Bigger Than the Sky (Serenity Point)

by Harper Bentley

  Kade lets out a breath, used to his brother’s smartassed comebacks. “Needs to be there by one when the pipe’s delivered,” he says with a lift of his eyebrow. “Heading to Mags’ now. I’ll pick you up a roast beef sandwich. You can eat when you get back.” He nods dismissively at me and says, “Amelia,” then turns and walks away heading up the sidewalk toward Maggie’s. Well. Their mother did teach them to be polite, I’ll give her that.

  “What’s he doing back in town?” I whisper as I gawk after him.

  “Blew out his knee year after you woulda been married. Retired from the Navy, came home and bought Pettyman’s. It’s actually all his. He just put the “Family” on it because that’s how he is.”

  I nod and watch Kade go, and, damn, I think I love watching him go. The maroon thermal Henley he’s wearing stretches across his broad shoulders, the sleeves pushed up to show his muscular forearms, faded jeans that sit low on his hips covering his long, powerful legs. And then there’s his butt, so tight and firm. I remember checking out that butt when watching football games in high school, how he’d get in his linebacker crouch and I couldn’t keep my eyes off it. And I can’t now either, still watching him for longer than is appropriate. Long enough to hear Brody chuckle which pulls me out of my gazing.

  I look over at him and my face flushes because I’ve definitely been caught.

  “Don’t think Peyton would like knowing you’re ogling her man,” he says looking at me as if he’s just waiting to see my reaction. And, boy, do I give him one.

  “Peyton Capps?” I respond in a shocked squeak and feel the blood rush out of my face.

  Brody nods and shrugs.

  Holy shit. Kade’s with Peyton Capps? Peyton Capps! She was the Caroline Bingley, no, the Regina George of Serenity Point High School. She was the mean girl!

  She was a year ahead of me and since her dad was the mayor, she thought she was the shit. She was a very pretty girl with blond hair and green eyes, but her actions made her ugly. I’d watched for years as she manipulated boys, broke up couples and convinced Reverend Easley that his sweet daughter Joy had gotten drunk at a party, getting Joy grounded for an entire summer which conveniently left Ethan Matthews, who’d shown interest in Joy, wide open for Peyton to date. She’d even gotten a teacher fired for stealing when two thousand dollars from the Winter Carnival money went missing. Peyton had said she’d seen Mrs. Gibson take it, and the bad thing was Mrs. Gibson had paid cash to have her car repaired at Papaw’s shop the next day, the incriminating total being just under two grand. But no one had said a thing when Peyton showed up at the Winter Carnival dance the next weekend in the dress she’d been mooning over for weeks which was an exact replica of the dress Gwyneth Paltrow wore to the Oscars when she won for Shakespeare in Love, a dress that cost, you guessed it, two thousand dollars.

  Worse yet, she’d tried convincing Kade I’d been cheating on him, and since I knew she’d always had her eye on him, it hadn’t surprised me in the least.

  It was Kade’s senior year, Prom had been two weeks away and as a surprise, I’d been talking to Jackson Reeves about borrowing his dad’s ‘68 Firebird that was in mint condition. Mr. Reeves had all kinds of muscle cars that he collected, but the Firebird was one that Kade always eyed when he saw it in town, so I thought it’d be cool to pick him up for Prom in it if Mr. Reeves would loan it to me. Papaw had worked on it a time or two, so I knew Mr. Reeves would more than likely let me borrow it because he knew I had an appreciation for cars, especially old cars, because I’d helped Papaw some on it. So I’d met with Jackson on the sly behind the gymnasium to ask him about it and learned later that Peyton had seen us because she ran to Kade telling him. A couple days later, Jackson had caught me in the hallway and pulled me into the library to tell me his dad was on a business trip, but he’d ask him when he got home. And a week before prom, Jackson had motioned me over in the parking lot before school to tell me it was good to go. Kade hadn’t said anything to me until two nights before Prom when he’d come to my house and confronted me. For a while I’d acted innocent as if I hadn’t known what he was talking about, but when he’d demanded that I tell him what was going on between Jackson and me, I’d told him he’d just have to trust me. We’d almost broken up right then and there because it finally came out that Peyton had told him that she’d seen Jackson and me making out behind the gym, in the library and in the parking lot and that we couldn’t keep our hands off each other. I hadn’t taken that well, and I’d let Kade know I didn’t appreciate him trusting her over me. On Prom night, when I showed up in the Firebird, he’d apologized profusely for not trusting me, kissing me sweetly in front of his whole family, which had shocked me because he’d always been the guarded type and PDA just wasn’t his thing. But the best part of the entire evening had been when I confronted Peyton at the dance and gave her a piece of my mind in front of everyone, and then everybody started yelling at her about the shitty things she’d done to them too. It was awesome.

  Peyton was a bitch and I doubted she’d changed. As Dr. Phil always says, “Past behavior is the best indicator of future behavior,” and I truly believe that.

  So what the hell was Kade doing with her?

  “H-how long have they been together?” I ask, still shocked.

  He tilts his head to the side calculating and replies, “Couple months.”

  “I thought she married Cruz Stalls?”

  “Did,” he says. “Have two kids. Divorced last year. Guess she was having an affair with Dax Baker, our latest mayor, which led to the divorce. And now she’s hooked her claws into Kade.” He frowns.

  “Chick’s keeping the mayor thing in the family, huh?” I mumble with a shake of my head making him shrug. “And now she’s with Kade…” I’m definitely baffled here, not able to process the thought of them together. I’m still shaking my head when I say, “Brody, you know she’s evil!”

  He snorts. “Yeah, well, I’m not the one dating her.” Suddenly he looks guilty but then continues, “So, hey, it was great seeing you but I’d better get that backhoe delivered before Kade throws a hissy fit. Is it okay if I tell Mom you’re in town? I know she’ll wanna see you, have you over to dinner.”

  “Sure,” I answer, still stunned at the crazy tidbit of info he just slammed me with about his brother. He kisses my forehead then walks back across the street to their store turning to give me a wave before he disappears inside.

  ~~~

  After Brody leaves, I get my keys out, unlock the front of the station and go inside seeing that nothing has been touched since the last day my grandparents had been in it, which is oddly comforting. Papaw’s unlit cigar is still sitting in an ashtray by the register and an afghan that Meemaw had been crocheting is draped over a stool at the counter.

  After they died, I’d only come back home for their funeral then made one last appearance in town when I’d met with Mr. Price, their attorney, who’d presented me with their will and informed me that the garage was free and clear and all mine. That tinge of guilt flares up inside me again making me sigh in regret.

  I pull Meemaw’s afghan off the stool and sit, spreading it over my lap and let the guilt wash over me for not coming home to see them after I left. I’ve tried rationalizing it all by telling myself I’d stayed away because I was trying to find myself, which is so ridiculously cliché it makes me roll my eyes, but it’s really the only explanation I can think of.

  Well, that or maybe I’m just like my mother. And that pisses me off because I’ve always thought she was weak.

  When I was seven, my father had been killed in a coal mining accident, and I guess Mom just couldn’t handle things, so a month later, she’d dropped me off at her parents’ and that’d been the last we’d heard from her. Meemaw and Papaw had doted on me from the start because Mom was their only child, I their only grandchild, and I’m sure they latched on to me because they didn’t want to lose me too. And then I’d turned around and done the same damned thing t
o them that she’d done. So selfish.

  When I got older, I’d tried several times to find my mom with the minimal resources I had but failed on all attempts. So when I was a senior in high school, Papaw’d finally sat me down and told me that although he knew my mom loved me, if she wanted to be found, she would. Hearing that had been particularly painful at the time, but I knew he hadn’t been trying to hurt me, he’d just been telling it to me straight.

  Unlike her, when I ran away, I immediately let them know where I was. Since I’d graduated from VCU in Richmond and was familiar with the area, it only made sense for me to go there. I ended up getting a job at an accounting firm (with great references from the city of Serenity Point where I’d worked since getting my CPA). They’d come to visit me a couple times that first year before they died, so it wasn’t like I’d totally abandoned them, but I still feel terrible for leaving them.

  Tears start falling down my cheeks now as I sit thinking about them, knowing they did all they could to make everything good in my life, which they had, and I miss them so much. I put my head on the counter and let the tears fall as I think of how my life would’ve been so different had they not taken me in.

  When I finally lift my head, finished with the pity party I’ve been throwing myself and ready to start sorting some things out around here, I look out the big front window and see Kade back from lunch holding a white bag from Mags’ as he walks into his store across the street, and now the tears really come.

  ~~~

  I’ve gotten a few things done with the garage. I have an appointment Monday to get the permit, I’ve already applied for the license from the state, the station is set to be inspected next week, and ads are set to run in the local newspaper starting tomorrow morning seeking mechanics and behind-the-counter help.

  I’ve checked the service bay in the garage making sure all the tools are in good shape (which they are) and tested the lifts which are also working, and I’m now upstairs where there’s a little efficiency apartment that Papaw had built for the times he stayed late working on a car he knew someone needed by the next day. He and Meemaw had lived ten miles out in the country, so on those nights he’d slept here. And now I thank God I never had the utilities turned off because I’ve decided I’ll just stay here while I’m in town instead of at a hotel, that way I’m on site and can start working on things immediately. The faster I take care of this, the faster I can go back to Richmond.

  I’ve already done some cleaning upstairs, and I now go downstairs to the little laundry room at the back that Papaw used for washing the work rags. I’m pulling the bed sheets that I bought on the way here out of the washer and putting them in the dryer when Cassie calls.

  Now, here’s the tricky part. Cassie’s been my best friend since the day I arrived in Serenity Point. We were in the same homeroom together and because I was new, she immediately took me under her wing. After that, we were inseparable right up until my wedding day. But she’s one of the few people I’ve kept in contact with since I left and she understands why I ran.

  She’s also Kade’s sister.

  “You are so going out with us tonight!” she yells into my phone.

  I chuckle at her enthusiasm. “Cass, I’ve got so much to do here.”

  “Gimme a break! What are you gonna do, give someone an oil change?” She snorts.

  “Could if they needed it,” I reply defensively. Papaw had taught me tons about repairing cars over the years, and I’m honestly not bad under a hood. I’m even better than most male mechanics at some things since my hands are smaller and I can reach things easier than they can.

  She laughs. “I know you could. Calm down. But it’s Friday night! You have all weekend to get things done. Besides London’s in town and Lacey’s coming too! You have to!”

  London’s a flight attendant and she’s been all over the world. Cassie’s told me some of her crazy stories and I’m kind of dying to hear them in person especially to ask her if David Gandy really flirted with her on a flight from New York City to London. Lacey teaches in the elementary school and Cassie in the middle school, so they both live in town.

  I sigh then respond, “Okay. What time?” teasing her into thinking this is a huge imposition on me. Looking down at my watch, I see that it’s already seven.

  “Can you be at Jen’s in an hour?” she asks.

  “I can,” I answer, smiling.

  She squeals loudly and tells me she’ll see me soon and we hang up. When I go back upstairs to shower and get ready, I wonder if this is such a good idea. But I really want to see my friends so I decide I can always leave if things get weird.

  Chapter 3

  “And don’t forget the time we snuck into the boys’ locker room and put plastic wrap over all the urinals,” Lacey says with a cackle and we all burst out laughing.

  “Oh, my God! The janitor was pissed! And the same janitor still works there!” Cassie adds. “I swear, every time he sees me in the hallway he gives me a dirty look. It’s like he knows!”

  We continue cracking up. We’ve been reliving our glory days, and the aforementioned isn’t one I’m too proud of, but whatever. It’s funny. And, God, it’s so good to see my girls. I’ve missed them so much and hadn’t even realized it.

  “Another round, Martina!” Cassie yells over the music playing to our waitress who’s taking an order three tables away. Martina looks back and raises her chin with a smile letting us know she heard then continues taking the order from the table she’s at.

  “So, Mile-High Club. I want to know,” I say to London before taking a swig of my bourbon.

  She grimaces. “I swear to God, if one more couple tries it on my watch, I’ll embarrass the hell out of them once they’re finished. It’s so gross. If they knew how dirty those bathrooms are, hell, the entire plane, they wouldn’t even think about it.” She shudders as she downs the rest of her Cosmopolitan. Oh, and by the way, David Gandy totally did flirt with her. I got that cleared up within the first minute I saw her. Lucky bitch.

  “Why’s our conversation revolving around bathrooms?” Lacey asks before taking a sip of her strawberry margarita.

  I snort. “Ew, it is, isn’t it?”

  “So, Mill, tell us about your job,” London says. “Richmond. Accounting firm. Hot guys?” Then she frowns. “Although I can’t say I’ve ever seen a hot guy accountant.” Then she shrugs. “Anyway, who’re you dating?”

  I turn red because I’m not about to tell them about Aidan. Cassie knows and it was embarrassing enough for me to tell her; I don’t need the whole group knowing I was seeing a married man. In my defense, I didn’t know he was married. But he’s a Charlie Hunnam lookalike, and, well, no explanation necessary there, he’s British like Charlie, I’m just a sucker for accents, and he’s one of the most charming men I’ve ever met, so I think I deserve a break on this one. He came in as a partner at my firm two years ago, and we dated almost a year until I’d found out about Mrs. I Look Like Charlie Hunnam and I’m Even British six months ago and ended it.

  “Nope, not dating,” I say with a shrug.

  “No? After leaving Kade five years ago, you’re still not dating anyone?” Lacey asks after finishing off her drink and I cringe. I guess I’ll always be known as “She who left the town’s golden boy at the altar” around here.

  Martina brings our drinks and I take a fairly large sip of my Maker’s Mark and glance at Cassie whose eyes are bugging out at me because she knows about Aidan. Mine bug right back and she smiles reassuringly at me with a giggle then takes a drink of her Mojito.

  “You guys look like the Sex and the City girls,” Martina says with a chuckle while putting our used glasses on her tray then walks away.

  We all look at each other in confusion then Cassie nods. “I can see it,” she says. “I’m Miranda ‘cause I’ve got reddish hair. Mill, you’re Charlotte with your darker hair, Lacey’s Carrie with her blond highlights.” She looks at London, “And you’re Samantha, th
e ho.”

  There are giggles all around at the look on London’s face.

  “C’mon, London, you can’t tell us you haven’t hooked up with some hot pilot,” I tease.

  She flips her long, blond locks behind a shoulder. “No, I can’t,” she says and our mouths hang open. “What?” she asks.

  “That’s crazy,” I say. “That’s like every woman’s secret fantasy.” I look at her in a new light now because that’s kind of hot.

  The music in the joint has gotten louder as it’s gotten later, the crowd rowdier and London yells, “Let’s dance!” then jumps up, grabbing me by the arm and pulling me to the small dance floor in front of a stage where some people have been setting up for a band to perform.

  Cassie and Lacey join us and we’re having a blast dancing to the club song that’s playing, and, boy, does it feel good to let loose. I haven’t smiled this much in years. I look down to see that the sparkly, silver tank top I’m wearing is catching the lights making me look like a giant disco ball which makes me throw my head back and let out a throaty laugh. Cassie comes in and takes my hand, spinning me around then we start doing body rolls, chest rolls and hip dips amongst other moves, smiling at each other the entire time. But when she starts doing booty pops, I shake my head with a laugh and keep on with what I’m comfortable with.

  And that’s when I feel someone watching me. I do a turn as I’m rolling my body and look over to see Peyton Capps or Stalls or whatever her last name is now, glaring at me from the side of the stage, arms across her chest.

  Alcohol’s a fine thing sometimes because at any other time—meaning if I were sober—I’d have gasped in embarrassment for being out on the floor acting like an idiot and probably run back to the table, not that she intimidates me, but I’m sure I look ridiculous. But the two and a half Maker’s Marks coursing through my body are screaming that we don’t give a shit who’s watching us, which is fine by me, and I keep dancing, not missing a beat. I give Peyton a huge smile waving my fingers at her while I do some hip rolls and hip ticks then watch as she huffs and stomps away.