotta say, I’m sorry, kiddo. I’m sorry I fell apart after your mom passed; I wish I could give you a good reason, but I can’t. I fell into my grief, and I forgot about you. If I could turn back the clock…just know, I would. I wish I could fill the pages with excuses, but there are none. I lost the love of my life, and my soul fractured. I thought nothing mattered anymore, not even you. I’m sure that’s hard to read, and believe me, it’s hard to write. It took me a long time to realize how wrong I was. I know I had a part in you leaving and never coming back, and that’s something that will haunt me long after I’m gone. I know you’re questioning why I would make you stay here, kid, you’re going to have to trust me on this. There’s magic here, you can find yourself here. I fell in love with your mom here, you were born here, you took your first steps here. I know all you remember right now are the bad times, but there were years of good that you’ve chosen to forget. Don’t give up on this place, Magnolia, please. For me, for your mom, and most of all, for yourself.

I’m sorry.

I love you, kid,

Dad.

Chapter 5

Magnolia

My hands were still trembling while holding the letter, years of emotions I had done my best to bury were threatening to get the best of me. I couldn’t stay here; I didn’t need the money. However, that money would be more than enough to start my own clinic… what’s two years when at the end of it you get everything you’ve spent the last eight years working toward? My head was a jumbled mess of emotions with the ‘should I or shouldn’t I’. I reached for my phone in my back pocket and pulled up Lexie’s contact and pressed call.

“Hi, friend,” she singsong answered on the first ring. “I see you still haven’t read my texts. What’s up, babes?”

“Lexie…I….” My voice cracked. It was like just by hearing hers, all the emotions I was trying to hold in seeped out. “I need you.”

“I’m on my way.” I was met with a click before I could respond.

I finally let myself succumb to all the emotions and stress these last few days have caused me—hell,the last few months since my dad passed, if I’m being honest. I let the grief of it all weigh me down until I sank to my knees and gave into the tears—they were the silent kind, the ones that shook your entire body and you had to do everything in your power to focus on just breathing. The last feeling I felt before I let sleep overtake me was bone-deep exhaustion. I just wanted to float away into my unconscious, so I did.

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The banging on the door roused me from where I had fallen asleep on the floor. Luckily for me, this dusty old throw rug seemed to be my landing place, and minus the dust, it was rather comfy. The banging intensified.

“Good gravy, hold your horses, I’m coming,” I yelled at the intruder. A quick glance at the old grandfather clock told me it was ten-thirty p.m., meaning I had slept for nearly twelve hours.

I made my way to the door and ripped it open, ready to tell off whoever felt the need to behave this way this late, but I couldn’t help the smile that found my face when I saw who stood on the other side of it.

“Lexie,” I breathed and pulled her to me. I could feel her body tense in shock before she returned the hug tenfold.

“Babes, as good as it is to see you, you look like shit.”

I couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled out of me. I was sure I looked half crazed. I could feel my eyes were swollen, and I unfortunately wasn’t one of those girls who looked gorgeous when they cried. In fact, it was quite the opposite; my face got splotchy, everything swelled, and good god, the amount of mucus I could produce. It was not a pretty sight.

“Are you going to invite me in? Or are we going to stand out here all night? Not that I mind, but I am slightly concerned this porch might give out.” She glanced around. I took her in; my best friend was a bomb shell with her crimson-colored hair, blue eyes, and tall willowy figure. I stood to the side, and she pushed past me.

She whistled low. “Man, this place looks like you. Rough.”

I poked her in the rib. “Why’d you even come if you were going to insult me the whole time?”

“Easy, you needed me.”

“How’d you get here so fast?” I quirked my eyebrow at her.

“I’m offended that you thought I was going to let you do this alone. I knew you needed a day or two by yourself. My ticket was already booked, so your phone call just confirmed that I was coming.”

I couldn’t help the tears that were forming again.She really was the best.

“How about you show me where I’m staying, make me some coffee, and then we can talk about it?”

“Demanding, aren’t you, for someone who just got here.” Without waiting for her smartass comeback, I started toward the stairs, and she took that as her cue to follow me. I led her to the other guest room and told her to meet me in the kitchen when she was ready.

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