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The Past.

The sound of liquid swishing around in a glass was the only sound in the silent kitchen. Salem was standing at the counter looking out the back window watching the birds in the birdbath that was out there. A small smile passed over his lips at the memory of his parents putting the stupid thing up. The sound of his mother's voice as her husband splashing her with the hose. Salem had only been seventeen at the time, and Shiloh was thirteen. That was when they had been a happy family. That was the last good memory Salem had of his mother.

While Salem had been in school one day, one of the teachers approached him and told him that his mother had stopped by with a letter for him. He was kind of confused because she never came to the school for anything, unless she was checking him out for the day. He thanked the woman and put the letter into his backpack. He was too busy at the time to read it anyway. When he had gotten home that day was when he realized his mother was gone. Everything she owned was gone as well, and he was kind of confused about what happened.

He then remembered the letter he had been given while in school. His father wasn't home yet, and Shiloh was most likely with Summit, and he was glad about that. He had some time alone to try to figure out what was going on. He sat down in the living room and opened his backpack. He fished the letter out and opened it. The smell of his mother's favorite perfume was on the page. That's something he never understood why she did that. Made the pages smell nice when she wrote letters. He pushed it aside and started reading.

My darling Salem,

I know it's strange getting this while you are in school, but I didn't want your father or sister to find this. When you all get home I'm not going to be there. I can't handle it anymore. The lies, the fighting behind closed doors. I don't feel like we are a family anymore. I know you might not understand this, but when your father is ready to tell you he will. Please take care of Shiloh. She's going to need you more than ever right now. She's not going to really understand, and I need you there for her.

Things haven't been okay the last couple of years. I haven't been happy like you thought. It's been nothing but a game the last couple of years. I am really proud of you and Shiloh. You both are my babies and will always be my babies. Please try to understand that I'm doing this to help our family. I'm doing this for myself. You really are an amazing man Salem. Please rememebr how much I love you. Sooner or later our paths will cross once more, and when that happens it'll be a joyous day indeed. I love you Salem.

Love always,
Momma.

The letter was short, sweet and to the point. Salem was kind of confused about the whole thing. What did she mean by it was all a lie the last couple of years? Were his parents fighting? He thought he had heard them late into the night fighting. He sighed a bit as he read the letter over and over again. That's when the front door opened and his father came in. He threw his things down by the front door, and kicked off his work boots. “Diana, are you here?” he called out.

Salem looked up and shook his head “She's not here dad. Everything of hers is gone as well. She did come to the school today though and gave the front desk a letter for me” he said as he stood. His father looked a little confused and he walked over to Salem and took the letter. He read the letter over a couple of times before letting out a small sigh. “Dad, what does she mean? It's all been lies? You guys were fighting? I'm confused” he said. He really was. Was his family falling apart?

Richard let out a low sigh once more and ran a hand over his face. He nodded to the couch and the two sat down. He took a breath and started speaking. “Things between your mother and I have been really rocky lately. She didn't like the fact I had picked up more hours at work. She didn't like the fact I was going out to the bar every weekend with a bunch of co-workers. About three years ago I had come home, you and Shiloh weren't home at the time, and I thank God for that every day since”

"But when I came home early one day to surprise your mother, I found her in bed with another man. She didn't deny it either. She had been seeing him for the last three years before that. The had been sneaking around behind my back, and his wife's back as well. She claimed she had fallen out of love with him, and was in love with him. The first things out of my mouth had been about you and Shiloh. At first she looked guilty, but then she said she was going to be leaving everything behind. She was leaving you and Shiloh behind.

“When I kicked the bastard out, your mother and I had gotten into a huge fight. I talked her into staying and figuring out a way to tell you both. That's when her whole mood seemed to change. She said she would break it off with him, and we could work on things as a family again. It didn't work, because she was all of a sudden gone all of the time herself. She would come home late in really slutty clothes, and makeup. That's when I found out she was a prostitute. I didn't want that for her.”

“We got into yet another fight and that was the end of it. I didn't really think she would leave” he trailed off and looked towards the hall. Normally Diana would be coming in with something for them to snack on. The house was too quiet. The two men sat there for a while longer, before Salem was the first to leave. He didn't care. He went to his room, locked the door and found the bottle of Vodka he had hidden there. He sat down onto the bed and took the lid off. He tipped his head back and took the first swig. That was the night everything changed and went downhill.

The Present.

The memory came rushing back and Salem let out a low growl. The woman beside him let out a soft moan as she rolled onto her back and looked towards him. “Is everything okay Salem?” she asked. The female sat up and made sure she was covered by the sheet. Salem had a cigarette in hand and he looked towards the blonde. He shook his head lightly and placed the cigarette between his lips. “No everything is not okay. Just thinking about a couple of years ago and still trying to figure out why my own mother walked out on my family” he admitted.

The blonde leaned over and pressed her lips to his neck lightly. She knew the exact spot to make the male melt. Everyone knew that. He let out a low moan at the feel of her lips. Soon she was in his lap, the sheet forgotten. “I'm sorry about that. I know you have been close to your mom, and I know it was like a punch to the gut. But it wasn't your fault. She loved you and wanted what was best for you and your sister” she said. She wrapped her arms around his neck and smirked lightly.

Salem didn't need to say anything else. He put the cigarette out, wrapped his arms around the woman, flipped her onto her back and went to town. The sounds that escaped both of them filled the room. As soon as he had his fill he rolled off of her, found his boxers and pulled them on. The woman let out a small whine. “Come back to bed Salem, please? It's cold without you here” she whisered. The male shook his head and nodded towards the door. “It's time you leave” he said. He had packing to do after all.

The female rolled her eyes as she climbed out of bed. He had his back turned to her already packing up more of his room. He was heading back home to Meadowcreek Maine, and he wasn't looking back. The female left without saying another word. Salem took his time to pack everything up. He then went and took a shower to wash the woman's smell off of him. He didn't know when he would be laid again, but that was out of his mind. He was going home to see Shiloh. He didn't even know what psych ward she was even in.

A couple of months ago he had gotten word from Summit about his father's passing. He didn't even know how she had gotten his address, but he didn't care. His bastard of a father was finally dead and he couldn't be happier. There were times he couldn't help but wonder how his mother was doing. Was she even still alive herself? He didn't know. He sighed as he made sure to wash his whole body. When he was done he shut the water off and climbed out. As he was drying off, he heard his roommates voice.

He wrapped the towel around his waist and walked out of the bathroom and into the living room. His roommate and only friend was sitting on the couch with his girlfriend curled up against him. “Hey, where did you want me to leave my apartment key? I'm leaving in the next little while” he said. The female looked the half-naked male up and down and licked her lips lightly. “Just in the bowl is fine. I'm kinda sad today's the day you are leaving” Colby said. Salem shrugged lightly and headed back to his room and shut the door.

He wasn't sad he was leaving. He was glad to be honest. He finished drying himself off, made sure he had everything and grabbed his car keys. He then made his way out of the bedroom, and stopped in the hall and dropped the keys into the bowl. Colby and his girlfriend were no where to be seen all of a sudden. It was better that way. He didn't want to look at Colby's girlfriend and have those impure thoughts of the two of them sharing her. He wasn't one for that kind of thing, but it was nice to think about.

He then opened the door, walked out and headed towards the parking garage. He threw his bags into the car, slipped behind the wheel, started it up and pulled out of the parking lot. Soon he was on the freeway heading home.

A couple hours later.

The male pulled off the freeway a couple hours later and he felt like he was going back in time. He was finally home and he felt like he could breathe normally once more. He made a mental note to see if there was a way he could get in touch with Summit so he could find Shiloh. He hadn't meant to leave when she had landed herself in the psych ward, but he was losing himself at the time. He didn't want to put any more stress on Shiloh than she was already under. At the time he thought he was doing the right thing.

As he started taking the back way home, he felt like a teenager once more. He was now twenty-eight and coming back home. He had been gone for the last couple of years and he couldn't wait to come back home. When he was in his neighborhood he slowed down and rolled the windows down. The fresh air filled the car. He then came to a crawl as he knew his car stood out like a sore thumb. The neighborhood hasn't changed much at all. The homes looked the same but didn't at the same time.

It was like each home had a facelift. Which could have been. When he was done he added a little bit of gas and went down a couple more streets to his childhood home. It was the same as well. He pulled into the driveway and shut the car off. He sat there for a moment before he opened the door and climbed out. He was about to open the trunk when he heard his name. He turned and saw one of the neighbor's walked across the street towards him. He wasn't in the mood, but plastered on a smile anyway.

“Oh my god! It is you! I was wondering when you'd be coming home!” the female said as she wrapped her arms around Salem. The male hugged her back and laughed lightly. “Yes Mrs. Willows. I'm home now, and I will be for awhile” he said. The older woman let him go and looked him up and down and tsked. “You look so much like your daddy, and you have your mother's eyes for sure. Welcome home Salem! Let me know if you want me to throw you a welcome home party” she offered. That was going to be too much for the male.

He shook his head as he shoved his hands into his pockets. “Thank you, but I'll have to pass. I'm not really in the mood to have the whole town knowing I'm home yet” he said. He knew that the woman was going to go home and tell the whole town anyway. “I'm sorry to cut this short, but I've had a long drive and I want to get settled in” he said lightly. The older woman nodded as she hugged him once more. “Well if you change your mind, let me know. Again welcome home Salem” she said letting him go.

Salem nodded and promised he would. He then grabbed his things and walked up the front steps. He bent down and found the hidden key and slipped it into the lock. He walked inside and shut the door behind him. He locked the door once more, and threw the dead bolt as well. He peeked out the small window and saw that Mrs. Willows was already on the phone. The horrible son was back in town, and she was going to make sure everyone knew about it. He couldn't worry about that right now.

He sighed as he turned around and looked at the dark house behind him. Everything was going to be changing once more he could feel it. For now he went up the stairs and to the master bedroom and tried to relax. He fell back onto the bed and laid there in the semi darkness his mind racing. Was this a bad idea coming back?

Then

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Shiloh,” Summit grinned as she pulled the heavy hospital door shut behind her. Once she was alone in the steril hallway, she let her mask fall with her as she braced herself against the cool cement wall. Tears welled in her eyes and stained her cheeks as she was soothed by the fluorescent lights humming overhead. 

She was at her breaking point with Shiloh, her best friend hospitalized again, and then, the disappearance of Salem, her … She let the thought trail off. Somehow she was left alone with the burden of it all. Shiloh, an abandoned daughter and now an abandoned sister. How would Summit tell her Salem was gone? She couldn't wrap her head around it. She hated him for leaving and she hated herself for missing him.

"Are you alright, miss?" Asked a nurse in a clean white coat. 

"I'm fine, thank you." Summit replied, quickly wiping the tears from her face. 

Now

“Hold my hand, Maya.” Ordered a young woman as she stretched her hand out to a plump-faced pre-schooler. The child obeyed with a nod. Flashing red to green, the crosswalk sign indicated a turn for pedestrians. The two walked swiftly across the street, swinging their arms rhythmically. 

Maya giggled in delight as she skipped a few steps to keep up with her companion. Just as they reached the sidewalk, the world fell out from under her, and she toppled to the ground. Her ragged sandal lay abandoned beneath the curb–the heel strap snapped in two. For a moment, the young woman and the child stared at each other in silence. Tears welled in Maya’s eyes as blood pooled in the superficial scrapes on her knees and palms. “S-Sum. S-Summit,” she wailed. 

In one swift motion, Summit tied her curls back in a loose bun and sank into a squat. She gently assessed the scrapes and clicked her tongue. “I have good news for you, Maya,” Summit reported with a soft smile. The child looked up at her through bleary eyes and wiped her nose on her sleeve. “These wounds are a long way from your heart.” She said as she poked Maya’s chest playfully. A blubbery laugh escaped the child between sniffles. “I do need to get you cleaned up, though, my dear. May I carry you?” 

Maya nodded and sat up enough to loop her arms around the young woman. Summit lifted her with ease and headed down the main street. The tears slowly subsided as Summit told Maya stories about their small town. 

The historic district of Meadowcreek was quaint and homely. Summit Monroe knew her hometown like she knew her mother’s face. As the years passed, the people and storefronts changed, but it was still Meadowcreek. The smell of the ocean blanketed the buildings in a dewy mid-afternoon humidity. It clung to Summit’s curls and frazzled her split ends. She swore she could tell the time of day just by the size of her hair. 

The two rounded the corner and trekked up the stone stairs of a convenience store. A bell chimed overhead as Summit pushed open the door. The store appeared frozen in time with its cracked check-print tile and vintage decor. Daylight poured in through the large storefront windows, illuminating the modest business in a warm yellow. Dustmotes pooled in the sunrays and cast shadows on the aisle displays. A spindly woman working the cash register immediately recognized the pair and retrieved a first aid kit from behind her counter. 

“Maya, what happened to you, dear?” She asked, her old New England accent soaking each word. 

“Oh, Ms. Abbott, I fell at the crosswalk,” Maya stated pitifully. “My favorite sandal broke.” She added, tears threatening to fall again. 

“Yeah, we were on our way to the park before she took a spill. I told her we’d get her patched up and then be on our way.” Summit informed the clerk. 

“Well, if you’re a good patient, you can choose any sucker you want.” Promised the old woman. Maya perked up and put on a brave face as Summit cleaned her wounds.

“What’s new, Ms. Abbott? I feel like I haven't seen you in ages.” Summit asked, carefully applying a bandaid to both knees and palms. Everyone in Meadowcreek knew Ms. Abbott had the best gossip. In a small town, there were no secrets.  Her husband and she opened ‘Abbott’s Place’  fifty years before and provided the town with all of their quick grocery needs and daily rumors. Summit frequented the shop growing up, and it served as her favorite place to spend her allowance. 

“I heard from Patty that the Woodson boy just moved into his old house,” Ms. Abbott hummed. “You were real close with the Woods on's, weren’t you?” She asked absently as she handed Maya a pink lollipop. The little girl tore the treat open, completely uninterested in the conversation and unconcerned about her patched knees. 

Summit’s head snapped up at the mention of the Woodson’s. The gossip surrounding the name had slowly but surely simmered out in the years proceeded their father’s death. Rumors about Shiloh’s hospitalization and Salem’s disappearance lost its traction as well. No one seemed to actually care about the family which left Summit alone in her silent misery.  

“Salem Woodson is back in Meadowcreek.” The question came out more like a statement as Summit processed what she’d heard.

“I believe so, Mrs. Willow said she talked to him as he was unpacking.” 

Summit nodded slowly, her head reeling with new information. She took extra care to keep her composure, not wanting to draw attention to her budding excitement and dread. 

“Alright, Maya it’s time to go. Thank Ms. Abbott.” Summit instructed. She helped the little girl down and waved goodbye to the clerk before heading for the door. 

Originally, Summit was going to take Maya to the park downtown, but she needed to confirm what Ms. Abbott told her. Maya didn’t protest as they followed the sidewalk out of the city and toward the small parking lot where Summit’s practical grey car sat patiently waiting. 

When they got to the park conveniently located near the Woodson house she’d grown up frequenting, she unbuckled Maya’s carseat and helped her out. As soon as both feet were planted on the ground, the child sprinted off to the swingset. Summit stared after her, surveying the park for anyone she might know. Anticipation brimmed in her chest as she checked the street for any car that looked like Salem’s. She wondered if he drove the same car from high school or if he’d picked out something new after he’d left. She hated admitting that she spent a lot of time wondering. 

Sighing, she gave up her search and joined Maya on the swings. The little girl was more than happy entertaining herself as Summit supervised her playtime. A buzz in her pocket grabbed her attention for a moment. The LED screen read PORTER in block letters with a photo of a grumpy looking young adult sticking his tongue out at his photographer. 

"What do you want?" She answered in mock annoyance. 

"Where are you?" The deep voice asked on the other end. Summit could hear chatter and clinking glassware in the background. 

"The park with Maya." 

"Who?" Porter said a bit louder than necessary. "Be quiet, I'm on the phone," he yelled to the room. 

"The child I've been babysitting for three years? You've literally met her, Porter." Summit explained exasperatedly. 

"Oh, the one with pigtails. Hey, I gotta go. See you at home." Porter said quickly and hung up. 

"You called me?" Summit said to herself. It was always like that with Porter so she'd gotten used to having questions left unanswered. Her god brother was her favorite idiot and he knew it.

Shrugging in defeat, she pocketed her phone and returned her attention to Maya. The small girl sat cross legged in the mulch and was delegating the wood chips into piles. Summit let her mind wander to Salem like it often did. She'd spent the last five years getting over the boy who'd abandoned her and she thought she'd done a good job. But yet here she was at a park close to his house just to maybe catch a glimpse of a rumor. 

Being home and laying in his parent's old bedroom was enough to bring the memories back and fast. The laughter they all had. The time they told him that he was going to be an older brother. He remembered the day they brought Shiloh home. He didn't want anything to do with the screaming baby, but as the days passed the girl grew on him. As the years passed the two had become thick as thieves. They were always getting into trouble with one another. Their parent's would tell them over and over again that they would get their bottoms smacked if they kept it up.

It never happened though. They would spend hours on end teasing each other. That's when Summit started coming around. The little curly haired girl who was attached to Shiloh's hip. The male let out a low growl as he pushed himself up from the bed. He wasn't in the mood to let those memories keep flooding back. He knew that he would need to go and get some shopping done because there was no food in the house. There wasn't much of anything honestly. He would need to get food along with pots and pans again.

That's the bad part about his family going through everything. When he had gotten wind of his father passing away he didn't even think about coming back. Now that he was back he wished he had come around and kept a lot of the pots and pans. He rolled his eyes lightly as he stood and walked out of the bedroom. He went back down the stairs and made his way through the dark house. He found his car keys, the spare key and his wallet. He made sure everything was in his pockets before unlocking the door and walked back outside.

He thought about going to the park that he would take Shiloh too growing up. It was better to just see everything and take it all in. So far when he was driving into town it looked the same. There were a couple of things that stayed the same over the years, but not a lot. He didn't live too far so he decided to take a quick walk over there, check things out and then he would head back into town to get his shopping done. He shoved his hands into his pockets as he walked. The cool air seeming to calm his nerves.

As he was walking he could hear the whispers. He was home, and where was Shiloh? Was she okay? Would she be coming home as well? The male tried so hard not to let the whispers get to him. He didn't know anything about Shiloh or where she was the last couple of years. He felt bad for turning his back on her and yet she was always on his mind. He was slowly regretting coming back home. He should have stayed away. Maybe then the whispers wouldn't be happening right now.

He heard someone come up to him and he turned his head slightly at the older gentleman. “Salem? Is that really you? Angela Willows and her tales. I couldn't believe it until I saw it for myself. Welcome home my boy. How have you been? Are you here for a while? Do you need a job son?" the older male asked. Salem wanted nothing more than to brush the older man aside but knew better than that. He nodded lightly as he kept his hands in his pockets. “Yes sir, it's really me. I'm back for a while yes.”

“I wouldn't mind getting a job. I know I'll need it for sure. Just let me get settled in and I'll be more than willing to come into town and get an application put in” he said with a fake smile. The older man shook his head and clicked his tongue. “Don't worry about applying my boy. I need the help around the shop anyway. Do you remember where Jonah's Book Shoppe is?” he asked. Salem had to think for a moment before nodding. “I think so yes. If not I'm pretty sure it's easy to find. I'll stop in, in the next couple of days” he promised.

The older man nodded. “Perfect. Just ask for Jonah and I should be there, or at least a phone call away. Welcome home my boy” Jonah said once more. Salem nodded lightly and watched as the older man walked off. He knew he wouldn't be getting a job at the book shoppe, but he wanted to get the older man off his back. He was built for the bar's. He wondered if there was one in town. He shook his head lightly as he finished the walk to the park.

When he stepped foot into the park, he felt like he was thrown back in time. He was a little boy again with Shiloh and Summit playing and running around like children do. As if just thinking about Summit made her appear right in front of him. He paused to make sure it was her. The same curly hair, the same profile, the same body build. It was her. He all of a sudden felt like he couldn't think straight. He cleared his throat before speaking, letting her know that he was behind her. “Is that you Summit?" he asked. He didn't want to startle her, but he wanted to know if it was her or not.

Glancing at her watch, Summit let out a long sigh. She felt restless and annoyed. A cool breeze rustled the trees and tousled her curly hair. Instinctively, she tried to tame her brunette lion’s mane, tucking loose ends behind her ear. At her feet, Maya handed the young woman a small grey rock before returning to the mulch. Summit accepted the gift and turned the stone over in her hand. A line of white quartz cut it in half perfectly. Smiling, Summit pocketed the gift and patted the girl’s head. She let her mind wander as she leaned against the chain holding up her swing set seat and drug her feet. It was a nice day, at least, she thought. Children and their parents meandered around the park, taking advantage of the weather. Shrieks of laughter boomed as children scrambled over the jungle gym. Summit always wondered why Maya didn’t like to play with the other kids. She liked to ponder in solitude which was odd for a child her age. But Summit didn’t press the issue. She didn’t mind the quiet.

“That man is talking to you.” Maya informed her, pointing to the space behind Summit. 

The statement startled her as the horrible possibilities ran through her head. Squaring her chest, quickly turned around, ready to protect Maya from any threats. 

“Oh?” The word came out like a question–like the sound of her soul deflating as recognition dawned on her. A tall, tattooed man stood before her, his expression displaying his disbelief plainly. Five years of heartache and anger flooded Summit, hitting her like a wave as she stood knee deep in an ocean of loss. 

Salem Woodson. The reason she’d come to this stupid park. He looked both the same and different. He was the same in the ways that mattered–his soft eyes and the way he quirked his lips. But there was a new despair he wore like armor. It seemed he’d grown comfortable in the dark while he was away. Intricate tattoos choked his throat and branded his wrists. Pain haunted his posture and nested in the crease of his eyebrows. It took everything in Summit’s power not to reach out and touch the exhausted hollows of his cheeks. She resisted the urge and played with the hem of her blouse instead. She would not throw herself at him after all these years. 

Lifting her chin, she realized she’d be silent for a moment too long. “Hi, Salem.” She greeted, her voice sounded weird in her ear–distant and a little too high. Clearing her throat, she absently ran a hand through her messy locks and turned her good ear towards him slightly. 

Summit wondered how she looked to him after five years. She was a child before he left and now–now she was different. Between Shiloh’s hospitalization and their fathers’ death, she was forced to grow up. And more than anything, her flesh was littered with scars from an accident two years prior, leaving her deaf in one ear. She instinctively touched at the soft, white healed-over wound that gnarled her ear and snaked down her neck like twisting roots. Panic pulsed in her chest but she quickly checked herself. Good things had happened while he was gone too, she reminded herself. She’d graduated and had an incredible job. She was happy more days than not and that was a win in her book. 

“Long time no see,” she noted, trying to smile. Small-talk wasn’t her strong suit. What was she supposed to say? ‘Glad you’re back. I buried your dad and your sister’s in the psych ward. Thanks for never saying good-bye, asshole?’ No, that wouldn’t play out well, especially in front of Maya. She’d never hear the end of it if she taught the child to swear. “How long are you here for?” She attempted to hide the double meaning behind her question. Hope bloomed in her chest right next to dread. How was she supposed to guard her heart when just the sight of him filled her with butterflies? Messy emotions warred inside of her. She knew which one she secretly hoped would win. 

Salem didn't realize that Summit had a child with her. He heard the child's voice and he looked around Summit to the little one. He was kind of surprised to see her with a child. Was this her child? Or was she babysitting? He shook his head lightly as he looked back at Summit as she spoke. He crossed his arms over his chest as he looked her up and down. The last time he had seen her, her hair had been a lot messier, she was just his sister's best friend. The last five years did something for her.

Yes her hair was still a lot to handle, but it seemed a lot tamer than when she was a teenager. He shrugged lightly at her question. How long was he here for? Was he going to make it a long term thing? Considering he did have a job already lined up after all. “I'm thinking about making it a perm thing. I don't know though. That's still up for debate. Depending on how Shiloh is, and if she'll be excited to see me. I do have a job lined up tomorrow, but like I said. It's all based on how Shiloh accepts me” he muttered.

He knew that Shiloh had issues in the past, and he was curious on where his sister was. He took a breath and spoke once more. “Where is Shiloh? Is she doing okay? Is she at work?” he asked. So many questions were falling from his lips that he couldn't stop them. He unfolded his arms and shoved his hands into his pockets. He then looked back at the child with Summit. “I see you had a little one while I was gone. Who's the lucky guy?” he asked. He didn't know if it was wise to assume she was taken.

But seeing her with a child made him slightly jealous. At one point while he had been gone he wanted to call Summit and just ask her to come and see him. Deep down he knew that he had feelings for her. He just didn't know how to act upon them. Plus he would be breaking the one rule he had set for himself. Don't fall in love with your sister's best friend, and that'st just what he did. He had gone and fallen for the woman and he didn't know when, but he had.

It was strange being back here. It was strange seeing her with a child. But he always knew she would make a wonderful mother. She would make any man happy as well. He fell silent as he let his words hang in the air between them. The sounds of the other children playing drew his attention towards them. He could feel people watching him, he could hear the whispers. The bastard was back. He never came home when his father passed away. He wasn't around to help plan the funeral, and he knew that Shiloh had to take care of it alone.

He felt guilty about that. He wanted to make it up to her in so many ways. He tore his eyes away from the people around them. He was getting more and more anxious as the whispers were starting to get to him even more. He shifted his weight from one foot to another, as he waited for Summit to speak. He was going to end up cutting this short anyway. He didn't want people talking about him, and he didn't want other's coming up to him and asking him about how he was doing, and welcoming him home.

It was bound to happen at some point, but right now he tried to keep his focus on Summit.