Chapter One
The black gate in front was exactly as she left it.
It had that same creak every time you opened it.
Everything seemed to be normal. Her hand brushed the rose bushes in the front yard.
Every step she took she grew more anxious.
Her eyes looked to the barn yard where the chickens fluttered about. Thomas wasn’t there feeding them or hauling the hay.
As she stepped up to the door, her heart beat quickly. She regretted leaving even more than before. She knew her mother had taken ill again a few months before and she still left. The time when her family needed her most. With so much work on the farm already, they had to take care of sickly Mrs. Lawrence too.
Her hand crept to the doorknob. She was tempted to ring even though it was her home, she felt like a stranger after being gone so long.
She turned the knob and stepped in. The house was cooler than outside but comfortable. Everything in the parlor was the same but the curtains were a different shade of yellow. A more orange yellow.
But that made her wonder since that yellow was her mother’s favorite and had been since they built the farm.
She could imagine the talk and rumors going around town if anyone saw her get off the train with him.
Although whatever the people said, it would probably be true. She did something amazing but also very dumb. Or was it dumb?
She told herself she made a good choice and that her family would approve of him.
He could be the best thing that ever happen to the Lawrence family.
She inhaled and looked to the kitchen where noise was coming from. She walked over and peeked in. Thomas stood straight leaning against the counter eating an apple.
He looked older although she had only been gone five months. Something in his eyes looked sad as he stared at the floor. His face was unshaven and there was black under his eyes.
He looked to the kitchen door as she entered.
The half-eaten apple fell to the floor.
His mouth fluttered open.
“Desiree?”
Chapter Two
Desiree’s eyes looked to the floor as the apple rolled to her feet. She bent over and picked it up.
She smiled at her brother.
Her name was the only thing he said since she entered the kitchen.
“Hello, Tommy.”
“Where have you been? Me and father have been worried sick.”
“Just you and father? I would’ve guessed mother was the most worried.”
Desiree smiled and put the apple on the counter near him.
Thomas’s eyes looked even more sad as she mentioned their mother.
“Mom’s dead.”
The words hit Desiree like two sharp spears being jabbed into her heart. She breathed in and held her breath. A tear ran down her face and she shook her head.
“No, no she’s not.”
“This time the sickness took her. It took her whole.” Thomas choked.
