Page 7 of Ember

Chapter 3

“Danica, how much longer do you have on that cake!?” Her mother questioned for what felt like the 100th time. Rolling her eyes, Danica sighed deeply to try and keep her tone in check while answering.

She may have been an adult, but her mother would have no trouble smacking her dead in her mouth if she felt like Danica was being smart.

“I just finished icing it, Mama, it’s all ready to go.”

Taking one more look at her masterpiece, Danica smiled before placing the round, plastic covering over the top of it. It was the day of the cookout at the fire station, and she’d be a liar to say that she wasn’t a bundle of nerves about seeing Tucker again.

She’d been so infatuated with him, that her brother and sister couldn’t stop teasing her about it at every turn. Looking back on it made her giggle. She had to have been in shock. That was the only viable explanation for Danica convincing herself that she’d sparked an instant connection with a total stranger.

“Your brother isn’t going to make it,” her mother revealed, stepping into the kitchen with a harried expression on her face. “Knowing him, he’s tied up with his next flavor of the week. If I told that boy once, I’ve told him a thousand times that…”

As her mother continued ranting, Danica couldn’t help but admire the older woman’s beauty. She was just shy of her sixty-third birthday, but appeared at least ten years younger. Her head full of thick, coal black hair was just starting to grey around the temples, and her golden face only wrinkled around her warm, brown eyes.

“Anyway,” she waved a hand, moving on from the subject of her son. “Let’s get all this in the car and get to the cookout. Your father and sister had a few last minute things to pick up from the store and then they’ll meet us there.”

Without a word, Danica picked up the container and followed her mother out of the house. They got the dishes secured in the backseat of the vehicle, got themselves settled, and were on their way.

“So, honey,” Danica’s mom began speaking tentatively. “How are you getting adjusted to being back home?”

“It’s a process,” she admitted, admiring the scenery as they rode past. “But I’m falling back into my old routine. Cas and Miesh have been a huge help.”

“I can imagine,” her mother smiled in return. “I’m so thankful that you have them by your side to help you through this transition.”

“Me too,” Danica mumbled, preparing herself for what she knew was coming next. As good hearted as she was, her mother was equally transparent. Danica had no doubts that her mom’s line of questioning was genuine, but it was also laying the foundation for what she really wanted to know.

“Sweetheart, please don’t be upset, but…”

“I’m not going to be upset, Leanne,” Danica looked at her mom with a smile. “I know you well enough to know that you’ve been itching to ask me whatever it is on your brain since I told you and Daddy that I was moving back.”

“Well,” Leanne pulled her bottom lip between her teeth. “I don’t mean to sound insensitive, but well, how are you getting along after Amad?” She finally blurted it out.

“I’m fine, Mom.”

“I know that’s what you always say, but you haven’t said much about him since the funeral.”

“What is there to say, Mama?” Danica questioned, wiping the lone tear trailing down her cheek away. “He’s gone, and he’s not coming back. I have to get over it, and him.”

Resting her head against the passenger window, she let out a gruff sigh. Her ex-boyfriend, Amad, was still a sensitive topic for her. No matter how much she tried to convince herself that she was moving on, Danica still seemed to fall apart at the mere mention of his name.

“Oh, baby,” Leanne clicked her tongue, reaching over to push Danica’s hair out of her face. “Don’t cry, I didn’t mean to upset you. I just wanted you to know that you don’t have to keep your feelings bottled in. Daddy and I are always here for you whenever you want to talk. As are your brother and sister.”

“I know, Mommy,” Danica sniffed lightly, wiping her face. “But it’s still hard to talk about.”

“I understand, sweetheart, and I won’t push the issue any further, okay?”

“Thank you.”

“Love you.”

That got a short laugh out of Danica as she pulled herself together. Though she had to admit, she’d made more progress than she’d originally thought. Months ago, hearing Amad’s name would have sent her into a fit of tears, and a short depression that took weeks for her to emerge from.

There wasn’t a day that went by where she didn’t miss him and wish he was still by her side, planning their future together, but that obviously wasn’t in the cards for them. Danica didn’t understand it, but questioning it got her nowhere, which left only acceptance.

Death had come for the man she thought she’d be spending the rest of her life with, and there was nothing to do about it.

She and her mother arrived at the city park a few moments later, and Danica couldn’t help but soak in the nostalgia she felt. Her family made it a habit to visit the park almost every weekend, and it held a lot of good memories for her.