Flashback Two
Tucker
Then – Three Weeks Since She Left
“There you are,” Whitney calls, running down the hallway to meet me at the front door. “Your phone’s been going crazy.” She hauls the screen door open, almost knocking me over as I struggle to keep my balance, pulling my feet from my boots with a chuckle.
“Hey, watch where you’re swinging that door, kid.”
“Here,” she says, thrusting the phone into my hand the second I’m upright. “Can I say hello when you call her back?”
There are several texts from friends, and a few random notifications, but there’s only one I care about: one missed call from my sweetheart.
My heart is in my throat—we’ve been trying to call one another for days now.
I don’t remember the last time I went this long without hearing her voice or her sweet laugh.
It’s a foreign feeling, this longing.
Half of me wants to hit redial immediately, praying she’ll pick up right away and we’ll move past whatever this is.
But the other half is fearful—once we’ve got the niceties out the way, she’ll ask for an update, quiet excitement weaving through her words as it always does, and I’ll only let her down with an unsure and noncommittal response—I’ve just got a few things left to help Mom out with, so I need a little longer or I can’t say for sure, but soon, I promise.
I don’t blame her in the least for pulling back a little every time I give her an answer like that, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t still hurt like hell knowing I’m causing her pain.
So, the fearful part wins out, as it has the past several days.
“I’ve gotta take Hudson to school, Whit, and you better be off soon, too. Where’s your school stuff?”
She pouts, giving me her best attempt at puppy dog eyes. “Can’t we just call her quickly? I miss her.”
There’s an ache in my chest as she says the last three words, because fuck, I miss her, too. But I can’t do this right now, and certainly not in front of my sister. I put a gentle hand on her shoulder and give her a small smile.
“I know, I miss her, too. But now isn’t the best time, okay? We’ve gotta get moving.”
My sister’s head drops forward, her shoulders sagging. “Okay.” I give her shoulder a squeeze, unable to say anything else on the subject.
“Would you find Hudson for me, please? And tell him to make sure he has his homework today.”
I know the way I’m treating Gracie isn’t fair, but it’s all I have to give her right now.
I want nothing more than to pack up and drive to Chicago, to have her in my arms again, but my family needs me.
They’ve lost so much. With Rhett back out on the circuit, and Dad gone, I’m all they’ve got.
I’ll find my way to Chicago soon. I just need Gracie to wait for me until I do.