by A. M. Kusi
Jasmine stirred the pot. “Mom’s chicken noodle soup recipe.”
Bently nodded. There were so many memories clinging to even the simplest mention of their parents. Good and bad shadows lurking behind triggers of trauma past.
He cleared his throat. “You doing okay?”
She smiled. “I’m doing a lot better. I started to go to a group thing once a week. It’s really helping me deal with . . . everything.”
“You mean for single mothers?”
She shook her head, storm clouds dimming the light in her green eyes. “No, for survivors.”
“Oh. That’s good. If it’s helping you.” He shifted in his seat. Talking about the past was uncomfortable. He preferred to leave it where it belonged, and avoid the topic altogether. “You never told me who Zoey’s birth father is.”
She added a pinch of salt to the pot and stirred it again. “How are you doing?”
“One of these days, you’re going to have to tell me,” he pushed.
“Today isn’t that day,” she said firmly.
“I just want to make sure you and Zoey get the best in life. If I need to kick some deadbeat’s ass, I will,” he assured her.
Jasmine rolled her eyes. “It’s nothing like that. Just drop it, Bent.”
“Fine,” he grunted, turning his attention back to the sleeping bundle in his arms. Zoey had her mother’s almond-shaped eyes, but his niece’s were a stunning gray blue.
“You never answered my question,” she said, ladling some of the soup into a bowl and setting it on the table.
“Which one?”
“How are you doing?” she repeated.
“I’m fine.”
“You ever think about talking to someone about Mom and your dad?” she asked, making a bowl for herself.
“Why would I? They’re gone. Nothing to discuss anymore.” The smell of the savory soup wafted over to him. His mouth watered and his belly grumbled.
“Just because it’s over, doesn’t mean the wounds aren’t still there. Until you deal with them, they’ll fester.” Jasmine took the seat across from him.
“You been watching Oprah?”
“The therapist in the group told us that. It made a lot of sense to me.” Jasmine scowled.
He put his hand on his sister’s. “Look, I’m really happy this is working for you. But talking about shit I can’t change doesn’t do me any good.” In fact, it made him angry. He’d failed his mother, his sister, and his brother. He couldn’t protect them when they’d needed him most.
“Thank you, Bently. I know I haven’t gotten the chance to ever really say it. But you’ve always been there for me. You’re the only one who never ever left. I appreciate everything you do for me, and now Zoey.”
His throat grew tight. He didn’t deserve this. He could spend his entire life in servitude of his sister and it would never make up for the time he’d failed her so horrifically.
Turning his attention back to Zoey, he said, “Who could say no to this cutie? She’s the only girl who will ever have Uncle Bently tied around her finger.”
Zoey’s pink rosebud lips moved as if she was suckling in her sleep. Her little eyebrows frowned and then relaxed. Peace and calm swallowed him up as he held his niece. All was right in the world, at least for the moment.
Chapter 10
Belle
The windshield wipers were on as fast as they could go and it was still hard to see the road in front of Belle. Thunder rumbled and lightning flashed.
She parked at the library. TJ was under the eaves with another boy around his age. They seemed to be in deep conversation. TJ hung his head low as he fidgeted with his backpack strap—something he did when he was nervous.
She honked the horn twice and both boys’ heads jerked towards her. TJ’s friend smiled and waved. Something about him felt off.
“This is some storm,” TJ said sliding into the passenger seat.
“That your friend from school?”
TJ swallowed and looked out the window. “He’s in my science class.”
“What do you want for dinner tonight?”
“Chinese?” he suggested.
“But it’s your night to cook,” she pointed out.
“Please?” He smiled and flashed his puppy-dog eyes at her.
She chuckled. “Alright.”
After a few moments of silence, TJ asked, “You ever goin’ to date?”
A triangle formed between her brows. “What kind of question is that?”
“Well, I’m gonna be going to college and then medical school, and you’ll be here all alone. Wouldn’t you like some company? You know, someone to watch your back?” TJ asked, almost too innocently, but there was a tinge of fear in his voice.
She shook her head. “I appreciate your sudden interest in my love life, but I’ll be fine on my own.”
“The sheriff seemed like a nice guy.”
Belle turned her head and glanced suspiciously at her brother. “You met him once. And he’s a cop.”
“I know. Just seemed like maybe he was into you.”
“More like he wants to be into me.” She laughed.
TJ grimaced. “TMI, sis.” He shook his head. “I don’t know, just appeared you two had some . . . chemistry.”
More like the whole damn lab exploded. “You got all that from a few minutes of me finding you outside the house getting out of a police car? Me yelling at you to get your ass inside. You scared the shit out of me, TJ. And besides, that was two months ago.” Her voice rose.
“He was just giving me a ride home because my tires were flat.”
She gave him the side-eye.
TJ shrugged and popped his earbud in.
She turned down another street. “What the—”
An object lay on the side of the road. The rain was pouring too hard for her to make it out clearly. She squinted as they drove closer, the figure coming into view. Belle screeched to a stop and gasped. “It’s a person.”
She opened her door and dashed into the freezing rain. It soaked through her jacket in seconds. Belle checked the woman’s pulse. Her skin was hot to the touch despite the cold temperature outside.
“Help me get her in the car.”
TJ just sat there, staring at the woman.
“TJ!”
He snapped out of it and raced from the car before bending to grab the woman’s feet. Belle directed him into the back seat of her car.
“Let’s get her to our place and I can check her over there,” she said, driving towards their destination.
When they got home, TJ helped her carry the unconscious woman across the wet grass and into the house where they laid her carefully on the couch.
TJ’s hands raced across his phone screen as she took the woman’s pulse. Too fast. “Stop messing on your phone and go get my kit.”
You’d think a kid who wanted to be a doctor would be more helpful in this situation. TJ disappeared upstairs. Minutes passed by. Belle huffed and followed him. “What’s the holdup?”
“I can’t find it,” TJ said, coming out of her bedroom.
“Because it’s in the bathroom, not my bedroom.” She grabbed the kit and ran down the stairs.
After pulling out the thermometer, she checked the woman’s temperature. One hundred and three. Next she used the stethoscope and listened to her lungs. Not good.
“I’m going to go upstairs and get out of these wet things and get her a change of clothes. Keep her covered for now and then we’ll take her to the hospital.” Belle didn’t wait for her brother’s reply as she ran back up the stairs.
Belle changed and grabbed another set of dry clothes. The woman was a lot taller than her, but they’d have to make do.
A knock sounded at the door. Who could that be? She grabbed a towel on her way down, freezi
ng halfway.
Bently Evans was in her house, in uniform. Fear wound around her. How had he known to come here? Was he watching her? TJ’s earlier questions and the sheriff’s sudden presence made the hair on the back of her neck stand up.
“Mia?” Bently gasped, rushing over to her now awake patient’s side.
“What is he doing here?” Belle snapped, focusing on her brother’s guilty look.
TJ shrugged.
“Don’t act like you’re not happy to see me,” Bently said frostily.
Had Bently used her brother to get to her? She rolled her eyes. “Has hell frozen over?”
“TJ called and let me in. Seems he rescued my friend.” Bently turned his attention back on the woman lying on Belle’s sofa. “What happened?”
“I just need to go home,” Mia rasped, before coughing.
Putting her distrust for this man aside because someone else needed her, Belle interjected, “No, she needs a hospital. Her lungs sound like they have some fluid and she’s running a high fever. She was passed out in the freezing cold, soaked to the bone. No idea how long she was exposed to the elements, but she could have pneumonia.”
“Let’s go, Mia. Doctor’s orders.” Bently took her hand as she stood up.
“I’m a nurse,” she deadpanned.
“Home. No hospital.” Mia coughed again, seemingly unable to stop before she went limp in Bently’s arms.
“She needs to go to the ER,” Belle commanded. “TJ, take my keys and meet me there.”
Bently hooked his arm under Mia’s knees and carried her out while Belle held the door open. She ran to his truck and climbed in the extended cab seats, opening her arms for Bently to hand Mia over. He obliged, shutting the doors before climbing in the driver’s side.
The rain had let up, only sprinkling now as he pulled onto the road and raced towards the hospital.
“She’s a friend of yours?” Belle asked, regretting the tinge of jealousy in her voice.
He glanced in the rearview mirror, meeting her eyes briefly. “She’s my best friend’s girl.”
“Oh.”
Bently handed her his phone. “Could you text him for me? It’s under Andre Stone.”
“Sure.” She took the phone from his hand, while balancing Mia’s unconscious body against her lap. She found his contact information and typed out the message before handing the phone back to Bently, her fingers grazing his. The skin tingled where he’d touched her.
He picked up the radio and alerted dispatch to notify the hospital that they were incoming.
“How did TJ tell you about Mia?”
Bently’s brow furrowed. “I gave him my number. Wanted to send him some information about Hope Facility that my friend Aaron runs. It’s for homeless teens and kids from troubled homes mainly, but it’s open to all kids in the community. They have basketball courts and a game room. It seemed like he might be having some trouble making friends, and I just thought it might be useful. Sorry if I overstepped.”
Her stomach knotted. When did this happen? And why didn’t TJ tell me? She wasn’t expecting Bently’s honesty, and it was just one more piece of the conflicting puzzle of Bently Evans.
“I’m sorry I called you a pig, Bently. It was uncalled for. I apologize for reacting so harshly.”
His gaze flashed to hers once more in the mirror.
“Thank you for that.” Switching his blinker on, Bently turned down the road leading to the hospital. “I’m sorry if I made you feel unsafe at any time. That was never my intention.” His voice was gruff.
Bently didn’t say another word or look at her again before they pulled in front of the emergency department doors.
A line of nurses, all of whom she recognized, were waiting with a gurney for Mia. The doors opened and they got Mia out and rushed into the hospital. Belle climbed over and then Bently shut the door. She tilted her head to the sky and closed her eyes. It had stopped raining. Eyes still shut, the damp cool air clung to her and sent a shiver through her. When she opened them, Bently’s gaze dropped to the ground as if he’d been staring.
“Do you want a ride home? I’m heading that way to get Mia’s family.” He only stood a few feet away, leaning against his truck. But it felt as though he was smothering her.
It seemed the tension between them had returned, making it hard to breathe. Why had things changed? Was it TJ’s questions in the car earlier? Or the way he’d jumped in and cared for this woman so readily? Could it be the fact that he wasn’t pursuing her anymore? She forced in a lungful of crisp, wet air. “TJ should be along soon.”
Bently nodded. “Do you want me to wait until he gets here?”
The kind gesture was yet another reminder of how unfair she’d been to him. The more time she spent with him in different scenarios, the more she could see the makings of one of those rare good men.
“I’ll be fine, but thank you.”
He stood and walked to the driver’s side before climbing in and offering her a wave as he left. His red taillights glowed in the cloudy afternoon.
“What did you do, Belle?” she asked herself aloud. Maybe she’d let her fear dictate too much of her life.
And just maybe, she’d ruined her shot at happiness because of it.
Chapter 11
Belle
Warm sunrays made the crisp wind tolerable. Colored leaves rustled in the breeze as Belle walked down Main Street. The epicenter of the small town, the little shops were clustered together on this stretch of road. A far cry from the inner-city streets she’d grown up on.
Cinnamon and spices wafted through the air, no doubt from the Stardust Café on the other side of the street. Oh, she could kill for a good coffee. And perhaps a good book to distract her from all the confusion Bently had created in her head.
She ducked into the bookstore to grab some reading material, then walked to the café. She adjusted her bag of purchases and pulled open the door with her free hand as a gust of wind blew, making her hair fly in her face. She went inside and pushed the door shut as the bells rang together from the disturbance. Sweet baked goods and the earthy fragrance of coffee melded together, enveloping her in a scented embrace.
Picking her hair from where it stuck to her ChapStick, Belle walked to the counter, studying the colorful chalkboard menu on the wall in the otherwise empty café.
A little girl dashed in front of her. “Is that a present?”
Belle glanced at the bag in her hand and then to the little girl. “I guess it kind of is.” A gift to me from myself.
She smiled, showing off a few missing teeth. “I love presents. Christmas is only two more months away. Then I can get presents!”
“Lyra, I asked you to stay in the back room while I finished changing your brother.”
Belle glanced up as a dark woman walked through the back door, adjusting a baby on her hip.
Lyra’s head lowered as she crossed her arms behind her back. “I’m sorry, Mama.”
“Go get your coloring book and set yourself up at one of the tables, and I’ll bring you a hot chocolate and cookie, okay?”
Lyra’s eyes brightened as she ran off.
“I’m sorry about that. My mom usually watches them while my husband and I work, but she’s sick and my brother-in-law won’t be here for another thirty minutes. I’m Remy, by the way. What can I get you?”
Belle smiled. “It’s no problem at all. I understand what it is to have to juggle little ones and life.”
Remy grinned and adjusted the baby into a carrier on her back. The little boy protested, kicking out his chubby little legs and crying.
Remy blew out a frustrated breath as Lyra came back, coloring book and markers in hand. “Can I have a chocolate-chip mermaid cookie, Mama?”
“Yes, sweetheart.” Remy grabbed a small cup and poured hot water inside. “I’m sorry. Just g
ive me one minute to get her settled and I’ll be right with you.”
“It’s really no problem at all. I’m in no rush.”
Remy hurriedly mixed the hot chocolate, dolloping whipped cream and a dash of cinnamon on top as she jiggled up and down, trying to ease the crying baby on her back. Brushing a few stray braids from her face, she blew out an exasperated sigh and came over to the counter, smiling at Belle. “What can I get you?”
“A latte with two of those—”
The baby’s cries grew more insistent as the bells jingled above the door and a group of four people walked in.
Remy glanced at the clock while she pulled the baby off her back before tucking him into her front. “I’m so sorry. It’s his nap time and he only likes to be held a certain way when he’s this overtired.”
Belle reached out her hand. “Stop apologizing. There is no need. Your baby’s needs come first. I get it. If I was capable of jumping in behind the counter and taking over, I’d help out until your brother-in-law gets here. But my skills are in taking care of people. Would you feel comfortable with me entertaining these two while you deal with your other customers? I can sit right there where you can see us.” Belle pointed to where Lyra was happily munching on cookies.
Remy looked between her and Lyra, her forehead wrinkled in the dilemma.
“Here’s my badge from the hospital. I’m Belle Jones—a nurse in the emergency room. If you want to hang on to this, I totally get it.” Belle held up her hospital ID.
Remy narrowed her eyes on the plastic and then back to Belle, the lines on her forehead disappearing. She smiled. “I don’t need to keep it, but I’ll take you up on your offer.”
Remy walked around the counter and pulled the fussy baby from her front. Belle tucked him against her chest and started to bounce from side to side.
“He’s eaten and been changed. He’s teething and missed his morning nap. Yes, just like that.”
“I got him. You go do your thing,” Belle assured her.
“Thank you,” Remy said before dashing back to the counter to take care of the growing group of customers.