Page 8 of Autumn Wishes and Pumpkin Kisses

“Keefer, look around. We made it here. It’s a dream come true.” The taxi comes to a stop so Keefer doesn’t get to reply. We asked the taxi driver to take us to the beach closest to the apartment we rented virtually a couple of weeks ago. Keefer pays the driver and we climb out. We managed to narrow everything down to just one carry-on bag and my purse until the rest of our stuff arrives tomorrow in the moving truck. My father already brought my car here last week and dropped it off in the apartment parking lot. Everything is pretty much set. We climb out of the taxi and Keefer takes my hand in his free hand and we make our way out to the sand of the beach. “Are you excited?” I ask him. I almost feel like he’s just going through the motions.

He drops the duffle bag beside his feet and turns towards me. One of his hands wraps around my waist and pulls me towards him. and the other tucks a stray strand of hair behind my ear. “Of course, I’m excited. Why do you ask?”

“I just wasn’t sure,” I admit quietly.

“Darlin’, I’m excited because you’re excited. You said it was a dream come true and for you it is which makes me happy, but I’ve been holding my dream come true since prom and I’m never letting go.” Keefer’s words make me a little lightheaded and my knees feel a little like Jell-O. My heart is beating as fast as a hummingbird’s wings.

I rise up to my tip toes and press my lips to his, wrapping my arms around his neck and pull him towards me. His woodsy scent mixed with salty air of the beach is intoxicating. I don’t know how long we stay, kissing on the beach, but the sun starts to burn our skin, so we pull apart. “I love you.”

He smiles and this time I’m graced with his dimples. It’s a Keefer smile I don’t see often, but it’s the one I love the most. “I’ll love you as long as pumpkin kisses exist.” I laugh and think back to our first kiss. I had just eaten one of Warbee’s grandmother’s infamous pumpkin muffins. Apparently, Keefer could tell too and ever since then it’s been an inside joke for us.

Seraphina starts to wake up and it pulls me from the memory. Tears prick the back of my eyes as I turn to my daughter. Her blue eyes look up at me and she pats my cheek. “Thirsty,” she announces.

I smile and give her a drink of water and before I know it, she’s sound asleep once more and the few city lights of Blue Ridge are shining in front of us. My stomach is rolling because of the memory. I’m not sure how I derailed my life so far from the course I wanted. Of course, I’d do it again as long as I got Silas and Seraphina out of it, but being around Keefer is so damn difficult. I miss him. I fear I’ll always miss him and for someone who tries to live without regret...I have one and he’s currently sitting in the same vehicle as me.

EIGHT

Teaganne

It’s late by the time Rocker, Keefer, and I arrive at the Town home I’ve purchased in the heart of a new subdivision. I had considered buying a house with land, but honestly, I’m still adjusting to being on my own again and the town home felt like less upkeep. Also, I need to make sure that Blue Ridge is where my kids and I are meant to be. Rocker pulls into the driveway of my two story, five bedroom, three and a half bath home. It’s a beautiful place. It has a city feel that the kids and I are used to, but the wood and rock design of the exterior reminds you that you are in a small country town. The dark gray roofing, garage doors and beveled wood around the windows and front door as well as the wood pillars out front give it just enough pop of color. I didn’t need five bedrooms, but it does give me the extra room for a studio since I haven’t found a place locally to call mine for business purposes. The fifth one I’ll just turn into a guest bedroom in case anyone from New York wants to come and visit, but I don’t see that happening. All of my so-called friends there have turned out to be Joe’s friends, not mine.I’m not sure anything in New York was ever mine.

Everything in New York was his. I don’t know how I stayed blinded for so long, but I did. New York was never mine. It was his all along and I was just a piece of candy on his arm. I was just another one of his beautiful dolls to strut around and show off to the world. I had been foolish and naive for so long. I’m still dealing with accepting that.

Rocker and Keefer open their doors and climb out, pulling me from memories once again. Silas stirs awake. “Mama,” he says, sleepily.

“We’re home, baby,” I whisper, as I push back his raven-colored hair that’s fallen over his forehead while he was asleep.

He rubs the sleep from his eyes with his tiny hands just as Keefer opens the car door beside him. It takes a moment for Silas to comprehend but once he does, he squeals with excitement. “Keefer!” Silas tries to jump up and down in his seat, but he’s still buckled into the booster.

Seraphina starts to stir on the other side of me. Keefer reaches forward, as if on instinct, and undoes the straps of the booster seat. Silas bounds out of the seat and straight into Keefer’s arms. My heart stops and all I can picture in those few seconds is Silas falling straight to the ground and getting injured. Thankfully, Keefer catches him in his arms while laughing. “Whoa there little man, when did you get so big?”

Silas gives him a toothy grin. “I’m four now.”

“I think you had just turned four the last time I saw you.”

Silas put a palm to his face dramatically. “I’m going to be five soon.” He holds up a hand with all of his fingers stretched to the max. Keefer laughs. I hold my breath, fighting back tears. I don’t know how to handle any of this, least of all this. A family had always been Keefer’s dream, but now here we are and it feels like there's an ocean between us.

Seraphina pats my arm and I start to undo her car seat. Rocker appears. “Do you have your keys?”

I nod and dig them out of my purse. After collecting Seraphina, I climb out of the car. Keefer now has a sleeping Silas in his arms. Silas’ face is tucked into the crook of Keefer’s neck and my heart does a flip flop once again. If I really do plan on living here, I’ve got to get my emotions under control. Rocker unlocks the door for us and we head inside. Rocker moves ahead, turning on lights for us. The town home is just as beautiful and inviting as I remember. I’m so glad I purchased and arranged the furniture last month when I was in Blue Ridge. We head down the entry way past a staircase that leads downstairs. Rocker turns to me. “There’s a downstairs?”

I nod. “Yeah, it’s basically another small living area. There’s a small, open patio there, too. I’m not sure if I'll make that area my studio or one of the bedrooms on the top floor.”

“Where’s the master?” Keefer asks.

I nod my head forward. “Down here, off the main living room. That’s my only complaint with the house. If I want to use the master bedroom as mine then I’m separated from them,” I explain, pointing towards Silas and Seraphina. “I don’t like that idea at all. The master is set up right now so let’s put the kids in there.”

“You aren’t going to use the master bedroom?” Rocker asks.

Sighing, I shake my head. “Probably not. I was considering using it for my studio. I love the bathroom but they’re just too young to be upstairs by themselves.”

“I agree.” Keefer nods his head in approval then turns away from me and heads forward to find the bedroom.

Rocker steps forward and holds out his arms to take Seraphina from me. “Let me go get her in bed and you can kind of relax for a minute.”

“Do I look that bad?” I joke, but my laugh sounds forced.

He shakes his head. “No, but you look tired.”

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