Coming Home

This was the last place Natalie Gibson wanted to be. The sleepy town of Springkeep certainly wasn’t what any person’s dreams were made of. If this place could be labeled anything, it would be dry…desolate…barren.

Sure, it had its few redeeming qualities. The local town ‘treasures’, if you will.

There were three waterfalls, all varying in magnitude. Large lakes, in a range of colors, some of which, it took a trip through darkened caves just to find. There were vast forested areas which held sequoias as far up as the eye could see.

All those things were located on one side of Springkeep, however.

The southern side.

Wildefield was the place where all the beautiful things were held. It also guarded all memories of the man she’d left behind almost five years ago. She could only pray he wasn’t still there with them…surrounded by the same beauty which, unfortunately, served to haunt her with feelings of nothing but pain, regret—and loss.

Those prayers would likely be said in vain, however.

Wildefield was his home, after all.

At least ten generations of his family had lived, and died, in the southern half of Springkeep. Natalie was a transplant of sorts to Redhill, the northern half, but it was her mother Nita’s home before her own. Nita, too, fled the same town in hopes of finding something more.

Anything more.

And eventually, Nita did indeed find that something.

Her something worth living for, worth fighting for, her ‘once in a lifetime’. She’d found that in a tall, dark, and handsome man by the name of Dwayne Gibson. Natalie’s father.

Unfortunately, like most great things, it just wasn’t meant to last.

With a sigh, Natalie turned the key in her ignition. The engine of her jeep quieted as she stared on at the childhood home in front of her. It was an older, ranch-styled home with a wrap-around porch. Part of which was enclosed by screen, in case you ever wanted to sit outside and avoid all the multitude of bugs that always seemed to be flying around.

“Home sweet home,” she said aloud hopping out onto the hard dirt and throwing her gum into the distance before replacing it with a fresh piece.

Natalie surveyed the place.

It could definitely use some work!

The panels on the sides of the house had seen better days. The white paint was in various stages of chipped or peeling. With a shake of her head, Natalie grabbed the handle on her large duffle bag from the passenger side.

“Definitely haven’t missed this place,” she huffed, securing the bag over her shoulder.

The area surrounding her home hadn’t changed much either. The large tree that held her favorite swing, still stood strong. The path where her mother first taught her to ride a horse, still permanently engraved into the ground. The tool shed her father used to hold all his equipment still remained in the same area of the backyard. The now rusty lock, still in place.

There were more houses were within closer proximity than she remembered, but that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Natalie slowly climbed the rock steps, inhaling deeply as she removed her key and put it into the door. When it creaked open, the familiar smell of food she’d eaten as a child wafted through the air. Her eyes closed briefly, taking in the nostalgia of the moment. She hadn’t smelled anything like this in quite some time…

Wait a minute…

“Mom, I thought you weren’t supposed to—” she immediately stopped when she came face to face with an unfamiliar woman.

An unfamiliar woman who was cooking over her mother’s stove…

“Um…who the hell are you?” Natalie asked with a skeptical frown on her brow.

“Oh, hello!” The woman wiped her hands on the towel slung over her shoulder, “You must be Natalie! My name is Dena, I’m a friend of your mother’s. I’ve been coming by, and cooking meals to get her through the week. I usually come on Sunday’s, but my car is in the shop, so I got a ride with—”

She stopped short when she noticed the skeptical frown had yet to leave the young woman’s face.

“My apologies. I’ve been told I have the tendency to talk too much. My name is Dena, I’m a friend of your mother’s,” she extended her hand.

Natalie’s frown evened out, “Natalie…nice to meet you,” she took her hand, “How long have you been coming to cook for my mom?”

“About three months now,” Dena answered as she went back to stir whatever was cooking in the large pot.

“After your mom’s accident, a few of us came by to help her around the house. She wouldn’t hear of it at first but…” Dena faced Natalie, “she soon realized she was more limited than she thought.”

Natalie slowly nodded. She’d only recently learned of her mother’s accident. See, Natalie had fallen on hard times herself. Out of the blue, her former roommate decided she wanted to move in with her boyfriend, leaving without any notice. Because of that, all the rent, and bills, fell onto Natalie’s minimum-wage-making lap.

Needless to say, Natalie’s cell was shut off after having to skip multiple payments in order to cover other costs.

“Is she awake?”

Dena smiled, “She should be. She was watching one of those judge shows the last time I checked on her.”

“Thanks,” Natalie smiled back, she started to leave but paused, “Any chance you made fry bread?” she asked.

Dena smiled brightly, “I did. Your mother told me it was one of your favorites. It’s over there when you’re ready.”

“Oh, you’re awesome! Thank you so much!” she grinned this time. Her mood immediately brightening even as she trudged along with her heavy bag still on her shoulder.

She stopped by her old room and threw the bag inside, not interested in going down memory lane just yet.

“Natalie?” her mother’s soft voice called.

“It’s me!” Natalie called back, speeding up her steps to her mother’s room.

“Please don’t tell me you still wear those God-awful combat boots!”

Natalie smiled to herself as she approached her mom’s room, slowing her steps.

“Ok…I won’t,” she stopped in the doorway and studied her mom.

Nita Gibson was as beautiful now as she’d been in her youth. Her unblemished skin, a radiant shade of russet brown, still held its golden glow. Her luxuriously long black hair was swept to one-side in a single braid. Scattered streaks of silver, barely visible, but Natalie noticed because they hadn’t been there the last time they’d seen each other.

Then again, neither was the cast that was now around the lower half of her right leg.

“It’s called a PTB cast. The other name I can never seem to remember…” Nita stated, addressing the object her only child’s eyes seemed fixated on.

Natalie shoved her hands into her jean shorts, taking precautious steps forward, “Does it still hurt?”

“Not as much as it did. The pain still comes and goes, but it’s more of a discomfort than anything else,” she wiggled her toes. Nita’s eyes scanned over her daughter, “You’ve lost weight!”

Natalie looked down at herself. Her thighs were visibly slimmer than they normally were. Her stomach was also slightly flatter, but that was all she really noticed.

“Not much.”

“Hmph,” her mother disagreed, “It’s almost like you have sticks for legs. And what happened to your hips? You used to have such a beautiful figure.”

“I happen to think I still have a beautiful figure,” Natalie retorted.

“You will always be beautiful in my eyes, Lee. You know that. But remember sweetie, only dogs like bones,” she said, playfully swatting her daughter’s leg.

“Now give me a hug,” she demanded, opening her arms wide. When Natalie moved in her mother inhaled deeply, “I have missed you so, my little Leelee.”

“I’ve missed you too, Mom,” she squeezed back.

It’d been over a year since they’d seen each other face to face, and even then, it was Nita who went to visit Natalie.

At the time, Natalie and her roommate shared a beautiful two-bedroom condo not far from the beach. She’d asked her mother to come visit so she could get away from the place which held most of her sadness.

While Nita wasn’t a fan of the airplane ride, she loved the water and weather. She expressed many times on the short trip how serene it all was.

How much it helped take her mind off the loss of her late husband—even if it was only for a small period of time.

Shortly after Nita left was when it all started going downhill for Natalie.

“So how are you—really?” Natalie asked, holding her mother’s hand as she spoke.

“I’m okay. Not good yet, but okay. It’s a process.”

“You mean healing from the accident or…dad?” Natalie asked reluctantly.

Nita gave a sad smile, “Both.”

Natalie only nodded. This would make the three-year mark since her father lost his battle with prostate cancer. While Natalie managed to find small ways to cope, her mother had yet to find any.

“Well…I’m glad I can be here with you now. I can cook and clean for you, do grocery and errand runs. Maybe even get out there to clean up a bit,” Natalie stated referring to the dismal eye-sore that was now their front yard.

“Don’t worry yourself with all that, especially things out there. You being here with me is enough. Besides you’ll probably want to start looking for work soon, huh?”

Natalie’s eyebrow quirked, “Ma, have you seen what it looks like out there? This place has had much better days. The fence is all but knocked down… There’s leaves, sticks, rocks and dirt scattered everywhere! Don’t even get me started on the house itself. If you don’t want me to do it, at least let me find someone who can. Especially when I start working…whenever that is.”

Nita sighed, “Yes, Natalie, I am aware of what things look like outside. I see it every time Dena, Raelyn or the others take me to my doctor’s appointments.”

Natalie ticked her head to the side, shame once again filling her senses as she realized just how much she hadn’t been around to help her mother.

“Point taken,” she cleared her throat, “Can we at least agree it needs work?”

“Yes, we can. It’s already taken care of, Lee. Just—”

“It’s already taken care of? Mom, really?” she asked incredulously, “It looks like someone hasn’t lived here in years and—” her rant was cut short when a strong, booming and very masculine, voice called out.

“Nita? Dena?”

“In here!” Dena called as Natalie’s eyes shot to her mother’s.

It couldn’t be.

Nita merely stared back at her daughter.

“Tell me that’s not—” Natalie started.

Heavy boots clunked their way further into the home…

“Who’s Wrangler’s outside? I don’t recognize it—I got a little worried,” the man’s voice was deep, vivid, rich, and definitely…definitely, familiar.

Natalie quick-stepped to her mother’s window, pulling at the curtain, immediately zoning in on a very recognizable 1987 white Chevrolet pick-up truck.

Her head snapped back to her mother who only spared her an impartial glance, “Why is he here?”

“Oh, that’s Natalie’s jeep,” Dena’s answer was clearly audible to them both and Natalie visibly cringed.

“He’s why I don’t need help with the outside of the house,” her mother answered calmly.

There was silence in the front, and Natalie already knew why. He probably hadn’t heard her name since the day she left Springkeep.

Since the day she left him.

“Hmph. Alright, well, I’m going to get started outside. If you need anything let me know.”

“Sure thing! Don’t you want to meet Natalie before you get all dirty and sweaty? She’s a very beautiful young lady. Think she’s close to your age too.”

Natalie shot her mother another questioning glare. Springkeep was somewhat of a small town. One of the types where everyone knew everyone else’s business. And almost everyone knew about ‘Nash and Natalie’.

“She’s new here,” Nita answered simply, clearly more interested in her once forgotten television program.

“How new?” Natalie questioned as they both heard Nash’s voice again,

“We’ve met. I’ll be outside.” He answered dismissively before his heavy boots, which were probably a lot like her own, made their way back across the floor.

“Maybe two years or so…” she responded, eyes still glued to the television. “Go on and look. You know you’re curious as to what he looks like now. He’s changed a lot too, ya know?”

Natalie folded her arms, “I’m not as curious as you’d think.”

“Is that so?” her mother smirked.

At that very moment Nash’s towering, muscular, powerfully built figure walked across the visible area from Nita’s window.

Yes, Nashoba Walker had changed since the last time she’d seen him. His hair was pulled back into a bun, and while it was long the last time they’d seen one another, it was obviously much longer now. Nash had always been a tall man, everyone in his family stood over six feet, including his sister.

Now though, his 6’5” frame was stacked with bulging, sturdy-muscle that bunched with every move under the dark tank top he wore. His skin now a darker shade of sun-kissed bronze, and his handsomely-pretty face was now covered with a beard she’d never seen him wear.

To put it plainly, almost-thirty looked damn good on Nashoba Walker.

“That why you haven’t taken your eyes off that window since he passed it?” Nita commented as she eyed her daughter.

“Whatever,” Natalie kissed the top of her mother’s head, “I’m going to get unpacked. I’ll be back in a few.”

“Ok, sweetie,” Nita smiled to herself.

When Natalie made it to her room, she flopped back on the bed.

Why was this her life right now? It was almost as if the karmic universe was trying to smack her across the face.

Trying to make her remember all she’d strived so hard to forget.

Who she strived to forget.

Natalie had loved Nash ever since she was an immature, thirteen-year-old girl with raging hormones and he was a rebellious junior on the edge of seventeen.

It was almost cliché.

He was one of the local ‘bad-boys’, played guitar in a band, and even rode a motorcycle he and his father built with their bare hands. He also happened to be an athlete. A shooting guard on their high school’s basketball team.

Meanwhile, Natalie was the somewhat nerdy, shy and chubby girl who only had a couple of close friends because she was ‘different’.

She wasn’t exactly like the other kids of Springkeep. Her skin was a richer shade of brown, her head filled with natural, springy curls. While she held most of her mother’s features, her complexion and hair took more after her father.

But from the first moment she lay her eyes on Nash walking through the halls of their high school with a group of his friends, he’d instantly grabbed all of her attention.

He was, literally, all she saw.

That fact proven evident when she ran smack into the back of another student, causing all her books to fall from her hands.

One just so happened to slide right over to Nash’s feet. When he leaned down to pick it up, he promptly pushed at the innocent kid she’d just run into and helped gather her other books.

“Here you go,” he knelt down.

She could feel his eyes studying her, but refused to meet his gaze. “You’re new here, aren’t you?”

Natalie was happy her skin tone was deep enough to cover not only her embarrassment, but the blush that came from the mere fact he was speaking to her, “Yes.” she took her book from his hand, “Thank you.”

Nash sat back on his feet, holding out his hand, “I’m Nashoba. Nashoba Walker. My friends call me Nash though.”

Natalie glanced at his hand, and almost swallowed her gum. Her hands still filled with the four books she’d just dropped.

“Um…” she juggled the books to one side, “I’m Natalie. Natalie Gilbert,” she stated, following his lead of giving his full name.

“Nice to meet you, Natalie,” he smiled as he shook her hand. In his closeness, she noticed how beautiful his eyes were. They were different from hers, and most others there. Instead of the brown or black irises of others, his were an entrancing hazel-green.

“Nice to meet you too, Nashoba,” she smiled shyly. He stood tall, still with a grip on her hand as he helped her up, “Call me Nash,” he stated sincerely.

“You said your friends call you that,” she stated, instantly regretting her foolishness.

He only smiled, “Yeah, I did. You can still call me that…unless you have enough friends already.”

Once again Natalie was thankful for her skin tone, “Don’t really have many of those,” she said more to herself than him.

“It’s settled then.”

“Hey Nash, man, lets go! We’re gonna miss practice!” one of his friends called.

“I know the way…I’ll meet you there,” he stated cooly. Natalie didn’t miss the shake of their heads before they walked away.

“So, what do your friends call you, Natalie?”

“Nothing, really.”

His eyebrow quirked as she corrected, “I mean, I don’t really have any nicknames. My family calls me Lee, but that’s about it.”

“Hm…” he smirked, “I like ‘Lee’. Might have to steal that one, if you don’t mind.”

“Of course not!” she cringed at how eager she sounded, “I mean—”

“I know what you mean…” he bit his lip as if he was attempting to hide a brighter smile or even a laugh.

She felt so ridiculous.

Still, somehow, Nash managed to make her feel like she was important. Like she mattered.

“I gotta get to basketball practice, but I’ll see you around.”

“Ok. Thanks again,” she held the books closer to her chest.

“Don’t mention it,” he walked backwards for a few steps, “Catch ya later, Lee.”

She waved her hand, “Bye, Nash,” she all but whispered.

She didn’t think he heard it, but he smiled before casually turning off to practice.

If she hadn’t skipped her sixth-grade year, she would’ve began her time at Springkeep High just as Nash was preparing to end his. Maybe their paths would have still crossed in that crowded hallway, but her time in his orbit would have been much shorter. Skipping ahead had pulled their timelines closer, gave them enough time for a friendship to take root. And from that moment on, he was everywhere. Even when she wasn’t looking for him, somehow, he always seemed to be there.

Much like today.

With a disgruntled sigh she rose up, “I’ve gotta get outta here…”

Yeah, that’s just what she needed.

She needed to go for a drive. Clear her head.

By the time she got back, he’d most likely be gone. She’d actually be able to focus by then.

“Mom, I’m going to drive into town and pick up a few things,” she called out.

“Ok, sweetie. Drive safe!” Nita called back.

“I will!”

If Natalie were lucky, she’d avoid running into Nash. She’d seen him walk towards the back of the property anyway. She stopped by the kitchen first as Dena was finishing with putting the food away.

“Hey…I’m going into town for a store run. Do you know of anything that I may need to get for the house?” she asked.

“Not really. Nash went grocery shopping for her a couple days ago,” Dena answered nonchalantly, missing the expression that crossed Natalie’s face.

“Oh. Ok, then. Well, if you’re gone when I get back it was nice to meet you.”

“You too, Natalie,” Dena smiled genuinely.

Well, that put a small hitch in her plans.

She didn’t really need much from the store herself, not that she had a lot of extra cash anyway. All she really needed was a supply of her favorite gum because she’d certainly be going through packs!

You could always aisle shop for a while…

That was the thought any way as she made her way to her vehicle.

As her luck would have it, the second her foot hit the ground after the last step, Nash rounded the house with a pile of wooden slats on his large shoulder. His body covered in a fresh sheen of sweat, and a frown on his brow as he walked.

The frown only deepened when his eyes landed on Natalie. He never lost his stride as he walked the pieces of wood over to the opposite side of the house. Natalie, however, remained stuck in her spot.

He hadn’t even acknowledged her!

Nothing besides the frown already planted on his brow, that is.

With a shake of her head she moved in the direction of her Jeep, she really needed that drive now. Nash made his way back around just as she opened the car door.

He glanced at her. No— glance wasn’t the proper word.

Nash stopped and raked his eyes over every inch of her. From her straightened black hair, white tank top, tattered and tiny jean shorts, down her legs, right to her combat-boot clad feet, and right back up again.

“You’re skinny.” He stated insensitively, frown still on his face.

“And you’re massive. So what?” she quipped in a defensive tone.

He shook his head, “Nothin’. Not my concern, I guess.”

“You’re right there,” Natalie snapped. “Anything else?”

He huffed a humorless laugh, “Nope.”

With that he walked off again, shaking his own head along the way. Natalie, now more flustered than ever, hopped in her jeep. The door was slammed shut as the wheels peeled out of her driveway.

And fuck you very much, Nash Walker!