Can you Remember? #Wattys2016

Chapter 12: Aunt Heather's Secret Meeting Part One

Updated:  10/20/21

Word Count:  1395 to 2324

Chapter 12:

Aunt Heather's P.O.V.

I stood still after my niece stormed out of FroYo. All eyes were on me, but I tried to ignore their silent, judging stares. As she walked through the door, I called after her, but she didn't even so much as glance back at me. I let out a huff of annoyance. She's angry with me, and I hate when she is. It makes me feel like I'm not doing enough to look after her or relate to her. Then again I understand how this whole situation has turned her world upside down, so I can't be upset that she stormed out. I should have saw it coming. Slowly, the eyes turned away from me as people went back to their frozen treats. Gathering up my stuff, I leave through the door.

"She'll be okay you know," the owner says on his way back in from smoking a cigarette.

"I know you're right, but right now she doesn't see it that way. I just wish I could do more for her," I tell him, running a hand through my hair making some strands fall out the ponytail.

"All you can really do is be there for her. It will take time, but she's a smart girl. She'll be able to figure everything out."

I give him a small smile. "Thanks for helping me feel a little better Curtis."

"No problem. Next time you bring her around, yogurt's on me okay? It's great food therapy you know." He flashes me a smile and walks back into the shop, and I shake my head at him. Only Curtis would offer up frozen yogurt in a trying time. Adjusting my purse on my shoulder, I get into my car and start to drive away, lost in my thoughts.

Ever since my trip I took, I haven't been the same. To be honest though, I wasn't even the same when I left on the trip to begin with. A lot of bad things happened while on the trip, but my mind seems to have blocked it out. Sometimes I catch small glimpses of images, but they are blurry, and I can't see anything. Other times, something I see triggers it. I wish I could tell Kade about what happened, but I don't want to cause her more stress than she already has with her own problems. If anything, I want to let her know she isn't alone so that she can have someone to lean on, but I know it will only make things worse. She'll do her best to help me through my issues without worrying about herself anymore. I can't have that.

My phone rings from the cup holder drawing me out of my thoughts. I reach for it blindly and answer it, making sure to keep my eyes on the road. "Hello," I say into the phone with a huff of annoyance.

"We're still meeting at 9 right?" asked a female voice on the other end. Crap! I totally forgot about meeting her tonight! It really just passed right over my head with everything going on with Kade. I think to myself for a minute about Kade. I need to go talk to someone else before this though.

"Yeah. I'm still coming. I have to run an errand really quickly, so depending on how long it takes, I'll either be early or late," I inform the person on the other end.

"Don't come later than 9:30. I'm doing you a favor right now, so the least you can do is be on time. I have a life too you know, and it would be nice to go to bed early for once," the woman said bitterly. I could tell she was clearly agitated. It has been almost three months, but this arrangement with her was only supposed to last a month. The only reason why it's longer is because of Kade's accident.

"I know. I know. I'm glad for what you are doing for me, and I promise not to be late. Got to go now because I'm on the road, and the last thing I need is to get in a car wreck," I inform the person on the other end genuinely appreciating what she is doing for me. I never know if she can understand how I feel or if she even cares. She's always been good at hiding her emotions from me.