A few minutes later, Aaron with Kirsten walked away holding hands and the three other Wiley boys headed down the hallway to their next class.
Later that day at school, the final bell about to ring and Brandon standing by his locker with Rodney’s son RJ.
Furiously, storming up to him and slammed Brandon’s locker almost taking his hand off. Turns looking at his cousin Jessie close in his face.
Brandon said, “Cool it cuz”, and RJ looked, Jessie said, “You been making moves on Tiffany, huh?”
Smirking Brandon replied, “What do you care, you’re not with her”.
Pointing in Brandon’s face said, “Just remember, that’s my kid”, and Brandon said, “Why don’t you act like it than”, and swung arms out saying, “Not your business”, stormed away.
Leaning against the locker, RJ said, “Whew he is mad”, and Brandon remarked, “No he is a jerk”, both walked away.
After school,
Brandon stopped in at his grandmother’s home to see Tiffany and little Tristan as he held him with Tiffany smiling.
Suddenly, Jessie stormed into the bedroom saying, “Put my kid down Brandon!”
A few minutes later, both grandsons were in the hallway arguing and Brenda stood in between them telling both boys to stop, as Tiffany had tears.
However, Jessie was furious shoved Brandon to the wall.
Quickly, he comes back at Jessie and Tiffany was now in screaming tears when Brenda was being shoved trying to hold both her angry grandsons back.
A few months pass, Fourth of July, cookout started and walking up by the picnic table held large bowls of potato salad, smiles saw the grandsons setting up the volleyball ball nets, two, since there was such a crowd.
Sets the bowls down onto the filled table there, was macaroni salad, baked beans, fruit salad, potato chips three different flavors.
Walking up to the table held paper plates, Jennifer said, “I love volleyball”, and rose her eyebrows replied, “Yes, can be a fun game, but not with my sons, two will be arguing by the end of the game”, Jennifer laughing.
Fifteen minutes later, a large crew of Wiley’s sat eating and standing by the grill, Saul helping his uncle Danny Ray cooks for everyone.
Walking up to the table with her friend Rhonda at her side Ella says, “This is my boss, a good friend”, waves and the family waving saying, “Hello”,
“Hi”.
Ella giggles saying, “Rhonda this is everyone, to many to name“. Both sat down eating, when walks up behind Ella reached her a hamburger, took it, and said, “Thanks Saul”, winked.
Handed Rhonda one to and walked away, glanced back slight smile Ella turns back around eating, nearly chokes when she saw Seth wiping mustard off Betsy’s chin. Saul stood by the grill eating a hotdog talking with his uncle, glancing often at Ella.
After dinner, half of the grandsons ready to play volleyball with their girlfriends that are there, held napkin, eyebrows high Brenda said, “Shouldn’t you boys wait some y’all just ate?”
Held the ball, Josh said, “We are fine Nana” and looks at girlfriend Hayden asked, “Ready to lose girl”.
Laughs, “Huh, you ready to lose”. Holding the ball, glanced at his brother Nicky arguing with his girlfriend Summer and asked, “Hey you playing little brother?’ Hand up, “Yeah give me a second”.
Walked across the yard, Josh held Hayden’s hand and one girl frown, saw them holding hands and noticed her granddaughter’s sad face asked, “Carla what’s wrong?” “Well, I invited someone today, but guess he is not showing up”.
Rose one eyebrow asked, “Might this someone be a boy?”
“Yes Nana”, and hung her head.
Reaching across the table for the bowl of fruit salad Brenda giving a slight smile saw a young tall dark haired boy walking across the lawn said, “Ah Carla”.
“Yes Nana”.
Pointing asked, “Is that your friend?”
Turning around eyes huge, gasps, “Ryder”, and jumps up running over to him. Hugging him said, “You made it”.
“Yeah, I had to work over“.
Grabs his hand says, “Well you’re here now”.
“Yeah nervous to Carla among many Wiley boys”.
“Nah, no one knows who you are”, eyes big added, “Won’t either” .
“Cool”, pulling him saying, “Come on eat something”.
“Aw I’m fine”.
“Right, to skinny“.
Paused asked, “Really, telling me my body is awful”.
Laughs out, “No, but you are skinny Ryder“.
“Never had home cooked meals”.
“Well in this family, a home cooked meal every day”.
“What?”
“Oh yes, homemade bakery to”.
“’Cool I’m liable to gain a few pounds”, laughing.
Close against him staring, “Your fine everything I want Ryder”.
Caught a glimpse of his daughter with a boy, Shawn walking near wanted to meet the fellow.
Approaching them, and noticed Carla says, “Hi, daddy this is my friend Ryder“, look at each other when Shawn reached his hand out saying, “Nice to meet ya.”. Shook his hand replies, “Same”.
“Well I’m about to battle my brothers at some games”.
“Okay daddy”, walking away and remarked, “Whew”.
“What Ryder?”
“I was real nervous, but he’s seems cool”.
“Yes my family is”.
Walked over to the table, sat down Carla filled Ryder a plate and introduced him to her grandmother and aunts sitting by the table.
In the middle of the yard, volleyball game starts, having fun and watching eyebrows rose high, hears Shane and Stanley arguing, the others annoyed over stalled game, watching two upset Wiley’s face-to- face, fingers pointing,
Suddenly, the ball hits Shane upside his head, and grabbing side of his head, yells, “AW HECK”.
Smirking, and asked, “Why did you do that Seth?”
“You’re tying up the game by whining like always Shane”, rubbing his head replied, “Well you didn’t have to rattle my brains”.
“Mean you got some”, pushes Stanley and says, “Ha-ha”.
“Let’s just play”, shook his mop of curls.
Playing horseshoes, Danny Ray, Shawn, Saul and Rodney, had glanced often at Rhonda that told Ella she had to get going, they hug and she leaves.
Two hours later, sun going down, Shawn running to the shed getting boxes of fireworks and when sun went down around 9:00 pm the Wiley’s watching the sky light up, grandsons held their girlfriends watching,
Ella kept glancing at Betsy on Seth’s back and flashed back into the past remembering a piggy back ride.
Kentucky, 1968, sat down on a brick and stood before the girl asked, “What’s wrong?” “Oh boy, I’m tired, dread walking up the big hill”.
“Seriously girl?”
“Yes, I don’t think I can boy”.
Knelt down, long curls hang in his face said, “Hop on girl”, eyes big asked, “What?” Nodding said, “I’ll give you a piggy back ride”.
“Oh my, really, up the hill?”
“Yeah get on”.
“You sure boy”. Stood above him hesitating.
“Would you just get on”.
Climbs onto twelve year old Seth’s back, rose up says, “Hold on girl”, held tight walking down the dirt rode talking up a storm, swung her legs, he grips firmly.
Half way up the hill breathing hard heard, “Hey boy you okay?”
Pants, “Almost to the top girl”.
“This was the nicest thing anyone could ever do”, and walking further with her on his back she added, “I’ll never forget it boy”.
Panting, “Aw me either girl”, giggled reaching the top, tired, stumbles both falling onto the grass laughing looks over at him breathing heavy, long curly bangs sweaty the sky lit up, she said, “Hey look fireworks”.
Pushing curls aside remarked, �
�Neat-O”, and lay there next to each other close watching the sky light up from fireworks.
Rose up, turns on his side, leaning on elbow said, “Happy fourth of July girl”. “Sure is being here with you boy”.
Smirked, “Aw hey, you getting mushy on me”.
Giggling, “No, you’re just my best friend, I love you”.
Hidden eyes huge, “You do girl”.
“Forever”.
Points saying, “You are getting mushy”.
“No boy and hope you feel the same”.
Lay back down, staring up at the bright sky, replied, “I do”.
Sat up asked, “Oh my god you love me boy?”
“Yeah, always will, but never tell a sole girl”.
Eyes large, “No, I won’t”. Shaking her head.
Looking at her saw a frown asked, “What girl?”
“What if one day when we are older we drift apart, these feelings change?”
Both stare, reached brushing her bangs back, hearts beat fast, says, “Will never happen, you will always be my girl and only one for me”.
Radiant, leans forward kissed him, pulling back, “Woe, girl getting mushy”.
Giggling, “Sorry, I got carried away”.
“Yeah guess so”, wipes his cheek she laughed saying, “Oh one day you’ll want to kiss me”.
“Maybe one day”, both laughing.
Fireworks display lighting up the sky, they lay on the hill, side-by- side, watching. Stops thinking back, saw the sky lighting up, Ella had tears looking at the boy, she watched them with years ago, now a man holding another, Betsy. Sneaking up behind her, suddenly hands on her waist says, “Boo?”
Turns around, eyes watery saw Saul rose one eyebrow high, asked, “Enjoying the show Ella?”
Glanced at Seth replied, “Not really”.
“What?” Leans chin on her shoulder and could not help to giggle felt his breath against the side of her face asked, “What do you want Saul?”
“You to be happy”.
“I am”, and noticed her pouting.
Lifts chin slightly off her shoulder, tilting his head, slants face close against hers, whispers, “Anything I can do to cheer you up?”
Saw Seth kissing Betsy and quietly replies, “Maybe”.
Few minutes later, in the shed, door locked, Ella pinned against the wall, Saul kissing her neck heavily, slid one hand between her legs, fingers pushing her panties aside locked knees together trapping his hand.
Rose up looks at her breathing hard, asked, “What’s wrong”.
“Why is that all you do, trying to get in my pants?”
“Aw just wanted to cheer you up, make you feel good”, leans forward nibbling on her earlobe.
Pushing him back, and looks at her saying, “Not this way, don’t you have any romance in you”.
Smirking, “Aw you want it to be romantic”.
“I just need a friend tonight, not this, but you have a one track mind”, taps foot on the floor.
Hands up said, “Woe easy Ella”, squeezed out heading to the door says, “Some happy fourth”, hurried out and hand on hip hung his head, sways his shoulder length pale blonde hair remarked, “Difficult woman, but challenging, just what I like”, and walked out of the shed.
Running by the truck, opening door, pulled a blanket out, shuts door and hurried over by Ella sitting on the lawn chair, swiftly took hold of her hand saying, “Come on”. “What?” Noticing Saul holding a blanket and said, “Just come on”.
Got up from the chair, Saul led her to the back field, and set the blanket down said, “We can see the fireworks from town real good here”, sat down she stood before him asked, “Not going to try anything are you?”
“Nah, it’s cool”, sits down next to him watching the sky lit up, looks at her added, “Only if you want me to Ella”.
Looks at him, bluest eyes sparking, pale hair seem to glow under the moonlit sky and hung her head, Saul noticed asked, “What now, I was trying to be romantic”. “I know this is really nice Saul”.
Leaning back on his elbows asked, “What’s wrong still”.
Absent and he rose up leans in her face asked, “What’s wrong Ella?”
Lifts her head up tears rolling, shook his head, “Why you crying”.
“Everything has been so messed up, right”.
“Well, life is what you make it to be Ella”. No reply he glanced up at fireworks going off in the sky, turns looked at her asked, “What do you want it to be?”
Wind blowing his hair back and looking at him said,
“You are so gorgeous Saul”, laughs out, “Gorgeous, huh”.
“Very”. Leaning forward, hand placed against her face said, “You are so beautiful Ella”. Wind blew her long reddish hair back.
Sighs, and asked, “What Ella?” Brushing his long fingers against her cheek. “You made me melt Saul”, rose one eyebrow high asked, “Really?”
“Yes”. Fireworks lighting up the sky, hearts pounding staring endlessly, “Kiss me Saul
“Are you sure”.
“Yes, let us end this fourth with a big bang Saul”. Laughing. Both staring rain slightly falling, says, “Oh no it’s raining Saul”.
Hands against her face said, “Aw it will be perfect, romantic, huh?”
Forty-five minutes later, walked back towards the house, soaking wet, talked, Saul laughing, Ella smiling.
A few days later, at the flower shop.
Slammed a paper down on the counter upset Rhonda said, “We may lose this shop the leasing has been raised far too high”.
Filling a vase with flowers Ella said, “It’s a shame you cannot buy it”.
“That would be a dream come true to save this place was my granny’s”. “Wow it has sentimental value”.
Crossing her fingers, Rhonda said, “I will keep my fingers crossed that the shop is saved somehow”.
“I pray to”, as Ella crosses her fingers and Rhonda had tears saying, “This shop was my families and family is everything”.
A few weeks later, at the flower shop, Rhonda jumping up and down waving a piece of paper in her hand, pointed asking, “What is the paper about Rhonda?” “It’s a true miracle this is the deed to the store it come in the mail today, I now own the flower shop somehow Ella”.
Eyes got large asking, “How, who bought it”.
Kissed the title saying, “I don’t know, sure would love to thank the hero that saved the day”.
Later that day, Ella made some phone calls and hurried out of the flower shop. A few minutes later, pulled up to Wiley’s roofing and builders and got out hurrying inside.
Went right to Saul’s office going in and saw her said, “Hello”, as she glowed and said, “Saul what did you do?”
Holding a stack of papers that he set down onto the desk asked, “What have I done?” “The most wonderful thing and years ago never would have thought of you to act this way, but you have changed”.
“Yeah, guess I have Ella”. Stares at him in tears and said,
“Oh I know”. Beaming.
“Do you Ella?” Staring at her.
“Saul you have changed so much these past few years into a fine man and this was the icing on the cake”.
“Just what is this wonderful thing I have done to make you glow”.
Ecstatic, said, “The flower shop Saul, you bought it?”
“Yeah I did”, and walks closer saying, “Why”.
“It’s your daily job that you enjoy, just like I own this one and Rhonda is your best friend like Rodney is mine, I got wind of the news that she would have lost her shop now she won’t”.
“Oh Saul I could kiss you”, and rose his one eyebrow high and said, “Well go right ahead darling”, she giggled. Looked at his watch said, “Woe, it’s after seven already”, and looked at hers saying, “Oh my, it is”.
“You hungry?”
Shaking her head said, “Yes I sure am all this investigating today worked up an appetite”.
“Would you like to go have dinner?”
“With you?” Eyes large twisting the strap on her purse.
Smirked saying, “Yeah Ella, with me”. Hand by chest.
“I’d love to”, and grabbed his jean jacket said, “Let’s roll”, she smiled.
Outside, walking up to the truck, Saul opened the passenger door for Ella that before getting in said, “You are so nice, I love this new you”, and winked she got in he hurried getting into the driver’s seat.
Pulling away they look at each other smiling and asked, “What are you in the mood for Ella?”
“What do you want?” Laughs, rose one eyebrow high saying, “Ah really want to know”. Nervously, said, “No”, and he laughed.
Pulled into a diner with an all you can eat buffet and said, “Since we cannot decide” “Good thinking we can have our pick”, and smirked saying, “I found my pick”. Giggled saying, “Saul stop”.
“Why it’s true, I cannot forget about those amazing nights we shared.” Stared at her with his heart pounding and her heart fluttered, she said, “I will never forget long as I live”, he smiled and said, “Let’s go eat, huh”, smiling replied, “Yes”.
Few seconds later, walked into the diner, few minutes later getting their food, and standing across on the other side of the buffet from Ella, putting food on her plate glanced up, saw him licking on a strawberry, winks, bit into it, nervously nearly dropped the plate, Saul laughing.
Went sitting down in a booth eating and talked as they ate when an attractive woman walked by their table, swung her long dark hair back, quickly turned around saying, “Oh my god Saul Wiley”, as Ella’s fluttering heart just dropped.
Eyes big and she stood by the table asking, “How are you, shoot I sure have missed you”.
Rising up from the seat Ella said, “I have to use the restroom”. “No Ella don’t go”. Grabs her arm.
“Why, I’m not going to listen to this ever again”.
“Aw you won’t ever, just don’t go, please”, now grabbed her hand.
The woman put her hands up saying, “Oops sorry, see you are taken, finally someone snatched wild Saul Wiley’s heart” and he looked at Ella and said, “Yep holds the key to my heart forever”.
Teary eyed, Ella gasped as her heart flutters again his pounds.
The woman said, “Well, you are one very fortunate woman, every female wanted this man right here, lucky you”, and staring at Saul staring back, Ella replied, “Yes I’m a very lucky woman”, he smiled.
The One. (The Girl #2) Page 34