Timothy's Summer Vacation Novels & Stories

Remember, she was also the one who had told me in college to always remember to use a condom. All I could think of was Thank God my dad isn’t on the phone. “Yes… we’re having a very nice time.” “Oh, well, if you don’t want to cut short your vacation, I can understand that. You can just come home whenever it’s convenient for you. Don’t worry about Tim, he’ll see you at Christmas.” Tim was my younger brother, and was in his senior year at Georgia Tech. “No, no, that’s not what I meant… I, uh… would you care if I brought him along?”

"Boring, honestly. Wake up next to you. Have breakfast, go to work or training or whatever we need to do. Come home to you. That's it. Nothing dramatic, nothing dangerous. Just us." "Sounds perfect," Timothy says. "What about you?" I ask. "What do you want?" "Everything with you," he says simply. "Kids someday, if you want them. A house that's actually a home, not a mansion full of bad memories. Pack cookouts where people come because they want to, not because they're afraid. Hockey games where I play for fun instead of politics." "We can have that," I say. "After today." "Promise me something," Timothy says suddenly.

Blair Zea harrumphed. “Are you leaving again, Daddy?” “Yes, Daddy has to go on business trips to earn money so he can buy a lot of toys for you.” “When are you coming home, Daddy?” “Soon.” “Soon? How soon?” Tyr Summers pondered for a moment. “I’ll be back once winter vacation rolls in.” Blair also mulled it over. “My teacher said winter vacation will be here in two weeks. Will you be back by then?”

I sat on the sand and tried to sort through everything I was feeling. Gratitude for this trip. Fear about what came after. Longing for something I couldn't name. "Mind if I join you?" Timothy's voice made me turn. He stood a few feet away, barefoot. Wearing casual linen pants and a shirt unbuttoned at the collar. He looked different like this. Younger and… less dangerous. But no less compelling. "It's your beach," I said. "Technically it's the resort's beach. We're just borrowing it."

If this weren't happening in the middle of high school, I might have even applauded for them. Unfortunately, I had no time to watch. I still had my own road to hurry along. As for the young couple, I wished them success in their journey ahead. Soon, it was time for the exam. Looking at the familiar questions on the paper, my eyes grew hot, not from nerves, but for all the effort I poured in. In the blink of an eye, the three days of exams were over. Freed from academic constraints, Timothy became even more unrestrained. He spent every day with Lucy, drinking and singing, living freely and recklessly.

If I disobeyed him, he would not let me see Timmy until I admitted my mistake. I took a deep breath and called his number. It rang twice before it was declined. I tried again, but the phone had been turned off. I thought for a moment and dialed Timmy's smartwatch. It got through. "Hello? Mom!" A pup's voice rang out. My heart softened. "Timmy, when are you coming back? I miss you so much." "Mom, Dad said he's taking me reindeer hunting. I don't want to go back."

“How are your parents doing, anyway? I feel like it's been an age since I had a good long conversation with your Mom.” “Enjoying retirement,” he replied, shaking his head as they eased onto the road. “For a guy who swore he’d never quit the practice, Dad's sure having a great time without it. They’re home for the rest of the summer before jetting off on a European tour for an entire month. They just got home from Yosemite a few weeks ago.” “Wow. That’s different. They always seemed like such homebodies to me.”

"You're right. If someone in the Lane family was ill, they could easily find a bone marrow match among themselves. There'd be no need to involve me. It seems my initial guess was likely incorrect." Now, Mia seemed like a bird soaring in the sky, visible from a distance, yet her thoughts remained obscure. "Tim, where would you like to go now? I've heard you've been under a lot of stress in Nord City lately. How about I take you shopping or treat you to a meal to unwind?" "I'm here willingly. If it becomes too overwhelming, I can always return to Bern City," Timothy refused flatly. "So, despite enduring so much, you still haven't managed to win her back."

I protested. “It’s okay, Ezra. I think it’s a great idea.” “Wonderful. Dinner is at six o'clock sharp. Don’t be like your brother and be punctual.” Ellen lifted her back to her elbow and pranced out. “Really?” I turned to Summer. “She’s your aunt and I don’t want to be on her bad side.” “I don’t give a damn—” Summer cupped a hand over her mouth and brushed passed me. She burst into the kitchen and threw up in the sink. Yeah, there’s my baby making his presence known.

I could not figure Timothy out anymore. Then again, that no longer mattered to me, and I had no interest in understanding him either. After glaring furiously at Gracie being thrown out, Timothy suppressed his temper, turned, and looked at me with eyes full of tenderness. "Alyssa, I told you before, my love is yours only. How about we go on a vacation? What about traveling around the world?" Perhaps because I had quietly stayed here for the past few months, Timothy assumed I had already forgiven him.