“Don’t worry, I learned my lesson. I would never want to fall victim to Cheyenne Kung Fu ever again. That’s why I was a little more subtle with my techniques and kept a safe distance.” Sawyer laughs, surely remembering the time she came in and jumped on top of me trying to wake me up. It all happened so quickly that I am still not certain what all transpired. All I remember is feeling someone land on me and without warning my legs and arms went straight up launching Sawyer into the air and onto the floor.
“You should have known better, crazy. You know I don’t like surprises, especially when I am dead asleep.” Sitting up, with my back against the headboard, I switch on the lamp, giving the room some light.
Adjusting to the now brightness, I spot a cup of coffee in her hands. She knows me all too well. At times, I can be a beast without my morning coffee. I hit the button on my phone for the home screen and note that it is only ten in the morning and I have a few missed calls and messages, but can deal with those later.
“Man, do I love you. So how are things back at home?” I ask, taking a slow sip of the hot liquid. One taste and I already feel human again.
“Good. Everyone is excited about Ben and Julie’s engagement. Get this, so Ben had this whole romantic evening planned out for when she came home. I am talking rose petals all over their house leading to the back porch, where a candle lit dinner awaited. Which is crazy to imagine, because, well, that’s just not my brother.”
It does make me laugh thinking of Ben coming up with such an idea and then actually following through with it. He was a country boy through and through, and I never would have thought he had it in him.
“When she makes it outside, there he was, down on one knee, professing his love before asking the big question.”
“Aww, how sweet!” I say.
“Then, she said no!”
Shocked, mid-swallow, I choke on my coffee. “What? No she didn’t!”
“Oh yes she did. Julie said the look on his face was priceless and she couldn’t hold it very long before putting him out of his misery. She started laughing and crying at the same time and told him she was only kidding and of course she would marry him.”
“I bet Ben shit himself when she said no.” Julie was the first girlfriend of Ben’s that Sawyer and I approved of. He definitely found his match.
“He said he almost cried, can you imagine? Big Ben, down on one knee in tears? Poor guy, but it was a great story. We all went out to Granger’s Steakhouse to celebrate and I ran into your dad.”
Redwood is a small country town and almost everything is locally owned; a lot of mom-and-pop places. The Granger’s have been around forever, being one of the founding families. And their restaurant is one of the best in town.
“Was his wife with him? I wouldn’t imagine her being far away.” I loved my dad, but despised his wife. I don’t even know if despised is the right word to describe my hatred.
Dad had his faults when it came to his marriage with my mom. I remember when he started going out of town a lot on business and was barely around. My grandfather’s family also held the title as one of the founders of Redwood.
Thomas Building is third-generation family owned. Starting out as a small construction company, it has now grown and spread having four other locations throughout the country. They were in the middle of the third expansion, when my dad became more involved. The new company location was to be in North Carolina, and the constant traveling began. I had always been a daddy’s girl and missed him like crazy when he was gone.
It was still a year after the divorce before the company in North Carolina was able to run without Dad always being there. During that year I had seen him for holidays, and if I was lucky, once a month in between. He always made sure to call most every night before bed, but as a little girl I just wanted my daddy around.
Around the time my mom married Bill is when I overheard a conversation between them about my dad’s affair. That was the day I stopped being a daddy’s girl and a lost a certain amount of respect for him.
It was the summer before my sophomore year in high school when my dad first introduced me to Lora. I hated her immediately.
I believe there are some people that you can just sense evil in right away. That was Lora, with her artificial platinum hair, and blood red pointy nails, which she still sports to this very day. For the life of me, I cannot figure out what Dad sees in her. There is not one decent quality about her and I have made my opinion known from day one.
I try to avoid her at all costs, only going to the house when I know she isn’t there or for holidays when I can’t get out of it. I talk to my dad often and we have lunch and dinner dates with just the two of us so we can catch up and spend time together. I had given up trying to convince him to ditch the witch once they were married; obviously my efforts hadn’t worked.
The evil, of course, only seemed to come out when it was just she and I. Our first major altercation happened one morning when I was walking Sam out. We had gone to a party the night before and he drove me back to my dad’s house. His mom was working overnight so I convinced him to stay with me knowing Dad would be gone before we woke up.
I had just closed the door after Sam drove off when I heard her from behind me going on and on about how I will end up knocked up before long and will be a disgrace to my father. Ignoring her, I simply turned for the stairs, ready to lock myself in my room until Dad came back home. I was on the third step when she made the comment that caused me to snap.
She continued to say that Sam was just a poor boy with no father who only wanted me because of my family’s money. Whipping around quicker than I even thought possible, I was right in her face screaming.
I had lost it; completely gone.
Every feeling I had bottled up inside about her came crashing out, and I held nothing back. She could say what she wanted about me, but not about Sam. And definitely not that.
Sam’s mom left everything behind when she moved him to Redwood to escape his father. His dad had made a lot of bad choices and ended up down a road that he couldn’t return from. Coming to Redwood, she was able to get a good job at the hospital as an ER charge nurse and took every shift possible to provide a good life for Sam. I had such admiration for Mrs. Carter and how she raised an amazing son.
I was not sure what either one of us truly saying as we were basically yelling over one another. What pissed me off even more, was the fact that it wasn’t even noon yet and she had already started on her wine. Even if she wasn’t holding the almost empty glass, I wouldn’t have been able to miss the stench on her breath.
It was around the time that she called me a self-centered, tasteless, teenage slut that I countered with a name I had in my head for her. She heard whora-Lora clear as day, leave my lips as she reached back and slapped me across the cheek. With my adrenaline in high gear, I snatched the glass from her hand and smashed it on the floor behind her.
At times I wish I would have hit her back, but knowing that she had been drinking would not have been fair and most likely would have ended up with me in trouble. By only breaking the glass, she would still have to clean it up before Dad got home and realized she had been drinking again, much less have to explain why it was broken in the first place.
She didn’t say another word and I turned and left the house.
She now knew I had the upper hand in this relationship and could end her with just one conversation with my dad.
“No, she wasn’t there. It looked like he was there for a meeting or something. He said that he’s been trying to get ahold of you, but you aren’t returning his calls.” Sawyer says, bringing me back to the here and now.
“He’s called a couple times. I tried calling him back but his wife answered the phone. She obviously knew it was me calling since my name and picture pops up on his phone screen. There was no way I was talking to her so I hung up and haven’t called back since.”
“And I bet she never mentioned your call to him either.” Sawyer stat
ed knowingly.
“Right. He wouldn’t have had her answer if he were with her. He is not an idiot.”
“Well, I told him that I would give you the message but that you were probably tied up with school work.” But my dad wouldn’t have bought that.
Over the summer he told me I didn’t need to keep working at the bookstore. It was my senior year of college and he wanted my complete focus on school and having free time to enjoy my last year. He said he would make a weekly deposit into my account to cover my loss of income, but of course, his deposits were double what I was making there.
“Thanks. I will give him a call later. Anything else exciting happen?”
“You know there isn’t much excitement in Redwood. I took Mrs. Davis flowers and went to the cemetery to talk to Austin.”
Reaching over I take Sawyer’s hand in mine. “How was it?”
“It still hurts so much. Just turning down their driveway has me in tears. I sat in my car until I was sure it was dried up before walking to the door. I love visiting his parents, but at the same time I feel bad because we always end up crying. A lot of the time they are more from happy memories, but I still feel horrible seeing his mom cry. I keep waiting for it to get easier, you know, but I don’t know when that will happen. I will always miss Austin, but why does it have to hurt so bad?”
Hearing the pain and tears in her voice I pull my hand from hers and wrap it around her back holding her close to me.
“I feel like I am doing so good and making progress, but the minute I go back home it hits me all over again. And Preston, he’s been amazing. He knows what it means for me when we’re there and always gives me space when I need it.”
“I’m sorry, friend. If there was a way for me to take your pain away, I would in an instant. It’s okay to be sad at times, everything is still so fresh. Your wounds haven’t even begun to heal all the way, but they will. It will take some time, but I promise you that eventually there will be a day when it doesn’t hurt as bad. Until then, if you ever need a day to just cry and get it all out, you know you can call me; I’m your girl. Always will be, Sawyer.” Squeezing her tighter to me, I kiss her head.
“Thanks, Chey. That is why you are my bestest.” Sawyer sits back up against the headboard, wiping the wetness from her cheeks. “Sam was at the cemetery when I got there.”
Hearing his name, I close my eyes at the jolt of pain I feel in my chest. But quickly recover; masking my emotions hoping Sawyer didn’t catch it.
“He must have been in town visiting his mom. Her birthday was last week.” I made sure to send Mrs. Carter flowers. Unsure of her work schedule, I had them sent to the hospital, still pretty sure she spends more time there than at home.
My relationship with Sam’s mom has stayed strong over the years. With him away at school, I knew she had to be lonely so I always made a point to stop in and see her anytime I was back home.
“Yeah, about that, there is something you should know…”
“Honestly, I don’t want to hear it.” I interject, having a bad feeling that whatever it is will only bring me down. This conversation reminding me of the time I had to break the news to Sawyer that Austin had a new girlfriend. Unable to deal with the thought of Sam having a girlfriend I had to stop her. “We don’t talk about him, remember? I have him deleted and blocked for a reason, so let’s just drop it.”
Looking unsure, Sawyer nods her head in acceptance. “Have you talked to Aaron recently? I think something happened with him and Martha. She wasn’t herself all weekend; real quiet and you know that’s scary.”
Shit.
I already knew what happened and haven’t had the chance to tell her. “You know, it’s probably better if we stay out of it. Let them sort it out on their own.”
“What do you know, Cheyenne? What did Aaron do?” Sawyer asks, sitting even straighter, turning her body to face me. Already getting defensive and sticking up for her sister.
“This is why we need to stay out of it. You will always be on your sister’s side. I get it. But Aaron is also my family and I will stick up for him, especially now.”
The little shit that I met when I was twelve has grown on me over the years and though he can be a typical moronic male at times, he is still my brother.
“The fact that you think I would let them come between us is insulting. Now stop being a whore and tell me what you know before I go throw out every jar of pickles in this apartment.” Smirking at me, Sawyer crossed her arms waiting for me to spill.
“That’s a low blow.” I laugh. Sometimes it sucks how well we know each other. And she knows I would die without my pickles.
I might have a slight problem.
“Don’t say anything to Martha, I really do think they need to handle this.” After a nod from Sawyer I continue. “Okay, Aaron came by the apartment Friday night and was distraught. I have never seen him so upset, Sawyer. He didn’t even want to talk about it. So I thought, what would make me open up if this was me?”
“So you fed him shots until he let his guard down and told you what was wrong.” Sawyer so rudely, yet accurately, filled in the story.
“Exactly. Anyways, he was supposed to visit his mom this weekend, but instead, decided to surprise Martha since he hadn’t seen her in a couple weeks.”
Aaron is attending State, living in a dorm, but also pledging with some fraternity therefore he doesn’t get a whole lot of free time. Martha chose to do her first two years at the junior college in Redwood, much like Sawyer.
“Well, when he got into town he saw her blue Civic parked at the feed store and pulled in figuring she was working. Everything was locked up so he called her, but got no answer. Growing concerned he was about to call your parents’ house when a black Beamer comes pulling in the parking lot and parks next to her car. Martha jumps out of the passenger side acting suspicious and before the car backs out he is able to see that it’s a guy driving; an older guy. He flips his shit on Martha, who claims it wasn’t what it looked like, and got in his car and drove four hours straight back here.”
I watch Sawyer as she soaks in the details and lets it settle. We all know Martha has always been the wild child of the Jameson’s but had calmed down noticeably once she started dating Aaron. I guess with him out of the picture she retreating to her old ways.
“I am going to beat her little ass!” Sawyer exclaims, jumping from the bed, pacing back and forth in my room. “She was being sneaky with her phone all weekend. Her fingers hitting the screen so hard when she was texting, I thought she would crack the screen. Last night she got a call and walked outside to answer it. By the time I caught up to her I only heard her say it was over and never to call her again before hanging up. That’s why I thought Aaron did something, I mean who else would be on the other line.”
“Easy killer. Remember, we are letting them deal with it. Aaron has a suspicion of who it is, but wouldn’t tell me. As pissed off and hurt as he is, he is still protecting her, even when I may have said a few choice words about your sister, which I apologize for now,” I look at Sawyer and she just brushed her hand in the air letting me know its okay, “he stuck up for her. When he finally answered her calls he told her he needed time and would call when he was ready to talk.”
“Poor Aaron. I wish I would have known. I should have pried her for more answers, but I doubt she would have given me anything. Next time I see her, she better come clean.”
“Well, now that we have all the family drama out of the way, let’s go eat. I am starving.” Right on cue my stomach growls.
“Do you have an animal in there?” Sawyer laughs pointing to my stomach, which does sound bear-like.
“Maybe I do.” I say, patting my belly. Luckily I showered when I got in last night and just need to throw on clothes. “Deli sound good?” I ask and Sawyer nods. “Sweet. I will just throw on clothes. See if Becka wants to go, if she is here. And at lunch, I will catch you up on my experience with the rockstar.”
“I can only imagi
ne.” Sawyer shakes her head walking out, turning on my overhead light on the way out. “Hurry up, I didn’t let Preston stop for food on the way because I wanted to see your lovely face.”
CHAPTER FOUR
With the semester just barely even started and I am already wishing it were over. Then, with only one more after this one, I will finally graduate. I am not positive what my plans will be after I finish with my degree in business management. Dad has always told me I will forever have a job with Thomas Building, but I would like to try and make a name for myself. I want to start at the bottom and work my way up knowing that my success would be accomplished from hard work and not because of my last name. However, the family business makes for a great safety net if things don’t pan out how I imagine.
Tonight I had plans for dinner with my dad as a late birthday celebration. My actual birthday was last month and he was out of town. In true Dad fashion, he made sure to call me at six in the morning to sing me happy birthday. Only on my voicemail of course, I never hear my phone ring that early in the morning. This past weekend he left another voicemail letting me know he would be in town tonight and I made us reservations at my favorite Japanese restaurant.
Dad was running late and he asked me to just meet him at the restaurant. Without seeing his car in the parking lot, I made my way in side to wait. As soon as I walk through the door I notice my dad standing by the waterfall and koi pond, looking down at his phone. I could almost guarantee it is work related, but considering he did take half the day off and drove all the way to meet me, I had no complaints.
I observe a group of women checking out my dad and laugh to myself. My dad was undeniably handsome. As a matter of fact, I won when it came to gene pools; both my parents were beautiful. My mom is barely five-foot, very petite, with short brown hair and blue eyes, and dad stands over six-foot with a solid frame. It’s obvious whom I get my height from, however, it’s my dad who gave me the thick auburn-red hair and honey brown eyes. He also passed down the collection of freckles across my nose, which I tend to keep covered with make-up.
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