Stone Hearts

by Kelly, Amber

  “Thank you, Jonathon.” I stand and hug him.

  He gently hugs me back and then says his good-byes before taking the piece of wood and leaving.

  Once his car is out of sight, my body starts shaking uncontrollably as the adrenaline leaves.

  Myer picks me up and sits down in the chair while he holds me until I have control of myself again.

  Walker walks inside with Beau and Payne to give us privacy.

  “I’m sorry,” I cry into his throat.

  He strokes my hair. My scalp is tender, but I don’t complain. I’m just thankful to have his touch.

  “Sorry for what? None of this is your fault,” he assures me, misunderstanding what I’m saying.

  “No. I mean, for Sunday. I heard you guys talking, and I misread your actions; instead of talking to you, I got all insecure and stupid.”

  He sighs. “It’s okay.” He lets me off the hook.

  “It’s not. I’m crazy and impulsive, and I say things without thinking first,” I admit.

  “Yep,” he agrees, and I snap my head up.

  He smiles.

  “I know all of that. I knew where your head was, and I knew there was no reasoning with you that night. That’s why I left, but I would have been back. You can’t run me off that easy, Dal. You think I deserve better? Better than you? Baby, it doesn’t get any better than you,” he says.

  “I love you,” I blurt out.

  “I know.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” I ask.

  “Because you had to find your own way out of that darkness. I’ve always been the candle at the end, lighting your way.”

  He gently touches his lips to mine.

  We hear Beau calling from inside, so Myer stands me on my feet, and we go in.

  Payne and Walker stay until Beau falls asleep.

  He told them that he’d found my phone in my purse on the closet floor when I sent him upstairs, and he sent the text to Myer’s phone. When it started ringing in his hand, it scared him because he thought Travis would know he sent for help, so he’d slung it under the closet door.

  It must have slid under my bed because that’s where it’s found, still showing the missed calls from Myer and Payne.

  Payne tries to talk me into coming to his house or going to Myer’s for the night, but I think it’s important to stay here. I don’t want Beau to be afraid of his own house. So, he and Walker go grab materials to board up the broken window.

  Myer gets Beau changed into pajamas even though he is dead asleep.

  I carefully change into a nightshirt. My right side is already stiff. Tomorrow is going to suck ass.

  It takes me a while to get back down the stairs.

  Myer comes back into the living room, carrying Beau in his arms.

  “I couldn’t leave him in there alone. Not tonight. I think we need to have one of our sleepovers in here,” he says, cradling my son.

  I love him. There is no denying it.

  “The window is secure for tonight,” Payne says as he and Walker walk back into the house. “I’ll get new glass ordered for it tomorrow and replace it next week. Then, we’re getting an alarm system set up in this place right away,” he continues, in full overprotective big-brother mode.

  “Thank you,” I say as I settle in with pillows piled behind my back.

  Payne stands there, wanting to say something else.

  “I’m okay, Payne, I promise,” I tell him.

  He walks over and kisses the top of my head. “Momma and Daddy will be here by the time you wake up in the morning. They got in the truck the minute I called. And Sophie will probably come too. Braxton had to lock her down to keep her from getting here. Jonathon didn’t want anyone else driving up while he was talking to you guys, so I asked him to have her wait to come. She was not happy.”

  “I can imagine,” I say.

  If it were her, they’d have to hog-tie me to keep me from getting to her.

  “And me too. I’ll be back first thing in the morning to see how y’all are,” he keeps going.

  “Okay,” I agree.

  “Okay, good night,” he says and turns to leave.

  “Good night, Dal,” Walker says as he, too, presses a kiss to my forehead. “Still the most badass woman I’ve ever met,” he says with a wink.

  “Hey, Walk, Bolt’s loose out there somewhere,” Myer says.

  “We got you. He headed toward the orchard. I’ll get him and get him tied in Payne’s barn for tonight.”

  “Thanks, man.”

  He gives him the bro salute and follows Payne out.

  I lay my head against Myer’s shoulder.

  “Get some sleep, baby. Sounds like there’s going to be a parade in your living room tomorrow morning.”

  Dallas

  I wake to whispers and the aroma of coffee and pancakes.

  I try to lift my head from the couch, and it feels like a lead weight is sitting on top of my neck.

  “Mmm,” I mumble as I struggle to open my eyes.

  Momma rushes over to my side. “Here, sweetheart, let me help you,” she says softly as she snakes her arm behind my back to help lift me to a sitting position.

  “Good morning,” I croak out.

  “Oh.” She covers her cry with her hand. “Good morning.”

  I turn slowly toward the kitchen island, and I see Sophie, Doreen, Ria, Beverly, and Bellamy.

  “It’s a full house, I see.”

  They all just stand there with tight smiles.

  “Okay, how bad is it?” I ask.

  “Not bad at all,” Momma says as she brushes the hair from my eyes.

  “I feel like I was hit by a truck; you can be honest with me,” I tell her.

  Sophie walks over and sits down beside me.

  “You guys being so quiet is freaking me out. Quit it,” I demand.

  “Myer told us he’d throw us out if we riled you up. He made us all promise to be calm and quiet,” Sophie confesses.

  “Well, I don’t like it. So, stop. Now, tell the truth.”

  She carefully looks me over. “You look like you fought with a gorilla last night and lost miserably,” she says.

  “That sounds about right.” I look around. “Where’s Beau?”

  “He went to check on the flowers with your father,” Momma tells me.

  “Did he freak out when he saw me?” I ask as I reach up to my cheek. I can tell it’s swollen.

  “They both did. Your father had to take a walk before he put a fist through a wall,” Momma says, and a sob escapes.

  I put my hand over hers. “I’m okay, Momma. I’m sure it looks worse than it is.”

  “Are you hungry, Dallas? We made pancakes, and we’re just about to start some bacon and eggs,” Doreen asks.

  “You need to eat something so you can take some ibuprofen,” Momma encourages.

  I smile up at Doreen and Ria. “I’ll have some pancakes and bacon. Thank you.”

  “Coming right up,” Ria says, and they set to doing what they do best—loving everyone by feeding them.

  “Myer?” I ask Sophie.

  “He ran to the pharmacy in town with Braxton to pick up some medicine for you. Aunt Doreen called Dr. Cohen’s wife—she’s in the ladies’ auxiliary at the church—and explained what happened. Dr. Cohen called in some things to help you for a couple of days.”

  “Thank you,” I tell Doreen.

  As much as I didn’t want to take anything, I think I might need something a bit stronger than ibuprofen.

  “I’m so sorry we weren’t here,” Momma cries.

  “Momma, don’t. You couldn’t have known. Besides, I’m pretty sure he has been watching us for a while. He waited until you guys were gone. And if it hadn’t been this weekend, he would have grabbed Beau from school. I’m glad it happened the way it did.”

  She cries harder.

  “I’m sorry,” she says as she gets up and heads to the bathroom.

  “Great,” I say and close my eyes.

/>   “She’ll be fine. She’s allowed her breakdown. She drove all night, knowing her baby girl had been attacked and she couldn’t get to her. I can’t imagine how excruciating that had to be. Then, to walk in and see you black-and-blue and barely able to move. I think she’s holding up really well,” Doreen defends.

  She’s right. I remember the wreck I was during the fifteen-minute drive to the hospital when Beau broke his arm. If it’d been an eight-hour drive, I’d have lost my mind.

  Sophie carefully places her arm around my shoulders and leans her head against mine. “I’m sorry this happened to you.”

  “I’m sorry I’m going to look like I lost a fight with a gorilla in your wedding photos.”

  “Please. You have a couple weeks to heal, and Mom is bringing her hair and makeup team from New York. Those guys can make sixty-year-old socialites look like they’re in their forties. A few bruises don’t stand a chance against their skills.”

  “Thank goodness for Viv and her bougie cowgirl vision,” I say.

  “Damn straight.”

  The front door swings open, and Beau comes running in, carrying a huge bundle of flowers from Momma’s garden.

  “Mommy!” he calls as he barrels to me.

  “Careful,” Daddy’s voice warns. “Remember what we talked about. You have to be gentle with your momma.”

  Beau stops short of jumping in my lap and stands in front of me.

  He holds up the flowers. “Pop-Pop and I made you a bouquet to make you feel better,” he says.

  He very carefully lays them on my lap.

  “Thank you, baby. They do make me feel better,” I tell him as I lift them to my nose to smell them.

  “Myer went to get you some medicine,” he informs me.

  “I know; I heard. Everyone is taking such good care of me.”

  Daddy walks over, leans down, and kisses my forehead for a long minute. “I love you, baby,” he says hoarsely.

  “I love you too, Daddy.”

  He backs up and calls to Beau, “Come on, Beau; let’s go feed the chickens.”

  “I’ll be right back, Mommy, okay? Pop-Pop needs my help, and then I’m coming to check on you,” Beau says as he pats my knee.

  “All right, baby,” I agree, and he follows Daddy out the door.

  “I hope he isn’t traumatized for life,” I whisper to the room at large.

  “He’ll have a rough go for a while, but you just be honest with him, and he’ll process. Eventually, you’ll both heal.” Ria dispenses her wisdom as she flips pancakes.

  What would I do without this gaggle of women in my life?

  Dallas

  “It feels funny,” Beau says as the nurse removes the cracked cast.

  “It’s because the air is hitting it for the first time in a long while. It’ll feel normal by the time you get home,” the nurse says.

  “Why come it looks funny?”

  “Why does it look funny. Not why come,” I correct him. “Because, baby, it’s been covered up, and it hasn’t been getting air or sunshine. Mommy has some creams we’re going to rub on it so it won’t be so dry and chafed, and it’ll look like your other arm again in no time,” I tell him.

  “Now, lift it up and wiggle those fingers for me,” the nurse instructs.

  “My fingers tingle,” he says. Then, he picks up his arm and flings it around, and then he rapidly opens and closes his hand.

  “I think you’re all good.” The nurse laughs as she backs out of the way.

  We check out, and she leads us to the waiting room where Myer sits, thumbing through a magazine.

  “Look, Myer,” Beau calls as he races toward him.

  Myer catches him before he collides with his knees.

  “Doesn’t it look gnarly?”

  Gnarly—that’s a new word.

  “Ew, it sure does,” Myer says as he wrinkles his nose in mock disgust.

  Beau collapses into a fit of giggles.

  Myer stands and takes his hand. “Come on. Let’s take you and that gross arm of yours to breakfast before we drop you off at school.”

  I thank the nurse and follow my guys out of the office.

  Myer drives me out to Rustic Peak after dropping Beau off at school. I shouldn’t be driving while taking the medications the doctor prescribed, and he hasn’t wanted to leave my side since Friday night.

  He needs to get back to his normal routine, but when I bring up the subject, he shuts me down, saying that his dad, Truett, and Foster have everything covered for this week and that Walker and Payne offered to pitch in if needed.

  I want to go into the bakery and start working with Momma, but I’m still having a hard time focusing. I can’t stay cooped up in the house any longer though. I’m going stir-crazy.

  When we pull in, Payne and Walker are by the barn with Braxton and Silas.

  “Hey, what’re you doing here?” I ask my brother as he opens my door and helps me out of the truck.

  “Dropping off the auger Jefferson let Daddy and me borrow to dig postholes for the new fence behind the barn,” he answers.

  “Sophie inside?” I ask Braxton.

  He inclines his head toward the gate. His truck is coming up the drive.

  She stops in front of us. The passenger door flings open, and Charlotte leaps out.

  A blur of blonde comes barreling toward me.

  “I came as soon as I heard,” she bellows as she embraces me.

  I wince.

  “Easy,” Myer warns.

  She pulls back. “Oh, sorry. God, you look awful!”

  “Thanks,” I deadpan.

  She turns on her heels, marches over to Payne, rears back, and socks him in the gut.

  “Ouch,” he cries as he protectively covers his stomach. “What was that for?”

  “Where were you when that happened to Dallas, huh?” She whirls to Walker and shoves a finger in his chest. “And you? Where were you, tough guy?”

  Braxton chuckles, and she slides her accusing eyes to him. She cocks a hip and stares at him.

  “Easy, Rocky,” he says as he backs up.

  She blinks. “What is your obsession with Rocky? Do you have a man-crush on Sylvester Stallone or something?”

  He rolls his eyes.

  “I’m just saying, it’s odd how often you bring him up in conversation.” She looks around at all of us. “Am I right?”

  Braxton just grunts at her in answer.

  “What’re you doing here? You didn’t have to come. I’m fine,” I tell her.

  She waves me off. “I was flying in Sunday anyway, so I just wrapped things up at the office and took an earlier flight. I can help with Beau, work, or wedding stuff. I just want to be here in case you need me.”

  I start leaking again. Jeez, it takes nothing to turn on the waterworks these days.

  “Don’t. You’ll make me cry, and then Soph will cry because she’s a big ole baby,” she says as she bursts into tears, and Sophie follows.

  “Jesus,” Walker mumbles, “I need a beer.” He walks off to the barn.

  “I’ll be needing one of those too,” Payne calls after him.

  Braxton and Myer just patiently watch our girl slobberfest.

  “I can’t believe your wedding is next weekend,” I say as we settle in at Doreen and Ria’s table.

  “I know. It seemed like it was forever away, and now, it’s coming so fast,” Sophie agrees.

  “Forever away? Girl, this time last year, you were living alone in New York with only a potted plant to talk to. I’d say this wedding day slid into home at warp speed,” Charlotte points out.

  Sophie sighs. “It’s strange. I can’t imagine living in that apartment anymore.”

  “Ha, and I can’t imagine living anywhere else. Don’t get me wrong. I love it here. It’s fun to visit. I love you guys and all the woodsy bumpkin shit you make me do, but I need the smog, the noise, the lights, cocktail hour, SoulCycle, and cranky New Yorkers,” Charlotte admits.

  Her eyes light up. “W
e should do a girls’ weekend in New York! Let me show you my city,” Charlotte suggests.

  “I’ve lived there my entire life, Char,” Sophie reminds her.

  “Yeah, but Dallas hasn’t. We can give her the full New York experience.”

  “You could go up with me for the International Gem and Jewelry Show in December. We can stay at Mom and Stanhope’s place on Central Park West. They’ll be in the Bahamas,” Sophie offers.

  Charlotte claps her hands. “Oh, New York at Christmastime. There is nothing better. I swear you’ll love it!”

  I promised Beau I would take him to see where Miss Sophie lived and to catch fireflies in Central Park, but one quick trip alone to check out the city first with my friends would be amazing.

  I accept their offer. “Sounds good, but if one of those cranky New Yorkers tries to mug me on the streets, I will put a Colorado boot in his ass. And I’m not wearing those torture devices you guys call shoes either. I almost lost a pinkie toe at the engagement party.”

  Charlotte looks at Sophie. “Oh, she’s going to be lots of fun at the Rockefeller Center Christmas gala. I can’t wait!”

  I can’t wait either. Life is opening up to so many new adventures this year.

  Myer

  “You nervous, man?” I ask Braxton as we head out to stand with the reverend.

  “Not the least bit,” he says with a grin, awaiting his bride.

  We file out and stand before the seated guests. Most faces I recognize, but some I don’t. A host of people flew in with Vivian from New York to be a part of Sophie’s big day.

  Both Vivian and Madeline, seated up front with their husbands, burst into tears as soon as we are all standing in front of the altar.

  The harpist starts strumming a melody, and Elle appears at the end of the aisle. Braxton’s smile widens as his baby sister walks up and kisses his cheek before standing opposite us. Then, Charlotte appears and walks to Elle. Next is Dallas. She takes my breath away. Vivian’s makeup people did an excellent job, hiding the fading bruising under her eye and at her throat. She left her hair loose and wild. Everything is gorgeous—the dress, the boots, the woman. Her eyes shine as they find me while she slowly makes her way to stand with us.