Chapter Text
The faint, mechanical rattle of the airplane cabin rumbled against the back of Eden’s head as the flight climbed to cruising altitude. The seatbelt sign gave its double-chime, and she finally let out a long, shuddering exhale, watching the tiny grid of Southern California dissolve into a blanket of white clouds below.
She pulled out her phone, reading the time 12:07 am while switching it off of airplane mode before pulling up her thread with Ryland.
Eden: You are not going to believe the update I have for you✈️
Eden: First off, the kids didn’t vandalize the truck. They actually taped about fifty handwritten ‘MERRY CHRISTMAS MS. E!’ cards all over the doors. It was incredibly sweet and I almost cried lol
Eden: BUT, while Mr. Henderson and I were looking at the cards, he noticed a MASSIVE puddle forming under my engine. Long story short, my radiator is officially dead. Henderson did a check right there in the school lot and told me it’s going to take a few weeks…and probably my next two paychecks.. to get it fixed :(
Eden: So... my grand road-trip plans were thoroughly canceled by the universe. I literally sprinted to my apartment, threw my duffel bag in an Uber, and bought a last-minute flight to Nashville.
Her phone buzzed almost instantly as the airline’s Wi-Fi connected.
Grace :): Oh no!! Rest in peace to the tank. 🪦 I am so sorry, Eden, that is a nightmare. But hey- flying is mathematically much safer than driving a twenty-year-old Ford across three time zones. Silver linings?
Eden: Now why are you up… But yes. Definitely a silver lining. I’m actually really excited. I haven't been back to my hometown or seen my parents in person since I graduated high school five years ago. It’s been way too long.
Grace :): Shhh…Grading papers that were due a week ago… But, wow. Five years? That’s going to be an incredible homecoming. I’m really happy for you, Eden! You deserve the break more than anyone I know.
Grace :): Though, I suppose this means I’ll have to wait until January to officially challenge your 'unc' allegations. And I’ll definitely have to corner you for another coffee run just to get my grey university cardigan back.
Eden bit her lip, a silent, helpless giggle escaping her as she looked down at herself. She was currently buried in the middle seat of row 24, completely swaddled in the thick, oversized grey crewneck sweatshirt he’d given her that morning. She pulled the collar up slightly over her chin, breathing in the faint, lingering scent of sandalwood and cedar.
Eden: We’ll see about that, Dr. Grace :) Have a safe trip to see your brother! See you next yearrr
Grace :): Mr.* See you next year, safe travels :)
Locking her phone, Eden tucked it securely into the seatback pocket in front of her. The emotional whiplash of the last 24 hours: the hot chocolate disaster, the terrifying sweetness of her sixth graders, Ryland’s stuttered, interrupted invitation, and the sudden demise of her truck. It all had completely drained her battery. She pulled the long, loose sleeves of Ryland's sweatshirt down over her hands, tucking her knees slightly up toward her chest as she curled into the stiff airline pillow. Leaning her head against the window frame, she let the low, hypnotic rumble of the jet engines pull her under, closing her eyes with the desperate hope that she’d sleep straight through the next four hours and wake up exactly in time for her early morning layover.
~
The sudden, jarring thud of rubber meeting tarmac snapped Eden awake with a gasp. Her glasses were slightly crooked on her nose, and the cabin lights were bright and harsh, illuminating the crowded aisle as passengers immediately stood up to reach for the overhead bins.
"Welcome to Nashville," the flight attendant's voice droned over the scratchy intercom. "The local time is 9:42 AM."
Eden blinked away the heavy fog of sleep, her muscles aching from the cramped seat. She adjusted her glasses and grabbed her phone, her thumb instantly tapping the power button to check her connection.Sometime in the middle of the night, she vaguely remembered that she had exactly forty-five minutes to sprint across the world's busiest airport to catch her connecting flight, but the long nap was causing her memory to be hazy. As she stood up, tugging the oversized grey sweatshirt down to smooth out the wrinkles, her phone vibrated in her palm. It wasn't a text from her mom, or a baby update from Beth.
It was a notification from an hour ago.
Grace :): Just realized I said 'cardigan' instead of 'crewneck.' The sixth graders are right, my brain is deteriorating. I am officially confirming my older status. Let me know when you land safely!
Eden bit her lip to keep from smiling like an idiot in the middle of the crowded aisle. She slung her duffel bag over her shoulder, wrapped her arms tightly around herself- feeling the soft, heavy fabric of his clothes against her skin- and stepped out into the bustling chaos of the terminal. The humid, crisp Tennessee air hit Eden the second she stepped through the automatic sliding doors of the Nashville airport baggage claim. The transition from the sterile, recycled airplane oxygen to the familiar, heavy scent of damp earth and diesel exhaust was instantaneous.
"Eden! Eden! Over here!"
A sharp, unmistakable voice pierced through the early crowd. Eden looked up, her face instantly lighting up as she spotted a mass of curly hair bobbing near the pickup lane. Scurrying forward was her younger sister, Seraphina, who looked entirely too energized for midnight, practically dragging their parents along behind her.
"Mama," Eden breathed, letting her duffel bag hit the asphalt as she was completely swallowed up by her mother’s warm, familiar hug. Her dad wrapped his heavy arms around the both of them a second later, a low, rumbling chuckle vibrating in his chest.
"Look at you, baby," her mom said, pulling back just enough to frame Eden’s face with her hands, her eyes instantly dropping to the massive grey fleece swimming on Eden's frame. "You look exhausted. And where on earth did you get this giant sweatshirt? You look like you’re twelve years old again."
"It’s... a friend's," Eden stammered, her face warming as she quickly adjusted the collar. "Long story. My truck died in the school parking lot right before I left."
"I told you that you should've just flown anyways. Well, thank goodness you made it," her dad said, grabbing her duffel bag and tossing it into the bed of the family truck. "Let's get out of this traffic before the highway construction starts."
The drive back toward their small hometown was a comforting routine of tires humming against dark asphalt and the soft glow of the dashboard lights. Eden sat in the passenger seat, Seraphina leaning forward from the middle of the back row, already rattling off a mile-a-minute update on everything Eden had missed over the last year.
Her mom turned down the radio, a soft smile on her face as she looked over at her oldest daughter. "It really is so good to have you back, Eden. Your dad and I were just saying the house feels entirely too quiet. Though, the store has been pretty busy lately. Especially with the holiday rush."
The family ran a fiercely loved, slightly dusty local record store in the center of town- a place Eden had practically grown up in.
"We’ve actually had some extra help around the shop lately," her mom continued casually, adjusting the rearview mirror. "Julian’s been coming by after his shifts at the garage. He’s been helping your dad move the heavy crates of vinyl down from the attic, and he’s really been a lifesaver with the inventory."
Eden’s entire body went rigid. She visibly flinched, her fingers instinctively tightening around the cuffs of Ryland’s sleeves until her knuckles ached.
"Julian?" Eden repeated, her voice dropping into a flat, disgusted register.
"Yeah, he’s really matured, the air force or whatever.." Seraphina piped up from the back, completely missing the sudden tension radiating off her sister. "He grows his hair out now, he looks like he’s in an indie band. He's like, totally different!"
Internal alarms, entirely different from her Ryland-panic, started blaring in Eden's head. Julian. Her way-too-immature, way-too-rebellious high school boyfriend… in the air force? No way. The memory of him made her stomach twist in a sudden wave of irritation.
They had dated during her whirlwind senior year. Looking back, the math of the whole relationship was just embarrassing. Eden, who had accelerated through school and was preparing to head across the country for a high-stakes college program at sixteen, had somehow ended up dating a guy who was still trying to pass sophomore biology. He was sixteen too, sure, but emotionally? He was operating on the level of a middle schooler.
The breakup had been a spectacular disaster of teenage ego. When Eden had announced she was moving to Southern California to pursue her degree and start her life, Julian hadn't been supportive. He hadn't even been sad. He had been furious. He’d genuinely had the nerve to throw a tantrum, demanding to know why she couldn't just put her entire education, her career, and her future on hold for two years just to "wait for him" to finish high school so they could figure it out together.
What an absolute loser, Eden thought bitterly, staring out the dark window as the silhouette of the Tennessee trees blurred past.
She pulled Ryland’s thick crewneck tighter around her chest, the heavy weight of the fabric suddenly feeling less like a borrowed sweater and more like a protective barrier against the ghosts of her teenage past. She had come home to rest, to see her family, and to finish her Master’s thesis- the very future Julian had told her wasn't worth moving for. She was absolutely, one hundred percent not interested in a hometown reunion with the boy who had tried to anchor her to a life she’d outgrown at sixteen.
The tires of the truck crunched over the gravel driveway, finally rolling to a stop in front of the house. Eden opened the passenger door and stepped out, the cool Tennessee air catching the hem of the massive grey crewneck. She stood there for a long moment, just looking.
It had been five long years since she’d stood in this driveway, and it felt like stepping into a photograph that had refused to fade. The wrap-around porch, the slightly chipped white paint on the railing, the old oak tree with the empty tire-swing branch. Stereotypical farmhouse sure, but it hadn't changed at all. The sheer permanence of it made something tight in her chest finally unwind.
"Oh, come on, nostalgic," Seraphina- Sera for short- teased, giving Eden a playful shove as she hauled her duffel bag out of the truck bed. "Hurry up and look at your room. I want to see if you remember how to navigate the stairs."
Eden laughed, following her sister inside. Walking up the staircase, she looked at the wooden banister and immediately remembered the absolute chaos of sliding down those steps in plastic laundry baskets, nearly taking out the drywall at the bottom. She passed the gallery wall- dozens of framed, mismatched photos of her neon-pink hair phase, middle school graduation, and awkward band t-shirts.
She reached the top of the landing and pushed open the familiar white door to her bedroom.
"OH MY GOD, BELKA!"
Sitting right in the center of the neatly made quilt was a furry, salt-and-pepper shape. It was her childhood dog, Belka. She was an older dog now, her snout almost completely white, but the absolute second she heard Eden's voice, her ears pinned back and her tail began to thud against the mattress with the frantic enthusiasm of a puppy.
Eden dropped her bag on the floor and threw herself onto the bed, burying her face in the thick, familiar fur. Belka let out a series of high-pitched, whiny groans, aggressively licking Eden’s jaw and nose as Eden curled around her, laughing through the sudden prickle of tears in her eyes.
"I’ll leave you two to your emotional reunion," Sera chuckled, leaning against the doorframe. "I'm gonna go help Mama with lunch. Don't fall asleep!"
Once Sera left, Eden lay on her side, one arm draped over Belka. The room was cozy, smelling of old paper and home. Feeling a sudden, irresistible urge to share the moment, she pulled out her phone, snapped a quick selfie of herself buried in the grey sweatshirt with Belka’s massive, furry head resting on her chin, and opened her chat with Ryland.
Eden: Sooo guess who was reunited with her daughter!!
Grace :): Your mom…?
Eden: Ha. Ha. Very funny. But no, it was me!
Grace :) : ... You have a baby??
Before Eden could type out a snarky reply explaining the concept of "dog moms," her phone screen suddenly turned entirely black, vibrating violently as Ryland’s name appeared across the top.
Incoming FaceTime.
Eden’s heart violently slammed against her ribs. She froze, staring at the flashing screen in absolute, unadulterated panic. They had never talked on the phone before. They had barely survived eye contact across a laminated coffee shop table, and now his actual face was trying to broadcast directly into her childhood bedroom.
With shaking fingers, she hit the green accept button and quickly angled the camera so it was mostly focused on the bed.
"Eden!" Ryland’s voice burst through the speaker, frantic and loud. The screen showed him sitting at what looked like a wooden kitchen table, his sandy hair completely disheveled, his glasses slightly crooked on his nose. "I thought you meant a human baby! I was literally sitting here doing the math in my head like, 'Wait, did I miss a giant piece of chronological lore?' Show me the dog now!"
Eden let out a loud, relieved laugh, the panic evaporating at the sheer dorkiness of his reaction. She flipped the camera view, focusing entirely on the older dog, who gave a lazy thump of her tail at the sound of the phone. "Ryland, meet Belka. My actual, four-legged daughter."
"Oh, wow," Ryland’s voice softened instantly, his face on the screen breaking into a warm, crinkly-eyed smile. "Look at that face. She’s majestic. What kind of breed is she?"
"A total mutt," Eden said, propping her chin on Belka’s back so she was in the frame too. "We got her when I was really little. Actually, she’s a bit of a local hero. When she was just a puppy, I managed to wander away from my parents at the town park. I was totally lost, but Belka stayed right next to me under a bush, keeping me warm and barking until my mama and papa found us."
"A literal guard dog," Ryland said, his eyes fixed on the screen, looking incredibly fond. "Where did the name come from?"
"Well, I was barely talking back then," Eden explained, scratching Belka behind the ears. "My parents think I was trying to say 'Bella,' but my little-baby-toddler mouth just kept saying 'Belka,' and it stuck. We found out later it actually means 'squirrel' in Russian, which is hilarious because she used to chase them constantly."
Ryland mumbles into his hand, his eyes softening as he looked at the image of Eden curled up in his own oversized grey crewneck. "Awee... what a pretty girl..."
Eden froze, her fingers stopping mid-scratch. Her brain went entirely haywire. A pretty girl. The phrase hung in the air, low and heavy. Was he talking about the dog? Obviously, he was talking about the dog. But the quiet, gravelly tone of his voice made her chest feel tight and her face burn hot under her glasses. Before she could awkwardly clear her throat to break the sudden tension, the bedroom door flew open.
Sera bounced into the room. "Eden, Mama says the food is-" She stopped dead in her tracks, her eyes darting from Eden’s red face straight to the glowing phone screen, where a very attractive, very confused-looking older man with sandy hair was staring back.
Sera’s jaw dropped. She let out a silent, horrified gasp, turned on her heel, and literally bolted back down the hallway like a cartoon character.
"Wait, Sera, no!" Eden yelled toward the empty doorway. She quickly turned back to the phone, her panic returning at full volume. "Ry, I have to go before my sister tells my mom there's a boy on my phone and causes a total household investigation."
“Ry..?!” Ryland let out a loud, barking croak, his chest shaking, "Wait, go, go! Save yourself. Goodbye, Eden! Goodbye, Belka!"
"Bye!" she squeaked, quickly hitting the red button.
She dropped her phone onto the mattress, burying her burning face directly into Belka’s fur as her heart drummed a frantic rhythm. A pretty girl.
"I am not going to survive this break," Eden groaned into the dog's coat, while Belka just let out a heavy sigh, entirely content with the chaos.
Eden took a long, stabilizing breath, smoothing down the front of Ryland’s oversized sweatshirt before bracing herself and heading down the stairs. She expected to walk into the quiet comfort of her mother’s kitchen. Instead, the moment her foot hit the bottom step, a massive chorus of voices erupted from the living room.
"WELCOME HOME!"
Eden gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. The entire downstairs was packed. It wasn't just her family. Before her was a full-blown surprise welcome home party. The room was strung with simple string lights, and the air smelled of homemade chili, cornbread, and old wood. Neighbors she hadn't seen in half a decade, family friends, and old high school classmates were all grinning at her. How did I miss this coming in…
For the next hour, Eden was a whirlwind of hugs and tears. She moved through the crowd, thanking everyone for coming, answering a thousand questions about Southern California, and doing her best to explain what a "student teacher" actually did. She laughed with her neighbor and caught up with her childhood best friend, finally feeling the heavy weight of the semester completely lift. She was standing near the punch bowl, just catching her breath, when a firm tap landed on her shoulder.
Eden turned around, a polite smile already on her face, but it instantly locked in place.
"Hey, Eden."
"Oh," she breathed, her throat going a little dry. "Julian. Hi..."
He looked different. The scrawny, rebellious sixteen-year-old with the bad posture and the chip on his shoulder was gone. He was broader now, his shoulders squared, and his hair was cut neat and short- a far cry from the shaggy, unkempt look she remembered. But the dark eyes were exactly the same.
"You look good," Julian said, his hands coming to rest awkwardly on his hips before he shoved them into his pockets. "I mean, you look exactly the same. Just... older. Well, not old, obviously, you know what I mean."
Eden let out a faint, slightly strained laugh, adjusting her glasses. "Thanks, Julian. You look... different. Neat."
"Yeah, well," he cleared his throat, looking down at his boots and shifting his weight. "Listen, it’s a little loud in here with your aunt currently trying to karaoke to Rocky Top... Would you mind... maybe talking out back for a second? Just to catch up?"
Eden hesitated for a fraction of a second, her mind flashing back to the bitter, angry teenager who had yelled at her in this very house almost 6 years ago. But looking at the nervous, polite guy standing in front of her now, the defensive edge in her chest softened. "Yeah... Yeah, okay. Let's go out back."
They slipped through the kitchen and out into the screened-in back porch. The space was a cozy sanctuary against the crisp December chill; Eden’s dad had already hooked up the heavy-duty space heaters, and the area radiated a thick, toasted warmth that smelled faintly of cedar and propane. Outside, a light winter frost was beginning to silver the dark grass of the yard. Julian leaned against the sturdy wooden railing near one of the heaters, looking out into the trees before turning his gaze back to her. He rubbed the back of his neck, his shoulders dropping. "I, uh... I wanted to apologize, Eden."
Eden blinked, pulling the long sleeves of her sweatshirt a little tighter. "For what?"
"For how I acted when you left," he said, his voice entirely devoid of the teenage arrogance he used to carry. "I was sixteen, and I was stupid, and I was incredibly selfish. You were doing this amazing thing- moving across the country, starting your life early…and all I could think about was myself. I hated that you were outgrowing our town, and I took it out on you. It was a total loser move, and I’m sorry."
Eden stared at him, the remaining tension in her shoulders completely vanishing. Hearing the words out loud felt like a final, missing puzzle piece from her adolescence locking into place. "Thank you, Julian," she said softly, walking over to one of the cushioned patio chairs positioned right in front of the heater's orange glow. "That... actually means a lot to hear."
He offered a small, tentative smile, gesturing toward the matching armchair across the small glass table. "Can I? A total do-over. Just two old friends catching up?"
Eden paused, then with a smile said, "Pull up a seat,".
Sitting in the artificial warmth while the December afternoon pressed against the screens, the awkwardness began to dissolve, replaced by a comfortable, easy rhythm. As it turned out, Julian’s life had taken a massive turn after she left. The year after their breakup, he had completely turned his grades around and joined the Air Force immediately after high school graduation. He had traveled, gained a real sense of discipline, and had done incredibly well for himself, recently earning a promotion that brought him back home to work at the nearby base.
He wasn't the boy who wanted to anchor her down anymore; he was a man who had finally found his own horizon.
The hum of the space heater vibrated lightly against the concrete floor of the porch, casting a steady, amber glow over the small glass table between them.
Julian leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "So, Southern California… SoCal… You’re really teaching middle schoolers? I figured you’d be working at a museum or hiding in a university archive somewhere."
Eden let out a quiet laugh, pulling the long sleeves of the grey crewneck down over her hands. "That was the original plan. But then I got thrown into a classroom full of twelve-year-olds, but honestly? It’s a battlefield. They’re brutal, Julian. They literally speak in riddles and track my every move. I’m currently running a history department solo because the regular teacher went into labor in the middle of the hallway."
Julian’s jaw dropped, a broad, genuine grin breaking across his face. "No way. You? Managing a crisis like that? Actually, wait- that sounds exactly like you. You always were the only one who could keep a straight head when everything else was going off the rails."
"I had a lot of practice dealing with you," she countered playfully, tilting her head.
"Ouchhh... Fair point," Julian chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. He looked down at the floor for a second, his expression softening into something more grounded. "But seriously, Eden. A Master’s degree and a full classroom? You’re crushing it. I always knew you would."
Eden shifted in her chair, the warmth of the heater hitting her ankles. "It’s been a lot of work. What about you? The Air Force? When Mama said you joined, I almost didn't believe her. You used to hate anyone telling you what to do."
"Yeah, well, basic training beats that shit out of you pretty fast," Julian said, a nostalgic glint in his eye. "Turns out, having a little structure was exactly what I needed. I spent two years overseas- mostly in Germany- working on logistics and aircraft maintenance. It makes you grow up real quick when you’re responsible for a multi-million-dollar piece of machinery."
"Germany? Wow." Eden looked at him, genuinely impressed. The boy who used to skip homework to work on beat-up dirt bikes was completely gone. "That’s amazing, Julian."
"It was great. But... it makes you appreciate this place, too," he said, gesturing toward the dark, frosted yard beyond the screen. "There’s nothing like a Tennessee night. I missed the quiet. I missed the shop. I missed... well, I missed a lot of things."
He caught her eye, and for a brief second, the space between them felt a little smaller, a little closer to the way it used to be. But it wasn't heavy or angry like their breakup; it was just a quiet acknowledgement of the time that had passed.
"I’m glad you’re back, Julian," Eden said softly, her voice sincere. "And I'm really glad you're helping Papa at the store."
"Hey, your dad's vinyl collection is still the best in the county," Julian smiled, leaning back into his chair. "Someone’s gotta make sure he doesn't misfile the classic rock section. A total do-over, right?"
Eden looked at him, the crisp December night pressing against the glass, and smiled. "Yeah. A total do-over."
She looked at the dark silhouette of the Tennessee trees, then at Julian, who was smiling warmly at something she’d just said. A strange, beautiful feeling settled deep in her chest. She had spent the last five years running as fast as she could toward her future, convinced that leaving this place behind was the only way to grow. But sitting here in the warm, enclosed porch, surrounded by the ghosts of her childhood and the people who knew her before she ever wore a teacher's badge, she couldn't deny the truth.
She had missed home. She had missed her family, she had missed the slow pace of the winter evenings, and- much to her own absolute surprise- she had missed Julian.