Chapter 15
Katelyn
“You packed your uniform? Cleats? What about sandals for the shower?” I ask as I stand in front of Thomas. The sky is still dark overhead, but despite the early hour, my boy’s eyes are wide and bright.
At least two dozen other teenage boys are also standing here in front of the school bus, saying goodbye to parents who are likely far less neurotic than I am.
I can’t help it. This is the first time since he was born that Thomas will be away from me for longer than a few hours. Six nights and five full days.
How am I going to survive? Lord, please protect him.
“Yes, Mom,” he replies with a laugh. “I triple checked everything.”
“Okay.” My stomach is a pit of rocks, and I’m doing everything I can not to let the tears fall.
Not until he is on that bus and out of sight of me.
As soon as I’m alone, all bets are off. “I got you something.” Reaching into my purse, I withdraw the cell phone I’d bought for him as a surprise when he’d been at school on Friday. “On an actual plan, no hours needed.”
“Seriously?” His eyes widen, and he takes it from me, pressing the power button on the side. The screen illuminates, and he stares down at it like I just handed him the keys to the city.
“I thought it was time. Especially with this trip. But, you’d better promise me you remember everything from our internet safety talk. No social media and absolutely no photographs shared anywhere or to anyone, deal? You use it to call and text me or play games. That’s it.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he replies and pockets it, then withdraws the simple flip phone I’d purchased at a gas station last year. After handing it to me, he pulls me in for a big hug. Even at thirteen, he’s nearly as tall as I am. Another few months and he’ll likely pass me completely.
My sweet boy is growing up, and I have to be okay with that.
Grateful for it, even.
So why does my chest ache?
“Thanks so much, Mom.”
“You’re welcome.” My treacherous eyes fill, and I quickly blink the tears away.
“Are you going to be okay?” he asks as he pulls back.
“Oh yeah.” I force a smile. “I’m going to be just fine. You go and have the best time.”
“Mom, I can sta—”
“Don’t you dare finish that sentence.” I grip either side of his face, my thumbs stroking his cheeks. I don’t care that his friends can see; this is my boy. My wonderful, smart, strong son. “You go and have fun, Thomas Ellis. Do you hear me?”
He grins at me again. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Good.” I plant a kiss on his forehead, then release him.
Thomas hoists his duffel bag up and steps away. “See ya, Mr. Holt!” he calls out, waving at someone behind me.
Garrison? What is he doing here?
“See ya. Have a great time, Thomas,” he replies.
Garrison’s voice shouldn’t have brought me comfort.
It shouldn’t have made me feel less alone as I say goodbye to my only child.
Yet, it does, and it did.
I band one arm around my waist, then wave to Thomas as he climbs onto the bus. He takes a seat near one of the windows, already chatting happily with the other boys on the bus.
Swallowing back tears that are searing my throat, I close my eyes.
Lord, please watch over my boy. Please keep him safe, guide him to make good choices, and bring him home to me safe. God, please. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
I open my eyes just in time to see the bus pull away.
Thomas waves at me, his bright smile beaming.
I wave back, and as soon as I see nothing but tail lights, I wipe my wet cheeks and turn toward Garrison.
He’s seated on the short brick fence in front of the school, with an understanding smile on his face.
“Sorry, I didn’t want to intrude, but I also knew this was going to be hard. Friends are there for each other, right?”
I laugh, appreciating his playful tone more than I’d like to admit. “Yes. That is true. And thanks, if you weren’t here, I’d probably be sitting on the curb, rocking and bawling my eyes out.”
Garrison flashes me a smile. “Glad I can be of service.” His expression softens. “Are you okay?”
“Not really,” I reply. It doesn’t help that my night was riddled with nightmares, thanks to the way I’d opened up to the man in front of me. I’d gotten hardly any sleep then said goodbye to the one constant in my life.
It might only be a week, but it feels like forever.
“Then come with me.”
I arch a brow. “And where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise,” he replies with a smile. “Come on. Don’t you trust me?”
More than I should. Even though the voice in my head is screaming that I’m about to enter uncharted waters, trying to be friends with a man like Garrison Holt, I take that first step anyway.
After driving for nearly twenty minutes, Garrison guides his truck off the main road and onto a dirt side road. My heart jumps in my chest, not out of fear but out of anticipation for what’s to come. He hasn’t given anything away, but with each mile we drive, I find the excitement building.
With the sun just beginning to creep over the horizon, the world has a glow to it. Rays of color paint the sky, and as always with a sunrise, I sit in awe of the world God created for us.
The pain of letting Thomas get on that bus has eased just enough, thanks to the distraction and the fact that he’s already texted me half a dozen times, thanking me and telling me he was already having so much fun.
We round a corner, and an olive-green truck comes into view. Three brightly colored kayaks are resting beside it, a man standing in front of them. I recognize Sawyer instantly, and my excitement turns into pure delight.
How did Garrison know kayaking is on my bucket list?
I’ve never told anyone.
Garrison parks the truck and turns to me. “You up for an adventure, Katelyn Ellis?”
His grin ignites another wave of attraction in me, and I can’t help but smile back. “Absolutely.”
We sit there a moment too long, our gazes holding, until Sawyer knocks on Garrison’s window. With a laugh, Garrison opens his door and climbs out.
“Oh good, I thought you drove out here to just sit in your truck.” Sawyer turns to me. “Hey, Pepper.”
I snort at the nickname. “Hey, Sawyer.”
“You ever been kayaking before?” he asks.
“I can safely say I have not,” I reply.
“Really?” Garrison questions, seemingly surprised at my confession.
“Really. I never had the chance before Thomas, and—well—after, I just didn’t have the time.”
Garrison’s expression darkens a bit in understanding. There’s not a lot of time for adventure when you’re a single mom.
“Look at that! We got a newbie with us!” Sawyer exclaims. “I tried to get Anastasia out here today, but she’s a party pooper. Come on, let’s get you in a life jacket, then let’s get on the water.”
As he walks away, we follow. Sawyer offers us each a life jacket, then slips into his. I’ve just finished buckling mine in the front when Garrison turns to me.
“Good?” he asks.
“I think so.” I check my buckles. “First-timer all the way around here.”
Garrison laughs, low and deep, and the sound echoes through me like the richest type of dessert. The kind that you know is bad for you, yet you can’t seem to stop eating. “Here, let me help.”
He grabs the front of my straps and tightens them, cinching down so the brightly colored life jacket sits snug against my body. And then he looks down at me, his dark gaze locking on mine, his hands still on the straps of my jacket.
We’re mere inches away, and the tension between us grows with every beat of my heart.
Oh boy.
“You guys ready to go?” Sawyer calls out.
His voice cuts through the moment, and Garrison pulls away.
I take a second to breathe, drawing in the fresh air as my heart rate begins to slow.
Just friends with Garrison? It should be easy, right?
As soon as I can trust myself to walk, I move toward the edge of the water, where Garrison and Sawyer are both prepping the kayaks.
“This is for your phone,” Garrison says as he hands me a waterproof bag on a lanyard. “I figured you wouldn’t want to leave it in the truck just in case Thomas needs you.”
Swoon. Thoughtful too? Fantastic.
“Thanks so much. You would be right.” I slip my phone inside, seal it up, then slip it around my neck. “He’s going to be so jealous when he hears that I did this.”
“Well, we’ll have to bring the kid with us next time, won’t we?” Sawyer says with a grin. “That is if you enjoy it enough to want to go again.”
I stare out at the water. Tall grass sprouts through the top, breaking the glassy surface. There are no loud sounds, no hustle or bustle, just—life. Beautiful, peaceful life. Which is something I haven’t felt in a long, long time.
“I have a feeling I’m going to love it,” I reply, my gaze landing on Garrison. Yeah, I have a feeling about you, too.
“Good. Let’s get out there then.” Sawyer claps his hands together.
“The most important thing about kayaking is to keep your balance,” Garrison explains.
“It can tip if you lean too far from one side to the other. Aside from that, you alternate sides as you row.” He lifts a paddle and demonstrates.
“We won’t hit any rough water, so you’re good there. Any questions?”
“I’ve always been a learn by doing kind of person,” I reply with a grin in his direction.
Garrison returns my smile. “I knew there was a reason we were friends.”
Friends. There’s that word again. I asked for it—insisted even. So why am I starting to wish we could be so much more?