Rearview Mirror

Chapter 11

Chapter Six

Familiar Places

The next morning, Jill awoke early and quietly walked down the stairs. She found Nicole and Amber cuddled together on the air mattress, and she had a flashback of seeing them like that before Amber had left. She was amazed at how they always seemed to calm each other. Heather and Zach had heard her pass their room and came down quietly behind her. They stopped and smiled when they saw Nicole and Amber together. Jill motioned for them to follow her into the kitchen, so they didn’t wake the two.

“Were they always that cute together?” Zach motioned back toward the living room.

“Yes,” Heather and Jill said in unison as they smiled.

“I love what Amber has brought to my life, but I would give it all away for the opportunity to throttle her father and brother for what they did to her and for causing those two to separate. I’ve watched her sleep for the past ten years, and she has never looked so content. Especially after having a nightmare like she had last night.”

“I have to say that Nicole hasn’t looked that relaxed in years, either,” Heather said, sitting at the island.

“Are we discussing coffee? Or could we be discussing coffee?” Erik asked as he entered the kitchen.

“No, we were discussing how cute and relaxed Nicole and Amber look holding each other,” Jill said.

“Oh, yeah. That was adorable when I walked past. So, coffee?”

“Erik, you know the moment that Nicole smells the coffee, she’ll be up and in here, right?” Heather said.

Slowly, Nicole started to wake up. As she became aware of her surroundings, she felt someone’s breath on her neck, the pressure of an arm draped across her body, and the warmth of someone pressed against her. Her mind fluttered back to the events of the previous day. The hurt and excitement of seeing Amber. The anger of finding out why she left and her nightmare. Looking toward her, Nicole couldn’t help but smile.

Amber started to stir, and when she opened her eyes, she saw Nicole’s sparkling green eyes smiling at her. She had to think for a moment to make sure this wasn’t a dream.

“Good morning,” Nicole said softly.

“Good morning,” Amber said shyly as she started to pull away from the embrace only to have her movement halted as Nicole held her tighter.

“Please, don’t move yet,” Nicole whispered. “I’ve spent so many years dreaming of holding you again that I selfishly don’t want this to end.”

“I’ve dreamt of waking up in your arms so often that I wasn’t sure if I was still dreaming or not.” Amber’s cheeks turned pink.

“How are you doing after last night?”

“Physically or mentally?”

“Both.” Nicole smiled at her.

“Physically, I’m still a little shaken. And mentally, I’m embarrassed, annoyed, and unsure about what was and wasn’t real,” Amber answered honestly. “Reality and fantasy mesh, and it takes a while for me to sort it all out in my head.”

“Are the nightmares always like that? That intense. Or did I make it worse because I touched you before you were fully awake?” Nicole looked down.

“Last night, I think was worse because of seeing Jeffrey, reliving the events that caused me to leave, and the guilt of what happened to you because of me. I don’t know if you touching me before I was fully awake had an impact on it. You can’t blame yourself, you had no clue what was going on.” Amber lifted Nicole’s head to look in her eyes.

“Amber, you have nothing to feel guilty about.” Nicole held eye contact.

“I feel as though I do. My mother was hurt because of my leaving. You were traumatized because of me. Not to mention just hurting you in general by leaving.” Tears streamed out of Amber’s eyes.

Pulling Amber into an embrace, Nicole placed a kiss on top of Amber’s head. “You couldn’t control what they did or the choices your father and brother made. I’ll admit I was livid with you for leaving, but after hearing why you left…baby, I’m so amazed by your strength.”

“Are you sure it wasn’t just me being a coward?”

“I’m positive. Are you ready to get up and face everyone? I can hear people in the kitchen.”

“Yes, to getting up. Does everyone know what happened last night?”

“Yeah, they all came downstairs, but Zach shooed them away before you could notice them.”

“Well, now I’m scared to face them.”

“You have nothing to be scared of. And even if you do, I’m going to be there with you.”

“Why are you being so nice to me?”

“Because I now understand more of what happened and the fact that you couldn’t control things. I don’t agree with you not contacting us for ten years, but I do understand more.” Nicole offered a smile.

“I don’t deserve you being this nice.” Amber shook her head.

“Yeah, you do,” Nicole said sternly. “Now I smell coffee, and the one thing you should know hasn’t changed is my intense need for coffee in the morning.”

“It was never just in the morning that you felt the ‘intense need’ for coffee. That was sort of an all day, every day kind of thing.” Amber laughed as Nicole stuck her tongue out at her.

“Brat,” Nicole said.

They got up and folded the blankets, then headed into the kitchen.

Jill started the coffee brewing and then hunted through the cupboards to find something to make for breakfast.

“Morning,” Nicole said as she and Amber entered the kitchen.

“I think that’s a record.” Erik laughed. “That took you all of two minutes from the time she hit the start button to get in here.”

“Very funny,” Nicole said as everyone else started to laugh.

“Morning, Amber.” Zach went over and hugged her. “How are you doing?”

“I’m okay.” Amber tried to hide behind her hair as he pulled away. “I’m sorry for waking everyone last night.”

“Are you really okay?” Heather put a hand on Amber’s shoulder.

“I’m still parsing out what was real and what was generated by my mind. I’m mostly embarrassed that you all had to see that.”

“You have nothing to be embarrassed about. Hell, you’ve seen me scream like a little schoolgirl…hundreds…of…well, never mind that,” Erik said as everyone chuckled.

“Well, now that Erik has embarrassed himself for the morning, let’s talk breakfast. I was trying to figure out what to make, and I have no ideas.” Jill looked at everyone gathered at the island.

“I have an idea if that’s okay,” Amber said.

“Hey, if you want to cook for us, I won’t be the one stopping you,” Jill said.

“Okay.” Amber looked in a couple of spots and found the ingredients she needed. “You all can go sit in the living room and I’ll make breakfast.”

“I’ll stay and help,” Nicole said.

“I’m grabbing a coffee then. The hell if I’m leaving a full pot of coffee in here with Nicole,” Heather said, and the others nodded and lined up to get their coffee.

“I’m not that bad.” Nicole pretended to be offended.

“Well, I wouldn’t trust Amber with a full coffeepot, either.” Zach received a raised eyebrow from Amber. “What? You’re the one that has your own coffeemaker at your painting station. And might I add, you rarely share.”

“Get out of here before I decide not to share breakfast with you, either, smartass.” Amber pushed Zach toward the door. “Nic, you can go sit with the others, it shouldn’t take too long.”

“I’ve missed cooking with you. The last time we cooked together was for your birthday.”

“I don’t recall us getting a lot of cooking done that morning.” Amber blushed.

“Well, eventually, we did…after we celebrated the morning of your birth. I’ve missed you, and I want to spend some time with you before you leave,” Nicole admitted.

“Well then, my little helper, I need a bowl and a frying pan.”

“Really? Little helper?”

“Well, I didn’t think you’d appreciate being called my little fairy or pixie.” Amber laughed, receiving a friendly glare from Nicole.

“I’ll get you back at some point, Knight. You just wait! I promise you that.” Nicole gestured with the frying pan.

“Sure, you will,” Amber mocked as she took the pan.

The two went about making pancakes, eggs, and toast for the group. Once they had the breakfast made, Amber and Nicole set the table, and then called the others to eat.

“Jackpot,” Zach said, smiling at Amber and Nicole.

“Wait, Amber pancakes…right?” Heather said.

“Yep,” Amber said.

“Score!”

“I’m going to agree with both of them,” Jill said.

Erik had just sat and started to fill his plate when he realized it was extremely quiet. He looked up and saw everyone staring at him.

“What? I do remember what Amber’s food tastes like. I’m not going to waste time asking questions or talking when I can be putting the goodness into my belly,” Erik said.

“You’re a very smart man.” Zach sat and started to fill his plate, as well, then passed the food to Heather.

“Nic, sit down and eat,” Amber said.

“Aren’t you going to eat?” Nicole asked, sitting at the table.

“I, er, um,” Amber stammered.

“You, er, um, what?”

“I’m going to get the rest of the pancakes.” Amber bolted out of the room.

“I’ll be right back.” Nicole rose and followed Amber into the kitchen.

When Amber got into the kitchen, she went over by the sink and turned the water on to wash the dishes. She hadn’t heard Nicole come in and was surprised when she wrapped her arms around her waist from behind and rested her chin on Amber’s shoulder.

“Wanna tell me what’s going on inside that pretty head of yours?” Nicole asked.

“It’s nothing, really. Just my messed-up mind.” Amber didn’t turn to face her.

“Are you too upset to eat?”

Amber shook her head.

“Are you still upset about the nightmare?”

Again, she received a head shake.

“Talk to me, Amber. Let me help.”

“I’m nervous about my mom’s letter.” Amber looked down at the dishes in the sink.

“Hey, how about just you and I go to Old Miller’s Pond? The tree we used to cuddle under is still there. We can go there, and you can read it and I’ll be there for support.”

“You’d do that for me?”

“Of course,” Nicole said. “Now please, come eat something.”

“Just a little, though,” Amber said.

The two exited the kitchen and joined the others. Amber ate a couple of pieces of toast, hoping to calm her stomach. After they ate, Amber pulled Zach aside and told him about her plans with Nicole. She felt bad leaving him after he came all the way there to help her. He assured her it was fine and that Heather and Jill had offered to let him hang out with them. He also said she looked happy when she was with Nicole, and it was nice to see. That helped ease some of Amber’s tensions.

Amber showered and got dressed. Nicole did the same, and they headed off to the pond.

Zach finished getting ready. He decided he was going to spend the day with Heather since she had some interesting insight into Amber and seemed more willing to share. Jill wasn’t as forthcoming. He wanted to know more about his best friend.

“Ready to head back to the hotel for a while?” Heather asked.

“I’m all set.” Zach grabbed his and Amber’s things.

They took Heather’s car back to the hotel, and when they got there, Sidney was working at the front desk. She smiled at the two as they walked past her.

“Hey, Sid! How has the morning been so far?” Heather asked.

“Slow, honestly.”

“Well, Sidney, this is Amber’s friend from New York, Zach. Zach, this is my assistant manager, Sidney.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” Zach said.

“You too.”

“I hear you were hitting on Amber last night.” Heather giggled.

“You could have clued me in about her and Nicole.” Sidney smiled.

“I had no idea that Nicole was still going to be so territorial. I mean, it’s been years since they’ve seen each other.”

“I can understand the attraction, though.” Zach laughed.

“Hey, I’m not the one that had a crush on her first.” Sidney laughed as she pointed toward Heather.

“You weren’t supposed to hear that.” Heather blushed.

“Seriously? You?” Zach asked.

“Well, have you seen her? Hello!”

“Oh, I know. I’ve had to fend people off her for years. Men and women going after her.”