Page 21 of Ember’s Heart

Colton

T he next two days are a whirlwind. Between trying to get everything started for the horseback riding program I want to do, and working with Scott on the Habitat for Humanity site, I barely had time to breathe.

But that was ok, it was the first step to getting my life back on track, and showing Ember I was serious about everything I said.

The riding program was coming together faster than I’d anticipated.

Richard had several stables prepped for me and I was starting to map out some schedules that would work for different age groups and levels of riding.

The thought of giving kids a chance to experience the joy and freedom of riding, the same joy I’d found as a kid, had me excited.

The Habitat site was a different kind of work, but equally rewarding.

The Moore family deserved this. Mrs. Moore and her two children had lost everything in a fire.

Seeing their faces light up with excitement at the sight of their new home being built made the sweat and the aching muscles more than worth it.

I was just about to take a break for lunch when I felt a hand clap on my shoulder. I quickly turn to see Scott standing there, “How are you holding up, Colton? With everything…” he leaves the rest of his question hanging out there.

Trying to appear nonchalant, I shrug my shoulders. “I’m good, Scott. Trying to keep busy.” I really don’t want to get into things with him. Scott means well and he’s a nice guy, but I can only handle so much.

He raises an eyebrow, a knowing look in his eyes.

“Look, I don’t want to overstep, but you seem like you have a lot on your mind.

I don’t know your story,” he quickly puts both hands up to stop me from saying anything, “and I’m not asking.

It’s your story to tell when and if you want. Just know I’m here.”

He wasn’t wrong. The conversation with Ember had cracked something open, it was all swirling beneath the surface, threatening to overwhelm me if I let it.

“Look,” Scott continued, his voice softer now, “I know someone. A guy named Alejandro. He served too. Went through a lot before he finally got help… and then decided to help others. He’s good, Colton. Really good. He gets it. I think you should call him.”

I hesitated. I know I promised Ember I was going to talk to someone, but the idea of opening up to a stranger still felt… daunting. But then the image of Ember’s tear-streaked face flashed in my mind. The fragile hope in her eyes when she’d agreed to that date… it was enough to push me.

“Okay,” I said, my voice gruff. “Give me his info. I’ll… I’ll set so mething up.”

Later that afternoon, while I was framing a window, I saw Ember’s car pull up. She spoke with Scott for a few minutes, her expression was serious and all business. When she turned to leave, I couldn’t stop myself.

Quickly walking over to her before she could get in her car and drive away, I lifted the bottom of my shirt to wipe the sweat from my brow.

I wasn’t sure if it was nerves or from working that had me sweating so bad.

“Hey,” I said, keeping my voice casual, though my heart was pounding. “How… how are you doing?”

She looked at me, her gaze searching, still a little wary. “I’m… okay. I had to talk to Scott about donations for the house.” She paused, hanging her head. I watched as Ember pushed a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear before saying, “I’ve been thinking. A lot.”

“About us?” I asked hopefully.

She nodded slowly and looked up at me. “Yeah. About us. And everything you told me.”

I took a deep breath, the scent of sawdust and fresh lumber filling my lungs. “Me too. I’ve been trying to keep busy during the day, but at night, you’re the last thing I think about and the first thing on my mind when I wake up.”

A small, hesitant smile touched her lips. That made me smile too. “Ember… about that date… how does Friday sound?”

“Friday sounds… good,” she replied, still smiling.

Relief washed over me, so potent it almost made me weak. “Alright. How does seven sound?”

She nodded. “Seven sounds good. What should I wear?”

I hesitated, picturing her in that dress at the bar, the way it hugged her curves and made her ass look good enough to kiss and how it pushed her tits up.

I had to shake my head to clear my thoughts of her sexy body.

Now wasn’t the time. Besides, that wasn’t what I wanted.

Not for this. “Casual,” I replied. “Nothing fancy. No heels.” I wanted her to be comfortable for what I was thinking.

She nodded again, a hint of a real smile finally reaching her eyes. “Okay. Casual it is.” She turned to leave, then paused, looking back at me. “See you Friday, Colton.”

I watched her drive away, the dust blowing up behind her as her car disappeared down the road. Scott came up beside me, placing a hand on my shoulder. “Things will work out, son,” he said, his voice filled with a quiet confidence. “You just gotta keep moving forward.”

When Scott tells me to hang up my hammer for the day I don’t object.

It’s been awhile since I’ve done this kind of hard labor, and while I’m not that out of shape, I’m definitely feeling the day’s work in my muscles.

There’s a dull throb radiating from the scar on my side, and the scars on my back feel tight and itchy from the burns I suffered in the blast.

The sun was beginning to set as I made the short drive over to the other side of the mountain to Rose Valley Country Store.

I’d called Mom earlier and told her not to worry about dinner tonight.

It felt like a lifetime ago since I had one of Rose Valley’s pizzas.

I already called ahead and placed my order for a pepperoni and a classic supreme. Just the thought had my mouth watering.

Pulling into the familiar gravel parking lot of Rose Valley General Store, I turned my engine off. Instead of immediately getting out, I pulled my phone from my pocket and the piece of paper that had Alejandro’s number on it. Taking a deep breath, I dial the number and press call.

A deep, calm voice answered on the third ring. “Alejandro speaking.”

“Alejandro, this is Colton James. Scott over at Habitat for Humanity gave me your number.”

“Ah, Colton. Scott mentioned you might be calling. How can I help you?” His voice was steady, reassuring.

I hesitated for a moment. “Well… Scott said you might understand… some things. I… I served. A while back. Things… didn’t go so well.” I swallowed, the understatement hanging in the air.

There was a brief pause on the other end. “I see. So tell me, Colton. What’s on your mind? How can I help you?”

I took another breath, the warm evening air filling my lungs.

Leaning my head back against the headrest, I stared out the windshield as I began talking.

“I… I’ve been back for a while. Well not in Rose Valley, but back here…

on US soil.” I paused, scrubbing my hand over my face.

“And… I haven’t been okay. Not even close.

I pushed everyone away. But…well now I’m home- in Rose Valley,” I felt like I was mumbling and not making sense.

“There’s someone. She means a lot to me.

Always has. And… Well, I want to fix myself for her, but also for myself. It’s time.”

Alejandro was quiet for a moment and I wondered if maybe he hung up.

“I’m glad you called Colton. You took the first step and that takes courage.

More courage than you might realize right now.

I commend you for making this call.” His voice was gentle, no judgment.

“I want to help you. When would be a good time for you to meet with me?”

We talked for a few more minutes, finding a time early next week that worked for both of us. Just setting the appointment felt like a weight lifting off my chest.

With a newfound sense of purpose, I finally got out of the truck and headed inside. The bell above the door jingled as I entered, the familiar aroma of baking pizza hitting me. Behind the counter, Agnes, the owner, looked up, her eyes widening in recognition.

“Well, well, well, tickle my pickle and call me a gherkin! Look what the cat dragged in. Colton James? Is that really you?” Agnes declared, wiping her hands on a towel laying nearby.

She was a force of nature, a small, wiry woman with a voice that could carry across the entire valley.

She reminded me of Marge from Rose’s Bean and Brew, she wasn’t afraid to speak her mind.

“Hey, Agnes,” I said, a genuine smile taking over my face.

“I see you’re back from whatever sandbox you ran off to play in,” she said, coming around the counter to give me a hug that squeezed the air from my lungs.

“Lord have mercy, you’ve grown into a fine young man.

Oh lord, let me feel these,” she gave my arms a tight squeeze, her eyes wide.

“You got some muscle there. My, my, my. Though you still have that same sheepish look you and Cade used to wear when you’d come in here with brown paper lunch bags full of pennies to buy every damn piece of candy in the store.

” She chuckled, a hearty, booming sound.

“Caused more chaos than a tornado in a trailer park, you two did.”

“I remember,” I said, chuckling. “And we weren’t that bad, Agnes.” Though a memory flashes in my mind of the time we knocked over displays while racing through the store, and Agnes’s exasperated sighs suggested otherwise.

We both laughed. “So, where’s that partner in crime of yours?” she asked, her smile softening. “How’s Cade doing? ”

“He’s good. Still serving,” I told her, a familiar mix of pride and worry surfacing. “I can’t say where. But he’s doing ok.”

“You boys were terrors, but you’s always had a good heart,” Agnes said. “Well, enough reminiscing. What can I get for you, handsome?”

“Just here to pick up an order,” I replied. “Two large pizzas – one pepperoni, one supreme.”

After paying and promising Agnes I wouldn’t be a stranger, I headed home, the smell of pizza filling the cab of my truck.

Mom and Dad were in the kitchen when I walked in, their presence instantly making me feel at ease.

My mom grabs plates and starts piling slices on them for all of us. While she’s doing that my dad and I get our drinks and we take a seat at the table.

I bring them up to date about the horseback riding program I was starting with Richard’s help, and I tell them about the progress we’re making at the Habitat site, and how good it felt to be doing something.

It’s when I mention my conversation with Ember and our date on Friday that their faces both light up. “That’s wonderful, Colton,” Mom says, patting my hand. “Good for you, son,” my dad says from across the table.

I continue to tell them about my plans for the riding program, and I tell them about Alejandro. After we’re finished eating Dad glances up at the clock and says, “It’s Wednesday. Beer night with Richard. Garrett’s joining us tonight too. Why don’t you come along, Colton? It’d be good for you”

Normally, I’d be feeling reluctant, and as much as my body wants to protest, I don’t. Not tonight. I finally feel like I’m making progress and I’m done hiding from people. “Yeah,” I said, surprising myself. “ Yeah, I’ll go.”

The Last Chance was already buzzing when we arrived. Richard and Garrett were at a table on the back patio, cold beers sitting in front of them and deep in conversation. As we approach their table they both look up, surprise and genuine happiness on their faces when they see me.

“Colton! Good to see you,” Richard says, a warm smile crinkling the corners of his eyes. “This is nice. Both our boys are here.”

“Hey, man,” Garrett adds, a grin spreading across his face as he puts his hand out for me to shake.

When the waitress sees us she comes over to take our order. As Richard and Dad catch up, Garrett nudges me. “How about a game of pool?”

“Sure,” I reply.

Over the clack of balls, I tell Garrett about calling Alejandro, about finally taking that first step.

He listens intently, nodding occasionally.

“That’s great, man,” he says, sinking a solid eight ball.

“I’m really glad to hear that. I’ve noticed Ember’s been different the last couple days.

There’s a smile on her face, and a light in her eyes that I haven’t seen in a really long time.

” I watch as he chalks his cue. “Just… don’t screw it up this time, alright?

” His gaze meets mine, a mixture of brotherly concern and a stern warning in his eyes.

“You deserve to find some peace too. Talking to someone… it’s the right move. ”

“I know,” I reply, watching the ball roll across the green felt. “I don’t intend to. She does deserve happiness, Garrett. More than anyone I know.” I lined up my shot, my eyes focused on the ball.

After our game, we’re back at the table, Richard is talking about the riding program. “We’ve got a couple of horses at the stable that would be perfect for beginners. And there’s two that might be good for more advanced riders.”

“You know,” Garrett chimes in, taking a swig of his beer, “you should definitely talk to Ember about getting the word out. She’s got connections with the local schools, the kids’ programs around here. She’d be great at getting families involved.”

I felt my heart skip a beat at the mention of her name.

We hadn’t even started to really mend what I’d broken, so I wasn’t sure Ember would be too quick to help me.

On the other hand, it was for a good cause.

“Yeah,” I said, trying to keep my voice even.

“Yeah, that’s a good idea. I’ll mention it to her on Friday. ”