by Hallie Lee
Light bloomed in the house. “Well, well.”
The place was ritzy. Big, comfortable chairs. A flat screen TV. And art. Lots of art. Paintings with thick ornate frames in every room. Madhawk traipsed his muddy boots through the bedroom, straight to the master bath. “Ohhhh,” he groaned at the sight of the giant tub. And a shower as well. Heck, he might take one of both.
But first, he returned to the kitchen with the sunny, yellow walls and the granite countertop. And the sub-zero fridge. Madhawk opened the double doors, groaning at the sight of the stocked fridge. Milk, beer, eggs, and hot dogs!
Madhawk opened an expensive bottle of beer, then nuked a couple of dogs in the microwave. He scarfed them down as he walked around the house, browsing the paintings like a swanky art connoisseur.
He stopped, pausing at one in particular.
Hung over the fireplace, in a place of honor, something about the portrait of a group of kids at a bonfire seemed familiar. Especially the two young girls highlighted in the festivities. “Hmmm.”
Madhawk quickly lost interest in the art, tracking back into the kitchen, where he scrounged through the freezer until he found a nice steak. After he tossed it in the sink to thaw, he grabbed another beer, and headed to the master suite. This time he noted the blue walls, the soft bed, and the fluffy, over-sized pillows.
“Beautiful,” he muttered, anticipating the night ahead.
But then, as he thought of the one thing that would elevate this luxury, he grew annoyed with the squirt for failing his mission.
“You cut the wrong plant, dummy.” He’d cursed at what the squirt had cut from Wolfheart’s garden.
“I did not. Maybe you just can’t draw right.”
“Lose the attitude, smarty pants. Or you’ll wake up with this on your neck.” Madhawk had pulled his blade so quickly, the kid had melted into a puddle of snot and blubbering tears.
Just for fun, Madhawk had added, “And it will already be slick with your granny’s blood.”
•
Sated after a good, hot meal, Madhawk twisted the hot water faucet on the tub as far as it would go. He gingerly stripped off his dirty clothes, and took in his bruised and battered body. He stank of grime, blood, and infection.
He found a big, soft towel in the cabinet, and then slowly lowered himself into the hot bath water. After another greedy pull from the beer, he rested his neck on the mounted pillow in the tub.
Despite the squirt’s incompetence, it was turning out to be a nice night. And after a good night’s rest, he had plans to express his disappointment in Wolfheart’s product. He’d leave the kind of fiery review that would surely get Wolfheart’s attention.
Chapter Sixteen
A Stroll Down Hummingbird Trail
Luke
I
used my key to let myself into my parents’ house, juggling the coffee and pastries I’d picked up from the Cozy Corner. The orange-yellow sunrise burst spectacularly through the kitchen windows as I padded down the hallway toward the bedroom.
The closer I got, the louder the laughter. They were all piled on the bed like a pack of dogs, including Ginger and Mary Ann, the actual dogs. Dad, still in his pajamas, his thinning hair twirled to an unruly tip atop his head, wore his reading glasses as he perused the newspaper.
Micah tapped on her phone, leaning sleepily against Dad’s shoulder, while Mama sipped coffee from her purple and gold LSU mug. Her fire-engine red glasses matched her bright flowery robe, and her spikey hair looked trendy rather than unruly.
At the foot of the bed, mesmerizing them all, was Petey. Shirtless, he spun what was surely an embellished tale from the hills of Kentucky. Despite my recent impatience with him, I couldn’t help smiling at his exaggerated story.
His boyish dimples and tussled hair gave him the look of a mischievous teenager, while his muscular, sinewy build provided him the magnetism that made women swoon. My brother commanded an audience regardless of the narrative, just as women adored him even after he broke their hearts.
It would be easy to be jealous of Petey. But it was impossible to do anything but love him. Along with the rest of my family, I laughed at his slap stick antics, made funnier by his Christmas Vacation pajama bottoms.
“Hey big bro,” he grabbed the box in my hands. “Are those bear claws?”
“I want one,” Micah whined. “With a lot of icing.”
I handed my sister a napkin and a pastry. “Were y’all having a party without me?”
Mama patted the edge of the bed. “Honey, you are the party. Come sit by me.”
“I don’t think there’s room, Mom.” I frowned, weighing out the benefits of shaking things up. “But since we’re all here, who’s going to tell me how Bella factors into the Dolly scandal?”
For once, Micah had nothing to say.
“You’ve got to be kidding,” I said, incredulous. “You know?”
My sister slowly chewed the bear claw while considering her response.
“Geez,” I scoffed. “Am I the only goofus in Shady Gully?”
“Of course not,” Petey selected another pastry. “There are plenty of goofuses in Shady Gully. You’re just the only one who hasn’t put two and two together.”
Dad gave Petey a stern look. “Or maybe, he’s just not that interested in gossip.”
Petey snorted. “Well, he seems to be interested now, doesn’t he?”
Micah dabbed her mouth with her napkin. “I don’t know anything for sure. Bella’s never said anything to me. But…”
I gave her a pointed look.
“Luke,” she rolled her eyes. “You’re so dense. It obviously has something to do with Dolly’s husband, who’s old like mom and dad. The rumor is he high-tailed it out of town after getting a student pregnant.”
“A very young student,” Petey chipped in.
My mind raced, braking to a hard stop when the realization hit me. I sat next to my mother, ignoring the ominous creak in the bedsprings.
Petey said, “Why do you think Jesse and Dolly pitched such a fit when Bella sang in church?”
Mom speculated. “That would have happened regardless.”
Dad folded his newspaper. “Mitch was a guidance counselor, which makes the whole thing even more sordid. He was a person of authority. Someone the students were supposed to be able to trust.” He side-eyed Micah. “And we weren’t always old.”
Mom rubbed my shoulder. “Mitch was around twenty-four, twenty-five, I think. And Meadow…about fourteen. It’s been so long ago.”
I held my breath as Petey joined us on the bed. When it didn’t collapse, I asked, “Is he in jail?”
“He took off shortly after he and Dolly sold us this house,” Dad said.
Mom harrumphed, momentarily drawn to the memory of an old grievance.
“As far as I know,” Dad continued. “He hasn’t been seen since. The family didn’t press charges. They wanted to keep it quiet.”
Mom arched an eyebrow. “I don’t know about that. Once DNA became a thing, Brad told me he was considering approaching Mitch’s family about giving him a DNA sample.”
“Really?” Dad cast his eyes on her.
“...but I don’t know if he ever did, or if anything could even be done with that. And anyway, Mitch’s family have all moved since, so...”
“Well, the statute of limitations ran out.” Dad shrugged. “So, it’s a moot point.”
Micah scoffed in distaste. “What a sicko. That’s just gross.”
Mom regarded me. “Why don’t you ask Bella about it?”
“I did. And it didn’t go well.”
“What? You blew it already?” Petey shook his head. “Maybe Micah can talk to her.”
Annoyed, Micah stood huffily, showering Dad’s newspaper with pastry crumbs. “I can’t talk to her. I have a bunch to do today.�
�
She glanced at me on her way out. “But she’s cleaning at the school today if you want to beg her forgiveness.”
Mom nodded enthusiastically. “That’s a great idea. I’ll use the leftover meatloaf to make sandwiches. I’ll pack y’all a sweet lunch.”
Dad stood, swiping crumbs off his pajamas and newspaper. “Don’t give them all the meatloaf.”
“Or,” Petey presented another option. “You could come to the lake with me later. Aunt Robin and Violet are running errands today, but once they get settled in tonight, we’re going to rent a boat for tomorrow.” He grinned, “I promised Violet I’d get her up on skis.”
I bit back a smirk. “I bet.”
Mom and I traded amused looks.
•
I noticed a flurry of activity as I drove past the substation. If not for the igloo packed with meatloaf sandwiches, sodas, and Popsicles, I’d have stopped. Perhaps offered my assistance. Or at the very least, asked what was going on.
I tracked the sheriff’s grimace as he tossed a shovel and other assorted hand tools into the back of his truck. When I waved, he ignored me as usual.
Determined to make amends with Bella, I resisted the temptation to stop, and continued straight toward Shady Gully High School. I rehearsed my apology as I drove.
Shocked to find mine the only car in the parking lot, I wondered fleetingly if Micah’s disapproval of my dating Bella would merit a hoax.
After dawdling in the parking lot for several moments, I worked up the nerve to walk to the home economics building. I discovered it vacant, along with the gymnasium, which wasn’t unusual since school was out for the summer.
I then padded to the faculty offices, and found Bella bathed in fluorescent light, busily mopping the floors in the lobby. She wore tennis shoes and green scrubs, and swayed gracefully along with the music spilling from her earbuds. Unaware of my presence, she seemed totally absorbed in the melody. While I didn’t want to startle her, I couldn’t draw my gaze away from her uninhibited movements.
The jaunty angle of her chin as the chorus picked up.
The dark, wavy strand of hair that had escaped the clip at the nape of her neck.
The moist line of perspiration along—
“Luke!” Bella ripped off the earbuds. Her chest rose and fell with a cocktail of fright and outrage. “What are you doing here? You scared me!”
“I’m sorry.” Contrite, I held my hands up in apology. “I didn’t mean to startle you.” I stopped, reading her expression.
“Are you alone?”
“Yeah,” I answered. “How’d you even get here? There wasn’t a single car in the parking lot.”
“Good.” A slight grin tugged at her lips. “Come with me.” Bella took my hand and led me down the office corridor. We passed the teacher’s lounge, the principal’s office, and the faculty restrooms. “This way.” She used a key tied on a chain around her neck to unlock the door to the secretary’s office.
“What are we doing?” My heart raced for various reasons, specifically the sense of adventure I read on Bella’s face. “Are we going to get in trouble?”
When she wheeled, I nearly crashed into her. “Luke,” she glinted. “I’ve never known anybody like you in my life.”
My throat caught, and I resisted the urge to lower my lips to hers.
She giggled. “You’re such a rule follower. Don’t you think it would be fun to get in trouble every once in a while? Have you even been in trouble? Like, when you were a kid, did you steal a cookie or anything?”
“A couple of times.” I forced some lightness into my voice, although my mind raced with with what getting-into-trouble scenarios with Bella would look like.
But she’d moved away again and rifled through a shelf behind the secretary’s desk. “This is it.” She hurriedly flipped through the pages in a yearbook. “You asked.” She lobbed it into my hands and pointed. “Meet my dad.”
I looked at the handsome face of—by all accounts—a very horrible man. Clearly Bella inherited his enchanting blue eyes, and probably his boldness. Mitch’s self-assured grin suggested a cockiness built upon entitlement. His was a mug that had rarely been told no.
With rising anger, I looked up from the yearbook, and was surprised to see an eager smile on Bella’s face.
“He’s handsome, don’t you think?”
“Well, I…” I glanced at the picture again, struggling for the right thing to say. “There’s the sheriff,” I pointed out. “And Mom and Dad.”
“Yep. They’re all there. Your Aunt Robin, too. Even Dolly.” She grew impatient. “But what about him? You wanted to know about him, so what do you think?”
“I don’t know, Bella. What do you want me to say?”
She looked at me in confusion.
“I just learned what happened. My family told me. And I hate what he did to your mom. But he’s your dad, so I—”
“It’s okay,” she shrugged. “It was just cool to see all the pictures. There’s one of him in his jersey. And another when he scored a touchdown.” She flipped pages. “And there he is with all the girls. I think he was popular.”
“Seems to be,” I said. “Probably very personable. Like you.” Despite the bizarre tone of the discussion, my observations brought another smile to Bella’s face.
“I took a bunch of pictures with my phone so I can look at them later. Mama would kill me if she knew.” Bella checked her watch. “Crap. Her mail route is almost done. She’s going to pick me up soon.” She put the yearbook back in its spot, and quickly scanned the office.
When we made it back to the lobby, I said hesitantly. “I’m glad you aren’t mad at me.”
“I was never mad at you. I was just mad.”
I asked, “Do you want to go on a picnic? I know it’s getting late, but—”
“A picnic?”
“I’m serious. I want to show you something. And Mom made us food.”
She regarded me with bemusement.
“Come on,” I pushed. “Call your mom. Tell her I’ll bring you home.”
Bella grinned as she handed me the mop. “Don’t forget the corners. Principal Jethro inspects them.”
•
I’d never been a fan of meat loaf sandwiches—even Mom’s—but they tasted better sitting on a candlelit blanket next to Bella.
“Your mom is a great cook,” Bella said as she finished her sandwich. “Now it’s Popsicle time.” She grinned as she removed her hair clip, and did that thing with her fingers to shake it free. “Let me guess your color.”
I couldn’t think straight. Between the hair and the mischievous grin and the incredible way she wore scrubs. “My color?”
“We’ve got a blue one, a red one, a green one, and a purple.” She frowned. “Sorry, there aren’t any white ones. We’ll have to go with your second favorite flavor.”
As we both sat Indian style, I leaned closer, bumping my knee against hers. “That didn’t sound like a compliment. Am I as boring as white? Really?”
“No, you’re not boring. You’re clear. Transparent. Pure.” Bella deliberated. “In lieu of a white, I’m going to say you’re a blue.”
I leaned back, considering her serious expression. I loved the way Bella brought enthusiasm to the most mundane conversations, which made me wonder about the passion she’d bring to other activities.
“Blue. Because it means loyal. Strong. And trustworthy. Yes, you’re definitely a blue.”
“You’re very good with words.” I relaxed my knee against hers. “Like the way you know what names mean. Axe, for example. Your papaw. What did you tell me it meant?”
“Father of peace.” She grinned as she selected a red Popsicle. “Ask me another one.”
“Uh, how about Quietdove? That’s always intrigued me.”
“Quiet means peace as we
ll. And stillness. Calm. Dove means delicate and refined.” Her lips stained redder with every lick of the Popsicle. “Knowing him like I do, I think that fits him perfectly.”
“And Bella?” I moved closer to her.
Tickled, she tossed her head back in laughter. “Beautiful, of course.”
“I concur.” I tapped my blue Popsicle against her red one.
Bella leaned back, studying the half-moon as it wrestled with the clouds in the sky. “I wanted to tell you about my dad, but I had to talk to Mama first. She didn’t want to have it all dredged up again. I understand that, but…”
“But what?”
“I guess I’m weird, but I’d like to meet him one day. I think about him a lot.”
“I think that’s normal, but that would probably devastate your mom.”
Bella twiddled with the red stained Popsicle stick. “I know. And I’ve hurt her by wanting to go public. Wanting to tell you. Trying out at church. Gosh, speaking of that, I’m nervous about singing Sunday. I hope people aren’t mean.”
“I hope so too. It might be rough at first, like when you tried out, but people will get used to it. Even Dolly.”
“I don’t think so. I’m sure she’ll go to Jesse’s church to avoid seeing me. I can’t believe it’s caused such a ruckus. I mean, I thought most people in town knew about what happened to Mom, but she said they didn’t.”
I thought of myself, who’d been totally clueless, and what Dad said about gossip. “It’s probably half and half.”
Bella seemed to accept that. “I don’t want to hurt her. She’s already been victimized, but I’m tired of being ashamed. And feeling forced to hide away on the creek just to prove my loyalty to Mom, and to make life easier for Dolly and her family.”
I nodded in agreement. “Shining a light on the sin might be the first step to recovery.” I rolled my eyes. “Geez, now I sound like my brother.”
“Yeah, that was pretty deep.” Bella eyed me curiously. “What did you want to show me anyway?”
Encouraged by her interest, I blew out the candles and gathered the trash from the picnic. “Let’s put this in the car.” I grabbed my flashlight. “And then let’s take a stroll down Hummingbird Trail.”