He looked like he was stemming the tide. Of what, I had no clue, but there was something locked down there that he was keeping from me.
He didn’t come home that night. I know because I woke up around five in the morning and checked his room. I felt like such a creep poking my head into his room, but I felt a little worried. Seeing his empty bed didn’t help my anxiety at all.
Sleep didn’t come back, and so I was exhausted when I stumbled into the kitchen around seven. Cora was already awake and cooking pancakes.
“Good morning,” she said.
“Morning,” I grumbled, pouring myself some coffee.
“Want some?”
I nodded blearily, taking the first delicious sip of the morning. I looked forward to that first cup of coffee every single day. It was the best kind of ritual.
“Where’s my dad?” I asked, sitting down.
“Took a weekend shift.”
“Again?”
“I keep trying to talk him out of it but he just keeps working.”
I frowned. My dad was barely ever home anymore. I was beginning to worry that he had a second family, or maybe that he was going to work himself to death. I wasn’t sure which was worse.
Cora finished the stack she was working on and plopped the three golden-brown cakes down on a plate in front of me.
“Oh no, you eat first,” I said.
“Already did. I was just finishing off the batter.”
I nodded thankfully and dug in without another word. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was until the soft, fluffy goodness hit my lips. I poured on some syrup and went to town.
Cora sat down across from me. “Hungry?”
“Starving,” I said with a mouthful of pancake.
She laughed. “I can make more if you want?”
“No, thanks. This is great.”
I continued to scarf down the cakes as Cora read the paper and drank her coffee. Finally, after every single delicious bite was gone, I leaned back in my chair. Cora grinned at me.
“Hey, how about taking a walk with me?” she asked.
“Okay, sure. Any place in mind?”
“Nope. Just a little hike around the property. I feel like I’ve barely seen you.”
“I know. Sorry I’ve been so busy at work.”
“Don’t apologize.” She stood up. “Meet me out back in ten?”
“See you there.”
The woods were cool and crisp as we crunched and squished our way along the path. We walked slowly, avoiding the puddles. We had clearly gotten a lot of rain overnight, though I hadn’t noticed at all.
Normally, my mornings would be spent curled up on the couch watching trashy TV and sipping coffee until I felt awake and human. I was admittedly a bit of a couch potato, but I loved being comfortable more than anything in the world. And I was really good at being comfortable.
But as we walked, I had to admit that the forest was beautiful early in the morning. It wasn’t too hot or humid, and the trees and leaves were sparkling slightly with the damp dew leftover from the rain.
“How is it being back?” Cora asked.
“It’s good. It feels like everything and nothing is different.”
She nodded. “This place does that to you sometimes. Feels like it never moves.”
“That can be a good thing, though, right?”
“Sure. Your father loves it.”
“You don’t?”
“I’ve grown used to it. And I love your father.”
“I can’t really say how I feel about it. I mean, I grew up here, so Ridgewood will always be special. But I’m noticing things that I never saw when I was a kid.”
“Welcome to being an adult.”
I laughed. “Being an adult sucks.”
“Tell me about it.” She made a face. “Anyway, this is the longest you’ve stayed here in a while.”
“Yeah, it is.”
“Do you like your job?”
“It’s okay. I don’t love being a waitress, but I like the place and the people.”
“That’s good. Working with good people can make a bad job bearable.”
“I’m sorry I haven’t been home more. You know I wanted to come back.”
“Don’t start with this again,” she said, waiving me off. “You did the right thing.”
“I know. I still feel guilty.”
She smiled. “Well don’t.” She paused and looked out across the forest. “How’s Reid doing?” she asked, changing the subject.
“I’m not sure, honestly,” I said cautiously.
“He didn’t come home again last night.”
“Does he do that often?”
“Sometimes. He’ll disappear for a few days, and if we ask where he’s been, he makes up some excuse.”