Page 10 of Overdue Feelings
“That’s what I like to hear. You gone on and relax. Dinner will be ready soon. You can come down when you’re ready.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I nodded my head and continued up the stairs and down the hall until I made it to my room. I reached for the room key in my pocket and then unlocked the door. Harvest Rose Inn wasn’t some fancy five star resort, but it felt like peace and smelled like my grandmother’s homecooked meals.
I walked in, dropped my bag at the foot of the bed, and sat down. I was really doing this. I was really back in Harvest. Exhaustion consumed me, and my eyes closed for a second before the blaring sound of my phone jolted me awake.
I sat up and snaked my phone from the pocket of my scrubs. I stared at the screen.Mom flashed across big as day.I considered letting it go to voicemail. I loved my mom, but anytime she called, a headache took up permanent residence between my eyes. I knew how this conversation would go, but she was going to just keep calling if I didn’t pick up. Reluctantly, I swiped to answer the call.
“Hey, Mom.” I spoke into the receiver before I’d even placed the phone up to my ear.
“Ares, baby,” she said, like she’d been holding her breath waiting for me to pick up. “You alright? Did you make it to Fort Lauderdale?”
“I’m fine, Mom. I’m not in Fort Lauderdale yet. Took a little detour.”
“A little detour? A detour where, baby? Lord, I don’t know why you just didn’t fly. Who would give up their first class trip for two days on the road?”
“I needed to breathe, Mom. You’ll never believe where I am.”
“Where are you?”
“I’m in Harvest.”
“Harvest? Hills?” I could hear the surprise, but not the kind that sounded proud. The kind that came laced with judgment. “Why would you stop there?”
“I don’t know. I saw the sign. Thinking about staying.”
A long silence fell on the line.
“Ares…” Her voice was low, like she was choosing her words carefully. “Why would you go back there of all places? Ain’t nothing in Harvest but dirt and bad memories.”
“I don’t know, Mom, it just felt right. I checked into Harvest Rose. It’s helping me clear my head.”
“That old dingy bed and breakfast. There are a thousand places you can clear your head, Ares. Why not Palm Springs?”
I pinched the bridge of my nose.
“Harvest isn’t that bad, Mom.”
“Ares, Harvestisthat bad. Everyone there is so country. They’re nosy, stuck in the past, and nobody wants better for themselves. That town drained your grandmother right into the grave.”
I didn’t say anything because I knew she wasn’t finished.
“We worked too hard to leave all that behind just for you to crawl back like it’s home.”
“It is home.”
“New York is our home, Ares. That town was never enough for us.” She paused. “You’re a doctor for Christ’s sake. You built a private pediatric practice from the ground up. I know Morgan left, but it’s no excuse to be wandering around dirt roads and landing in a place we all swore we’d never go back to.”
I closed my eyes, trying not to let her words get to me. None of this was about Morgan. Our time had been up. I was actually glad she’d pulled the plug. It forced me to see the truth.
“I just needed to breathe, Mom,” I said again, quieter this time. “That’s it. That’s all. Just because you hate Harvest doesn’t mean I have to.”
She didn’t respond right away. I could almost hear her pacing in her condo.
“Is this about that girl? What was her name?” She acted as if she didn’t remember, but I knew she did. My mom hated Creek.
“Creek, Mom.”
