Autumn's Dance (Season Named Series Book 1)

by Sarah Gai

  “Yep, there’s only one of me. No twin that I know of,” she managed to give him a small smile. Her heart wanted to break as she extinguished the flame that burned so long for his son.

  “No, Autumn, I don’t expect you to leave. Just…my son will be back in six months. I was the one that convinced him to take the Vietnam mission. When he comes home, just let him be. Act like you’re not interested. He’s moved on and I don’t want to see him fall into that dark place again. You live your life and let him live his, okay?”

  “Okay. It was nice to meet you, Alec.” Autumn could not keep up the strong smile, but would not allow herself to cry in front of him.

  “Surprisingly, it was nice to meet you also, to put a face to the name and what not. See you around, Autumn.” He tapped the counter twice before turning and making a swift exit out the door.

  Autumn - Winter 2016

  “Are you sure we have enough?” Autumn asked Ava nervously as they stepped out the front door, their hands packed with containers of food.

  “Oh, boy do we have enough. Don’t forget, Mrs. Brooks probably spent the day cooking up a storm. I’m pretty sure Christmas dinner will have an abundance of choices.”

  They spent all day in the kitchen; Autumn made salads, Ava baked desserts, and Sharon decorated cookies. It was Christmas day and they were all having dinner at the pastor’s house.

  It had been five months since Autumn returned to town and she had changed so much. She was now a regular at Graham’s home. She had enrolled in online classes to complete her high school certificate. Autumn was determined to do well and Pastor Graham had been a God sent, devoting his days to her as a teacher and in return, Autumn helped out at the church handing out care packages, cleaning the pews, and anything else that needed to be done.

  Another unexpected benefit was Autumn got to know Alec better. After the day she met him at the store, she walked around town for weeks with her eyes scanning the streets in case she saw him, just to avoid a run-in. The day she chose to surprise Aiden at work with lunch ended her private surveillance; Alec was apparently the new owner of Colin’s Mechanics.

  Alec was full of stories about his past, especially his bikes. The years were good to him as he spoke openly and lovingly about his late wife, Alice. He barely mentioned Eric around Autumn, for which she was grateful.

  As they all crammed into Ava’s compact Ford Focus, the food teetering precariously in Autumn’s arms, they headed off to Graham’s.

  It wasn’t a long drive, but Autumn was nervous; it was the first Christmas, actually any holiday gathering, she could remember celebrating, especially with friends and family. Ava and Sharon had become the family she never had. Still, Autumn felt ashamed as she thought of her father.

  Nearly every day she woke, he was one of her first thoughts. Was he still alive? Was anybody looking after him? Did he miss her? No, it was the one question she knew the answer to. All she could do, every day, was pray for his soul and leave him within the Father’s hands.

  Autumn tried to approach Ava who promised to tell her more about her mother, but Ava avoided the subject as much as possible, always promising to tell her but she just needed a little more time. She had given Autumn some information about her mother such as her favorite color, which turned out to be yellow just like Autumn, but every other response was vague.

  Autumn didn’t want to push Ava, especially after the kindness she and her sister bestowed on her. One day she hoped she would get the information she always longed for her whole life—whether or not her mother was alive or dead.

  Autumn didn’t have any more time to ponder her thoughts as Ava pulled into the dirt driveway leading up to Pastor Graham’s house. As the three women exited the car, Mrs. Brooks opened the front door as wide as her smile. Shuffling her small, round frame towards them with her arms outstretched, she grabbed some of the salads Autumn was holding while Autumn returned to the trunk to grab more.

  Sharon ran from the car, her childlike mind desperate to unwrap presents. “Pastor, Pastor! I’m here!” she called out as she bolted through the front door and out of sight.

  Ava and Autumn shared a look and giggle. It really was like raising a child, but it did not matter; Sharon was beautiful inside and out. Autumn had grown to love her so much. There were nights when Sharon would sneak into Autumn’s room and snuggle up under the blankets, whispering just one word over and over: mine. Autumn thought it was sweet, as they really were family now.

  Mrs. Brooks, Ava, and Autumn made their way inside the house, passing Sharon, who was laying on her stomach on the living room floor in front of the Christmas tree, eagerly waiting as Pastor Graham sat beside her, talking low. It was a precious sight.

  The ladies continued towards the kitchen to unload their arms. “So where do we start?” Autumn asked, looking at all the food.

  Mrs. Brooks patted Autumn’s cheek, “Oh dearie, you go into the formal dining room and see your friends. Everyone is here and waiting. Let Ava and I do what we do best,” she smiled and turned, having nothing more to say.

  Autumn shrugged and then made her way through the kitchen’s swinging doors down the main hall where only the soulful stirrings of a guitar drew Autumn’s interest.

  As she turned right, giddiness took over as she gazed upon her friends sitting around the table. Meg held her new baby, Jack, rocking him gently while her husband John was next to her with his arm slung over Meg’s chair, leaning in close and lovingly towards his little family. It was picture perfect.

  It was Alec’s guitar playing that urged her into the room. Autumn had no idea Alec was so talented. She started to wonder if that was where Eric got his talent, but she shook her head knowing she could not think about him.

  She then turned her sights to the last person in the room; Aiden sat across from everyone else, relaxing in his chair with one leg slung over the other as he leaned back enjoying the music. Autumn looked at him affectionately. They were technically in a relationship, since Aiden asked her last month, and Autumn was over the moon. They held hands, kissed, and blushed at the sight of each other, but most of all, he made her feel safe. On the days they were unable to catch up, she missed him terribly. The feelings he stirred within her were confusing, to say the least. The boy she remembered had grown into a strong, handsome man. He loved her—he told her so, but Autumn wasn’t ready to say the words back just yet. A part of her had fallen for Aiden and she wanted to see where their relationship would go, but her heart was perplexed. Maybe love was a slow, steady building of mutual understanding, friendship, and support; she had no idea.

  As Autumn pondered their relationship, Aiden turned to see her leaning against the doorframe. He smiled brightly and slipped away from his seat, as to not disturb the others, and glided towards her. Picking her up by the waist, he scooped her around the corner, kissing her as if they had not seen each other for an eternity, which was really only a few hours ago.

  For a brief moment, Autumn felt caught up in the clouds, her longing for him palpable; she caught herself quickly though and gently nudged them apart. Aiden reluctantly eased her to the ground and Autumn stood on shaky legs trying to catch her breath.

  “Sorry,” Aiden chuckled. “Sometimes I get away from myself.”

  She reached up, stroking his cheek, “No, it’s fine. I’m happy to see you, too.”

  “I don’t want to rush you Autumn, you know that right?”

  He peered down at her sweetly and she knew he was being honest. Autumn explained to him early on that after she became a Christian, thanks to Pastor Graham leading her to the Lord, she wanted to do things properly when it came to a relationship. Aiden was a true gentleman and Autumn knew he would respect her wishes.

  “I’m going to marry you one day,” he stated matter-of-factly, looking at her with candor in his words.

  She was not ready for that, nor to discuss it, so she quickly changed the subject, “Come on; let’s go listen to the music some more before Mrs. Brooks and Ava begin b
ringing in the food.” She reached for his hand and pulled him into the formal dining area once again, thankful he did not question her deliberate dismissal of his comment.

  Autumn

  Christmas dinner was more than Autumn could have ever hoped for. Meg and Aiden’s mother, Mrs. O’Connor, showed up just before the food was set out. Everyone Autumn loved and knew was sitting in the dining room…with the exception of one person. After a brief moment of longing, Autumn turned her attention back to the chatter and noise filling the wonderful evening.

  After their bellies were full to the brim, Sharon begged for everyone to unwrap the presents. As soon as they finished taking the dishes and leftovers to the kitchen, everyone piled into the front living room.

  “Can I hand out the presents?” Sharon asked. “Please, please, please!”

  Graham knelt down on old knees next to her and grinned, “How about I call out the names and you hand them out? What do you think, Sharon?”

  “Sounds good to me,” she grinned back giddily.

  Autumn was still amazed Sharon was in her mid-forties. As she spent time around her more and more, Autumn saw her as she truly was—a woman with the brain capacity equivalent to a seven-year old. Ava told Autumn after the car accident, Sharon didn’t even recognize her nor did she have any memories of her life before the incident. That must have been hard on Ava, but she loved her sister with a fierceness to be admired.

  As Autumn lovingly looked down at Sharon bouncing on her knees in front of the tree, she could not imagine her ever being any other way; her juvenile mind and pure heart made her perfect.

  Sharon began to hand out the gifts as Pastor Graham called out the names. Instead of buying a present for each person in attendance, they all agreed to a Kris Kringle gift exchange in which each person drew a name out of a hat; whosever name you pick was the person you give a present to. Autumn picked her boss, Meg’s husband, John, but couldn’t help wondering who chose her. Aiden received a new toolbox from Alec; Meg was gifted a new winter coat from John while Mrs. Brooks bought Ava a lovely jewelry box.

  Autumn felt ashamed when it came to her gift to John; she had not put in much thought and as he unwrapped it, she wanted to rip it right out of his hands. What if it wasn’t good enough? But she had nothing to worry about as John held up the picture frame containing a black-and-white snapshot of him, Meg, and Jack on the day of Jack’s birth. Autumn had taken it at the hospital after seeing them so happy as they held their new bundle of joy.

  “Autumn, it’s beautiful. Thank you, this is really special,” John exclaimed, getting up from his chair and walking towards Autumn with his arms outstretched. She hugged him back and felt relieved he actually liked it. Meg was also elated as she discussed where the picture would be hung in their home.

  “Okay, we have one present left. Sharon, will you pass this to Autumn?” he nudged her, bringing everyone’s attention back to the last gift left under the tree.

  As Sharon shuffled over on her knees with her arm outstretched, Autumn thanked her and gently took the small wrapped box from her hands. Autumn did not even care what was inside as she cradled the gift—her first Christmas present she can ever remember receiving. It took every ounce of strength she had not to cry at the thought.

  Opening the little card on top, it read, “Merry Christmas dear girl. Your Mama would have wanted you to have this. Love Aunty Ava.” Tears formed in Autumn’s eyes as she read it. Ava had officially made her family; from that moment on she would call her Aunty Ava, as it just felt right. Placing the card aside, she delicately unwrapped the box, which was no bigger than her palm. Pulling off the lid, Autumn gasped; inside, nestled amongst the white tissue paper, was a single silver necklace with a marble-sized pearl hanging from it. It was beautiful, yet simple and to Autumn, it was a long lost treasure worth more than all the gold in the world.

  “Was this my mother’s?” Autumn asked, trying to keep the term at bay as she looked up towards Ava.

  Ava was crying as she nodded her head, “Yes, it was. And I should have given it to you a long time ago.”

  Autumn understood why she did not; her father would have probably pawned it for alcohol or a gambling debt. She was thankful Ava decided to only give it to her now.

  “Thank you. It’s the greatest gift I could have ever received Aunty Ava,” she whispered, trying out the new phrase. A lump caught in her throat as she peered down at the necklace again and then to the watch she wore every day; those two items made her feel close to the mother she could no longer remember.

  Out of nowhere, a tantrum erupted. “No, I want it! I want it! You can’t have it!” Sharon screamed, getting on her feet and running towards Autumn.

  Alec quickly grabbed her around the waist, his bulky arms holding her back easily. Meg reached down into the baby basket as Jack began to wail, woken up from his restful sleep by the commotion. Autumn did not know what to do as she held the necklace in one hand.

  “Now, now dear. Let’s go rest,” Pastor Graham tried to comfort her as Alec still held the screaming woman.

  “Alec, can you please carry Sharon to the car. She’s very tired is all. I’ll take her home and put her to bed,” Ava instructed.

  It took Alec and Aiden to carry a kicking and shrieking Sharon from the house. Autumn jumped up from her seat and followed them from the living room, stopping just outside the front door. Not grabbing a jacket, her body shivered from the cold biting at her skin and from the pain she felt for Sharon’s outburst. Ava walked over to stand beside her, keys in hand.

  “Did I do something wrong?” Autumn asked, her eyes fixed on the scene before her. Alec was in the backseat holding Sharon who had calmed a little, but was still crying.

  Ava turned and wrapped Autumn in a comforting hug. “Of course not darling. She’s just exhausted is all. It’s been a very big day.”

  Autumn pulled back, “Then why was she so upset about the necklace?”

  Ava looked away, “Because our mother gave her one similar to it when she was younger. Thing is…I didn’t think she would remember it. She doesn’t remember anything from when we were younger. But maybe…never mind that now, just wishful thinking is all. You go back inside and enjoy the rest of the evening. I told Graham you would be spending the night here. Is that all right?” Autumn agreed it would be good to give Sharon some quiet time. Ava grabbed Autumn again in a hug. “Merry Christmas sweetheart. Now go inside and put that necklace on,” she squeezed her tight once more and ran to the car.

  There were so many things running through Autumn’s head. What was the story behind her gift? Why did Ava have it? Autumn was beginning to crave the answers, yet a small voice within her whispered, All in good time.

  Aiden jogged back towards Autumn, “I’m going to follow Ava home and bring Alec back, okay?” Autumn nodded and Aiden bent down to give her a chaste kiss before turning on his heel and running to his car.

  The night wound down after Ava and Sharon left. When Alec and Aiden returned, Meg and John said their goodbyes, wanting to get little Jack home, and Mrs. O’Connor followed behind them. Mrs. Brooks retired to her room and a few minutes later Pastor Graham did as well.

  Autumn donned her winter coat to walk Aiden to his car. He started the engine and closed the door again, allowing it time to heat up; leaning against the side of his truck, he pulled Autumn to him, wrapping her in his warm arms. Resting his head on top of hers, he softly murmured, “Merry Christmas my beautiful Autumn.”

  She smiled into his chest as she wound her arms around his waist. “Merry Christmas to you also sweet Aiden.”

  “Are you happy being with me Autumn?”

  She pulled back slightly to look up at him; his sky blue eyes seemed unsure, a sadness within their depths. “Of course I am. Why do you ask, Aiden?” she frowned at him, confused as to where the question was coming from.

  Aiden shook his head and leaned down to place a kiss upon her forehead. “It’s nothing, I’m just being silly is all. Men can be insecu
re sometimes, too, you know,” he laughed it off.

  They parted as Aiden stepped into his car. After waving goodbye as he drove away, she trudged back into the house, making her way towards the guest room.

  Just as she entered the room, the door on the opposite side of the hall opened and Alec appeared in the doorway.

  “Goodnight Alec,” Autumn smiled as she was about to shut her door.

  Alec’s brow furrowed. Raising one hand to rub his jaw he admitted, “I feel I’ve done wrong by you Autumn.”

  “Nonsense, you have been nothing but kind to me these last few months,” she assured him.

  “No, you see, I didn’t know you, Autumn. Telling you to leave my son alone…well, it was wrong. I had to make things right, for both of you.”

  “Right how, Alec? He’s happy, let him be,” Autumn stated though a pain began to mount in her chest. “Please tell me you didn’t call him and let him know I’m back in Ligonier?”

  She was moving on; letting him go. He was happy doing what he loved—saving lives and helping people. Autumn knew she was getting herself all worked up over nothing. It was not as if Eric still thought of her after all this time, nor did it matter for she was with Aiden now.

  Alec didn’t answer her, but rather lowered his head and stepped back into his room. “Goodnight Autumn,” he said before he closed his door.

  Autumn hesitated at the door for a few seconds before closing it and letting her thoughts dissipate. After she changed into the nightshirt she left in the dresser the last time she stayed over, she climbed into bed. She inhaled and exhaled deeply, relaxing her body after an emotional day. It had been such a special time and as she drifted off to sleep, she rolled the pearl from her mother’s necklace clasped around her neck between her fingers, feeling closer to her than ever before.

  Eric

  He tried to be as quiet as possible as he let himself into his grandfather’s house. After he disembarked from the plane, he was lucky enough to catch a bus directly into Ligonier. It was a long trip and he was exhausted after being up for almost two days, only resting his eyes in small increments as his worries kept him from sleeping peacefully. When Alec called him five days ago, something seemed off.