Back To December

 Cole's Point of View  

We had been on the road for about four hours when we finally saw the entrance to Portland. 

The journey had been long, and I was tired. Zoe was dozing on the seat next to me, her breathing calm but her face still marked by the pain of the accident. Her broken ribs and bruises were far from completely healed, but at least her fever seemed to have subsided. I looked at her, wrapped in my jacket, and let out a sigh. We needed help, and I knew exactly where to look for it, even if it was the last place I wanted to be. 

I parked the car on the slope at the entrance to Portland and picked up my phone. With heavy fingers, I dialed the number for Lilly, my mother. It had been more than ten years since I'd last seen her. 

When I was thirteen, Lilly left Alabama without looking back, abandoning my father, me, and my sister, Taylor. 

She couldn't stand life as the wife of the president of a motorbike club, and I couldn't blame her for that. The life my father chose for us was hard and full of dangers, something I ran away from when I had the chance. But what I couldn't forgive was the fact that, in running away from that life, Lilly had abandoned us. It was as if she had forgotten that she had children who still needed her. 

My pain increased when I discovered that she had remarried, this time to a rich and powerful man here in Portland. They had children, and Lilly built a new life, leaving behind any trace of her past in Alabama. Taylor and I were nothing more than ghosts of a life she preferred to forget. 

As the phone rang, I felt a knot forming in my stomach. The ringtone seemed to mock the situation, a bitter reminder of all the times I needed a mother, and she wasn't there. When Lilly answered on the second ring, her anxious, emotion-filled voice hit me like a punch in the gut. 

"Cole? Is that you?" 

I took a deep breath, trying to control the anger boiling up inside me. 

"It's me," I replied dryly. "I'm in town. I'll be there in a few minutes." 

"I'm so glad you're coming to my house! I made pasta with meatballs, your favorite dish." There was an attempt at sweetness in his voice that only increased my anger. 

"Cut the shit, Lilly," I interrupted. "We both know you're not the loving mum you're trying to make yourself out to be. I'm here out of necessity, not because I want to bond with you." 

She stammered, her voice broken by crying. 

"Son, I... I just want to help." 

"Don't call me son," I retorted, feeling the anger overflow. "I called so as not to take you by surprise. I know you have a new family and I don't want to complicate your perfect life with your dirty past." 

I hung up the phone before she could answer. 

The sound of silence filled the car. 

I looked at Zoe, who was snoring softly. I ran my hand through her hair, pushing a lock away from her face. "Come on, girl. We're almost there." 

I started the car, and we drove through the city to the address Lilly had sent me. 

As I drove through the well-kept streets of Portland, my thoughts returned to the message I'd received from Seattle a few hours earlier. A trusted partner, someone who was in the same line of work as me, had sent me a warning. He had information about Zoe's situation.  

"Hey, Cole. The girl's stepfather still has people on her tail. The motel you were in was searched a few hours after you left. They're determined." 

The message flashed through my mind like a warning sign. I knew the situation was serious, but hearing that they were so close increased my anxiety. Zoe was still frail, even though she was getting better from the flu and the injuries from the accident.  

I trusted this partner; he had got me out of tricky situations before. Knowing that Zoe's stepfather was determined to find her made me grip the steering wheel tighter. I needed to act fast and make sure she was safe. 

The idea of asking Lilly for help didn't appeal to me, but there was no other option. With Zoe at risk, I couldn't be more proud. Her safety came first and, as much as I hated to admit it, Lilly was our best chance at the moment. The anger and hurt I felt at her for abandoning us burned inside me, but I had to swallow it for Zoe's sake.  

"Almost there," I muttered to myself, more to keep a cool head than to inform Zoe. 

She needed to rest and recover, and I needed a plan to keep her out of danger. With the message from Seattle still hammering away in my mind, I picked up the pace. Every minute counted, and I couldn't let it fail. 

The neighborhood where Lily lived was sophisticated, very different from where we grew up, with large houses and manicured gardens. I parked in front of a two-storey house, painted white with blue details. Everything seemed perfect, a stark contrast to the reality I knew. 

"Zoe, we're here," I whispered, shaking her slightly. Her eyes opened slowly, and she looked around, confused. 

"Where are we?" 

"At my mum's." The words came out bitter. "Let's go in." 

I helped Zoe out of the car, supporting her still fragile body against mine. We walked together to the door of Lilly's house. The house was large and imposing, clear evidence of the comfortable new life she had built. 

Before I could ring the bell, the door opened. 

Lilly was standing there, her gray hair carefully tidied, and wearing elegant clothes. She looked older than I remembered but still retained the beauty that had always characterized her. Her eyes filled with tears when she saw us, and she took a hesitant step forward as if she wanted to hug me. 

"Cole," she murmured, her voice laced with emotion. 

"Hi, Lilly," I replied, struggling to keep my voice steady. "Thank you for seeing us." 

She noticed Zoe standing next to me, and her look of surprise quickly turned to concern when she saw the bruises visible on her face.  

"And who's that?" she asked, trying to maintain a casual tone, but I could see the mistrust in her eyes. 

"This is Zoe," I said, wrapping my arm around her protectively. "My girlfriend." 

Zoe looked up at me, surprise evident on her face. Her lips parted as if she wanted to say something, but she held back, choosing to trust me at that moment. 

Lilly tried to keep her composure, but her gaze lingered on Zoe's bruises, clearly trying to put the pieces together. 

"It's nice to meet you, Zoe," she said, forcing a smile. "I hope you feel better soon." 

"Thank you, ma'am," replied Zoe, in a soft, polite voice, despite her obvious exhaustion. "I... thank you for seeing us." 

Lilly nodded, still trying to be helpful. "Please call me Lilly. And no need to thank me. You're welcome here." 

I could see Lilly's attempt to create a connection, but I also realized her mistrust. She looked at me, expecting some kind of explanation, but I kept my face impassive. There was no need to go into details now. 

"Let's settle down, then," she said, breaking the tense silence. Lilly forced a smile, clearly trying to ameliorate the awkwardness of the moment. You must be exhausted." 

She led us inside, where the familiar smell of pasta and meatballs permeated the air. It was an aroma that transported me back to childhood, a time before everything fell apart. 

The house was impeccably decorated, with expensive furniture and photographs of his new family adorning the walls. Every detail seemed like a painful reminder of the life she had chosen after leaving us. 

"You can sit down," said Lilly, gesturing to the leather sofa in the living room. "I'll get you something to drink." 

Zoe settled onto the sofa with a sigh of relief, and I sat down next to her, keeping a hand firmly on her shoulder. I could feel the tension in her body, I knew she was struggling to get comfortable. 

"How are you?" I asked, trying to keep my voice calm. 

Zoe looked at me for a moment, then looked away. 

"I... I don't know what happened between you and your mum," she began, ignoring my question. "But she's helping us now. Please, Cole, don't treat her badly. It seems like she's trying hard to make us comfortable here." 

I frowned, feeling a mixture of frustration and guilt.  

"Zoe, you don't know what happened, so you'd better stay out of the relationship between me and my mum." 

She hesitated, looking hurt, but nodded. 

"All right. I just think we need all the help we can get right now." 

"I know," I mumbled, trying to soften my expression. "But remember our plan. We're not going to be here long. Just until you get better, and then we'll head to Alabama." 

Zoe sighed, looking resigned. 

"I understand. I just wish things were easier from now on." 

Lilly returned with a glass of juice for Zoe and a coffee for me. "Here you go," she said, trying to be helpful. "You must be hungry. I've prepared the pasta with meatballs, your favorite dish, Cole." 

"Thanks, but we'll leave the food for later," I replied, my voice firm. "Now, we just need a room, so Zoe can have a shower and rest." 

Lily nodded instantly, her movements nervous and cautious. "Of course, come with me."  

As she led us through the house, Zoe squeezed my hand, her frail body at my side. Arriving at the second floor, we walked down a corridor full of doors and Lily led us to one in the middle of the room, which she opened, showing us a beautiful, large, and cozy room, and gesturing for us to enter, she smiled. "You can stay here. The bathroom's over there," she said, pointing to the next door, then paused before sighing heavily and staring at me. "Cole, once Zoe's settled in, go downstairs and get her some food. We... need to talk." 

I just nodded brusquely, without many words. "Thanks," I mumbled, leading Zoe into the bedroom. 

Lily closed the door behind us, leaving us alone at last. 

I knew that the conversation with my mum was inevitable, but at that moment, my priority was Zoe. 

While Zoe was in the shower, I sat on the bed, wrapped in the fluffy, floral blankets in shades of green. The bed was surprisingly comfortable, a small relief amid the chaos we were experiencing. I picked up my mobile phone and, with a sense of apprehension, dialed the number I'd been putting off for a while. 

Before I could prepare for the conversation, I heard my Uncle Jack's voice at the other end of the line. 

"Cole! You finally called me," he said, concern visible in his voice. 

"Yeah, I knew you were expecting that," I replied, trying to stay calm. 

Jack sighed, and I could feel the relief in his voice. 

"I was hoping you'd get in touch. Your father... he needs you now, just like Taylor and the club. It's time to go back to Alabama, kid." 

I closed my eyes for a moment, the tension building. 

"I know, Jack. I'm on my way. I'm just sorting out a few things first... I know it's time to go back to Alabama and put down roots..." 

I had more to say to my uncle, but before I could, I saw Zoe appear in the bathroom doorway, her long wet hair cascading over her shoulders and her small body wrapped in a towel, making me choke hearing my words. God, she's gorgeous. Her cheeks turn pink, and her eyes meet mine with a curious, shy glint as she realizes that my attention is all on her. 

"I forgot to get my clothes to change." She mumbled. 

I kept looking at her, my heart heavy, as Jack continued talking. 

"I'm glad you're coming back, Cole." 

"That's what I need to do," I replied with a firm tone. "I'll call you again when I'm going," I added, never taking my eyes off Zoe, who was standing motionless in the bathroom doorway. 

Jack then asked, "Are you going to call your father?" 

"No. I'll speak to him in person when I get there." I replied without hesitation. "Jack, I have to go, tell Taylor I love her," I said goodbye to Jack and hung up the phone. 

Zoe, listening to the conversation, recognizing the name of my sister, who had spoken to her a few days ago, seemed curious and at the same time relieved to have something to divert her attention. She moved a little closer, breaking the silence. 

"Are you going to tell me what the story is about your family?" 

I looked at her, still feeling the weight of the unspoken words. 

"And are you going to tell me more about what's going on with the person who's hunting you?" 

She thought she had secrets she couldn't tell me, but the truth was that none of her secrets would make me feel any different from the way I already felt about her, unlike mine, which would make her hate me for the rest of our lives.