She bursts out of the screen door, letting it slam behind her, and running as hard as she can straight to my arms.
“I think you outran Akela!” I laugh, swinging her up and hugging her tightly.
Her little arms are so tight around my neck, and when she whispers I missed you, I swear, I get a little choked up. Funny kid.
“You missed a lot of second grade.” She sits back on my arm. I let her slide down to her feet, and she pulls me by my hand to the house. “But that’s okay because I can tell you everything. My teacher is Miss Toranado, which I think sounds like tornado. But Mamma says I can’t say that because it’s disrespectful.”
“Sawyer?” Noel appears at the door and immediately starts to cry. “Oh, my goodness! You’re home. We’ve missed you so much.”
“I called you every week.” I step into the kitchen and give her a big hug. “Nashville’s not that far to drive.”
“Are you kidding? Right after you left we had to start the pruning, then Leon and Taron were setting out the new trees, Mindy left for Dallas and Dove started second grade…”
She continues talking, but a lead weight drops through my stomach.
Mindy left for Dallas. She did what I told her to do.
She’s gone.
Dove dances around the kitchen, and Noel opens the stove to pull out a tin of peach muffins, but I’m lost in a cloud of regret… and wondering if my sister would be offended if I drove to Dallas tonight.
“You look so good.” She walks back to where I’m standing by the bar. “I mean it. You’re different. It’s something about your eyes. A calm…”
“What’s this about Mindy and Dallas?”
“She left right after you, and I tell you, I’ve been absolutely lost! No best friend, no big brother… Not anymore.” She grins and kisses my cheek. “Now you’re both back.”
Now I’m confused, and a little encouraged. “Wait… Mindy’s not in Dallas?”
Noel waves her hand, turning on the coffee pot. “Deacon thought she should go to Dallas to meet clients and get her design business off the ground, which she apparently did in spades. But you know Mindy, she couldn’t leave her mom. She got her own apartment near the school and Jeff Priddy—you remember, Miss Jessica’s nephew?”
“Of course.” I know everybody she knows.
“Well, he got her an office space where that old Mexican cantina used to be. Remember that?”
My sister’s talking so fast, I can tell she’s exc
ited and happy. I’m impressed. An apartment and an office? “Sounds like she’s doing really well.”
“She’s kicking butt from what I hear.” Noel hands me a cup of coffee. “She’s been gradually moving back over the last month. I think she’ll be officially relocated this weekend.”
“Hey, bro!” Leon stomps into the kitchen and holds out his hand for a shake. I catch it and pull him in for a firm hug.
“Hey, man.” I let him go, scrubbing his shaggy dark head.
He smacks my hand away. “Way to come back after all the hard work’s done.”
“I was here for harvest.”
“You weren’t here for pruning and planting.”
“I have been, though. All by myself, too.” I give his shoulder a squeeze, and he shakes his head.
“I’m just messing.”
Looking around the kitchen, I lift my chin. “Where’s Taron?”
“You didn’t see him in the shed?” Leon grabs a muffin and takes a bite. “He’s probably checking the new trees. We weren’t sure when you’d be getting in.”