A yellow cab pulled to the white picket fence that surrounded a two-story historical styled home and parked in front of the wooden mailbox.

“Will thirty be enough?” Summer Greystone asked, keeping her eyes on the home she grew up in and left when she was eighteen years old.

“Thirty’s fine ma’am,” the bald-headed bearded driver said. “It’s twenty-six even if you wanna be precise,” he added.

Summer removed the folded bills she’d taken out of the ATM at the airport and handed them over to the driver. “Keep the change,” she said.

“Thank you very much. I’ll get your things.”

The driver exited the vehicle and proceeded to remove Summer’s luggage from the trunk. But Summer couldn’t pull her gaze from the green stretch of manicured lawn, and the home that sat on four acres of land. In the driveway, several vehicles sat unoccupied, and Summer surmised they were most likely friends of her late grandma Ada Greystone. It was the only reason Summer had returned to Chandler County Kentucky, to pay her final respects to the woman who’d raised her.

When Summer got the call that her grandma had passed in her sleep, it left Summer with an insurmountable headache, and she’d mourned like a baby in the quiet quarters of her two-bedroom condo back in Atlanta Georgia. As an editorial model, Summer’s scheduled was unruly and allowed for no room to take trips or vacations. But after getting the news, Summer had dropped everything. Even the contract she’d signed was in jeopardy of being snatched away from her. Summer would most likely be sued by the company, but she couldn’t care one way or the other.

“I never thought I’d be back here,” Summer whispered.

“What’s that?” The driver shouted from outside the door.

Summer snapped out of her haze and slipped the purse on her shoulder then exited the cab. Shutting the door behind her, she grabbed the handle of her rollaway luggage and stepped up on the sidewalk.

“Thank you,” Summer said over her shoulder, and unhurriedly she strolled down the walkway taking the three steps up to the porch.

Voices could be heard inside as people talked at a minimum octave. She swiped the thin black strands of hair off her shoulder to rest against her back and straightened her posture before taking a swift knock against the screen door.

The voices instantly went mute, and the strain of floorboards could be heard as someone neared the door. An eye peered out of the blinds that hung against the wooden barrier and for a long second they seem to ponder on whether to receive her. Summer held her breath for a long moment. Then the switch of the lock and fumble with the chain was removed and the door swung open.

A pair of aging blue eyes met hers and for what felt like a long mile they stared at one another. Finally, Summer smiled softly.

“Hey grandpa,” she said without making a move to clear the screen door between them.

Summer’s grandfather, Benjamin Greystone, continued his perusal of his granddaughter. His posture was slightly bent, and the grey and silver strands of hair were sprinkled throughout his hair as if he’d been an extra in a rock band in his former life. Benjamin cleared his throat.

“Well if it isn’t Ms. American’s Next Top Model,” his gruff voice groveled.

Summer’s small smile dropped, and her lips thinned out. The last thing she wanted was a fight with her grandpa on the day they laid her grandmother to rest. Another round of footsteps could be heard on the floorboard then a second set of eyes were cast over Summer.

“Summer, baby?” Patricia Greystone, Summer’s mother, glanced from her to Benjamin and a frown covered her face. “Come in, why are you still outside on the porch?” Patricia pushed open the screen door and reached for Summer’s arm.

“I wasn’t sure if I was welcomed inside.”

Patricia’s frown deepened. “Why on earth would you think something like that?”

Summer didn’t respond, only cut her eyes back at Benjamin before moving them beyond the foyer to the sea of people who were perched, either in an armchair or on their two feet watching the exchange at the door.

“What time does the funeral start?” Summer asked.

Patricia sighed. She and her daughter’s relationship had been strained for as long as she could remember. Patricia felt partly to blame. She had been only fifteen when she’d given birth to Summer, and Patricia’s parents had taken full custody of Summer. In turn, Patricia and Summer grew up almost like sisters rather than mother and daughter. So it didn’t surprise Patricia that Summer ignored her question, but it didn’t hurt any less.

Patricia glanced down at her sterling silver watch. “Um, we should be at the gravesite in an hour.” Patricia glanced back over at Summer and for a long moment that stood eye to eye. Summer ran a glance over her mother’s golden blonde hair and those similar features that Summer saw every day when she looked in the mirror. Cat-like eyes and light brown orbs, a slim nose, and upturned lips. Summer tried to release the tension she felt upon walking in the door. She smiled and drew Patricia in for a hug.

“Oh,” Patricia said in surprise. Patricia’s own arms circled her daughter.

“I missed you mom.”

The two women held each other close and Patricia breathed a sigh of relief, but Patricia couldn’t dismiss the oddness of Summer’s entrance. Not now but a little later Patricia would pull her daughter to the side and ask again.

“I missed you too baby,” Patricia responded. Her hand rubbed up and down Summers back then the two parted, and Patricia grabbed the handle of her luggage. “I’ll take this to your room.”

“No!” Summer said speaking louder than she intended to.

Patricia’s brows rose. “Why not?”

“I’m staying at Chandlerville Inn.”

“Why would you stay there when there’s a perfectly neat and clean room upstairs?”

“Don’t pressure the girl,” Benjamin Greystone added. “If she wants to stay at Chandlerville Inn then that’s where she’ll stay.”

Summer took her attention back to her grandfather, and the two had another intense moment. Someone cleared their throat bringing Summer’s attention back in front of her.

“Hey Summer, it’s been a long time, are you just getting into town?”

Summer smiled over at Jeremy King. Seeing him made her think of Aiden Johnson, Summer’s ex-boyfriend. Jeremy and Aiden were as thick as thieves when they were adolescents, but Summer and Jeremy’s friendship had been lukewarm, never really developing into anything meaningful. It made her wonder what he was doing here, and her insides churned at the thought of Aiden being the reason for Jeremy’s visit.

Summer’s eyes scanned the room for Aiden but came up empty. Inwardly she breathed a sigh of relief. The last time she saw Aiden, was on her 18^th birthday eight years ago. Her thoughts traveled back to the moment when she and Aiden were just a young couple fresh out of high school.

“Happy birthday.”

Aiden produced a fist of yellow lilies that he had handpicked from his mother’s garden. A smile flourished across Summer’s face, and her cheeks reddened with a hard blush.

“For me?” she beamed.

“You’re the only girl I would risk getting strangled by my mother for pulling her flowers from the yard,” he said.

Summer giggled, and heat stung her cheeks even more.

“Thank you, Aiden,” she crooned.

“You’re welcome. I have something else for you, but you can’t have it until after your party.”

Summer’s eyes widened, and her young thoughts went to the gutter. A hand flew across her lips as she gasped then tinkered out a laugh.

“Not that, nasty girl,” he said with a charming grin lacing his lips.

“Okay,” Summer said, “then what?”

Aiden lifted his wrist and glanced at his watch. “In due time, but until then, let’s go back inside. I’d hate for someone to think I’m trying to steal you away at your own birthday party.”

“Aren’t you?”

“Yeah, but I don’t want to be so obvious.”

They both laughed and stood from the wooden logs they sat perched on. Aiden reached for Summer’s hand and their fingers linked. As they walked back inside, Summer dipped her nose to the yellow lilies feeling giddy at his present but also ashamed of her deceit. She was prepared to move to another city, where she most likely wouldn’t see Aiden for a long time, if ever again. Now just the thought of seeing him again made her gut tighter.

Would it be possible to get in and out of town before that happened? In Summer’s mind, she would pay her respects, grab something to eat and head straight to Chandlerville Inn before catching a red-eye back to Atlanta. There was nothing in Chandler County for her anymore; well, besides her mother, and their relationship was fine long distance. Snapping out of her reverie Summer brought her thoughts back to the here and now.

“Wow, look at you,” Summer said taking an eye over his brown hair and pecan eyes. “It’s been a long time.”

“Sure has,” he responded. Jeremy glanced at Patricia and Benjamin and also noticed the tension. He cleared his throat. “Um, do you have a ride to the gravesite, I’d be willing to take you if you don’t.”

“Thank you. I could use a ride since I came by taxi.”

“Well,” Patricia imputed. “You can ride with Jeremy, or you can drive the truck outside.”

“Are you talking about the old pickup?” Summer asked. On her way inside, she’d noticed the black 1972 Chevrolet truck in the open garage. It had been in her grandfather’s collection since she was a teen and from the looks of it, he’d kept it in pristine condition.

Summer decided not to peer at her grandfather, instead she smiled over at her mother. “Maybe later,” she said.

Patricia exhaled and nodded. “In that case, Jeremy you make sure to drive safely.”

“I’m the safest driver in town,” he countered.

“Hmm, that’s yet to be determined.”

Jeremy smirked. “We can get going now if you like.”

“Yes, let’s go.”

Summer barely glanced at the other’s in attendance and pivoted on her heels to head out the door. Jeremy reached for her bag, and they headed to his Subaru Outback. Summer slipped inside while Jeremy added her luggage to his trunk. She breathed a sigh of relief and glanced back toward the front door of the historic home. The Outback rocked as Jeremy climbed inside.

“Thank you,” Summer said.

“I’ve always been able to tell when someone needed rescuing,” he said.

“And for that I’m grateful,” Summer responded removing her eyes from the house over to Jeremy.

He smiled. “It’s a part of my job description now.” He put the car in drive, and they eased away from the curb.

“What do you do for a living now?”

“I work over at the firehouse with Kyle Walsh and Aiden.”

A buzz crawled down Summers skin at the mention of Aiden. She wasn’t surprised that he was a firefighter. Aiden had always been the type to help someone, no matter the case.

“Hmm,” was all she said.

They rode in silence the rest of the way, and as they journeyed Summer took in the city, she’d grown up in. The scenery had changed slightly. Where the layout of the town was familiar, some crossroads and intersections had been added. Acres of land, farms, and bred horses that galloped in the fields remained the same, but there were a few businesses that appeared to be new making Summer wonder about the towns growing economy.

Jeremy cruised into the entrance of Chandlerville Cemetery prompting Summer’s thoughts to become consumed with memories of her grandmother. A smile cornered her lips as she pondered on hot summer days when Nana would help her set up the lemonade stand. At the time Summer considered it her summer job, and she made a nice amount of change with it to. It was her first entrepreneurial endeavor with the help of her nana, and it was one of the little things Summer would cherish forever.

Jeremy rounded the vehicle through a circular loop and parked. Just a few feet before them a small gathering of people stood quietly dressed in black in white attire. Summer inhaled a deep breath.

“Are you ready?” Jeremy asked.

Summer nodded. “Yes.”

Flipping her hair off her shoulders Summer reached down into her handbag and removed her sunglasses. She sat them on her face then grabbed the door handle.

“You don’t mind if I leave my purse in the car, do you?”

“I can put it in the trunk with your luggage if you’d like.”

“I would.”

Summer grabbed her handbag, and they both exited the car and met up at the trunk where she locked her purse inside then slowly strolled toward her nana’s resting place.

“I don’t know how you made it here before me,” Summer said sidling up to her mother’s side.

Patricia smiled but, it didn’t reach its peak. “It seems your grandfather’s nerves are bad. He drove like that famous race car driver on the way over.” At the perplexed look on Summer’s face, Patricia elaborate. “You know, Jax Sutton.

Summer nodded. “Yes, I heard about his career taking off.”

“Quite well actually,” Patricia added. “You would think your grandfather’s had a lesson or two the way he drove over here. It’s the stress of the day I’m sure.”

“Sure,” Summer said unassured.

Patricia peeked at her daughter then slipped her hand inside Summer’s. Their fingers linked, and they gave each other a small smile and a hug.

“Grandma’s in a better place you know,” Summer whispered. “I know it’s cliché but, if anyone gets in, she does.”

The two women held their small smiles then Patricia winked at her daughter. When the outdoor proceedings began, only the high-strung voice of the preacher could be heard. After the eulogy, the small crowd was asked to come up row by row to gain their last look at Mrs. Ada Greystone. It started with the first row where Summer and Patricia stood holding hands. Benjamin Greystone moved first, and Patricia followed with Summer in tow. Summer removed her shades just as she made it to her grandmother’s casket. Tears slipped from the corner of her eyes, and she had to reach out and clutch her mother in a tight hug when Patricia begin to break down. Summer held her close while her mother’s chest tremored against her own. Summer’s eyes closed then opened and fluttered over to her grandfather standing aside Patricia. Benjamin had a napkin in his hand with tear filled eyes. He stood solemnly, dabbing the corners with the handkerchief. Benjamin didn’t pull his eyes away from his wife, and for a brief moment, Summer felt sorry for him.

The moment seemed to last forever with no one moving, speaking, or being redirected. The other’s in attendance held back while the immediate family mourned over the loss of a dear loved one.

The sun shone brightly in the sky, and a small spring current of wind sailed around them. Irrevocably, Benjamin, Patricia, and Summer said their final goodbyes and trod back to their seating area. Summer approached her chair when her eyes traveled over the small sea of people. Her movements slowed then halted as if she were walking in slow motion. Two rows behind her, with his hands tucked together and fingers linked in front of him was Aiden Johnson. In a button down, long sleeved shirt that stretched over toned shoulders and thick biceps. There was no tie around his neck, and the first button was unclasped as if he gotten hot and snagged it open. The thick column of his neck was exposed and Summer’s eyes lifted to his mouth, manly nose to finally rest on his gaze.

He stared back unmoving, with blue eyes that pierced right through her. Summer involuntarily quivered as they held firm gazing at one another. A riveting wave of warmth slid down Summer’s skin, and suddenly she was reminded of everything she’d known about Aiden. Memories assailed her mind, and every emotion Summer thought she put behind her rose to the surface. Her heart didn’t pace itself as her gazed washed over him and unbeknown to Summer, Aiden’s hadn’t either.

There was only a minor moment when Summer blinked and caught another familiar face in her peripheral, but it was long enough for her thoughts to shift and her eyes to cut to a woman standing meager inches away from him. Summer always prided herself on being an outstanding, intelligent citizen of the community. Even in her younger years, Summer posed more class then some adults, but the minute Regan Downing’s image crossed her Summer frowned, and an instant headache sprang forth.

Before she could stop herself, Summer was on the move, walking towards Regan in a fast strut.