CHAPTER FOUR
COHEN
The gravel crunches under my tires as I turn into the driveway. Granny’s white farmhouse sits nestled at the base of Roman Mountain, pretty as a picture. We call this house Lark’s Nest since the larger family home is called Lark’s Meadow.
I always loved coming to visit her at this old house. This is where our farm began, where our family has thrived for well over one hundred years.
A large field stretches out from the front yard. The morning light hits the fog, or as locals call it, smoke, as it rises off the mountains and cascades across the pastures. I take it all in with a sense of familial pride.
This old house was waiting for some new life.
Iris was supposed to let Kyla know that someone was going to stop by to check on things. I don’t think anything will be wrong, but no one has stayed here for a very long time. I want to ensure that everything is safe for Kyla and Laney.
“Who’s here?” Corbin asks as he sits up in the seat a little higher, leaning forward, getting closer to the windshield as if that will help him figure out whose old truck is parked at our grandmother’s house.
“Well, I’ll be,” he mutters. “Is it fence girl? She stayed?”
“Truck girl,” I correct. “It appears that they did.”
My brother’s eyes cut to mine and narrow thoughtfully.
I fight the grin on my lips and fail. He misses nothing.
“Uh, huh. Well, let’s see what truck girl is all about.” Corbin chuckles before he leans back in his seat and starts tucking his shirt into his belted pants. “Is she single?” He laughs again, and I stretch my arm across the cab of the truck and punch him in the shoulder hard.
“Cut it out,” I mutter. When I see the screen door burst open and Laney barreling out like a tornado onto the porch, my smile is beaming. Kyla comes out right behind her, a look of concern on her face. She reaches Laney and just manages to grab her hand before she makes it down the steps.
I pull around half of the circular drive and watch Kyla. When she realizes it’s me, she gifts me with a small smile.
I open the door, but before I can get out, Corbin says, “Are you smiling? Now I see why you were hoping Iris could get them to stay. Truck girl is a looker.”
I ignore my brother and head toward the house.
“Good morning, Cohen,” Kyla calls out with a wave.
I forgot just how much fondness I carry for this old place.
Being here brings back so many great memories.
I can still see my brothers and our cousin Ace Alexander riding horses in this pasture on those endless sunny summer days.
We’d help Granny in her garden and were rewarded with sweet tea afterwards.
We would catch lightning bugs while Granny swung on the front porch.
We would rake the field oak leaves and jump into the piles and build snowmen in the winter.
Our holidays were spent here with everyone that we loved.
I miss the love that this old farmhouse used to bring to all of us. It’s good to see someone here again.
I stop at the edge of the pathway and soak them in as the sun shines on Kyla’s golden-brown hair, silhouetting her like a halo. Beautiful.
“Good morning, Kyla.” Then I direct my attention to Laney. “Good morning to you, young lady.”
Laney waves excitedly. “Good morning. The fries were really good. I want them again today.”
I laugh at her enthusiasm. “I told you. Next time get the strawberry cake.”
Her eyes go wide, and she looks up at her mom. “Can we, Mommy?”
“I’m sure we can later.” She pats Laney’s hand that she’s still holding. “It’s nice to see you again, Cohen. What brings you here?” She holds her free hand up, shielding her eyes from the sun as it moves out from behind the clouds.
“Kyla, this is my brother, Corbin.” I gesture to said brother, who has a shit-eating grin plastered on his face. Jeez. He’s as subtle as a bomb.
“Corbin Roman, this is Kyla Webster and her daughter, Laney.”
Corbin lifts his hand and waves. “Good morning. I see Aunt Iris talked you into staying.”
“She was too kind to refuse,” Kyla quietly answers. “She’s a good woman.”
“I agree,” I chime in. I knew when I called Iris and told her that Kyla and Laney might show up and could possibly need a hand that Iris would work her magic on them.
Iris is hard to say no to. “I told Iris I would stop by today and check the electrical panel, and I also want to look at the water heater and the heat pump. It’s been a while since anyone has stayed here, so I’d feel better knowing everything is in working order. ”
Kyla grins, and there’s that tug again. It’s this soft little pull in my chest when she smiles at me like that.
“That sounds good. I was just about to make pancakes and bacon. Iris gave us the ingredients from the diner last night, since we got here so late. Would you want to eat with us?”
Before I can reply, Corbin does. “We’d love to.” He smirks at Kyla then turns and winks at me before following both the girls inside.
I roll my eyes at my brother before heading to the bed of my truck and grabbing my small tool bag, but as I hear the screen door open, a little voice calls, “Come on in, Cohen. Mommy makes good pancakes with homemade syrup.”
“Right behind you, Laney.”
There’s that feeling again but different, a tiny pull this time. It reaches a deeper place within my chest. A place that I never realized until this moment felt a little empty.