Chapter 7 Dakota
CHAPTER SEVEN
Dakota
Days have passed in a blur of boxes, dust, and memories I can’t seem to escape. The house feels even more suffocating now that I’m here again.
I never thought it would be like this.
I can’t even get anything done for work because the Internet is slow. It’s almost utterly unbearable.
The smell of old wood and stale air clings to everything, and it presses down on me like a hundred-pound blanket.
But it’s what I have to do. I have no choice but to clear it all out, or I’ll never sell this place.
I wipe my hands on my jeans, brushing away the dust from an old bookshelf I’m sorting through. There are boxes piled high in every corner, filled with things I should have gotten rid of years ago.
Old furniture, broken trinkets, and photos I haven’t dared look at in a long time. My grandfather’s life is now reduced to piles of junk.
Junk and a box that is giving me a sense of déjà vu, and I don’t know why…
I grab it, lifting the lid of a box, the cardboard creaking under my hands, and inside I find an assortment of old photographs. Some are of me as a little girl, back when my world was still small and simple, before I made the decision to leave Colter Creek. Before the past started to grow heavy.
I pull out one photo in particular. It’s from the summer I turned ten. There’s a wide smile on my face, my hair a mess of curls, and I’m holding up a fish, grinning like I’ve just caught the biggest one in the river.
My grandfather’s standing beside me, his arms crossed, and that same proud smile on his face.
I hold the photo in my hands for a moment, my fingers tracing the edges, feeling the weight of it in a way that’s almost physical.
It’s strange how the past can feel so far away, and yet so close. The ache of it is sharp, a quiet sting in my chest.
Charlie breaks through my thoughts, his small form appearing in the doorway. “Mama, what’s that?”
I glance up, forcing a smile as he walks over to me, his bare feet making soft slaps on the floor. I show him the photo, and his curious blue eyes widen with interest.
“That’s me when I was about ten years old,” I say. “That was the summer I caught my first fish.”
Charlie’s eyes narrow in focus, as if trying to picture me as a child. “You caught a fish?”
I laugh, a genuine sound this time, feeling the tension ease a little. “I did. And your grandpa was so proud of me. We spent the whole afternoon down at the creek. I remember it like it was yesterday.”
“You look so happy, Mama.”
“I was,” I reply, thick with nostalgia. “Your grandpa always made sure we had fun when I was little. He’d take me fishing, hiking, even camping under the stars.”
“Camping?” Charlie is full of wonder. “Can we go camping? Can we sleep under the stars like you did?”
I feel a pang in my chest, a reminder of the dreams I’ve put on hold. “We can, sweetheart. I promise, we’ll go camping. We’ll sleep under the stars. When the weather is right for it.”
Charlie grins, and a weight lifts off my chest just from seeing him happy. But then he seems distracted by something else and runs out of the room.
I shake my head, amused, and turn back to the photo in my hand.
It’s strange how a simple thing, a photograph, a memory, can bring you back to a time you thought you’d forgotten. A time that seemed so innocent, so full of possibility.
I pull out a few more photos, some of my mom, some of me and my friends before I left Colter Creek. There’s one of me and Violet, grinning in front of the old diner after we’d spent the day hanging out by the creek.
We were inseparable back then, the kind of friends who thought nothing would ever change. That summer felt like the best of everything. Long days, warm nights, the smell of fresh cut grass and campfires.
And yet… that same summer, everything started to shift. I can almost feel it in my chest, that moment when I knew things were different, that something was about to change forever.
As I sit there, lost in these old moments, I hear Charlie again, louder this time as he bounds back into the room, holding up a toy truck in his hands.
“Mama! Look what I found!” He grins, showing off the truck like it’s the most amazing thing in the world.
I smile back. It’s a simple moment, but somehow it feels like everything. I reach for him, pulling him onto my lap and kissing the top of his head.
“That was one of your grandpa’s old toys,” I say softly. “I used to play with that when I was a little girl. I bet he’d be happy to know you’re having fun with it now.”
Charlie’s eyes widen as if it’s some kind of magical revelation. “Really?”
I nod. “Really. It’s a family toy. It’s been passed down.”
Charlie hugs it to his chest, and I feel a warmth spread through me. “I love it, Mom!”
His excitement fills the room, and I let myself forget all the worries that have been pressing down on me. I let myself enjoy the simplicity of this.
My little boy, in this old house, holding onto a toy from the past—a thread connecting my present to something I never thought I’d return to.
And then, just as the quiet settles around us, there’s a knock at the door.
I glance toward the sound, my heart giving an unexpected little flutter. It’s almost as if the world outside has been waiting to knock at my door.
I gently set Charlie down and head toward the door.
I open it, and there stands Violet.
“Hey, hope you don’t mind us dropping by.”
“Us?”
“I’m here, too.”
I freeze, and when I turn, there stands Alice, her warm brown eyes meeting mine. It’s been so long since I last saw her, but seeing her feels like coming home. Her smile is just as kind, and there’s that quiet strength in her gaze that I’ve always admired.
“Alice,” I say, my words catching for just a second. “It’s really good to see you.”
She steps forward, and before I can even think about it, she wraps me in a hug. It’s a slow, intense embrace, and it’s a balm to all the rawness I’ve been carrying around.
“I’m so glad you’re back,” Alice says softly as she pulls away, holding me at arm’s length to look me over. “We’ve all missed you here, Dakota.”
I nod, blinking away the unexpected mist in my eyes. “I’ve missed you all, too.”
She looks down at Charlie, who’s holding his toy truck up for her to see.
“And this must be Charlie,” she says, crouching down to his level. “It’s so nice to finally meet you, sweet boy.”
Charlie smiles, holding out the truck proudly. “Mama says this was hers when she was little.”
Alice’s eyes twinkle with warmth as she takes the toy truck in her hand. “Well, I’m sure your mama was quite the little cowboy herself.”
She winks at Charlie, and his face lights up even more.
I smile. Alice has always had a way of making people feel at ease, and seeing her here now, like no time has passed, makes everything seem just a little bit easier.
“Are you planning on coming to the Harvest Parade today?” Violet asks, a bright grin tugging at the corners of her mouth.
I blink, surprised by the sudden mention of it. The Harvest Parade.
It’s something I used to look forward to every year. The excitement of the town coming together, the bands playing, the smell of funnel cakes and fresh popcorn wafting in the air.
It’s been so long since I’ve even thought about it.
“Wow, I forgot it was today,” I say, looking over at Charlie. He’s already jumping around with excitement, clearly thrilled at the thought of something festive. “I guess… maybe?”
“You can’t miss it!” Violet says, practically bouncing. “It’s the best day of the year in Colter Creek. We used to go every year, remember?”
“I want to go!” Charlie bellows. “A parade!”
I laugh. His enthusiasm is contagious, and I feel myself melting just a little. “Alright, alright. Looks like we’re going. Let’s get ready, Charlie.”
Violet and I walk behind Charlie and Alice, since he’s so keen to hold her hand. He’s clearly already adopted her as family.
“He’s just like you, huh?” Violet laughs. “He loves my mom.”
“How could he not? She’s awesome.”
We reach the town quickly, and the streets are already filling with people—families, kids with balloons, and couples strolling hand in hand. It’s like the entire town has come alive, and I can’t help but feel a little swept up in it.
Charlie’s pointing at everything. “Look! Look, Mama! There’s a float! There’s the band! And candy! Can we get candy?”
I chuckle, nodding. “Sure, kiddo, we’ll get some candy.”
As we wander into the main square, I feel a twinge of nostalgia. The town feels different, but still the same. The smell of popcorn, the sound of the marching band playing in the distance.
This is Colter Creek in its full parade glory.
Charlie is vibrating with excitement as the music picks up. The first float starts moving, and the parade gets into full swing.
Violet leans toward me. “Remember when we used to argue about which float was the best? You always said the cowboy float was the best, and I said the one with the animals.”
I grin, my mind slipping back to those carefree days. “You’re still wrong. The cowboy float is the best.”
But I have to admit, it’s all pretty good. Sure, New York has its own fun. There’s always a lot to do, a lot going on, and parades too, but Colter Creek will always have a place in my heart.
I guess I just didn’t realize until now how big that part really is.