Audrey's Promise

by Sheehey, Susan

  “As long as it’s what you want, I’m happy for you.”

  “The day Dad feels the same way will be the day Texas outlaws guns.”

  “Oh, hush, girl. Of course your father wants you to be happy. He just has a hard time showin’ it.”

  Audrey leaned against the counter and crossed her arms. “It’s been a decade, Mom. How long can someone hold a grudge?”

  “You’re in East Texas, darlin’. How long can the sun burn?”

  The inside of her cheek was too soft to bite as hard as she wanted, but she tried anyway. Anything to keep from screaming. Rolling her eyes wouldn’t cut it either. “Will Dad or Adam bite my head off if I try to deliver Sally’s cider?”

  “Probably not, but bring the tray just in case.”

  Carrying a tray of three ciders wouldn’t protect her from their tempers, but Audrey complied. As she walked to the family room to drop off Ethan’s, disappointment crept down her spinal cord. The miracle of having her father and brother welcome her with open arms didn’t happen. Adelaide’s youthful smile, the same she was currently giving Ethan while chatting and watching the end of the parade, was expected. Ignorance truly was bliss.

  When Audrey entered the room, Ethan glanced over and practically started drooling. “Hot apple cider? I’m moving in!”

  “As much as I’m sure Addy would appreciate another judge for her pageant costumes and Mom a guinea pig for her pies, you’re not invited.” Audrey handed him a mug, careful not to spill the next-to-boiling liquid on his Levi’s.

  “Since when do you have a say on who is and is not invited in this house?”

  The entire room dropped thirty degrees instantly. The biting tone came from across the room, and Audrey didn’t need to look up to see who spoke the bitter words. Adam’s smooth and direct voice hadn’t changed. As strange as it was to admit, Audrey missed hearing his voice. At least back when it wasn’t filled with cynicism and disappointment.

  Just as his face was covered with it. That, and much deeper wrinkles and a shadow in his sapphire eyes she didn’t remember seeing before. Two tours in active war zones had a way of extinguishing the light in people’s eyes. That and unending resentment toward a sister that wanted nothing but love between them.

  “Hi, Adam.” She smiled back. “I like your hair that way.” Ten years and she’d never seen his crew cut in person. He must’ve been a vision in his Army uniform, with his bulky shoulders and slim waist. No wonder Sally fell for him. The Marlboro man had nothing on her brother. The Marlboro man couldn’t scowl like Adam, either.

  “Adam, don’t.” Adelaide whined from the couch, holding one of her pageant photo albums in her lap. No doubt bombarding Ethan with her glamour shots. “She never comes home. Leave her alone.”

  He leaned against the doorjamb, arms across his massive chest and biceps bulging through the long-sleeved navy shirt. The angel of death couldn’t instill fear with one stare the way Adam could. Good thing Audrey and Adelaide were used to it by now.

  “She doesn’t come home for a reason. And don’t go using your campaign talkin’ just to butter me up. That crap won’t work in this house.”

  Just the kind of homecoming Audrey hoped for with a bloodthirsty journalist at her side. A quick glance showed Ethan continued to drool, only this time it wasn’t over the apple cider in his hands. What would his fingers do if that were a pen and paper in his lap?

  Chapter Seven

  Ethan had been skiing a few times before in the frigid hills of the Colorado Rockies. But that cold couldn’t beat the one filling this room in the middle of East Texas, and they’d hardly seen a flake of snow. Audrey wasn’t kidding. He definitely didn’t want to piss off this bear. Never mind that he was as huge as a minotaur, but if he was also a deputy, he was certainly packing heat.

  Damn, this article would make him a legend. The dirt materializing in front of him proved he had a gift for being in the right place at the wrong time. He could see the headline. “The Peacemaker sparks war in her childhood home.” He’d save his introduction until after this developing scandal played out. Journalism 101: Never interrupt the story, just watch and record.

  “Dad said you brought home a boyfriend,” Adam’s tirade continued. “Couldn’t believe my ears.”

  “If he was a boyfriend, why would that be so hard to believe?”

  Where the hell did that come from? Not that Ethan expected a fake relationship out of this. She was clearly using him as extra ammo for the argument with her brooding brother. But that didn’t sound like The Peacemaker, retorting with false info. But a relationship with Audrey Allen, even only a few nights together, would be well worth it. Good Lord, he bet she’d be a legend in the sack. Ethan set his mug on the coffee table, just in case things exploded.

  “Your history? I’d expect you to keep boys as far from this town as possible.”

  “Boys? I’m not a teenager anymore, Adam. Meet Ethan Tanner, journalist for the Dallas Morning Journal.”

  Adam’s eyes almost popped from his sockets. “Journalist? You have lost your mind.”

  “Ethan is writing an article on Audrey as a candidate.” Adelaide closed her photo album and plastered on her innocent smile. An attempt to lighten Adam’s mood she and Audrey had probably used a million times.

  This was his cue. Or maybe not. Either way, it was time to join the fun. Ethan stood and stuck out his hand, fully expecting Adam to ignore it.

  “Nice to meet you. Audrey tells me you’re an Army man. Must have been ugly in Afghanistan.”

  Adam shifted his glare to Ethan’s face, then his hand. Take the bait, man. He could feel the women in the room hold their breaths. This was either going to be a lot of fun or really painful.

  “Adam Houston Biddinger,” Myrna entered the room carrying a tray full of cookies and wearing the perfect disciplinarian frown every mother mastered. “If you don’t shake the hand of a guest in your mother’s house, I will pull your father’s belt right off his waist and tenderize your hiney to Christmas, deputy’s badge be damned.”

  Ethan kept his eyes on Adam’s combative stare. Only a southern woman could check a grown man into submission with one sentence. Finally, Adam gave in and shook his hand.

  “Was an Army man. And Afghanistan was a pony ride in hell.”

  “I have a buddy who took photographs of the 34th Infantry over there. Did a nice spread for them in the Times.”

  “I’m sure they did. Those boys were puppets for the NATO Security Force. The Times would have lit them up like heroes.”

  An extremely pregnant woman waddled up behind Adam and wrapped her arms around his chest. She flipped her long, golden ponytail over her shoulder and kissed Adam’s shoulder. This had to be Sally.

  “You’re all heroes in my book,” her soft and airy voice cooed.

  The only sign of affection from Adam was a light touch of his hand on hers.

  “My wife, Sally. Hon, meet Ethan Tanner. He’s a writer.” The last part dripped from his tongue like acid.

  Sally stepped out from behind her mammoth husband and shook Ethan’s hand. “Nice to meet you.”

  Could this woman’s accent be any thicker? Amazing how the long vowels made her seem sweeter than a glass of port. What he wouldn’t give for a sip of the dessert drink he hadn’t tasted in forever.

  Finally Sally’s gaze moved across the room to Audrey. Unlike her husband and father in-law, she gave Audrey a hug with a charming smile. “Your momma said you may be comin’. How was the drive?”

  “Long.” Audrey threw Ethan a glance. “But good.” She handed Sally one of the apple ciders from the tray. “How’s my future nephew feeling today?”

  The instinctual grab of the belly. All women must have that silly urge to place their hands on a pregnant tummy, even if that tummy belonged to a stranger. Ethan didn’t get it. Everyone said pregnant women looked beautiful and glowing, but he thought they looked more uncomfortable than a nun in a titty-bar. Had to be, with a huge basketball stuck up your front
only to be shoved out a tiny hole when the timer dinged. God had a barbaric sense of humor.

  “He’s got three weeks left.” Sally held her belly with one hand and sipped her cider with the other. “Can’t come soon enough, since he kicks like a bull in the Stockyards.”

  “Have you picked a name yet?”

  “Bryson Paul.” Adelaide answered for her, beaming. “Paul is for Daddy.”

  “I’m so sorry I missed the wedding,” Audrey murmured. “I would’ve come had I known about it.” Audrey threw a glance at Adam.

  “Well, it was kinda…sudden,” Sally replied, red-cheeked, as she glanced at her husband hesitantly.

  “But it was beautiful,” Adelaide interrupted. “I got to be maid of honor and wore my purple pageant dress from last year.”

  “So Ethan, what do you write?” Sally asked with a simple smile and waddled over to a free chair. Adam’s assistance seemed unconscious and fluid.

  “I’m a journalist for the Dallas Morning Journal. I’m writing a series on both Audrey and Wyatt Williams for the election.” Ethan sat back on the couch. Adelaide seemed to be inching closer to his side with every movement. Not that he minded. Just as long as she knew she wasn’t legal.

  As soon as the first sentence escaped his mouth, Sally’s smile weakened. What was it with this family and journalists? Sally looked at Audrey, caution all over her face.

  “Well, don’t you give Audrey here any trouble. You’re bound to regret it.”

  “Yeah, we all know what Audrey does to boyfriends,” Adam muttered under his breath.

  Perfectly timed, Audrey glared at Adam just as Sally smacked his wrist.

  “What exactly do I need to be prepared for? That is, if I ever became her boyfriend.” Ethan kept the joking tone in his voice. A sore spot for the family needed to be turned into something more lighthearted if he was going to get anything out of this guy.

  But he didn’t say anything. No one said anything. They all stared at Audrey, clearly biting their tongues. The sarcasm didn’t work. Not the first time it hadn’t worked for Ethan, but he’d figure out their weak points soon enough. This room wasn’t pretty, despite the charming country décor.

  Audrey continued to stare back at her brother, but the glare was now more of a sad frown. Quietly, Audrey set the tray on the table, took her mug out of the room, a stole a cookie from her mother’s tray as she disappeared down the hall.

  “You’re such a prick sometimes, Adam.” Adelaide threw a magazine at him. It ricocheted off his arm with the weight of a wadded napkin.

  “You shut your mouth with what you know nothin’ about,” Adam shot back at her.

  “Enough, you two,” Myrna bit out and handed the tray to Ethan. “Addy, watch your language. That’s no way to behave in front of a guest. Ethan, I’m so sorry. Excuse me for a minute.” She followed Audrey’s trail.

  “Well, I’m clearly missing something important.” Ethan grabbed a cookie from the tray. These folks needed to talk, and he had a whole two days to accomplish it. One way or another. “But I assume she still has your votes for senator.”

  Adam scoffed. “Not from anyone in this town.” And then trudged out of the room.

  Bingo. Ethan’s story was right here and he ate another cookie to hide the drooling.

  Chapter Eight

  Mom was right. They would never let go of their anger. But that’s exactly why she needed to keep doing what she planned. As long as she kept breathing through the weekend and stayed out of the mud, she could get back home and focus on the Crisis Center. And this election.

  The oatmeal cookie crumbled down her shirt as she took a bite on her trek to her father’s den. Sugar-free, yuck! Must be Mom’s way of reinforcing healthy foods despite Dad’s rebellion and fight with high cholesterol. Oh well. Cookies weren’t his problem as much as the daily case of beer. Mom had learned a long time ago to pick the fights she had a chance at winning. One of the few lessons Audrey valued.

  The pregame announcers blared through the room as her dad nursed a third beer in his chocolate-colored La-Z-Boy. The lowered blinds darkened the bear’s den with only a few rays of light bouncing off the wood-paneled walls. Just like Dad, this room hadn’t changed at all. Which meant the answer to her first question would be the same as always.

  “How’s work treatin’ you these days, Dad?”

  Without taking his eyes off the television, he rubbed his chin and set down his can. “New rig this month, with a new crew. Ironing out the wrinkles.”

  “How far away is the rig?”

  “Sixty miles north.”

  “Butch Clearwater still working for you?”

  Dad took another swig. “D’you really come all this way to talk about my job and Sally’s cousin?”

  Audrey shrugged. “It’s clear you don’t want to talk about the other issue.”

  “And you do?”

  “It’s certainly on Adam’s mind.”

  “Then tell him to get his butt in here and duke it out.”

  “You know he stopped listening to me a long time ago.”

  “Well, with a journalist in the house I figured it was the last thing you wanted to bring up.”

  Audrey forced herself to take a deep breath. “I can’t change the past, Dad.”

  “I know that.”

  “That’s why I’m doing what I’m doing. Trying to devote my life to making things better for others.”

  Finally, her father muted the television and looked her straight in the eye. “Is that what you’re doin’? You sure you’re not livin’ someone else’s life?”

  Her feet looked so small in this room. Just as her voice always sounded so childish when she spoke to him. “Is that life so bad?”

  “It ain’t, as long as it’s your own.”

  “Well, I’m making it my own.”

  Her father’s grunt proved just how much he believed her words. A little less than she believed them herself. A second later, he un-muted the television and leaned back in his La-Z-Boy.

  Audrey always knew when she was dismissed from a conversation. The moment only one voice was speaking and not heard.

  “Sweetie.” Her mother’s softened voice caught her attention. Myrna stood in the doorway, arms crossed and massaging her wrist. “Don’t mind Adam right now. You know how he gets when he’s grouchy.”

  “It’s all right, Mom. I expected it.” Audrey stood and checked her watch. “If dinner is at four, I need to get Ethan checked in at the motel before then. We should head out.”

  “Why would you do that?” Myrna sputtered. “We have Adam’s old room available. You don’t stick guests in a motel.” Audrey could tell the very thought of that went against all of her mother’s southern sensibilities.

  “Mom, I’d rather he stay in the motel—”

  “Moot point, Audrey. Motel’s full.” Her father interrupted without looking away from the TV.

  “What?” Panic flushed through Audrey’s system. Please tell me I heard him wrong.

  “Motel’s full.”

  “How?” This is the tiniest town for a hundred miles in either direction. The motel should barely have any guests, let alone be full.

  “Hunting season.”

  “But…it’s Thanksgiving. That doesn’t make sense.”

  “More busy this year since the wildfires down south destroyed their game.”

  “Well, isn’t that fitting?” Ethan’s gloating voice drifted from over Myrna’s shoulder. “Guess we don’t have a choice, Audrey.”

  The way he stared at her, like a delicious meal and his arm braced against the hallway, made Audrey want to slap that smug smile off his face. Despite how gorgeous he looked. There’s no way she was going to sleep under the same roof as this sick opportunist.

  “Well.” Audrey took a deep breath. “We’ll just go see if there’s space anyway. I’m sure we can find him a room.” She stared right back at the glimmer in his eye, ready to steal the light right out of it.

  “Nonsense. Audrey, I
know I raised you better than that.” Her mother’s face turned serious, resolute. “He’ll stay here for the weekend.”

  “I promise to help with the dishes and take out the trash. I’ll be just like family.”

  Audrey cringed inside. Both at the thought of him here, and his sultry pledge to be one of the family. “Mom, sorry. But there’s no Internet access here and I know Ethan will need it. The motel can service his needs better.” She threw a glare at Ethan.

  “Moot point,” her father muttered once again.

  “The library has some,” her mother claimed. “He can do his Internet stuff there. Problem solved.” Without skipping a beat, Ethan smiled victoriously behind Myrna.

  Where’s an eraser when you need one? I can swipe that off his roguish face.

  Her mother continued in one breath. “Now, can you please run to the store for me? I’m out of flour and sugar for the pumpkin cheesecake.”

  Highly unlikely. Her mother stockpiled baking items in her kitchen/bomb shelter. Before Audrey could open her mouth, Myrna turned around and started walking away.

  “Oh, and take Addy with you. She’s been watchin’ TV too long this mornin’. You both can show Ethan around town a bit.”

  Yeah. Give Adam a chance to cool down. And Ethan a chance to warm up.

  Audrey sighed and glared at the mistake she brought. Her mother and sister falling for Ethan’s city boy charms was inevitable, but Audrey wasn’t interested in only protecting herself. She had to protect her family. Dad would keep his mouth shut without altering from his normal routine. Mom loved to talk and flout her southern style, but she wasn’t a gossiper. It was Adam and Adelaide who concerned her most.

  Besides, if Ethan intended on interviewing her siblings as well as the whole town, Audrey wanted to be there right beside him and monitor his ridiculous questions. Make him keep his promise. The story was on Audrey, no one else.

  ****

  Adelaide’s constant chattering from the backseat was a relief for once as Audrey drove down Main Street. Spilling the beans to Ethan on her life in high school and pageant escapades meant Audrey could relax just a hair. But it was only a matter of time before Ethan asked the probing questions. Either way, Adelaide was a minor and he couldn’t quote her without her parents’ consent. Still, it would give him ammo for everyone else in town.