by M. E. Parker
“Well, everything’s good now, what can I get you, sweetie?” Suzie put her hand over Claire’s and squeezed for some extra reassurance. I noticed a tear slide down Claire’s cheek, something I never wanted to see again.
She wiped it away with the back of her hand, “Well, let’s see, what’s the strongest drink you have?”
Suzie laughed, “I hate to tell you sweetie, but it’s coffee. This here’s a dry county.”
“Oh, okay. Well, coffee it is then.” Suzie filled a mug with black coffee and set it down in front of Claire and then came back with a slice of apple pie.
“Here you go sweetie, eat this, I’ve found that sugar always helps.”
“Thanks.” She smiled at Suzie and Suzie patted her hand again.
I played with the food on my plate as I watched Claire devour the apple pie. There wasn’t a crumb left when she finished. At least she ate. Tiffany would have refused to eat a piece of pie due to the high carbohydrate content. Claire smiled at Suzie after she finished, “That was delicious, thanks so much.”
“You’re welcome honey, apple pie is one of my specialties.”
“Ummm…could you tell me where the closest hotel is?”
“Well, it’s about an hour east of here honey, over in the next town,” Suzie said, looking over at me clearly waiting for me to come to the rescue.
“Oh gosh, I hope a taxi will take me that far,” Claire said pulling her phone and her wallet out of her purse.
Suzie looked over at me again, this time giving me a stern warning with her eyes. “Honey, there’s no taxis around here. We’ll get you a ride over if you need it.”
I wasn’t about to let Suzie and Walt burn up a tank of gas driving her over to the hotel and back. I knew it was more than they could afford.
“I’ll give you a ride over to the hotel,” I mumbled. She looked over at me. Her eyes were wide, and her cheeks were red. I couldn’t figure out if her eyes were filled with fear or hope, maybe it was a combination of both. But either way, it didn’t matter. I would drop her at the hotel and that would be that.
She handed Suzie a debit card to settle her bill which couldn’t have been more than $5.00. Suzie smiled at her and made her way over to the cash register. She came back a minute later with a hushed tone, “This didn’t go through Sweetie, but don’t worry, it’s on the house tonight.” Suzie put the card down on the counter. I looked over at Claire and her cheeks were blazing red.
“I’m so sorry, I need to make a deposit, here try this one.” Claire pulled a black American Express card out of her wallet and set it on the counter and Suzie took it and turned back towards the register.
I watched as Claire furiously made a call and I could hear a recorded voice over the phone tell her that her bank account was overdrawn more than $2000. I tried not to roll my eyes. In the meantime, Suzie came back with the Am Ex, “Sweetie, this was declined. But really, I mean it, don’t worry about it. It’s just a slice of pie and a cup of coffee, it’s on me tonight.”
I watched her eyes grow wide with panic. I couldn’t stand it anymore, “Suz, just put hers on mine, I got it.”
Claire looked over at me with rage in her ocean-colored eyes. “No!” She shouted, “Here. Try these. All of them.” She pulled five more cards out of her wallet and handed them over to Suzie. Suzie looked over at me and I nodded.
We watched in silence as Suzie ran each card, all of them declined. Claire stuffed the cards back in her wallet and I could see her beginning to fall apart. “Umm…I’m so sorry,” she barely managed to utter, “Could you give me a second? I need to make a call.”
Her face was turning white as I saw her shaking hand pull her phone back out of her purse. Her perfectly manicured red fingernail pressed a button on her Blackberry before she reluctantly placed the phone to her ear. I watched Suzie walk back towards the kitchen, undoubtedly to give the girl some privacy. I could hear the phone ringing clearly from where I sat. The call volume must have been turned all the way up because even from two seats away, I could hear the woman’s voice through the speaker on Claire’s phone, “Hawkins’ Industries, Richard Hawkins’ office.”
Her voice was shaky when she responded. “Marie, this is Claire. Is he available to take a call?”
“Oh, thank goodness, Claire he’s been waiting for you to call. He’s on an overseas conference call, so it may take a minute. I’m going to put you on hold. Don’t go anywhere, promise?”
I could see the tears pooling in her big beautiful eyes. “No, it’s okay Marie, I’ll hold. I’ll be right here.” I could hear the hold music blaring through the speaker of her phone.
As she sat waiting, she looked over at me and I quickly looked down at my plate. I wondered what she had going on with Richard Hawkins. I knew exactly who he was. I invested in his company when they went public a couple of years ago. I got in cheap and the stock value had soared through the roof. Richard Hawkins had made me a lot of money. She turned her back to me and I looked back over at her and wondered who he was to her. Was she his mistress? Did he figure out that she was with someone else? Whoever he was to her, she was terrified to talk to him. That was clear.
A couple of minutes later, the music stopped, and I could hear the man’s deep voice bellowing through her Blackberry, “Claire!”
“Daddy.” I watched the tears stream down her face. I tried to look away, but I couldn’t. I wanted to comfort her for some reason and it didn’t make any sense to me at all.
“Claire, do you know how worried I’ve been? I have been calling for three weeks. The only reason I knew you were still alive is because of all the bills that have been coming in. Where have you been? Claire, this isn’t like you. Your year is up. It’s time to come home. That’s final. There will be no negotiation on this, are we clear?”
“I know Daddy, I know.” Her voice quivered. “I need to talk to you about everything, but I’m kind of stranded right now and I need some money in my account.”
“Margaret Claire Hawkins, I don’t think you understood me the first time. The parties are over. There will be no more money. I’ve canceled all your credit cards. Do you think I wanted to do that? You’re a grown woman and I know I raised you to be more responsible than this. Are you aware that I put $50,000 in your account two weeks ago? Two weeks ago, Claire! Do you know how much money $50,000 is? Do you have any understanding that most people don’t make that in one year? Do you know what it could buy? You never lived like this growing up. I’ve taught you the value of money and I don’t know what has gotten into you, but I am not going to let you squander your future away.” His voice grew louder and angrier with every word.
She cleared her throat, “You’re right Daddy. You’re right about everything. It’s just that you see—I’m stranded, and I need— “
He cut her off. “Claire. No money. I’ll do one thing for you. Tomorrow, I will buy you a plane ticket. You will come here, and we will talk face to face. Otherwise, you can get a job Claire, like the rest of the world. Your choice. Sleep on it tonight and let me know in the morning.”
“But Daddy, wait— “
“Good night Claire.” The phone went dead.
I watched her take in a deep breath as she stared at her phone. Clearly, she was contemplating what she should do next. She looked up at me for a second and gave me a small grin. The corners of her lips barely curled upwards. She put her phone down on the counter and immediately began to rifle through her purse. A minute later she started pulling out cash. She managed to find a ten, a five, and two ones. She left it sitting on the counter. Then she turned her back to me and I could tell that she was wiping tears from her cheeks with the back of her hand.
I knew I was going to help her. There was no doubt about it. There was no other choice. But my mind was wrestling to come to terms with the two sides of the gorgeous woman sitting beside me that I witnessed that night.
One was humble, kind, and generous. The one who graciously complimented Suzie on the pie, who refused to
let me pay her tab, who thanked me with class for stepping in when the asshole wouldn’t leave her alone—that woman was impressive. That was the kind of woman that could bring me to my knees. I mean hell, she just left every cent she had sitting on the counter for Suzie, seventeen dollars on a five-dollar tab.
But the other side, the one who apparently had squandered away fifty thousand dollars in two weeks, whose one outfit that day, was worth more than what most people had in their entire closet for a lifetime, who was more than likely a spoiled selfish brat who didn’t think she ever needed to work a day in her life—that was the woman I needed to get as far away from as possible as soon as possible. I had already met that woman and I never intended to see her again.
I picked up the bills sitting on the counter and dropped them back in her bag and took a hundred-dollar bill out of my wallet and threw it on the counter. I stood up and walked around to face her and held out my hand, “Come on.”
She looked up at me with those beautiful eyes, “Oh uh, huh?” She looked confused, a little afraid, and a little excited.
I smiled at her for the first time, I couldn’t help it. She was so damn beautiful. “We’ll find you a place to stay tonight.” She smiled back. “Oh, uh, thank you, but I couldn’t. I mean that is very kind, but I don’t know you and—”
I interrupted her. “My name’s Jack, I lived in this town my whole life, you’re completely safe with me. Besides, it doesn’t seem like you have much of a choice tonight.” I stood there smiling with my hand extended waiting for her to take it.
She looked around the diner, I’m not sure what for. I guess she was just stalling. She looked back up at me. “Maybe…I could just ask Suzie, she offered…” I shook my head and she stopped talking.
“Suzie and Walt have their son and daughter in law and five grandchildren visiting in their two-bedroom house right now. But I’m sure she would take you in and let you sleep in her own bed without a second thought. She would probably even drive an hour over to the hotel and pay for your room and then drive an hour back even though the cost of that would be more than they earned working all night here at the diner. But she’ll do it, that’s the kind of heart she has. Is that what you want?”
I saw tears pooling in her eyes again and I immediately felt like a piece of shit for what I said to her. It was unfair. There is no reason she would know what Suzie and Walt’s situation was. Before I could apologize she said, “God no. I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking, I would never impose like that. I couldn’t impose on you either. Listen, don’t worry about it. I’m sure I can get a call to someone for help. Please don’t worry about me. I won’t bother Suzie. I promise. Thanks for offering to help me though.”
Oh god, there she was again, the woman that made me feel weak. The one that I wanted to take home with me. The one that I wanted to protect. What the hell was wrong with me? “Don’t be ridiculous. There’s no way I’m going to leave you here. So, you better just get used to the idea of me helping you tonight, because I’m all you got.”
I didn’t give her a chance to argue. “Suzie,” I yelled, “You back there?” Suzie came back from the kitchen. “Could you please tell Claire here that I’m not a serial killer and that it is safe for her to get in the car with me, so I can find her a place to stay tonight?”
Suzie laughed as she walked out of the kitchen behind the counter. “So, does this mean you don’t want me to tell her about the collection of bodies you have buried behind your house?”
I frowned at her. “Suzie, you’re not helping things here.” She smiled and looked back and forth between us and lifted her eyebrow towards me. I knew exactly what she was thinking. But it was NOT going to happen. I gave her a look.
She raised her hands. “Okay. Okay. I’ll vouch for you.” She turned and smiled at Claire and patted her hand. “It’s fine sweetie. I’ve known Jack since he was born. I even changed his diaper a time or two, wiped that sweet little bottom of his. He might be a little grumpy, but he’s completely harmless. I’d trust him with anyone of my children or my grandchildren. You’re safe with him. And don’t worry about anything, he’ll take care of you, I’m sure.”
I looked at Claire. “Satisfied?” She glanced over at Suzie again and she nodded at Claire. I extended my hand again to help her off the stool and she reluctantly took it. As soon as she placed her hand in mine, I felt something stronger than I have ever felt before, an electricity or chemistry that couldn’t be denied. She felt it too. I could see it in the look in her eyes and the flush of her cheeks. As soon as she hopped down from the stool and released my hand, I felt empty again.
As I carried her suitcase out to the truck, I watched her walk ahead of me and wondered what the hell I had gotten myself into. I put her suitcase in the bed of the truck. I’m pretty sure I saw her grimace when she saw Ted’s old rusty truck. I bet that pretty little ass of hers had never sat on anything but plush leather. I went to open her door for her and remembered that the damn thing didn’t open from the outside. I chuckled to myself. Things were just getting better and better.
She looked at me and raised an eyebrow, “What’s so funny?”
“Nothin’ just stay put. The door won’t open from the outside.” I ran around and jumped in the truck and opened the passenger door from the inside. She slid in beside me with a wary look in her eyes. I was waiting for a comment about Ted’s old truck, but it never came. I looked over at her and she looked back at me with a smile. I shook my head after thinking to myself how perfect she was. She reached over and touched my arm for a second. “Thank you for helping me,” she almost whispered. I watched as she looked away, biting her bottom lip. It took everything in my power not to pull her close to me and kiss her.
I cleared my throat and turned towards her. “Don’t worry about it. Listen, I think you have two choices tonight. Either I could take you to the hotel in the next town over or you can come home with me.” She swallowed but didn’t say anything. I was torn. I was already uncomfortable with how she made me feel. It might be best to just drop her at the hotel. I could rent her a room and give her a wad of cash and be done with it. But that may not get her safely to the airport in Nashville, it was unlikely that she even knew how to get the bus and there is no way that a taxi would drive the three hours to get her there. I also didn’t like the idea of her staying at the motel alone. The place was a dump and filled with truckers passing through town. But at the same time, if I took her to my house, I wasn’t sure I would ever want to let her go.
She still hadn’t answered me. I could tell she was more uncomfortable with the situation than I was. I couldn’t help but laugh a little, “Claire—look at me. I know it might be weird for you to stay at my house, but I promise you’d be safe there. But if you’d rather, I’ll take you to the hotel. I’ll pay for your room and if you need me to, I’ll come back tomorrow and pick you up and drive you over to Nashville, so you can catch a flight back home. It’s your call, whatever you want to do.”
She let out a sigh, I knew that she didn’t really like either of her choices. “Jack, I can’t ask you to do all that, spend all that money. How far do you live from here?”
“It’s about a thirty-minute drive. I live on a farm. It’s a little ways outside of town.”
She looked at me smiling, “Do you work on the farm?”
I laughed, “Yes. Claire, that’s generally what one does on a farm.”
“Okay, then Jack. Take me to the farm. Just please don’t murder me.”
I smirked at her, “No promises.”
She reached over and playfully smacked me on the arm. “Don’t even joke.”
I put the truck in gear and headed towards the farm. We drove silently for about fifteen minutes. I was desperately trying to ignore the attraction between us. My mind was going places it shouldn’t go. I couldn’t help but image touching her and tasting her. It couldn’t happen though. Nothing good could come of it. I needed to concentrate on getting her on a plane back to her father. Claire fina
lly broke the silence. “What did you say your last name was?”
I looked at her and smiled, “I didn’t.” Then I looked up to see we were coming up on the water tower that said, ‘Welcome to Spring City—Home of Colton Farms.’ She rolled her eyes.
“Listen, Jack, I know I’m a pain in the ass. I’m sure you have better things to do than to worry about me. God, I can only imagine what you think of me. But I really do appreciate your help. I don’t want you to think I don’t.”
“It’s no big deal, don’t worry about it, Claire. Shit happens to everyone. It just seems like you got yours all in one night. Everyone needs help every now and then. Don’t feel bad about it. And listen, I know it’s none of my business, but maybe you should consider listening to some of your father’s advice, he seems like a pretty smart guy.”
I looked over at her. I struck a nerve and she was obviously fuming. She grabbed her phone out of her purse and started furiously tapping at the keyboard. “You’re right Jack, it’s none of your business. What do you know about my father anyway?”
I smirked at her. “Sorry Claire, but the speaker on your phone is really loud, I may or may not have heard some or all of what he said to you. But you’re right. It’s none of my business. Forget I said anything.”
“Why the hell can’t I get any cell service around here?” Her face was red. She was obviously pissed off.
I rolled my eyes. “You’re in the country darlin’. There aren’t a lot of cell towers around.” I purposely neglected to tell her that I had installed a Celluar Satellite and as soon as we got to the house, her phone would work just fine (that is if I decided to give her the password—I hadn’t decided yet.)
“Well darling,” she said with a sarcastic tone, “How about electricity, do they have that in the country?”
I shook my head. There she was. I knew it was only a matter of time before this side of her came out. “Yep. We’ve got lights and we even have indoor plumbing too.” I gritted my teeth and clenched the steering wheel. I had a feeling it was going to be a long night. My driveway was a block away, but I suddenly decided I didn’t want to take her to my house. I didn’t know why. It’s not like she would be impressed. My wealth was nothing compared to hers. But for some reason, I didn’t want it on display for her. Instead, I decided to take her to my fishing cabin.