Weathering Stormy

by Auburn J. Kelly

  The revelation knocked her for a loop. Stormy didn’t know how to respond, and the confusion on her face was obvious.

  “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t go there,” Nozz said. “I wouldn’t want to ruin this lovely fishing expedition we’re on.” His slight attempt at humor fell flat.

  “Nozz, it’s okay. We’ve all got our issues. Trust me, I know all about shitty parenting.”

  “Yeah, I guess you do. I didn’t hear much, but I know you have some issues with your mom.”

  Issues. That was a nice way of putting it.

  Nozz got quiet again and Stormy knew he was struggling with something. Judging by his comment about his dad, he and Stormy were probably kindred spirits in the family dysfunction department, but Stormy wasn’t sure she wanted to confirm it. Nozz was a good guy, and if his dad was being mean to him, she didn’t know if she could stand hearing about it. Lord knew she already had her fill of burdens. She’d been trying really hard to lock them up tight in a secret compartment in the recesses of her mind, and hearing Nozz’s confessions…well, she was afraid it would bring it all back to the surface, and she wasn’t ready for that.

  But this wasn’t about her, she reminded herself. It was about Nozz. And it was obvious that he was hurting. The two sides of her psyche were warring with each other. Would she dare open what might very well be Pandora’s Box? Or should she let sleeping dogs lie?

  The pain was evident in the depths of those sad green eyes. The poor guy needed to vent his frustrations. So, she blew out a breath and started what she knew was going to be a hard conversation.

  “I couldn’t help but notice how quiet you’ve been today. You don’t seem yourself. Do you want to talk about what’s eating you?”

  He let out a sigh and shrugged his shoulders. “Just stuff.”

  It was a typical guy answer.

  “What kind of stuff…if you don’t mind my being nosy? Just tell me to butt out if you want.” She didn’t want to push too hard.

  He stared absently at the bobber in the water, which hadn’t bobbed once since he cast it in. Stormy was starting to wonder if there were any fish in the lake.

  “My dad….” he started to say but let the words trail off. “My dad can be a real prick.”

  That’s it? Surely there had to be more to it. Stormy squashed her disappointment and sat quietly in case he decided to elaborate…which he did.

  “He’s really mean to me and my mom sometimes. It started a few years ago when he got laid off at work. He tried for a while to get another job, but I think he couldn’t compete with all the young people with degrees. Ya know?”

  He looked up at her with big, questioning eyes. She nodded her head in understanding. “Yeah. That’s rough,” she concurred softly.

  “In the beginning, Mom and I thought he was out all day looking for work. But then he would come home smelling like a brewery. And more than once we’d seen his car parked in front of the bar in the middle of the afternoon. Mom would confront him about it and it always led to a big fight. But he started coming home later and later…and the later he stayed out, the drunker he got. And the drunker he got…the meaner he got.”

  Out of the corner of her eye she saw her bobber jerk, but she ignored it. The fish would have to wait because Nozz needed her full attention. His lip was quivering and tension was rolling off him in waves.

  “Lately,” Nozz continued, “he started hitting her. And last night…he sent her to the emergency room with a concussion.”

  A gasp escaped Stormy before she could catch it. “Oh my God, Nozz. Is she alright?”

  “Yes. This time,” he said while gazing absently at the water.

  “Nozz, I’m so sorry.” Another grim thought hit her, and she was almost too afraid to ask, “Has he ever hit you?”

  “Not yet. But he will. Eventually.”

  His answer was so matter-of-fact that it sent chills up her spine. She didn’t know how to respond. The poor guy. It just wasn’t fair. Mama had put her through hell, but things had never gotten physical. Well, not much. Some of her boyfriends had gotten a little out of hand, but Stormy had never witnessed the kind of violence that Nozz had. Mama had always sent the guys packing before it had ever gotten to that point.

  Nozz’s shaky voice startled her out of her thoughts, “I’ve begged her to leave him. To just go. I told her I’d quit school and get a job and help her out financially…but she says she loves him. Says she knows he has it in him to stop. That he’s really sorry for what he does. That he’ll quit drinking. And it’s all bullshit.”

  “Maybe it’s not, Nozz. Maybe there’s hope. At least he said he’s sorry, which is more than my mama ever did.” It was true. Never once had Marni Black told Stormy that she was sorry. Never had she shown any remorse for her behavior or the way that they lived. And she sure as hell had never promised to stop.

  Did that mean that her mother was too far gone?

  “Damn, Stormy. I’m sorry to unload on you like this.” Nozz sniffed and rubbed his eye on his shirt sleeve. “You didn’t even check your line after you got a nibble a little while ago.” He was attempting to lighten the mood and Stormy was grateful.

  “I was hoping you didn’t notice that,” she said with a sheepish grin.

  “Well, I’m not a complete idiot. I’m pretty sure that when the little red and white thingy goes under the water you’re supposed to do something.”

  Stormy chuckled and reeled in her line, knowing full well that her bait was gone, nibbled away by some hungry fish. At least it was confirmation that there were fish in the lake.

  While she prepared to re-bait her hook, Nozz reached into his shirt pocket and produced a slender white object that she recognized immediately. “What the hell is that?”

  “Duh…It’s a joint,” he said nonchalantly. Stormy’s jaw went slack with shock. She shouldn’t have been so surprised. That crap was about as common as chewing gum at school. But for some unknown reason, seeing it in Nozz’s hand infuriated the hell out of her. He was better than that—or at least she thought he was—and she felt betrayed. And before she even knew what she was doing, she plucked it from his lips and tossed it in the water.

  “What the hell, Stormy? That was the only one I had,” he said in disbelief.

  She looked him straight in the eye. “Good.”

  He looked pissed.

  Stormy looked at him, eyes pleading with him to understand. “I’m sorry, Nozz. I just don’t like that stuff. Okay?”

  Nozz gaped at her for several awkward seconds, but then his expression softened. “Yeah, okay. I didn’t know it was that big of a deal. I just do it to take the edge off sometimes. I didn’t know it would offend you. I thought you would be cool with it.”

  No. She wasn’t. As far as Stormy was concerned, that stuff was pure evil and nothing good ever came from it. “I didn’t mean to blow a gasket. It’s just…I’ve seen what that stuff does to my mom. She stays stoned out of her gourd most of the time.” She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, feeling bashful all of a sudden. “I like hanging out with you, Nozz. But I don’t think I can be around you if you smoke that shit. It…just doesn’t sit well with me.”

  Nozz was quiet for a moment. “I get it. I really do. And I like hanging with you too. I don’t wanna mess that up.” With a hangdog grin, he raised his hands in surrender, “No more. I promise.”

  A relieved smile spread across her face. “You better mean it…or I’ll have to kick your ass,” she said playfully.

  Stormy pointed to Nozz’s bobber, which had drifted dangerously close to some stumps that were peeking out of the water. “You might wanna re-cast your line so you don’t get it snagged.”

  Just as the last word was leaving her mouth, there was a huge splash right behind Nozz. He jumped up and crossed over to her side of the boat, nearly tipping it in the process, and wrapped himself around her protectively, “It’s okay, I’ve got you! What the hell was that! A gator?”

  Stormy burst into a fit of
ridiculous laughter. It had her doubled over until her side hurt. Nozz let go of her and stared at her incredulously. It was obvious that he thought she’d lost her mind. “What the hell are you laughing about? I just saved your life.”

  “Oh, Nozz,” she said through the snickers, “That was a really sweet gesture…but you were trying to protect me from a nutria rat.”

  “A what?” His eyebrows drew together.

  “A nutria. It’s like a cross between a giant rat and a beaver,” she tried to explain through the chuckles.

  “Yeah, right. Now who’s making up imaginary critters? You’re just trying to get me back for that whole vampire squirrel thing I pulled on you.”

  “No, you jackass. These actually do exist. You can Google it.” The look on his face was priceless.

  “Hey Nozz?”

  “What?” he huffed, clearly agitated by the fact that she was still laughing at him.

  “Let’s give the nutria a name….We’ll call him Karma.”

  He flipped her the bird… and then he started chuckling too.

  ****

  A pang of jealousy tore through Brylan when Stormy and Nozz disappeared around the bend. He felt like hitting something, but since his dad was standing a mere five feet away, he had no choice but to swallow the bitter pill of envy.

  He’d never seen anything like it, the sheer bliss on Stormy’s face when she hopped in that thing. He just stood there in awe of her while she maneuvered that boat like a pro. He was wishing like hell he’d gone with them. But here he was, stuck on the pier with Dad. And he could tell by his dad’s demeanor that he had something he wanted to get off his chest…and he was certain he wasn’t going to like it.

  Brylan’s dad cast his line out. The tiny glimmer of the lure disappeared beneath the surface. He gave it a minute to sink down to the bottom, then he began reeling it back in again. “So how’s the teaching thing going?” he asked over the methodical clicking of the reel.

  “Good so far.”

  “And the house?”

  “It’s good. Nozz, I mean, Joshua, has been helping me fix the place up.”

  “Uh huh.”

  And there it was. The tone.

  “And the girl? How does she fit into the equation?”

  I knew it. So that’s what put a burr under his saddle. “She’s renting my garage apartment from me.”

  “Huh. They both seem kind of young to be hanging out at your place. Students of yours?”

  Nosy ole bastard. “Joshua is in one of my classes, yes. Stormy goes to the same school, but she’s not in my class.”

  “Huh. So, your employer doesn’t mind you hanging out with your students socially?”

  “Dad. Don’t start. These kids…. Hell, they’re not much younger than me. And yes, I befriended them. Is that a crime?”

  “I don’t know…. Is it?”

  “Just what in the hell are you getting at, Dad?”

  “Lower your voice, Brylan. I don’t appreciate the attitude. I just don’t want to see you screw up your life. You can’t afford to make any more mistakes.”

  Cutting his eyes at the old man, Brylan heaved out a heavy breath. He’d known in his gut that his dad would bring that ancient shit up. Things that he wanted to stay buried in the past, but his dad just had to keep digging it up. “That mistake happened when I was practically still a kid.”

  “Oh, so now you admit that you were just a kid? Because at the time, you swore to me that you were all grown up and ready to take responsibility.”

  His old man was a master at twisting Brylan’s words and using them against him, and he hated him for it. “Yes, Dad. I admit that I was young. But I still wanted to do the right thing. It should have been my choice. I should have had a say.”

  “Oh, so at the age of sixteen, you think you were ready to be a father, huh?” He turned toward Brylan and put his hand on his hip. “Son, when will you see that you dodged a bullet?”

  Dodged a bullet?

  Brylan tightened his grip on his fishing rod. What he really wanted to do was knock the smug bastard on his sanctimonious ass. For six years—six long years—he’d wondered and worried about a child that may or may not even exist anymore.

  He and Becky were best friends all through school, from the time he first pulled her hair on the playground until tenth grade…when they became more. They had tried to be careful. But apparently they weren’t careful enough, and then two pink lines on a plastic stick turned their world upside down.

  Both of them knew they were too young. But that didn’t mean Brylan wasn’t willing to break his back to try and do the right thing. It’s what his mom would have expected from him…if she’d still been alive.

  They hid their secret for a month, giving themselves time to formulate a plan, knowing full well that neither of their families would be supportive. Determined to make things work, Brylan told Becky he would marry her and drop out of school to support her and the baby. But Becky was scared, and despite Brylan’s desperate pleading, she broke down and told her family about it. Within a week of Becky’s disclosure, her parents whisked her away without so much as a word to Brylan. No phone call. No letter. He just happened to be driving by her house the same day the realtor was staking a for sale sign in the yard.

  To this day he had no idea what happened to either Becky or the baby, and for years it ate him alive. He spent countless hours online looking for clues, anything that might link him to Becky or Becky’s family, but his searches always left him just as empty as when he started. It was as if they’d vanished from the face of the earth. Poof. Gone. And then about a year ago Brylan decided to stop torturing himself. He let them go. Or at least he tried to. And he had been pretty successful at it.

  Until now.

  “How can you bring that stuff up right now, Dad? I’ve tried to move past all of that. Why can’t you?”

  “Because, son. It sure looks like you’re headed for certain disaster, hanging out with those two,” he flippantly gestured in the general direction of where Stormy and Nozz were headed. “What are you thinking, socializing with your students outside of school?” He shook his head in dismay. “Are you trying to throw your career away?”

  It was taking every bit of restraint Brylan had in him not to throw his ass in the lake. At some point the words got muffled and all he could hear was the whooshing between his ears. He focused on the dragonflies that were hovering over the water in an attempt to lower his blood pressure. Until his dad got so loud he couldn’t ignore him anymore.

  “Do you hear what I’m saying to you, Brylan?”

  “Yeah, Dad! I’m an irresponsible screw-up! That’s all I’ve ever been and it’s all I ever will be. Got it!” he snarled at him while looking him right in the eye.

  For a moment his dad looked stricken. His mouth was hanging open and there was something like regret in his eyes. It was the first time Brylan had ever stood up to his father like that.

  It was uncharted territory for both of them.

  “Brylan. That’s not what I said.”

  “Yes, Dad. You DID! The words may have been a little different but the meaning was very much the same. You’ve always treated me like the substandard son—the one you’re ashamed of. And it doesn’t make a damn what I try to do to prove myself to you. You’re always going to find some excuse to pick my life apart and analyze the shit out of it until you can find something to criticize me about.”

  He watched as his dad turned the color of a ripe tomato. Oh shit, I’ve gone and done it now. He braced himself for the wrath that was sure to ensue. But it never came. Brylan and his father stared at each other for several excruciating seconds before his dad turned his attention back to the water. He reeled in his line, picked up his gear, and marched back to his truck without looking back.

  Brylan’s conscience was kicking his ass, telling him to run after him and apologize. But his temper wouldn’t allow it. It wanted the old man to stew in his own juices for a while. So Brylan just stood there,
grinding his teeth with his hands balled into fists as he watched his father drive away.

  As the last glimmer of the silver tuck disappeared over the hill, he heard giggling and tiny splashes of water. Stormy and Nozz were coming around the bend. Shit! He had mere seconds to shake off his foul disposition before either of them caught on to it.

  He tried to keep his voice light, “Hey, guys. Good to see you survived. Y’all catch anything?”

  “Nah,” Stormy said, “We got a couple of nibbles, but that’s it.” They exchanged glances and grinned at each other while some unspoken conversation passed between them. And that damned green-eyed monster, called jealousy, was biting him in the ass again.