In This Life (Sequel to 'In Another Life')

100

To us, it was their final night in their home. A final farewell to the place where they had lived, and the people they had lived with. I slept most of the flight back home, and Colby had to shake me awake when we finally landed in Georgia. As soon as we stepped outside, I already hated it. The intense heat combined with the level of humidity that made you feel like you were actually walking through a cloud of sweat was horrible. "Oh ew," I groaned quietly, as we walked outside. Colby just laughed at my disgust, and wiped the sweat from his forehead. "It's not that bad," he said. "Give it time," I muttered. We rented a car and started the hour drive to my little home town. The closer we got, the worse my stomach felt. Eventually, I couldn't stop it. "Pull over," I yelled, then put my hand over my mouth. Colby pulled over as quick as he could, and I jumped out of the car. As my stomach heaved time after time, tears started to stream down my face. When I was finished getting sick, I turned to see Colby standing behind me. "Did you really have to watch me do that?" I groaned. "Here," he said, passing me his bandanna. "Feeling better?" I wiped my mouth, and nodded. "Yeah, it's just nerves, mixed with the heat. Not a good combination." We got back into the car, and Colby kicked the AC up to high for me. We stopped by our motel first, to drop our bags, and freshen up. My nerves kicked into high gear the more I thought about seeing Mrs. Gail. Not even just her. My parents and everyone else that knew me in this backwoods town. I didn't know if I wanted to see my parents, but I knew that they would be at Amber's funeral. If I didn't go see them before that, I would never hear the end of it. "Are you okay?" Colby asked, watching me. I was sitting on the foot of the bed in the motel room, legs crossed. My foot was bouncing and I couldn't stop twisting my rings. I looked up at him and shook my head. "No. Yes. I don't know. I don't think I'm ready for this. How am I supposed to face Mrs. Gail, when I abandoned her granddaughter?" He sighed, and sat down next to me, putting his hand on my leg to stop me from twitching. "You didn't abandon her T. She did something horrible. If her grandmother is as wonderful a person as you say she is, then she would understand. But she also doesn't have to know." I thought about what he said, and realized again, that I hadn't told him the truth about what had happened with Amber. Almost two fucking weeks and I still hadn't told him that she didn't really assault him. My brain had been such a mess lately, that all I could think about was this funeral and seeing these people from my past. "Colby, I need to tell you something," I whispered, looking into his eyes. "What's wrong?" he asked, automatically going into defense mode. "It's not bad," I answered. "I should've told you sooner. I guess I just forgot with everything going on. When Amber drugged us...she said that you guys slept together. You didn't. It was a lie. If we had paid closer attention, we would've known that. Your shorts will still on, and there was no condom, only a condom packet." He let out a heavy breath, and squeezed my thigh a little. "Wow," he said, looking down at his hand, then back up to me. "I wish you would've told me sooner. That's been eating me alive ever since I found out." "I know. I'm so sorry. I've been so scattered lately, but that's not a good excuse. I should've told you when you first came home. I have no reason, other than I forgot." He put his arm around me and pulled me close. "It's okay. I'm relieved that nothing happened. Let's put the entire incident behind us and move on, okay? I never want to think about that again." I nodded in agreement, and wondered how I had found such an understanding guy. "Okay...let's go see Mrs. Gail," I said, standing up. It didn't take us long, since the motel wasn't that far from her home. "Right here," I said, pointing. "Turn right here. That house, with all of the flowers in the yard. That's it." Colby pulled into the driveway, and killed the engine. I just sat there for a moment, taking in the scenery that used to be so familiar to me. Nothing had changed. The old wooden home had been upgraded with vinyl siding, but other than that, it was the same. Mrs. Gail had always loved gardening. She once told me that there was something about planting and watching something grow, that made you feel accomplished. I never understood what digging through the soil could do for you, but she had always loved it. "The yard is beautiful," Colby said, after a minute of looking around. I smiled in agreement. There were chrysanthemums decorating the edge of the home, while Sweet Pea flowers, and honey suckle were scattered further out. She even had one of those old style concrete bird baths sitting in the middle. Her vegetable garden was beside the home, where it would get sun, but not too much. I remembered her telling me all of the little details that came with growing tomatoes, cucumbers, and cabbages. It wasn't as full as I remembered though. I assumed it was probably because she was getting older and couldn't take care of it like she used too. "Shit," I muttered, when I saw her step out onto her front porch. She had a smile on her weathered face, and was waving at me to come here. "Are you ready?" Colby asked quietly. I swallowed and nodded. No time like the present, I suppose.