by Bo Reid
Now, I’m pissed.
“You know what, Sol? Fuck you! Brooks is my child and every choice I have made for the last year has been for him. Since the first day those two pink lines popped up, my life has been all about him. I would never do anything that could put him in harm’s way,” I bark at Sol, my voice getting louder the more frustrated I get. “Plus, you and I are both well aware of Kasen’s record, and you and I both know that Brooks is much better off with someone like Kasen, record or not, in his life than someone like his biological father. So. Fuck. Off!”
I let out a deep breath. Before Sol can respond I keep going, nowhere near done with my verbal lashing, “And another thing! Kasen is a friend now. I only have intentions of friendship with him. If he wants, he could tell me to fuck off. I’ve met him twice, so don’t start planning a December wedding,” I say rolling my eyes.
Sol starts to open his mouth but my phone rings, and I smirk at him. “Saved by the bell,” I sing-song and pick up my phone, “Hartley Montgomery.”
“This is a collect call from Kasen Kingston at Cypress County Penitentiary. To accept the charges associated with this call, press one. To deny this call, please hang up.” I press one and wait for the call to connect.
“Hello? Kasen?” There is a pause for a minute.
“Hartley? Hey, uh, how are you?” he asks, and I smile.
“I’m good, how are you?” I hear a bunch of yelling and banging going on in the background.
“I’m good. I wanted to check in on you and Brooks.”
“I’m doing good, all healed up. Not nearly as sore as I was when we visited,” I tell him, and I hear someone in the background yelling his name. He groans into the phone and I hear a chorus of male voices asking:
Kingston, you on the phone with your new girlfriend?
That hottie from visitation last week?
Yeah, Kingston has himself a new MILF.
“I’m really sorry if you can hear any of the shit that’s being said right now. I swear I haven’t been talking about you. It’s just these fuckers don’t have anything better to do and you’re the first person to visit me since I got here, so they won’t shut the fuck up.”
I laugh a little because I can just picture him beet red from embarrassment and frustration.
“I can hear them, but it’s okay, I’m not sensitive or anything,” I tell him.
“Yeah well, they still shouldn’t be talking about you,” he grumbles.
“Kasen, it's fine. You can’t let what other people do affect you. You only have control over yourself and your own actions and reactions,” I tell him.
“You’re pretty amazing, aren’t you, Hartley,” he says.
I laugh lightly, “Naw, I’m just me.”
“Hartley, I gotta go. My time is up, but, um, can I call you again?” he asks.
“Of course. Can I, um, would it be okay if I came down for visitation next week?” I ask quickly.
“I can’t wait,” he says, and I hear the smile in his voice. “Bye, Hartley.”
“Bye, Kasen,” I say before we hang up.
I think I found my new best friend.
“Dum dum dadum, dum dum dadum…” Sol starts humming the wedding march and I pick up a pad of paper and throw it at him.
“Shut up.” I glare at him.
“Whatever Hartley, you’re smitten.”
I flip him off with both hands and he just shakes his head and walks out of the door; still humming the damn wedding march.
Chapter 4: Aster
Hartley
I sit in my car out front of the prison debating on just going home. Brooks is with Sol today. When I called the prison this morning they said I could get here at ten this morning and have a whole hour with Kasen. I was excited to get to spend more time with him even if I don’t understand why.
He awakens something inside me; something that I don’t quite understand. It’s like he adds a warmth to my chest and a beat back into my heart.
But on the way there the radio played that song, and I lost it. I tried to hold it together, but the memories came flooding back. If I hadn’t told Kasen I would come I would turn around and go back home. Spend the day curled up in bed or at The Point, but I can’t do that to him. He has no one else.
I flip my visor down and look at myself in the mirror. At least I didn’t wear makeup today and I don’t have to worry about mascara running down my face. That doesn’t mean I look even close to decent. My eyes are red and puffy, and my face is blotchy. It’s clear I’ve been crying.
I grab a baby wipe from my purse and clean up as much as I can before grabbing the eye drops from the glove box to clear my red eyes up. I can probably pass as hormonal. I mean, that’s not exactly a lie, but it’s not the truth either.
I sigh, grab my ID and my keys, and head inside. I sign in at the front and directed to the metal detector where I’m pulled aside for a female corrections officer to pat me down. I lift my shirt and roll down the top of my pants and panties to show I’m not hiding anything. Then she instructs me to pull my bra away from my chest, again making sure there’s nothing there that shouldn't be.
This is just one more reason why today isn't the best day for this visit. All these things, people touching me, it’s too much. They don't do anything inappropriate, they’re professional and just doing their jobs, my brain gets that. My heart? Not so much.
I’m directed to the visitor's room while a guard leaves to go get Kasen. I pick a table in the far corner and sit with my back to the wall facing the prisoner entrance door.
It takes a while, so I stare out of the barred-up window next to me and zone out. I think back over everything that has happened in the last few years, some heartache but mostly good things.
My dad died, then Sol and I started Wild Hart Outfitters.
The car accident, then we met Kasen.
That night, but I have Brooks.
So much lost, but so much more has been gained.
“Hey,” Kasen says, and knocks his knuckles on the table as he sits down on the bench across from me.
I tear my gaze from the window and look at him, smiling. He’s smiling, too, but when he sees my face his drops.
“Hey,” I say as he reaches a hand across the table.
“Hart, what happened?” he asks, getting up to move around the table and sit on the bench I’m on. He straddles the seat and opens his arms to me.
I shrug then lean into his chest, “Nothing, just hormones.”
There is a spark that runs through my chest and shoots down my spine as he gently runs his hands over me. Just being close to him makes my chest hurt a little less. I shouldn’t want him to touch me, just being this close should make my skin crawl like it did with the correctional officer, but it doesn’t. Kasen makes me feel like maybe my heart won't hurt forever.
“Are you okay?” he asks, and I just nod.
“Yeah, I’m fine. How are you?” I ask, pulling away from his arms and reaching up to dry my tears.
“Happy you’re here,” he says, a grin pulling at the corners of his lips.
We sit silently for a minute, just taking each other in. He reaches his hand out to me and I place mine in his. “Tell me something about you, Hartley,” he says.
“What would you like to know?”
“I don’t care... anything. Tell me something about your childhood,” he says.
I think for a moment about what I could tell him that won’t give too much of my life away but that wouldn't be lying to him.
“Well, my mom left us before I turned a year old. Sol is two years older than me. Our dad raised us. Dad said Sol was a bit too much for her due to his colic issues and then there was me,” I say, and he rubs his thumb across my knuckles.
“I was an accident although Dad always said I was a surprise blessing, but we all know what that means. I guess since Mom never wanted me to start with, she didn’t see any reason why she should actually stick around, but that’s fine. I always figure it was be
tter to have the true love of one parent than one that hates you.”
“Are you and your dad close?” he asks.
“We were. He passed away a few years ago,” I say.
“I’m sorry.”
“Thank you. It was hard. After he passed away, I took four months off and hiked through the Pacific Crest Trail.” I love sharing the outdoors with people.
“What’s that?” he asks.
“The Pacific Crest Trail, or PCT, is a hiking trail that stretches from Southern California to the Canadian border. It goes farther into Canada, but that part isn’t hiked as often. And a through hike is when you start at the southern or northern trailheads and hike to the end nonstop. I started in Southern California and ended up in Washington. It’s about two thousand, six hundred, and fifty miles total,” I say and watch Kasen’s eyebrows shoot up.
“You hiked all that in four months?!” he exclaims, clearly surprised and impressed.
“Yup, best four months of my life,” I say.
He shakes his head and chuckles softly. “So, I take it you like hiking?”
“I love anything that takes place outside - hiking, swimming, rafting, snowboarding, rock climbing, camping; basically anything outdoors.”
We sit in silence for a beat but it’s comfortable, we don’t have any awkward weight in the air between us, and that is such a rare thing to find in someone. Sometimes you just click with people, I click with Kasen and I want him to stay in my life because of that. Instant friendships are rarer than a black opal.
“How is Brooks doing?” he asks, changing the subject.
“He’s great, keeping me busy.”
“Can I ask you something?” he asks.
“You can ask me anything, but I won’t promise an answer,” I say.
“That’s fair,” he pauses for a moment. “Where is Brooks’ father? Is that why he’s not with you? Does his dad have him today?” I suck in a deep breath then slowly let it out.
“Brooks and I don’t have anything to do with his biological father. He is no one important. He wants nothing to do with Brooks, and that’s exactly how I want things. He waived his parental rights the day Brooks was born. As far as I’m concerned, Brooks has no father. I realize that is biologically not possible, but legally that’s the truth,” I tell him. Kasen just nods, processing the information.
I silently pray he doesn’t ask any more questions about that story. I’m not in a place where I want to share even small details about him.
“Well, anyone that doesn’t want Brooks, or you for that matter, is fucking crazy,” he says.
I just smile and give a little nod. That’s not exactly an accurate assessment of my situation, but I’m in no mood to elaborate. Maybe one day, but not right now.
Chapter 5: Amaryllis
Hartley
“Okay, who wants overtime and who has days off to request?” I ask.
It’s the end of the month staff meeting. At the end of each month, employees can sign up for days off or overtime hours for the following month. It ensures that those who want to work more can, and those who want more days off get them.
It’s a great way to build employee morale. If your employees are happy because they’re getting the hours they want or the days off they need, then they work better.
Of course, not everyone is always happy but, so far, this system is working really well. So we’re going to stick with it. I hang the signup sheet on the wall.
“Sign up for what you want by Friday and make sure those not here today know to sign up,” I call out to the employees in the break room.
Sol and I walk out of the back-staff room.
“We need to order more supplies for the emergency kits. Can you ask Ace to go over what we’re lacking?”
“Yeah, but remember he’s getting married soon and he’s taking Ava on a two-week honeymoon,” Sol reminds me.
I roll my eyes. Of course, I know. I upgraded their resort package and paid for it. I managed to get the information about their trip out of Ava last time she came into the store. Ace refuses to tell me anything because he knows I’d do something to help them.
I called the resort to upgrade their room. While I was at it, I also signed Ava up for two massages and paid for a salon credit for her to use however she wanted. Ace got spoiled, too. I signed him up for four-wheeling adventure tours when Ava has her massages.
“Have you told him yet?” Sol asks.
I narrow my eyes at him. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say, and keep walking towards my office.
“Yeah, nice try, Hart, but I know you. I know you managed to pay for something for Ace. I don’t know what you did, but I know you had to do something. You wouldn’t let this opportunity pass you by.”
“What are you talking about? What opportunity?” I ask, playing innocent.
“The chance to help a friend. There is no way you wouldn’t pay for something for them. So, what did you do, upgrade their flights?”
Oh shit. I didn’t think about that.
“Ahh, okay. Not the flight, but now that you have the idea, I bet you go in there, call the airline, and do it,” he says, laughing.
“I will not, but just out of curiosity, do you know what airline they’re flying out on?” I ask, casually but also not at all casually.
“I might,” he says and smiles, “ ‘cause I already upgraded their flight, so that means you upgraded their resort package.”
I roll my eyes.
“Okay, yes, I did, but you did something as well so you can’t give me any shit for it,” I say, pointing my finger in the middle of his chest.
“HARTLEY!” I hear the roar of Ace’s deep gravelly voice vibrate down the hallway.
“Shit, did you tell him?” I ask, smacking Sol’s chest.
“Why the fuck would I tell him? I upgraded his shit, too!” he whisper-yells.
I turn around and slap a sweet smile on my face. “Yes, Ace? What can I do for you?” I ask, radiating innocence.
“It was you, wasn’t it?” he demands, stopping in front of me and crossing his arms.
I see Sol trying to sneak away behind me. “Oh, no, you don’t,” I say and grab his shirt, pulling him to stand next to me.
“What was me?” I ask. He rolls his eyes.
“Which one of you upgraded the flights, and which one of you upgraded the resort package?” he demands.
I just shrug like I have no idea what he’s talking about. Surreptitiously raising one hand to my stomach, I point my finger at Sol and mouth it was him; Ace just huffs his irritation at my antics.
“Maybe you won some contest,” Sol says helpfully, without actually helping things.
Ace narrows his eyes at me. “I’m guessing Sol upgraded the flights, because he managed to get the info out of me last week. Hartley, you did the resort. Ava told me that you sneakily pried that information out of her.”
“Okay, first of all, don’t say it like that. I did not sneak any information from your soon-to-be-wife. She was very excited the other day, telling me all about where you’re taking her. All I did was listen intently to the way she gushed about how great you are. Right now, I’m going to disagree with that statement,” I say and cross my arms to mimic Ace’s defensive stance.
“And secondly, you’re fucking welcome. Stop being an asshole,” I tell him and poke him in his big broad chest.
He snatches my hand and pulls me into a hug, “Thank you, Brat,” he grumbles before lifting me off the ground and spinning me around before setting me down with a huge smile across his face.
“Thank you, guys. Really. You didn’t have to do any of that. We appreciate it,” he says, shaking Sol’s hand.
I lean into him so I can wrap my arms around him to give him a hug, squeezing as tight as I can. “You’re family, Ace. Of course we wanted to do something nice, because Ava is family too. You know that, but make sure she knows as well. If you guys ever need anything, just fucking ask. Stop being so stubborn,” I te
ll him.
“Yeah, you’re one to talk about being stubborn, Hart. You have the thickest skull of anyone I have ever met. You’re a raging pain in my fucking ass, but I love you,” he says, laughing.
I shrug my shoulders. “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I laugh.
“Miss Hartley! Do you have time to look at the new book display?” Clara calls from the other side of the hall.
“Duty calls, boys. Don’t get into too much trouble without me,” I say.
“When are you going to take a break?” Ace calls.
I turn around, walking backward and smile, “I’ll sleep when I’m dead.”
Chapter 6: Gladiolus
Kasen
It’s been a couple of weeks since Hartley last came in for a visit, but I’ve called her twice a week since and talked to her for a few minutes each time. Sometimes, it’s quiet. Other times, I can hear Sol talking or Brooks crying in the background. The best is when she puts me on speaker phone and I get to talk to Brooks. He obviously doesn’t talk back, but when I hear him laugh or yell excitedly, it warms my fucking heart.
Every time I get to talk to her, I learn something new about her; things like the fact that she can’t live without coffee and hazelnut creamer. One time she told me she couldn’t find her phone when I was calling ‘cause she left it in the fridge. That was pretty funny. She calls it mom brain.
I told her about my childhood. My dad left before I was even born. My mom did her best, but being a mother wasn’t for her. When I was sixteen, she left. I figured out how to survive on my own. The neighborhood I grew up in was rough, and no one batted an eye about a teenager without parents.
I managed to graduate from high school--just barely, but I did it. Sadly, that's my greatest accomplishment. I can tell that my childhood makes her upset but I love that she doesn’t pity me because of it.
A thick package gets pushed through the bars of my cell. I grab it from the inmate delivering the mail today. He’s a young kid, tall and lanky with hardly any meat on his bones. He’s in for selling meth.