by Jayton Young
“Yup.” he giggled. “Mimi cooksh good. Her and Momma cooksh better than you.”
Mark covered his heart as if it hurt. “You wound me Buddy! I guess I can’t make sweet cakes as good as them either, huh?”
“No you do thoshe really, really good!” He picked his head up off of Mary Leigh’s shoulder; having woke up during the conversation, which was Mark’s goal. “Remember you shaid you’d make shome today.” Randy didn’t wait for an answer; he just got down from his grandmother’s arms and ran to his mom to climb on her lap to give her a hug and kiss and to cuddle for a little bit.
“What would you like to eat, Leigh?” her mother asked.
“I’m not hungry, Mother. I’ll just eat later while we’re out with Russell.”
“You didn’t eat much dinner, either. Are you not feeling well?”
Leigh gave a tired smile the both Mark and Mary Leigh saw through. “I’m alright. My stomach is just a little touchy lately, and I’m tired. You know I never eat when I’m tired.”
“Okay,” she said hesitantly. “If you say so, but please do eat soon.”
“I will.”
“Come on Randy. You can help mix the batter.” Randy hugged his mom one more time before climbing down and following Mary Leigh into the kitchen.
Mark closed the door behind them and went back to sit in his chair. “Do you want me to go with you to the sheriff’s office, or will you get Russell to take you?”
“I will be having a talk with him about things, but now’s not the time.” She scrubbed her eyes trying to get the dry ache out of them from the lack of sleep. “I decided to tell him some things. Maybe not all of it; I haven’t decided yet, but I think I need to clear the air on at least some things.”
“Well while you’re gone I’m going to call Torres and see if he can help get the ball rolling here and to see how we should go about taking care of this latest email. I’ll let you know what he says when you get back, and you will take whatever advice he gives. Promise me.”
“Okay. I promise.” Leigh turned back to the computer. “I’ll forward the email and let him know that I didn’t read it. Then I will answer all the other business stuff and get ready to go for when Russell gets here. You go on and eat breakfast. Just send Randy up when he’s done and I’ll give him a bath and get him ready, too.”
Mark left and Leigh got busy, but she couldn’t help but think about how nothing was going the way it was supposed to. She had to figure out a way to make things right for everyone. Especially since she got an email letting her know that her appointment in Charlotte was just a month away.
Chapter 5
“Randy, buddy, why don’t you go play in the reception area while we talk with Principal Peters.”
Russ watched as Randy went to kiss his mother on the cheek before bounding out the door to play at a train table that was set up in the main office of Pine Grove Primary School. They had just arrived and had been seated in the principal’s private office as soon as they had come in. He didn’t miss the fact that neither Lexi – the principal who happened to be Leigh’s ex-best friend – nor Amy Wisnet – the receptionist – had spoken to Leigh. They hadn’t even looked at her outside of the initial look of disgust upon them walking in.
“What can I do for you Mr. Kennedy?” Lexi asked.
“Well,” he started, glancing at Leigh who had her head held high and was looking straight at Lexi as if waiting for an acknowledgement she knew she wouldn’t get. “I want to know why you would not enroll my son into Kindergarten.”
The shock on her face at his casual mention of Randy being his son would have made him laugh in any other situation. Lexi cleared her throat a couple of times in nervousness before answering.
“Enrollment for school is already over Mr. Kennedy,” she said. “Had I known that it was your son, I would have made an exception.”
Russ fisted his hands and sat forward in his chair. Who did she think she was talking to like he was stupid? He knew the rules and the laws about open enrolments and procedure for late enrolments. His family had always been very prominent in the community. He had taken his father’s place as president of the Rotary Club, and they had also been donating money to the school system and medical clinic for years. He was about to tell her exactly what he thought until Leigh quietly put a hand on his fist, glancing his way to let him know she would handle it, before turning back to her.
“It’s not like you gave me the chance to tell you anything Lexi,” Leigh said in her calm, soft voice before Lexi cut her off.
“You can call me Ms. Peters or Principal Peters.”
“For a person to gain a title of respect, in my book, they have to earn it.” Leigh replied gracefully. “You have not earned that respect from me, Lexi.” Seeing that her point had been made, she continued. “Now, as I was saying…I was not given the opportunity to tell any of you who Randy was, but even if you had given me the chance, I would not have just thrown Russell’s name out to you. It shouldn’t matter who a child’s mother or father is. No child should suffer for their parent’s perceived wrong doing. The child is innocent. That being said, even though I am a pariah in this town, my son should not be. He did nothing wrong. If anyone were to spend even two minutes talking to him, they’d fall in love with him; seeing him as the precious gift he is. I should have never had to have Russell come here. I wasn’t going to, actually. I was going to pay for a private teacher to home school Randy, but he wanted to be able to interact with other children his age. Now if he will have to deal with being made fun of or bullied because of me, then I will send him to the Christian Academy in Greenville instead.”
“And my donations will go wherever my son goes.” Russ added. He was proud of the way Leigh had handled it - she had not changed in that area – she had never let her anger or upset get the better of her as he did. Leigh had always handled everything with poise and grace. But he knew that the school system depended on donations because the state budgets had been cut a couple of years back. He figured his money would get through to them more than what Leigh said, as unfortunate as that was. “Actually, I think the Christian Academy is the better is the better option for Randy. It’s sad that you would do this to someone who used to be like a sister to you. I admit that for a long time I let my anger get the better of me, and only very recently have I seen the error of that, but Leigh did nothing to you or anyone else in this town. Though I could see y’all being disappointed in her misperceived actions, I never meant for everyone to turn on her. Even as angry and hurt as I was back then, I never wanted that or understood it. Now we will leave you to do whatever it is you do when school is not in session.”
Russ stood up, grabbed Leigh’s hand, and told Randy it was time to go. Before they walked out of the office, he turned back to Lexi and Amy. “Since I know for a fact that y’all like to gossip, make sure you spread the word. Anyone who treats Leigh or Randy with anything but kindness and respect, they will have a problem with me and my parents.” With that parting remark, he headed out to Leigh’s SUV that they’d driven to the school, still holding onto their hands. Russ liked how it still felt natural to hold her hand. ‘Was it really just yesterday afternoon that I was so angry with her?’ he wondered. Even though he knew that he’d felt that way for years, it’s like it was all gone; as if it never was.
Leigh was speechless. Russell had actually defended her in there. Going in, she had expected for his to just acknowledge the fact that Randy was his son and was to be treated as such, but he’d gone so far beyond that. He acted as if it really bothered him that everyone was talking bad about her. And he held her hand as if he were not repulsed by her. Leigh’s heart had started racing as soon as he reached out to her, and when he grabbed her hand it made the butterflies dance in her stomach; just as they had done when they first started seeing one another.
In the car, Randy was jabbering away to Russell until he had tapered of five minutes into the drive. Looking at him as he slept, she figured that he shoul
d be okay with the nap since her mother had woke him early, but Randy would have to get used to rising that early when school started the following week. She would have to talk with him on it that night.
Looking over at Russell, he seemed to be thinking on something very hard. Probably about the meeting. Could he really be okay with her? After all of those years of his hatred for her? She decided to end the silence, though it was not an uncomfortable one. “Thank you.” She said quietly. When he glanced her way, it was with confusion, so she clarified. “First, you let me speak and trusted me to handle it. And then you defended me when I know you probably didn’t want to.”
Again he glanced over, but this time in shock.
“You’ve always been able to handle yourself better than I could.” he started. “I fly off the handle at the least little thing a lot of times. When you let me know you had it covered, I knew you did. As far as defending you…I think that’s one of the things I felt guiltiest for, for so long. I did those pictures to humiliate you, and I figured it would get some people angry at you, or at least disappointed, but I never imagined that everyone would turn their backs on you like they did. That had never been my goal. Even if you did cheat on me, it was done to me; not them. I don’t understand why they all reacted like that.”
Leigh wondered why he’d phrased it like that. ‘If you did cheat on me.’ Did that mean he had doubts? She didn’t think so, because if he’d doubted what had happened, he would have asked her about it. “They did it because they love and respect both you and your parents. Y’all are prominent in the community and they all want to support and protect you.” she told him.
“But you and Mary Leigh were both were loved and respected just as much, just for different reasons.”
“Yes, but none of you ever did any wrong.” Leigh turned in her seat as much as she could with the seatbelt on and looked at Russell as she spoke. “In school, you were arrogant and cocky, but never mean. You were nice to everyone; talked to everyone. You were and are a great person, Russell.” She saw that he was about to cut in, but she wasn’t finished. “They liked me and thought well of me. I was respected. But when they found out that I had wronged you, I lost all of their respect. I think they felt betrayed in a way. I have never held a grudge against them because I understood. There were only five people who knew what happened besides my mother, and they have kept in contact with me over the years.”
It seemed, after a moment, as if Russell were about to speak, but Leigh’s phone ringing stopped him. After checking caller ID, she answered.
“Mark? Did you make the calls?”
“Yeah, I did.” Leigh knew by his tone that it would not be good news. “Torres called the Department here to try to get them to at least be watchful – you were right that the restraining and protection orders won’t cross state lines – and found out that, though Andrew Boyd is no longer sheriff here, his son Zander is. He seemed to know your history?”
“Yes. He was part of the force back then, so Andrew had him working on it, too.”
“Well he’ll keep a look-out and put a word out to the deputies. He said to tell you he wouldn’t give your name for anything unless something happens, but he wants you to keep him informed whenever you get any kind of communication again. Call him directly. Torres said that we better not leave him out either. He said that just because you don’t live there anymore, doesn’t mean he’s not going to try and help until this is over.”
Leigh was touched that Detective Torres said that. He’d always been kind to her, and he helped her even before it had gotten bad enough to be able to press charges. “I’ll call him sometime later then.”
“Good.” Mark cleared his throat, letting her know that he was nervous about something. He always did that when he was trying to figure out what he wanted to say. After being quiet for a moment, he finally started. “You got a call today.”
Wondering why he sounded hoarse when he said that, she tried to figure out who would be calling her. No one coming immediately to mind, she asked.
“Carolinas Medical Center?” As soon as he said that, she knew he’d figured it out. He’d been suspecting for a while, she knew, but now there was no more putting off telling him the truth. But not right then. Not in front of Russell. “They don’t want to wait so long for the MRI, so they left a message for you to call, for a closer appointment, as soon as possible.”
“The meeting is over, so I’ll come home now. We’ll talk when I get there.”
When Leigh ended the call, she looked up to see that Russell had stopped at the diner in town, cut the ignition off, and was looking concern clear on his face.
“What was that about?” he asked. “That conversation seemed…intense; serious.”
Not ready to tell him everything yet, but not willing to lie, Leigh took a moment to figure out what part to tell him. “I’ve had a few problems over the years, and one of them seems to follow me.” She looked down, knowing how cryptic she sounded, she just prayed he didn’t ask too many questions, but he seemed to get the fact that she didn’t want to talk about it.
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
Surprised by his offer, she looked back up into his eyes. He was completely sincere. Again she had to wonder what had effected this change in his attitude from just the day before.
“I appreciate the offer, Russell. I really do, but there are people already trying to help. I’m sure the problem will get solved…” she was about to say ‘soon’, but considering it had been six years, and he hadn’t been caught yet, she didn’t really believe it.
Russell didn’t push, though she could see that he wanted to. “Can you at least have lunch with us before I take you back?”
Leigh smiled a genuine smile for the first time since she had come back. “I would love to, just let me call Mark back.”
“Daddy, can me and momma live here?”
Russ was out riding horses with Randy later that afternoon, going slowly and letting him get used to sitting and riding. They had been riding along the fence, Russ never letting go of the lead for Misty, the horse that Randy was riding that used to belong to Leigh. He’d seen that Randy was a natural on a horse. From what Russ had witnessed so far, his son feared nothing; not even a horse twice his height.
The question had shattered the silence that they’d been riding in; Randy to much in awe of everything to speak, so it shocked Russ on several levels.
“I don’t think your momma would want to live here, Buddy.” he told his son. “I wouldn’t mind, but I think Leigh is happier with your Mimi and Mark.”
Randy nodded and had a serious look on his face. A look, Russ thought, that was too old for a five year old. “Yeah. Mimi needsh Momma, and Momma needsh me and Mark.” Randy answered.
“I’m sure you’re a very big help to your momma.” he told his son, knowing how much the smallest of praises had always meant coming from his own father. “How long have you been such a big boy to help her out?”
“For a while.” Randy said as Russ had to stop to fix a hole in the fence line. “Momma was shick one day, and Mark told me that we wush gonna have to shtart helping Momma a lot more. He shaid she wush gonna be tired a lot.”
“Well, I’m real sure that your momma appreciates the help.” Russ wondered what had made her sick, and why would she start being tired? Leigh had told him that she’d gone into remission, and he knew she wouldn’t have lied to him, but he was wondering if maybe she was having problems again. “How long ago was that, Bud?”
“A little ‘fore we moved here. And yeah, Momma paysh me a lot of money, but I never know what to buy with it. Momma, Mimi, and Mark get me all the toysh I want. I bought Momma shome pizza one time, and started crying and kishing me shaying thank you. I don’t wanna make her cry, so I let her take me to the bank and give it to the people there. She shaid that they would save it up and I could get it back anytime I wanted to. She promished that they wouldn’t shteal it.”
“Wow!” he said, smi
ling at Randy’s reaction to a banking account. “You must be rich, Son.”
“Yep, but I’m not shuposhta tell no one. Momma shaid that a lot of people don’t have much, and it’sh not nishe to talk about it in front of them.”
“She right on that. And don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.”
Russ looked up at the sky and then looked at the time, realizing it was already time for dinner, so they turned around and headed back to the main house. “You want to spend the night over here, Bud?” he asked Randy. He knew that once school started that he would only have him on weekends, and already he knew he would miss being around him. He would stay in the main house in his old room like he’d done the other night he stayed over. That way Randy would have as much time with his grandparents as he did with him.
“Yea!” he hollered out, then turned back to Russ. “As long ash Momma don’t need my help. I gotta call her.”
“That’s fine. You can call when we get back and wash up for dinner.”
Leigh had gotten home from her lunch with Randy and Russell to find a note explaining that Mark was driving her mother around on some errands and that they would be back later that afternoon. She spent her time returning call to the Doctor at CMC in Charlotte that her oncologist had referred her to when she found out that Leigh was moving. Then she called both Torres, to promise to keep in touch, and the new Pine Grove sheriff, her old friend, Zander Boyd.
“I didn’t know until this morning that Bill was still giving you problems, Leigh. Me and my dad could have kept everything going.” Zander was seriously disturbed because the evidence they had gotten back then was missing. “I can’t figure it out, though. It can only mean that somebody working here either took it or let someone else in who took it.”
“It’s alright, Sheriff.” She could hear the sincere distress in his voice and just wanted to make him feel better. “Detective Torres has enough reports on file that you’ll still be able to charge him if you find him, but I haven’t physically seen him in over a year, so maybe he will just stick with the harassment instead of approaching me.”