Two Weeks (The Baxter Family #5)(5)

“Excuse me.” Elise felt a ripple of anger work its way through her. “It’s my fault I’m here.” She kept her tone in check. “My mama had nothing to do with it.”

Aunt Carol looked at her and raised an eyebrow. “I’m just saying.” She rinsed the pan and handed it to Elise. “Anyone would have a hard time living with her. People can’t measure up to the Bible. No one’s that perfect. Including your mother.” A small burp sounded from her lips, but her fingers got there too late to cover it up. She didn’t seem to care. “How do you think you came into the world?”

That was it. Elise’s heart was pounding now. How dare her aunt criticize her mama? She clenched her teeth so she wouldn’t say something she’d regret. Then she dried the pan and set it on the counter. “Aunt Carol.” She hesitated, choosing her words. “Please . . . don’t say another word about my mama. You don’t know her.”

“Well.” Her aunt waved a soapy hand in the air and shot Elise a disgusted look. “I wouldn’t have expected you to defend her. Of all people.”

Elise didn’t respond to that. Ten silent minutes later and she was back in her room. Her heart was still racing, her rage in full gear. Yes, she had been a terrible daughter this past year. Her sweet mother was no match for her and the things she’d done. And no, they weren’t close like they used to be.

But still, Aunt Carol had no right to talk about her that way. Elise wanted to scream at her. None of this was her mama’s fault, not at all. She glanced at the rose-papered walls. They were closing in again.

Elise closed her eyes for a few seconds. Never mind that her aunt and uncle were doing her a favor. The semester couldn’t get over fast enough.

She moved to a small suitcase in the corner of the room and took a sketchbook from inside. The only way to change her mood now was to draw. She grabbed a pencil and sat on the chair near the window.

Like it had a heart of its own, her pencil began to fly across the page. This drawing wouldn’t be anything original or new. She’d sketched the scene a hundred times before.

The New York City skyline.

She couldn’t wait to be there, breathing in the city air, surrounded by the sounds and feels of Manhattan. And now only one thing stood between her and a move to the city. A semester in Bloomington, Indiana, at a school she’d never heard of before.

Clear Creek High.





2




Time was a thief.

That’s what Cole Baxter Blake had heard his mom say before. The morning of his birthday or during some milestone for their family. It was the reason she painted. So she could capture the moments time stole.

Moments like this one.

Cole parked his car, stepped out and stared at the front of his school. His mom had reminded him earlier this morning that today—January 7—was special. Cole should take time to recognize it. Remember it. And so he would.

He breathed in and let the minute linger. Today was the first day of his last semester at Clear Creek High. A milestone. One more set of classes and midterms and final exams. One more season on the baseball team. One more prom. Then in the blink of an eye it would be May and he’d be wearing a cap and gown.

Headed to Liberty University.

His cousin Jessie was staying home to study elementary education at Indiana University. Some days Cole wanted to stay here, too. Closer to his family. But he’d visited Liberty twice and there was no turning back. God was calling him there, and not only for his undergrad degree but for medical school.

Something he’d decided over Christmas break.

Years from now, at the end of his collegiate journey, he would come back home—to Indiana—and he would work at Bloomington Hospital in the emergency room. Just like his grandpa John Baxter had done for decades.

Today, though, he was still here, still in high school. A bunch of lasts were right around the corner, but for now he would enjoy this first. He grabbed his backpack and pressed the lock button on his key chain.

The senior baseball players were meeting at lunch to talk about the season. They had a chance at the state title this year. It was only Cole’s second year on the team, but he had earned a starting second base position. Practice began tomorrow afternoon. Their first game was two months away.

Across the snowy lawn a pretty blonde waved at him. Carolyn Everly. The two had been friends since freshman year. Twice they’d gone to dances together, but they’d never let things get serious. Cole was always too busy. Carolyn, too. Besides, like his dad told him—when you date things end one of two ways.

In marriage or a breakup.

Cole wasn’t looking for either. Serious relationships could wait till late in college. With all the schooling he had ahead, friendships would have to do for now. He didn’t have time for anything else. He grinned as Carolyn approached. “Good Christmas?”

“The best.” She was a sweet girl, confident and kind. Her laughter lit up her eyes. “We got a new puppy. A golden retriever. Remy.” She opened her phone and flashed a photo. “He’s so cute.”

Cole took a look. “He is cute. I’ll have to come see him!” They kept talking as they walked toward the front doors. Ten minutes until the bell. Before they stepped inside, Cole hesitated. “Wasn’t it yesterday when we were freshmen?” He looked up at the Clear Creek sign over the building. “I remember my dad dropping me off and feeling like this was the biggest school I’d ever seen.”