Loveland

Chapter 1

I sat at the old sink in my kitchen . I stared aimlessly out the window not really thinking about anything in particular. I heard Aiden screaming from down the hallway, "mom! mom! I can't find my rain coat. It's pouring out and I need a jacket!" I walked into the living room spotting his jacket hanging up on the rack. "Well son if it's a jacket you need why don't you look at the coat rack by the front door. You know? Where we hang up coats?" He shook his copper colored hair out of his face. He needed a haircut, I thought to myself. Just another thing I've been slacking on here lately  we needed to get out of here. Start over. I  walked over to where he was standing with his coat, I pushed his hair out of his beautiful blue eyes. He looked so much like his father. I hoped that wouldn't bother him one day  when he knew the truth about who he he was. "Son? What would you say if we got our of here? Just packed up and took off? Get a change of scenery? Make new friends? What do you think? Maybe you could help me pick a place? California? Or maybe Colorado?" He gave me a half smile through that always melted my heart. I knew secretly he would be okay with it. Bless his heart, he was so sweet and smart and handsome my son, but he was never really good at making friends. plus the few times anyone did become friends with him they would come over once and be subjected to whatever fight Paul had planned for the evening. Then they would never show their face again. Before long the entire PTO knew what he was. Not like most of them hadn't already been sleeping with him. 

At least if we started over somewhere new he would have a chance. 

"Sure mom. I'm okay with that. Just not somewhere too hot... Or too cold!" He said shouting over his shoulder as he walked outside to the car. 

"Thanks son! Appreciate you narrowing that down for me!" 

After dropping Aiden off for what would be his last week of 5th grade at Franklin springs elementary school, I decided to go for a drive around town. This dinky little town that Paul and I had both grown up in. 

In school, Paul had been the golden boy. Excellent grades, star athlete, and everyone loved him. He came from what my father referred to as one of the elite families. Old money. His father Mr. James H Cooper was a prominent businessman in Atlanta and made a name for himself early on. His wife, Paul's mother Gloria was an active member of the community. Attending every PTO meeting, every school function, and was at church every Sunday morning bright and early. All with one of the tightest fakest smiles I've ever seen. Her perfect blonde hair never had a loose strand. 

I drove past the high school parking lot. Remembering the day Paul first asked me out. Our senior year, standing by his ridiculously expensive Audi. He took my hand with a slick smile saying close to my ear, "so? What do you say?" It was as if I didn't have a choice in the matter. He had already decided for me. 

We had attended the same church our whole lives. Went to the same school and had the same circle of friends. Maybe fate had already decided?

I approached the old Cooper homestead. Which was still immaculate in its old age. It sat atop the hill overlooking the town center. I always hated that house. Not my taste being a 19th century Victorian, but it always seemed to be mocking me. Because I knew I was different than Paul and his family. 

My parents were never wealthy. They didn't have college degrees or come from rich families themselves. They got married right out of high school and had my older sister. They worked hard for everything they had. But even then sometimes we struggled. We lived in a modest house on the other side of town. In a neighborhood of other modest homes. It wasn't terrible. But it wasn't up to Cooper standards either. So when Paul asked me out my parents were elated. I think they secretly hoped I would marry into a good family. Take some of the pressure off of them I guess. My sister who was 2 years older than I was in college and having a hard go of it. 

" What kind of career are you gonna have with a degree in liberal arts!? Your gonna struggle for the rest of your life and we'll have to take care of you!" I can still hear my father's harsh words echoing in my ear as my sister stood in the doorway of her old bedroom. Melissa was always defiant and had her own way of doing things. But I still admired her for her independence. 

That night after my dad was done yelling she found me in my room pretending to read a magazine. She grabbed me by my shoulders and put her forehead against mine. "Autumn, you have always been the special one. The one with all the potential. Do not let mom and dad squash your dreams. Don't let them plan your life for you. Graduate and get the hell out of Franklin springs. Leaving home was the best decision I ever made. I gotta get going. I have a class at 9:30 in the morning. And it's a 3-hour drive to Duke. Take care of yourself Autumn. Promise me?" She slung her bag over her shoulder and gave me an expectant look. 

"What's so wrong with Franklin springs? Is it such a bad thing to wanna settle down and start a family here? It's worked out for a lot of people." I waited for her response. But she just shook her head and let out an exaggerated sigh. "Autumn... You'll understand when you grow up. But by then it will be too late. I love you. I gotta go. But I'll call you tomorrow afternoon. Please be smart Sissy. She added before quietly walking out the door and leaving. 

Thinking back on that night, I wish I had listened. 

I sat quietly in my car. Facing that old ugly house that was the source of my angst for the last 10 years. So many memories. Some good. Mostly bad if I was being honest. I stared at those massive steps. And I could clearly remember the worst conversation of my life. 

Paul Henry Copper was destined for greatness, according to his father. It had been Paul and Rudy Bells' plan to both become lawyers and open their own firm in Atlanta. And Paul was on the fast track to accomplishing that dream. He got accepted into UGA'S law school and had been excelling for a little over a year. We stayed together even though we went to different schools. I could never afford UGA so I went to a smaller community college. We saw plenty of each other and things were going well. That is until August of our second year of school. When I discovered I was pregnant. 

We were barely 20 and had so many plans. I sat on his parent's front porch, with my knees up to my chest. The dark waves of hair were thick enough to hide the fear on my face when I delivered the news. I half expected Paul to get angry and storm off. Telling me to get rid of it or claim it wasn't his. But neither of those things happened. He simply sat back against the step and placed a hand on my knee. "we'll get through this Autumn. We have to. God help us when my parents find out. What are your parents saying?" He knew my folks would have been tickled pink to hear that I was having a baby with a Cooper. I didn't have to say much for him to know how they felt. 

"Well let's go face the music. I don't know how bad this is gonna be. And I'm sorry for whatever bullshit my father spews at us. I can't believe this is really happening." He said as he ran a hand aggressively through his hair. 

I took his hand in mine, and immediately got the feeling that this was a huge mistake. But I swallowed my fear and tried to reassure him. 

"I know this wasn't the plan. And I swear I didn't do this on purpose or anything. This wasn't part of my plan either. But I love you, Paul. Maybe it won't be so bad? My parents made a pretty good go of it." He looked at me skeptically but walked with me hand in hand through the massive front doors of his house. Hand in hand we walked in to face the devil together. 

I was snapped out of my thoughts by my phone buzzing. Pulling it out of my pocket I saw that it was Marci Price. My real estate agent. I found her add online and gave her a call. Poor girl, she had a tough job with me as a client. I told her I wanted to move out of Georgia. I didn't care where so long as it was a safe area with good schools and decent weather. Tall order huh? 

"Hey Marci! How are you? Having any luck?" I said with hope in my voice. She laughed simply because she knew how daunting this task was. 

"Well sweety, I'll tell you I've had a rough go of it, not really knowing where to look. BUT! I got lucky this morning. A house was listed that I think you'll love. It's 3 bedroom 2 full bathrooms, mid-century storybook architecture. A cute little yard and the area is adorable! Cool restaurants and great schools." It all sounded fantastic. I wondered what the catch was. 

"That all sounds perfect Marci. Now tell me, where's the half empty?" I waited for her response. 

"I'll send you a link, just so you can take a look. But, how do you feel about Pennsylvania?..."

 I'll be honest, Pennsylvania was never even on my radar. But with one look at the house I was sold. A storybook arch over the porch. A faded robins egg blue paint on the outside brick, and an adorable black iron fence surrounding the property. The website said, small town comfort with upscale amenities. I couldn't find the address or the name of the town. When I emailed Marci about the exact location, she emailed me back a simple response. 

Loveland, Pennsylvania.