Sometimes Ray told Fletcher stories about the neighbors, or commented on the makes of cars parked in driveways. Other times he’d tell him what kinds of trees or bushes they passed or anecdotes about his own childhood.
He shared idle chitchat about his own day and the people he’d seen, the places he’d been, the jobs he was working on. “I went to see my brother today,” he informed Fletcher as they passed under the shade of an oak tree. “He had one blueberry muffin left and he gave it to me. His wife bakes them. Remember her? Her name’s Kaylee and she’s an excellent cook. We talked for a while. He says things aren’t always what they seem, and that we shouldn’t jump to conclusions.
“What do you think, Fletch?” He glanced down at the boy who didn’t seem to notice. “Probably better to give people the benefit of the doubt, huh?
“Like you, for instance. I’m pretty sure you can talk. And if you felt like it, you would. If you had something important to say, you’d talk, wouldn’t you?
“But sometimes it’s better not to say anything, isn’t it? Sometimes words can get you in trouble or you say the wrong thing. Or sometimes you’re too upset to talk, and you have to wait until you calm down. People shouldn’t try to make you talk when you don’t feel like it, should they?
“Hey, look there.” He pointed across the yard they were passing. “There’s a bunny. See it?” He hunkered next to Fletcher and took hold of Oscar’s leash. He pointed again. “Over there. Next to the birdbath near the rose bush. See it? It’s sort of brown and gray and it has a white tail.”
Fletcher stared in the direction where Ray pointed. He nodded. Ray swore his lips moved and he mouthed the word “bunny”. But he couldn’t be a hundred percent sure. Maybe it was his imagination. For sure Fletcher had made progress. Especially since Oscar’s arrival. He smiled more, and sometimes he laughed although he managed to do it without making hardly a sound. He had a small repertoire of barely audible noises, groans, grunts, whimpers or chortles, which he used occasionally to convey what he otherwise couldn’t. Or sometimes, Ray thought, when he couldn’t contain them.
Ray wondered what was locked inside Fletcher’s head, and why he resisted his natural inclination to communicate with speech. That said, Fletcher was a master with body language, facial expressions and eye contact. Ray could read his mood within seconds by looking at him. He still believed what he’d told Callie Maxwell weeks ago. Fletcher would talk when he was ready.
They turned the corner and headed home. From the end of the street, Ray could see a car parked on the edge of the road. A man leaned against the driver’s side door, talking to Hayley. When they reached the middle of the block where Oscar stopped once again to sniff and squat, the man straightened away from the car and turned to look at them. Or rather, Ray thought, he focused his attention on Fletcher. After a few seconds, he turned away and spoke to Hayley. He touched her arm, pressed something into her hand, opened the car door and drove off.
Hayley stood near her car and waited for them. Ray’s heartbeat sped up.
She didn’t say anything but her gaze locked with his. “Hi,” she breathed when they stopped in front of her.
“Hi, yourself.” Wonderful, Ray. Brilliant. Dashing. Witty. So full of charm. Of course she’d choose you over Trey Christopher. What woman wouldn’t? And who was that guy who just left?
“Have a nice walk?” She included Fletcher and Oscar in her question, but Ray was the only one who answered.
“We talked. We laughed. We saw a bunny.”
“A bunny?” She giggled. “How…cute.”
It occurred to Ray that maybe using the term “rabbit” would have sounded more manly. But he’d already pointed it out as a bunny to Fletcher, and he didn’t want to confuse him. “Yeah. That’s right. A bunny. I can say bunny without fear of emasculation.”
Hayley giggled again. “Of course you can. You’re a tough guy, right?”
He grinned at her. “Right.” But then his grin died, and his thoughts went back to that night they’d spent together in her bed. He’d insisted he was man enough to take whatever she threw at him. Now all he had to do was prove it.
“I miss you,” Hayley said.
“Opting for the direct approach, I see. I miss you too.” Ray’s palms itched. If it weren’t for the presence of Fletcher and Oscar, and the fact that they were standing in the front yard, he’d have Hayley in his arms now, his mouth on hers as a prelude to much, much more.
“Want to come in? I can burn some pizza for us.”
Ray smiled. If she was getting back together with Trey, she wouldn’t be inviting him in for burnt pizza, would she? Unless she wanted to give him some bad news. No. No. Then she wouldn’t have said she missed him. Would she? “Are you getting back together with Trey?”
“He asked me to—”
“Because if you are, I won’t make it easy. He doesn’t deserve you.”
Hayley nodded. “That’s what I told him—”
“And I don’t think he can make you happy. You’ve got so much going for you and you don’t have to—wait. What? You told him what?”
Hayley laughed. “I’m not getting back together with Trey.”
“But…but he spent the night.” Ray was backpedaling as fast as he could, nearly spluttering in his effort to undo the scenario he’d constructed in his head.
“On the couch.”
“On the couch? Are you sure?”
“What? You don’t believe me?” Hayley’s tone held a hint of annoyance.
“No. I mean yes. I mean, I’m relieved is all.”
“Relieved?”
“Yeah. I figured I’d have to fight him. He’s got a couple of inches on me and a lot more conditioning. He’d probably beat the stuffing out of me.”
“Awww. And you’re such a tough guy and everything.” Hayley looked away for a moment, her attention distracted by Fletcher and Oscar, who were running circles around each other. Her gaze came back to Ray’s. “You’d have fought for me?”
“I was prepared to not give you up without a fight if that’s what it took. Now who’s this other guy?”
“What other guy?”
“The one that was here just now.”
Hayley hesitated a few seconds, wondering how to explain Niko’s presence to Ray. He’d stopped by and pressed more cash on her, insisting she use it for whatever Fletcher needed. Or if they needed to make a quick getaway. He’d informed her Carlos was still in jail, which gave her only the slightest bit of comfort. He’d promised to call her if Carlos was released. Before he left, he’d looked longingly in Fletcher’s direction.
“He’s a friend. A friend of Steffie’s, actually. He wanted to see how Fletcher was doing.”
“What’s this?” Ray asked, tapping her fist in which she’d enclosed the cash since she didn’t have anywhere else to put it.
Hayley glanced around to see Fletcher beyond earshot engaged in a rope toy tug of war with Oscar. Still she kept her voice low. “It’s cash,” she told Ray, opening her hand a bit to show him. “Niko is afraid of what Carlos will do to us if he gets out of jail. Or more likely when he gets out. He wants to make sure if Fletcher and I need to get away fast that we’ll be able to.”
“You’d leave? Just like that? You wouldn’t come to me? Let me help?”
“See, Ray, this is why I didn’t tell you before. I don’t want to put you in the middle of this. Carlos is a Class A nut job. He hates me, and he thinks he needs to even the score by making me pay for my interference, but he won’t care who else gets hurt. If it’s you or Fletcher, I’d never forgive myself. It’s easier if I take Fletch and go somewhere he can’t find us.”
Ray seemed to debate about whether to press her for further details, but he didn’t. Instead he said, “I don’t want you to move to L.A. Or anywhere else for that matter. I’m going to do whatever I can to change your mind. In the meantime we need to install an alarm system.”
Hayley’s eyes widened. “Ray, I—”
Ray did
what he’d wanted to do from the moment he saw her. He kissed her, cutting off the flow of words. All the words in the world didn’t mean anything. Talk was cheap. It was action that counted.
When Hayley didn’t resist, not at all, Ray knew he’d won the battle, though maybe not the war. But he’d see it through, whatever it took. If it meant winning Hayley’s heart in the end, it would be worth it.
“Okay, Paige, what’s up? I’ve got three messages from you.”
“Are you sitting down?”
“Yes.” She’d gotten Fletcher to bed after a brief game of sponge baseball and two Dr. Seuss books, and she was ready for her glass of wine. She plopped onto one of the stools at the counter to pour it.
“I’m pregnant!” Paige announced, joy apparent in her voice.
“Pregnant? You’re pregnant? I didn’t even know you guys were trying.”
“We weren’t. I mean, not really. We weren’t trying not to either. We figured we’d give it a few months, see what happened. And it happened!”
“Oh, Paige, that’s wonderful.” Hayley picked up her wineglass and relocated to the front porch.
“I can’t wait for you to get out here. I’m going to need your help more than ever.”
“I’m really happy for you.”
“You don’t sound all that happy. What’s wrong?”
“Oh, Paige, don’t let me rain on your parade. I am happy that you’re happy.”
“But?”
“But nothing.”
“Tell me.”
“How’s Lonny? He must be so excited.”
“Yeah, he is. Now tell me what’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong.”
“Girl, don’t make me get on a plane in my condition. Talk to me.”
Hayley sniffed. “Oh, Paigee,” she said, reverting to the silly nickname she’d given her in college. “It just seems like you’re moving so fast. You’re so far ahead of me. And I’m—I’m just stuck. Here.”
“You’re not stuck. You’re helping your stepsister’s son. That’s a good thing. What’s going on with that, anyway?”
“I don’t know. It’s taking forever. I’ve had all these surprise home visits, and now I’m not hearing anything.”
“He’s still not talking, huh?”
“No.” Hayley took a fortifying sip of her wine. “He has a whole repertoire of gestures and sounds and looks he gives to tell you what he wants. Or what he doesn’t want. He smiles more. Especially around Ray. And Ray’s puppy.”
“Okay, now we’re getting to it. Spill.”
“Stop it. There’s nothing to spill.”
“Yes, there is. I can hear it in your voice.”
“Paige—”
“Don’t ‘Paige’ me. I’m your best friend. Now tell me what’s going on.”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing? Nothing at all?”
Hayley smiled, remembering Ray’s reaction to Trey’s visit. “Okay. Maybe a little something.”
“Good. Continue.”
“Trey showed up the other night.”
“What!”
Hayley chuckled at Paige’s outrage.
“What in the world did he want?”
“Well, he said he wanted to get back together with me.” Hayley laughed while Paige scoffed. She then relayed the details of Trey’s visit.
“Good for you,” Paige commended her when she’d finished. “And how’s it going with your neighbor, Ray? Andre says he’s hot.”
Hayley took another sip of wine and contemplated how to explain her feelings about Ray to Paige.
“Don’t clam up on me. Talk to me.”
“Remember how I had it all planned out? To move to L.A., work for you, go back to school? We made all those plans together. I was all set to leave.”
“And then Steffie died.”
“Right. And now I’m here, and I have Fletcher to think of, and Ray shows up on my doorstep that day. Paige, I’ve told myself not to get too close to him, to stay away from him because I don’t want to get hurt again. But somehow, I swear I don’t even know how he does it, he makes me forget all my good intentions. Now I’m questioning everything I do, every move I make. I’m so confused. And Ray isn’t helping. He told me he doesn’t want me to leave. That he’s going to try to get me to change my mind.”
“He actually said that?”
“Yes.”
“Wow.”
“Niko showed up and Ray saw him. I told Ray about Carlos, but I’m not sure I can make him understand how out of control Carlos can be. He thinks an alarm system is the answer.”
“He wants to keep you safe. You and Fletcher.”
“He wants to keep us here,” Hayley corrected.
When Paige didn’t say anything, Hayley continued. “I wanted to be somewhere new, somewhere different so I could start over. A new place. New people. As far away from Trey as I could get. But now, after seeing Trey—”
“You’re over him. And it’s not so important anymore.”
“Yes, I guess that’s it,” Hayley agreed.
“And I mean, think about it. You aren’t that far from Jacksonville, but you are in a new place, you have met new people.”
“Yes. But I wanted to come and work with you. I miss you so much. And I don’t want to let you down. Especially now. Gosh, Paige. You’re going to have a baby.”
“I know.”
“When are you due?”
“Oh, not until the middle of February.”
“I’m excited for you. Thanks for listening to me.”
“Hey, that’s what girlfriends are for. Look, I know you’re feeling confused about everything, but I think there’s going to be a moment when you just know what the right thing is, you know? Something will happen, probably when you least expect it, and it will all click and you’ll know in your heart what the right thing to do is. If L.A. isn’t right for you, I don’t want you here. I want you to do whatever is going to make you happy.”
“I love you, Paige.”
“I love you, Hay.”
They disconnected, and Hayley sat for a long time in the dark, sipping her wine and trying to figure out what it was that would make her happy.
Chapter Twenty-One
Hayley’s cell phone rang almost the instant she walked in the door with Fletcher. She pulled it out of the pocket in her purse and answered without checking the caller I.D.
“Hey, it’s me.”
Hayley grinned. Evidently she and Ray were at the point in their relationship where they could do that. She recalled the Seinfeld episode centered around such a scenario.
“Oh, hi, Joe. I’m glad you called.”
“Who’s Joe and why is he calling you?” Ray growled. “It’s Ray.”
“I know.” Hayley chuckled. “Just keeping you on your toes.”
“More like pins and needles,” Ray muttered. “Hey, listen, can you do me a favor? I’m supposed to watch Molly tonight. Rick and Kaylee have some class at the birth center to go to, but I’m on a job with Roscoe and we’re running late. Could you keep an eye on her until I get there?”
“Um, sure. I guess. If it’s okay with Rick and Kaylee.”
“I’ll call them. I’m sure it will be fine. I shouldn’t be more than an hour.”
“Okay.”
“Thanks, hon.”
Ray disconnected and Hayley allowed herself to bask in the warmth of Ray’s trust. He called me hon. She hugged that tidbit to herself.
When Molly arrived, she steered Fletcher out to the swing set, poking her head back in the door only once to ask if Hayley had a beach towel. Hayley gave her one, and Molly scampered off, chattering about playing Superman.
Ray had positioned the swingset in the middle of the back yard so it could be viewed from the kitchen window and the sliding doors behind the eating areas in both duplexes. Hayley puttered around the kitchen for a bit, trying to figure out what she could feed the kids. SpaghettiOs, maybe. Bread and butter. She had some instant vanilla puddi
ng she’d been meaning to try. The instructions claimed mixing it with milk would result in a creamy dessert.
“I’ll probably find a way to mess it up,” she warned herself, but she took the box out of the cabinet and set it on the counter.
Maybe she could cut up a banana in it and make it even more nutritious. She’d overheard a couple of conversations at her parenting classes. Supposedly, there were all kinds of ways to fool kids into eating things that were good for them. Not that Fletcher was a fussy eater. Molly probably wasn’t either. But a banana in the pudding wouldn’t hurt either one of them.
She glanced out the window. The kids were standing on the small platform outside the swingset fort. Molly was clearly in charge of play time. Fletcher had the beach towel tied around his shoulders and draped down his back like a cape. He hero-worshipped Molly and nodded when she pointed.
The kids were fine. They didn’t need to be watched every second. She could duck into the laundry room and put a load in the washing machine before she started dinner.
She’d sorted the whites, added detergent and closed the lid when she heard a bloodcurdling scream. She dashed out to the kitchen, her field of vision taking in the view outside. Fletcher lay motionless on the ground beneath the swingset, and Molly was scrambling down the ladder from the fort.
Maybe she froze for a second. Maybe she reacted immediately. Hayley had no idea. She threw open the sliding door and raced to where Fletcher lay. Blood poured profusely from a gash near his temple. His eyes were closed. Hayley laid her head on his chest. His heart was beating; he was breathing. He didn’t need CPR.
Molly stood next to them, staring at Fletcher. “Is he dead? He jumped. We were playing Superman. I didn’t tell him to jump. I told him to pretend.” Molly was near tears.
Hayley tuned her out, trying to think what to do. She untied the beach towel from around Fletcher and pressed it to his head. She picked him up and staggered under his weight.
“Get my keys,” she told Molly. “They’re on the counter.” She got both kids into the back seat of the Mustang and told Molly to hold the towel on Fletcher’s head. He was still out of it.
Nausea warred with the pounding of her heart as she backed out and peeled down the street. Would it have been better to call 9-1-1? Probably not. One of the drawbacks of small-town living. She could make the one-way trip to the hospital in Jannings Point faster than it would take an ambulance to drive from there to Perrish and back.
A Forever Kind of Guy: The Braddock Brotherhood, Book 2 Page 20