by Xana Jordan
We’re sitting in the living room with her grandparents watching television. Having left school a little early for Thanksgiving break, we decided to spend a lot of time while out of school with them. I feel it’s just what Stace needs to heal emotionally. Henry and Sue are two of the most caring, loving people I know whose world centers around their granddaughter. Truly amazing, they are.
“News Channel Four has an update on the rash of various crimes that has plagued the Magnolia area for the last several months. Stay tuned after this commercial break for the latest information on this issue,” Dan Mead, one of the station’s news announcers, informs us at the end of the weather report.
“Well, it’s about time,” Henry says, pointing to the screen. “Took those damn idiots long enough to do something about it.” He scowls at the television, shaking his head in irritation.
“Bloody Hell,” Stace mutters, sitting up straight, her hand covering her mouth. “Do you think they caught them?”
“It sounds entirely possible,” Sue nods, continuing to work on the blanket she is crocheting.
Leaning forward beside her, my hand grips her waist. “Cade, what if this is finally over?”
“Don’t get all worked up just yet. Let’s see what they have to say, alright?”
She slumps against me, releasing a loud exhale, wrapping her arms around her waist as if in pain. “Yeah.”
Several minutes and a few commercials later, the evening news returns to the screen, Moira Silverman explaining all about their previous announcements.
“The Magnolia Police and County Sheriff’s Departments have been investigating leads and tips called in, some anonymously, effortlessly apprehending the three individuals responsible for a string of muggings, robberies, and assaults in Magnolia and its surrounding area.” She continues on, revealing more details of their capture.
“Oh my God! They’re in jail! They’re gone.” she rambles, tears falling from her face.
“You don’t have to worry anymore, babe,” I hug her closer.
Stace flips around to straddle my lap, throwing her arms around my neck, burying her face in the process. I can feel her tears as her body shakes beneath my hold, silently urging me to cling to her even tighter as she cries in relief, no longer having a reason to remain frightened for her safety. The tension I’ve hidden over this whole ordeal begins its exit from my body as we hold on together.
“Nothing to be more thankful for this Thanksgiving,” Granny remarks, leaning over to pat our girl on the back. “This calls for a celebration.” She clasps her hands together, smiling at us. “A Thanksgiving feast for all of us!”
His mouth covered in a grin, Papaw nods his head and lays an arm around her. “Our families deserve to celebrate. We all have many blessings to be thankful for.”
Turning in my lap to face them, Stace nods her head quickly. “So much! Oh, I need to call Xana!” She jumps up and snags her phone from the coffee table.
She talks to Xana rapidly, both overjoyed at the good news. “Those two are really a handful together, aren’t they, son?” Papaw lays his hand on my shoulder and pats it, chuckling quietly.
Her smile, so free and excited, makes all our obstacles seem like pebbles on the beach. Painful to step on, sure, but the smooth warm sand surrounding them makes the pain insignificant.
“Sometimes,” I answer, “but only the best kind of handful a guy could ever have.”
“Oh, mercy. You really are in trouble, aren’t ya, boy?” He shakes his head, smiling widely at me.
“Yes, Sir,” I happily agree.
“She wouldn’t have anyone else, though,” Granny adds, joining us watching her granddaughter.
Stacy turns around toward us, flashing us a huge grin, a grin I haven’t seen enough of lately, flashing us a huge grin. Winking once, she goes back to finish her conversation with Xana, right at the moment my cell vibrates in my pocket. Noel.
N: Is it true?
ME: Yes. Just saw it for myself.
N: No way out?
ME: Solid evidence.
N: Thank fuck. S okay?
I look over at my happy girlfriend and laugh inwardly as she and Xana continue their squealing over the phone.
ME: Never better. X?
N: Same. Later.
ME: Later.
Slipping my phone in my pocket, I sit back and watch as Stacy and Granny begin planning the first Matthews-Collins-Bradford-Daniels Thanksgiving Feast. Unfortunately, it isn’t long before I’m instructed to call my mom and get her up to speed with their plans.
If it means we can put this behind us and start a new chapter of our lives, together, I’ll do it with a smile.
All the women decided on Noel’s house for our joint Thanksgiving extravaganza, as it was the biggest space for everyone to gather. My mom was glad she didn’t have to cook as much as she usually does, even though Michelle helps her cook most of it these days. I have to admit, my sister is a really good cook, but I’d never tell her that.
“I’m heading over to Stace’s to help Granny load up the food,” I call out to Mom as I pass through the kitchen on my way through the house to the car.
“Okay,” she hollers in return, “we should be at Noel’s in about an hour. I’m still waiting on the potato casserole and the ham to be done.”
“Sounds good. Bye, Mom.”
“Be safe,” she yells as I open the front door.
“I will,” I promise before closing the door and walking to my truck, shrugging on my jacket. The weather is almost dreary with grey skie, damp air, and dead leaves blowing everywhere. The forecast is calling for snow, but it looks more like there’s just rain coming, in my opinion.
Turning onto Stace’s street, I notice how deserted the neighborhood seems with no one driving to and from work. It actually feels peaceful. In order to keep from blocking them in, I pull up to the curb to park.
I’m greeted by Stace’s papaw, who meets me in the driveway. “Good thing you’re on time, boy. Sue was about to worry herself to death over whether you were gonna make it or not,” he chuckles with a grin, then pats my shoulder.
“We aren’t eating for another hour and a half. It’s not gonna take that long to get everything over there.” The frown of confusion I have makes him laugh loudly.
“You’ll do well to just ignore reason and go along with it. Stacy girl should have taught you that lesson by now.”
“You’ve got me there,” I agree, laughing along with him. “Let’s get in there before she comes out with a switch or something,” I joke, walking with him inside.
“Hey,” Stace grins, hugging me as I enter the house. Leaning down, I take her smiling face in my hands to kiss her, my tongue leaving no part of her sweet, sassy mouth unexplored. Always tastes like candy and lip gloss. My drug.
“Mmm,” I moan, taking a deep breath to soak up her perfume as I pull away from our oral exchange.
“Mmm, indeed,” she breathily agrees.
“Cade? Is that you?” Granny calls out from the kitchen.
“Yes, ma’am,” I yell in response. “Coming.”
Giggling, we walk hand-in-hand to answer our summons, hugs and kisses meeting me upon entrance.
“There’s my sweet boy,” Granny coos, enveloping me in her warm, spice scented hugs, tearing me away from Stacy’s hold.
“That’s me.” Smiling over her head, I wink at my girl, grinning widely. She rolls her eyes before moving to pack up the box of food for me to carry out. Granny’s doting on me always drives her crazy. I find it absolutely hilarious.
“Thank you for helping us out, Cade,” she kisses my cheek then returns to the counter.
“It’s no problem. I’m always here to help.”
“Here are the pies and cookies,” Stace hands me a long, flat box, a smaller one on top.
“I’ll go put these in the back of my truck.”
“They aren’t going to get all bumped around back there, are they?” Granny’s concern makes me smile.
“Oh that’s so thoughtful, honey.” She smiles brightly, and bends to check something in the oven. I turn to walk toward the front door, Stacy following behind me to open it for me.
There is an unfamiliar car driving by the house that catches my attention on my way to the passenger’s side of the pickup. It’s an older, unkempt model that feels out of place around here. I’ve never seen it before. Figuring they’re lost or some long, lost neighbor’s relative, I carry on putting the boxes securely in place in the section I have made for them. The car’s disappeared by the time I head inside for further instructions. Must have been someone passing through.
“Do you mind carrying the turkey out to your truck? I’m afraid it might be too big for my back floor,” Granny explains while wrapping the bird tightly in aluminium foil.
“No problem, I have plenty of room back there.” I take the silver covered dish, along with the tray it’s sitting on, from her so I can carry it to the truck.
Sliding the tray into place, I check to make sure everything is situated properly before standing up, away from the truck to find the same strange car from earlier pulling into the driveway to park. Wary of who it could be, I walk over to where the driver is making his way out of the front seat.
“Can I help you?” I ask when the man, looking more like a reject from a horror film than anything else, is free from the car. Whomever it is, I get bad vibes coming from him when he snarls his lip in irritation.
“No, you can’t. I’m here to see my daughter. Where is she?” he demands, his face twisting with as much anger as his words conveyed. Oh, hell fuck no.
Taking a step closer to him, my hands curling into themselves all on their own, I glare at the bastard in front of me. “I don’t know who you mean, but I’m sure your daughter doesn’t live here.” Come on, asshole. Make me hit you.
“Sure, are ya? Well, I know for a fact that she does. Where is my Stacy?” The sorry piece of shit tried to intimidate me, bowing his shoulders and taking a few steps closer so that we are nearly chest to chest. The smell of alcohol reeks off him so strongly I almost want to vomit from the stench.
“Your Stacy doesn’t exist, so I think it’d be best if you leave now, and never come back.” My suggestion only enrages him, so much that he starts yelling at me, chest bumping mine while spittle flies from his mouth. He thinks he can scare me, but there’s no question I can lay his ass out without much effort, angered or not.
“You can’t tell me to leave, you little punk! I’ll see Stacy if I want to and you can’t stop me!” His palms hit my chest with great force in an attempt to shove me away, but since I was waiting and ready for his obvious attack, I don’t budge.
After wiping my face, I roll my shoulders in preparation for my next warning. “Lay hands on me again, you sorry sonofabitch, and I’ll make you wish you’d taken my advice to begin with. Now, get your disgusting, drunken, drugged out ass in your car and get the fuck out of here.” Clenching my jaw, I brace myself for the swing I know is coming. How predictable.
Not one to disappoint, he drunkenly lunges to the side in order to make better contact with my face, but I dodge the blow, easily stepping out of range and to the side. He stumbles, losing what little balance he had to begin with, nearly falling face first on the ground in front of me. Catching him by the arms, I spin him around to face away from me, sharply wrenching his arm behind his back. He screams out in pain, pathetically, and I lean forward to speak in his ear.
“Get the fuck out of here, and if you ever come near these people, or try to contact them in anyway again, I swear I’ll go to the cops to tell them what a sick, twisted asshole you really are.” He struggles to break free from my grip on his body, but there’s no way in hell I’m letting him go until I’, finished with him. “Right after I beat you to within an inch of your life,” I growl, then shove him toward his car.
Swinging around with the momentum of my push, he hurls at me, fist only grazing my jaw as I try to block his assault. Without thought, I return his punches, one, two, three, four times before stepping away from this sorry sack of sperm-donating shit. He’s getting off easy this time.
Dragging in a few deep breaths, steadying breaths, I grab the back of his shirt, yank him off the ground, and throw him toward the driver’s door. Regaining his footing, he stands up to fling himself toward me once more, arms wildly swinging at anything he can connect with, cursing louder than when he started. Dodging his flailing limbs, I sock him in the gut with everything I have, my anger driving me to do more damage.
“You contact her, even think about it, ever again, and I. Will. End you.”
“Cade!” Stacy’s cry breaks through the red haze I’ve been operating in as I force his bleeding, whiny ass into the driver’s seat, slamming the door. My breathing is labored while I stand, watching him fumble to start the ignition and leave the driveway like was being chased by a demon. Memorizing his license plate number, my eyes don’t leave his car until it can be see no more. I’m startled when Stacy’s body makes contact with mine, hugging my waist fiercely.
“What the hell happened, Cade? I came out to see if you needed help and saw you fighting some man, before I realized who it was. What’s wrong?” Her worry garners my full attention as the gravity of what just happened hits me. I’m not sorry for one bit of it. In fact, I’d do it again, repeatedly if necessary, without and guilt.
My knuckles ache from the pummeling I gave him, but I ignore the pain to jerk her off the ground. She wraps her arms and legs around me, then rests her forehead on mine, as she searches my face for answers. “Babe,” I sigh, some of the tension leaving my body as the adrenaline rush begins to fade.
“Cade, talk to me,” she pleads softly.
“He won’t hurt you again. Ever.”
“Who are you talking about? Who was that?” My gaze never leaving hers, making the air around us grow more intense by the second, more nervous about the reason for the confrontation she just witnessed.
Walking us over to my pickup, I set her on its hood, positioning my body between her legs. “He was trying to see you, but I wouldn’t let him, I won’t let him. I’d die before that mother fucker gets anywhere near you again. I promise you that.” Burying my face in her neck, I let the scent of her perfume and shampoo calm my heartbeat, soothe my soul, in the process. Her hands delve into my hair, nails scraping my scalp as she holds me to her in a protective, emotional embrace filled with emotion that mirrors my own.
“He came here? To see me?” Her trembling voice stabs at my heart, pissing me off at the same time.
“I couldn’t let him, babe. I wasn’t gonna hurt him, but he came at me, all crazed and strung out, so I just reacted. I stopped him.” Remorse? Not one damn ounce.
“Yeah, you did,” she agrees quietly while her fingers caress my head.
Raising my head away from her neck to peer down to gaze at her overwhelmed face, I say, “I’d do it again, every time, if it meant you stayed safe. I’ll do whatever it takes.”
“I’m not sorry you did it, either.” Her cheeks as she takes in my expression. “Thank you for protecting me.” She smiles as she leans forward to gently press her lips into mine in a tender kiss that has my cock seeking attention of its own. Being near her always does this to me, regardless of its inappropriate timing.
“We’d better get inside before your granny comes out with her switch,” I joke, sliding her down from her perch, and pulling her to my side. After what just transpired with her good-for-nothing sperm donor, I don’t want her out of my sight, away from my grasp.
Walking outside to see Cade fighting some stranger was a sight I never expected to see, much less how unrestrained he was while doing it. He was on a mission to inflict as much pain as possible, and I’ll admit it threw me for a loop at first. He’s never confrontational with anyone, even when pissed off beyond all recognition, instead choosing to remain calm and walk away. My fir
st reaction was to stop them from hitting each other, especially when the older man began bleeding everywhere. It was a sight to behold.
Cade’s explanation about the events leading up to what I witnessed, scared me down to my bones. My so-called father was trying to see me - get close to me. The thought of what he did to me all those years ago, coupled with the possibility of being hear him now, almost made me lose it. Thank coconuts Cade was outside to intercept his trashy ass.
I realize there are many issues I need to deal with, some more immediately that others, but with Cade fighting so fiercely by my side, I know I will accomplish everything I set out to do, because he loves me infinitely.
We all spent Thanksgiving together at Noel’s house, and having all our families together under one roof was loud, crowded, riddled with laughter, and full of so much love, it’s quite possibly the best, most wonderful holiday I’ve ever had. My nightmares are almost non-existent, Cade dealing with him, and my attackers being behind bars greatly adding to that fact. When I do wake up, I’m able to separate myself from the dream and fall back asleep, for the most part. I almost feel normal.
Xana and I were dragged Black Friday shopping by Granny and Mrs. Bradford for what felt like an eternity. No one should be up at that horrid, ungodly hour of morning. Actually, it was more like night than day. Four o’clock in the morning should really be considered the dead of night. People are insane and angry at these things, only proving they need more sleep. The men got to sleep late. Why couldn’t we?
“We should get together like this every year,” Cade’s mom, Sharon, declared, stupid grin and clapping hands included, nearly giving his dad a heart attack. It was pretty hilarious. With the looks Michelle and Mike, or Micah as she continually called him after being introduced as such, kept giving each other, it was a wonder they didn’t start fighting or something.
Nudging Cade in the side, I interrupt his concentration on his history homework. “Did you see the way Mike and your sister were glaring at each other at Thanksgiving dinner the other day?” His head jerks to mine, still processing my question.