All That We Are...

Chapter 34

Henley

Today marks two months and two weeks since we have been at this place. Don't get me wrong it's nice and I have become very found of the people I have met but I'm still empty and I miss Carter even more ever day. Each time I see my mother I harp on her to try and find something out and she always gives me the same answer "I can't Henley it's out of my hands." And after she says it I flip my shit blaming it all on her. She doesn't come around much lately which is probably for the best.

I'm sitting in the ridiculously large kitchen playing with my cereal in front of me. The house we stay in is really nice Jessica, Gabby and myself have made it ours and have all become comfortable with one another. I wish I knew where we are exactly but people that know won't tell. We must still be up north because it's mid September in a few weeks it will be October and the weather has already started to change. I've had to wear jeans the past few days and occasionally I put on a sweater or cardigan. I like it though, reminds me of home.

"Hey you almost ready to go? I told Beth I would open the store today." I glance up and see Gabby walk in.

"My shift doesn't start until ten." I tell her. When we got here we had a choice to either work at the town market or a clothing boutique. We both took the boutique leaving the market for Jessica, she wasn't happy about that.

"So start your shift two hours early. You know Beth won't care and really what else are you going to do, sit here and play with that soggy ass cereal?" She's right. If I'm not working then I'm usual sitting somewhere getting lost in my own thoughts. Sometimes I'll sit downtown on the town bench and picture Carter walking into my sight. It sounds absolutely crazy but I don't want to lose what he looks like. I even sometimes picture his face on other people while I talk to them. God I'm going mental.

"Okay, but I get to restock clothes and shelfs." I stand from my spot and go to slip my boots on.

"It's all yours. I'm pretty sure you're the only person that enjoys doing that." Gabby says making fun of me.

Once we get outside the sun is shining but it is a little cooler out. I'm glad I decided to wear jeans but I have a quarter sleeve pink shirt on and a white scarf that is more for the look then for warmth. I tighten it a little bit though hoping it might help some.

"I think we should walk today?" I say to Gabby and she nods agreeing. It's maybe half a mile from our house to downtown so on a day like today it's not a bad walk.

"Have you talked to your mom lately?" She asks as we pass the front of my moms house which is right beside ours.

"No, I saw her yesterday when I went to check in on Maria but we didn't talk." I stuff my hands into my front pockets.

"Would you have come if you knew it was going to be this long?" Why does she feel the need to ask questions this morning.

"Gabby I didn't want to come in the first place. So no if I knew it was going to be this long then I wouldn't of come."

"Yeah me either. I acted before I really thought about it. we shouldn't have left them behind." My chest tightens. If I never see them again I will always blame myself for leaving them. Carter said he would always find me and right now that's what I'm living on, I still have faith in those words he spoke to me.

"Maria's doing good." She says it as a statement bringing me out of my thoughts.

"Yeah she really is. I think Maddie's keeping her going." We all were scared that Maria wasn't going to make it shorty after we got here. But almost a month later she came out of it and Maddie pushes her a little every day to do more. She's improving immensely.