“We have a couple questions, if you don’t mind?” Brooke smiled, her white teeth shining bright.
“What kind of questions?” he asked.
Brooke looked around the empty, small lot. “Can we go in your office?”
His eyes moved from me to Brooke multiple times, before he finally answered, “Okay.”
The small office consisted of a desk, a very tall filing cabinet, and two chairs facing the desk. Everything seemed in its place; nothing like my desk, with more than two piles of unorganized papers and bills. He didn’t have a single paper in the filing trays. It was as though he never used the office for anything.
“So, what have I gotten myself into?” Ross asked, finally showing another facial expression…even though it was a smirk.
Brooke leaned forward in her chair. “What do you know about Jade’s father and Kathy?”
Ross’s lips straightened tight. “I don’t like to discuss the matters of other people.”
“You know something!” Brooke said, accusingly.
I put my hand on her shoulder, gently pulling her back. “Calm down, Sherlock,” I told her, and redirected my attention to Ross. “We’re not looking to gossip. Brooke remembers my mother coming into town not long after my father left. We’re wondering if there were any conflicts between my mom and Kathy, maybe? Or my mom and dad?”
Ross hesitated.
“I assure you, this will stay between us. I just don’t know anything about Kathy, and before I try talking to her, it would be good to know if there’s a history between her and my mother,” I said, offering my best smile.
“Alright,” he conceded. “Your mom did come into town, about a month after your dad had arrived. The only thing I’ll say is that they were not very friendly. Kathy had nothing to do with any of it, at that time.”
“What do you mean ‘at that time’?” Brooke asked before I could.
“Kathy was working part time in the lobby here. She had conversations with Henry, but they were just friendly. The two didn’t start seeing each other until Kathy had found a full time job in town. That was about two months later.”
I stared at Ross, not blinking. “That makes no sense. My mom said he moved here to be with his new girlfriend.”
He leaned forward in his chair. “I’m only giving you one more piece of information, and that’s it,” he said, pointing at me.
“Okay.”
“The reason I remember when your mom came out to visit, was because I had to physically escort her off the property here,” Ross paused for effect. “She came in with a jealous bone to pick with Henry, as he was being friendly with Kathy at the desk. Well, you never did see Henry without a smile on his face, and friendly words from him. She yelled at your dad, accusing Kathy of being his lover, that’s all.”
“I don’t understand,” I said. My mother never yelled in public. Sure, she complained about, well, everyone, but it was in private. “I’m sure he cleared the air, so why would she say he left us for Kathy?”
Ross didn’t say anything, and Brooke stared at me, while chewing on her lower lip. Obviously, they didn’t have any more of an idea than I had. Or, if they did, they weren’t going to share. I needed air.
“Thank you, Ross,” I said before running out of the office. I took three deep breaths, hoping my nerves would calm down. The coffee I’d consumed just minutes ago crept back up into the back of my throat.
“Are you okay?” Brooke asked, rubbing my back.
“What he said doesn’t make any sense.”
“Let’s go back to your room, and we’ll talk more.” She linked her arm through mine, and led me back to her van.
Luckily, all the contents in my stomach stayed down, but my muscles were aching from the stress. “If it wasn’t his relationship with Kathy that made him leave, what could have happened?” I asked myself out loud, by mistake.
Brooke parked the van in front of the cabin. “No clue, but we should do more research.”
“Shouldn’t I save us the time, and call my mom?”
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but it sounds like your mom’s not being honest about everything.”
“I…”
Brooke interrupted, “Now, don’t think for one second I’m calling your mom a liar, but I do think there’s more to all of this.”
“I agree,” I said. “But, what do I do?”
“Talk to Kathy.”
Kathy had been a villain in my head from the moment I’d found out about her. Talking to her would feel as though I’d be cheating on my mom. Mom and I had made up inside jokes about her, and had not so nice nicknames for her. How could I look at her, much less talk to her? Would she be able to see all the nasty things I’d thought about her in my eyes?
“I’ll think about it,” I finally responded. “Write down your number so I can call you?”
“Sure,” she said, her smile brilliant. “You call me anytime, for anything you need. Promise?”
“I promise,” I said, taking the napkin with her number written in crayon. “I may need to delay my departure another day. My mom is going to freak.”
She giggled. “Tell her you ate something horrible, and have been on the toilet all day.”
“That could work, I guess.” I got out of the van, and waved.
“Hey!” she yelled out of the window. “I’ll kick your ass if you leave without saying goodbye.”
“I won’t.”
Chapt
er 4
Fresh towels were hanging in the bathroom. The coffee basket had been re-stocked, and my bed was made. If only I could live the rest of my life at a resort. I threw myself on the bed, grunting into the blanket.
I was in no shape to call my mom. Instead, I called the front desk to make sure I was okay to extend my stay. I was assured I could stay as long as necessary. Holding my phone in my hand, staring at my mom’s number, I couldn’t hit the call button. I texted her instead.
Me: I ate something bad last night. On the toilet all morning. Staying an extra day.
Five very long minutes later, I got a response.
Mom: Do what you need to do. Stop messing around.
Who was this woman, and what did she do with my mother? Wasn’t patience and understanding listed as a job description for moms? Especially when your daughter just lost her father?
I thought back to when my dad was still around. Had she been any different than she was the last few years? After he left, she began spoiling me more. I’d chalked it up to her feeling guilty, and thinking she was making up for an absent father with new shoes. Growing up, she’d been overly protective, me being her only child and all. Once I started college, and she began dating Matt, she loosened the reigns, and I was more like her best friend. She was carefree and fun, aside from my breakdowns. When she was with my dad, she had been uptight. In fact, now that I remembered, she seemed almost bored, and possibly unhappy.
My head was beginning to pound. I needed to do something before I fell into an over analyzing session with myself.
I called the front desk again. “Hi, I was wondering if there was anyone available to help me clean out the trailer? I mean, not clean out, but help me move some furniture and dispose of it? Not dispose, maybe donate?” I babbled.
“Absolutely, Miss Cummings. I will call you back in a few moments,” the man on the other end of the line said.
“Thank you.”
Four minutes later, the cabin phone rang. “Hello?”
“I’ve arranged for someone to meet you at the trailer in half an hour.”
“Thank you so much,” I said.
“Please let me know if there is anything else I can do for you, Miss.”
“I will, thank you,” I replied, and hung up.
~*~
On my way to the trailer, I stopped by the little store to ask for boxes. The nice manager was able to give me five.
A truck with a flat bed trailer was parked out front of my dad’s place. It seemed funny calling it “dad’s place” whe
n it wasn’t his any longer and I never really knew it as his to begin with.
I got out of my car just as the driver of the truck got out of his. My smile disappeared the moment I realized it was Hunter. Well, shit.
“You needed my help after all, I see,” Hunter said, with his smug, overconfident, jackass smile.
“Well, the trash needs to be taken out, and you’re perfect for the job.”
His laugh echoed off the trailer. “Maybe I underestimated her, Zack,” he hollered.
“Maybe you did,” someone said from the other side of the truck.
I hadn’t noticed anyone else, and immediately felt my face flush. The one time my comeback was instant and good, was also the one time I shouldn’t have said it.
“I’m sorry,” I called out.
“Don’t be. Someone around here needs to put him in his place,” the stranger said. He walked to the back of the trailer, grinning at me.
He had a familiar look, but I couldn’t place him. Surely I’d remember that smile…and those arms. Holy shit, his arms were amazing. My tongue got wet, as I imagined running it up and down his muscles. I had a thing for arms, and this guy did not disappoint.
“If you’re done checking out my friend here, I’d appreciate it if you’d unlock the front door, and give me instructions,” Hunter said, moving to stand in the view of my view.
I glared at him. “No problem.”
Walking back into the trailer felt different. Instead of looking through anger, I looked around for clues, hoping I could find answers. Getting the couch and other furniture out would hopefully make me feel less overwhelmed with the task at hand.
The couch would be the first thing to go. “Do you think it’s in good enough shape to donate?” I asked Hunter.
“Oh, so now you want my opinion?”
“Okay, smartass. I asked the front desk for help. They sent you. Please don’t make this any harder than it has to be.”
He looked at me for a minute, keeping his eyes on my face. “Truce?”
I let out a sigh of defeat. There was no way I could move all this stuff by myself. Of course, it didn’t make this situation any less annoying. “Yeah, sure, whatever.”
“I’m glad you see it my way,” he said, squeezing my upper arm.
I glared at him in warning.
“Alright,” he said, taking a step back. “Yes, I think this couch could be donated. I’ll get Zack to help me.”
“Zack? Where do I know that name?”
Hunter laughed. “You should remember that name. You only made fun of him for three years straight with your other snobby friends.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Don’t tell me you don’t remember that scrawny kid that used to hang out with me during the summer,” he said, laughing, and walking out the front door.
Memories of the little kid he mentioned came back to me. There was no way that short, thin kid was the same guy that I’d just drooled all over. Hunter had changed, but he still looked similar enough to recognize.
“Ah, so you do remember,” Hunter interrupted my thoughts. “You should apologize to him.”
“For what?” I blocked the exit.
“Think about it,” he said, right before he picked me straight up, and moved me to the side.
I let him walk out. Demanding answers from a hardhead jackass was useless. Why in the world would I need to apologize?
“Do you mind moving to the side?” Zack asked.
My cheek flushed again. “Yes. Sorry.”
I watched his arms flex as he lifted one side of the couch. Oh my hell. My eyes moved up to his face, and he was smiling right at me.
“Are you okay?” he asked. “I know this must be hard. You may need to sit down. You look a little faint.”
That couldn’t have been very attractive at all. Why did I feel like a virgin at a strip club?
“Uh, yeah. I’ll just sit over there,” I replied, pointing at the two seat kitchen table. “Out of the way.”
“Or you could make yourself useful, and start labeling what you want moved out of here?” Hunter butted in.
I couldn’t even muster up a glare for him, that’s how embarrassed I felt.
“Hunter, don’t be an ass,” Zack told him.
Not only was he gorgeous, but he was also defending my honor. I practically fell into the chair. No guy had ever made me feel so weak.
They carried the couch outside, giving me a chance to get my head back on straight. I searched through the kitchen drawers for a pen and sticky notes. Kitchen utensils filled up the top three. Bills organized by date were in the fourth. The last had a stack of letters. They were addressed to me. The return address was my father’s. “Return to sender” was written across each one in red ink.
I opened the letter from the top of the pile. It was dated almost a year ago. Written on a small, white sheet of paper was a short note: “Jade, please call me. We need to talk. I love you and miss you more than you’ll ever understand. Love, Dad.”
Tears pooled in my eyes, and I didn’t realize the two guys standing next to me.
“Are you okay?” Zack asked.
I couldn’t open my mouth to say anything. Instead, I shook my head.
“Hunter, let’s leave her alone,” he said, reaching out, and squeezing my shoulder.
That one little act of kindness unleashed the sobs. Without thinking, I threw myself into his arms, and cried harder than I ever had before.”
Ten minutes later, the tears ran out. My arms were still wrapped around Zack. He was holding on to me just as tight.
I took a couple deep breaths, and pulled away. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me.”
His brows were pinched together, and his dark brown eyes looked worried. “Is there anything I can do?”
“No, but thank you. I guess I just needed to get that out.”
Hunter was no longer in the room, thank goodness. I could only imagine him sitting there laughing at my emotional breakdown.
I noticed a large wet spot on his shoulder. There was a roll of paper towels sitting next to the sink. I ripped a couple off, and began dabbing this shirt with them.
He laughed. “I sweat more than that, it’s fine.”
“How can you be so nice to me after what I did to you?”
His hand wrapped around my wrist, stopping me from dabbing his shirt. “What are you talking about?”
“Hunter said I needed to apologize to you. Him saying that means I must have done something awful.”
Zack lifted my chin so that I was looking at him. “We were kids. Hunter made fun of you girls, and you dished right back. I just happened to get the brunt of most of it.”
My stomach knotted up. Most kids were mean to each other, but the fact that I couldn’t remember making fun of Zack made me feel incredibly guilty. Hunter deserved it, but I couldn’t remember Zack ever being anything more than Hunter’s shadow.
“Well, for what it’s worth, I’m sorry I was a bitchy kid,” I told him.
He laughed again. A deep, almost soothing laugh. “Truce?”
“Truce,” I said, shaking his hand.
Zack went outside, and found Hunter sitting in his truck, playing on his phone. They left after I promised I would call them later, when I was ready to move the rest of the stuff.
I sat back at the little table, staring at the unopened letters. Not having the courage, or the energy, to open any more, I concentrated on boxing up some things from the kitchen. The lack of noise wasn’t bothering me. I had my thoughts to keep me company.
Chapt
er 5
I needed to let loose, and what better way to do that then to get a drink, or two? My choices were slim, but I did remember a bar my friends and I would walk by, admiring the music, and people dancing. I wouldn’t dance, but the atmosphere sounded fun, and the music would drown out my thoughts.
Flying solo was not high on my list. I decided to call Brooke.
“Hel
lo?” she answered, sounding out of breath. A child was crying rather loudly in the background.
“Hey, it’s Jade. Are you busy?” Stupid question.
“Hell, no. My child is throwing a fit on the kitchen floor, but I was told to ignore it. So, what’s up?”
“Long story short, Hunter and Zack came over to my Dad’s trailer to help me move some stuff…”
“Doesn’t Zack look yummy now?” she interrupted.
I smiled, thankful she couldn’t see it. “Anyways,” I drew out, “I found some letters that my dad had tried to send me, but had been returned to him. I assume my mom did that. I cried. On Zack. Sobbed, actually.” I hit my palm against my forehead.
“As you should have,” she said. “Was Hunter an ass?” she giggled. “What am I thinking, of course he was. How did Zack react?”
“He let me cry all over his shirt. He even hugged me back. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to face him again.”
“Oh, don’t worry about Zack. Don’t let his looks fool you. He’s a sweetheart.”
“Speaking of his looks…I’m having a hard time remembering him. Hunter mentioned something about my needing to apologize, but he wouldn’t say what for.”
Brooke laughed. Really loud. “You don’t remember playing spin the bottle with them? I can’t remember what summer it was. Hell, I can’t remember what I had for breakfast. Anyways, you spun, and it landed on Zack. He walked into the closet and after the door shut, you ran out the front door. I followed you, of course. Hunter told me later that they left him in there for like, over an hour. Could you imagine?”
My stomach knotted up.
She sighed. “Do you think he was waiting for you, or just too embarrassed to come out after getting ditched?”
“I have no idea,” I whined. “What the hell was wrong with me?”
“We were kids, hun. Horny, pretty girls that wanted to have fun with the cute boys, not the scrawny, short guys.”
Her words didn’t make me feel any better. I knew I tended to act shallow, but that must have devastated him. Hunter always got the girls, and I couldn’t imagine how Zack felt, standing by, watching his best friend get kissed while he was stood up in a closet.
Elastic Heart: (The Happy Endings Resort Book 6) Page 3