Letting Go of September

Book summary

Garrett Emerson is struggling to move on after his wife leaves him, while Elizabeth Parsons is grappling with starting a family after a tumultuous childhood. Their paths cross unexpectedly, revealing hidden secrets that challenge their pasts and test their strength. Together, they must confront their fears and find the courage to move forward.

Excerpt from Letting Go of September

SALTHAMTOWN

Thursday, September 26, 1996

6:02 A.M. GLOWED RED on the clock radio’s digital display. A habitual early riser, Garrett Emerson’s internal alarm clock woke him before any mechanical one could. He pushed back the blankets and sat on the edge of the bed. Behind him, his wife, Ember, snored softly.

She hadn’t been herself for days. Plagued by insomnia, she slept very little, going to bed long after Garrett. The lack of sleep compounded the grief she carried from the unexpected death of her father two weeks earlier, making her an adult orphan. Whenever Garrett asked if she was okay, she’d flash a weak smile and say she was fine, just tired. But a small part of him worried there was something more.

Careful not to disturb her, he rose and padded across the hardwood floor to the east-facing window. He rubbed his hand across one cheek and over his chin, the two days’ worth of stubble rough against his palm. Usually clean-shaven, he hadn’t bothered with his morning ritual in a few days, but Ember would soon complain. Better take care of this, he thought as he gazed at the few stars pricking the deep blue, cloudless sky. It would be another two hours before the sun peeked above the trees surrounding their home and property.

Deep-set, honey-brown eyes stared back at him from the mirror as he wiped the remaining shaving cream from his face. He ran damp fingers through his brunet hair, noticing several grey strands as they caught the light. He flipped the switch, and as he emerged from the ensuite bathroom, a wet nose nudged his hand.

“Hey, Sam!” he whispered and patted the head of the six-year-old black Labrador retriever seated on the floor beside him. When he left the master bedroom, Sam followed.

In the kitchen, Garrett turned on the recessed lighting. The all-white cabinets and countertops gleamed. A year earlier, Ember had him paint out the oak cabinets to follow the latest trends. It had been the only reno she’d wanted, but he soon realized it was just the start of the kitchen update. A thoughtful smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he slid the coffee maker toward him across the solid surface countertop.

Sam whined. “Sorry, buddy, almost done.” He pressed the brew button on the coffee maker. “Okay, let’s go!” The dog’s tail wagged with enthusiasm as he hurried through the great room to the front door, his nails clicking on the floor.

Though the sun hadn’t risen, the sky had lightened some. The soft morning light exposed a thin layer of frost covering the lawn. Wearing a green plaid jacket and black rubber boots, Garrett headed down the crushed limestone driveway with Sam leading the way.

“Stay!” he called when Sam finished peeing against the birch tree at the end of the lane. Garrett caught up and scratched him behind the ear. “Good boy!”

The Lab tipped his head back, nostrils flared as he sniffed the crisp air.

When a vehicle approached, crunching the dirt road with its tires, he grabbed the dog’s collar. As his neighbour drove past, Garrett waved, returning the greeting he saw through the driver’s side window. Sam barked his own good morning. “Okay, let’s go!” he said, releasing the collar.

They crossed the road to the rural mailbox and retrieved the Salthamtown Gazette and yesterday morning’s mail. After pushing the red flag back in place, he shuffled through the envelopes and flyers, then tucked the bundle under his arm. He looked both ways, then at his pooch. “Race you!”

Sam barked, wagged his tail, and bolted toward the sprawling ranch-style home. Garrett laughed and jogged up the drive as the dog yipped encouragement.

“Coming in?” he said, reaching for the handle on the front door. The 2,400-square-foot house was too big for Garrett and his wife. But they’d fallen in love with it five years ago after selling his accounting business in Ottawa and moving back to Ember’s hometown. Retired at forty-five, he’d taken up flipping houses.

Sam turned and sniffed his way toward the backyard in response.

“Fine, but stay out of trouble.”

The nutty aroma of freshly brewed coffee welcomed him as he stepped inside. I’ll look at this later. He tossed the bundle of mail onto the desk in his office off the front entrance. For the moment, breakfast was his main concern. He slipped his feet from his rubber boots and carried them through the house. Setting the newspaper on the kitchen island, he walked toward the closet by the garage entrance. The door to the master bedroom at the other end of the short hall was still closed.

Garrett turned on the kitchen radio. Alanis Morissette’s “You Learn” played as he poured himself a cup of coffee. He sipped the dark brew, deciding on omelettes for breakfast. By the time they were ready, he’d poured himself a second cup.

“Morning,” Ember said, stepping into the room wearing a plush indigo robe and matching slippers. Her tangled auburn hair stuck out at strange angles.

Garrett smiled to himself and poured another cup with a splash of cream and handed it to her. After twenty-nine years together, he knew her better than himself. “Did you have a good sleep?”

She took a sip and set the cup on the maple table in the breakfast nook, the last of the kitchen upgrades. “Good enough. Where’s Sam?” she said, staring out the window and detangling her hair with her fingers. As though the Lab heard her through the walls, he appeared and lay on the back deck. His long pink tongue lolled from his mouth. “Oh, never mind, I see him. Breakfast smells good.”

Garrett dished up the omelettes and set them on the table. “I’m so hungry this morning,” he said, sitting across from where his wife stood.

She joined him, but her gaze fell on the yard outside the window. Her hand dipped inside the neck of her robe. “Is it cold out?”

The action alerted Garrett to her mood, as she always played with her grandmother’s wedding band hanging from a chain around her slender neck whenever she was sad. Two small rubies and three pearls adorned the gold band; engraved on the inside was the word aeternum, Latin for forever. She and the heirloom were one, and it never left her body.

He washed down a bite of egg with a sip of coffee. “A light frost on the ground when I got the paper and mail. Supposed to warm up, though.”

She pulled her hand from beneath her robe. “Once the sun’s a little higher, I imagine it will really highlight the leaves this morning.” Ember cut her omelette with her fork.

He chose his words carefully. “Should make for an enjoyable walk, and an opportunity for some fantastic pictures, too.” He hoped a pleasant walk and the potential of spectacular photography would jar her from her funk. Though she had studied office administration, Ember was renowned for her landscape photography.

She smiled, the hint of a sparkle in her azure eyes. It was the first he’d seen in weeks, and he held his breath.

“Guess we should get out there, then. Don’t want to miss the opportunity for some amazing shots. And like I say, things happen for a reason. You rarely suggest a photo op.”

A half hour later, Garrett and Ember stepped outside. She cupped her hands around her mouth. “Sam, come on boy, come!”

The dog trotted from the front of the house. When he saw Ember, his gait quickened. He came to a full stop and sat in front of her, tail wagging, brushing the grass beneath him. She bent forward and kissed his head. The sunlight caught her hair. Copper and gold streaks shimmered.

“Ew! Sam, what did you roll in?” She pulled away.

The Lab’s brown eyes gazed back with adoration, oblivious to the unpleasant stink wafting about him.

Garrett leaned in for a whiff. “Yuck! Something dead, that’s for sure. Sam, I said not to get into trouble.”

The dog licked his lips and barked.

Garrett reached for Ember’s hand. “Let’s go. I’ll clean him up later.” He started toward the usual east section of the trail on their 250-acre property.

“Why don’t we take the westward path for a change?” She held up her old 35mm Pentax K1000 hanging around her neck. Purchased in the ’80s, it was one of her first cameras. And while she used a more updated digital camera for her professional work, she sometimes reverted to using her older manual models. “I’d rather have the sunlight behind us.”

As they walked, the faint earthy scent of wet leaves and dirt crinkled their noses as they kicked through the multicoloured foliage on the forest trail. Sunbeams ignited the crimson, orange, and gold leaves clinging to oaks, maples, and birches. Chickadees called their names as they swooped from tree to tree, following the couple who so often brought them treats. Sam trotted ahead and back to them again.

Ember stopped, reached into the pocket of her hooded royal blue fleece, and pulled out a handful of sunflower seeds. Raising her arm, she held out her palm. After a moment, a chickadee landed on her fingertips, plucked a seed, and flew to a nearby branch. Seconds later, another chickadee swooped in. This time it rested in her hand. The chubby bird cocked its head before choosing a seed and flying off to another perch.

Garrett chuckled. “Okay, Snow White, let’s get moving.”

Ember dashed the birdseed from her hand and the rest from her pocket to the ground. “Sorry, birdies, that’s it for today.” As the little birds descended on the feed, she snapped a picture. “Lead the way,” she said when she finished.

Minutes passed, and the couple arrived at Ember’s favourite spot. It was where she came to sit, think, and dream. They’d discovered it four years ago on one of their walks as they carved out hiking trails. The gradual climb along the trail led to a clearing overlooking a gully. The landform cut through the forest below the hillock and wound around the trees like a river. Tree roots and rock formations added to the incredible landscape. She loved it there. For that reason, Garrett had made her a bench and surprised her with it for her forty-fifth birthday. The following day, they attached a small wagon to their 4-wheeler and hauled the bench to its new home beside a gigantic oak.

Ember sighed as she sat. Sam lay at her feet and soaked up the morning sunshine. She reached for Garrett’s hand and when their hands clasped, she rubbed her thumb over the faint scar on his index finger. The white mark was a reminder of the cut he’d suffered while building her bench.