This is how I picture Katie Kaufmann (Carrie Underwood-esque)
My favorite scene with Katie (the heroin of my novel, Finding Forever) takes place in a barn. The section itself was quite moving for me to write. To give you some background... For the past year Katie has been sharing a house with her college boyfriend in Colorado. When his wandering eye lands and stays on a pretty redhead, she's quickly kicked out and forced to move home to small-town Texas. Now she finds herself living back at home with her mom and brother, and without a very missed, recently deceased father.
I loved writing this scene because of the fact that it takes place in a barn. Some of my fondest childhood memories were from my time goofing around on my grandparent's farm in Corsicana, TX. From walking the pastures, throwing rocks in the stocked pond, or looking for treasures in the dilapidated barn, I filled many an hour or two on various adventures.
This chapter tells of Katie embracing her memories, and her feeling welcomed home by her father despite his passing. Personally, I like to think that our loved ones send whispers of their love from the other side. My hope was for this scene to do just that.
I hope you enjoy a wee piece of Katie's story...
Dad’s Old Truck
Katie
awoke to the pit pattering of rain on the house’s metal rooftop. The gentle,
calming sound brought a smile to her face. She stretched and inhaled a deep
breath of air. It felt good to be home. Turning over, she looked at her clock
and was surprised to see it was almost noon.
She got up and entered her
bathroom. As she studied her bedraggled reflection, something occurred to her.
She was twenty-four, single, and alone. At first she felt the familiar
insecurity wanting to press in, but today she decided to resist its pull.
She looked into the mirror resolutely. “You know what? Maybe this is exactly what you need. Is it really that hard to live without Marcus? Mom lives without Dad, and she does it like a champ. You don’t need him to feel secure. And besides, look what he did to you. Look how he’s still controlling you. Stop it! Stop letting him win.” A funny smile crept across her face. “And stop talking to yourself. You’re not eighty!”
After a long, hot shower, Katie emerged refreshed and revived. She put on a clean pair of shorts and a t-shirt and headed downstairs. The house was peaceful and quiet. She made herself some lunch and went to sit out on the enclosed back porch. The rain had stopped and every tree and blade of grass looked green with health and replenishment.
Katie studied the craggy hills in the distance and quickly decided that although this countryside couldn’t compare to the mountains of Colorado, the mystique of the rugged and hardy terrain would forever hold a special place in her heart.
Sitting back in the rocking chair, Katie watched as a lone hawk flew overhead in the distance. She pondered what to do with her day. She knew she didn’t want to sit at home, but she didn’t have a car. Suddenly, another option popped into her mind. “Hmmm, I wonder.”
Katie got up and headed inside to the key rack. Happily she found what she was looking for. The keys to her father’s truck were still dangling from the ugly, leather key chain she’d made years ago at summer camp. “Nothing ever changes around here.” Katie shook her head and found she was glad for the fact.
She grabbed her purse and headed out to the barn to find her dad’s truck sitting in its same old spot. Katie figured her mother wouldn’t mind if she took it out for a spin.
“Please let this hunk of junk work.” Katie crossed her fingers and put the key into the ignition. All of a sudden, a rush of memories gave her pause. She pulled her hand away as images of her father filled her mind. Just the smell of the old, long leather seat and the feel of the ancient steering wheel reminded her of him. She remembered sitting on his lap and steering this truck around the property. She giggled as she recalled herself believing she was actually driving.
Her father was a huge Willie Nelson fan and his music was constantly playing. Katie wondered if one of Willie’s old cassette tapes would still be in the tape player. She looked down at the stereo and pressed the eject button. Sure enough, his favorite tape popped out.
Katie turned to look back toward the truck’s bed and remembered riding back there with Keith. We used to love getting bounced around, Katie thought with a smile. I loved lying back there and watching the stars glisten in the night sky.
Like a dam being released, hot tears spilled down her cheeks. Katie missed her father terribly, but what she was feeling wasn’t grief. Rather, it was like a reunion of sorts. Strangely she could sense her father was pleased she was home. It was like he was smiling down from above. Katie closed her eyes and welcomed the feelings. Somehow this truck was awakening a joy she hadn’t felt in a long, long time.
“Dad, I miss you so much,” Katie said through her tears. “Now that I’m home it’s like everything’s new. Even this truck feels different.” Katie sat back smiling from ear to ear. “Dad, will you do me a favor?” She looked up at the shadowy lights dancing in the barn’s loft. “Please help this old truck work. You always did have complete faith in it, and I’d really love to get out of here for a while.”
Katie reached for the key. “Here goes nothing.” She turned the ignition, and instantly the truck roared to life. “Woohoo! Thank you, Daddy!” she cheered and steered the truck out of the barn.
She stopped and looked up at the sky. “I know you’re in heaven, but right now, Dad, it feels like you’re with me. I was just going to drive around today, but maybe you could...I don’t know...show me something new. Lead me to something you’d like me to see.” Katie felt foolish talking to the air but she didn’t care. Today she felt something different, something extraordinary.
At this very moment she knew her father was near.
=================================================================
To order your very own copy of Finding Forever: Click Here
She looked into the mirror resolutely. “You know what? Maybe this is exactly what you need. Is it really that hard to live without Marcus? Mom lives without Dad, and she does it like a champ. You don’t need him to feel secure. And besides, look what he did to you. Look how he’s still controlling you. Stop it! Stop letting him win.” A funny smile crept across her face. “And stop talking to yourself. You’re not eighty!”
After a long, hot shower, Katie emerged refreshed and revived. She put on a clean pair of shorts and a t-shirt and headed downstairs. The house was peaceful and quiet. She made herself some lunch and went to sit out on the enclosed back porch. The rain had stopped and every tree and blade of grass looked green with health and replenishment.
Katie studied the craggy hills in the distance and quickly decided that although this countryside couldn’t compare to the mountains of Colorado, the mystique of the rugged and hardy terrain would forever hold a special place in her heart.
Sitting back in the rocking chair, Katie watched as a lone hawk flew overhead in the distance. She pondered what to do with her day. She knew she didn’t want to sit at home, but she didn’t have a car. Suddenly, another option popped into her mind. “Hmmm, I wonder.”
Katie got up and headed inside to the key rack. Happily she found what she was looking for. The keys to her father’s truck were still dangling from the ugly, leather key chain she’d made years ago at summer camp. “Nothing ever changes around here.” Katie shook her head and found she was glad for the fact.
She grabbed her purse and headed out to the barn to find her dad’s truck sitting in its same old spot. Katie figured her mother wouldn’t mind if she took it out for a spin.
“Please let this hunk of junk work.” Katie crossed her fingers and put the key into the ignition. All of a sudden, a rush of memories gave her pause. She pulled her hand away as images of her father filled her mind. Just the smell of the old, long leather seat and the feel of the ancient steering wheel reminded her of him. She remembered sitting on his lap and steering this truck around the property. She giggled as she recalled herself believing she was actually driving.
Her father was a huge Willie Nelson fan and his music was constantly playing. Katie wondered if one of Willie’s old cassette tapes would still be in the tape player. She looked down at the stereo and pressed the eject button. Sure enough, his favorite tape popped out.
Katie turned to look back toward the truck’s bed and remembered riding back there with Keith. We used to love getting bounced around, Katie thought with a smile. I loved lying back there and watching the stars glisten in the night sky.
Like a dam being released, hot tears spilled down her cheeks. Katie missed her father terribly, but what she was feeling wasn’t grief. Rather, it was like a reunion of sorts. Strangely she could sense her father was pleased she was home. It was like he was smiling down from above. Katie closed her eyes and welcomed the feelings. Somehow this truck was awakening a joy she hadn’t felt in a long, long time.
“Dad, I miss you so much,” Katie said through her tears. “Now that I’m home it’s like everything’s new. Even this truck feels different.” Katie sat back smiling from ear to ear. “Dad, will you do me a favor?” She looked up at the shadowy lights dancing in the barn’s loft. “Please help this old truck work. You always did have complete faith in it, and I’d really love to get out of here for a while.”
Katie reached for the key. “Here goes nothing.” She turned the ignition, and instantly the truck roared to life. “Woohoo! Thank you, Daddy!” she cheered and steered the truck out of the barn.
She stopped and looked up at the sky. “I know you’re in heaven, but right now, Dad, it feels like you’re with me. I was just going to drive around today, but maybe you could...I don’t know...show me something new. Lead me to something you’d like me to see.” Katie felt foolish talking to the air but she didn’t care. Today she felt something different, something extraordinary.
At this very moment she knew her father was near.
=================================================================
To order your very own copy of Finding Forever: Click Here
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