Chapter 14
Austin
The gentle warmth of the morning sun streaming through the large windows of my bedroom wake me up slowly. The modern, minimalist decor reflects my need for simplicity and order. Getting out of my warm bed I go to the bathroom to do my business and then head into my similarly minimal kitchen. As I brew my coffee, the scent makes my mind naturally wander to Violet, replaying yesterday. Her smile, the way she made me feel something other than desire for the first time in years. The way she started feeling comfortable with me and flirted back.
She is the one. I know she has baggage, but who doesn’t?
I haven’t been able to stop thinking about what Josy told me. Violet had an awful experience in her last relationship, and I imagine that she is not ready to start something with anyone.
I want to know more about her life, what she likes, what she desires, and I want to make sure that I can give her everything she wants. Starting with showing her that I am not like her ex-husband.
That I am so much more for her… That I can be her and Adrian’s…everything.
I linger over breakfast, enjoying the calm before the day picks up. Today, I’m heading to visit my parents—something I always look forward to. They’ve been together for 35 years, a real example of love and commitment. Watching them has always set the bar high for me. I think that’s part of the reason I haven’t settled down yet—I want what they have, the real thing.
After breakfast, I head to my room to get ready. I take a quick shower and throw on a pair of jeans and a simple black shirt. As I walk out to the garage, I catch sight of a car slowly creeping down the street. The sun’s glare makes it hard to see who’s behind the wheel, but as the car gets closer, I get my first look at the driver.
I sigh because it’s none other than Megan. I haven’t seen her since that Friday night a month ago at the Tavern. I nod my head at her as a simple acknowledgment, but she takes it as an invitation to stop and talk to me.
At my driveway, she rolls her window down.
“Hi, Austin. How are you?”
“I’m doing great, heading out. What about you?”
“I was going to the grocery store when I saw you and wanted to say hi.”
“Well, I hope you have a great day,” I say, dismissing her.
“I was wondering, would you like to grab lunch one of these days?”
“I’m sorry, but I am not interested. Thanks for the offer.”
“Come on, Austin. Why can’t you give me a chance?”
“Megan, how many times have I told you that I’m not interested? I really appreciate the invite, but I don’t want to give you the wrong impression if we go and eat together.”
“Why? Because now you’re interested in the new barista?” Megan says with disdain.
“What?” I asked perplexed. What the fuck?
“Yeah. That’s what everyone in town is talking about. How you go to Josy’s coffee shop every day and have all hearts in your eyes as you lovingly stare at the new barista.”
“Really? Well, I guess that’s my problem, not yours. And if you remember, I haven’t been interested in you for a very long time.”
“You know what? Whatever. It’s your loss,” Megan replies as she rolls her window up and drives away.
I shake my head, frustrated by the encounter. Megan has always been persistent, but my feelings for her have never matched her interest in me. Now, with Violet in the picture, I’m even less inclined to entertain Megan’s advances. I get into my car and head toward my parents' house, hoping that the time with them will help clear my mind, because apparently everyone knows about my attraction to Violet.
Damn It. Fucking small towns and their meddling people.
Driving through the Honey Springs countryside is always a pleasure. The rolling hills, dense forests, and scenic views feel like something out of a postcard, offering a quiet escape from the day to day. With my favorite playlist filling the car, I find myself thinking about Violet. Her laugh, and that brief, vulnerable moment she shared it all lingers in my mind.
I pull into my parents’ driveway, their suburban house looking just as inviting as ever. The garden is in full bloom, and the lawn is trimmed to perfection. The familiar sight instantly puts me at ease. As soon as I step out of the car, my mom, Elsie, and dad, Jordan, come out to greet me. Mom’s silver-streaked auburn hair frames her kind face, always calm and graceful. Dad, with his salt-and-pepper beard and mischievous eyes, still has that spark of humor and love for life. The scent of freshly baked cookies drifts from the house, completing the perfect homecoming scene.
“Hey, Mom, Dad,” I say, embracing them.
“Hi, Austin. It’s so good to see you!” my mom exclaims, her smile lighting up her face.
I go to my dad and give him a hug as well. “Come, let's go inside, boy.”
“Lead the way, old man.”
“Old man, my ass,” my dad retorts, and we both laugh.
Inside, the house is filled with family photos and memorabilia. The coziness of the living room and the familiar scent of my mom’s cooking make me feel instantly at home. We settle down with coffee and cookies. My mom starts her usual gentle interrogation.
“So, Austin, are there any nice women in your life yet? I need grandchildren, you know,” she says, her eyes flicker with mischief. “And the town does talk…especially about the new girl down at Josy’s coffee shop.”
I laugh. “Really, Mom. You want to start there?
She just glares at me and smiles as she says, “Well, yes.”
I know I won’t win with her nosiness, so I go ahead and begin. “Okay, fine, since you all seem to know… There’s someone new in town who I’ve been thinking a lot about lately.”
“Oh? Tell us more. Who is she?” my dad asks, leaning in with interest.
“Her name is Violet. She’s...different. Special,” I reply, feeling a warmth spread through me as I talk about her.
“You sound serious. What makes her so special?” my dad asks.
“She’s strong, resilient. A great mom to her son, Adrian, from what I have seen. She is also beautiful. But she comes from a horrible marriage, and I need to tread carefully,” I admit, feeling a sense of certainty I haven’t felt before.
“Well, if you think that she might be worth the wait, then you have to have patience. All great things come with time. Show her what an amazing man you are. I think any woman would be lucky to have you.”
“You think so, Mom?”
“I’m certain. I’m so glad that you have a woman in mind. I’m getting old, and I need grandbabies soon. I don’t want to be too old to play with them, so you better hurry up. And it’s good she already has a son, I can get a head start on spoiling him.”
“Yeah, yeah, Mom. You are not even old, besides you have grandchildren already,” I say.
My two sisters, Elena and Hailey, have two kids each. My youngest brother Beckett doesn’t have any, but he's only twenty five and recently finished college, so I don’t see him having any kids soon.
“That’s what I always tell her. She looks stunning, and she doesn’t even look a year older than fifty,” my dad chimes in.
“Come on, Jordan, don’t lie to me. Those love glasses you have on don’t let you see me right, and your sisters' kids don’t count. I want to have grandbabies from you,” my mom says lovingly to my dad and me.
“I say it as I see it. You are the most beautiful woman on this earth,” My dad says to my mom as he winks at her.
“Dad, stop flirting with my mom.”
“Boy, you watch and learn. This is how you have to treat your woman. Every day, let her know that she is beautiful and special.”
I laugh; my dad is incorrigible. Always flirting and saying sweet things to my mom. But I love it because I can see the love they have for each other. If I met the right woman, and I think I have, I would definitely treat her the same way my dad treats my mom. They are the perfect example of how I imagined what being in love would look like.
Sunday rolls around with clear skies, perfect for the kind of day I’ve been needing. I meet Noah and Esteban down by the river, a spot we’ve been coming to for years. The water’s calm, there are trees surrounding us, and the sound of nature beats the chaos of the week by a long shot. It’s a good day to just unwind and hang out with my boys. Fishing, cracking jokes, no rush—exactly what I’ve been craving.
“How was the visit with your parents?” Noah asks, casting his line into the water.
“Great. We talked a lot. My mom’s eager for grandkids and is constantly asking me to find a wife,” I reply with a chuckle.
Both idiots laugh because they know my mom and her meddling.
“Did you tell them that you found the love of your life?” Noah asks
“I mentioned Violet to them, I want to prepare them, because mark my words, I will marry that woman and I will make her happy. Making my mother happy is not my top concern right now, but I would love to grow a family with her, give Adrian some siblings one day.”
“She sounds like she’s made quite an impression,” Esteban comments, reeling in a small fish.
“She has. I can’t stop thinking about her,” I admit, feeling a sense of determination.
“Man, you got it bad,” Esteban says, shaking his head.
“Yeah, our boy finally found his woman. Now we are left to fend for ourselves,” Noah adds with a grin.
“Yeah, more ladies for us to choose from,” Esteban jokes while I shake my head at their antics.
“Like you need more women,” I say to Esteban.
“You know I love to have a nice time with the ladies. There’s no shame in being honest. I love woman and with you out of the picture, I guess theres more to choose.”
“Whatever, dude,” I say to my crazy friend.
“What did your mom say when you told her about Violet?” Noah inquires.
“She was happy and told me to take it easy and have patience.”
“That’s great advice,” Esteban says while nodding his head.
“So, what’s up with you guys? How is work?” I ask, changing the subject.
“Work is work. We’ve been busy doing renovations for the Bakers, and next we have to work on adding an extension for Mr. and Mrs. Knight,” Noah replies.
“So, work has been amazingly steady. Too busy all week, I end up tired as fuck. That’s why we haven’t met at the Tavern. We are getting old, man,” Esteban says.
“I guess that’s life. I’m busy too, and I’ll give you more work with the new projects I’ve been working on,” I say, feeling the weight of my responsibilities. My best friends and I depend on our mutual referrals to have steady jobs.
“Yeah, that’s great, man,” Noah responds, casting his line again.
As we settle into the rhythm of fishing, the conversation flows naturally. We talk about work, life, and everything in between. Despite the jokes and banter, I can’t help but think about Violet. The way she smiled, the way she looked at me. She’s been through so much, and I want to show her that not all men are like her ex-husband. I want to be there for her and Adrian, to give them the stability and love they deserve.
“Hey, you’re awfully quiet,” Noah remarks, nudging me.
“Just thinking,” I reply with a smile.
“About Violet, no doubt,” Esteban teases.
“Yeah,” I admit. “I just want to get to know her better, to be there for her.”
“You will, man. Just take it one step at a time,” Noah advises.
“I know, it’s just that this week at our lunch meeting, everything was going great. I tried flirting a little bit, asked her questions about her life, and she flirted back. But all of a sudden, I noticed she changed. It was like she realized what we were doing and stopped.”
“So maybe she didn’t feel comfortable after she realized she was responding to your advances,” Noah suggests.
“Yeah, she probably needs more time, bro,” Esteban adds.
“Keep talking to her and get to know her better. She probably needs to know that you’re serious about your attraction. Maybe she’s used to being treated poorly, and you need to show her that you’re different,” Noah continues.
“Yeah, I think she needs to see that you’re really into her and that you’re capable of being something she hasn’t had before,” Esteban agrees.
“Wow, when did you motherfuckers get so philosophical?” I say with a chuckle.
“Bro, we’ve always been smart,” Esteban says with a grin.
“I know. Josy told me that she was in an abusive marriage. I’m certain that it left scars on her heart,” I say to the guys.
“That explains why she didn’t feel comfortable flirting with you,” Esteban says.
“Yeah. That’s what I figured,” I say.
“Changing the subject, did you know that Eva is moving back to Honey Springs next summer?” Noah says, referring to his little sister. She left Honey Springs when she went to college and said she wasn’t coming back. I really don’t know what happened to make her change her mind. She’s a lot younger than us, so we always saw her as a little sister. But when she took off… Well, I’ve always wondered why.
“I thought she wasn’t coming back from Florida. What happened?” I ask.
“She finishes her master’s degree next May and told my mom that she misses Honey Springs,” Noah explains.
“Really? That’s surprising. She seemed so determined to stay away,” I say, intrigued.
“Yeah, she did. But I guess she realized there’s no place like home,” Noah says with a shrug. “She’s planning to start her own business here, something to do with organic skincare products. She’s really passionate about it.”
“That’s awesome. It’ll be good to have her back,” Esteban says, genuinely happy for Noah and his family.
“Yeah, it will be. Mom’s already planning a big welcome home party,” Noah says with a laugh.
“I bet she will love that,” Esteban says chuckling.
“Right!” Noah replies sarcastically.
As we continue to fish and chat, I can’t help but think about how life in Honey Springs seems to be changing. People are coming back, new connections are being made, and maybe, there’s a chance for something with Violet. One step at a time.