Rough Hands

Chapter 3- Emberly

After we landed, my father ushered me to the car, and we began the hour-long drive to our small town. As I glanced out the window, I saw the green grass and trees, the small farms and their livestock. I couldn't help but smile. There were no large buildings, bright lights, or crazy traffic. I was finally home.

As the drive went on, we drove past all of the old stores and diners that were around when I grew up. It brought so much joy back into my heart, but my mood shifted as soon as we came to a stop sign, and I saw the old photography studio I had run with my childhood best friend's mother. The building was boarded up and had a 'For Rent' sign. I frowned and looked over at my father. "Dad, what happened to Marissa's photography studio?" I questioned in a concerned tone. He sighed and frowned, and he began to drive again.

"After you left, Amelia had difficulty keeping up with payments on the building and the large clientele you had brought in. Then.." My father paused momentarily, taking a deep breath, "Then?" I asked, pushing the matter more. "Then her husband Hank died. She had no one to help take over the business after you left, and she wanted to ensure that Brooks was taken care of, so she closed the studio and used the money to ensure they didn't lose the farm." He finished speaking, and my heart dropped. She had to close the studio because of me?

I sat in silence until I opened my mouth again to speak. "Is Brooks still around? I haven't seen it in ages. Is he doing okay?" I asked, feeling a bit hopeful. My father smiled and quickly glanced at me, then returned his focus to the road. "Well, I guess you never did hear about the rodeo news in the big city. Brooks has been training and competing to be a world champion bull rider. He also works at the local construction and electrical place in town from time to time." My father spoke highly of him, and I couldn't help but smile, knowing how well my childhood best friend had done.

As we drove up the dirt road to my parent's farm, all the memories flooded my brain. The old tire swing where Brooks used to push me on when we played during the summer, the faded red barn that held my favorite horses, and that large pond where I had swam in with all of my friends. I beamed at my parents as the car stopped, and I pushed open the door. As I exited the car, I saw the front door open and a figure on the porch. I saw my older brother, Tobias, seemingly drying his hands with an old dish towel. My heart raced as I made eye contact with him, still wondering if he resented me for leaving without saying goodbye.

I smiled at him and closed the door, "Well, long time no see, Tobias. I've missed you." I say welcoming and sincerely. He laughed and looked down at his hands. After drying them, he tossed that towel over his shoulder. He then looked up at me and sighed, "Ya know, I'm still pissed at you for leaving without saying goodbye." He spoke as he crossed his arms. My heart began to race, and I walked towards the porch. He walked down the old wooden steps on the porch and made eye contact with me; I scanned him as I realized how much older he looked—some small dark circles under his eyes, the rough-looking stubble across his face, and wiser eyes.

"Even though I'm still mad at you... I'm really happy to see you and have you back home." He said as he brought me into a big bear hug. "I missed you too, dumbass," I said, laughing and hugging him back. Our parents finally approached us after getting a few bags out of the car and beaming at us.

"Well, come on, you two. Let's settle Emberly and grab some dinner at Mal's Diner." Our mother spoke, and she patted my back. I laughed, pulled away from the bear hug I was in, and looked at my family. You don't know how much I've missed food from Mal's; I'm starving," I said, smiling.

"Sorry, it ain't none of that fancy raw fishy shit you've had in the city. I hope you're ready to eat like an actual human being." My brother remarked jokingly as he nudged me with his shoulder. I laughed and shook my head. "Trust me, I'm not going to miss that food," I said, laughing as we headed into our house.

As I stepped into the house for the first time, I couldn't help but smile. The house hadn't changed a bit, making me feel like a young girl again. I walked over to the stairs and traced my hand on the beam with each step. As I reached the top of the steps, I saw that old wooden door that held my old room behind it. I went for the door handle and turned the well-worn knob, and entered the room, feeling even more memories flooding in. I glanced around, seeing all my old photos and trinkets from college. I placed my bag on the floor and walked over to my old dresser, where a picture frame caught my eye. I lifted it and smiled when I realized what the picture was; it was a picture of me and my childhood best friend Brooks at a rodeo the year we graduated high school. I had to laugh because I was smiling so wide in the picture due to just getting my braces off, and then I saw Brooks still looking slightly dorky yet grown up. I signed, placed the picture frame back down, and smiled again as I headed back down the stairs. 

"Come on, city girl, let's get you fed." My brother teased, and he headed out the front door. I laughed and quickly followed behind, closing the front door behind me.