Heart of Valor

by Adriana Peck

  “Hey, we’ll take a rain check,” I counter. “I just don’t want my car sitting unattended in a parking lot for an entire weekend. I’m sorry, Jake. We’ll do this again sometime, I’m sure. And it’ll be for real then.”

  Jake nods. “Anytime, Nancy. I’m game.”

  We drive in silence for a while, cruising down the highway at an even sixty miles an hour. As I peer out the window, I can see the night sky above us, the stars all dancing and twinkling in place. A dark forest surrounds the highway, the trees a black blur that pass us on either side.

  “Do you remember that plan you were telling me about?”

  “What plan?” Jake asks.

  “You know. The fake engagement plan. Con the entire town into showing us with gifts, promises, apologies for all the shit they’ve flung at us. That one.”

  Jake nods playfully, a smile cracking across his face. “Yeah? What about it?”

  “I’m starting to think it’s not the worst idea in the world.”

  “Really.”

  “Yeah, really.”

  “I remember you laughing it off, back at your place,” Jake says. “You were hunkered over, calling it ridiculous.”

  “Well, after the week I just had, nothing sounds that ridiculous anymore.”

  And why would it sound ridiculous?

  Everyone in this town’s itching for the hot new romance, apparently. So why not give it to them? Put a fake engagement in the papers, everyone’ll hop on the chance to congratulate us, shower us with gifts, tell us they knew we’d end up together all along. Even with Jake’s less-than-stellar reputation all over town, I know that there’s nothing more exciting in Twin Orchards than the promise of a wedding. I know that for a fact.

  “You’re serious about this.”

  “I am.”

  Jake looks at me for the briefest of moments while he drives, his hands practically glued to the wheel.

  “Then, can I ask you something?” Jake says playfully.

  “Be my guest,” I reply, a smile working its way across my face.

  “Will you be my fake fiancée, till scam’s end do us part?”

  I can’t help it. I burst out into laughter, giggling as Jake keeps driving us down the highway, heading back home.

  “I’d be happy to,” I reply, unable to contain my laughter anymore.

  “Alright, then. Let’s go stir up a little trouble for the folks back home.”

  The drive back to town is dark and quiet, but for the first time in a long while, I don’t feel alone.

  And that’s all that matters to me right now.

  Seventeen

  Jake

  I maintain the truck at a steady pace, keeping us centered on the long stretch of highway heading back to Twin Orchards. We’re still a ways away, but Nancy’ll have time to move her car before anybody notices.

  Before we can start our scheme together.

  If that’s important to her, then so be it.

  I won’t lie, I’m a little freaked out she brought up that old plan I’d tossed around. I wasn’t too serious about it then, not as serious as she was just now. I’m getting used to life here; I think all the hubbub and anxiety over my recent return to town’s finally behind us. But Nancy wants out, and she’s made it perfectly clear how much she apparently hates Twin Orchards.

  So if she wants to run away, start fresh in a new town?

  I’ll help her.

  Hell, I’ll join her in that new life. If she’d let me, that is. But I’m still okay with taking my half and running for the hills, just like we planned.

  I keep a tight grip on the steering wheel, I can see a road sign up ahead. Twin Orchards, twenty miles. Almost home.

  I look over, Nancy’s been awful quiet these last few minutes. She’s leaning over in her seat, head hung low, chin propped up on her chest. Her eyes are closed, I can hear the gentle rhythm of her breathing over the soft hum of the radio.

  I like this moment. It’s nice. Moments like this were few and far-in-between in the military; moments of temporary relief from the anxiousness at hand. I can forget about the world, I can forget about Chance’s shit, everyone’s shit.

  I just have her.

  And that’s all I really need.

  ◆◆◆

  When we finally make it back to the dimly-lit parking lot of Nora’s Café, I can see it’s well after midnight. The moon hangs overhead, brighter than any of the signs hanging over us, and I’m thoroughly exhausted after doing all that driving. Nancy and I didn’t get our relaxing weekend getaway like we’d planned, but we came up with an alternative plan that I’m more than willing to try out instead.

  I turn to Nancy, holding her shoulder gently as I gingerly shake her awake. Her eyes flutter open as she lifts her head lifts up, looking around in a daze.

  “Jake?”

  “Yep. Still me.”

  “What…what time is it?”

  I grin. “Late. Got you back to your car, just like you asked.”

  Nancy moans softly, a gentle signal of disdain. “I’m tired.”

  I shrug, looking back at her car.

  “You got your keys?”

  Nancy reaches into her pocket as she leans back in her seat, closing her eyes again as she jingles the keys. I take them from her, holding them in my hand as I look Nancy over with sympathy. She’s too tired to get up, she’s in no state to drive. Driving tired is almost the same as driving intoxicated, when you get right down to it, and I’d never allow her to drive in such a state. I’d be a terrible fiancée, real or no, if I let her drive back home tonight.

  “Come on,” I say, shaking Nancy’s shoulder again to wake her up a second time. “Just a short walk to your car.”

  “I don’t want to,” she groans quietly.

  “You aren’t driving home, Nancy. I’m driving.”

  Her eyes flutter open again. “But your truck—”

  I shake my head. “I’ll walk back for it, it’ll do me a lot of good to get some fresh air. Nobody’ll bother me this late anyhow.”

  Nancy nods, exhaustedly turning and opening her car door. I shut off my car’s engine, locking the door as I pocket my own keys and pull out Nancy’s instead.

  We get into her little sedan, and I take a moment to re-adjust her seat and mirrors to my personal stature. Nancy’s already got her eyes closed again, and within a moment she’s already back to sleep.

  I can’t help but grin at her.

  I reach over, grab her hand gently as her eyes flutter open. She looks down at our hands, then back up at me, smiling.

  I start her car’s little engine with my free hand, grinning back at her as I pull out of the parking lot and out onto Main Street.

  ◆◆◆

  The drive to Nancy’s is short enough, and I know the way back already by heart. Even if I’ve just been somewhere once, I can remember my way back. Helped me find a base or two out in Afghanistan when things got turned around real bad. When shit hit the fan.

  But I don’t need to think about that right now.

  I've got Nancy by my side, and that’s plenty for me.

  When we reach her apartment, I shake her awake one final time as we get out of her car, walking upstairs to her place. She’s got an arm around my waist, stabilizing herself as we trudge up the stairs. I wrap an arm around her shoulder, keeping her steady. Might as well return the favor, after all.

  When we reach her place, I hand her her keys as she unlocks her door. I walk her inside, past the familiar living room and into her bedroom.

  We don’t even flick the lights on, it’s too dark to see anything. I can just barely make out the outline of a dresser, nightstand. Some posters on the walls, probably some of Nancy’s paintings, too.

  She heads across the room, flops down on a bed.

  “Goodnight, Nancy,” I say, turning back to face her door.

  I pause for a moment, wishing that she’ll ask me to stay, to spend the night. I rest my hand on her doorknob, pausing for as long as I can for
her to invite me to stay. That’s all I want right now, but somewhere I know—

  She’s too tired to say anything, and I hear her breathing growing steady as she passes out moments later.

  I smile.

  I close the door behind me as I exit Nancy’s, leaving her to sleep in peace. I’m sure we’ll have plenty of time to get to know each other later, after we’ve figured out this crazy shit between us.

  A fake fiancée.

  I’m not too sure how all this’ll work, but it was my idea to begin with.

  I start the long walk back to Nora’s Café, the night still young ahead of me.

  ◆◆◆

  I wake up the next morning in my bed, half-confused in a daze. I can hardly remember walking back to my truck, driving home. I was exhausted by the time I’d made it across town, and even more tired by the time I finally made it back to my parent’s house.

  But I made it back. And I know Nancy made it back home safe, too, I made sure of it when I drove her car back to her place with her sleeping soundly in the passenger’s seat. She hardly stirred the whole way back, I can tell she’s been overworked at the café a lot lately. I’ve never seen anyone as exhausted as her.

  I get up, stretching as I throw on a lazy pair of basketball shorts and a ratty workout shirt full of holes. I head into the kitchen where I can see Chance is stirring about already, fretting over his breakfast before heading off to the hospital. The TV’s on and blaring soap operas from the other room, I’m sure Mom and Dad are already vegged out for the day. Retirement must be nice like that.

  Chance is still hunkered over his frying pan intently as I head over to the coffee pot, grab myself a cup and sit down at the kitchen table.

  “You’re back,” my brother says flatly.

  “Yeah, so?”

  “Nothing. Thought you’d skipped town.”

  “Not yet,” I reply. “But that’s still in the cards for me yet, don’t worry. I’ll be gone before you know it. You won’t have to keep cleaning up after me.”

  “You’re getting that Nancy Callahan to take care of you now? Heard you two had a late night last night. You left her car at the café where everyone could see it. Whole town’s already going on and on about it all over social media.”

  I want to groan, slap my head with an open palm. Nancy was right. Word travelled fast about that. I feel sorry for what she’s going to have to deal with today, because it’s sounding like the gossip and rumors aren’t going to let up on us anytime soon.

  “Yeah, so?”

  “Two times you’ve used that now. You’re a real wordsmith, you know that, Jake?”

  I take a sip of coffee, the hot blackness stinging my tongue as I jolt awake. “What’s it to you?”

  Chance dumps what was in his frying pan onto a plate and walks over to the table. Bacon and eggs. Smells good, I can already hear my stomach rumbling faintly. “Make any of that for me?” I ask.

  Chance laughs. “No fucking way, bro. You’re not one of my patients, you can make food for yourself for all I care.”

  “So, you and that Micah girl from the auction still a thing? You shell out enough cash to buy her love yet?”

  “Wouldn’t you like to know?” Chance retorts, digging into his breakfast without paying my insult a second thought.

  “I’m just asking.”

  “We’re doing just fine, not like you care.”

  “Good for you.”

  I’m sick of this shit. I want out. I’m tired of Chance’s attitude, I’m tired of watching my parents become vegetables on the couch. It’s time to shake things up around here, and I think Twin Orchards is ready for a systemic shake-up.

  “So, Nancy and I got some news,” I tell Chance.

  “What?” he sounds annoyed, still focused on his plate, but he takes the bait regardless.

  “We’re gonna get married,” I say.

  Chance stops eating mid-bite. His fork clatters to the plate, he looks up and stares at me utterly dumbfounded.

  “What did you say?”

  “Nancy and I are gonna get married. I popped the question last night. And she said yes.”

  Chance stares at me for a full minute, the silence deafening between us.

  “Is this real?” he asks.

  “I’m offended you’d even ask that,” I reply.

  My brother shrugs, but leans over my shoulder to peer into the living room. “Mom? Dad? Did you hear that?” Chance calls out, still planted in his seat like he’s chained to it.

  “Hear what, honey?” Mom calls back from the living room. Nothing else besides that. They’re still glued to the TV, I can tell. Chance shrugs.

  “Okay, then,” he says, shrugging again.

  “Okay what?”

  “Good luck getting married,” he says flatly. He picks his fork back up, gets back to work on finishing his breakfast. “What a hell of a way to start my morning,” he mutters.

  “That’s it? No congrats, no well wishes from my big brother?”

  He gets up from the kitchen table, takes his empty plate to the sink before washing it off.

  “I’ll get you two something if you set up a registry,” he says. Mentally, I do a fist-pump; Nancy and I already have something coming our way. “Hell, I’ll come to the wedding. If this is real, that is.”

  “Why wouldn’t it be?”

  Chance laughs. “This sounds exactly like one of your get-rich quick schemes back from high school. You haven’t changed a bit, little brother.”

  I have to feign offense, I have to go on the defensive if Chance is to believe this is real. And a part of me feels like this whole thing’s real, this thing we’ve got going on between us. I can’t deny what exists between Nancy and I. Not every girl I meet would agree to something like this, that’s for certain. If anything, Nancy’s already head and shoulders above the competition in my book.

  “Chance, go fuck yourself,” I say to my asshole of a brother.

  He laughs. “Maybe this is legit,” he mutters to himself. He shrugs, putting the clean plate on the drying rack. “Well, fuck me. Go figure.”

  Chance grabs a windbreaker, throws his keys into his dark-green scrubs pockets as he heads out the front door.

  “Have a swell day at work, big brother,” I call cheerily after him.

  “Whatever,” I can hear him calling back. The screen door slams shut, I hear his flashy sports car roaring to life a few moments later as Chance pulls out of the driveway, leaving for the day.

  I shrug.

  Guess I’ve got today to myself, then.

  I head to the stove, use Chance’s old pan to cook myself some eggs and bacon as well. It’s a solid breakfast, and with that in my system I feel good enough to start my day. I grab my truck’s keys from the rack by the front door, calling out a goodbye for Mom and Dad to ignore like usual. I hop into my truck, starting up the clunky motor as I pull out of the driveway.

  Eighteen

  Nancy

  When I pull up to the café, ten minutes late for my shift, I can’t help but kick myself for staying out way too late with Jake last night. I like him a lot, sure, but all of this can’t be any good for me. Being late to work isn’t my usual forte. And I hate the feeling that Nora depends on me, and now I know I’m letting her down when I’m late for my opening shift. Plus it’s the only job I’ve got, and putting that at risk always sets me on edge above anything else.

  There’s a lone truck parked out in the lot, blue, rusted, the model much older than Jake and I combined. I can see that Paul’s standing by the front door, watching my car pull into the lot as he strokes his fluffy white beard pensively.

  I can’t believe how tired I feel. Early risers are going to be the death of me today, I just know it. I dash out of my car, running to the front door as I grab the café's door key from my front pocket.

  “Sorry about that, Paul, missed my alarm this morning.”

  “Oh, you know I don’t mind,” the old mechanic chuckles. “And I know that Jake’s keepin
g you busy.”

  I feel my face redden. “Not like you think,” I reply, fumbling with the key as I push the front door open. I flick on the café lights as Paul follows in behind me. I dash behind the counter, turning on the coffee machine and unlocking the cash register for the day.

  Paul takes his usual seat behind the counter, arms crossed as he leans over the bar watching me work.

  “You seem tired,” he calls out.

  “I had a late night last night,” I reply in a mad-dash to finish my opening routine before Don rolls in at nine-fifteen, just a few minutes away now. I wring out a towel from yesterday’s sanitizer bucket, throw it on the counter as I rush the bucket to the back, filling it up with new sannie-water before running back up to the front. I hurry, wiping down the countertop and tables as Paul watches me.

  I hear a ding; the coffee machine’s got the first pot ready for today. I turn, leaving my towel at the table as I head back to the counter to grab Paul’s usual cup.

  “No need, Nancy, I got it today.” Paul’s up, walking behind the counter as he grabs a clean mug and saucer from underneath the machine. “I’m not incapable. Saw you do it a million times before.”

  I grin, returning to my work. I wipe down every countertop, every table, every chair, every booth in a hurry as I hear the café’s back door slam open. That’s Don, arriving right on time.

  “So, you and Barry been playing chess lately?” I call out to Paul. I look up, he’s nodding as he takes the morning's first sip of his coffee.

  “Oh yeah. Kid’s giving me a run for my money,” the mechanic chuckles. I can hear the fryer whirring to life in the back, the faint hiss of the oven cleaner being applied. At least Don’s on schedule today. Better than me so far.

  I rush back behind the counter, my opening routine finished as I store the sanitizer bucket and cloth under the café bar. I sigh, propping my elbows on the bar as I take my place in front of Paul, rubbing my eyes to shake out the mothballs in my head.

  “That tired, huh?”

  “God, yeah.”

  “You should get yourself one of these, then,” Paul says, lifting his cup to me in a half-assed salute.