I had. It used to drive me nuts as a teenager. There was no use in trying to sneak anything past my parents or sisters. Someone always knew. The walls had eyes and ears.

“I heard your conversation with Aspen. And though her delivery left a lot to be desired, it did leave me thinking. What is your intention, Autumn? You know your father and I are always happy to have you at home. But if you’re so unhappy with staying here, I’d rather loan you money to get yourself on your feet than to invest it in something you won’t see through.”

“I said I’d give it a month.”

“You did, but if you know in your heart that you’re not going to stay, then don’t get our hopes up. We’d be happy just to have you home while you look for a job. We know you love the city, but we’d hoped that you’d find something here to love, too. Your sisters have missed you. We have missed you.”

I wanted to tell her that people change. That our ideals and wants were always shifting. In reality, it was because I wanted to be in a place where no one knew me. No expectations. No set path designed for me. I could be anything when no one knew me.

Here, everyone had already decided my fate.

“I’m sorry, Mom. I just. . .I feel out of sorts, you know? Like I don’t feel like I fit in here.”

Tapping the edge of her chaise, Mom beckoned me to sit beside her. “I remember when I moved here with your father. I thought no one would welcome me and I was prepared to fight tooth and nail against small town living. I knew how crazy it could be. But this town has a way of making people feel like outcasts when instead they’ve opened their arms to them. You’ve always stuck out, Autumn, and I could see how that would make you feel like an outsider. But think about all the great things you got to experience here. I mean, how many of your friends in New York climbed a water tower with their father and had their first beer?”

My eyes widened in shock. “It wasn’t a well-kept secret, sweetie. Your father did the same with all of your sisters when y’all turned eighteen.”

“I’m not sure I’m following, Mom.”

Chuckling, Mom patted my thigh and said, “I kind of lost my train of thought, to be honest. But just remember how much fun you had growing up. Not just here on the farm, but in the town. All the festivals, all of the people celebrating even the tiniest of things, the way everyone came together when someone was in need. You don’t find that everywhere.

“I know how much your independence means to you, but that doesn’t mean you have to desert the people closest to you.”

“You’re right. And I’m sorry about the venue thing. I do want to pursue it. I just haven’t quite wrapped my head around living back here again. I think I got excited about the project, but not all the fine details it would entail, especially if I ended up involving everyone.

“I’ve also thought about looking around Knoxville for a place to live. Andrew seems pretty content there.”

“That’s a good start and I’m happy to hear it. And maybe apologize to your baby sister. She missed you the most when you left and never really came back often.”

“Yeah, I will.”

“And maybe go with your dad over to the Crawford house. You could possibly help.”

Astonished, I crossed my arms against my chest. “The Crawford house? Is that what we’re calling it now? And how would I help?”

“Well, you could offer advice on how he could maintain some of the historical elements. When he was over on Monday, he seemed very keen to the idea.”

“I suppose,” I said reluctantly as I stood.

“He’s very cute, too.”

“Mom! He’s like ten years older than me.”

“Eleven, but who’s counting? And you’re probably right. I did hear from Betsy that Travis was looking for you. Maybe you should give him a call and meet up. You two did make the cutest couple.”

Travis had been my high school boyfriend and we parted ways amicably after graduation. He was staying to work at his father’s accounting firm while he went to college locally. He had texted on Wednesday asking if I wanted to meet up. I hadn’t given him a response yet. For some reason, seeing my old friends would solidify my return.

“Maybe,” I replied. I had no social media, so I had no idea what the people I grew up with were up to. “I’ll grab my things and meet up with Dad.”

“He should be coming in soon.” As I started to walk out of the room, Mom called out my name. “And Autumn? I think everything works out the way it’s supposed to be. So don’t be disappointed if it’s not what you saw for yourself. Okay?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Turning the corner to head toward the back door, I smacked into my father. He asked if I wanted to join him, smiling in a way that I couldn’t ever say no to. Rushing upstairs, I grabbed my notebook full of all the historical information I’d gathered about the house. I was hesitant to take it to the Crawford house at all. These were my ideas and plans, but I needed to remember the home was never going to be mine. It now belonged to Colton Crawford, and if I wanted to see it preserved in any way, I needed to hand all of this over to him.

I’d never let anyone see how many hours I poured into the giant three-ring binder. I’d spent days and nights in high school finding any information I could at the library and the town’s historical records. I even found old bank statements with items purchased and used the internet to find similar pieces.

The paperwork for the historical society was nestled inside as well. Even though Dad made it seem like Colton planned on keeping the house, there was always a chance that it wasn’t structurally sound or that a developer would swoop in. We needed to do what we could to keep that from happening.

I rode with Dad over to the house, staring out the window the entire journey, but never actually looking at anything. I was too lost in my own head.

When we pulled up, it surprised me to see that a brand-new roof adorned the house.

“Wow, he worked fast,” Dad said as he turned off the truck. I had come to the same conclusion. It surprised me a bit since I wasn’t sure the joists or foundation of the house were even solid enough to hold a new roof. But maybe it was just a quick fix to keep the inside from growing more damaged. The more I thought about it, the entire place seemed like a lost cause.

“Do you think it’s safe?” I asked as my dad stepped out of the truck. I gripped the binder against my chest as I did the same.

My dad left the question hanging in the air as he approached the front porch that seemed to have some more beams added for reinforcement. I walked slowly, each step causing more and more apprehension. Why was I here again?

Dad stood at the bottom of the steps and glanced back at me. My nerves were shot and I had every intention of turning around and ducking back into the truck. I was about to face the guy I’d embarrassed myself in front of twice. Twice!

I tripped over my own feet as I stumbled my way closer to the house.

“Whoa, there.” Two hands gripped my shoulders and steadied me as my face flamed. Before I could tuck my chin any closer to my chest, Colton moved around me and held his hand out to my dad.

“Nash, thanks for coming by. I see you brought someone with you,” he said as they shook hands.

“Yep. This here is Autumn. She’s the one I was telling you about.”

Colton held his hand out to me and I blinked a few times before I extended mine. “Glad to finally get a formal introduction.”

The man had rendered me speechless. Something that I was unfamiliar with. As an event planner, I was used to making conversation with just about anyone. Apparently, that did not include Colton Crawford.

Our hands were still connected and moving up and down while he stared down at me and I peered up at him from beneath my lashes. I didn’t know what to say or do and he seemed to be trying to get a read on me as his eyes narrowed. Heck, I couldn’t get a read on myself either.

Thankfully, Dad interrupted and asked if it was safe for a tour. Colton pulled his hand away and I felt like I could finally breathe. Whatever this man was doing to me only frustrated me more. And I hated feeling out of sorts.

“There was a crew in all week stabilizing the frame and doing some generalized cleaning. I don’t even want to talk about some of the things that were living inside here,” Colton explained as he turned and carefully walked up the porch steps.

“Whelp, I’ll let Autumn go over the things she’s found while you show her around. I suspect you can bring her home later?”

Spinning around, I felt like I’d been slapped in the face. “What? Where are you going?”

“Forgot I need to pick up some things from the feed store. Best get to seeing the place before the sun sets. Doubt the electrical is running yet,” Dad said as he walked backward, then opened the door to his truck.

“Don’t you want to see the place?” Colton asked from behind me.

“Who do you think kept up with the outside repairs?”