Chapter six

Six

            Riley couldn’t help but grin at the look on Bailee’s face, although it certainly wasn’t a pleased expression. Oh well. It didn’t matter. She was stuck with him for the evening, whether she was happy about it or not.

            They all filed into the restaurant where Kylie and Bailee welcomed them. Riley noticed that Bailee greeted him with a “hi” without looking, and the first chance she got she pulled Amy away from the group and started whispering furiously to her. He smiled to himself. This might be more fun than he thought. He didn’t care if Amy told Bailee that it had been his idea. He didn’t care if she knew that he wanted to spend time with her. He scowled, realizing that she probably already realized that. He hadn’t been exactly subtle.

            They went through the line and got their orders, then, because there were no more open seats in the building, they sat at the tables outside. Austin and Kylie sat down first, then Ben and Amy next to them. Bailee sat beside Amy, and Riley positioned himself between her and Austin. He didn’t miss the way Bailee stiffened and scooted away from him on the bench as much as room would allow. He glanced up and caught Austin’s amused smirk, then dug into his burrito with gusto.

“Did you get your car mirror fixed yet?” Austin asked, directing the question at Bailee as he swallowed a bite of taco.

            Bailee shook her head. “No, but I’m planning on doing that tomorrow.”

            “Where are you getting fixed at?”

            “Well a man I know gave me a number for a place he said was really cheap. I don’t remember what it’s called though.”

            She had broken her mirror? “How did you break your mirror?” Riley asked.

            She ignored him. Figures. Riley asked the question again.

Finally she said, “A tree branch fell on it,” without looking at him.

            Well, at least she was talking to him. He smiled and saw Amy watching them with a slightly concerned, but also amused expression. “I can fix it.”

            “Thanks, but no thanks.”

            “Really?” He looked at her surprised. “I offer to fix it—for free, I might add—and you still say no?”

            She looked at him now, but it certainly wasn’t the kind of look he’d been hoping for. “Yes, I still say no.”

            There was no more talking for several minutes as everyone ate their food. Riley’s burrito was gone in no time and he was contemplating getting another one, when Ben started talking to him. “So, Riley, how’s your grandpa’s barn going?”

            Riley wiped his hands on his napkin and replied, “Well, it’s going fine, I guess.” He thought about his grouchy Gramps. “It’ll still be several more months, I’d say.” Riley watched out of the corner of his eye how Bailee only nibbled at her burrito. Finally she seemed to give up, leaving about two-thirds of the food. He indicated the burrito. “You gonna eat that?”

            She fixed him with a hard stare, and then pushed it towards him. He inhaled it in seconds.

            “Need more food, Riley?” Kylie asked with a teasing glint in her eye. “Too bad I ate all mine.”

            Riley grinned. “Nah. I think Bailee’s covered it.” Kylie laughed and Amy joined in.

            “You keep eating like that and soon you’ll be as big as Ben.” Austin punched Ben’s hefty arm.

            “Hey, watch it, man! This ain’t fat.”

            “Oh, right, I forgot. Just an extra squishy muscle…”

            Riley chuckled.

            “You wanna see extra squishy muscle? I’ll show you—”

            “Ok, ok, you two. Relax, Ben. Austin’s just envious he not as… muscular as you are.” Amy cast her brother a mischievous smile.

            Bailee crumpled up her trash and got up to throw it in the trashcan. “Anyone else have trash?” she asked. Kylie, Amy, and Austin gave her theirs and she disposed of it. She didn’t give a second glance to Riley, or seem to notice that he hadn’t given her his garbage. She probably wouldn’t have taken it anyway, even if he had tried. It was surprising she had given him her burrito. He knew he had surprised her, but giving her the unexpected hardly warranted the treatment he was getting. She was acting completely unnecessary. Something he was going to try to remedy. Soon.

           

Bailee returned to the table but sat there quietly, sullen. She made sure she was as far away from him as she could be on the bench without making Amy unbearably squished, hoping he would get the point. So far he’d only said two things specifically to her.

            “Hello?”

            She jolted and looked at him. Make that three.

            “Returning to earth?”

            She rubbed a hand over her face and looked away. “Sorry. I’m kind of tired.”

            “Bad day, huh?”

            “Wasn’t. Is now.” She muttered it only loud enough for him to hear, and thankfully everyone else was chattering again so they didn’t notice Riley and Bailee.

            “Why is it now?”

            She looked into his gray eyes, challenging him. She’d like him to see her angry, then maybe he’d leave her alone. “You.”

             “What did I do to make your day bad?”

             “For starters, you can’t leave well enough alone and be just friends, and second, you’ve started Amy on a matchmaking scheme, and third, you found a way to go out with me when I specifically said no.”

            He grinned rakishly. “Pretty creative, huh?”

            “No! It’s…” She looked away until she didn’t feel so angry. If she started shouting all eyes would be drawn on them, and the last thing she wanted was to make a scene. She turned back to Riley, all remnants of his smile erased. “It’s just not a good idea.”

            He cocked his head. “And why’s that?”

            Bailee glanced up and that’s when she noticed that all but Kylie was watching them. Kylie wasn’t at the table, and Bailee hadn’t even seen or heard her leave.

            Riley looked up too and seemed to understand what she was thinking. He stood and grabbed her hand, lifting her with him. “We’re going to walk for a bit. See you guys later.” He pulled her towards her car.

            As soon as they were around the corner she wrenched her hand from his. “What do you think you’re doing?” She asked furiously.

            He opened her door for her, then got in on the driver’s side. “You didn’t want to talk in front of everybody, and I wanted to talk to you.” He held out his hand. “Keys, please.”

            “What makes you think you can drive my Jeep anytime you want?”

“You’re not in the position to drive, Bailee, and I know where we’re going.”

If looks could kill he would totally be a dead man right now. She pulled out her keys and dropped them in his waiting hand. “Oh really? And where’s that?”

            He started the engine and left the parking lot. “Nowhere in particular. Just looking for a good place to walk and talk.”

            She turned in her seat to sulk. “What if I don’t want to ‘walk and talk’?” She knew she was being difficult, but she didn’t care. Riley didn’t have the right to go ordering her around like she was his property, even though he might like to imagine she was. She hardly knew him, and she didn’t make a habit of forming fast friendships with men. Most guys understood. This one didn’t.

            She turned her head away and looked out the window into the fading light. The sunset was stunning, and if she wasn’t so upset, she’d actually enjoy it.

            “Don’t pout, Bailee.” He sounded like he was talking to a child, which made Bailee angry again.

            Bailee’s jaw dropped open and she jerked around to face him. “I’ll pout if I want to, thank you very much! You’re forcing me to go with you when I don’t want to, not to mention you stole my car. I think I have a right to pout.” She crossed her arms and looked away again. After a second she chanced a glance over at him. He was sitting there with a small smile on his face, as if amused by her outburst. Well, the last thing she was was amused. With a blast of annoyance, she grabbed the sweater off her lap and pelted it at him. “And don’t you dare smile!”

            Riley calmly plucked the sweater off of him and dropped it in the backseat. “Very mature of you, Bailee.”

            “Oh yeah, like you’re being very mature, yourself.”

            “I’m not the one throwing sweaters.”

            “I’m not the one abducting helpless victims!”

            Riley chuckled. “I’m not abducting you. Believe me, you are the last person I would want to abduct. And you are far from helpless.” He laughed again.

            Bailee’s mouth dropped. “You are the most despicable person alive!” She huffed and turned away from him. “Who even likes you?”

            “Shall I list them for you? It might take awhile.”

            Bailee went on as if she hadn’t heard him, ticking the list off on her fingers. “I mean, come on! You steal people’s cars, you steal people, you’re rude, you’re mean, and you like to argue!”

            “I’m not sure how much of that I can deny, but as for the arguing, I can’t take much of the blame, since you are taking part in it as much as I am.”

            “I think you started it.”

            “You think? See, you can’t even remember.”   

 “Shut up,” she yelled. “You know what? Just shut up.”

            She could see out of the corner of her eye that Riley was trying not to laugh, but apparently he had enough good sense not to do so because he wisely clamped his mouth shut, putting them in thick silence.

            Not much time had passed when Riley pulled into a small parking lot. He got out and headed around to her side to open her door, but she opened it before he could. No way would she wait for him. She snatched her sweater from the backseat and threw it on. He didn’t say anything, just led the way to a picnic bench before a pond. She sat down and rested her chin in her hands, almost forgetting the infuriating man beside her as she reveled in the beauty of the colors in the sky. Yellow melded with orange, forming a myriad of peaches and pinks. Purples and blues. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply, sure that she could stay there all night like that. Unfortunately, she had business to take care of, as a soft clearing of a throat reminded her. Slowly, she opened her eyes and turned to face him. He was watching her with a soft smile playing about his face, amusement dancing in his eyes.   Bailee purposely ignored it, or else she would get lost in those deep, deep eyes, forgetting that she was still angry at him. “Ok, so what did you want to talk about?” She supposed she could at least be polite, since otherwise they would have wasted a whole trip out here for nothing, save a bunch of arguing.

            He sat sideways on the bench, straddling it. “How about for starters, you tell me why it’s not a good idea.”

            How could she tell him? How could she make him understand? She didn’t date. She didn’t marry. She wouldn’t get involved with anyone, no matter how irresistible. Dad had shown her that…

            Pow. Another blow. Mommy falling limp.

            “Mommy!” she screams. She huddles deeper into the corner, determined to not be seen. But Daddy sees her. He comes for her with menace in his red, red eyes.

            “No! Not me, Daddy! Not me.” She didn’t want to die; not like—

            “Bailee.” She startled at the hand waving in front of her face. Slowly her eyes cleared and she saw Riley, staring at her. Her heart thumped loudly, and one look at her hands showed her she was shaking.

            “Are you ok?” He leaned forward, concern etched deeply in his face.

            She nodded not trusting herself to speak.

            “Are you sure? ‘Cause you were really starting to freak me out.”

            “I’m fine.” She stood. “We need to go; it’s going to be dark soon.” The sun was peeping its last, causing the land around them to be filled with shadows. She shuddered.

            Riley stood too, but not with the anxiousness she felt. “But Bailee—”

            “Please, Riley. I want to go home.” She searched his face with pleading eyes.

            He hesitated and then exhaled hard. “Ok. Fine. Let’s go.” He motioned for her to precede him, and she was filled with relief that he’d given in.

They drove back to the restaurant in silence, and when they got there she waited in the car while Riley went and told Kylie that she was ready to go. He got out and started to walk away when he seemed to remember something. He came back to the car and looked in her window.

“I forgot to give you your keys.” He handed them to her.

“Thanks.”

He stood, paused, then leaned back down. “Bailee? Thanks for the evening. I enjoyed it.”

Even the arguing? She watched him leave, the faint remain of his cologne the only reminder that he’d been there.

Riley drove his truck home in silence, not putting on music as he usually did. He replayed the scene at the park again in his mind. He had no idea what had happened. He’d asked her a question, and then suddenly her eyes got this weird, faraway look to them and she’d started shaking. He must’ve called her name at least three times before she responded, and even then, her eyes had looked hazy, as if she hadn’t really understood him. She’d looked scared, and it was all he could do to not pull her into his arms. That probably would’ve just scared her more.

He rubbed a hand over his face and then rested his wrist on the steering wheel. She had been so anxious to go home, and he was willing to take her. He’d just hoped to get answers first. But after that scary episode of hers—which he felt was a fault of his—he hadn’t wanted to push. So he’d agreed to take her back to the restaurant, all the while wondering when they might get another chance to talk.

Try again. Try again another time. It’s not your fault that she was acting crazy or that she’d not wanted to date you. Right. He would wait, and the next chance he got, he would take. She couldn’t avoid him forever. And he still had several more months to work on the barn, although, like he’d said before, he really could stay as long as possible. But he would rather Bailee fall for him sooner rather than later.

He pulled into the driveway of his grandparents’ home, noting that the house was dark. Grams must’ve been tired if she hadn’t even waited on him. It wasn’t like it was very late; in fact, it wasn’t late at all.

            Kylie didn’t ask questions on the way home, and for that Bailee was thankful. On the way into the apartment building, Bailee dropped her bag and several items spilled out. She retrieved them and then followed Kylie in, who had waited for her at the front door. Kylie unlocked the door number seven, and Bailee entered, going straight for her room. She dropped the bag on her bed, kicked off her shoes, and went out to the kitchen to make a cup of tea, hearing a continual drip, drip, drip. She turned towards the sink and saw water coming from the faucet at a fast rate. Great. She didn’t know how to fix leaky sinks. She opened the cabinets under the sink and searched for water there, but thankfully, didn’t see any. Well, she’d have to call a plumber tomorrow.

            She stuck a dishcloth under the drip so the incessant dripping noise would stop. “Hey, Kylie,” she called, “we have a leaking faucet, so if you here a drip, drip, that’s what it’s from. I guess I’ll call a plumber tomorrow.”

            Kylie replied, but it sounded muffled, and Bailee didn’t make out a word she said.

            “What?” She filled up the teakettle and then set it back on the stove. She went back to Kylie’s room, and, seeing where her sister was, realized why she hadn’t heard her. Kylie was bent over from the waist in her closet; her head disappeared in a mountain of clothes.

            Bailee’s mouth hung open in shock. She’d known her sister’s room was a pigpen, she didn’t know it was quite this bad.

            “Um, Kylie? What did you do to your closet? And why are you in your clothes?”

            Finally Kylie surfaced waving a hand at the mess like it was no big deal. “This is how my closet always looks, and I’m looking for something.” She dived back down and started digging again, tossing clothes back. After waiting for several seconds, Bailee watched as her sister finally stood up, holding a shirt. “I found it!” She exclaimed with a big smile.

            “Great. Now what did you say a minute ago when I told you about the sink?”

            Kylie tossed the shirt onto her bed, then started changing into her pajamas. “Oh, I told you that you should call Austen. He’s good at fixing leaks. I’ve had him come before when my bathroom sink leaked.”

            Bailee nodded. That was a good idea, and she could call him tonight, because then maybe he’d be able to fit it into his schedule for tomorrow. “Ok, well, I’m heading to bed, Kylie. Night.”

Chapter 5

Five

                Riley jogged out to grab the mail for his grandparents. He stopped in the middle of the driveway and flipped through it. Junk, more junk, something possibly interesting…

            “Riley!”

            Riley looked across the street where a young woman stood in running shorts and a headband and mentally groaned. “Hi, Mae.”

            She walked toward him with a big smile. “Hey, you know, it can be a little boring out here in the country. If you ever need anything exciting to do I’m right across the street. And I’m free every night except Saturdays.” There was a gleam in her plain brown eyes.

            Way too obvious. Riley forced a smile. “Thanks.” He turned and continued on up the driveway. He was here to help his grandpa build his barn, not give some woman something exciting to do in the country.

            Dropping the mail on the kitchen counter, he went to the bookshelf on the far end of the kitchen and grabbed a cookbook. Snagging the nearest chair, he plopped down and started looking through it. He’d told Grams he’d make dinner tonight. Now he just needed to find something to make. She’d said something preferably with chicken. Fine, he was good with chicken. Fried chicken… Nah. Too plain. Stuffed chicken… too much work. Finally he found something interesting. He would make noodles with chicken gravy. That would please her and maybe Gramps as well. Maybe he’d think he wasn’t such a lazy guy anymore. And if he still did… well, Riley didn’t really care what Gramps thought.

At promptly 6:00, they sat down to eat a meal of noodles with chicken gravy, peas, and homemade buttered bread.

            “This is delicious, Riley!” Grams exclaimed as soon as she had swallowed her first bite. “I think you must cook just about as well as me.” There was a twinkle in her eyes.

            Riley smiled at her and opened his mouth to say something when Gramps said, “A man who works in the kitchen is no man at all. Cooking is woman’s work.”

            Riley stuffed a bite in his mouth to keep from replying. Fine. If Gramps didn’t like him cooking he wouldn’t. Not because Gramps said no, but because it would create less problems, and it would enable him to be able to live with the old grouch. His level of tolerance only reached so high. When dinner was finished he would help Grams clean up, since he had made the mess, then he would disappear upstairs while his Gramps listened to his radio. Grams would settle in her old rocker and work on some knitting or some old lady thing like that. But Riley couldn’t stand to just sit around after dinner doing nothing, so he wouldn’t. He would go upstairs and write a letter to his mother, or maybe Bethanie, and if nothing else interested him, maybe he’d go for a run. Or maybe he could get a book from the limited amount of them that Grams and Gramps had around the house. He was going to go crazy here soon. He wasn’t used to having free time such as this. In Kentucky he kept himself busy almost all day with work, social life, anything to keep him occupied. Here, there was nothing. If he wanted to chat or hang out, he had Gramps or Gran. Or, of course, Mae. But he would spend time with her only when she was the last person on earth. Austin’s and Amy’s house was a good twenty-five minutes away, maybe more. Who he wouldn’t mind spending some more time with was Bailee. He knew that she had no guy interested in her, but why ever not he didn’t know. She was cute. And intriguing. He wanted to know what Austin had meant about her suffering heartache. He liked the way her short brown hair framed her face, her big brown eyes surrounded with long, black lashes. What he would like best is to be able to see her more often, convince her that spending time with him was good. He wasn’t sure how she felt about him, only that she really wasn’t interested. But he had a feeling he could make her be. He was sure.

            Bailee ate a quick dinner of warmed up leftovers, then headed to Ava’s and Dillon’s. Arriving, she knocked once, and then let herself in. She could hear Phoebe chattering about something, and she realized that they were eating dinner. Well, she probably could’ve waited and come when they were finished, but it was too late now. Although, by the volume with which their little girl was speaking, she doubted they had even heard her knock or come in. Kicking off her shoes she headed to the dining room and poked her head in. “Hi, guys.”

            Phoebe immediately smiled and pointed at her. “Auntie Lee-Lee! Come! Come!”

            Bailee smiled and kissed her cheek covered in something orange— squash— Bailee guessed. “Hi, munchkin.” Straightening, she said, “Hi, Dillon. Ava, I’m just gonna head on back.”

            “Ok.” Ava reached over and scooped some more squash onto Phoebe’s spoon, since she seemed to be having trouble.

            Bailee left them to their dinner and headed to the room at the very back of the hallway—her studio. She had always wanted to have her own private studio, but her parent’s house had had no extra rooms, and Kylie’s apartment didn’t have any extra room. So, when Ava and Dillon moved into this house, they graciously offered her one of the two extra rooms for her studio. She came here quite often, at least once a week, most of the time more.

Entering the studio, she breathed in the fragrance of paint, canvas, and a slightly musty smell. She loved the way her room smelled. The room was large and spacious, with two large windows allowing her plenty of natural light. Of course, except when it got dark. Then, she had many, many lights in here to make it bright. A dark studio was something that she couldn’t deal with.

She closed the door behind her, then crossed the room to her easel. She pulled the sheet off of it and set it aside, then pulled her apron from a hook on the wall. She prepared everything. It didn’t take long. The only thing she had to go out for was to fill her bucket with water. Her paints were out and set in rows by colors. Her paintbrushes were spread out and categorized by types. Her canvas was on the easel. Now, where was her inspiration? It was usually there. It was usually crowding her with a vibrant picture loud in her mind, only quieting when she retreated to her studio and created it. But today it was silent. Today, her mind was empty. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply, letting her thoughts dissipate. It would come if she let it. Don’t think, don’t think. Simply relax…

Aha! There it was, taking shape, a picture in her mind. But this time it wasn’t bright and vibrant. This time it was quiet and somber, a reflection of her mood. Then, while the pictures were still fresh in her mind, she picked up her brush and palette, letting the images flow from her heart, to her mind, to her hand, transpiring onto the canvas in a voice of blended colors and emotion. She didn’t stop till she was finished, and when she was done she stepped back, exhausted. This always tired her. It was like a part of her being let out and described on the canvas; it was her passion.

She studied the canvas. It satisfied her. It looked good. The picture would always remind her of the scare she had today from Andrew, the panic he’d created. It had a touch of anger from seeing the little girl mistreated at the store.

She bundled up her paints and put them away, then did the same with her brushes, taking special care to not ruin the bristles. After emptying her bucket of now dirty water, she returned to her painting and studied it for one final moment before storing it in her portfolio. Finally, she removed her apron and hung it back up on the hook, then covered the easel back up. She was finished and everything looked like it had when she arrived. It was ready for her next inspiration. She smiled and softly left the room. She didn’t have to worry. She knew that Ava and Dillon would leave the room alone. Her sacred haven. They had promised, and Bailee knew they would keep their word.

No one had ever seen her paintings except Miles. Maybe no one else ever would. It was better they didn’t; she liked it that way. It was the way she let out her feelings, and it would feel wrong to share them with others. Miles was the one who had encouraged her in her painting, the one who’d made her keep going even when everything had made her want to give it up. He was the reason she was still painting today.

She waved goodbye to Ava and Dillon and then left, surprised that it was already 9:00. She had stayed later then she had meant to. Kylie would be home, and she would want to know about Bailee’s day. And Bailee would share about Andrew, because he really had scared her, and she wanted Kylie to know the true nature of the man. Arriving home, she entered the little apartment and smelled something like burnt bread. Kylie had tried to make dinner and failed, apparently.

“Kylie?” She called as she kicked of her shoes. She peered into the sink, but didn’t see any dirty dishes. At least Kylie had cleaned up some.

“Back here, Bailee. How was your day off?”

Bailee leaned against the doorframe of Kylie’s bedroom. Sure enough, Kylie was eating a burnt—very burnt—grilled cheese sandwich. “Um, ok I guess. Andrew stopped by.”

Kylie looked up, surprised. “He did? What for?”

Bailee told her why and what had happened. By the time she finished Kylie had a half horrified half grieved expression on her face. “I thought he was such a nice guy.” Kylie gave Bailee a hug. “Poor sis. Are you gonna be fine? Should I call him?”

Bailee gently untangled herself from her sister. “No. Don’t do that.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, Kylie. Positive. Please do not do anything. He may not come back. I may have read more into what he was saying then what there really was.” You know me, always freaking out, always panicking. She could imagine Kylie thinking the same thing, but, being the sweet sister she was, she wouldn’t say anything.

Bailee turned and started to go out when Kylie called her name.

“Did you pray about it?” Kylie asked softly, tentatively.

“No. Don’t plan to either.” Bailee left without another word and closed herself in her bedroom. What Kylie wanted to do with God and prayer was fine, but she wasn’t going to back Bailee into a corner about it. When she had been little, back when Mom was alive, she had gone to church. Professed to be saved, even. Eventually it had slipped, mainly once Mom died. Now, it seemed prayer was pointless. God did what he wanted, regardless of her pleas and petitions. Talking to him did nothing, and honestly, he really didn’t seem to care one way or the other about people.

Kylie watched her sister’s back disappear, and then knelt by her bed. Bailee was hurting, she knew, but weren’t they all? And what better way to deal with the hurt and sorrow then to give it to God and let him hold you? She didn’t understand why Bailee pulled away. She couldn’t understand why people didn’t want to love God, didn’t see him the way she did.

Dear God, please, please, let Bailee see your love. Let her want you, God. I’m trying to help her see, but I can’t on my own. You know what it’s like to lose someone, you lost your son, but, for goodness’ sake, it’s been almost seven years since Mom died. She needs to heal. Just please give her your presence.

She stood, knowing her prayers would have results. Someday. It was just hard to keep praying, wanting, and never seeming to see any progress.

…“Mommy!” Bailee screams. She runs around in the house, looking everywhere, but can’t find her. The house is like one big, scary maze, and Mommy isn’t anywhere. Suddenly a giant shadow stares over her. “Mommy!”

Daddy’s growl surrounds her, and his red eyes show slivers of hate. “You want your Mommy?” He hauls her over his arm while she screams, walking through pathway after pathway of the house, suddenly coming upon a room that smelled horribly strong of the odor of death and fear. Daddy dropped her and she tumbled to the ground rolling against something. She turns to see what it is and gasps, her shrieks making Daddy laugh with menace…

Bailee jerked awake, her palms sweating and her heart beating at a fast and erratic pace. No! It’s not true… it didn’t happen that way.

“Bailee. Calm down.” Bailee drew a deep breath and forced herself to relax. Swallowing hard she closed her eyes. The image danced behind her eyelids with a terrifying clarity. Her eyes flew open and she sat up, suddenly shivering. She buffed her arms. “No. Mom didn’t die that way. She didn’t look like that…” Even though her eyes were open, the pictures came before her again… Mom lying there with eyes wide, though lifeless while rats ate at her flesh.

Bailee looked around the room for something—anything—that she could put her mind on. Her gaze caught the dusty Bible sitting on her desk that she hadn’t touched in several years. She was almost tempted to get it, but stopped herself in time. It was God that had put her here in the first place. God who had left them in this mess. It was his fault, and she wasn’t going to forgive him. Ever.

A lump formed in her throat while a tear trickled down her cheek. “I miss you, Mom…”

Bailee pulled up to the gas pump, hurrying to fill her car. She was running late this afternoon, and if she didn’t fill this in about two seconds, she was going to be beyond late for work. She stood lost in thought while the gas flowed into her car, when she suddenly heard her name being called. She turned for the source and saw Riley filling up a truck on the next set of pumps. He smiled, and she saw his dimples, even from back here. It did something to her, but she ignored the feeling and returned the smile. “Hi, Riley. Did you need something?”

“Uh, well. Not really.” He paused. “Hey, wanna catch a late lunch?”

Bailee shook her head and removed the nozzle, setting it back in its pocket. “No, thanks. I got to get to work.”

“Dinner?”

“No, thank you.”

“Why?”

Why? Because I hardly know you? Because I don’t want to be involved. Because—“Because I just don’t.”

“That’s not a reason.”

She just looked at him.

“Give me a good reason and I’ll back off.”

“Ok.  A good reason? I hardly know you.”

“And?”

“And I don’t want to go out with you.” There. She’d said it.

He actually looked hurt, which made her feel slightly guilty. She almost wanted to relent, but instead looked back to the pump and paid.

“Well… Ok. Another time.”

She nodded but when she turned around he was hidden behind his truck. She climbed in her car and pulled out. She really hadn’t tried to hurt him or make him feel bad, but he had put her in a hard spot. Not knowing him wasn’t really the major reason she hadn’t wanted to go out with him, just the one she was willing to say. The other reason was a surprise even to her, and she would have never said it to him. She had mostly said no because she knew that if she went she would enjoy being with him, and he would end up thinking it was something more than it was. Plus, she would be tempted to break her pact with Kylie to not date. That was the thing that surprised her the most. She’d never felt that way with any guy.

Riley leaned against his truck and listened to her leave the station. Ok, so that hadn’t gone so well. Fine. He would try another time. Today wasn’t even on his schedule to see her; it had just been an added bonus to find her at the same gas station he was at. He would find a way to go out with her. Somehow. Suddenly, a thought struck him. He chuckled softly and pulled out his phone wondering why he hadn’t thought of it before.

Bailee left work, worn out as usual. She enjoyed working with the kids, but they always tired her out. She reached home and debated about what to make for dinner. Kylie would be home soon and could help her decide, but she wanted to have it started right away. Finally she chose spaghetti, but before she could even get out a pot, her phone started ringing. She checked the caller id before answering.

“Hey, Amy. What’s up?”

“Hi, Bailee. What do you think about going out? With me… and Austin and some of his friends? Kylie could come too.”

Bailee really wanted nothing more than to make dinner and then curl up on the couch and relax. “I don’t know about tonight, Amy. I’m pretty tired.”

“Oh, come on, Lee-Lee. You’re turning into an old maid. We’re just going out for dinner. Nothing fancy.”

Bailee sighed. Did she really have to? No, but if she didn’t she would never hear the end of it, and she really did enjoy spending time with Amy and Austin. “Fine.”

“That’s a girl. Is Kylie home yet?”

“No, but she will be anytime.”

“Ok, well you two can meet us at Ed’s in, um, let’s say, thirty minutes. That sound good?”

“That should be fine.” Bailee hung up and exhaled. She’d been tricked into going out. Maybe Kylie would be sick and wouldn’t be able to come. Of course, then Bailee would still be expected to go.

She sighed again, louder. She wondered if there was any way she could plead sickness to keep from going. She didn’t want to go out tonight. She didn’t want to see people tonight. She wanted to make her spaghetti like she was planning on and then sit and read her book. Or take a bath. Not go out in the world and act like the happy social bug that she wasn’t.

But Ed’s Burritos really did tempt her. That was a place that was rather hard to resist.

Kylie came in. “It’s warm outside! Bailee, did you feel how nice it was outside?” She slipped off her shoes and threw her bag on the couch. “Hey, what’s for dinner?”

Bailee waved a hand. “Ed’s Burritos . Be ready in thirty minutes.”

“Ooh, sounds fun.” Kylie smiled. “With who? Amy?”

Bailee nodded, unenthused.

They were ready with time to spare, but they went ahead and left anyway, arriving at the restaurant several minutes early. After waiting for seven minutes, Bailee saw Austin’s car pull in. Bailee wondered who all would be here. Amy hadn’t said, only that Austin and some friends were coming. She watched from the window of the restaurant as they got out of the car, watching as Austin, Amy, and Blake get out. Her eyes widened with something far from pleasant surprise as she watched the last person get out. He saw her looking from the window and gave her a triumphant smile.

Chapter 4

Four

            Amy opened the front door wide and ushered in Kylie, Sydney, and Bailee, looking springy in a pink flowery sundress. “Hey, girls!” Amy welcomed as she pushed the door shut. “Glad you were able to come too, Kylie.”

            “Yeah, I ended up being off in time.”

            Bailee peered around the wall dividing the entry way from the family room. “So, who else is here?”

            Amy led the way to the kitchen, where the three sisters deposited food and drinks that they had brought along. “Oh, not too many people. Blake’s here again, and Hailey and Audrey Myers are here too.”

            Bailee smiled as they made their way out to the family room. She kind of wondered why Amy and Austin were having a get together so soon after the last one. It had only been two weeks, and they were so busy Bailee hadn’t expected one for a long time. Not that she minded. She would’ve found a way to hang out with Amy at some point anyway.

            “Hi, Audrey and Hailey. Good to see you all again.” Bailee plopped down on the couch next to the two petite girls. Bailee wasn’t big, but compared to them she felt giant.

            Both blonds looked at her and smiled, returning her greeting.  Everyone found a seat to sit in around the room, and the chattering from several different conversations at once started to get very loud and obnoxious.

            Bailee cringed. She had a headache. She hadn’t even planned to come tonight except for the fact that Amy had literally begged her on the phone. If she had been with her in person, Bailee was sure that she would have been on her knees.

            Finally, after sitting sunk into the couch cushions listening to the jibber-jabber, she turned to the Myer sisters. “How’s your brother, Logan?” She asked.

            Hailey replied, since Audrey was in some sort of debate about politics with Blake and Austin. “He’s great. He was gonna come tonight, but he was busy.” Hailey’s eyes sparkled, and Bailee had a pretty good idea what she meant by “busy”.

            “He should’ve brought Megan here,” Bailee said, “I haven’t seen her in forever.”

            Hailey rolled her eyes. “Oh, you know how he is. Wanting to be alone. Hates crowds. It’s actually a good thing, ‘cause Megan prefers it too.”

            Bailee smiled. “Yeah, I know. So are they engaged yet?”

            “Engaged? Are you kidding me? Logan won’t even talk about that.”

            Bailee looked at her in surprise. “They’ve been together for two years.”

            “I know, but he’s got cold feet all of a sudden and won’t discuss getting married with anybody. I-”

            The doorbell ringing interrupted her sentence but she never bothered to finish it. Austin sent a quick glance Amy’s way and she hopped up to get the door.

            Bailee was curious as to who would still be coming, but she didn’t wonder long, for he soon made his appearance: Riley.

            Bailee looked towards Amy, but she only gave her a little grin and nudged Riley into the room. He looks nice, Amy mouthed behind him.

            Bailee ground her teeth together. Kylie was bad enough; she didn’t need Amy in on it too. How many times did she have to tell those girls that she didn’t need a man, didn’t even want him, no matter how good-looking he was. But she did have to admit Riley looked good. She’d never seen the casual outfit of jeans and a dark blue button-up look so good on someone before.

            He smiled at her. “Hey, Bailee. Nice to see you again.” His dark hair didn’t look like it had been put in any semblance of order. Just tousled about, however it fell.

            Bailee smiled back and leaned forward a little out of the squishy couch, trying not be sunk entirely in its folds. “Hi, Riley.”

            She saw Riley and Austin share a conspiratorial glance as Riley said hi to him and Blake. Amy raised her eyebrows at the two as she walked past and disappeared in the kitchen with a slight smile on her face.

            Austin pointed at Hailey and Audrey, causing Riley’s attention to shift to them. “This is Hailey and Audrey Myers.” Riley shook their hands, his big tan one dwarfing their tiny ones. Riley then sat down in the only available chair, the one next to Bailee’s end of the couch. He smiled at her, and Bailee had no choice but to give her attention as he asked, “What’s been keeping you busy lately?”

            “Work. That about sums it up.”

            Riley raised his eyebrows a fraction. “Just work?”

            Bailee shrugged. “Pretty much. How’s your grandpa’s barn going?”

            Riley sat back in his chair and crossed his arms. “Well, we have about a fourth of it done, maybe. It takes a while, but we’re getting there.”

            Austin turned towards the TV at that moment and flipped it on, scanning the channels and finally settling on some sports game that was on. Soon most conversation had dwindled as Blake, Hailey, Kylie and Audrey joined Austin. Sydney left and joined Amy in the kitchen.

            Bailee closed her eyes and subconsciously rubbed her temples with her index fingers.

            “Headache?”

            Bailee opened her eyes with a start; she hadn’t even realized what she was doing, but Riley was looking at her with concern.

            “Yeah.” She stood. “This game’s not helping, either. Maybe I should go in the kitchen and see if they need help.”

            Riley uncrossed his arms and rose too. “You wanna go for a walk? That might help it.”

            “Aren’t you interested in that?” Bailee indicated  the television.

            “Nah. Come on, it’ll be fun.” There was pleading sparkling in his bright blue eyes.

            Bailee looked at him. She really shouldn’t, but then, what could it hurt? It wasn’t like he was asking for a date. Simply a walk and she had to admit she liked walks. Only walks with men she hardly knew were worth the worry. And Riley was definitely someone she didn’t know so well…

            Finally she nodded, regretting the decision as soon as she made it. “Ok.” After she quickly informed Kylie of where she was going—who barely spared her a glance—Bailee slipped on her shoes, grabbed her sweatshirt and went out with Riley, hoping she hadn’t made a mistake. They walked around the neighborhood, side by side, their arms occasionally bumping.

            “Are you seeing anyone presently, Bailee?” It was a casually spoken question.

            Bailee looked up at Riley, but it was too dark to see his face. “No. You?” She wasn’t really interested in whether he was or not, she was simply making conversation. She rubbed her arms and then pushed her hand deeper into her sweater’s pocket. The sharp wind billowed around them as the dark sky filled with clouds, obscuring the moon from view.

            Riley shook his head, his brown hair lifting in the wind. “Nope.”

            Several more minutes of slightly awkward silence.

            “Do you have family? Brothers, sisters?” Bailee attempted at keeping the conversation going, wishing every moment that she hadn’t agreed to walk.

            “One sister. Bethanie. She’s married and lives in Illinois.”

            “You’re parents live in Kentucky?”

            “Yep. Well, actually, I think my mom recently moved in with Bethanie and her husband.” He glanced at her. “They’re separated.” He spoke with a no-big-deal attitude as he shoved his hands in his pockets.

            “Oh. I’m sorry.”

            “Well, they’re not officially divorced and they only separated recently, so there’s still hope.”

            Bailee smiled bitter sweetly. Hope. Yes, there was still hope for his parents. Unlike hers. Dead. Prison. There was no hope for hers now. Not ever.

            “What about your parents and siblings?”

            Bailee should’ve supposed it would come to that. She swallowed hard, refusing to tell him who her dad was. “I have another sister, Ava, who’s married and has a little girl named Phoebe.” She walked two steps. “Um, my parents are also separated.” She lied. Well, they are separated. Just not in the way he thinks.

            He looked at her then, his feature brightening momentarily as they passed under a streetlamp, then plunging back into darkness, making them unreadable. His gaze was disconcerting, his eyes dark. Liar, liar, his stare seemed to say, although she figured it was her imagination. There was no way he would know the truth. Was there? Had Amy and Austin possibly shared something? They wouldn’t have… would they? They were dear and devoted friends, but from what she could see Riley was too.

            She looked away, not willing to play his staring game.  “Can we go back now?”

They turned around and The rest of the way was walked in an eerie silence, the neighborhood quietly preparing for night.

            It was not long after that they reached the Burk’s house, and Bailee felt a measure of relief. This walk had heightened, if anything, the pain in her head, and she could only hope that her sisters would be ready to leave soon. She wasn’t sure how much more she could handle, especially with Riley there interested in her personal life. A life she was not willing to share. With anyone, but especially with him. She knew people like him; the ones that would look at you with extreme sympathy. Bailee didn’t want that. She didn’t want sympathy.

Bailee wiped a hand across her forehead as she jogged up the sloped sidewalk. It had changed from chilly to warm with almost a night and day difference. Yesterday, the get together at the Burgs, had been chilly and cloudy. Today was sunny and warm, even at 7:30 in the morning.

Pausing, she picked a new album on her iPod and then stuck it back into her pocket, continuing her jog.

After she got home she had a whole day free… to herself! The thought sounded so deliciously wonderful that she picked up the pace a little. Once she got back to the apartment she would do some cleaning up since the place was a pigpen, then she would do some grocery shopping—ok, not so fun— then she might go and visit Gail Hatchet, the ninety-year-old woman that was practically like an aunt to the Steven sisters. Even when everyone else had forsaken them because of the “unpardonable act” of their father, Gail Hatchet had stayed strong beside them, showing them real friendship.

Reaching home she immediately got a shower, threw on a summery outfit, cleaned up the apartment, and headed to the grocery store. Picking up all the food supplies they needed, she took them home. She would just make something to take to Gail… perhaps a casserole of sorts? Maybe her famous cheese and meat one that everyone liked so much. After putting together the casserole and sticking it in the oven she sat down and picked up a book that she had been trying to read for almost two weeks. Just because it was her day off didn’t mean she had to stay busy doing the things usually neglected. She had gotten no more than three pages further into the book when her phone rang. Locating the sound, she picked it up off the counter. “Hello?”

“Hey, beautiful.” The same voice. Like an over-practiced fake Southern accent.

She sighed heavily. “Andrew, I thought--”

“Just wait a second, hon’, and listen to me. You don’t even know what I’m going to say and you go crazy. Now calm down.”

Bailee paced the kitchen, waiting for him to speak. Finally she said, “I’m calm.”

“Ok, then,” Bailee could tell he was smiling. “I was hopin’ I could catch you home. This must be your day off?”

“Yes?”

“Ok, well I was wantin’ to come over. I want to talk to you about, you know, the other night.”

The other night? The night like three weeks ago? “Um, isn’t it a little late?”

“I’ve been busy. Real busy.” He drew out real like she was missing out on his life and it was a secret that she couldn’t know about.

She suppressed her frustration. That last thing she wanted was Fake-Accent Andrew coming over and ruining her wonderful day off. And she had no desire to rehash the other night, especially not if Andrew hoped to start things again. “Sorry, Andrew. I don’t see how it’ll work. I’m getting ready to go.” As if to prove her point the timer on the stove buzzed, announcing the finishing of the casserole.

“Great, sweetheart. I’ll be over in about five minutes. I’m right up that way. See ya in a bit.” The line went dead. Bailee snapped her phone shut and slammed it to the counter, then snatched it back up again to make sure she hadn’t damaged it. Finding it unharmed she set it down more gently and groaned. She’d as good as said no, and the aggravating man was still coming! This is why she had broken up with him… among other things. As she pulled the casserole out of the stove she considered leaving anyway and letting him come to an empty home, but knowing Andrew, he’d probably just wait for her. No, better get it over with as soon as possible.

Bailee turned off the oven and stuck the casserole inside, leaving the door open just a crack. Just then there was a knock at that door. If nothing else, Andrew was at least punctual. She opened the door with a less than enthused expression and Andrew pushed past her into the room, settling himself on the couch.

“Come here, Bailee. We need to talk.”

Bailee sighed, pushed the apartment door shut, and sat down on the edge of the couch as far away from as possible.

“I know you had, well, other impressions the other night about us, but I figured by now you were willing to rethink your decision.”

Bailee was shaking her head before his sentence was halfway finished. “No, Andrew. I know exactly what I said. Same thing I’m still saying. You’re not right for me. You’ve never been right for me. And the biggest thing, I am not interested. In anybody.” She rose, hoping Andrew would see that this was the end of their discussion and leave. All he did was lean forward, resting his hands on his knees. “Bailee, what did I ever do to you? What made you turn away from me? Is there someone else?” He stood up and came close to her. “There’s someone else, isn’t there?” His gaze and tone had a touch of possessive angriness.

Bailee started to shake and backed up. He followed. She backed away faster, running into a stool at the counter. Losing her balance, she grasped at the counter edge but missed, and would have fallen backwards over the stool had Andrew not caught her. He grabbed her and pulled her close. “See? You need me.”

She pushed on his chest, panic seizing. “Please, Andrew! You’re making me uncomfortable… I’m…”

He let go of her suddenly and she stumbled backwards. “Who is it, Bailee? Who?” The look in his eyes scared her.

Bailee couldn’t stop shaking. “There’s no one, Andrew. I have no one.” She walked to the door on legs that felt like jelly, pulled it open, and waited for him to exit. He stared hard at her for a long moment and then stalked through the door without a word. Bailee shut the door and leaned against it, the panic in her real and frightening. Her legs felt like they couldn’t hold her and she sank down to the floor holding her face in her hands. What had made him act like that? Yes, they’d gone out on several dates, they’d had fun—well, some—she’d been friendly, but he hadn’t had her long enough to feel so possessive. He had scared her. Really scared her.

Andrew’s engine revved to life and then his Corvette roared off. Bailee waited till she could no longer hear it, then rose, gathered the casserole dish—which was cooled considerably—and left the house, heading for Gail Hatchet’s home.

The drive over only took ten minutes, and on her way up to the elderly lady’s door she waved to Fred Newman, Gail’s neighbor, who was sitting on his porch. She liked to think of him as Mr. Says, because he seemed to have a saying for every occasion or problem there was.

“Gail!” Bailee called through the screen door. She opened it and went to the kitchen, setting the casserole on the counter. “Gail I’m here.”

Gail ambled around the corner and smiled when she saw Bailee, her eyes crinkling to mere slits. “Hello, dear. What’d you bring me this time?” She reached out a wrinkled old hand and squeezed Bailee’s shoulder with surprising strength for a ninety-year-old woman.

“I brought you a casserole. The one I make best.” Bailee smiled and put the dish in the oven, then made her way to the kitchen table, holding a chair out for Gail.

“So how’s Tabitha?” Bailee set the teapot on to boil, then sat down across from Gail.

“Oh, same as ever, she is. Got into my garbage can out back last night and swallowed a chicken bone. Had me scared for a while with her choking, but then she threw it up . Fred took one look at her and said ‘Curiosity killed the cat!’ then went back into his house as if he had just given a great prophecy.” Gail laughed and Bailee joined her. It had been too long since she had visited her. Bailee needed it as much as Gail.

“What about Sydney and Kylie? And of course Ava?”

“Well,” the teapot interrupted her sentence, and she got up to turn it off, pouring the steaming water over teabags in mugs. “They’re doing fine. Nothing new has happened with us.” She set a mug in front of Gail and then sat down again.

Gail looked at her. “How about you, dear? Have someone special in your life?”

Bailee looked at the old woman’s eyes, then looked away. “No.” She could hardly count Andrew. She wouldn’t have counted him when they were still “together”, much less now.

They chatted for a long while. Bailee helped her clean her house, gave her a hug and kiss, and then left.

On her way out, Bailee noticed that Mr. Says was still sitting on his porch. She waved to him as she unlocked her car.

“Looks like you got a broken mirror.” He called.

Why does everyone keep telling me what’s so obvious? Do they think I can’t see it? “Yeah. I do.”

            “I know someone who could fix it for you real cheap.”

            Bailee walked closer to the man’s porch so they wouldn’t be shouting across the whole neighborhood. “You do?”

            “Yep. Hold on a sec. I’ll get you the number.” 

            “Thanks.” She waited while he went inside.

            “Here you are, girlie. Like I always say, it never hurts to have lots o’ connections.”

            Bailee smiled and held up the scrap of paper. “Thanks for this. Goodbye, Mr. Sa—uh, Newman.” As she walked back to Janie she hoped Fred didn’t notice her blunder. That would not be good. She needed to get out of the habit of calling him that. On her way home she remembered that she had forgotten to grab an item from the grocery store when she had stopped earlier, so she pulled into the parking lot and ran in.

            A commotion at the end of an aisle caught her eye as she was walking through the store. She couldn’t help pausing as a child cried loudly in a shopping cart.

            “Stop it!” A woman hissed angrily at her. Bailee guessed it was her mother.

            The little girl didn’t stop, just cried louder. The woman turned away from her and surveyed the items on the shelf. Bailee watched her face turn redder and redder and finally she whirled around and slapped the child’s cheek. “I said stop it, you brat. You’re not getting any treats today, and if you don’t shut up, you’ll never get any treats again!” The girl sank as far back into the cart as she could and whimpered with a big poochie lip, rubbing her red cheek.

            Bailee walked away, not able to see anymore. She was disgusted and angry with the mother, sorry for the child… What she wanted most to do was go up to the woman and give her the same treatment she had given her daughter. Bailee had a hard time dealing with people hitting their children. There was a fine line between disciplining and abuse. Maybe that was part of the reason she wasn’t getting married. Because if she got married she’d want to have kids, and she was afraid to discipline them. 

            She left the store with what she needed and drove home, sorely missing the mirror lacking on her jeep.