Just her, her Karen Rose book and lots of bone-chilling tension.
She was so deep into the story, her heart racing, that when her cell phone buzzed with an incoming call, she nearly jumped out of her skin.
Pressing one hand to her chest to contain her heart, she grabbed the phone with the other. Ember. Immediately thinking the worst, she swiped the screen and answered, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Jeez, can’t one sister call another without you thinking the world is ending?”
“No. Not in the evening.” With regret, she closed the book and sat up. “So, um, what’s up?”
“I’m sitting on your stoop. Put on your swimsuit and come join me. We’re going to the lake.”
Her jaw loosened. Okay, so a glance at the clock showed it was only nine. Tiredness pulled at her, and the book wouldn’t read itself. “Sorry, sis, but I’m in for the night.”
“No, you’re not. Stop being a party pooper. Other people are there swimming. This awful heat inspired an impromptu party and I want to go, but I don’t want to go alone.”
Not buying it, Autumn said, “You could seriously call any of a dozen guys and get a date.” Heck, Ember had probably already turned down a few guys. That’s likely how she heard about the party.
“I don’t want a date. I want my sister.”
The muted distress in her tone alerted Autumn. A year ago, Ember had gone through a heart-crushing difficulty, and there were days when it all came back. Cautiously, Autumn asked, “Are you okay?”
“Yes. Now get your granny butt out of the bed and come join me.”
Did she really think insults would win her over? Not likely. Still, the worry didn’t let up. “Ember—”
“Fine. Forget I asked. I should have known better.”
Yes, she should have. Ember was the free spirit, after all. Autumn liked to put her big bones to bed early. “Listen, it’s just—”
Again, Ember cut her off. “No big deal. If you need me, I’ll be at the lake having fun with real people instead of book characters. Later, gator.”
The call ended, and damn it, now she was alert and concerned and she knew it was impossible to turn that crap off. If she didn’t check on Ember, she’d fret for hours.
Never mind that her book characters were far more likable than most people she actually knew, Autumn grumbled her way out of bed, and then rummaged in a drawer to find some cut-off shorts usually worn when she fed the animals in the morning. She thought about a bra, but in the heat, that’d be miserable. The sleep shirt was oversized and loose enough that nothing vital showed.
If Ember was down, she wanted to support her, to help her through the memories. Differences aside, that’s how sisters worked.
Shoving her feet into flip-flops and doing a quick finger-comb of her hair, she grabbed her phone and keys and headed through the house for the door.
She’d go to the stupid lake, find Ember to ensure she was all right, and then she would return to reading comfortably in her bed. It’d be an hour’s interruption, maybe two. Totally doable.
Fueled by indignation, Autumn jerked open the door and almost plowed into Ember, who leaned patiently against the wall beneath the porch light.
Grinning at her, her sister said, “Wow, you’re fast. I thought I’d be waiting at least ten minutes more.” Ember latched on to her arm so Autumn couldn’t backtrack. “Come on. My car is idling so we can cool off on the way over.”
She’d been duped! But, hey, at least Ember wasn’t crying...yet. It relieved Autumn to see her sis smiling at her, even though she also noted the shadows in her eyes.
It wasn’t that Autumn gave in gracefully, but she did give in. Ember might act like nothing was wrong, but Autumn knew her well, so she saw all the emotions Ember tried so hard to hard.
Playing her role—because Ember hated pity—Autumn said, “An hour. That’s all.”
“Sure, sis. Whatever you say.”
While seating herself, Autumn noticed the wine coolers and chips in the back seat. “What’s all that?”
“Snacks for the party. I brought your share, too.” She pulled away from the house, saying, “You owe me ten bucks.”
Great. At least Ember’s car was cool. She still hadn’t fixed the air-conditioning in her truck. Putting her head back and closing her eyes, she tried to ignore the blooming headache.
“Autumn? Thanks for going with me. Really, it’ll be fun, I promise.”
Lazily turning her head toward Ember, she said softly, “Fess up.”
“About what?”
That careless attitude didn’t pass muster, so Autumn just waited.
It took a full minute, and then Ember swallowed heavily. “The house I worked on today? The parents had two little kids.” Inhaling a tight breath, she whispered, “One was a newborn boy.”
Knowing how shattering that still was for Ember, Autumn reached over and put her hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s been a year.” Ember’s voice cracked just a little. “A whole freaking year and it still...” She went silent, her breath strained.
“You loved him. From the moment you knew you were pregnant, you planned a life around him.” Miscarrying two months into her pregnancy had done more than devastate Ember—it had changed her. “Reminders might always be difficult.”
“Sometimes,” Ember said, her tone stark with sadness, “I still feel empty.”
And so she filled herself up with parties and more men who didn’t matter and a lighthearted attitude meant to hide the hurt. “I know,” Autumn answered softly. “I wish there was something I could do.”
With a shaky laugh, Ember swiped away a lone tear that tracked down her cheek. “You’re here. That’s enough.”
Forget an hour. She’d stay out all night with Ember if it’d help.
“You know, I sometimes wonder where you came from.” Ember went over the railroad tracks without a delay. “I mean, Mom’s as flighty as they come, Dad only thinks about Mom and I’m...well, I’m not responsible like you.”
“Bull. You put in the same hours I do and contribute every bit as much time to the farm and the animals.”
“I try.” She went quiet again. “But I haven’t even asked you how it’s going with Tash.”
They’d both been so busy the past week, they’d barely seen each other. Only the morning after her first visit with Tash had they talked, and it had been brief. At that time, Autumn had assured her all went well and Ember had teased her about Tash being her crush.