Chapter Eight

Eight

                Riley ran his fingers through his hair before starting his truck. It wasn’t supposed to work out quite that way. Lord?

            He would figure something out. He just wasn’t sure what. He wanted Bailee to tell him why she didn’t date. If she told him he wouldn’t keep pressing. But she wouldn’t. And he wanted her to tell him about her “heartache” that Austin had talked about. He wanted to know all about her, but he couldn’t until she stopped closing herself up. He had to break down her wall somehow, but he wasn’t sure how to do it. She was like a high fence, and he was like the little kid too curious, jumping to see, and only being able to catch little glances of what was inside.

Austin asking him to fix Kylie’s sink hadn’t been so Riley could see more of Bailee. In fact, he hadn’t even been sure that he would see her. But clearly Bailee had thought he thought he would. He could see it on her face when she’d opened the door. If only he could make her see. Make her trust him.

Friends was good. All relationships started with friends. He could work towards something more. But only if she let him, which was questionable.

            Riley pulled into the driveway of his grandparents’ home and got out, heading to the barn. Gramps hadn’t been very happy this morning when Riley had told him that he would be gone this afternoon, but Riley had pretended not to see. Now he had to go and make up for it, work extra hard this afternoon so he would be back in Gramps good graces.

            “Hi, Gramps.” Riley waved.

            Gramps didn’t even spare him a glance. “Need a piece cut, if you don’t mind.” Gramps motioned him over, and Riley went to see where. After he measured he took the piece of wood and cut it. As he was taking the wood back to his Gramps, it dawned on him that today, April third, was Bethanie’s birthday. She would be turning twenty-eight. He’d have to call her later.

            Riley rolled up his sleeves and got to work, the only noise the pounding of hammers and the sound of moos from the pasture. After about an hour, Grams came out of the house with a tray, her floral skirt billowing and flapping in the wind like a sheet on a clothes line.

            “Hello, boys. I brought you some water.” She set the tray down on the ground.

            “Thanks, Grams.” Riley left his work and quickly gulped down his whole glass. Gramps was a little slower getting there, and neither grandson nor wife missed the sheen of sweat over his whole face, or the way he panted.

            Grams laid a hand on his arm and gave him a concerned look. “I think you better take a rest, hon’. You don’t want to overexert yourself and repeat what happened last summer.”

            Gramps took the last swig of his water and handed the cup to his wife. “Thanks for caring, sweets, but I’ll be fine. Riley?”

            “Coming. Thanks for the water, Grams.”

           

            After dinner was over, Riley dialed Bethanie’s number on his cell phone and went out to the back porch for privacy. He leaned against the porch railing as he waited for his sister to pick up.

            “Hello?”

            “Hello, Bethanie. Happy birthday!”

            “Thanks, Riley! It’s good to hear from you. What’s up?”

            “I’m helping Gramps rebuild his barn. I’ve been here for a couple weeks now. We don’t have much more to do, although I might still stay here for a while.”

            “Oh, really?” Riley heard the interest in Bethanie’s voice. “Why’s that?”

            Riley acted nonchalant. “Oh, no reason, really…”

            “Uh-huh. Right. There’s a girl.”

            It wasn’t a question. His sister knew him too well. “Why do you think that?”

            Bethanie chuckled. “I know you, Riley. What’s her name?”

            “Bailee. But it’s not for sure, Bethanie.”

            “So what about your apartment in Kentucky?”

            “Well, Matt’s house-sitting for now. He doesn’t have a house right now, so he can basically house-sit for as long as needed.”

            “I see.”

            “How’s Mom?” Riley moved a little further away from the back door where he could see Gramps trying to listen unobtrusively. Gramps didn’t approve of Mom and Dad’s decision—of course none of them did—but Gramps was very vocal about his thoughts. Constantly.

            “Well, she’s trying to hold up and pretend nothing’s wrong, but Rick and I can both see through her façade. I know it was her decision, but she’s not quite as fine as she thinks she is. Have you talked to Dad?”

            “Not since I left. You?”

             “He called today. He sounds pretty down, and I really felt bad for him. I would visit if I could, but you know…”

            “Yeah. I know.”

            “You should really try to see him, Riley. Maybe not go home to stay, but at least visit. He needs someone.”

            “I’ll do that.”

            “Promise?”

            Riley sighed. “Promise.”

            “Well, thanks for calling, Riley. I gotta go. Love you.”

            “Love you too, sis. Tell Mom I said hi. Bye.” Riley hung up and held the phone loosely in his hand. He’d promised his sister. Now he had to go back to Kentucky at some point. But if Gramps and Gran were willing to let him stay here longer, he might just come back.

            Sunday after Kylie got home from church, Bailee took Janie and set out for Maple Hill Cemetery. She had canceled the appointment to get her mirror fixed, since she would feel bad if she didn’t let Riley fix it. Especially since he’d fixed the sink.

 The twenty minute drive gave her time to think. Today was April fourth. Seven years ago today Mom was killed. Seven years ago today was the worst day of her entire life. She liked to spend some time at the cemetery on her mother’s death date. She went there other times too, when she felt like she needed a listening ear. It didn’t matter whether Mom was lying cold in a cemetery, Bailee still felt like she was listening.

            She was sure her other sisters would probably come here sometime today. Ava might not find time, but definitely Sydney and Kylie. Today Bailee wanted to come alone. She wanted to talk to her mother, and sometimes she felt like she couldn’t do that with her sisters there.

            Bailee pulled into the gated driveway of the cemetery and wound the car through the fields of graves until she came to the right one. Stepping out of the car, she went to the grave, reading the inscription on the stone as she always did. Courtney Mae Stevens. Loving wife, devoted mother, and faithful servant. Bailee placed a bunch of pink carnations by the stone. They were her mother’s favorite flower.

            “Mom…” Bailee sat cross-legged on the grass in front of the grave. “Mom… I wish you were here.” Bailee’s short hair whipped around her face, but she didn’t even notice. She pictured her mother with her sweet, gentle eyes, blue like Kylie’s and Sydney’s, and her careworn face. She had often told her girls that they were what kept her going. They were what made her want to live another day.

            Bailee remembered that no matter how early she used to get up, Mom was always in the kitchen fixing something. She used to wake up and sit in the kitchen, just watching her. Mom would always give her a little of what she was making, whether it was cinnamon rolls, or fruit, or pancakes. She used to make pancakes in special shapes. A B for Bailee, K for Kylie, and so on. Bailee could remember so many things from her mother, but probably the thing that most stood out was her rock-solid faith. It didn’t matter that Dad came home most nights drunk—if he came home at all— or that eventually he’d lost his job, forcing Mom to work. She’d never stopped praising the Lord. She’d never been full of despair if she was so weak and bruised from a beating that she couldn’t take care of her little girls. She’d thank God. Bailee had never seen a stronger faith. Never seen someone more deeply bedded in God than her sweet, godly mother.

            Dad had scoffed at Mom’s faith. He’d said it was pointless, childish, and unreal. He’d yell at her for taking the girls to church, but that was one thing Mama never had relented on. She’d suffered slaps and blows for standing up to him on that, but no matter what, she never backed down. Mom had always said she’d found God soon after Bailee was born. She hadn’t known how she’d get through without Him. Mom had talked to Dad about Him before, but he’d never listened.

            Dad. Bailee wondered what he was thinking on this day. Was he full of regret? Anguish that he’d messed up his life and his daughters’? Destroyed the life of his wife? Did he care? Bailee wondered, but found she really, truly didn’t know the answer. She didn’t know Dad. She’d thought she did, but then the next minute he’d proved her wrong.

            A tear fell from her cheek and landed on her jeans, causing a wet spot. “Mom, I miss you so much. You should be here.” God? Bailee lifted her tear-streaked face to the sky. The bright and happy sun beat down like a mocker to her dark pain and sorrow.

 “Was it too much, God? Did you have to take her too? If you were going to take anyone, why not only Dad? Why’d you have to take Mom? We needed her. We still do need her. I need more…”

            I’m always enough.

            Bailee looked around. The voice had been so audible; she would’ve thought someone real was talking to her. Was that God? And if so, why? Why was He bothering with her? She, who had in no uncertain terms betrayed Him, denied Him, said she didn’t need Him. Who’d scoffed in His face. Told Him she hated Him. Why would He seek her?

            Bailee shook the thoughts away. She’d come here to talk to Mom; not reminisce about the old days or speak with God.

            She sighed and wiped her fingers under her eyes. “So, Mom, there’s this guy. He seems interested in me, and it’s hard to keep telling him no. I wish you were here to tell me what I should do. Kylie’s all for it, of course, even though she and I signed an agreement about not getting married. And you know that Sydney is against marriage. Ava’s married; but she doesn’t even know about Riley. What do you think, Mom? You think I should go ahead?” Bailee listened to the rushing wind speaking whispers through the trees.

            “Yeah, that’s what I thought. No falling. I don’t want to risk a marriage like yours, Mama. I don’t want to mess up. I’m scared to have children.” Andrew Bean invaded her mind but she shoved him away. She was done with him. She wouldn’t bring him up with Mom. She couldn’t stand to let him reside in the peacefulness of the cemetery; not when thinking his name brought cold slivers of fear slithering up her arms and back.

            Bailee rubbed her bare arms, suddenly wishing she’d worn more than her thin cotton shirt. It was a pretty, sunny day, but it did nothing to warm the icicles coming from within.

            Bailee sat a while longer with her mother before finally leaning forward to kiss the carnations, then standing.

            “By, Mom. I love you.” Bailee sniffed and wiped off the seat of her jeans. “Thanks for listening like you always do.” She touched the headstone, then made her way back to Kylie’s car. She needed to pick up Janie, but she would wait till tomorrow.  

            Bailee kept the drive on the way home silent, her thoughts drifting around in her head, not many of them making sense. She pulled into the apartment building’s parking lot and got out, wondering what she should do. She didn’t want to sit around at home and do nothing. That would leave too much room for memories and thoughts that she didn’t want to be there. But she didn’t have anything else to do either. She didn’t make big plans, but for once today she wished she had.

            When she walked in the door of their home, Kylie was standing there with something held behind her back, smiling.

            Bailee didn’t feel like communicating with her, or being excited about whatever she had. But she didn’t want to hurt her sister’s feelings so she stood there politely.

            “Well?”

            “Well what?”

            “Aren’t you going to ask what I have?”

            “I—”

            “It’s for you!”

            Oh no. “What do you have, Kylie?”

            Kylie pulled a bag from behind her back and held it up proudly. The fish inside darted around, unpleased about its present home.

            Bailee put a hand to her forehead. I told her no more fish. I don’t want to be accountable for any more fish! No, Kylie! No, no, no! “Why did you get me another fish?” Bailee tried to hide the agitated edge, but it didn’t work very well.

            Kylie’s smile faltered slightly, but she held the bag closer to Bailee’s face. “But it’s not just a goldfish. I got you a beta this time; you might be able to keep that alive a little better, and look—” she held up a can of fish food, “—I even bought you some beta food.”

            Bailee smiled, though she figured it looked a little forced. “Thanks, Kylie. You’re sweet.” She reached for the bag, and Kylie gave it to her, pushing the food into her other hand.

            As Bailee took the fish back to her bedroom she debated at what to name it. It really was a beautiful fish with its blue, red, and purple colorings, if you liked betas. But Bailee didn’t. She didn’t want this nuisance. “That’s what I’ll call you,” she muttered as she prepared the fish’s home in her fishbowl. “Nuisance.” Nuisance darted here and there, checking out his new house. Bailee fed him a few pellets of food, then sat at her desk and opened her laptop. She supposed she could check her email and other things online.

            Her phone rang and she jumped. She fished it out of her pocket and looked at the caller id, frowning when she didn’t recognize the number. “Hello?”

            “Bailee?”

            “Is this Riley?”

            “Yes. Hi!”

            Why so cheery? “How did you get my number?”

            “Simple. I asked Austin, and he gave it to me.”

            Bailee leaned back in her chair. “So? What do you need?”

            “Are you busy?”

            Bailee wanted to tell him yes, but in truth, she was about to die from lack of something to occupy her. She decided not to lie. “No.”

            “Great. Do you want to do something? Walk, go out… you know, just hang out.”

            Bailee put a finger to the spot between her eyebrows and rubbed. “Um—”

            “As friends, of course.” She could hear the sarcasm in his voice.

            “You’re not very interested in this friends thing.”

            “As a matter of fact, no, I’m not. But it doesn’t matter if it’s what you want.”

            If it’s what I want…

            “So what do you say?”

            “I don’t know, Riley…”

            “You sound like you could use a friend. I’m coming over, and I’ll be there in about thirty minutes, so be ready.” With that he hung up.

            What is it with these guys who like to just barge in here without my consent? Andrew… Riley… Although Riley was nothing like Andrew. Not even a smidgen of a bit. Riley didn’t threaten and scare. Or at least he hadn’t, and Bailee couldn’t picture him doing it.

            Bailee sighed and stood. She guessed there was no way out; she was going to have to do something with Riley, and she might as well be ready for it.

Chapter Seven

Seven

Bailee closed her bedroom door and pulled out her phone. She’d call Austen, then make a note to herself to call the place that Mr. Says had recommended. She’d get the number out when she was finished with her call.

Austin answered on the third ring. “Bailee, hi. What’s up?”

She told him what she needed. “If you can’t come, it’s ok. I can call a plumber. Kylie just told me you were good at fixing leaks.”

He chuckled. “Well, I don’t know how good I am, but I can fix them. I can come over tomorrow, but I’m not sure what time.”

“Ok, great. Thanks so much! And just text me when you find out what time. Anything in the afternoon should be fine.” She said goodbye and hung up, then searched her purse for the number from Mr. Says before she forgot. Strangely, it wasn’t there. She dumped out all the contents, and still there was no paper. It was then that she remembered dropping her purse on the sidewalk. The number had probably fallen out, but it would be too hard to try to find it in the dark. She’d wait till morning and then look.

Come morning, Bailee looked for the scrap of paper with the number as she headed out for work, but still didn’t see it. It had probably blown away. She would call Gail after work and see if she could ask Mr. Says. She’d rather save as much money as possible, and if she could save a little on fixing her mirror, she’d rather. A penny saved, is a penny earned, Mr. Says would say. Of course, she could take Riley up on his offer to fix it for free. But then, she’d still be obligated to pay him, and she would much rather pay an automobile company than Riley. She got into her car and tried to start it. It stalled.

“Come on, Janie.” She tried again, and this time the Jeep puttered to life. “Thata girl.”

As she pulled out to the main road she rolled down her windows. Today was gorgeous with its beautiful blue sky without a cloud in sight. The weather was destined to near seventy degrees today, or so the weatherman said.

She reached work after about fifteen minutes of driving. She hopped out, pressed the lock button on her car remote—causing a high-pitched beep—and headed into the daycare.

“Hi there,” Mary-Lou welcomed brightly as Bailee walked through the automatic sliding doors.

“Hi, Mary-Lou,” Bailee raised a hand in greeting.

“Still not got your mirror fixed, huh?”

Bailee leaned an elbow on the front desk. “Planning on it today.”

Just then a woman with medium-length copper hair walked in with a little boy skipping beside her.

Bailee straightened. “Hi, Mrs. Walker.” She knelt down in front of the little boy with shaggy, sandy hair and sweet smile. “Hi, Mike. How are you today?”

Mike grinned, showing a missing front tooth. “Good, Miss Bailee.” He pointed at his tooth— or lack, thereof. “See my tooth? It’s gone!” He proudly smiled again.

Bailee smiled too. “I see it. Now it’ll grow back big and strong. Like mine!”

“I want man teeth!” Mike exclaimed.

Bailee chuckled and stood up. “You will, Mikey,” she promised.

Bailee took Mikey into a room where several other children already were, playing and having fun. She heard a loud scream; one made of hurt, not anger, and noticed little bully Sid trot off from one of the corners like nothing was wrong, leaving a little girl in pigtail braids sobbing. Bailee headed in that direction, having a feeling it was going to be one of those days.

That afternoon, when she was home from work, she waited for a text from Austin to hear when he’d be by. While she waited she called Gail Hatchet, who was able to locate Mr. Says, who was able to locate the number and give it to her again. She then arranged to take her car in so her mirror would be fixed, knowing she and Kylie would have to rearrange schedules and make car arrangements for a little while.

Her phone buzzed while she was reading a book. He’ll be there in ten minutes. The text said.  She frowned. He? Austin was coming, and Austin had sent the text. She shrugged, and replied, thanking him. She didn’t care if he sent someone else, as long as they were capable of fixing her sink—or Kylie’s, rather.

Approximately fifteen minutes later there was a brisk knock on the apartment door. Bailee rose from the couch and stretched, then answered the door. But, instead of seeing Austin’s lanky figure as she’d expected, Riley’s tall, broad form filled the doorway. What?? Anyone but him, Austin. Anyone but him. What is it with you guys ganging up on me? You’re not good matchmakers.

Bailee realized he’d been standing there for several seconds. She motioned him inside and shut the door, then asked, “Where’s Austin?”

Riley made a cursory glance around the apartment, his gaze finally settling on her. “Hi, it’s nice to see you too.” He smirked. “He ended up not being able to make it. Something with his mother came up.”

            Something had happened to their mother? And Amy hadn’t told her?

            “What happened?”

            Riley shrugged. “Don’t know. Austin didn’t say. Just said she needed him and Amy and it was important.”

            Bailee thought of Mrs. Burg, the spry four-feet, nine-inch woman who thought she could take on the world if she wanted. Mr. Burg was hardly around. Something to do with his job. She didn’t really know; she never even really saw Don Burg. She just knew that Cara Burg lived alone quite often in her little apartment in New York City.

            “Uh, Bailee?”

            “Oh, yes. Sorry.” She led him to the kitchen sink. “Here it is. I’m so glad you’ve come.”

            He looked at her with a little grin on his face.

            “Uh, I mean so you can fix the faucet,” she stammered, feeling the need to explain. Why would he pretend to read more into her statement than there was? Was there more to it? She shook herself. Of course there wasn’t, it was just this annoying man that made her second-guess herself.

            “I know.” Riley rolled up his sleeves, exposing tanned forearms, and took his time examining the faucet and pipes. Bailee soon forsook him, sitting back down on the couch to read with her feet tucked under her. It wasn’t long after that she felt his eyes on her. She looked up. There he was, crouched in front of the sink, with its cabinet doors propped open and things pulled out of it, studying her with something in his eyes that she couldn’t read.

            She snapped the book shut. “Do you need something? We don’t have many things in the way of tools, but…”

            “No.” He murmured. He looked at her for a second longer and then turned back to his work.

            Bailee opened the book and looked at the page, but didn’t read. What she wanted to do was move out of his line of sight, but that would mean retreating to one of the bedrooms. Besides, that would be too obvious, getting up and leaving like that. But it flustered her when every time she looked up she caught him gazing. She glanced up again, expecting to see him watching her, but he wasn’t. It gave her the chance to peruse him. He really was good-looking. He had a strong chin and a long nose. She couldn’t really see his eyes, but knew the color. The tan of his face made them stick out in stark reality. Dark eyebrows, dark hair that was the perfect length between too short and too long, slightly wa—

            He glanced over and she turned red, embarrassed to be the one caught looking when it hadn’t been her intention in the first place. She stood up abruptly, not missing the slight upturn of his mouth. He seemed pleased; as if he was happy he had caught her.

            “I think I’ll be back here if you need me.” She indicated her bedroom and then left him. It might have been the coward thing to do, but she couldn’t just sit there and pretend nothing was going on, when in truth, very much was passing through the air. As much as she wanted to deny it, she was attracted to him. And now that she knew, she wanted her feelings to just magically convert to how she wanted—no, needed—them to be. But they couldn’t.

Bailee exhaled hard and sat on the edge of her bed. The very last thing she wanted to do is let him know how she felt, since he already seemed set on winning her anyway. When he was finished with the sink she would set rules. She would tell him that she was never going to be interested in him, or anyone. She wouldn’t tell him why; that wasn’t his business to know. But they could be friends. Even good friends.

Bailee’s gaze settled on the picture on her nightstand of her with her mother and sisters. Mom, why aren’t you here? Why can’t you be here to give me advice? I really need it right now. I really need you, too. Pictures and memories aren’t enough.

She picked up the picture and kissed her mom’s face. “I love you, Mom.” Maybe it was silly, always touching and kissing the picture, but it was what Bailee had—all she had. She needed something. Mom had been gone for seven years—well, almost seven. So why didn’t she feel like the pain was lessening? Why, whenever she saw an image of her mother, was there deep, deep sorrow winding through the caverns of her heart? Whenever she thought of her mother, she thought of her father. That always brought on such a strong stave of hatred. Sometimes it scared her; this great ability to hate, to be bitter. The nightmares didn’t help either. All they brought was more fright and anger. Why couldn’t she remember her father for the loving man he used to be? Or that everyone said he was? Sometimes she thought she could picture loving, sparkling eyes and deep laughter. But she didn’t know if it was real. Maybe it was as imagined as the horrible red eyes in the nightmares. How could one person just change like that? Night and day difference? No one ever really talked about how Dad was before, at least not around Bailee. There’d been passing remarks like, “We used to love doing that before…” or, “I went there with Dad once before.” Bailee could only recall angry glares and scowls. Hangovers and headaches. Times when he was out cold and no matter what you did to him, he wouldn’t wake up. When Bailee was little she used to find Dad on the couch with one arm hanging off, and she’d sit there quietly, watching him, wondering what made him different from the other dads she saw. The ones of all her friends, who held their children’s hands, and sang and read to them, who told them they loved them and never hit them. She’d make up excuses at school about tripping over something and falling, or that she ran into something when she came in with a bruise on her cheek. She wasn’t sure her teacher always believed her, because sometimes she’d come in with them quite often. But back then she’d wanted to protect him. She’d wanted him to change. But he hadn’t. And he never would now.

A soft tap at her door made her jump. She rose and opened her bedroom door. Riley stood at the entrance.

“Sorry to bother you, Bailee, but your sink is fixed.”

Bailee shut her door behind her and Riley followed her out to the living room. “Thank you so much, Riley. What do I owe you?”

Riley seemed to contemplate it. “How about a date?”

And… there goes my speech. “Sorry, but no.”

“Bailee, I fixed your sink—”

“It’s actually Kylie’s sink.”
            “Ok, well she’s not here right now. And you’re the one who asked what you owe. Why not, Bailee? Why don’t you date?”

Bailee sighed and rubbed her forehead. “It’s complicated. I just don’t.”

“You’ve never gone out. Ever.” Riley crossed his arms and stared at her obstinately.

Bailee’s hand dropped. “Yes. Yes, ok? I’ve gone out.” Why did she let him fluster her?

“So why not with me?”

 “Because…” She glanced at him then looked away. Because I’m already too attracted to you. I can’t afford to lose control.

Before she knew what was happening, Riley was leaning down to kiss her, cradling her face in his hands. It was like an electric current, almost holding her captive with a strong pull to return his fervor, and yet, she couldn’t. It filled her with a horrible panic that welled in her chest, preventing breath from reaching her lungs. She gasped and pushed him away, stumbling away from him, bumping into the couch with her legs. “What… why did you do that?” She whispered, tears filling her eyes.

Riley rubbed the back of his neck agitatedly and slashed his fingers through his hair as his cheeks turned red. “I don’t know, Bailee. I’m sorry.” He turned away, then back at her. “Really, I’m sorry.”

Bailee looked away and swiped at a tear that threatened to break loose.

Riley leaned close. “Aw, Bailee, don’t cry. I’m sorry.” He gently reached to wipe a tear away but she held up her hands in a frantic motion of fending him off. “Do not touch me!” His face blurred before her in a cloud of tears, and she blinked rapidly.

“Bailee…” Riley held out a helpless hand.

Bailee swallowed hard. “See? That can’t happen, Riley. No, it cannot happen! Don’t you see?” She was looking him in his eyes now, hers pleading with his, ignoring the tears that trickled down her cheeks.

Riley studied her. When he spoke his voice was quiet. “I’m sorry I made you cry Bailee. Really I am. And I’m sorry that I kissed you. But… what now? You wanna just pretend that whatever happened a minute ago didn’t?” He jabbed a finger at her. “‘Cause you know as well as I that it did. You felt it too, I know you did.”

“No. I mean, yes. Yes, I felt it. But it can’t happen again. It’s important to me, Riley. Promise me it won’t happen again. Let’s just be friends. Only friends.” Her voice broke.

He didn’t agree. He just looked at her with an unreadable gaze, looked until she looked away.

“Please, Riley? Will you agree?”

He ran his fingers through his hair—causing it to stick up in interesting angles—and stepped away. “Fine. Whatever you say.”

She saw hurt and confusion in his eyes, along with a touch of empathy, but she couldn’t help but feel relief.

He collected his tools and headed to the door. Just before opening it, Bailee called to him, “Riley? You never told me what I owe you.”

He didn’t turn around. “I’ll fix your Jeep for you.” He opened the door and left.

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.”