At the time, our marriage hadn’t been registered, Jude hadn’t sent me that first text to break the ice, let alone turned up on my doorstep unannounced, and I didn’t know about the Call.
It was well before I started dating my husband and before I realized he was my person and someone I wanted to see every chance I could.
Jude said he totally understood why I’d put my hand up and thought it was nice of me to give everyone else a day with their families. Knowing I'd be seeing him this weekend certainly softened the blow.
He’s so easy going though. It reminds me a lot of EJ and BJ. They’re also the type of people to take life as it comes. They don’t stress about the small stuff and are always looking toward the future. That’s something I’ve noticed about my husband too.
Then there’s also the way he’s always checking in with me, whether he’s here with me or back home. He also has made it a habit of sending me photos of the ranch and my brothers whenever he goes over there. My favorite was yesterday when hetook one of Rodney, the mini pony, perched up on his hind legs with the front ones resting on the porch rail. The funniest thing was the glare he sent the camera.
The other thing I’ve done is started reading the latest Aster Hollingsworth books, looking for any hints as to what might happen with the Call, Jude, me, and our families. Unfortunately, there’s never been an instance of two rival families being joined by marriage and uniting a mountain. There’s only been a rival to the mountain situation back with Rhys’s sister, Marta, and her now husband Van.
I guess when it comes to the Call, we’re all running blind.
The problem is, I don’t think I’m ready to return to Timber Falls just yet, and I don’t know when that might be either. The idea of stepping into my childhood home knowing neither of my parents are there now makes my heart hurt.
Until I can accept that he’s gone and that the land now belongs to me and my siblings, I can’t imagine ever feeling at peace on the mountain.Then again, I also have that whenever I’m with Jude.
“My girl brought this family together and it’s her that will unite the mountain again,” Dad had said.Well, it’s pretty hard to do that when I can’t bring myself to step foot on the mountain I’m supposed to be bringing back together.
Now that Thanksgiving has arrived, all I do while sitting in my empty office building, manning phones, scanning reports, cleaning up data, and refining seismic models, is think about home.
I wonder what Jude and his family are up to and whether my brothers are doing OK? Do they even know how to roast a turkey since that was always Dad’s job.
Checking the time, I see it’s nine in the morning, more than acceptable for an early text to the Wilson siblings group chat.
Em: Happy Thanksgiving! Who’s cooking today?
EJ: Not me! I volunteered to do the most important job of all—chief taste tester.
BJ: You mean you want to enjoy the spoils without doing any of the work. Or maybe you’re taking one for the team and risking food poisoning so the others don’t have to?
Asher: See what Dare and I have to deal with? This is why we need you here, Em. You’re the only one who can control the evil twins.
BJ: Who are you calling evil?
EJ: He means us, Beej.
BJ: I know THAT. I’m saying we’re not evil. We do miss you though, Em.
My heart swells.
Dare: At least we know you’re manning the fort in case there’s an earthquake or something.
Em: There has actually been a few today already, just not here. There was one in Greece and a good sized one off the coast of New Zealand. And hot off the press, there was just a little one near Atka at a depth of 75 miles and 3.2 on the Richter scale.
EJ: Nerd.
BJ: Geek.
I roll my eyes. EJ and BJ are nothing but consistent.
Asher: OUR nerdy, geeky sister is smart. She’s keeping us all safe instead of subjecting herself to Dare’s first attempt at cooking a Turkey.
Dare: Hey. I’m trying here.
Asher: TRYING being the operative word.
Em: Word of advice, check Mom’s recipe folder in the cabinet above the refrigerator. Dad used it every year. I bet there’s a recipe or two in there that might help you out.