Welcome home Carter

Chapter 1

(Not edited)

Nothing happens in my town. It's always eerie here, with the expectation of the massive children's playground in the town square. The children's playful cheers and screams can be heard through- out the main street. Green Mount is a small, country town on the border of California and Arizona.

"Kennedy, Kennedy?" I snapped out of the daydream I was in and turned to Betty who was sitting up in bed reading her book.

"Yes Mrs Mitchell?" I turned from the drawer that I was putting her folded clothes into and looked at her taking in her appearance, her skin was beginning to look thinner and thinner as she grew older. Her wit has always started the same though.

Betty was a special patient to me. She particularly raised me. After my parents passed, when I was younger, I was left with my Aunt who was always working to numb the pain of her sisters death. I knew she didn't like looking after me, I reminded her to much of my mother. Naturally, Mrs Mitchell our next door neighbour took me in took me in and raised me as her own, along with her son who was a couple of years older then me.

He was never really around that Carter Mitchell. I always wondered what he got up too in his free time. I remember the odd occasion he would come home with bruises and cuts all over his body. I was only thirteen with him being a very attractive fifteen year old I could help but have a crush on him. Carter Mitchell... that's someone I haven't thought of in a while. He's been gone for a number of years now.

"Girl, how many times have I told you to call me Betty? Living in this shit hole reminds me enough how old I am. I don't need you young sheila doing it as well!" I laughed at Betty.

"Betty, this shit hole is my job, and I enjoy it," Betty scoffed.

"You need to leave this shit hole town and shit hole job and make a life for yourself Kennedy," I was barking up the courage to talk to Betty about Carter. All I wanted to know was where he's been for the last five or so years. I knew he called his mother once a week and sends her cards on her birthday but where has he been. I wouldn't even know what he looked like anymore. Did he have a girlfriend? Maybe he had kids? It just didn't make sense that he never visited his mother. I was only seventeen when he left town, I asked Betty multiple times where he was but she always shut me down.

"Kennedy you are day dreaming again," I can't take it anymore I had to ask.

"Where's Carter? Where has he been all these years? Not once has he tried to talk to me or ask me how I am. Betty, I wouldn't even know what he looks like," Betty looked up to me from her book.

"All in a matter of time, you will know my dear, all in a matter of time," I rolled my eyes at her statement.

"Betty, I hate secrets you know that," she laughed.

"All in good time dear." With that she went back to reading her book.

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The nursing home was usually quite at two pm until around three pm, that's when yoga is on. I mange to squeeze a break in during that time. I normally make a cup of coffee and throw one of those microwaveable meals into the microwave to cook. Sad, I know, but I never have time for anything else. During this time it's unusual for family members to call their loves ones in the home. So when I heard Betty's phone ringing from down the hall I couldn't help but wonder.

Betty had a fall a year ago resulting in her being unable to look after herself. All though she hates having to rely on the staff I know she secretly loves it here. She's made some great friends along the way. Betty is one of the few not able to join in doing yoga. I made my way down the hall after putting my coffee on the table. As I got closer to her door her voice became clearer.

"Are you really coming home son?" my heart almost fell out of my chest. Carter was coming home to visit his mum? I didn't hear much the rest of what Betty said to her son, my heart was racing to fast. I placed my hands on my head and slid down the wall outside of Betty's room. This couldn't be happening. After all this time he choose to come home now? There is so many things I just don't understand, Carter Mitchell being one of them.

"Kennedy I know you are there," I heard Betty's soft voice from inside her room. How she knew I was there didn't make sense. I slowly rose to my feet, sliding my back along the wall as I did so. I slowly opened the door and closed it behind me.

"How much did you hear?" My eyes snapped from the position on the floor I was looking at to Betty, who was now sitting on her arm chair in the corner of the room.

"Just that Carter is coming.. um home. I promised I stopped listening after that it's not my business," I once again looked down at the floor.

"It is your business. You are family to us Kennedy," I scoffed.

"Family? Carter hasn't messaged or talked to be in five years Betty. I bet he doesn't even remember me," a tear fell down my cheek. Ridiculous I know but that boy meant the world to me. He protected me every chance he got.

"Kennedy, Carter asks how you are every time he calls me. I've sent him a picture of you once a year sometimes even more if she asks," I once again snapped my head up to look at her. My eyes grew large. He cared? Still the one question was running through out my mind.

"Why did he leave then? If he cares so much? It doesn't make sense Betty. He hurt my heart. I was finally happy without him being here now he has to come back into my life?" Betty stared into my eyes, I could see she was holding back from telling me something. I was going to find out.

"Look I have to go Betty, I've only got an hour left of my shift and I have to go see Mrs Dream before I leave," I wiped my face of the tears that were slowly making their way down my cheeks.

"Kennedy...." Betty's voice was pleading to me, I knew she wasn't going to tell me what's been happening the last five years.

"Bye Betty, I'll see you tomorrow," with that I closed the door behind me and made my way back to the lunch room to finish my lunch before I went to Mrs Dream's room.

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Getting home after a long day i'm always exhausted, as soon as I step into my house I flick my shoes off and take my bra off sliding it off underneath my shirt. It's the best feeling in the world. My Aunt isn't around much, she has an apartment in LA that she works from and she rarely comes home leaving me with the house to myself.

I walk to the fridge with my bra and phone in hand. Finding nothing but some yogurt, limp, brown lettuce and some left over pasta from two nights ago I decided to order pizza. After every thing that's been happening I really deserved that large meat lovers pizza and chocolate lava cake I ordered just before my shower. Showers always relaxed me, the warm water beating down on me relieving my muscles and cleared my mind made me feel better. Hoping out of the shower I dried my hair and slipped into my pajamas. The pizza man knocked on my door not long after I walked down stairs.

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I started at nine o'clock the next morning, so I had to drag myself out of bed at eight. I never took that long to get ready in the mornings, the longest part is trying to get myself out of bed.

At exactly eight forty I left for work. I'm an only child, meaning that I was left with all of mum and dad's money and our house. I decided at a young age that I was going to use this money to buy a car and one day move to LA. After Carter disappeared I made up my mind and wanted to stay with Betty. After everything she had done for me I had to return the favor even if it was against her wishes. I couldn't leave her. I got into my Mazda Cx 5 and drove to work.

My first stop was the staff room to see which patients I had to look after today, my boss knew to give me Betty everyday, I liked to know she was getting the best treatment.

I made my way to Betty's room, not bothering to knock considering how close we are.

"Morning Bet-" I began in a chirpy voice only to realise she wasn't alone,

Sitting on the chair next to her bed,

"Carter?" I was wrong. I did recognise him. Not much had changed he was still Carter, the only thing that was visually different was the number of tattoos he had and the fact he looked older, more mature.... more attractive.

"Kennedy?" Dear god his voice.