Chapter 16
Wyatt Woods
A few days had passed since the tornado swept through Skybrook.
You couldn’t tell by how beautiful the weather was now, but just days earlier, the sky opened up and took its toll on our city.
The once tumultuous clouds that hung over us are now gone.
All that is left is a clear sky and the remnants of the destruction left in its path.
I stand outside and watch as the congregation members make their way in. It’s been a while since I’ve set foot in any church. After I lost my wife, I lost my faith. No one judged me for staying away. But now, I’m preparing to enter, as I’ve come to pay Clay Johnson and his family my last respects .
“Are you ready to go inside?” Valerie’s voice breaks me from my thoughts. She stood hand in hand with Emily. “You know, we don’t have to go.” I didn’t realize that I was hesitant.
“No. It’s fine.”
“Wyatt. People will understand if you don’t want to attend. Even though we’ve only known each other for a few short weeks, I understand your hesitation.” I closed my eyes and took a deep breath in and let the fresh air fill my lungs. When I opened them, a butterfly hovered near me.
Together, we watched as it landed on Emily’s nose.
Her eyes were filled with excitement, and she sat very still.
The butterfly’s wings were a swirl of colors: orange, black, and what looked like white spots.
Its wings flutter in a clapping motion. I thought it was going to leave us and fly away.
Instead, it left Emily and landed on Valerie’s shoulder.
“My grandmother always said butterflies could signify messages from deceased loved ones,” I said aloud.
“My mom said something similar. She told me butterflies symbolize a reminder of a spiritual connection to loved ones.” Valerie’s eyes met mine.
Without saying another word, she understood what I was feeling.
In my mind, Lauren was telling me to move on.
Emily held out her hand, I grasped it, and we walked inside the church.
As we entered, I felt a sense of peace, calmness, and understanding, knowing Lauren was with me in spirit.
The butterfly’s presence had given me the strength to move forward and embrace the support of those around me.
As soon as we entered, we saw there was no space to sit; we stood in the back and waited for the service to begin.
I picked up Emily and held her in my arms. As I scanned the warmly lit interior of the church, my gaze landed on the front pew.
As they sat quietly in conversation, my mother sat beside Mrs. Johnson—a comforting sight among the day’s solemnity .
This is especially true since we lost a stellar man in our community.
People took turns speaking, sharing stories about his unique sense of humor, hard work ethic, determination, and deep love for this town.
The minister delivered a heartfelt eulogy, emphasizing his positive impact on those around him.
His legacy would undoubtedly live on, inspiring future generations to strive for the same level of dedication and love for their neighborhood.
As the funeral came to a close, the choir sang a hymn.
The congregation joined in, their voices blending into a poignant melody that echoed through the church.
As the final notes faded, a sense of unity and shared grief filled the room, reminding everyone of the profound impact one’s life can have on an entire community.
Everyone slowly rose from their seats and exited the building.
The funeral procession would be preparing to head to the cemetery.
Once we were back outside, I took another deep breath.
I decided not to go to the cemetery, as that would have been too hard.
I paid my last respects to him at his funeral.
I opened the door to my truck and let Emily and Valerie take their seats.
Once Emily was buckled, I rounded the front of the automobile and got in.
A few minutes later, we pulled up to the front of the inn.
We awaited Devin’s arrival, ready to drive him to my house for a cozy dinner.
It had been a rough spell for him—first being sick, then weathering the impact of a tornado—so his outings had been few and far between.
I sensed he needed a change of scenery, so I invited him along with Valerie’s friends and family over to share a meal with my family.
It was my way of saying thank you for taking time out of their lives and helping my hometown.
They could have just gone back to San Francisco, but they stayed.
I was able to meet Valerie’s mother, Victoria.
I witnessed firsthand her unwavering commitment, as she dived in to give first aid to many townsfolk.
Even though Valerie said she grew up in a single-parent home, it was nice to see what a great support system she has with her mom and friends.
Once Devin got in, I took a scenic route on our way to the house. There was an air of silence between Valerie and Devin. I expected them to talk about their job, but neither of them did. I can only assume their job got put on hold.
When my house came into view, I was reminded how lucky most of us were to survive a severe tornado. I’m not so sure how lucky we’ll be the next time one comes around. As we exited the vehicle, Emily ran into the house.
“You have a beautiful home, Wyatt.”
“Thanks. Come on inside.” The steps creaked as we walked up to the front door.
“I’ve always loved wrap-around porches.”
“I suppose in your line of work, you always admire how things are constructed.”
“Guilty as charged. ”
“Devin does have an eye for craftsmanship.” Valerie beamed.
“Wyatt, can I ask you a question?” Devin gazed over the area where the barn once stood. “I wasn’t aware of the magnitude. Can you tell me how bad the tornado was?”
“Based on the enhanced Fujita scale, they recorded it as an EF3 with winds between 136 to 165 miles an hour.”
“Is this a record for this area when it comes to storm intensity?”
“Unfortunately, no. There are two more levels higher than that.”
“Shit!” He gulped. “How do you live with the danger?”
“Growing up here, you become accustomed to it. We all try to be prepared, just as you do for earthquakes.”
“Hmm. I’m not a fan of earthquakes either.”
As we stood in my front yard, a car pulled in and drove up the long driveway that led to my house. When it parked next to my truck, I recognized Valerie’s friends as they exited the SUV.
Devin was noticeably excited to meet one of the ladies. Valerie gushed about how they had dropped everything to be there as we waited for them to make their way up the steps.
They instantly started chatting once they were all on the porch.
A small breeze drifted through the air, causing Valerie to run her hands up and down her arms. I ushered them inside and offered them a drink.
Victoria passed me a bottle of wine, which I assumed was her way of saying thank you for saving Valerie.
A smile spread across my face, and I said thank you.
Valerie brought out a part of me that I had buried long ago. Without even knowing it, she made me want to love again. When she returns home, I will be deeply saddened. She’s a rare gem, and whoever she settles down with will be lucky to have her, I thought, as I stepped down the back porch steps.
After striking a match and lighting the charcoal, I allowed twenty minutes before I would throw the meat on the grill.
When I returned inside, the ladies were busy arranging the dishes they had bought and were trying to find serving plates and silverware.
I realized I hadn’t had this many people in the kitchen since Lauren’s wake.
Laughter and lively chatter echoed through the room, creating a sense of camaraderie that enveloped everyone.
It was as if the house, once silent and somber, had come alive with the vibrant energy of friendship.
The room was filled with comforting warmth.
I watched as Emily’s face lit up with joy, as the ladies invited her to join in preparing the dishes.
With an enormous smile, she eagerly gathered ingredients and listened attentively as they explained their recipes.
She even had one of the ladies get her age-appropriate knives my mom bought.
Her enthusiasm shone through as she chopped vegetables and stirred pots alongside them standing on a step stool.
My mother and father walked into the kitchen and saw the room was filled with laughter and activity.
Mom beamed with delight, taking in the joyful scene, while dad quietly chuckled, clearly pleased by the lively atmosphere.
They exchanged knowing glances, as if silently acknowledging how much this gathering meant to all of us.
“Can I help?” My mother asked.
“Nope. We have it handled. Would you like a glass of wine?” Toni replied.
“I’m not much of a wine drinker, but I’ll have a beer.”
“I’ll have a little.” My mother illustrated her point by using her forefinger and thumb.
“Name your poison, Wyatt.”
“Just a glass of iced tea, please.”
“That’s right, you never know when you’ll be called out.” I nodded to Toni .
I took the tray of meat out of the fridge and stepped outside to get some fresh air.
I felt a small surge of jealousy of Valerie’s closeness to her friends.
Quite frankly, I was embarrassed about isolating myself for far too long.
I realize now that I was doing more harm than good, and was afraid it was going to affect Emily in the long run.
I plopped the seasoned steaks on the grill.
Within a few minutes, I could smell the aroma of the meat sizzling.
The savory scent made my mouth water. I took a deep breath of the crisp evening air, savoring the moment and feeling a sense of contentment wash over me.
I heard the screen door bang, alerting me that someone had exited the house.
I turned the steaks over, ensuring they were evenly cooked.
I could hear the sound of laughter and conversation filtering out of the house.
“Hey.” Valerie’s voice came from behind me.
She looked beautiful in a short, flowing sundress and her cowboy boots.
Her smile was infectious, and I couldn’t help but return it.
She walked over and wrapped an arm around my waist, leaning in to give me a quick peck on the cheek.
“How’s it going?” She asked softly, her eyes twinkling with warmth.
“It’s going well.” I knew I was horrible at hiding my feelings.
Somehow, in my heart of hearts, I knew she needed to go home.
She had no ties here. She was a city girl through and through.
What we had between the two of us was just a fling.
She was filling her spare time with me, nothing more.
She was destined for bigger and better things.
I knew that, but I couldn’t help and wish she’d stay.
The thought of her leaving left a bitter taste in my mouth.
“Is something wrong?”
“Nope.”
“Are my friends a bit too much? I know it can take a little time to get used to them. They are better in small doses.” She poked at my chest. “See what I did there, I made a doctor’s reference.” The corner of my mouth lifted slightly. “Okay, it was corny. But it wasn’t that bad, was it?”
Here she was, being cute and funny and I was ready to be an ass. I desperately needed not to become so attached. “When are you leaving town?”
Her face changed from a full smile to a blank canvas as she stared up at me, trying to gauge my intentions. “Why do you ask?” Her voice was tinged with confusion and a hint of hurt. I need to tone it down a notch.
“I’m only asking because I know this trip is temporary and you need to return home soon.” She dropped her hands from my waist and stood back.
“At this point, I might be leaving sooner than later. Right now, I’m just waiting to hear from my employer.” She turned and walked back up the steps to the house and slammed the screen door shut .
I mumbled under my breath, “Fuck! Why am I like this? Maybe she had a point about me having a dissociative identity disorder.” I shook my head at my stupidity and quickly pulled the steaks from the grill.