Part 6 (2/2)

”Is it working?”

”No. I feel incompetent. What if I never meet someone?”

”I'm more afraid that you will. That poor dude is in for it. You're a horrible person to live with.”

I slap him lightly. ”Shut up.”

”It's true. I'm forever finding your thongs on the bathroom floor. I think you purposely drop them to gross me out.”

”We don't share bathrooms, you a.s.shole. Quit getting on me. Your room is disgusting. I can't believe you have girls in there.”

”They aren't there for the decor, dear sister,” he speaks in my ear directly.

I shake my head and bite my tongue. He's ridiculous and will probably never change. He'll be old and alone because he refuses to grow up. I don't want that kind of future. I need to discover my place in the world and settle down. It's all I want.

”You're going to miss me when I'm gone, Josh.”

”Yeah, I will. We've had some great times growing up though, haven't we?”

”Definitely.”

”Do me a favor, while you're out exploring, don't change for anyone.” All of a sudden my brother is being completely serious. ”Be yourself. If a man can't love you for that reason, he's not worth the effort.”

The dance floor is filled with family now, and as I look around the room I see the one thing that will keep me grounded. It's all of them. They are what is most important in life. Josh is right. Finding my place doesn't require me to become someone I've never been.

This endeavor is going to be a challenge, but after everything I've gone through I think I'll manage okay. Only time will tell.

Chapter 9.

Callie Since I've never left home for a long period of time, I didn't antic.i.p.ate how difficult it would be to pack up all my belongings into my small compact car and drive away from the only place I've ever lived.

I'm in tears before I sit in the driver's seat, and fully sobbing by the time I make it down the dirt and gravel lane. I've waited until both of my parents have gone to work because I knew I wouldn't be able to look into their eyes and make this kind of leap. In the days leading to my exit, I spend quality time with my immediate family, all except for Cammie and Wes, who've gone away for a small getaway to the cabin my uncle Colt owns. Ca.s.sie and I go shopping, and I go over to the house she shares with her fiance' Logan. After the wedding I sort of feel like a weight has been lifted off of me. What's done is done. I can't change the past, but I'm d.a.m.n sure going to work hard for a future I can call my own. I don't want to live in Cammie's shadow. Knowing something new awaits me is the only thing that prevents me from turning around and going back. It's not like I'm going to a foreign place where I'm a stranger. The ranch in Kentucky is bigger than ours. Lots of extended family members call it home. My aunt, uncle and father were raised there in Kentucky. It's always been one of my favorite places, so I know it won't be difficult settling in.

For the first few weeks I'll be staying at the main house with my great aunt Kay. She's my uncle Colt's mother, who refuses to move out of the large mansion until the day she dies. It's far too big for her and her housekeeper Lucy, but she's too proud to admit it. I suppose it also has to do with her late husband building the home with his bare hands. He made the ranch what it is today. After his sudden death, before I was born, it was up to his son Colt to keep things going. Since then the business has grown, and even branched out to North Carolina where my immediate family resides.

After a long and grueling drive I make it to the gates of the estate. I enter the code and watch them open for me. The main house is situated in front of everything else, so I pull halfway into the circular driveway and finally park my vehicle.

The big white house appears the same as it has my whole life. Large black shutters landscape each window, and the front porch houses the same swings and furniture as it did on my last visit.

It's not until I walk through the front door when I start to wonder if I've arrived at the worst time possible.

I can hear the voices of my cousin Noah, his father Colt, and Aunt Kay coming from the rear part of the home. Uncle Colt can be recognized for being the loudest. I try my best to ignore what they're arguing about, figuring it's something silly, but soon overhear alarming details.

”I don't give a s.h.i.+t what those papers say, son. We'll go to court if we have to.”

”The lawyer said,” Noah begins.

His father interrupts. ”Screw the lawyers.”

Aunt Kay does her best to calm her son down. ”Let's not jump to conclusions. We don't have all the details yet. Right now it's speculation. I'm sure we'll be able to get this worked out before it escalates to something major. For right now you both need to cool off. I can't have Callie arriving to this mess.”

I step in the room and wave. ”It's too late. I've already ruined that idea.”

Noah smiles when he sees me, but I can tell his Dad is still hung up on the conversation. Aunt Kay pulls me into a hug. She still looks the same, gray hair, dressed cla.s.sy, pretty teeth. Uncle Colt looks older in the eyes, but maybe it's because Noah is his younger version. We all share the same green eyes, and there is something comforting about that when it comes to fitting in. We can't deny our relation.

Uncle Colt pulls me into a hug. ”Glad you made it safely, Callie. Aunt Van has been looking forward to spending time with you.”

”And Shalan wants to know if you'd help her with her hair,” Noah adds.

I nod. ”Sure. I can't wait.”

Aunt Kay interjects. ”Let the poor girl get settled first. There will be plenty of time for all that stuff later.”

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