The Perfect Cast

by T. K. Chapin

  Clint’s horn was blaring again causing Jess to pull back a curtain and look towards the garage. She spotted the edge of his new truck and smiled. It wasn’t brand new, but it was repainted and cleaned up, so it was new to Clint. She loved driving it down the back roads of Chattaroy, with the windows down and the music up.

  Rushing outside, she stopped at the picnic table where Roy and Brandon were talking and kissed her dad on the cheek, and then her grandpa.

  “Don’t let him touch you!” Brandon said as Jess took off down the sidewalk.

  Jess laughed. Coming to the driver side, Clint leaned out his window and kissed her. She felt herself get lost for a moment; it had been a few days since she saw him, as he had been out in Quincy for a cattle auction.

  “You ready?” He asked.

  “Yeah!” Jess said opening the truck door. Clint got out and Jess jumped into the truck. She fired it up and started to rev the engine. The engine rumbled and vibrated her seat. “I love this truck so much!”

  “I know you do,” Clint said, climbing into the passenger seat.

  Putting the truck in reverse, they headed over the bridge and down Elk Chattaroy Road, heading for the back dirt roads that ran along the hills. Dirt flew up from the back of the truck, and the rocks rumbled beneath the wheels as Jess went faster. With the windows down and the clean country air pouring in, Jess felt like her life couldn’t get any better.

  Taking the road that went up into the hills, Jess pulled over at the Cozy Corner. It was a spot of dirt, just off the road that overlooked the entire valley. Turning off the truck, she laid her head across the seats and into Clint’s lap.

  “Life’s good… I don’t want to leave in a few days and go back to Seattle,” Jess said looking up into Clint’s eyes.

  “Yeah, this summer’s been one for the books.”

  Sitting up, Jess kept her eyes locked on his. “Maybe I could talk my parents into letting me just go to Deer Park High School? I just have one year left… And then I could just stay here and be with you.”

  Clint squirmed in his seat as he adjusted. “What about your friends? Your house? Your life in Seattle? I don’t want you to give all that up.”

  “What good is life when you don’t have someone special by your side? I don’t care about Seattle, my friends, or any of that stuff. I care about you, about us… we have something here, and I don’t want to lose it. You’ve been so sweet to me, I’ve loved our adventures together, and the way you are with words… I just love it so much. You know me, you get me, and you understand me like nobody I have ever met.”

  Clint broke out into a sweat and looked out the window. “What is it?” she asked.

  Clint rubbed his chin. After a slightly nervous chuckle, he said, “You are in love with the words I’ve said?”

  “Well yeah I guess I said that, but only because you know me so well, you feel how I feel, you make life better and explain it so well! I’m in love with you,” Jess said grabbing at his shirt and kissing on his neck. Clint pushed her back gently.

  “I get that… but you mentioned my words… What did you mean by that? Like, give an example.”

  Jess sat back confused. “Ummm…” She started to think back over the last couple months, searching for examples. “That one time, when the moon was out and the night sky was clear… You told me that every time we are apart, you look at the moon and think of me.”

  “Why did that matter?” Clint asked.

  “Because I was thinking the same thing… We’re connected, Clint!”

  Clint seemed uncomfortable with the conversation, judging by the constant shifting in his seat. “Is that it?”

  “Times you’ve spoken lovingly? No there is more… Oh! I remember this one time… we were walking the hill and holding hands. You stopped and kissed me, and then you told me that you knew there had to be a God, because someone as beautiful and wonderful as me couldn’t be explained any other way.”

  “I see…” Clint replied.

  Jess leaned over and kissed Clint lightly on the lips. “And who could forget, when you told me that just knowing me made you want to be a better person.”

  Clint nodded. “I think we need to break up.”

  Jess’s heart shattered into a million pieces. “What?” Jess asked, hoping she had misheard him.

  Clint looked out the windshield. “I thought you knew this was a summer fling, nothing serious. I honestly didn’t think you would believe this could work outside of the summer.”

  “What? No…” Jess grabbed onto Clint’s shirt again. “What about everything you’ve said to me? The experiences we’ve shared? The amazing dates? Those weren’t some fling! I didn’t sign up for a Summer love. Please don’t do this…”

  “Please drive the truck Jess,” Clint replied. Jess climbed out of the driver seat and stood outside the truck, with the door wide open.

  “No. I’m not going anywhere until you tell me we aren’t done!” Jess said, tapping her foot while she stood in the dirt patch just outside the truck.

  Clint looked over her shoulder at the valley below and said, “It’s a long walk back, Jess.”

  “You wouldn’t.” Jess’s eyes narrowed at Clint.

  Clint scooted across the bench of the truck and slammed the driver door shut. Putting his elbow out the window, he turned the key over and nodded to Jess. “I would.”

  Flipping the truck around, Clint peeled out from Cozy Corner, kicking dirt up into Jess’s face.

  “Clint!” she shouted, chasing after his truck. Stopping as she realized he wasn’t going to stop, she kicked the dirt. Clint made absolutely no sense, how could everything be perfect for two months and just bam! It was done, over and without much of a reason. Did he just plan on ditching me by summer’s end from the beginning? She wondered as she began walking angrily down the road. “Some class act you are!” she shouted kicking the rocks along the side of the road as she walked.

  Chapter 38 ~ Roy

  Henry came outside to the picnic table and took a seat next to his father. He still wasn’t aware of what really happened between his mother and father, even though Brandon did fess up to Jess. Roy, Brandon and Jess all agreed Henry was far too young to really understand, and knowing wouldn’t do much for him. He loved both his parents dearly, regardless of their transgressions.

  “That storm was no match for those new shingles last night,” Brandon said, popping the top off the bottle of cola.

  “You did well with that roof, the both of you,” Roy replied. He had grown to like Brandon more over the last two months and grew closer with him than he had the entire time he had known him. With such a sketchy history of never seeing or hearing much from him, Roy had made a lot of false truths in his mind about the guy that Brandon proved to be false in the time he spent at the farm. He still had a worry or two left and wanted to talk to Brandon privately. “Could you go get the bug zapper from the garage, Henry?” Roy asked.

  “Sure Grandpa,” Henry said. “Can we go fish down at the creek, Dad?”

  “We’ll go after dinner.”

  “Cool!” Henry ran off towards the garage. Brandon watched him as he darted through the yard. He was smiling and looked happy, which warmed Roy’s heart, but also kindled the still small part of Roy that feared him leaving them again.

  “Can we talk?” Roy asked.

  “Sure…” Brandon leaned in across the table. “This isn’t one of those long lectures about how I need to tend to my kids better? Because if it is…”

  “No, it’s not.” Roy looked over at the garage to see Henry through the door. He was up on a chair grabbing the bug zapper. “My heart condition is getting worse, Brandon.”

  “You seem fine to me,” Brandon said looking Roy over. He shook his head.

  “I don’t have a whole lot of time left.”

  Brandon’s eyes widened. “How much time do you have? Did you talk to Tiffany or your other children yet?”

  “I haven’t told anyone… You’re still the only one
who knows. The doctors say it could be as short as a month, maybe longer,” Roy replied. “I don’t know how to tell Tiffany.”

  “She’s going to flip, Roy.” Brandon slammed his fist against the top of the picnic table. “She’s not going to be able to handle this… and what about Jess and Henry? They’ve taken a real liking to you this summer--we all have.” Brandon stood up as Henry came back over to the picnic table.

  “What’s wrong, Dad?” Henry asked.

  “Can you go hang the zapper up on the patio, Henry?” Roy asked.

  “Okay…” Henry watched his Dad’s face as he walked away from them. Roy sensed that Henry knew something was up, but pushed it out from his mind.

  “I need you to promise me something.”

  “Roy…” Brandon replied.

  “Brandon, I’m serious.”

  “Okay. What?”

  “I’ve never cared much for you…”

  Brandon interrupted Roy. “Wow. This is going good.”

  “Just listen. I need you to take care of my Winnie after I’m gone. I’ve seen you with these kids over the last couple months and I saw you be a real dad. These kids need you, and Winnie does too… I just don’t want you to leave like you did…”

  “I already promised it to myself before I got here a couple months back. I’m going to work on fixing things with Tiffany once she gets here. We’ve talked a couple times on the phone. We’re going to try. That mistress of mine is long gone, and I promise it’s dead and over and will never happen again. I even quit my job. The pay was great, but not seeing my kids and wife very often wasn’t worth it.” Brandon reached over and put his hand on Roy’s shoulder. “Everything’s going to be okay, I promise… Now how far out is Tiffany?”

  Roy’s heart was warmed by Brandon’s promise. He could tell he was being truthful and he’d follow through. He looked at his watch. “She should be here in a few hours. You know Brandon… marriage is already hard work; fixing things after you smashed them up so bad-”

  “I know, Roy.” Brandon said, coming around from the picnic table. “I know it’s going to be a hard and painful road to get back to where Tiff and I were and even beyond… but I’m going to do it. Not only for you, but for her, me, our family, and most importantly, God.”

  Roy felt a sudden rush of relief come over him as the last bit of fear escaped his mind and heart. He had been so worried after Dr. Murtle told him last week of his short time left, that he hadn’t slept. He was able to keep it well hidden, though. If anyone noticed his tiredness, he just kept blaming it on getting old. And now, he could finally relax, knowing his daughter and grandkids were in the capable hands of a man who loved them, and more importantly, loved God.

  Out of the corner of Roy’s eye, he could see Levi coming up the driveway over the bridge. “Levi?” he said peering over the shrubs along the side of the hill.

  Brandon looked over his shoulder and saw him. “I thought that kid took off for good?”

  “Me too. I thought he was done with Chattaroy and moved on.”

  “Where’d he go?”

  “His father told me Nashville.”

  Brandon sighed. “Ahh… music?”

  “I suppose so,” Roy said. Walking down the hill and along the path, Roy met Levi out by the root cellar.

  “Levi,” Roy said.

  “Hello Mr. Hinley.”

  “You’ve called me Roy for a while now. You don’t need to go back to that.”

  “I’m sorry…” Levi looked up towards the barn. “How’s…” Roy could tell he wanted to say Jess by the lovesick look in his eyes, but he didn’t. “Betsy and Rose?”

  “They are good. Rose seems happy.” Roy was trying to signal to Levi that Jess was doing well without saying her name either.

  “Oh yeah? Is she getting along with the others well?”

  Roy nodded. “Seems to be… She’s taken a liking to a particular cow. They seem to spend a lot of time together.” Another hint to Levi about Jess.

  “Oh…” Levi scratched his head. “I’d like to come back to work.”

  “That’s okay, I got it,” Brandon said coming up behind Roy and putting his arm around Roy’s shoulder.

  “Don’t mind him. We’d love to have your hand back on the farm,” Roy replied to Levi.

  Levi shook his head. “It sounds like everything’s good here. I’ll just go.” Levi turned and began walking back up the driveway to leave.

  “Why’d you have to be mean to the boy?” Roy asked as they turned to head back up to the farmhouse.

  “He’s just looking for Jess and she’s pretty happy with that Clint guy. Plus, I got this farm running like a well-oiled machine.”

  “I guess we do have a handle on things here without him.” Roy glanced back at Levi as he started walking down Elk Chattaroy Road.

  “Yes we do. And with you being… you know, we don’t need some kid poking around in our business.” Brandon put his arm around Roy and they went back up the hill to find Henry standing at the top.

  “Where’s Levi going?” Henry asked, looking past them at Levi walking down the road.

  “He’s not going to be helping around here anymore, Son. You, Jess and I have it under control.”

  “But Mom’s on her way.”

  Brandon went over to Henry and got down on one knee. “Don’t you worry. I’m here and I’m going to fix everything with your mother. How would you like to move out to the farm and get away from Seattle?”

  Henry paused for a moment as he looked down at the grass, thinking about it. The look on his face was serious, but turned into a smile as he looked up at his father. “I’d like that very much.”

  Roy’s heart was warmed by Henry’s agreement to live on the farm. He knew the farm would grow on these kids if they gave it a chance, and it appeared to be doing just that. The farm would stay in the family after all; Lucille and he could rest in peace, knowing it was in good hands.

  Chapter 39 ~ Jess

  Walking alongside the dusty back roads, Jess was isolated in her frustration over Clint. How could such a wonderful guy turn out to treat her so poorly? One moment, she’s a princess, the next, chopped liver and left alone in the back country. Not even so much as a ride back home, just left behind to suffer in the blistering summer heat.

  She was surprised to hear a truck suddenly approach in the distance. Hoping to catch a ride, she stuck out her thumb as she peered through the sunset behind her.

  Thankfully, the truck slowed down. “Hey, stranger,” Elly said, smiling at her.

  “Hey! Thank God you are here! Clint ditched me out in the middle of freaking nowhere!”

  “I thought your grandpa’s house was the middle of nowhere,” Elly replied, laughing. “This truly is nowhere, though... wait, were you at the Cozy Corner?”

  “Yep…”

  “You rejected his advances didn’t you? I knew his good boy routine would only last so long!”

  “Ha, no, that wasn’t it. I’m really not sure entirely what happened,” Jess said scratching her head. Elly put the truck into park and motioned with a nod for her to get in.

  Driving down Elk Chattaroy Road, they saw Levi walking along the side. Jess felt a jolt of adrenaline race through her seeing him; she figured it was just the shock after not seeing him in so long.

  “Levi’s back?” Jess asked, looking at him as they passed by.

  “He sure is. My little sister is friends with one of his brothers. I guess he couldn’t make it in Nashville.”

  “That’s too bad. I never heard him play, but I heard he was pretty good.”

  “He is pretty talented with that guitar and his singing. But he must have come back after he realized he wasn’t going anywhere there. So many people go there with the hopes of making it big, just to return to wherever they come from with dashed dreams.”

  “Yeah… that’s too bad.” Jess’s thoughts shifted back to Clint, and how he’d just abandoned her. “You’ve known Clint for a while, haven’t you?”

>   “Yes, sure have.”

  “Why would he ditch me because the summer is over? I told him I could probably stay for my senior year at Deer Park and we could stay together, but he got angry and just exploded.”

  “He’s a college guy,” Elly said. “Summer’s over and it’s back to the college where pretty freshmen are easily available. Why struggle with a high school girl?”

  “Really? I don’t think Clint would do that… He’s so sweet.”

  “Clint was only sweet to you… he’s never been like that before.”

  “I know you kept telling me that, but he was a darling to me.” Jess smiled. “He always knew what to say and treated me like a princess.”

  “That never did sound like the Clint I know. I guess he finally showed his true colors.”

  “Hmmm… Guess you’re right. I thought he must have just met the right girl. Guess I was wrong. Ugh, why do men have to be so complicated?” Jess said as she peered out the window towards the large willow that hung over the root cellar as they came up the driveway and over the bridge.

  Elly laughed. “I don’t know… Chris seems like he’s more complicated than me sometimes.” Parking in the driveway in front of the garage, Elly said, “Have a good one.”

  “You should come meet my mom.”

  “She’s here?”

  “She’ll be here soon; I thought I told you she was coming the other day at the convenience store.”

  “You might have… but weren’t you there when Mrs. Sheddleweck was in there?”

  “The lady that was trying to bring her dog inside?”

  “Yeah, that’s the one… Chances are I heard you mention your mom coming to town today, but just didn’t process it. Mrs. Sheddleweck is such a complicated mess! That dog was pooping everywhere!”

  Jess laughed. “I know… I stepped in a pile.”

  “Eww!” Elly laughed. “I hate that job sometimes…” Looking towards the farmhouse, she nodded and looked over at Jess. “I’ll hang out for a bit and meet her.”

  “Cool,” Jess said, jumping out of the truck.