Under the autumn sky (✔️)

Three Words (5)

I was on the front porch fixing my hair. After I stopped crying, dad told me to get dressed for dinner. He didn't ask any further questions. He was still waiting for me to feel able to talk about it.

He drove us to the Steele's ranch. We were calm and silent while we felt the cold breeze hit our faces as he drove. My mind went back to the times when Blake drove me home after school. He would roll down the windows so the wind blew my hair as we laughed at something stupid he would say.

Miranda was always with us. We were the perfect trio. It didn't surprise me at all when I found out they got married. That's what a long friendship does. It forces you to get used to someone and within time, love grows. I didn't blame her. At some point, I thought I would have a love story with Blake, like the movies I'd worked on.

I made my own decisions and they led me to where I am right now. It was ironic how it led me back to where everything started. My dad gave me a quick stare and smiled with his eyes fixed on the road.

"What is your plan?" He asked as he pulled into the Steele's driveway.

"About what, dad?" I asked, confused.

"How will you mend things with Blake? Let me tell ya, it is not going to be easy. He is like his mother, Diana. Stubborn as a mule," he said and laughed at his own words.

"Dad, I'm convinced I won't make it out alive. I don't have a plan." I said, biting my lip. I stared at the small house in front of us.

"You are a Davis. We don't quit. You came back for a reason and I believe it has to do with him." Dad said while fixing his hat. He turned and winked at me.

"You know too much, dad." I smiled. I knew he was trying to make it easier for me here. He had questions and in time, he would know all the answers.

"Liv, I'm an old man, but I'm not blind." He opened the door.

We walked towards the back porch. It was seven at night. Miranda decorated the backyard with small white fairy lights. They were over the trees in the backyard, making a small path towards the small lake. It gave the night a magical touch. Dad walked towards a group of his friends that were near a plain cottonwood. I descended the stairs that led to the backyard.

I felt uncomfortable for a few seconds when all eyes were on me. For a moment, everything went silent. People finally confirmed the rumor that must have been going on. The only thing I could hear was the music coming from the radio. I gathered the confidence to greet them and smiled.

As I made my last step, Mrs. James, an old teacher, came into view. She smiled at me and then without any warning hugged me. Her long gray hair fell over her shoulders as her smile accentuated the small wrinkles on her face.

"Oh, dear girl! Are you staying for good? I don't like that boyfriend of yours. He looks like a girl." She blurted out. It was common to have people getting their nose in my personal life.

It took me off guard. It made me wonder, what did she know? I decided to play it safe and smiled.

"Mrs. James, it is nice to see you again." I replied with the politeness my mother taught me. Yet, ignoring her question.

I kept on walking towards the table in the middle of the backyard filled with food and drinks. As I did, I stopped and greeted some people from town. They looked at me as though they had seen a ghost, and others with despise in their eyes. I received a few hypocritic smiles as well.

I sat on the long picnic table and grabbed a bottle of water and looked around. I saw the kids playing under a gamble oak tree. I watched the old ladies playing cards at a small picnic table close to the lake and finally my eyes found Blake. He was chatting with Joshua and Miranda. They were next to the barbecue organizing the food as they laughed.