Chapter 3
There was nothing quite like waking up in your childhood bedroom to a massive poster of NSYNC. I thought my parents would have taken those down by now, but my room looked exactly the same as it did the day I left for UMKC. Aside from the boy band posters on the wall, this room was one of my favorite places. The reading nook below the big bay windows was where I spent countless hours reading and dreaming, and the attached en suite held a decent sized walk-in shower and clawfoot tub.
When my parents had this house built, they gave Eden and I our own bathrooms connected to our bedrooms so there would be no fighting over showers or time in front of the mirror while getting ready for school each morning. It was probably the smartest decision they made in the home building process.
I rubbed the remnants of sleep from my eyes and trudged through the bedroom to the bathroom to flip on the shower. I quickly undressed, tossing my clothes in the hamper and slipped under the hot water. There was so much I need to get done today but there was also a big part of me that just wanted to spend the day with my mom. That phone call from my dad had scared me more than I’d like to admit, and I didn’t know what I would do without Mom. I just wanted to relish in her wisdom and loving demeanor as long as I could.
I hurried through my shower routine before wrapping myself in the fluffy white towel that hung on the brass, butterfly hook. I blew out my long blonde hair and threw on a pair of white shorts with a pale pink blouse that buttoned up the front. When I opened my bedroom door the smell of eggs and bacon greeted me. Man, I’d missed my momma’s home cooking, but a pang of guilt quickly overshadowed my excitement. She shouldn’t be on her feet. I rushed down the stairs intent on taking over when I heard the hushed tones of my parents talking in the kitchen.
“It’s gonna be okay, Barbra,” Dad’s soothing voice filled the quiet space. I stopped at the bottom of the stairs, not wanting to intrude on their moment, but also curious if there was something they weren’t telling me.
“I know, I just don’t know what to expect from the treatments and that makes me nervous,” Mom replied, sadness seeping through her tone.
“You’ve got me, the girls are both here and we have a community of people willing and waiting to step in whenever we need them. God’s got this and we will continue to trust in His healing.”
I heard the sound of a kiss and knew that Dad must be holding Mom and kissing the top of her head. It was something I saw often growing up. My parents were never ones to shy away from displays of affection in front of me and Eden. They always said they wanted to give us a picture of what a loving marriage looked like.
The prolonged silence was my cue to enter the kitchen.
“Good morning,” I said with a smile as I rounded the corner of the island and slid between them for a group hug.
“Good morning, Pumpkin,” Dad said placing a quick kiss on the top of my head.
“Morning, sweet girl,” Mom replied before heading back to the stove.
“I’ve got it, momma. You go sit down with your cup of coffee, I’ll finish breakfast.”
She begrudgingly took her mug of coffee and settled onto a stool across the island. That was mine and Eden’s favorite spot to be when my mom was cooking or baking in the kitchen. We would sit on the stools and chat about everything and nothing for hours. They were some of my best memories of my mom and I was just praying one day my kids would be able to experience those moments with her as well.
“How’d you sleep? Was it weird being back in your childhood room?” Mom asked with a chuckle.
“Not going to lie, it was a little creepy. I don’t know why you let me put those posters up on my wall. Who needs a life-size picture of random guys staring at you when you wake up,” I laughed giving her an exaggerated shudder.
“Oh, believe me, your dad was against it the whole time but some battles just aren’t worth fighting. One day you will learn that with your own little ones,” Mom sighed longingly.
If there was one complaint I had about my mom, it was her constant questioning about when I was going to settle down and find a nice man to marry and give her grandkids. Although, if that was the worst thing she did, I’d take it.
“One day,” I tossed back without making eye contact.
I took this time to plate the pancakes, eggs and bacon, sliding one in front of my mom and another in front of the empty seat to her right. Before sitting down I made myself a cup of coffee, thankful that mom was prepared with my favorite creamer.
“Okay, okay, I’ll back off. What are your plans for today?” Mom nudged me as I sat down next to her.
My mind involuntarily drifted to the encounter I had with the mystery man yesterday after church. A part of me felt guilty for taking his parking spot but I was already running late, and the pastor’s daughter can’t be late to church. Although no one necessarily placed those expectations on me other than myself. It was sometimes hard growing up as the pastor’s daughter, I often felt like everyone was watching me, waiting for me to make a mistake or do something amazing with my life. That was honestly part of why I had this burning desire to get away. To be my own person without the expectations of outsiders.
Don’t get me wrong, I loved my church and the people. They were truly a blessing and they made life so much easier in so many ways and my parents had always been amazing. Sometimes the expectations we set for ourselves deeply impact how we believe others view us. We are all just doing our best to follow the way of Jesus.
“Hello? Earth to Karis?” Mom waved a hand in front of my face, drawing me out of my inner monologue.
“Sorry, got lost in my head for a bit,” I chuckled.
Mom gave me a warm, knowing smile. “Some things never change. Back to my original question, what are your plans for today?”
Right. What were my plans for today? I took a minute to gather my thoughts before I asked, “Is there anything you need before starting treatment tomorrow? I don’t have anything super pressing that can’t wait until later this week. I want to make sure you are set up and ready.”
“I’ve got everything that I need. Dad already set up a comfy recliner in the living room that I’ll be able to relax in and Sandra Landon already came by yesterday with a week’s worth of groceries,” Mom sighed.
Accepting help was not a strong suit of the Thompson family, but I was so glad my mom allowed people to step in and help when needed. We were going to need all the help we could get in order to make it through this. I took a shuddering breath, trying to calm my anxious heart.
Sometimes it didn’t feel real. You hear about people getting diagnosed with cancer all the time and it was so easy to get caught in the mindset that it could never happen to someone you love… until it does.
“Now, there will be none of that!” Mom chastised.
How she was able to read my inner thoughts had always been baffling. I guess its just the gift of being a mom.
“Well, if you don’t need anything from me today, I might go wander around town a bit. It’s been so long since I’ve been back for more than a few days at a time and I was curious if there’s anything new.”
“That is a lovely idea, sweetie. I’m sure not much has changed, but I know everyone would love to see you. Be sure to pop into the bookstore while you’re there—Mia is running it for her parents now.”
Mia Hanson was my childhood best friend. We met in the second grade and spent every free moment together. We were both on the high school cheer squad, took all the same AP classes, and even liked the same boys. Gosh I missed her. We kept in touch over the years, but it had been forever since I’d seen her in person.
“Oh wow, I didn’t realize she took over Hanson’s. That’s so exciting for her. I will be sure to stop by and see her. Thanks Mom. I’ll have my phone on me so if there is anything you need while I’m out just let me know. I love you!” I placed a kiss on her cheek before heading up the stairs to grab my coat and bag.
The prospect of seeing Mia sent a shot of excitement through my veins. I should have text her that I had moved home but with mom’s diagnosis my mind has been in other places. Maybe Mia will have the scoop on what’s been going on since I left, and maybe she could tell me who the grumpy, albeit handsome, guy was from church yesterday morning.
The town square sat right in the middle of town, marked by a large white gazebo and surrounded by a circular area of grass. It was one of my favorite places in town. Mia and I would grab books from Hanson’s and sit on the white wooded benches beneath the gazebo. We’d talk and read for hours. Life seemed so much simpler back then.
I crossed the street to where Hanson’s bookstore sat on the corner of Elm and Ashwood Ln. The window had the cutest fall display, which I guessed was Mia’s handiwork. The saying “Fall in love with reading” was written in script across the top of the window, while a handful of books stacked in a heart pattern sat on a cute, rustic looking table. There were fall leaves scattered across the middle sides of the window creating this perfect little sneak peek of the book display.
The jingle of the bell above the door, reminded me I was still standing in the middle of the sidewalk, unmoving. I scooted closer to the window to allow someone to pass before grabbing the door handle and stepping inside.
The smell of old books and fall scents enveloped me as I took in the small town bookstore, another one of my favorite places in Ashwood Falls. I’m sure you’re beginning to think I say that about all the places here and you might be right.
“Good morning, I’ll be right with you,” Mia’s voice drew my gaze toward the back of the store where I heard her stacking books. I couldn’t see her, so I wandered my way through the rows of book shelves until I found her pushing a cart along the back wall.
“Excuse me, but do you have any books on apologizing to your lifelong best friend for staying away too long?” I giggled as Mia swung her head around at the sound of my voice.
For a second, I wasn’t sure what she was going to do. The look of shock slowly faded to one of excitement and before I knew it, she was launching herself at me. I may be short at a whopping five foot two, but Mia wasn’t much bigger than me so when her body collided with mine, it didn’t take much to keep us from tumbling to the floor.
Her black curls fell over her shoulder into my face as she crushed me in a hug so tight I struggled to draw in a breath.
“Nice to see you, too,” I managed to get out over a laugh.
“Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! You’re here!” Mia squealed while she pulled back and grabbed my shoulders with both hands. “Why didn’t you text me? I had no idea you were going to be here today. How long will you be in town? I am so sorry about your mom!”
“Wow. Mi, take a breath. I can only answer one question at a time,” I giggled. “I didn’t text you because I was caught up in everything with Mom. I wasn’t thinking about anything other than getting back here.”
“Wait, so are you back back or just helping out for a few months?” Mia beamed at me as if she already knew the answer and could hardly wait for me to confirm her suspicions.
“I am back for good—oof,” before I could finish my sentence, I was wrapped up in another death grip.
Wow, I’ve missed this so much.I think I forced myself to forget all the good so I could deal with being away for so long but now that I was back, I didn’t know if I ever wanted to leave again.
“I’m at a loss for words!” Mia sobbed.
“That’s a first,” my reply earned me a giggle while she pulled back to look me in the eyes.
“I have missed you so much! I cannot tell you how happy I am you’re finally back for good.”
“I think your hug did that already,” I chuckled while walking to the oversized chairs in the corner.
Mia followed me over and plopped down in the chair next to me. We proceed to spend the next two hours chatting and catching up on all the town drama. When I left to grab some lunch from Sunny’s, my heart was impossibly full. Maybe being back home would be exactly what I needed.