The Country Duet

by HJ Bellus

  “I’m high on loving you.” –Florida Georgia Line

  The gymnastic studio is foreign to me. When I walk in, there’s pink balloons and streamers decorating every single inch of one of the rooms. The present in my hands stands out like a sore thumb since it’s wrapped in John Deere paper. Hell, I didn’t even know what to get a five-year-old girl in the first place.

  A mother in the toy aisle took pity on me sensing I was out of my element. She suggested a few collections of Shopkins, claiming it’s the biggest craze right now. She even took it a step further, telling me the selections on the shelf were difficult to find. I shrugged, but ended up throwing them in my basket when she walked away. I had to buy candy for Dave, so I ended up tossing in a pack of bubble gum and a chocolate bar for Teale.

  I filled my mom in on what had been going on, and she warned me about giving a five-year-old bubble gum, but hell you only turn five once, right?

  “Hunter,” a little voice squeals in delight.

  The high pitch of her voice causes the room to fall silent, then all heads turn to me. Baker has her arms thrown wide open and is racing my way, still screaming out my name. I barely have enough time to set down her gift before she reaches me. Her hot pink tutu bounces with each step she takes to me. Her aqua eyes are lit up and those dimples are on full display.

  I kneel down on one knee and throw my arms wide open. She doesn’t hesitate when she flies into them.

  “You came.” She squeezes my neck as hard as her little arms will allow.

  “Wouldn’t have missed it, Darlin’.”

  And it’s the damn truth. I had gone back and forth whether to attend or not, but then realized I’d do anything to make this little girl and her momma happy.

  She pulls back and taps my nose. “Want to meet my friends?”

  “I’d love to.”

  Baker wastes no time dragging me from little girl to little girl, introducing me as her cowboy. It makes me smile. I catch Teale staring at us. At first, I swear there are tears welling up in her eyes, then on a second look I see them streaming down her face.

  Baker tugs on my hand. “Can you carry me? The shoes hurt me.”

  I don’t think twice before bending over and scooping her up in my arms. She perches her little elbow on my shoulder while still chatting with her friends. The party goes on much like this. I’m never made out to feel like an outsider or someone who shouldn’t be here. Baker accepts my heart and soul without a second thought.

  “Okay, girls.” Teale claps her hands to get everyone’s attention. “You can go out to the gym and play on the trampolines and mats for an hour.”

  “Yes!” Baker squeals in my ear. “Hunter, can you take these shoes off me please?”

  “Of course, Darlin’.” I set her on a table and slip off each one of her black, shiny shoes.

  She hops from the table hyper-focused on the gym and playing with her friends. Baker shocks me when she grabs my hand, dragging me along. I follow her into the entrance of the room. There are mats covering the entire floor with several trampolines, a foam pit, balance beams, and various other gymnastic equipment.

  The dozen little girls scatter, squealing in delight.

  “Hunter, can you jump with me?” Baker drops my hand and stares up at me with a hopeful plea in her eyes, and her little fingers crossed together in a praying gesture.

  “Sure, Darlin’.” I tap her nose, then take off my boots.

  I find a cubby hole to put my wallet, pocket knife, and cell phone in. I feel her before I see her. When I stand up and turn, Teale is behind me. She blushes a light pink when she’s been busted staring at my ass. Without thinking, I grab her by the hip and tug her to me until our chests collide in a familiar dance.

  “Like the view?” I crook up an eyebrow.

  “Busted,” she sings out, smiling widely.

  “If I have to jump, then you have to jump. Throw those shoes off, Gordon.”

  Teale sticks out her tongue, but complies pulling off her shoes and grabbing one of Baker’s hands while I take the other. We swing her up and down as we walk. Her laughter is contagious, making me feel young and carefree at heart.

  “Can you do twicks?” Baker asks, popping a hand on her hip, making her tutu flare up with attitude.

  “Sure can. Stand back, ladies.” I take my first bounce on the trampoline.

  It’s been years since I’ve spent time on a trampoline. Back in my childhood days, I spent hours on ours with Burton. We graduated from playing crack the egg, back flips, then eventually nudging the tramp near the house when my parents were gone. It was our own version of Jackass. We’d run and jump off the roof, eventually doing front and back flips.

  After a few bounces, I find my bearings, building up enough courage to flow into a front flip. I end up landing on my ass, gaining me cheers and giggles from the crowd of girls watching me.

  “Again,” Baker squeals.

  On my fifth try, I finally nail a front flip. The small crowd goes wild, and I throw my hands up in the air like a gold medal gymnast.

  “Your turn, little girl.” I grab Baker’s hand.

  Her eyes go wide and wild with fear. I notice her arms trembling, then tears welling up in her eyes.

  I drop to my knees, making the trampoline bounce underneath us. “Hey, it’s okay.”

  Her chin trembles, breaking my damn heart.

  “You don’t have to jump with me if you don’t want to.” I tuck a stray auburn curl behind her ear.

  “I, I…uh’s can’t go high like you.” She drops her head. “I’m scared.”

  “Do you trust me?”

  That simple question takes me back months ago when I asked the same question to her mother.

  Her little head bobs up and down slowly. I pick her up, holding her tight to my chest.

  “Pick a code word,” I tell her.

  Baker stares at me in confusion, then pipes up and says, “Fish sticks.”

  I have to bite back my laughter at her choice of safe word. “Okay, when I get going too high you just say fish sticks, and I’ll stop bouncing. How does that sound?”

  “I guess okay.” Trepidation and fear coats each word that tumbles from her mouth.

  I begin bouncing, not letting my feet leave the trampoline. After a few minutes and when Baker’s death grip loosens around my neck, I start gaining a bit more air. Again, her little arms tighten around my neck, but she soon grows comfortable. We repeat this process over and over until I’m jumping as high as possible. Her giddy screams fuel me on.

  Teale watches from the sideline, taking pictures every once in a while. I don’t give her long before I stop bouncing then reach my hand out to her. She places hers in mine without a second thought.

  “Jump, Momma, jump.” Baker clasps her arms together around my neck.

  Both of us begin jumping up and down. I watch her bounce and then skyrocket Teale up in the air. She screams in surprise then falls down on her ass.

  “Momma,” Baker’s concerned voice streams through the gym.

  I set her down on her feet, and she immediately leaps into her Mom’s arms.

  “Are you okay?” She brushes her Mom’s hair back from her face.

  “I’m all right.” Teale gets out between giggles. “It’s a trampoline, sweetie, if you fall, it’s soft.”

  “It is?”

  “Yes, you know this,” Teale reassures her. “You had one at Jerico’s house.”

  “But it was different and he never really let me jump.” Baker’s face saddens.

  “You get to jump here whenever you want.”

  I’m pissed. Jerico looked like a smug motherfucker and treated little Baker like a little soldier. The brief encounter in the shop screamed that fact. I’d just thought at the moment that Baker was excited to see her Momma, but I’m slowly learning there are so many layers to the story.

  “Okay, your turn, Baker.” I grab her hand and lightly start to bounce.

  It doesn't take any time at all bef
ore she drops my hand and is jumping all on her own. Teale and I both sneak off the trampoline, letting her friends join her. All their poofy tutu skirts flow up and down with each jump. Their glitter tights are shimmering with the gym lights.

  “Thank you,” Teale whispers while still staring forward.

  “No, Teale, thank you.” I reach over and lace my fingers in hers.

  “We need to talk,” she says, not making eye contact.

  “Okay,” I agree.

  “Dad said he’d take Baker tonight for a few hours after her party.” She finally turns to me. “Would that be okay?”

  I nod. “I went out to Dave’s this morning, so I’m free the rest of the night.”

  “It’s not a pretty story.” She winces at her own words.

  “But it looks like the ending is beautiful.” I smile down at her, wanting nothing more than to kiss the hell out of her.

  Just the mere connection of our hands holding each other is making me crazy. It's driving in all the old memories with a torrid force, making me feel everything I’ve kept bottled up for her. I’ve always known she is the ending to my story. I just hope like hell that belief holds true.

  “Momma, can you help me?” Baker hollers from the edge of the trampoline with her arms held wide open.

  Teale’s a natural with her, pulling her into her chest, then skipping over to the foam pit. They count to three loud and slow then both leap into the foam pit. I cross my arms over my chest, feeling my heart swell to near impossible levels. If it could burst from happiness, then it will be doing so any beat now.

  “Hunter.”

  I recognize the voice right away. It’s Frank, Teale’s dad, and the one guy I’ve had reservations about seeing again for several reasons. I’m pissed at him point blank. He knew what Teale was going through and didn’t even give me one fucking clue to how screwed up it all was. The other part of me knows he’s going to be disappointed in me for walking out on his daughter without a second glance back. I never even gave her a chance to explain herself. I let my poisonous thoughts believe the worst, and I’ve been living with those consequences since then.

  “Frank.” I turn and nod to him.

  “See you two found your way back to each other.”

  “We are trying.” My voice is not friendly in the least.

  “It’s all in or nothing, son. There’s no more running. Neither of those girls deserves any more heartbreak.” He squares his shoulders up to me in a fighting gesture.

  I don’t back down, instead taking a few steps toward him. My anger flares up to a boiling point.

  “I get that you were trying to protect your daughter. I really do, Frank, but a little heads-up would’ve been nice, and we could’ve avoided a whole hell a lot of turmoil.”

  “It was her story to tell. None of this has been easy on her. Teale’s life hasn’t been a normal one since she was fifteen.”

  “I respected you, Frank, and expected the same in return. I never asked for the full story. We can agree to disagree that I was screwed in this situation.”

  He grimaces, and I can tell he’s holding back an ass chewing he’s dying to give me. “Like I said, all in or all out.”

  “Frank, if you even have to question that then you never deserved an ounce of my respect.”

  I wince at my own words. They are harsh and to the point, but exactly how I feel. Having Teale back in my life has been exhilarating. The day I called her on the mountainside, my heart made a choice to welcome her back into my life. The heart always knows what it wants.

  By the time we sing the happy birthday song, have cake, and open presents, all the little girls are wilted with sweaty foreheads and flat hair, but none of their enthusiasm has faded. Baker’s face is bright with excitement as she blows out the candles on her cake. It takes her no time to tear into her presents. All of her friends try shoving their pink packages in her face to open first.

  “Momma, I want the green and yellow one.” She points to my present with her chubby, little finger.

  Talk about nerves like I’ve never felt. It shoots through my body, and I’m scared to death of her reaction. I should’ve bought her a trampoline or puppy, not some cheesy, plastic toys.

  Baker tears through the layers of wrapping paper then she tilts her head to the side. Not even a split-second passes before her face lights up and she screams in delight. All of her little friends oooh and ahh over the Shopkins.

  “Thank you, Hunter.” She jumps up to her feet, racing over to me, and then hugs my legs. “Thank you. Thank you.”

  I lean down until I’m face to face with her. “Anything for you.”

  Those may be the most honest words I’ve ever spoken. Baker bounds back to her presents. I watch as she tucks the pack of bubble gum and chocolate bar down her shirt, apparently not wanting to share with her friends. Then the neon glittery pink wrapping paper flies up into the air landing wherever. Baker gets more Shopkins, which makes me proud. Then there’s ponies, Barbies, and dolls. Her final gift is from her Pappy and Teale. It’s not wrapped, instead carried out by Pappy and a mechanic from the shop.

  It’s an intricate dollhouse with several levels. The detail is immaculate, with everything a regular house would have. Just on the two occasions I’ve met Baker, I’ve seen her excited, but her joy level just skyrocketed right out of the roof. She’s up and on her feet, peering into each room with awe.

  The next thing she does shocks the hell out of me. She begins crying and sobbing, but through her tears she thanks her Momma and Pappy over and over again. I’ve been around my fair share of five year olds and have never seen gratitude like this before.

  I take a seat by the demolished cake and observe the parents who trickle in and pick up their children. Once all of Baker’s friends are gone, she waltzes over to me climbing in my lap. She lets out a long yawn, then rubs her sleepy eyes.

  “Did you have a good day?” I whisper into the top of her head.

  She nods. “It was perfect.”

  She yawns a few more times, and I watch as her little eyes begin to flutter shut.

  “Want to know what I wished for?” She relaxes back in my arms until I’m holding her like a brand new baby.

  “If you want to tell me.” I stare down into her perfect blueberry colored pupils.

  “I wished for a Daddy. My momma told me she loves you. Talked about you ever since I came to live with her. I want a Daddy, Hunter.”

  I open my mouth, but there are no words at this moment. Not one single word would even be able to express the pressure building up in my chest. All I can do is lean down and kiss her forehead. It’s only a matter of seconds before Baker’s eyes fall closed and her breathing evens out.

  Chapter 13

  Teale

  The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.

  -Dolly Parton

  “You truly made Baker’s day.” I run lines down the cold mug in front of me.

  “She made my day. You’ve raised an incredible daughter, Teale.”

  “I’ve been honest with her since the day Jerico brought her to me. I told her about how I hurt you, and should’ve been honest, and how much I love you.”

  “She told me.” He takes a long pull from his beer.

  “She did?” I quirk up a brow.

  “In a roundabout way, she did.” He leans in closer over the table. We are so close I can taste the beer floating off his lips. “She told me she wished for a Daddy today and wants it to be me because her momma loves me.”

  I cover my face in embarrassment. I have to love the honesty from babes. “I do love you, Hunter, but you need to hear the whole story. I should’ve told you from day one, but it was all too painful. It sounds dumb, but I figured if I didn’t talk about it then it would fade away.”

  Hunter shocks me when he slides out of his side of the booth and then slides into my side. He pushes me until I’m up against the wall and there’s no room between our two bodies. Hunter seductively li
cks his lips, with hunger and desire simmering in his eyes.

  “Let me kiss you first,” he whispers.

  I don’t even have time to nod before his lips brush against mine. We both still relish in the contact. My eyes snap shut, allowing me to take everything Hunter in. I’ve missed his taste, tender touch, and love. He’s my other half, and I knew this the day I met him. The timing was all wrong, but it didn’t stop me. I nearly lost my other half because of it.

  His tongue swipes across my lips, and I open for him. He swipes into my mouth, soaking up my taste. It takes me long moments before I move and taste him. We kiss like hell until we are forced to part and inhale oxygen.

  “I’ve been dying to do that since you were cooking me waffles.” He smiles.

  “Hunter.” I place my palms on his chest and squeeze my eyes shut, hoping not to lose courage. “I have to get this out.”

  He wraps an arm around my shoulder, pulling me into his chest. His lips kiss the top of my head over and over. “Talk, baby.”

  “My sophomore year I thought I fell in love. Mr. Hawthorne, my English teacher, was the man who I thought I loved. He paid me particular attention and seduced me in with his looks and words. I’m not innocent here, Hunter. One thing led to the other, and we had a sexual relationship.”

  I choke on my words, not wanting to finish the story even though the ugliest part has been divulged.

  “I find myself sixteen and pregnant with my teacher’s child. My parents’ marriage was already falling apart, then this was the final straw that shredded everything. My mom was a monster on a war path. She sued the school and pressed charges against Mr. Hawthorne. Everything went public. She wasn’t doing it for me, but the paycheck.

  “Long story short, they took Baker from me when she was born. I only had special visitation with her, and I never missed a visit. Mr. Hawthorne’s brother, Jerico, was also on a mission to save his family’s name. He won primary custody after years of court battles. There was a stipulation about me getting a steady career, then the court would re-evaluate.

  “Jerico has a new fiancée, and the attention had worn off having Baker, so he brought her back to me. He wasn’t abusive to her, but also wasn’t a good man.”