“You know, Chris, when Livvy heard that you and Sarah were getting married, she didn’t see why you had to mess things up.” He turned around at her voice. “She thought things were going so well the way they were that there really wasn’t any reason to change. I’m beginning to think she might have a point.”
Chris just turned back to his room without saying anything, but from his raised eyebrow and that funny little smile, she could tell he wasn’t ready to go that far.
20
No question about it, Steven knew he was going to have to talk to Chris. Once, in high school, he had actually had a girl’s dad sit in the living room cleaning his shotgun when Steven was over. Chris hadn’t done that, but Steven had the feeling that it was only because he didn’t own a shotgun. Chris just glowered. He glowered when Kaitlyn and Steven went out. He glowered when they stayed in. He even glowered when Steven came into the Dip ’n’ Dine for lunch, and as far as Steven could tell, no other customer, either from Last Chance or just passing through, ever got glowered at.
A few weeks earlier, when Chris and Sarah had gone to Scottsdale for the weekend to meet Chris’s folks, Chris had suddenly decided that he didn’t want Kaitlyn staying behind in Last Chance without him and tried to get her and Olivia to come along. No one liked that idea. Olivia didn’t want to miss her riding lesson, Sarah tried diplomatically to point out that the invitation had just included the two of them, and Kaitlyn had told him he was flat out of his mind. In the end, Chris and Sarah had gone alone. From what he had heard from Kaitlyn, she had made the right decision, because the weekend had been a disaster, although the word was that Brooke was telling all her friends that Chris’s fiancée was absolutely darling—in a fresh, unspoiled, country way. And whether it was Kaitlyn staying behind where Steven was or the disastrous trip to Scottsdale, Chris left Last Chance glowering and had pretty much glowered nonstop since he got back.
He stopped his truck in front of the Dip ’n’ Dine and shut off the engine. For a moment he just sat there. In one bound, Speed Bump cleared the console and stood on his lap with her front paws on the door, looking out. He put her back where she was.
“Sorry, dog. You’re staying in the truck. I’ll be back soon.” He got out and headed for the door. Kaitlyn had already gone to get Olivia, and there were only a few tables filled this late in the day.
“Hey, Steven. Grab a seat anywhere. I’ll be with you in a minute.” Juanita breezed past with a couple plates of enchiladas.
He sat on a stool at the counter and put his hat on the stool next to him. Through the window into the kitchen, he could see Chris sitting at his desk, computer open.
“Now, then. What can I get you? Do you need a menu, or do you already know what you want? ” Juanita appeared on the other side of the counter and pulled her order pad out of her pocket.
“Nope, don’t need a menu.” Steven saw Chris look up briefly at the sound of his voice before going back to what he was doing. “I smelled the enchiladas as soon as I got out of the truck, and seeing them go by didn’t change my mind any. I’ll have the cheese enchiladas, red, with an egg over easy on top. With some iced tea.”
“You got it.” She wrote down the order and then reached behind her to clip it to the rack in the window. “So, how are things going at Elizabeth’s? We went up to see her Sunday afternoon, and she seemed to be coming along really well.”
“Yep. She can really move on that walker now. Of course, she’s not going to be happy until she’s down to a cane, or walking on her own. You know Gran.”
“Oh, my, do I. How is the house coming?” Juanita poured his iced tea with a quick twist of her wrist.
“Pretty near finished. I put the grab bars in last weekend, and the ramp is about done. It’ll be ready when she is.”
“Well, we pray that’s soon.” Juanita looked up as the front door opened. “Oops, more customers. Give her my love when you talk to her again.”
Steven turned around on his stool and leaned back, elbows resting on the counter. Through the front window, he could see Speed Bump, now up on the dashboard, staring at him. She still liked being wherever he was best, but Speed Bump and Aunt Nancy Jo were becoming real buddies, and he had no doubt that when he left for the academy, his dog would have a home. That was one less thing he had to worry about.
Juanita was still busy with the new customers, one of whom apparently had just returned from a trip to Galveston, when Steven’s enchiladas were ready, so Chris brought the plate out and set it in front of him.
“Here you go. Anything else I can get for you?” Chris smiled, but it was brief and professional.
“Nope. This looks great.”
“Well, enjoy.” Chris turned to go back to the kitchen.
“Chris, wait.” Steven tried to keep his voice low to keep from alerting Juanita. Chris stopped and looked at him. “We need to talk. I can tell there are some things you need to say, and when you get down to it, I have things to say too. I can’t think of a place in Last Chance where we can just talk and know we’re not going to be interrupted, so let me pick you up after you close, and we can grab a burger or something in San Ramon.”
After a long moment, Chris slowly nodded. “Yeah, okay, I could do that.”
“Great.” Steven picked up his fork. He had to talk fast as Juanita had noticed the murmured conversation and was clearly trying to wind things up on the Galveston front so she could come see what was going on. “After all, we’re going to be relatives, and we need to get the air cleared.”
Chris stopped as if he’d walked into a wall and, wheeling around, nailed Steven with a look that should have melted his face.
Steven just shook his head. “You’re marrying my cousin, bro. Chill.”
The big neon sign showing donuts lowering into a coffee cup that gave the Dip ’n’ Dine its name was dark against the window when Steven pulled back into the parking lot, and most of the lights inside were out. Chris must have been watching for him, because he came right out and was locking the front door by the time Steven brought the truck to a stop.
“Been waiting long?” Steven shifted into Reverse when Chris got in.
“Nope. Juanita left about a half hour ago, and Carlos just left. Timing’s perfect.”
“Great.” Steven pulled out onto the highway and headed toward San Ramon. “Burger okay? Or do you have something else in mind?”
“No preference whatsoever. Whatever you choose is good.”
Chris looked a little more relaxed than Steven had seen in a while, and he hoped that meant the evening would go well.
“Ever been to El Guapo?”
“Nope. I don’t think I’ve even heard of it.”
“That doesn’t surprise me too much. It’s in kind of a seedy part of town and looks like a real dive from the outside. It looks like a dive on the inside too, for that matter, but the food is worth the drive. They serve local beef—ours, as a matter of fact—and the chile comes from Russ and Juanita’s farm, so you know it’s good.”
“Sounds like a good choice. I’m looking forward to it.” Chris really did look interested, and Steven was glad he thought of El Guapo. It also had the added bonus of being rather dark and always busy. They could find a corner and talk as long as they wanted.
The parking lot was nearly full, but Steven found a spot in the back and led the way inside.
“Hey, Steven! Where’ve you been?” A waitress in jeans and a peasant blouse threw her arm around his neck and kissed his cheek.
“We need a booth in the back, Celia. Got anything for us?”
“Yep, there’s that one right in the back. Just cleaned it.” She raised her voice to attract the attention of a couple who had just spotted it themselves. “Excuse me! Sorry, that table’s reserved.”
On their way back to their table, the bartender also called a welcome to Steven, and he wound up stopping at two or three tables to speak to folks who reached out with a smile to shake his hand as he passed by.
“Been he
re before, I take it.” Chris’s face was hard to read as he slid into the booth across from Steven.
“Yeah, a time or two.” Steven was beginning to second-guess the wisdom of bringing Chris to his favorite watering hole. He had a feeling it wasn’t helping his case much.
“Long time, no see, Steven.” Celia appeared at their table with glasses of water. She turned her smile on Chris. “Who’s your friend?”
“This is Chris Reed. He’s the new owner of the Dip ’n’ Dine.”
“Oh, I’ve heard about you.” She beamed as she extended her hand. “Everyone’s talking about the new owner of the Dip ’n’ Dine. Welcome to El Guapo.”
“He’s engaged to my cousin Sarah.”
Celia was all business again. “Well, congratulations. Know what you want, or do you need a little more time?”
“I’ll have a cheeseburger with green chile and some fries, and a glass of iced tea.” Chris handed her his menu.
“All right. How about you?” She looked at Steven.
“I’ll have the same.”
“Iced tea too?”
“Yep.”
“Alrighty.” She looked at him as she took his menu. “I’ll get those right out.”
“You didn’t have to get iced tea on my account.” Chris leaned back in his seat and looked around the room.
“I didn’t.” Steven bristled just a little, but Chris didn’t seem to notice.
The burgers were served and eaten and the iced tea glasses refilled before Chris pushed his plate out of the way and propped his elbows on the table.
“Okay, this may sound really corny, but I’d really like to know what your intentions are concerning Kaitlyn.”
It was all Steven could do to keep from asking Chris if he was joking. Who asked that these days, anyway? But from the look on Chris’s face, he knew there was no joke intended.
“It’s kind of soon to know where this is going, Chris. I think both Kaitlyn and I have learned the wisdom of taking it slow. But I’ll tell you what my intentions are not. I do not intend to hurt, or show disrespect, or let any harm come to her. I want nothing but good things for Kaitlyn.”
“Aren’t you leaving town?”
“I leave for the Law Enforcement Academy in April with the intention of becoming a New Mexico State Police officer. That’s been in the works since before I met you two. But that doesn’t mean I won’t come back. Last Chance is my home. I’ve got family here.”
“Even your family has told Kaitlyn to steer clear of you. Do you know that?”
“Yes, I know it. Would it surprise you to know that I even understand why? But they’re wrong. You are too, if you think I could ever hurt Kaitlyn.”
Chris looked away a moment like he was thinking before leaning forward and holding Steven’s gaze with his own. “Look, this is my concern. Kaitlyn may try to look tough with those weird haircuts and that attitude of hers, but she’s got a soft and tender heart. And I’ve seen her give it to jerks who took it, mangled it, and then tossed it in the trash on their way out of town. Danny was gone before I even knew what was going on. That Jase character who she took off with last summer left her broke and stranded in Florida. I’ve seen the happy little girl I watched grow up diminish a little more, hate herself a little more, every time it’s happened. And I’m here to tell you, it’s not happening again. Not on my watch.”
“More iced tea?” Celia with her pitcher smiled down at both of them. Actually, Steven was glad for the interruption. It gave him a moment to collect his thoughts, because, truthfully, he wanted to punch someone. He wanted to punch Danny. He wanted to punch Jase. When you got right down to it, he wasn’t too happy with Chris either, for lumping him in with the other two.
He took a deep breath before speaking. “I know how much Kaitlyn means to you, and I know how much she loves you. Any guy who wants to be part of Kaitlyn’s life had better know that and be ready for it. I get that. But you need to get that Kaitlyn is not that little girl anymore. She’s a grown woman with a child of her own.” Chris started to say something, but Steven held up his hand. “Let me finish. I know she’s not been the best mom until now. She told me all about it, and she told me how you stepped in and took over. But she’s strong now, and getting stronger every day. Haven’t you noticed? Haven’t you noticed what a good mother she is? How she loves Livvy and cares for her? I’ve been over at Gran’s every afternoon working on that ramp when Kaitlyn and Livvy come by to feed the cat, and the way she talks to Livvy, and listens to her, and the way Livvy responds just blows me away. Kaitlyn’s amazing. Haven’t you noticed?”
Steven paused so Chris could say what he had on his mind, but when Chris didn’t say anything, he went on.
“Look, I don’t know what the future holds. Kaitlyn’s still figuring out what she wants to do with her life, and I’ve got the academy coming right up. But I will tell you this. If I could look down the road and see a life with Kaitlyn and Livvy, I would consider myself blessed beyond anything I could have hoped for.”
He stopped talking then, and for a while no one said anything. Celia brought the check and Steven picked it up. Finally Chris cleared his throat.
“You know, when they brought Kaitlyn home from the hospital, they put her on my lap and said, ‘This is your baby sister, and your job is to take care of her and make sure nothing ever happens to her.’ I was about four, and I’m sure they had no idea I would take it as a sacred charge, but I did. She was my baby sister, and protecting her was my job. Hard to give it up after all these years.”
“You’re getting married, man.” Steven leaned back and grinned. “It’s time. Kaitlyn’s doing fine. And between you and me? I think my cousin is pretty incredible herself and deserves a husband with nothing on his mind but her. Don’t tell her I said that, though.”
“Your secret’s safe.” Chris began to move out of the booth, but Steven stopped him.
“Wait, I need to say one more thing.”
Chris’s smile faded at the expression on Steven’s face. “Sounds serious.”
“It is. I know—all of Last Chance knows—that last year when Kaitlyn was at her lowest point and you were taking care of Livvy, she signed guardianship of Livvy over to you.” Steven paused as he saw Chris’s jaw tense. “That may have been the best thing for everyone concerned; general consensus is that it was. I don’t know. But I do know this: the Kaitlyn of last summer is not the Kaitlyn we both know. The Kaitlyn I know is a good mother, an outstanding mother, and she’s never going to be separated from her daughter again. I think she deserves to be the guardian of her own child. If not today, then by the time you get married at the latest.”
“And this concerns you . . . how?” Chris’s voice was cold.
“Kaitlyn concerns me. Her happiness and well-being concern me, and when you get right down to it, I’m concerned about Livvy and her welfare too. I know I don’t have any legal right at this stage to stick my two cents in, and that’s your point. But all I’m asking is that you see Kaitlyn as the woman she is, not the woman she was, and talk it over with her.” He extended his hand across the table.
After a few seconds, Chris’s shoulders relaxed and he shook the hand Steven held out to him. “Okay, I can promise that Kaitlyn and I will talk about this sometime before the wedding. But right now, that’s all I can promise.”
“Fair enough.” Steven slid out of the booth and led the way back through El Guapo, lifting his hand in a wave to the bartender, slapping a diner or two on the shoulder as he passed, and finally giving Celia a one-armed hug at the door.
Outside, the winter night had turned even colder, and he turned his collar up as they went out back where the truck was parked. Steven hoisted himself inside and started the engine while Chris climbed in the other side.
Chris didn’t say much on the trip back to Last Chance, and Steven could only guess what he might be thinking. He glanced over and in the greenish glow of the dashboard lights, Chris looked pretty grim.
“Thanks
for coming with me, man.” Steven looked back at the white lines of Last Chance Highway disappearing into the darkness ahead. “I really appreciate the chance to talk with you.”
“Yeah. It was good. I appreciate the invitation.”
“So were we able to get things cleared up a little? Are you satisfied that my intentions are honorable?” He looked over with a grin that Chris did not return.
“Well, I liked what I heard. I’ll give you that. Kaitlyn tends to do what she wants to anyway. But you’ve got to know, I’ll be watching.”
“Right.” Steven tried to keep his voice even. “Thanks for the heads-up.”
He sensed, rather than saw, the quick look Chris shot his way, and hoped he hadn’t undone an evening’s effort with one cynical comment. But man, Chris was getting under his skin. He could appreciate the fact that Chris was protective of his sister. She had been through a lot, and he’d pretty much been the only one who was there for her. But he wasn’t her father, and she wasn’t sixteen. Somehow he just didn’t get that.
They were driving into Last Chance when Steven spoke again. “Did you tell Kaitlyn where you were going tonight?”
“No, I just told her she didn’t need to pick me up because I wouldn’t be home for dinner. She probably just assumed I was going to Sarah’s.”
“Okay, well, unless it involves looking her in the eye and lying through your teeth, I’d appreciate you holding off telling her about our dinner for a day or so until I can tell her myself.”
“What are you going to tell her?”
“Just that we had dinner and talked. Of course, I’ll tell her what we talked about.”
“You’re going to tell her what we said? I thought we were having a confidential conversation.”
“Well, I’m not going to give her a transcript of our conversation, or quote you, but she certainly has a right to know what we talked about, at least in general terms.”
“You’re sure about this?”
“Yep, we really needed to talk, and I’m glad we did. But I’m not starting out by hiding things from Kaitlyn, so I’ll tell her and take my beating. But you’d better watch out, because when she’s done with me, she’ll be coming after you.”
At Home in Last Chance Page 20