River on Fire (River's End #5)

by Leanne Davis

  Everyone’s gaze flickered to Allison’s stomach and she smiled through her glistening tears. “Yes, we’re expecting another baby.”

  Joey’s heart lifted as soft exclamations rustled through them all.

  Erin glanced up at Jack, touching his face with her hand. “There’s been so much tragedy. I don’t deny it, Jack; but look around yourself. We are all still here, ready to do whatever is necessary to restore our lives. We already have so many blessings and so many more to come.”

  His shoulders slumped and he didn’t raise his head. “This is just too much loss. I can’t—”

  Erin gripped his shoulders, almost shaking him. “Think of what has been gained. Kate, Cami, AJ, Kailynn, Allison, Rosie, another baby… and me. You have a whole crew, Jack. We’ll help you. You’re not alone anymore in doing the repairs and handling all this wreckage. We’re here, for you, and we’ll stand beside you as always.”

  Jack’s gaze flickered up finally, and he looked at Erin’s pale, tragic face, before glancing at Ian and Shane and Joey. He slowly went around the circle and looked deeply into everyone’s eyes. He addressed Ian first. “You guys are really coming home for good?”

  Ian nodded, and his expression was solemn. “Yeah. For good.”

  “What about Kailynn’s new job?”

  Kailynn shrugged, and fresh tears filled her eyelids. “I can get another one. But I can’t get another family. My dad’s trailer burned, so he needs to live with us. Which means my brothers will be living with us. We found Caleb and he’s fine. It’s not just you who lost things, Jack. We’re all needed here, and we’re fully prepared to be here. We’re staying for good.”

  Jack lifted his gaze to Joey. “What about Hailey? How can you promise that? What if you want to—?”

  “I live here too, Jack. That doesn’t change. We already figured it out, what we want.”

  He finally asked Allison, “You’re really pregnant?”

  She nodded and smiled. “Yes. And we lost our home too. But we can rebuild it better than before. We’ll grieve, sure we will, all of us, but we can all rebuild, Jack.”

  “Kate?” he said to his sister.

  “Your wife has already invited me to live with you. So Jack, you’re not getting rid of us, no matter what you were hoping,” she said. She was also smiling, but her eyes were full of tears too. Jack finally nodded and didn’t say anything else. He didn’t agree or disagree, but turned to Erin.

  “I’m so tired. I think I just need to go… home.”

  “Okay. Sure, let’s go home. And then I’ll go check on Charlie.” Jack nodded absently but it was the first time Joey ever saw Jack allowing anyone else but him to go check on his upset son.

  She nodded, glancing around. Joey’s gut felt shaky. Jack was acting so unlike his indomitable former self. Their family leader and guru. Always the first to solve a problem, and tackle whatever needed to be done. Always their cheerleader, encouraging them to work hard and never give up. Not this dejected shell of Jack. Hopeless. Dazed. Almost as though someone had beaten him up.

  After an awkward pause, Ian straightened up . “I think this might be the last straw. You know, the one that broke Jack’s back. He—they are going to need us more than ever now. All of us. The next few months won’t be easy either. This thing with Marcy… and Ben? I don’t know how I’d handle it but we have to give Jack plenty of space and time.”

  Shane grunted. “Yeah. But like you always said, as long as there is a Rydell still breathing, this place will go on. Right? It’s burned up right now, but nothing is really gone. The grass and trees will grow back. We can replant the ones we lost. We can rebuild all the structures and do it faster and better than the first time. Water features can be added to protect us next time. It’s the land that counts. That is our backbone. It’s not going anywhere.” Shane kicked his toe on the charred ground beneath him defiantly.

  Joey nodded along with everyone else and added, “For once, we need to take the lead. Not Jack. Maybe we all just owe him, you know? He gave up his entire youth for us. Maybe it’s time we repaid him.”

  “I agree, and that was well said,” Ian chorused with a smile and a nod of approval. Another long silence ensued because every single adult was concerned that Jack, their leader, was simply going home. But after the day’s events, that was all Jack seemed capable of doing. Going home and abandoning them all, or so it felt like. Whatever, Joey now understood something big had shifted in the dynamics of the family.

  ****

  Their hearts heavy, the tired, beaten family members all retreated to Ian’s house when night fell, eating dinner together. Jack and Erin were noticeably absent so Charlie stayed with the others and was eventually coaxed into eating something. There was nothing for anyone to do tonight, and trying to figure out what to do tomorrow seemed too burdensome.

  There were no serious conversations and Joey marveled when everyone started talking about stupid shit. Someone started making fun of the summer schedule of shows and reality TV, saying that it sucked ass in his opinion but that drew Cami into the conversation, which soon resulted in an animated discussion that ended in smiling and laughing. It was an odd reaction at the end of a day, just as morbid and deadly as it was life changing. Joey realized that it was all too much for everyone and felt happy that they finally let off steam.

  Then two headlights flashed through the window as a car passed the house. He paused and his stomach cramped. What now? What more could happen? He was so tired, his eyelids couldn’t stay open and despite how hard he struggled to stay awake, he wasn’t ready to be away from his family. It was an odd sensation. But why now? What else could have happened? What more could go wrong today?

  Joey, too weary to rise on his feet, waved at Ian to answer it. Ian jerked the door open before the visitor could even knock. Was it someone with word about Ben? More details about what happened to Marcy? Was the fire returning? The thoughts left Joey with his head hanging. He could not handle any more bad news.

  Hailey suddenly gasped and shot to her feet. His gaze jumped as fast as he reacted to her unexpected response. Brent. Her ex was standing in his brother’s doorway. All at once, a streak shot through the door and landed in Hailey’s arms.

  Brianna.

  She was crying uncontrollably and clutching her mother’s body close to her.

  Joey was instantly on his feet as he watched them wearily. What the hell were they doing here? He hated feeling the stab of regret. He wasn’t ready to let Hailey go. Not tonight. He had never been so in need of companionship in his life. Every nerve ending in his body was exposed to the air, it seemed, and pain kept shooting through them. He was so tired, his numb brain could not comprehend why they were there.

  Jacob stood beside his father, glancing around with big eyes and watching his mom and sister.

  Hailey, ever the mother, rubbed her daughter’s hair and hugged her to her breasts. She finally lifted her head up and Hailey slicked Brianna’s blonde hair off her forehead, tucking it lovingly behind her ears.

  She kept shushing her and soothing Brianna’s sobs. So much crying today. Joey was utterly unable to begin to make sense of what they were doing back here.

  Finally Brianna tore free of her mother and glanced at them all. Joey winced, almost forgetting her friendship with Charlie and Cami. It wasn’t just about him. Brianna had another connection to them and this place. “We—we heard. About Marcy. It was on the news. I—oh, Mom, I was so mean.”

  Joey had no idea what one statement had to do with the other. He glanced at Brent, who met his gaze across the room. Through his befuddled exhaustion, Joey decided he had to deal with them even though he didn’t want to.

  “Come in,” he said quietly. They did. Brent and his son remained standing together, obviously feeling awkward in the home of Joey’s family.

  “We’re sorry. To interrupt. And just show up now. But Brianna… Well, she was inconsolable. It was on the national news. The fire… they said it’s the biggest in Washing
ton State’s history. There were pictures of your ranch, and the burned homes… and after Marcy and the man were found, Brianna just needed her mother.”

  Joey nodded. It would have to be this way. The very things Hailey often tried to warn him about. Brianna and Jacob came first and always would come first. Watching the girl cling to her mother, Joey couldn’t help contrasting it to the ways Brianna previously disdained her. But like any typical teen, when in need, only her mother would suffice.

  Brent cleared his throat. “I’m sorry, Joey. Really sorry. It looks pretty bad.”

  Joey sighed. “It is. But thanks, I appreciate it.”

  They stood in silence, but it wasn’t awkward anymore. It was just… silence.

  Finally, Brianna’s sobs slowed down and Joey was relieved when Allison said, “I think we’ll go home.”

  Ian and Kailynn gently added that they were going to bed. Kate and AJ took Cami and Charlie home, but only after the kids all hugged and the girls cried. Their girlish voices were talking so fast and furiously, Joey’s brain-dead mind couldn’t keep up. He finally sank onto the couch. The Starr family… and Joey were alone. He sighed. Still too charged up by the day’s events to feel as strangely as he might have. He leaned forward, bringing his fingertips together and staring at them for a long moment as Hailey greeted Jacob. They had a much quieter reunion.

  No wonder she stressed so much about his age. The black and white reality of her life’s responsibilities were so much more demanding than his. And even today, this darkest of days for his family, her priority remained the needs of her kids. They would always come before him. Not that he resented them being there, it was just a glimpse of their future together.

  He glanced at Brent. What did he feel sitting inside his ex-wife’s boyfriend’s brother’s house? Driving all the way over here after his kids demanded he take them clear across the state just to find consolation in their mother?

  He sneered. Stupid fuck. Giving up Hailey was his loss, and Joey’s gain. He felt it in his gut now, her love was deep and real and sustaining. Brianna and Jacob would never be his kids. They were too old and he was too young. He clearly could see Hailey’s quandary and why she had such a hard time deciding what to do. It wasn’t because of that dynamic but rather, his feelings being hurt; that’s why she was so insecure about them.

  He respected the relationship she had with her kids. He was impressed seeing how much they needed her and how she responded to them. He could do that. He could support her. He could also be friends with them. And try to make his transition into their life as painless on them as he could. All they needed was time. Time to accept their mom “dating” a younger man than some might have expected. Time in which he would have to resist the urge to start groping their mother. Maybe, after enough time, he’d find a way to be around her kids without any awkwardness or false pretenses.

  Brianna’s face was a red mess, all blotchy and soggy, just like her mother’s and every other person Joey laid eyes on today. She finally looked at him as she blushed a scarlet red. “I—I’m sorry about what happened here. To your family. And—to Marcy.”

  Joey smiled despite his exhaustion. “Thank you, Brianna. I appreciate you saying that.”

  “You guys came back because of the news?” Hailey suddenly interrupted. “I’m sorry I didn’t call. There was no phone service whatsoever around here; and I didn’t give a thought to the news coverage. You must have been so worried.” Her gaze landed on Brent. In a voice tight with strain, she nodded her head down and up. “Thank you for bringing them back, Brent.”

  Brent sighed and glanced around, holding up his hands as though he were giving up. “Seems today was a real game changer. Strictly about your safety and them needing you. I know how much they do, Hails.”

  Joey flinched at the nickname, but Hailey didn’t even notice it. Joey decided not to be a jealous asshole. He could act like the adult he was expected to be and ignore it. He could grit his teeth and deal with Hailey and her ex, and her kids and accept that they were still connected, in a way he’d never be with Hailey. Because he and Hailey would not share kids.

  But Joey felt deep in his gut that was okay with him, and something he could live with. Both that he wouldn’t have kids and that Brent would always be in the picture.

  Brent addressed Joey. “I’m sorry to come here like this and move in on your family, Joey. I really, really am. This is… so beyond anything that we expected. This is… I’m just so sorry. It’s such a…”

  “Your kids needed their mom.” Joey’s tone sounded hollow, due to the extreme exhaustion that now overcame him. He also hated the growing respect that now filled him. Brent’s tone was subdued and polite and Joey didn’t doubt his sincerity. And it would have been so much easier to hate him.

  But for Hailey’s sake alone, he would behave, if not for the sake of Brent. After a significant pause, Joey added, “And I’m glad you brought them to her.” Brent nodded as they solemnly faced each other. Were they making some kind of peace? Maybe. That’s what today might have accomplished. It trivialized everything else. Whatever seemed important before now just vanished like dust in the wind.

  Joey cleared his throat. “This house is already full; but my house still has some room. I realize that’s awkward, and my brother, Shane, and his wife are staying there, but they’d welcome you.”

  “Oh, uh, no. We can’t put you out. I didn’t think that hard about this before we left. Brianna begged me, she was so hysterical, so I had to come and we just came. I don’t expect you to put us up. I mean, not after what happened…”

  “There’s nowhere else to go. Everything’s on fire or closed or evacuated. People are just getting their first glimpses of the remains and debris. The power is still out, as you can tell.” He swiped his hand around at the room, which was dimly illuminated by candles. Most of the power poles from the ranch to Pattinson had also burned up. It would take the PUD weeks, if not longer, to restore them all. They still had back-up generators, but not enough of them to power the entire ranch. Tomorrow, they’d figure out the logistics of running whatever was left of the place. They’d need all their fuel and generators to restart the pumps and get water flowing back to the orchards. They had to irrigate. It would cost thousands to run the generators just to push the water through the sprinkler system. The temperature forecast was still in the high nineties. Joey’s head started to pound when he estimated all the things they had to do and deal with. The endless details. The chores of rebuilding. The ceaseless repairs. He kind of understood why Jack was bowing under the pressure of it all. He felt the same depression and had to fight it when it threatened to swallow him up too.

  “We can’t—”

  “You can, Brent. They needed to be here, my kids, with me. I’m glad you’re here too, and thank you.” Hailey smiled at her kids. “I know Joey still has some food.” She didn’t add how she bought it during the time she more or less lived with me, Joey thought sarcastically. “Why don’t we go there and see what we can scrounge up?”

  Joey rose to his feet, the utter fatigue nearly knocking him back down like a tsunami. Hailey rushed over to him when he wavered on his feet. “Forget it, Joey. I’ll take care of it. Just… stay here and sleep. You really need to sleep more than anything.”

  His head bowed. Even a single step seemed beyond his energy. He wanted to curl up with Hailey in his arms, and sleep for a few days. But he knew neither was an option right now. There were too many outside factors hindering it, and too much between them. Too risky to start doing. He reached out and cupped her cheek in his hand. She paused for a moment, her gaze finding his. She put her hand over his before she stepped away. He knew why. Kids. Brent. Still, he wished for them to disappear so he could have her all to himself. He needed her tonight. Now. Maybe forever.

  She left and he dropped down, curling up on Ian’s couch and ready to sleep like the dead. Maybe all the thoughts in his muddled head would quit swirling and let him relax and enjoy a deep slumber.
<
br />   Maybe this day would finally end.

  Suddenly, the door was opened, and before his brain could register it or his eyelids could open, a wet mouth was on his. Her lips and tongue were in his mouth. He jumped, slightly startled and thrust his hands to the side before putting them around the blonde head of the woman he’d fallen madly in love with. The same woman who might have made this perilous day something he could live with.

  “I wish I could stay here.”

  “I do to.”

  “It’ll have to be like this sometimes.”

  “I know. Kids first. Your family first.”

  “But not all the time. I mean, other times, when there is no drama and hurt feelings, you’ll be first.”

  He smiled, encircling her with his arms.

  “And Brent’s just…” She bit down on her lower lip, her eyebrows wrinkling in puzzlement.

  Joey smiled, his gritty eyes blinking. “The driver that brings them to you?” he supplied when she seemed unsure of how to explain her ex.

  Her smile was like the sun parting the smoky haze of the world. “Yes, the driver. Are you okay? I mean, for tonight? I’ll be with them tonight. I’ll tell them about you and me, the kids I mean, and specifically prepare them before they go home. I’ll tell them I’m going to stay here a few days longer, or however long I can stay, to help you and the rest of the family get restarted.”

  Her head dropped down and she was curled up on his chest for a moment. Then, her face popped up to his. “I love you. And I promise, we’ll find a way to make this work. We’ll just have some times when…”

  He cut her off with a kiss. “I love you too. I’m glad you’re here, even if it’s across the driveway. Tomorrow, Hailey. I’ll see you then. And maybe, hopefully, for the rest of my life.”

  Chapter Eighteen