Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 84868 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84868 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Mom leaned back in her chair. “I’m sorry, Colt…but I don’t believe she would. You left her when she needed you the most. And when you needed her the most.”
My mother and father had lectured me the first year or so about how badly I’d hurt Ensley. They’d eventually stopped and never brought her up again. I hadn’t been sure how involved Ensley might be with my family after all these years. But I should have realized she’d still be a significant part of their lives. She was Grady’s best friend from childhood, we dated for two years, and my father trained Ensley in her profession.
“I wanted to reach out to her, Mom. But a month turned into six months, then a year, then five…and after that, I just figured she’d be better off without me in her life. I’m sure she’s moved on and gotten married by now.”
I wasn’t sure if I was asking a question or making a statement.
She slowly shook her head. “You have no idea how much that girl loved you, do you? You weren’t the only one who was shaken to the core by Grady’s death. She lost both of you, Colt.”
I closed my eyes. “I wasn’t myself, Mom. I couldn’t stay in River Falls…not when I blamed myself for Grady’s death.”
“And Ensley blamed herself for his death. But none of us knew how unhappy he was, Colt. Not a single one.” Letting out a long sigh, she looked down at her hands. “After about a year or so, she stopped asking about you, where you were. Just like you stopped asking not long after that. So…I’m going to take this moment to let you know how the last ten years have been for Ensley. That girl loved you with her whole heart, Colt. She lost her best friend and the love of her life all within a few short days. You already know I wasn’t happy with you for what you did to Ensley, and I’m still not.”
I didn’t say anything. I simply let my mother speak her peace. It was the least I could do. That she hadn’t done so yet, after a decade, was a miracle.
“I watched the light slowly go out of those baby blues, and it about killed me. She was so lost without you, though she would never admit it in a hundred years.”
“Has she…um, moved on?”
Her gaze lifted to mine. “From you? No, I don’t think she has. She’s never been in a serious relationship, at least not that she’s shared with me.”
I wasn’t sure whether I was happy to hear that or not.
“Have you moved on from her?” my mother asked.
For a few seconds, I simply stared at her, not sure whether I wanted to admit the truth or not. Instead, I shrugged. “I’ve dated. Nothing serious, more casual than anything.”
She shook her head again. “I will admit that I still don’t understand why you left, Colt. I know it has something to do with your brother and Ensley. That much I could figure out.”
I turned away. “I don’t want to talk about it, Mom.”
“No, of course you don’t.”
Snapping my head back toward her at her tone, I frowned.
“You are my son, Colt. And I love you. I will always love you. But you’ve been running from real life for the last ten damn years. While you’ve been gone, the rest of us have had to move on. We couldn’t run and hide. I guess I can at least be glad you didn’t cut your father and me out of your life.”
“I would never do that,” I said quickly.
She let out a long breath. “I’m glad you’re here. I hate that it took your father having a heart attack to bring you home…but I’m very happy you’re here.”
Guilt hit me so hard that I found it hard to breathe.
“I never meant to cause you, Dad, or Ensley pain.”
Her eyes met mine. I knew she wanted to say more. Call my bullshit, because I knew damn well leaving and staying gone for so long had done exactly that—caused unimaginable pain.
“We should get back to check on your father. I can give you the key to my room if you’d like to head there and rest for a bit.”
I nodded. “It would be nice to take a shower and get out of these clothes. I’ve been in them for over twenty-four hours. A storm moved through Banff, and we were stuck at the airport waiting it out for a while.”
Reaching into her purse, she took out the room key and handed it to me. “Granby Resort Hotel. Room 407.”
I took the key card and slipped it into my wallet. We stood and headed back to my father’s room, both of us silent as we walked. Not long after returning to his room, the doctor came in and gave us an update on when my father would be released. They wanted him to stay at least two more days, then they’d likely release him.