5. Reese
Reese
Stormwatch Landing is just how I remembered it.
Right down to the same fall decorations adorning the front of the quaint, white steepled church.
Each of the leaves is placed in the same spot on the windows, and seeing them makes me smile.
Mrs. Reeves has her way, and she never strays from it.
Predictable as they come and one of the sweetest women I have ever known.
According to the clock on my dash, service ended a few minutes ago, but if I’m lucky, I’ll be able to catch my mom leaving the church. I’m hoping we can grab some lunch at the diner like we used to on Sunday afternoons. I’ve so missed Maddie and Ed’s cooking.
After that, I’m hoping I can talk her into a short walk on the beach. There is just something about having my feet in the sand, and it has been a long, long time.
I’d dropped Aragorn off at her house, along with my bags, then headed straight into town. It’s a drive I haven’t made in a very long time, yet it feels like second nature to me. Honestly, a lot like coming home. Even if I can’t stay, the reminders are nice.
I pull into a parking spot right as my phone dings. After pulling it out and checking the readout, I smile.
Ash: Lookee who I found!
Attached is a picture of her and Jeremiah sitting together. Her smile is bright as she looks toward the camera, while Jeremiah’s focus is purely zeroed in on her.
The guy has been in love with Ash since he started working at the clinic two years ago, and it’s been painful watching him try so hard to get her to give him a chance.
Me: It’s about time!
Ash: Yeah, yeah. How about you? Did Mr. Mysterious follow you to town?
I laugh and type my response.
Me: Not a chance. And if he did, it would be weird. Headed into church now. Call you later?
As those three dots appear again, I raise my gaze toward the church. Dark thoughts swirl in my mind. Memories of a past I’ve been trying to outrun for far too long. But how can I face it when there was never any closure? Of course, that’s on me. I’m the one who ran.
He would have loved me until death do us part because that’s just who he is. Even if it killed him to do it.
Tears burn in the corners of my eyes, so I shut them tightly and breathe through the all-too-familiar agony of regrets.
My phone dings.
Taking a deep breath, I use one hand to wipe my face, then unlock my phone to read her response.
Ash: Fair enough. You’d better, girl! I have a date to tell you about.
With a soft laugh, I stick my phone back into my purse, then climb out and lock my car. The weather is humid and a little chilly, a bite of fall clinging to the breeze. The salty sea air mixes with the lovely aroma of the fresh rosemary growing in front of the church.
Scents of home.
I can’t help but smile as I make my way up toward the church. That is, until I notice the people standing just in front. Every single one of the five older women who were visiting just outside has stopped talking, their gazes trained on me.
“Hi, Mrs. Knox,” I greet, only recognizing her because of the time I spent at Zane and Anastasia’s house alongside my ex. My heart dips at that thought, but I push it aside.
“Reese. Honey, it is lovely to see you.” She rushes forward, a bright smile on her face, and pulls me in for a hug.
“You, too.” I release her.
“So, when did you get into town?”
“Just a few minutes ago. Hoping to surprise my mom.”
“She will be so happy to see you.” She smiles, though I do sense a bit of awkwardness between us. And why wouldn’t there be? Weston was like a second son to her. He and her son, Zane, were thick as thieves growing up. Inseparable.
“Thanks. I hope so. It was good to see you.” With one final smile, I climb the steps and pull the door open.
Rain soaks me as I race toward the front of the church. The pavement is slick, but I manage to keep my feet under me. How? I’ll never know. I rip the doors of the church open and rush inside, sealing the storm outside.
My chest is so heavy, the pain suffocating me where I stand.
The sanctuary is empty, illuminated only by a single light shining down on the cross straight ahead. My gaze lands on the broken chains at the base, and anger surges through me.
How is this fair?
How is this right?
Why is this happening?
I blink tears away as remnants of that night surge forward. The last time I was in this church was the worst night of my entire life. Yet here I am again, standing in the one place I swore I’d never come into again.
Of course, that was back then. I found my way back to God. Or rather, He found me. Broken and clinging to my grief and pain like a toddler clings to their favorite stuffed animal. I thought they’d brought me comfort in those dark days, but really they’d been chains around my ankles.
I take another step closer to the front of the sanctuary, my gaze landing on the broken chains at the base of the cross. I understand now what they mean. Having faith doesn’t mean we’ll never suffer; it just means we don’t have to go through it alone.
It was the Lord who healed me.
The Lord who restored what broke in me that night.
Even though at that moment, I’d turned my back on Him, furious that He didn’t spare me the pain of loss. I’d questioned His love for me and the plan He had for a future I didn’t want if it meant losing everything.
A door off to the side of the sanctuary opens, and a grey-haired man steps out. He lifts his gaze from a paper in his hand and stares at me a moment before a wide smile spreads across his face.
“Reese Faye! Is that you?”
I can’t help but smile. “Hi, Pastor Reeves.”
The man hasn’t aged a day since the last time I saw him. Like the fall decorations, he remains unchanged. And I find so much comfort in that.
He comes toward me, pulling me in for a quick hug. “It is wonderful to see you. What brings you to town?”
I got fired by my cheating ex-boyfriend.
“I just really needed a change,” I say, keeping the full reason to myself.
“Well, I am so glad you’re here. It’s good to see you, Reese.”
“Thanks. You, too.” I glance around the sanctuary. “I thought I might catch my mom here and surprise her.”
“Ahh, she left pretty quick after service.”
“Probably expected me at home. I’d better go catch up. It was good to see you.”
“You, too.” He smiles again. “You doing okay, Reese?”
How does he always know?
“Yeah. Just been a while.” I force a smile of my own.
“How long are you staying for?”
“Not sure. I know that Mom’s been managing the ranch alone since Dad died, so I figured I’d hang around for a while and help.”
Pastor Reeves’ smile fades, and he narrows his gaze slightly, looking almost confused. “Alone?”
“Yeah. She’s been refusing to hire any permanent help.
I’m honestly hoping I can change her mind on that.
” I laugh softly, knowing it’s a venture I will absolutely fail.
Going head-to-head with my stubborn mother is just not something I’ve ever been successful with.
When I notice the way he’s watching me, though, my amusement fades instantly. “What?”
He runs a hand over the back of his neck.
“Uh, well, I think you and your mom have a lot to talk about, Reese.” His tone is off.
There’s a surprise to it, sure, but something else.
Honestly, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say he seems slightly guarded now, as if he’s working hard not to say something.
Which makes my unease grow. “What’s going on? Is something wrong?”
“No, nothing’s wrong. You just need to talk to your mom,” he says.
“Okay.” The way he says it raises a whole slew of questions, but Pastor Reeves isn’t one to continue speaking on something once he’s decided not to. If he says I need to talk to my mom, then that’s exactly what I’m going to do.
I yawn, the early morning drive over here catching up to me.
After coffee.
“Come find me when you need to talk.”
When. Not if. “What do you know?”
He shakes his head. “Not a word from me. I worry that I’ve already said too much. You need to talk to your mom.”
“Then I’ll go do that right now. Thanks again. I’ll try to come by and see you again before I head back to Charleston.”
“Please do. Helen will be here later, too. She would love to see you. We’ve missed you, Reese. The choir just hasn’t been the same without you.”
“I’ve missed you guys, too.” My heart aches as I realize just how true that is.
I’ve been attending a church back in Charleston for quite a while now, but it never felt quite like home.
Not like this church always has. “See you.” Turning away, I retrieve my phone from my purse so I can find the closest coffee shop.
It’s been so long, I’m not even entirely sure I can get one from somewhere other than the diner.
After pulling up Google Maps, I type in coffee shops.
The Coffee Corner comes up as less than a half mile away. So, I tap on it and smile when I realize it’s right by Old Man Karver’s auto shop. If he’s in, I may have to stop by and say hi. It’s been a long time since I saw him, too.
The drive is a short one, and it’s not long before I’m pulling into the parking lot of an old, converted house. On the opposite side of the parking lot is the auto shop, but its bay doors are shut, and there are no lights on.
I wonder if Old Man Karver is working away inside. Sometimes when he’d get behind on work, he’d close those doors so no one would come bother him—his words. He’s owned that auto shop my entire life and was the one who taught me to change my oil when I was sixteen.
Though it looks completely different now, so I can’t help but wonder if business picked up enough for him to get that remodel done that he’d always been talking about.
Another thing to ask Mom, I guess. Once I’ve gotten to the bottom of what Pastor Reeves said I needed to talk with her about.
As I follow signs leading me around toward the front of the house, I let my mind wander. What in the world could be going on with my mom? Did she hire help and not tell me? There wasn’t anyone working—at least not that I saw—when I dropped my bags off.