Page 23 of Summer's Echo
My fifteen-year-old sister Yekemi, nicknamed Kemi, stayed in the car, her expression screaming irritated, like she’d rather be anywhere but here. My brother, Samir, thirteen and curious about everything, hopped out of the car gawking at the girls who passed by. Ezla, better known as Eazy, was nine. His face lit up with excitement as he chased Sadie. Sadie, my little Sadie, only eight, clung to my side as though I’d been gone for years instead of weeks.
“Mum,” I greeted my mother, my voice warm.
“Echo,” she said with that soothing sing-song tone, cupping the curve of my face with both hands before she kissed my cheeks. “You’ve grown,” she teased.
“Mum, it’s only been eight weeks.”
Mum leaned against the car’s passenger door, her attention briefly shifting to fuss at Kemi, who still hadn’t gotten out of the car. I reached around and gave Kemi a light push on the side of her head.
“Echo,” she yelled, her face twisted in mock annoyance.
I laughed. “Good to see you too, sis.”
The Abaras were a loud and rowdy bunch, but I’d missed them more than they knew.
“Samir, help me grab my stuff,” I said, nudging my brother. He followed me, heading toward the lodge, his attention fixed on every girl who passed by.
“Who’s that? And her?” he blurted before I could answer the first inquiry. His questions came rapid-fire as we walked, and I had to thump his ear to get him to calm down.
I hadn’t seen Summer since last night at the closing ceremony, so I decided to stop by her lodge before heading to my room. Although we’d sorta said goodbye already, I didn’t want to leave without seeing her. I knocked on the door to the suite, and Brooke answered.
“Hey, Echo,” she greeted, leaning casually against the doorframe.
“What’s up, Brooke?” I said, peeking over her shoulder, looking for my target.
She waved to Samir, who was lingering shyly behind me. “And who is this cutie?”
“This is my brother Samir,” I answered, patting him on the shoulder.
“Hi, Samir,” Brooke sang.
“Hi,” he coyly mumbled, his face flushing as he looked down at his shoes.
“Is Summer in her room?” I asked, ready to walk in.
Brooke shook her head. “No. She’s gone. Her parents picked her up early. They needed to get back for their family reunion trip.”
Her words hit me harder than expected. I kept my expression neutral, even as disappointment tightened my throat.
“Ah, I see. That’s what’s up,” I said, nodding and forcing a smile. “Well, it was nice meeting you this summer, Brooke. Good luck in your senior year.”
“You, too, Echo.” She extended her arms, and we shared a friendly hug.
I nodded, turning away as Samir and I headed to my lodge. My feet felt heavier, my stride slower as my mind replayed Brooke’s words:She’s gone.
After grabbing my bags, I stalked back to the SUV and loaded the trunk. Kemi was still pouting in the front seat, while Sadie and Eazy were already buckled in the third row, chattering away about a random toy.
“You want to drive?” my mother asked.
Normally, I would kill for the chance to drive, but today, I just wasn’t in the mood. My mind was weighty, crowded with tangled thoughts.
“No, ma’am,” I said, shaking my head. “I’m kinda tired.”
She regarded me with a slow, assessing look, possibly sensing something was off. “Are you okay, son?”
I nodded quickly, not wanting to filter any more questions. “Yeah, Mum. We were up late, so I’m just gonna take a nap.”
Her gaze lingered on me for a moment longer, as if trying to read between the lines. Finally, she nodded and slid into the driver’s seat. Instead of fighting Kemi for the front seat like I usually did, I climbed into the middle row next to Samir. Even he looked a little surprised as I buckled in without a word. My mother raised a questioning brow at the unusual silence between Kemi and me but didn’t say a word.
