by L. A. Fiore
The back door slammed closed, heads swiveled around to see Elmer. He looked disheveled with hay sticking out all over his head. Not two minutes later, an equally messy Hya appeared.
“I didn’t imagine it,” Millie whispered. “It wasn’t a day terror.”
“What the hell?” Sal said, looking between the two before he shouted, “What in the loving hell!”
“I’m not seeing this,” Maureen said, pulling out a chair and dropping into it. “I cannot be seeing this.”
Hya glared around the room. “What’s wrong with ya? Idiot fell in the barn, so I helped him up.”
Arissa put her hand over her mouth to cover the smile. “Did you fall too?” she asked then gestured to the hay sticking out of Hya’s hair.
Hya snatched it out, opened her mouth to make an excuse but shut it again. She reached for a beer, didn’t know whose it was, and drained it before she shared, “He might look like a horse, but he’s hung like one too.”
Hank’s mouth dropped open, closed and opened again. “You’re fucking kidding me!” He said lowly but enough for the room to hear him. He shook his head and looked at Arissa. “Fucking great!” he bellowed. “Now I gotta burn my fucking barn down.” He looked between Elmer and Hya and finished with, “Thanks, thanks a fucking lot.”
Millie clapped her hands. “Oh, a barn raising, I love those.”
Hya reached for a rib, tore some meat off, pointed it at Hank and said, “Yeah, you should add a loft to the new one, put a mattress up there. I’m too old to be fucking on the ground.”
“For fucks sake woman,” he grumbled before going to the fridge grabbing a new beer because Hya had drained his, and took a pull from it until he emptied it. Then…reached for another.
17
Arissa couldn’t help the smile the following day, as she sipped on her coffee while leaning against the island where Hank had fucked her senseless the night before. She was never going to get enough of him. And to think she had questioned how he felt about her when he showed it in everything he did. Heat moved through her, especially when he loved her…he held nothing back. And it was on that thought which had her smile dimming a little. He was hurting. She hated seeing it, knowing she played a part in bringing it about. She hoped like hell whatever it was his parents were hiding was something that they’d all laugh about.
The Belles’ voices pulled her attention. They were skyping Noah. Maureen had called him last night and asked if they could have a minute. To say he was thrown a bit getting called out of the blue was fair, but he’d agreed, probably more out of curiosity than anything.
The laptop was set up; the women were around it. Hya kept putting her face right up against the camera. “He’s going to see us?” she asked for the fourth time.
“If you move your head out of the camera he will,” Maureen muttered.
Hya leaned back, pulled her glasses off. “It’s been a while since we’ve seen him, but from what I can remember he gave the sheriff a run…” She paused and amended, “Not a run but he wasn’t like an Elmer.”
Maureen’s exhale could have pulled the wallpaper from the wall. “You’re the one having sex with him.”
Hya licked her lips. “They say it’s a fine line between love and hate…” She looked at Arissa and winked. “It’s not a fine line at all.”
“Oh dear God. I think we should vote to kick her out,” Maureen said.
“It’s time,” Millie said, clapping her hands to get everyone’s attention like she would with her kids. Arissa stayed behind the others since there was no room and she didn’t know him. It was weird enough for him just getting this call. Millie connected the call, waited, the others moving a little closer to the screen when Noah appeared.
“Hot damn,” Hya muttered, inching Maureen over so she could get a better look. “Noah Brown, look at you all grown up.”
Noah smiled. “Look at you all…” He paused and finished. “Looking the same,” he muttered with surprise lacing his words.
Hya moved closer. “Sugar, the angle is off a little. Maybe you could lower the camera so we can get a look at the whole…package,” she said with a wicked grin.
Agreement immediately followed from the Belles in the form of head nods and hmm mmms.
Noah shook his head. “Glad to see some things haven’t changed.” Then he moved his face a bit closer to the camera and squinted, “Jesus, Mill, you still have the same hairdo.”
Mille patted her hair. “Why mess with perfection, Sugar?”
“We actually do have a reason for this call,” Maureen said, and then added, “Are you still married?”
Noah’s smile faded and an expression flooded his handsome features before he corrected it and offered, “No, been divorced for five years now.”
Arissa moved from her spot, stood behind the others because they didn’t know what she did. Taking in Noah, she could see Hank and him being friends, just by the way he was looking at the Belles, with the same reluctant patience that Hank had. “Hey. I’m Arissa.” She paused before she added, “I’m Hank’s girl.”
Noah’s lips spread into a wide smile that reached his eyes. “I had no doubt Hank would have a girl on his arm that looked like you.” He nodded his approval and said, “It’s nice to meet you. I…” He paused, looked at the women on his screen, a very far off version from the ones he was used to seeing. “It’s really nice to see you all but I gotta ask, why the call?”
Maureen glanced up at Arissa. “You should take this,” she said, standing to give Arissa her seat.
Arissa settled, then studied Noah before she said, “I’m going to try to be delicate because I don’t want to piss you off. But first, you know who Phoebe is, right?”
Noah muttered, “No.”
“Phoebe was Hank’s girlfriend. She lived here in Summerville for a time. Not too long ago, her ex came to Hank’s house accusing him of texting Phoebe.” Arissa let her words drop because she knew he’d have a reaction to that.
“Say again?” Noah asked, tilting his head.
“I was at Hank’s, he was out picking Vern up—”
Noah cut Arissa off. “Jesus, that woman is still alive?”
Arissa couldn’t help the smile. “Yes, and now has cats that need wrangling from time to time. Anyway, this man showed up, tried to break in, scared the shit out of me and said he was there because Hank was still contacting Phoebe through texts. We talked to Phoebe and she knows the texts couldn’t have been from Hank just by the language, but after looking into it, we think it might have been his mom.” Arissa took in a deep breath. “She tried to scare me away, she did the same to Phoebe and when Hank learned of this, he remembered what happened between the two of you.” Arissa held his stare and added, “We think it was his mom who meddled with you.”
Noah didn’t ignore what Arissa had said but he did ask first, “How’s Hank?”
Arissa smiled again because he was Hank’s friend, even still. “He’s not doing so well. This is getting to him, the questions, the why.”
“Heard from my parents before they moved outta Summerville he was about to be elected sheriff, how’d that go?” Noah kept on with his questions. Still not ignoring what Arissa had said but he wanted to know about his friend, one that he thought about everyday.
“I’m sorry. I’m just dumping this shit on you. Hank is sheriff and has been for eight years.”
Noah smiled. “It’s okay, Sweetheart. Damn, my man,” he said the last in a mutter. Then he touched on the reason for the call in the first place. “I always wondered about that time. But back then the chick had me by my dick, so I didn’t question Hank’s guilt. Yeah,” Noah agreed. “The texts she got didn’t sound like Hank but like I said, I was young, had a piece and she latched on and I couldn’t see anything past that.”
“Do you remember anything unusual with his parents when you were younger? W
e’ve noticed a pattern of his mother pushing people away that get close to Hank, but what we can’t figure out is why.”
Noah gestured with a shrug. “I mean the woman never let him do much, she never cut that cord and as I’m seeing it right now, still hasn’t. We were kids, you don’t think much about that shit but my mom…” He paused a second to collect the memory. “Heard my mom talking to my aunt about Catherine Weathers, how she was an odd one. My mom thought since me and Hank were tight that her and Catherine would be too, but nope.” Noah shook his head. “Didn’t want anything to do with my mom Far as I can remember, that woman never had close friends.”
“That’s a really good point,” Maureen said. “She’s been active, but always on the outside. She’s never formed a circle of friends. Thirty-six years in a small town and she still doesn’t have one.”
Noah snapped his fingers and pointed at the screen, getting everyone’s attention. “There was this time when my parents were taking me to Splash Park in Charleston for the day. I asked Hank to go, his mom said no. So, my mom confronted Catherine about it and Catherine went off, saying shit like Hank has all he needs right in Summerville, she knows what’s best for him.” Noah stopped and thought for a second. “I remember it sucking that my best bud couldn’t go with us, but I definitely remember the look on my mom’s face when we left Hank’s house.”
“What look?” Hya shouted and everyone jumped.
“Like something wasn’t right with the woman and from that day on my mom never tried to be close with her. Hell, she’d cross the street just to keep her distance.” Noah told them.
Arissa felt the blood drain from her face before she whispered, “She’s still toeing that line, used the same argument on me when she learned I wanted to feature Hank’s home in the magazine. And honestly, I’d cross the street to avoid her too.” She leaned back in her chair. “What the hell is she hiding?” Her focus shifted to Noah. “He misses you. Maybe when you have time you could come home. I think Hank is going to need his friend when this is all said and done.”
Noah smiled. “Yeah, I think I’ll make a plan to come out soon.”
“I have a place you can stay.” Arissa said thinking of her place that was sitting empty most of the time. “You just let me know when and I’ll make sure the place is ready for you.”
“We’ll just get some extra keys made,” Hya said. “You know southern hospitality and all.” She winked.
“Absolutely,” Maureen said, leaning closer to the screen. “I’ll just be across the street, Sugar,”
“And I’m just down it,” Millie shouted.
Arissa didn’t hide her smile, particularly at the look that swept Noah’s face. “Or maybe you’ll want to find a place yourself.”
Noah was shaking his head. “The fucking Belles, still the same.”
Arissa laughed out loud. “You sound just like Hank. Those words come out of his mouth several times a day.”
Noah chuckled thinking of his friend having to deal with the Belles on a daily basis. Hell, it hadn’t been more than thirty minutes and his mind was fucking spinning.
When the call ended, Hya tapped on the screen. “He’s gone? I was enjoying looking at him.” Glancing around at the others she said, “Seriously, did you see him? That boy grew up fine.”
Agreement moved around the room before Millie stood. “I think we should hit Moe’s.”
Sex and alcohol went hand in hand to Hya’s way of thinking. And after their chat with that sexy Noah, a bottle of Jack sounded just right. She stood and gestured with her cane. “Lead the way.”
* * *
Jo stood from the chair flanking Hank’s desk and flung her arms up in the air. “I can’t believe I missed all this.” She stopped her flailing and leveled her eyes on Hank. “I wanna be mad at you, I do, but shit, Boss.” She let those words hang there.
“I know,” Hank muttered.
Jo dropped back into the seat, the plush cushion all of a sudden felt like a brick underneath her. “You have any thoughts on what’s going on?”
Hank shrugged. “Nope.” He turned in his chair and looked outside. “I’ve been their whole world for thirty-six years.” He turned back and looked at Jo. “They know Arissa’s it, they know I’m gonna be building a life with her. Think my mom is having a rough time with it—”
“For years,” Jo added, cutting him off.
Hank nodded, agreeing with Jo and went on. “Maybe I should look into getting her help.”
“What kinda help you talking?” Jo asked, drawing her brows wondering if there was more that Hank wasn’t letting on to.
“Therapy,” he told her and let that sit for a beat. “Maybe I should invite her to the barbecue too, you know make her feel involved.”
Jo drew her lips into a tight line and let out a breath. “My sister, you know the one up in Anville, she had separation anxiety when her kids went off to college. Best thing for her was time alone with her husband. She needed to learn to be alone.” Jo softened her voice. “Something your mom needs to learn.”
Hank let out a breath. Jo was right and he told her so. “You’re right. So no invite.”
“No.” She shook her head. “She needs to learn that she can’t be there for every part of your life, Boss. My momma learned that with me when she came to a house party I threw and saw me dancing on a table.”
Hank gave a small chuckle. “That ain’t bad.”
Jo rose from her seat. “It is if you’re topless.”
Hank shook his head with a grin.
“We’ll hold the fort down here.” Her voice got soft when she told him. “You go. Do what you need to, find out who Hank Weathers is because we need you.”
Hank smiled at her as she made her way out the door. “Thanks.”
She poked her head in. “But you tell that girl of yours I want updates…daily.”
Hank laughed. “Will do.”
* * *
Hank tossed his cell into the cup holder harder than normal. He’d left work early after talking with Jo. He couldn’t do his job to his fullest potential with all the missing pieces of his life’s puzzle looming just out of reach, but just when he thought he was going to have a night off from the bullshit, a night of burgers, beers, his girl, friends, and the company of the crazies, he was wrong. Arissa had called him and told him something happened at work, and the worried edge of her voice had him racing home. He pulled down his drive and folded out of his truck. He hadn’t even taken two steps up onto the deck when Arissa came storming out of the door.
She walked right into him for a hug but he felt her body shaking. “Someone called the office today, an anonymous call stating I was being inappropriate with the locals, digging into information that wasn’t my business and giving Southern Charm a bad reputation.”
Hank put his hands to her waist and pulled her off him. He leveled hard eyes on her, his voice firm. “Come again?”
“The caller said I was acting no better than paparazzi in regards to my interest with one particular citizen, who would just like to be left alone.” Her eyes held his hot ones. “It was anonymous, but…” She hated dropping this on him; really fucking hated it. “We’ve heard this party line before. I’m the editor-in-chief, complaints come to me, but my team heard about it. And if my team heard about it then our competitors will hear about it. This is my livelihood.”
Hank turned, taking long strides toward his truck when he yelled, “This shit is fucking ending now!” He pulled his keys from his front pocket.
Arissa chased after him, put herself between him and his truck. “You can’t go, Hank.” She reached for him, hated the look staring back at her. “I love that you want to go, but you can’t. Something is fueling her behavior and until we know what that something is we can’t really help her. I was going to wait to tell you but I heard back from the lawyer. He’s living not too far from
here. He’s agreed to meet with me. I don’t know if he can help shed some light on your mom, if his interest even had anything to do with her, but it can’t hurt to talk to him. I’m seeing him on Friday. Please, let’s try to figure this out then you can confront your parents.”
Hank took a deep breath through his nose and blew it out of his mouth. His voice was firm when he told her. “You have one week. If we don’t find anything else out, I’m going to them, Arissa.”
She ran his hands up his arms. “Okay. One week.” She was grateful she got that much time because she’d never seen Hank like this.
Hank looked at his watch and asked, “When is everyone showing?”
“Six thirty.”
Two hours.
“Hya said something about bringing her box. She’s hoping to film porn in your lavish bedroom. She said Elmer was on board,” Arissa said then laughed out loud. “Oops, I wasn’t supposed to tell you that.”
Hank stopped dead in his tracks and turned slowly to face Arissa, who had to stop abruptly, almost stumbled over her own feet so she didn’t collide with him. “Come again?” he grated out between clenched teeth but didn’t let her answer when he said, “You know what, I don’t wanna fucking know.”
She bit back the laugh because he wasn’t amused. “I’ll take care of it. It’s all about smoke and mirrors with Hya, or rather cock and alcohol. I’ll figure it out.”
He turned and started with determined steps again. “You better figure it out.” He flung open his screen door wide enough for Arissa to slide in after him. “Bad enough I gotta burn my fucking barn down,” he mumbled as he kept his pace heading upstairs. When he reached the top, he told her. “Shower, now.”
She leaned up against the doorjamb. “Hank, honey, we’ve got a crew coming in less than two hours. I still got stuff to do to get ready for that.”