Five. Very. Long. Years. Ever since the morning he told me he’d reenlisted.
The bastard still called me a few times a year, though, and always on my birthday. He texted me every now and then. But that phone call on my birthday was consistent. No matter what part of the world and no matter what time zone, he made the time to tell me happy birthday, his voice an aching reminder that he wasn’t here in Hunt. I looked forward to every phone call, as much as I dreaded ending them. He always sent me a gift that I wasn’t allowed to open until he called. I couldn’t help but get excited knowing the gift was coming, as was the phone call. I think I looked forward to hearing his voice more, though. It was the only time I knew I’d get to talk to him. I was still angry at him for leaving me like he did, but Miles was a part of my soul; he just didn’t know he was breaking it ever so slowly. Chipping away and cracking it more and more as the years went by…
I couldn’t help but notice how Rich looked away. “You know Miles.”
Blowing out a breath, I nodded. “Yeah, I do. Is he ever planning on getting out of the Marines?”
Rich’s eyes jerked to meet mine, and he looked like he wanted to tell me something but stopped himself. He opened his mouth, then quickly shut it.
What the hell is going on?
Then he looked at my father, who looked down at his paper. The two of them knew something and didn’t want to share. Before I had a chance to question them, Rich’s cell phone rang. He smiled. “It’s Macy.”
As Rich walked out of the kitchen, I looked to my father for an explanation. He seemed lost in thought and wouldn’t make eye contact.
“Daddy, is everything okay? Is there something wrong that you’re not telling me?”
He lifted his head. “Nothing’s wrong, sweetheart. I’m fine! I’m already thinking about today’s to-do list. It’s a long one, but I want to make sure we make time for your birthday dinner.”
“You didn’t answer my other question,” I reminded him.
My father laughed. “There is nothing wrong, I promise.”
I nodded. “Why don’t you let me ride out along the north fence line and take a look at it. I’m sure I can repair it. You taught me everything I need to know to keep this place up and running.”
He grinned. “I know, I know. You’ll always be my little girl, Kynslee. No matter what you think. I only wanted you to enjoy your day, and not have to work.”
“It’s just another day, Daddy. Let’s not make a big deal out of it.”
He nodded with a pensive expression.
Rich walked back in. “Macy needs me to pick her up something on the way back to the farm. If you need help with that fence, give me a holler.” Rich grabbed a muffin and made his way through the kitchen and out the back door.
“Happy birthday, Kynslee!”
My heart dropped a bit. For some silly reason I thought maybe Rich had brought over my birthday present from Miles. He always sent the gift at least a week before my birthday. This year I hadn’t gotten anything, and I tried not to let the disappointment show. Miles still held way too much power over my emotions, and I knew I needed to let him go and move on with my life. Tick-tock, tick-tock.
This year I would put all the pining for someone I couldn’t have behind me. I couldn’t live my life like this anymore. I needed to move on because it was clear Miles had. Hell, if I were being honest with myself, that was clear five years ago. I wanted to believe that our friendship, those nights in the barn, meant something to him. It was obvious they hadn’t though.
“Bye, Rich! See ya around!” I called out, attempting to clear my voice of sadness.
“Thanks for stopping by! Tell your momma we said hi,” Daddy called out when I wasn’t capable of saying anything else.
“Will do!” Rich said before the screen door clicked shut.
“All right, sweetheart. I’m going to go join your mother in the garden before things get a bit too crazy, then it’s a late lunch, right?”
I nodded but not before voicing the question I couldn’t hold in any longer. “Daddy, what was Rich doing here?”
He paused at the back door before turning. “He was driving by and wanted to stop in to ask me if I could order a certain feed at the store for the horses. And he wanted to wish you a happy birthday, is all. Why?”
“He didn’t have any news on Miles, did he?”
Something flashed on his face, but it was gone before I could read it. He simply shook his head.