Without You Here by Carter Ashby

we'll go home. You can spend the week at my apartment...we'll play house. It'll be fun."
    Her stare didn't waver. "I'm going home. You're staying here. I can't see you anymore, Blake."
    "Ettie, I am not going through this with you again. Whatever this is, just talk to me and we'll work it out."
    "There's nothing to work out. It's over."
    "Ettie, please. I can't lose you." He was panicking again. He couldn't be alone. He didn't want to be alone.
    Her cell phone buzzed. She answered. "I need you to come get me...yes, at Apple Creek...Well what are you doing in St. Louis?...Sunday? Sunday!...No, no, I'm sorry. You're right. No. Thank you so much, Lauren. If I get a ride before then, I'll call you...Okay, I will...See you Sunday." She hung up, closed her eyes and dropped her head back. "Can you take me back home?"
    "Lauren's in St. Louis?"
    "Yes, and her car's in the shop. She gets it back Sunday and she can come for me, then. Unless you can take me home before."
    He took her face in his hands. "One weekend. Give me this one weekend. I'll be an absolute angel to you. You'll see...we're going to have such a good time. I'll take you riding! You've always wanted to ride a horse. We'll go tomorrow. Give me the weekend, Ettie."
    "I'm breaking up with you. We're broken up. Right now. It's over."
    "Okay," Blake said, grappling for a foothold. "We're broken up. We're just friends. So stay the weekend as my friend, and you can go home on Sunday."
    Her eyes filled with tears. "You have no idea what you're asking of me."
    She still had feelings for him. Thank God. Maybe he could salvage this. "It's two nights. That's not too much to ask after all we've been through together."
    The tears edged over and she shook her head. "I wish you'd just take me home."
    "Please, Baby. Please."
    She took in a shaky breath. And then another. Finally she nodded. "Fine."
    He kissed her and brought her into his arms. "It's going to be great. I'm going to take such good care of you."
    She relaxed enough to rest her head on his shoulder. The tears had stopped. He took her hand and led her back inside. There was music coming from the kitchen. Grammy was bobbing her head to her Best of REO Speedwagon CD. Aunt Diane and Aunt Cecily were belting out the chorus of "Take It On The Run," while chopping vegetables.
    "Old people music," Blake said to Ettie. She seemed to have perked up and was halfway smiling at the kitchen scene.
    "It's classic rock," said Aunt Diane. "We are not old."
    Uncle Stan came in with a tray full of barbecued chicken. He set it on the counter and swept his wife into a dance, joining in the singing. Ettie laughed. She turned to him. "I love this song!" She was bouncing on the balls of her feet.
    Grandpa Charles came in, then, and took a moment to adjust to the scene. Then he grinned and held out his hand to Ettie. She ran to him and he danced her around the dining room. Blake smiled. This is how it should be, with Ettie here. But he felt a pang in his chest, too. His mother should be here. Anytime these spontaneous family singing sessions happened, his dad had always had to drag her along. But once she got started, she always had so much fun.
    Blake felt tears sting his eyes. He leaned against the wall and watched Grandpa Charles, now dancing with Ettie and Grammy. He looked over at Wyatt. It was no surprise that he was missing the same person Blake was missing. Wyatt leaned on the island counter with his head down and his eyes squeezed shut. Blake went over and hesitantly put his hand on Wyatt's back. He was fully expecting to be shoved away, as had happened so often over the past couple of years. But Wyatt stood up and put his arm around Blake's shoulders. He pulled him close, kissed him on the forehead, and ruffled his hair.
    Blake was startled by how much the gesture meant to him. Wyatt pulled away, but kept his arm on Blake's shoulder. It felt good. He tried to remember the last time he'd gotten a hug from his dad.
    "Grampy's gonna steal