After that, it was off to the bonfire. Set up by the fire department, things went off without a hitch. The fire roared and everyone sat around it having soft drinks or beer. Food was served. Great conversation spread around. Kylie loved it. More than that, she felt like she belonged. Everyone treated her as though she had lived in Callahan all her life.
“You want some?” Trey walked up and offered her the roasted marshmallow he held between his fingers. She had eaten so much junk already she almost turned him down. In the end, it looked too good. She let him feed it to her, licking the stickiness off her lips when it was gone. It tasted heavenly.
“I’ve gained five pounds today.”
“I doubt that,” he said, licking his fingertips. “But I probably have. I’ve never seen so much food. It’s crazy.”
“Yeah, everyone’s having a great time.”
“It’s the event of the year around here. Everyone looks forward to it. Gives us all a chance to get together and let off some steam.” He looked down at her. “I hope you’re having fun.”
“I am, Sheriff.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a quick kiss. “I love your family.”
He reached up and pushed a hair away from her face. “They like you a lot too. Everyone does.” Their noses bumped and their lips met again.
Kylie burrowed in closer to him and just stayed there, wishing the moment would go on forever. Over his shoulder, she saw Danny Redfeather sitting not far from them, near the fire, alone. She knew that over the course of the day he had done his best to avoid Trey. As much as she understood Trey’s feelings for him, she felt sorry for Danny. He had a group of friends he hung out with, mostly police officers with the reservation. They all knew Trey too but they never talked to him when they were with Danny—and Danny never talked to them when they were with Trey. It was awkward all around.
“He looks sad,” she finally got the nerve to say.
Trey loosened his grip and followed her gaze over his shoulder. He scowled. “That’s a real shame.”
“It’s been a long time, Trey. Don’t you think?”
“I know how long it’s been, Kylie. I haven’t said anything rotten to him today. I’ve let him do his thing, without being a problem.”
“I know you have. I just feel bad for him. And in a way, Shayna too. She was drinking a lot earlier back at the football game.” In fact, she had been pounding beers and taking jello shots. Kylie had watched her while Faye had shaken her head and warned them a ticking time bomb was about to go off.
“I do not feel sorry for Shayna. She is her own worst enemy. As for Danny, he’s too stupid to think with anything but his dick.”
“Maybe you’re being a little unfair,” she said, quietly.
He met her gaze then folded his arms over his chest, emphatically. “Okay, Montana, let’s hear it.”
“Hear what?”
“Why you think I shouldn’t care that my best friend screwed my wife, while she was pregnant no less, in my bed.”
His words put a slight spin on the situation. He was right to be devastated. “I didn’t say you shouldn’t care, Trey.” She leaned into him, trying to loosen him up again. “Don’t be mad.”
“I’m not mad, Kylie. I just don’t understand you and Mamaw. How would you have felt if you had caught Paul in bed with someone else?”
“I did, Trey. Twice.”
He cursed. “The first time wasn’t enough for you either, huh?”
“I blamed myself back then. He wasn’t being satisfied by me.”
“He was a dick.”
“Yes, I know. But I could care less anymore about who he screws or where. I don’t love him. I’m not sure I ever did.”
Trey looked in Danny’s direction and winced. Shayna was stumbling up the grass. She had a drink of some kind in her hand and it was obvious that she was drunk. Not only that, she was spoiling for something—probably a fight.
Kylie and Trey both watched as Danny frowned and looked in their direction.
“Why are you looking at him?” Shayna said loudly, gesturing to Trey. “He’s not my husband. He’s screwing her now. Didn’t you know that?”
Trey rolled his eyes, giving Kylie an I told you so look.
“Well, it’s true!” Shayna said, stumbling and then steadying herself on Danny’s shoulder.
“Will you go sleep it off?” Danny said, narrowing his eyes and standing up.
“I don’t want to sleep. Because thanks to him,” she said, indicating Trey again. “I don’t have a house anymore—or a husband.”
Trey snickered at that. “And what a loss that one is.”
“Shayna, why don’t you let me walk you back to your parents place? I was going to check on Mamaw anyway,” Kylie said, hoping to keep the peace. Danny and Trey were volatile enough on their own; they sure as heck didn’t need Shayna thrown into the mix.
Shayna laughed as though Kylie had just told a very funny joke. “You don’t think I’d go anywhere with you, do you? You…You’re the enemy.” Shayna staggered toward her and nearly tripped and fell into the fire. Danny grabbed her arm and prevented the accident.
“I told you not to feel sorry for her,” Trey said, shaking his head. “She’s not worth it.”
“Go to hell, Trey,” Shayna spat out, glaring at him.
“I’ve already been there, baby.” He glared right back.
“God, I hate you!” Shayna screamed and advanced on Trey. He was prepared for it. He blocked her with ease, his eyes darkening.
Danny swore, grabbing Shayna’s arm. “We’re going home.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you!” She jerked her arm away and swore. “I hate both of you!”
“Shayna, calm down,” Leo said, obviously hearing the commotion and coming over to help. “Let’s get you home.”
“Haven’t you been listening? I don’t have a home!” She glared at Trey again. “I don’t have anything!”
“You have what you set yourself up for,” was all Trey said, turning away.
Something dark seemed to cloud over Shayna’s eyes. She glowered at Trey’s retreating figure. Then she lashed out the only way she could. “She wasn’t even yours, you bastard. That baby you wanted so much wasn’t even yours!”
Things got very quiet as Trey stilled. He didn’t turn, he didn’t speak. He inhaled a breath and Kylie felt his pain all the way to her soul. At that point, something snapped inside her. Without thinking about it, she walked over to Shayna and looked her in the eyes. “You are an evil bitch.” Her fist snaked out and caught Shayna squarely in the jaw. That was all it took for Shayna to fall like a ton of bricks.
“What the hell?” Faye exclaimed, hurrying toward the commotion with Dusty and Joey. “Did you just hit her?”
Kylie backed up, her knuckles throbbing. For a moment, the whole situation seemed somewhat surreal. She’d never hit anyone in her life.
“Get her out of here,” Dusty snapped at Leo, who was looking a groaning Shayna over.
“Nice shot,” Joey said, grinning and slapping Kylie on the shoulder.
Trey stepped up and pulled Kylie back. “Let’s go, Montana. This isn’t our problem.”
She followed him out to the parking lot and waited as he unlocked his truck. She climbed into the passenger seat, without a word. She was not a violent person and she’d hit someone. Her anger had gotten the better of her and she’d lost control.
Trey climbed in and shoved the keys into the ignition. He didn’t turn the engine over. “Let me see your hand.”
She lifted her now swelling hand out slowly for his view. His fingers ran gently over it, turning her palm up and then letting it go. “Ice will help.”
She didn’t answer.
“Thank you.”
She looked up surprised. He was smiling.
“For embarrassing us both? You’re welcome.”
“For hitting her before I did,” he clarified. “It would have been a lot worse if that punch had come from me.”
<
br /> She couldn’t argue with that. “I can’t believe she said that to you.”
“I’ve always suspected the baby wasn’t mine, Kylie. But what was I supposed to do? I was her husband.” He shrugged his shoulders, helplessly.
“You’re a good man, Trey Callahan. I hope you know that.”
“I think I’ve realized something tonight. Maybe you and Mamaw are right. About Danny, I mean.”
Now she was really surprised.
“She duped him too. I’m not saying I respect him in any way, because I don’t. I would never touch my friend’s wife—or my enemy’s, for that matter.” He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, thoughtfully. “I think the dumbass may have fallen in love with her. Stupid bastard.”
“She’s very manipulative,” Kylie agreed.
“I realized tonight that all this time I’ve blamed him more because he’s the one who hurt me the worst. I expected it from her. I didn’t see it coming from him.”
“I’m sorry. I know how much betrayal hurts.”
“Yeah, well, I’m ready to let it all go for now. I looked at Shayna tonight and it made me see how bitterness tears you apart. I don’t want to be that way.”
She felt relief at his words. Maybe something good had come out of the evening’s events after all.
“Let’s get you home and ice that hand.” He started the engine up and they headed for home.
23
Faye and Dusty’s wedding day approached quickly. Kylie had been dreading it in a way. She would be leaving the following day. The end of August brought on staff meetings and school planning. She had only a few days to make it back to Montana and situate herself for the new year. School would be starting soon. She would be meeting her new students—something she normally looked forward to every year. This year she wasn’t as excited. As much as she had missed her home and her job, the idea of leaving the Callahans—one in particular—was eating at her.
She had packed most of her stuff already, knowing that things would be too busy on the day of the wedding. Trey had helped her. He had been relatively silent about the whole thing. She’d waited for him to say something about her leaving—anything. He hadn’t. He’d just trooped along like a soldier.
Faye was not trooping along like a soldier. She had bawled her head off the night before when Kylie had begun packing her clothes up. She’d bawled again that morning when Kylie’s mother and father showed up for brunch and her father had mentioned riding back with her to Montana in case the jeep gave her any more trouble.
Kylie felt bad about putting a damper on Faye’s wedding day but she knew she couldn’t put off leaving anymore. She had been gone nearly six weeks now. When she’d pointed this out to Faye, while they were sitting in a dressing room at the church, her friend had been less than understanding.
“You don’t have to go back at all, Kylie. Stay here. Get a job teaching. There’s plenty of work around here like that.”
Kylie watched her friend adjust her headpiece, tears filling her eyes. Her oldest friend was getting married in less than an hour and she was beautiful. Her dress was off the shoulders and lacy. Its full skirt billowed around Faye’s small frame.
“Did you hear me?” Faye asked, impatiently.
“I heard you. I’m going back tomorrow. I have to.”
“Why?” Faye demanded. “You love him, Kylie. Don’t try to deny it.”
She didn’t bother trying to deny it. She knew deep down that she did love Trey. Heck, she had known it for a while. The fact of the matter was, that as far as he’d come over the past weeks, he was still not ready for any kind of commitment. And Kylie wouldn’t stay in Arizona without one. She wasn’t even sure she could stay there with one. She had built a life for herself back in Montana and she wasn’t sure she was ready to give that up.
“I’m getting really tired of Trey taking so much time to figure out his shit. He’s blowing it again.”
“It’s not all him, Faye. We went into this relationship knowing that I was leaving after today. It’s not like it’s a shock to either one of us.”
“Love changes things,” Faye insisted. “He loves you too, Kyle. You have to see that.”
“He’s not ready to admit anything, Faye.”
“He wants you to stay. I can see it in his eyes.”
“Well he didn’t ask me to. And I’m not sure I would stay, even if he did. I have a job in Montana—friends. I have a house, Faye. I can’t just walk away from my life there permanently, without thinking things over.”
Faye frowned, her eyes filling again. “But I like having you here. I want you to be here when the baby is born.”
Kylie felt her eyes blurring too. “I’ll come back. I’m not turning my back on you.”
“Just Trey?” she asked, quietly.
“I’m not turning my back on him either. That’s not fair.”
“You’ve been good for him,” Faye said, smiling halfway. “He’s finally living again, after all that Shayna crap. It took years—and you—for that to happen.”
“We’ll play things by ear. Can you accept that for now?”
Faye wanted to protest, that was obvious. In the end, she didn’t. Instead, she sighed. “I’m going to miss you so much.”
“I’ll miss you too.” Kylie met her friend halfway in a hug.
Hearing music start outside, Kylie squeezed Faye’s hands tightly. “You’re marrying a great guy, Faye. I’m so happy for you.”
Faye swiped at her tears again and groaned. “Okay enough. I’m going to look terrible before I even get out there. I want you to do something for me, okay?”
“Anything,” Kylie said, solemnly.
“Be a little patient with Trey. Don’t just write him off. He’s going to do the right thing, Kylie. I know he is. But he’s a thinker. He has to mull things over for a really, long time before he gets down to business. He’s not Paul though. Just remember that.”
Kylie knew that was true. Moments later, as she walked down the aisle and her eye caught Trey’s, her heart seemed to break. She couldn’t read him. He was smiling, standing up there next to Dusty, looking stunning in his black tuxedo. Unfortunately, as usual, his feelings were closed off. His expression gave away literally nothing.
The ceremony was quick, but emotional. When Dusty kissed his bride, cheers erupted from around the room. Everyone moved on to the reception at Callahan’s. As Kylie had imagined, the restaurant was perfect for the event. They had all spent the night before decorating it in Faye’s colors, with flowers and balloons.
Time flew by and soon the newlyweds had danced their first dance and cut their cake. Before long, they headed off for a Hawaiian honeymoon.
Kylie watched their taillights disappear and sighed. It was really all over. She turned and looked over at the bar, where people were still dancing and having a good time.
She saw Trey coming toward her and her breath caught. He was a beautiful man, just like his brothers. The tuxedo he wore had been dismantled by this time. His crisp, white shirt was un-tucked and his tie had disappeared. His sleeves were missing the cufflinks and were rolled up now. He had a bottle of champagne in his hand. When he reached her, he nodded his head. “Come with me for a while.”
“Where?” she asked, curiously.
“Just come.”
He led her toward his truck. They both climbed inside and he started the engine. A moment later, they pulled up in front of the farm. He climbed from the vehicle and motioned for her to follow him around to the back of the guesthouse. When he reached the swing set, he indicated for her to sit.
She raised a brow, but sat. She heard him pop the cork on the champagne. Then he took a swig of it before sitting down on the swing next to hers and offering her the bottle.
She took it without question and swallowed some of the bubbly liquid.
“I talked to Danny.”
The words surprised her and she smiled. “You did?”
He took the champagne again. “I told him I was
done with the grudge. I probably won’t ever trust him again but I won’t stand in the way of him seeing Mamaw. She likes him. He’s good to her.” He took a long drink and then shrugged his shoulders. “Hating him hasn’t helped me all that much. You’re right about that.”
“I’m proud of you.” She reached over and picked up his free hand. “I know it wasn’t easy for you to do that.”
“Yeah, well, I probably wasn’t quite gracious enough with him for you to be proud of me.” He grinned and she smiled too.
He let a breath out. “Hell, I’m going to miss you.”
Tears swarmed her eyes and she looked away from him. “I’m going to miss you too.”
“So, stay.”
The words surprised her. She looked at him but he was staring out into the darkness. “For how long,” she finally asked, knowing his answer wasn’t going to be the forever she was looking for.
“I don’t know,” he finally admitted.
Her heart cracked a little. “What does that mean?”
He offered her the champagne, but still didn’t look at her.
She ignored the bottle. “I can’t stay here, Trey. I have a life back home. I’ve avoided it for long enough.”
“I know there are probably words you want to hear right now, Kylie. I’m not sure I can say them.”
“I don’t want to hear anything you can’t say outright, Trey. For now, me leaving is probably the best thing. It will give us both time to think.”
“And then what?”
She thought her answer over, carefully. “And then I guess we’ll know what we want as individuals—what we need.”
“I care about you,” he finally managed to get out. “More than I ever planned on.”
Knowing how hard it was for him to get his feelings out, she smiled. “I care about you too. This isn’t goodbye. It’s just—”
After the Rain (The Callahans) Page 18