Page 75 of White Horizons
Avery gasps, and Emma jumps to her feet. “You did!”
“I did,” she says, almost sheepishly, which is not like her at all. She’s quite possibly one of the most brazen women I know, and for the first time today, she visibly relaxes and smiles.
“Why didn’t you tell us you were looking?” Emma asks. “I would have gone with you,” she says, waving her arms.
“Or better yet, ask me since I just bought one earlier in the year,” Juliet says, standing to go and get the graham crackers and chocolate ready for Bryce.
“I don’t know why I didn’t tell you. You all have each other, you’re here, and I’ve been sitting in New York by myself, and I asked myself why? Avery, I don’t want to miss any of your pregnancy—I mean you’re having ababy. Emma, you’ve been my person for so long now, and well, y’all are my family.”
There’s a moment of hesitation as everyone thinks about what she’s said. Cora does have a family in New York, but from what I know of them, they are awful, and over the years, these three girls have made their own family. Now that Cora has said it and done it, it makes complete sense that she would move here too.
Emma basically jumps over to Cora’s seat and throws her arms around her, and they start laughing. “You know you have us too! This is amazing.” She pulls back, and as I look at Cora, I see her eyes are shiny. Avery also stands to hug her, and the three of them embrace in a way that even has my sinuses stinging.
“Where is the house?” Emma asks as she moves back to her seat. Avery does the same, and my gaze catches on the small bump of her stomach. Now, I know how babies are made, but it’s surreal to me that there is one of Ash’s in her. It also makes me curious what Emma will look like one day if we ever get pregnant. I also wonder if I’ll be as crazy as Ash is when it comes to her. His overprotectiveness has increased tenfold. He never lets Avery out of his sight, he never lets her carry anything, and he’s constantly doting on her.
It works for them, but it’s nauseating to watch.
“It’s back toward town. It’s not on the lake, although I can see it. It’s up the mountain a bit where I have some land.”
“What are you going to do with land?” Avery asks, but Emma just smiles because she knows.
Cora’s face lights up. “Grow things.”
Just like I looked at Avery, I now look at Cora. Cora has on an outfit that probably cost over a thousand dollars. Her hair is perfectly blown out, her nails are done, her jewelry is borderline obnoxious, and her shoes are not meant for dirt. Of everyone sitting here, Cora is the least likely person to live in a mountain house. A staff-run chalet maybe, but by herself—this is going to be really interesting.
“Where is it exactly?” Juliet asks, using the cookie sandwich to slide the marshmallow off Bryce’s stick. Her house is back toward town, and she’s probably wondering if they are neighbors.
Bryce hands her the skewer, and she gives him the s’more. He takes a bite and moans at the taste. We all chuckle. This kid kills me.
“Do you know where the Red Barn Orchard is?” Cora asks the group.
We all nod.
“Oh, I love that place,” Avery says. “They have the cutest cider house.”
“Babe, it isn’t the cider you go there for—it’s the cider donuts.” Ash reaches over and places his hand on her leg.
“Do you blame me?” She shrugs. “I should ask how they make them. Then I could make them for you.” She smiles.
We all groan.
“What? You all love when I bake things.” She looks around at all of us.
“Aunt Avery, I love donuts,” Bryce says, and Ash leans forward to fist-bump him.
“We do,” Emma tells her, giving her a big reassuring smile, although Emma doesn’t eat them like Ash and I do. She’ll have a taste and then leave the rest on the counter for me. Cakes, cupcakes, pies, breads—you name it, she brings it over, and seventy-five percent of it ends up in my stomach.
“So, instead of turning left into the orchard, turn right. My house is across the street. It takes me about eight minutes to get down the mountain to go to town, it’s twenty minutes to get here, and closer to fifteen to get to Avery’s.”
Should have known she’s timed it.
“So eight minutes to get to me.” Juliet grins.
“Most definitely.” Cora smiles back. I have a feeling the two of them are about to become much closer, just like Juliet and Emma have. Juliet always liked Emma, well before that incident in New York, so it didn’t take long for them to find their way back to being friends. One bottle of wine, a few shed tears, and they were hugging it out in the living room. It’s good for Juliet to have friends, I know she needs them.
“I can’t believe you’re going to be here too. This is the best news,” Avery says.
She’s never mentioned missing her friends after she moved in with Ash, but as close as these three are, I can see how she would have. I can also see how Cora being left behind wasn’t working for her.