Hart & Stocker

by Max Ellendale

  By late afternoon, Sage fished up two healthy halibut for our take, and we headed back to shore. My skin burned with leftover heat from the sun as we mounted Dax's motorcycle to return home. She patted my thigh before kicking up the stand and we were on our way.

  The air stung my skin, cooling the overheated parts and setting off a sleepy, relaxed sensation to my shoulders. I wanted nothing more than to curl up with my girlfriend and snuggle in bed. I closed my eyes, and enjoyed the wind and warmth of the woman I held onto so tightly.

  Dax drove us up her property to the garage where she parked the bike, and we ended our journey. We pulled our helmets off as she dropped the kickstand.

  "Much more confident this time," she said when I handed her my helmet.

  "I think I could get used to that. I wish I didn't need the helmet so I could kiss on you while we rode."

  "Full face helmet is safest." She turned to face me after setting everything down. "So no taking it off."

  "I won't, honey." I held my arms to her and she hugged me. "Today was lovely."

  "It was. Except for your tears." She stroked my cheeks. "You okay?"

  "I am." I draped my arms over her shoulders and her hands fell to my hips. "Sometimes things hit me later. And unexpectedly."

  "It's understandable." She pressed her lips to mine, catching me in a sweet kiss. It warmed my insides, and made my heart skip a beat. When we leaned back, I stroked her cheeks.

  The crunch of tires on gravel drew our attention to the fancy white BMW heading toward the house. Dax's hands on my hips tensed immediately, and every inch of her hardened.

  "Who is that?" I asked, though she didn't answer, her entire body frozen.

  The car parked, and we stared as a woman emerged from the driver's side. Long, brown hair in pristine manicured waves accompanied the white pant suit. I half expected Lena Luthor to tumble right out of a comic book, accompanied by her evil brother. The sharp white heels she wore stomped the ground in a way they shouldn't. No one dressed like that out here. Every inch of her screamed Seattle. And pretentious.

  When the woman approached, her age threw off the vision of comic book supervillains, and the green eyes belonging to her reminded me of Dax's. My breath caught in my throat as a swell of anxiety accompanied it.

  "Dakota, I've been trying to call you," she said, her tone terse and clipped as she stared at Dax. She completely ignored me at first, her brow narrowed in Dax's direction, until she looked at me. "Hello."

  "Hello," I mirrored, my tone equally firm. "Who are you?"

  "Rowan." She gestured to Dax then folded her arms across her chest. Dax remained frozen beside me with pursed lips and balled fists. "Dakota's mother. And who are you?"

  "I'm her girlfriend." The declaration fell from my lips before I could conjure up my name. I slipped my arm around Dax's middle and she recoiled, the same way she had ages ago.

  "Oh. Back to women, I see." Rowan shook her head, as if dismissing the situation. I nearly launched myself across the garage and choked her. "Dakota, I've called you every day this week. Why don't you answer me?"

  "Why would I?" asked Dax, her voice flat.

  "Because I'm your mother and I needed to run a few things by you."

  "So you drove out here?"

  "Well, I was in town." She gestured around us, and let out a light chuckle.

  Dax ignored her and turned to me. "Willa, can you go back to your place? I'll meet you after."

  "Dax, but I—"

  "Please?"

  "Willa?" Rowan chirped. "Eileen's daughter?"

  I turned my attention back to Dax's mother. "Yes."

  "How is she?"

  "She's fine." I pulled my attention back to Dax. "I want to stay."

  "No. Go." Dax pointed toward my truck. "Just go."

  "I'm not leaving you alone with her," I spat, pursing my lips after. "I'll go inside, but I'm not leaving."

  Anger crinkled Dax's brow and she pulled away from me. "Fine."

  "I half expected this place to be in ruins, Dakota." Rowan seemed completely oblivious to our exchange as she turned her back to us to look out over the property. "Or at least crowded with animals."

  It took everything in my power not to shove that woman out the door. I bumped my hand against Dax's and she glanced at me, a hint of pain darkening her lively greens that I'd grown used to recently.

  "Go inside," she spat.

  "Okay." I glanced over my shoulder at Rowan who offered me a keen smile.

  "Good to meet you, Willa," she said.

  "Bye," was all I could muster up when I really wanted to tell her to fuck off. With a glance over my shoulder at Dax, I exited the garage and made for the house, my arms trembling with rage.

  Esteban met me on the front porch of the house as he stared at the car in the driveway. I joined him, crossing my arms over my chest.

  "Mrs. Stocker is here," he declared, his eyes wide.

  "She is. Dax kicked me out of the garage," I told him.

  "Why is she here?"

  "I'm not sure. You look terrified," I said, giving him a once over.

  "She has only come here one time in many years. It upset Miss Stocker."

  "She's upset right now. I didn't want to leave her alone but...arguing about it upset her more."

  "Mrs. Stocker is unkind," he said, holding his hat in his fists.

  "I know." I glanced to the garage where we could still see their shadows moving, but I couldn't hear the conversation. "Was she always unkind?"

  "Not always. She changed in time. Bitter," he said, pacing a few steps.

  "I think she took it out on Dax."

  "Si, Miss." He glanced to the garage when Rowan appeared. With her arms folded, she glared at Dax. "Oh boy," he muttered.

  "Just leave," I heard Dax say. "I don't care what you do."

  "Dakota, be reasonable," scolded Rowan.

  "Goodbye, Mother." Dax stormed past her, and Esteban bolted. I watched as he leapt over the porch railing and disappeared around the side of the house. In similar fashion, I hurried inside and waited by the sofa for Hurricane Dax to make landfall.

  My heart pounded in my chest, and I watched the front door for minutes it seemed. Eventually, Dax entered, her gun at her hip, and her face blotchy with rage. She didn't look at me, didn't say anything as she stormed off down the hall.

  "Dax," I called after her but only a slamming door responded.

  The sharp clunk of heels on the wooden steps stopped me from going after her. Rowan opened the front door of the house like she still owned the place. She made to speak but when she didn't see Dax, she stopped.

  "Has she gone off to her room?"

  "I don't know, Rowan, but what are you doing here?"

  "I'm simply here to ask her if she wanted anything from the guest house. I'm clearing it out to rent again and—"

  "Seriously? You came all the way out here to ask her that?"

  "Well, yes. It's a perfectly reasonable question," she said, shrugging.

  I pressed my tongue into my cheek as I attempted to hold on to my temper. It didn't work. "You know what isn't reasonable at all, Rowan? The way you've treated your daughter with such disregard. Don't you know how difficult it is for her to even think about the guest house after what happened?"

  "It's been many years. It's about time—"

  "It's about nothing." I stepped in front of her before she made to head down the hall. "A man tortured your daughter there. Don't you care about that?"

  Her face reddened as she narrowed her eyes at me. "Who are you to question—"

  "I'm someone who gives a fuck. If she were my daughter, I would've wondered why her car didn't leave the driveway for a week or why I hadn't heard from her in days. If she were my friend, I would've looked for her. If I cared about her at all, I would've made sure she was okay every day. Not just when it's convenient."

  "Miss Hart, you're overstepping here and I think it's best if you—"

  "I think it's best if you get the he
ll out of here. You've upset her enough." I pointed down the hall to where Dax stormed off. "And before you go stomping down that hall in your power heels and pantsuit, I suggest you ask yourself if you're worried about her or just trying to make yourself feel better."

  "Just who do you think you are, speaking to me like this?" She dropped her arms to her sides, her fingers twitching as if she were about to haul off and punch me. "You sound just like your mother."

  "Good! I'm glad to sound like her because she's not a selfish, overripe prat." I stomped my foot and pointed to the front door. "I'm sure you know your way out."

  Rowan lost her voice in that moment, and turned on her heel to leave. I stayed in the living room, waiting until I heard the gravel under her tires crunch as she pulled away. When I was sure she was gone, I hurried down the hall to Dax's bedroom. My heart boomed in my ears as I fought the torrent of anger that threatened tears.

  The door wasn't locked, but a picture frame lay on the floor below where it once hung on the wall. I pushed it open to find Dax curled up in her bed, the blanket over her head. A few random trinkets littered the floor and I imagined that she smacked them off one of the bookshelves.

  I perched myself on the bed beside her, and placed my hand on her shoulder. She shoved me off before I could lay my full weight on her. I drew a slow breath, then tried again. Dax shoved my arm so hard that I nearly fell off the bed.

  "Don't touch me!" she screamed, sending her fist into the mattress.

  "Hey." I yanked the blanket off her head, which only made her cry harder into the tear-stained pillow. "Please don't yell at me. I won't touch you."

  "Go home, Willa." She sobbed, her face in the pillow while she tore at the sheets. "Just go."

  "I'm not leaving while you're this upset." Tears tumbled down my cheeks as I could hardly keep hold of myself either. "I'm sorry this happened, honey."

  "Leave me alone." And just like that, all the progress we'd made over the past several months vanished.

  Dax stopped speaking, and crying at the same time. She lay completely still on the bed, her lips pursed, eyes staring dead over my shoulder. A wave of vacancy rocked her features, solidifying them back to stone.

  "I'm not going to leave you alone." I sniffled, swiping at my eyes as we lay beside each other. Every time I moved, even the slightest bit, Dax started and pulled away.

  We must've laid there for an hour, maybe longer, until Dax finally sat up. I followed suit, and watched as she pushed her hair off her face.

  "Go home."

  "No." I stood when she did. "Dax…"

  She never once looked at me, and before I could process what was happening, she stormed off down the hall. I hurried after her, until she grabbed her keys and jacket from beside the front door.

  "Where are you going?"

  No response.

  "Damn it, Dax. Don't do this." I rushed down the stairs after her, and grabbed the door of her SUV when she flung it open. "Dax!"

  She glanced at me, her hands white-knuckled on the steering wheel, until she slammed the door. I let go just before it caught my fingers. A sob caught in my throat the moment she revved the engine.

  The tires skid on the gravel when she tore out of there, leaving me alone in their wake.

  Chapter Fifteen

  I waited all night at Dax's house for her to return. When the sun came up, and I heard Esteban running Carol and tending to the goats, I moved my post outside. Well into the day, and at my emotional end, I texted Dax and tried to call her twice. Both times, she ended the call.

  By the time Sunday afternoon rolled around, I forced myself to leave, in a tear-laden heap, and transplanted myself on my sister's sofa. No one was home yet, so my sadfest continued in the place where I'd spent the last two heartbreaks of my life. I pulled the blanket off the back of my sofa, curled up on my side, and cried myself to sleep.

  "Willa," Sage's soft voice compelled my consciousness. "Will."

  I rolled over, and the second she met my gaze, her expression fell. "What happened?"

  I shook my head, and began to cry. Sage gathered me in her arms and I buried my face against her chest.

  "It's okay, Will." She kissed my cheek, then paused. "Take Macie outside for a bit," she said to someone.

  "What's the matter with Auntie Will?" asked Macie.

  "She doesn't feel good right now, pumpkin," Jake's voice responded. "Let's go play on the swings."

  "Okay, Daddy."

  When it was quiet again, I leaned back to wipe my face on my shirt. "Where's Mom?"

  "Book club at Celia's. What happened?" Sage brushed my hair from my face, and as always, her eyes misted with emotion. She always cried when I did.

  "I don't know. Everything?" I sniffled, curling up on my side again. "Dax's mother showed up last night. Something happened between them. Then she drove off after I refused to leave."

  "I'm sorry, Will." She tucked my hair behind my ear. "I'm sorry."

  "Her mother is terrible to her. Dismissive. Critical."

  "Mom stopped being friends with her for a reason, I guess." Sage stroked my hair, tucking the blanket over my shoulder.

  "I don't want to talk about it anymore." I shifted to lay my head in her lap, and she leaned down to smooch my forehead.

  "Okay, sissy. I'll sit with you." She rubbed my arm, then pulled a second blanket from somewhere to drape over me. "Go to sleep."

  "I can't." I hiccupped as I closed my eyes. Despite my protest, my body ached for the relief. "I miss Dad."

  "I know." Sage sniffled as she ran her fingers through my hair. "I do, too."

  "It's not fair." My shoulders grew heavier, and the weight of everything rolled down my body. "Nothing is fair."

  "It's not." Sage's soft lips on my forehead soothed me only slightly as I sunk deeper into the pull of sleep. "Rest, sissy."

  "I love you, Sage," I croaked, pulling the blanket over my head as I tucked my face against the soft fabric of her sweater.

  "I love you, too."

  ***

  "Hey," Sage crooned, startling me from sleep. I shielded my eyes from the bright sunlight that streamed into her entire house. "You going to work today, Will?"

  "No." I lifted my phone, hoping to see a missed text or call. Nothing. "Call Nellie for me?"

  "I will. If you take a shower." She pointed to the stairs. "Go."

  "Fine." I pulled myself from the sofa, and forced myself to do as she bargained.

  When I returned, Sage set a sandwich and a glass of ice water on the table. "Eat that."

  "Why does everyone always boss me around? No. I won't." I pulled the hood of the Peninsula College sweatshirt over my head.

  "Because you're stubborn. Also, you're wearing Jake's clothes." She handed me the water and I accepted that at least.

  "And your underwear, so figure that out."

  "Gross." She scowled and then chuckled when she sat beside me. "You going to be okay here?"

  "I'm always okay here. Is Mom home?"

  "She was. I asked her to leave you alone so she went to her Lavender Ladies meeting or whatever it is," she said.

  "Good." I curled up in the pillows again and sighed. My pout continued until my gaze landed on the sandwich on the table.

  "I see you eyeing that." Sage poked my cheek.

  "It's a Sagewich. I can't help it." I huffed in between pouting. "What is it?"

  "Tuna, avocado, and cucumbers." Sage laughed, shaking her head at me.

  "Okay. Give it." I held my hand out and she set the plate in my lap.

  "Are you going to try and call Dax again today?" she asked while I bit into the sandwich.

  "Maybe. Do you think I should give her space?"

  "I don't know, Will. It's different for everyone. When you run away, I don't give you space and that's part of what you need. Even if you think you need space, my pursuit pulls you out of it. When Jake and I fight, he needs time to cool off." She shrugged, giving my knee a squeeze. "Don't give up on her though. I saw how happy y
ou've been…"

  "I have been." I set the second half of the sandwich back in the plate. "I want it back."

  "Give it time."

  I nodded, and curled back up on the sofa after downing my water. Sage set everything back on the coffee table before stroking my hair.

  "I'll be home around three. Jake took Macie, but I'm picking her up."

  "Okay." I sniffled and let her tuck me in. "I'm acting like a big baby."

  "You're my baby sister." She pinched my cheek and I laughed a bit. "You get to every now and then."

  "Love you."

  "Love you, too." She swatted my elbow before heading off to work.

  Hours later, a funny ringer, different than my usual, had my phone bouncing all over the coffee table. I wiped the sleep from my eyes and snatched my phone only to see Dax's picture on the screen. I swiped it without thinking, my heart pounding in my ears.

  I hadn't noticed until the screen lit up that she'd called using the video chat. Her face filled the screen, silent, frozen, and in her car just like last time. She wasn't looking at the screen, the same way she didn't look at me when in person.

  "Hi," I said, tears tumbling down my cheeks immediately.

  She ran her fingers through her hair, but said nothing. I noticed she wasn't holding the phone, and the background didn't look familiar.

  "Where are you?"

  No answer, and she leaned her elbow on the window ledge of the driver's side door.

  "Dax."

  "I'm sorry," she said, her voice incredibly hoarse.

  "I know." I wiped my eyes on my sleeves. "Please come home."

  More silence, though she glanced to the right, her gaze on something else.

  "Who's with you?" I asked.

  "Talk to her," I heard someone whisper.

  "Dax, who's with you?" I pressed as my insides exploded with anxiety, forcing a sob to my throat.

  "I saw what you said to my mother. Watched the surveillance cameras," Dax said, looking back to the phone camera.

  "Yeah, well. She deserved it."

  "Overripe prat." Dax smirked, and a flicker of light returned to her eyes. "New."

  "Well-earned." I sniffled while chuckling. "Who's with you?"

  "Sali," she said, and the camera turned to behold the face of the snarky woman from her support group.