Every Moment with You_Redeeming Love

by J. E. Parker

  “But he’s—”

  “I’m what?” Hendrix growled, stepping around me.

  Rolling my eyes, I moved back around him. It must’ve looked like we were two-stepping on the front porch. I pushed my hand into his chest—again. “Stop right there.”

  Daddy pushed against my other side. Swear to God, they were determined to kill each other. “You’re not good enough for her!”

  That was it.

  I’d friggin’ had it!

  My anger came roaring back to life. “Daddy!” I whirled around so fast my hair smacked me in the face. “I am getting sick and tired of you saying Hendrix isn’t good enough for me. You’ve been preaching the same damn story since I was thirteen years old!” He opened his mouth to respond, but I cut him off. He could wait until I was finished to speak. “He’s plenty good enough for me. He’s more than good enough.”

  Daddy looked at me, his features laced with anger. “Yeah? And what about when y’all get married? What about when he turns into a raging drunk like his father? Or what about when he walks out and leaves you just like his mother left him?”

  Hendrix moved faster than lightning. Shoving me to the side, he shoved his chest into Daddy’s.

  Oh crap!

  Daddy fisted his right hand at his side and I knew he was moments away from swinging. “Daddy—” My scream was cut off when Grandmama slapped him right across the face. Hard.

  I don’t know how she did it but she managed to squeeze her petite body in between Hendrix’s and Daddy’s. “I can’t believe those words just came out of your mouth.” Her eyes were full of tears. Angry tears. “My own damn son!” She leaned forward and clutched her chest. The move scared me and I moved to stand behind her. Placing my hand on her chest, I felt for her heart beat. Thump… Thump… Thump… It was beating out of control. This had to stop. If it didn’t, Grandmama would have a stroke, and that was no joke. She was old and had high blood pressure. She couldn’t handle this mess! “How could you say those things?”

  “Grandmama, calm down.” My voice shook. “Please.”

  I looked to Hendrix for help but he wasn’t looking at me. His cold eyes were locked on Daddy.

  Speaking of Daddy… He ignored me as he bit back at Grandmama. “It’s all the boy has ever known. He’s bound to repeat the same behavior, and I won’t have my daughter become a casualty of his upbringing!”

  Grandmama’s hand twitched, and I could have sworn she was about to slap him again. But she didn’t. Instead, she lowered her voice and said, “Yeah, because you turned out just like your father. Right, Keith?”

  Silence.

  Wait. What did that mean? Was Grandpa a bastard or something? I’d never met the man and no one ever talked about him so I didn’t have the slightest clue.

  Daddy froze. Moments ticked by and neither said or did anything.

  Hendrix stood like a statue in front of him, ready to strike at the slightest provocation.

  I ignored them both.

  To hell with it. If they wanted to beat the crap out of each other then they could. I didn’t want to deal with this mess and Grandmama didn’t need to be dragged into the middle of it either. It wasn’t good for her health.

  After a minute or so of silence, Daddy turned and pointed towards his truck parked in the driveway. “Two minutes, Maddie.” Then he gave Hendrix one last scathing look before walking off.

  “What just happened?” I whispered more to myself than anyone else.

  Grandmama’s eyes tracked Daddy’s retreating form down the driveway. “Your father showed his ass. That’s what just happened.”

  Hendrix still didn’t speak.

  Squeezing his hand tight, I looked up at him. “You okay?”

  He nodded once before looking down and locking eyes with me. “You know everything he just said is bullshit, right?”

  “I do.”

  Hendrix grasped both of my wrists in his hands and pressed my palms against his chest. “Maddie, look at me.” I did. “I swear to you I won’t ever turn out like him.” By him he meant Pop.

  Again, I nodded. “I know, handsome.”

  “I won’t…” He trailed off before swallowing. “I won’t ever drink as he does.”

  I placed a kiss against his shirt-covered sternum. “Hendrix, you don’t need to tell me, I already know.”

  Sliding two fingers under my chin, he tilted my face back up. “That’s where you’re wrong. I do need to tell you.” Grandmama was silent, but I could feel her eyes on us. “Three things. First, I swear I won’t drink.” He exhaled. “Second, I swear I’ll never raise my hand to you in anger.”

  Grandmama cursed under her breath. “Better not or else I’ll pump you full of buckshot.”

  I grinned, but Hendrix’s serious face didn’t waver. “And third, I swear I’ll never leave you.” He kissed my nose. “Not even if my life depends on it.”

  I won’t drink.

  I won’t hit you.

  I won’t leave.

  I believed him. I believed every word. Smiling, I said, “And I promise to be the best wife and mother I can be.”

  Hendrix leaned in and pressed his lips to mine. Daddy honked the truck’s horn, and he pulled away with a growl. “Jackass,” Grandmama grumbled. “Let him wait.” He honked again, and Grandmama walked to the edge of the porch. “Listen to me, Keith Edward Davis!” She waved a fisted hand in the air. “I brought your rear end into this world, and I’ll sure as hell take you out of it too. Stop. Honking. The. Daggum. Horn!”

  “Hendrix…” My throat constricted and my chest tightened even further. “I really need to go.”

  He exhaled. “I know.” Running the tips of his fingers along my cheeks and down the column of my throat, he tilted his head to the side and looked me over from head to toe. His eyes slid over every inch of my body like he was committing my entire being to my memory.

  Bringing his eyes back to mine, he cupped my face with his warm hands. “I’m gonna miss the hell out of you, pretty girl.”

  I wanted to smile but couldn’t. “I’ll be home before you know it.”

  He shook his head. “If you think I’m waiting until Thanksgiving to hold you in my arms again, you’ve lost your damn mind.” His calloused thumbs caressed my face. “First weekend I have off from work, I’ll be there.”

  Once again, tears fell from my eyes. “Promise?”

  “I swear it.”

  Daddy honked again. Turning on her heel, Grandmama headed for the front door. “That’s it. I’m getting my shotgun.”

  “No need, Grandmama.” I looked back at Hendrix. “Walk me down to the car?” My voice was small. Weak.

  "Of course, baby."

  I turned around and locked eyes with Grandmama. Hands twisted in her favorite pale-yellow apron, she said, “Don’t even think of leaving without giving me some sugar.”

  Taking three small steps, I thrust myself into her waiting arms. Squeezing me tight, she placed one hand on the back of my head and the other on the small of my back. Resting my forehead on her shoulder, I cried. “I’m gonna miss you, Grandmama.”

  She held me tighter. “I sure am gonna miss you too, sweetheart.” She sniffled. “It won’t be the same around here without your stubborn self.”

  My entire frame shook. Leaving Grandmama hurt almost as bad as leaving Hendrix. “I’ll be back for Thanksgiving.”

  Squeezing me one last time, Grandmama dropped her arms and pulled back. Looking me in the eyes, she gave me a stern look. “You better be. If not, I’ll drive to Nashville myself and take a switch to your behind.”

  A tear slipped from my eye as I smiled. “Fine. Just be sure and bake a sweet potato pie just for me. You know how Daddy is. He can eat one all by himself.”

  Grandmama sneered. “That turd will be lucky if I forgive him by then. I have a notion to bake him a chocolate cake full of ex-lax.”

  “Grandmama,” I said with a chuckle, “please don’t do that.”

  She smiled. “I’ll try not to.
” Then, under her breath, she muttered, “not making any promises though.”

  “I can’t ask for much more than that.” I glanced over my shoulder at Hendrix, who was practically vibrating with tension. I looked back at Grandmama. “I need you to do something for me.”

  She raised a brow. “Anything, sweetheart. You know that.”

  Speaking low so only she could hear me, I whispered, “Please take care of Hendrix. I…” I blew out a breath. “Just take care of him. I’m worried…” My voice trailed off again as I let my head dip forward.

  Grandmama ran her hands up and down my upper arms. “Don’t worry about a thing, Maddie. Your ol’ Grandmama will take care of him.” Of that, I had no doubt. Grandmama could be meaner than a honey badger, but when she said she’d do something—she would. Unlike a lot of people, she didn’t make false promises. Stepping back further, she nodded towards the driveway. “Go on and get out of here before your Daddy drags his behind back up here and forces me to shoot him.”

  Nodding once, I looked over my shoulder. “Come on.”

  Hendrix took my hand in his and led me to the edge of the porch. “See you later, Grandmama.”

  “I expect you to be washed up and sitting at my supper table at six o’clock sharp, Hendrix.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  With a heavy heart, I waved with my free hand. “I’ll call you when I get checked into my dorm. Love you.”

  “Love you too, sweetheart. More than all the stars in the sky.”

  Hendrix tugged my hand, and I followed him down the porch steps. My vision narrowed as Daddy’s red pickup came into view.

  Don’t pass out. For the love of everything holy, please don’t pass out.

  Hendrix tensed at my side as he pulled the passenger’s door open and Daddy’s face came into view. “It’s okay,” I said, clutching the front of his shirt in my hand.

  Looking down at me, he shook his head. It wasn’t over between these two. I knew that for a fact. Just the thought made me sick to my stomach. Daddy drove me crazy but he and Hendrix were my guys… They were the most important men in my life and I didn’t know if I could handle them constantly being at each other’s throats. They had to find a way to deal with each other.

  Looking from one to the other, I knew that wouldn’t happen today though.

  Sighing, I rolled my eyes.

  Without saying a word, Hendrix placed his hands on my hips and lifted me into the truck. Sitting me on the seat, he kissed my forehead. Then he slid my seat belt over me and buckled it. Pulling the straps tight, he checked and double checked the dang thing three times before placing his arms on top of the door frame.

  Silence ensued as we stared at each other. I couldn’t have spoken a single word if my life had depended on it.

  Daddy broke the silence. “You ready, princess?”

  I ignored him.

  Call me a brat, but he was on my shit list. There was no excuse for the vile words he’d spoken earlier.

  Hendrix spoke next. “Call me as soon as you get there.”

  I swallowed around the bolder in my chest. “I will.”

  Cupping my cheeks in his hands, he kissed my forehead again. Then he kissed my nose. Finally, after what felt like forever, his lips touched mine.

  Soft. Sweet. Gentle.

  Closing my eyes, I savored the feeling.

  Daddy turned the key in the ignition and started the truck. Shifting into reverse, he kept his foot on the brake. “Time to go, Maddie.”

  Hendrix growled—low and deep—as I kissed him one last time. “I’ll call you as soon as I get there.”

  When he pulled away from me and stepped back, I saw tears glistening in his eyes. Hendrix never cried. Not even when his pop beat him to a bloody pulp. But in the last couple of hours, I’d seen him tear up twice—once when he asked me to marry him and now as we said goodbye.

  Sliding my shaking hands under my bottom, I called upon all the inner strength I could muster and forced a smile. “Promise I’ll call.”

  Eyes locked on me, he whispered, “You better.”

  “Shut her door, Cole,” Daddy said from the seat beside me. My smile dropped, and I furrowed my brow. He didn’t sound angry anymore. More like… regretful.

  Stepping back, Hendrix shut my door. I pulled my hands out from under me and rolled down the window. “Love you, handsome. I’ll see you in a few weeks when you come visit me.”

  “In a few weeks.” His voice was quiet, devoid of any emotion.

  I didn’t like that. Not one bit.

  I had to say it one more time. “I love you, Hendrix. Now, forever, and always.”

  Sticking his arm through the open window, he rubbed his thumb over my bottom lip. “Love you too, pretty girl. Now, forever, and always.”

  Pressing a gentle kiss on the pad of his thumb, I pulled my eyes from his and looked at Daddy. “I’m ready.”

  “Let’s go,” he said, nodding once.

  Hendrix pulled his arm out of the window and shoved his hands in his pockets. Moving away from the truck, he said, “Don’t forget what I told you last night, Maddie.”

  My mind flew back to the night before. Confused, I looked at him, my mouth agape. “Which part?” He’d told me a lot of things the night before.

  “The part where I promised to spend every moment of the rest of my life with you. Just as soon as you get back, we can start working on forever. Just you and me, pretty girl.”

  My heart melted, and the pain swirling deep inside of me ebbed.

  Pressing two fingers to my lips, I blew him a kiss. “Every moment with you, handsome.”

  He captured the imaginary kiss in his hand, clutched it to his chest, and repeated my words back to me. “Every moment with you.”

  Daddy took his foot off the brake, and we backed out of the driveway.

  My eyes stayed locked on Hendrix until Daddy stopped, shifted the truck into drive and drove forward.

  With my heart in my stomach, I looked over my shoulder one last time.

  There, standing in the middle of the street, was Hendrix, his fist still clutched to his chest, watching us go.

  It was an image that would haunt me every day for the next six years.

  Hendrix

  Two Months Later

  I was lying on my back in bed when my cell phone rang.

  Picking it up without looking at the screen, I answered. “Hey, pretty girl.”

  Maddie’s sweet voice came through the line and the exhaustion that consumed every inch of my body disappeared. “Hey, handsome! I missed you so much today.”

  I smiled and rubbed my hand down the side of my face. “I missed you too, baby. How were your classes?”

  She groaned. “Same ol’ crap. Math is killing me. My English Comp teacher is an ass. And my bio lab partner is lazier than a hound dog.”

  I laughed. “Sorry, baby.”

  Pop walked down the hall and stopped in front of my door. Knocking on my door a couple of times, he stuck his head inside. “I’m heading out for a bit. You going anywhere?”

  My entire body froze in shock.

  What the fuck? Pop never cared about what I was doing, and he sure as hell never told me when he was leaving. “Maddie, hold on.” I pulled the phone away from my ear and sat up. “Wasn’t planning on it. Why? You need me to do something?”

  Pop shook his head. “No. Just wanted to see what you were doing.”

  Uh… okay.

  “Only thing I plan on doing is talking to Maddie for a little while before heading to bed.”

  He nodded. “How did things go today?”

  I was so confused. Tilting my head, I narrowed my eyes. “You feeling alright, Pop?”

  He leaned against the door frame. “Yeah, why?”

  ’Cause you’re acting… nice. It was something that hadn’t happened—not once—in my entire life. I didn’t know what it was, but something wasn’t right. Shrugging, I remained silent. I didn’t want to sound like a dick or start a fight by voici
ng the thoughts running through my head.

  Repeating his question from earlier, he asked, “How did things go at the academy?”

  A week after Maddie left I found out I’d been accepted into the East Georgia Fire Academy. Two weeks after that I started training five days a week over in Garrison, the county next to ours. If I completed the program, which I would, then I was guaranteed a job at one of the fire stations in either Kissler, Garrison or Toluca County.

  Maddie’s asshole of a dad worked at the biggest station in Kissler. I didn’t want to go there for obvious reasons. Pop worked at Station 24 in Toluca, and I didn’t want to go there either.

  I was hoping I could get hired at one of the three stations in Garrison. It was close by, the schools were good, and the cost of living was low.

  It was the perfect place to raise a family.

  “Everything went fine. Got a test Friday. I should study for it, but I’m too damn tired tonight.”

  Pop smiled. He fucking smiled. “I remember those days. Don’t worry, Son, it’ll be over before you know it.”

  Son?

  What. In. The. Actual. Fuck?

  Tapping the top of the door frame with his hand, he backed out of the room. “Well, I’m going to head out. If you need me, call my cell.”

  I didn’t know how to respond to that.

  To say I was baffled was an understatement.

  “Alright.”

  Pop turned to walk away but stopped. “Let me know when graduation is.” He looked me in the eyes. “I want to be there.”

  With that, he walked off.

  I don’t know how much time passed as I sat there dumbfounded and silent.

  “Hendrix!” Maddie’s voice called my name through the phone, breaking me out of my trance.

  Picking the phone back up, I pressed it against my ear. “I’m here.”

  Maddie was speaking so quickly I could barely understand her as she fired off one question after another. “You okay? I heard Pop in the background but couldn’t make out what he was saying. What did he want? Did he hit you? Did he threaten to hurt you? Want me to come kick him in the knee?”