Lone Star Longing (Hearts of Broken Wheel, #1)

by Fredrick, MJ

  But she didn't answer, instead opened the door to the tiny taco house in the middle of the strip center near the hardware store.

  She didn't ask what anyone wanted, just ordered a dozen assorted breakfast tacos and six bottled waters. The lone man behind the counter punched the sale into an old cash register before walking through the door into the kitchen and making the order.

  “Oh, Mexican candy,” Tanya exclaimed, inspecting the clay platter full of candy made from pumpkin, coconut, and dulce de leche. “I can’t get this stuff back home.” She placed a selection on the counter and pulled out some cash.

  A few minutes later, they were walking across the street to the park with its four picnic tables—Joyce wanted to know if there was one for every family living here—and Tanya set up the table with napkins and foil-wrapped tacos.

  The kids split a potato and egg taco, eyeing the new playscape in the center of the park, complete with a canopy to keep the slides and swings and mini rock wall as cool as could be in West Texas. Finally they got their mother’s permission to go play and the four adults remained at the table with their tacos, though after one, Tanya reached into the candy bag for her treats.

  Her mother looked around the tiny center of town. “I see nothing’s changed. What are they going to do about that building?” She motioned to the garage that had collapsed and really was a hazard.

  “It’s in probate. No one can get anything done, and it doesn’t seem to be moving very quickly.”

  “Oh for heavens sake,” her mother said.

  “Dad said the city is looking into buying it so they can do the clean-up themselves, but then they’d have to sell it again, and I’m not sure they’ll be able to.”

  Her mother scanned the row with the grocery store and its windows papered with ads, both old and new. She looked at the hardware store, which needed someone with some handyman skills to fix up its lopsided screen door, its sagging porch, its no-doubt leaky roof. Then the empty store fronts before the taco house, and then at the end, Austin’s new office.

  He probably wasn't in today, though he lived just above the office. She’d check in with him next week.

  The kids were having fun, though the adults were bored.

  “You know what would be good out here in the middle of nowhere? A drive-in!” Tanya exclaimed. “We went to one when we went to Schlitterbahn in New Braunfels last summer, and it was so much fun. I think it’s a chain, but it would be even better out here. Build it on the San Angelo side, get people from there to drive down. Oh, wouldn't that be fun? Have concessions, watch movies under the stars.”

  “I don't think we have a lot of movie watchers here.” Lacey gestured to the movie theater on the other side of the square. “That place never has much business, except for school plays.”

  Tanya made a face. “People here don't want to do anything. There have to be more people pushing for things to do.”

  “The older people like it the way it is, and the younger people don't mind driving to get to what they want.”

  “So then why live here?” Tanya asked, frustrated.

  “Because it’s beautiful, and it’s not expensive. And people look out for each other. That’s a lot of reasons, don't you think?”

  Tanya’s mouth twisted. “Not enough for me to be miles and miles away from a decent grocery store and good restaurants.”

  Ugh, Lacey hated being judged for her decisions. “My friends are here. My job is here. I like it here.”

  Once Tanya decided the kids had had enough physical activity, they cleaned up the area and walked down to the new elementary school on the grounds of the old one Tanya had attended.

  “You’re going to blink, and your kids will be coming here,” Tanya said fondly, which gave Lacey a pain in her chest. She didn't want to think about her kids growing up quickly, when they hadn’t even been born.

  Lacey took them past The Wheel House. Though it was closed now, they could see through the fence what to expect at the shower.

  “This is where we spend our Sunday afternoons, playing washers.”

  “Oh my God, you are such a hick,” Tanya exclaimed.

  That stung even more. Lacey was getting to the point where she didn't want to show them anything else. “Why? It’s fun. And it takes skill. And it’s a reason to hang out with people you like.”

  Tanya rolled her eyes. “I just don't understand why you’re happy here.”

  “You don't have to understand why. Just know that I am, and leave it at that. I’m not asking you to live here, just come and see me and Dad and the babies every now and then.”

  She walked with them back to the motel, but since the pool had been filled in, there was really no common area to sit, except in the rooms on the beds, and Lacey would have found that uncomfortable even if she wasn't pregnant.

  She was relieved when her dad showed up, and she could use that as an excuse to go home and take a nap. Her mom made the same excuse after an awkward greeting.

  “Thank you for inviting us to your house tonight for dinner,” Joyce said in her most polite tone. “Lacey said we didn't need to bring anything, but are you sure?”

  “Lacey would know. She and Marianne are the ones putting this thing together. Is Andrew here?”

  Her father knew Lacey’s step-father, a term she rarely used, wasn't here because Lacey had told him. She didn't know why he wanted to press the matter. But once her mother excused herself and her father turned his attention to Tanya and the grandchildren, Lacey made her escape. Let him entertain them for a while. She had told Marianne they’d start cooking dinner around three, so she could take a little nap first.

  She was delighted, later that afternoon, to discover Marianne was more human than she had thought. They had decided on lasagna, again, and Marianne insisted on making it herself. Because Lacey didn't want ground meat, the meal would be meatless. Marianne brought over her big pot to boil the noodles, and she had another big pot for the homemade sauce, and Lacey had to wonder why she didn't just make it at her house and bring it over.

  “So have you decided on a theme for your nursery?” Marianne asked as she mashed up tomatoes in the sauce pot.

  “Well, having a boy and girl kind of make that challenging. I’m leaning toward Winnie the Pooh, or maybe that woodland animal look, because that can be made to look more feminine or masculine, and is just really cute.”

  “You need to get to work on setting it up. You don't have a ton of time, and you know it’s going to take longer than you expect.”

  “I think for now I’m just going to have them in the room with me. I don't want to ask Dad to give up his room.”

  “You aren’t asking. He’s giving it. He’d rather be crowded than you and the babies.”

  Lacey shook her head. “I wish there was a way I could do this on my own, that there was some place I could move in town that I could afford, and would have room for us.” She cocked her head at the woman. “You’re renting, aren’t you?”

  “I was, when I was teaching. Well, housing was part of my salary. I thought I told you that. But since I was saving that money, I was able to buy and fix up my place while I was teaching, and now it’s just what I want.”

  “Maybe I should be a teacher,” Lacey muttered. “It would be a good schedule once the babies are in school.”

  “Or a school nurse.”

  Lacey pressed her lips together and nodded consideringly. “That’s something to think about. Do you know of any places where I could move?”

  “Honey, I’m telling you your dad doesn’t mind giving up his space for his grandkids. He’s very excited about the whole thing. But yes, you might need to light a little fire under him to get him to move his things out so you can move all the stuff you’ll be getting tomorrow in.”

  As they worked together on dinner, Lacey making the salad and the bread and the iced tea, Lacey understood why Marianne had wanted to prepare everything here. Working together was a good way for them to get to know each other, and
Lacey liked the new woman in her dad’s life very much.

  The lasagna was in the oven by the time her dad came home from his visit, and Lacey could see the strain in hs face. She wondered if her sister was as judgey with him as she had been with Lacey. Lacey almost wished they hadn’t planned this dinner so she could take the lot of them into San Angelo, and they could see Broken Wheel wasn't as isolated as they wanted to believe.

  Having invited Beck made setting the table more of a challenge. Lacey and her dad had eight plates, but with Beck, their group was nine. Marianne saved the day by hurrying home to get her set of plates. She took Tony with her as muscle, so Lacey was alone to watch the lasagna, and to greet Beck when he arrived early.

  “I thought I’d come in to see if you needed help.”

  “All that needs to be done is to set the table, and Marianne went to go get plates.”

  “I had paper plates, we could have used those,” he teased, crowding her against the counter, his hands braced on either side of her as he leaned in for a kiss.

  He couldn't get as close as either of them would like, with her belly in the way, and she thought it might have been her son that kicked Beck hard in the solar plexus.

  He stepped back with a grunt and a grin, rubbing his stomach, then hers.

  “They didn't like that.”

  “They’ve had a long day and they are getting hungry.”

  “How’s it going with the family?”

  “Well, I almost wish I hadn’t asked them to come so far in advance of the shower.”

  “The shower is tomorrow.”

  “Yes, but keeping them entertained for twenty four hours is becoming exhausting. There really isn’t a lot to do around here, and sitting around the motel room is dull. I can’t exactly bring them all here. Mom and Dad don't have the best relationship. You know, some people get divorced and it’s amicable, and they’re nice enough to each other, but you can see the strain.”

  “Oh, well, tonight will be dinner, and tomorrow the shower, and then when are they leaving?”

  “After the shower. Sofia let them have a late checkout.”

  “Not like she’s in high demand, but that was still nice.”

  “So what have you been up to?” She needed something to do with her hands so she pulled the silverware out of the drawer and started setting the table. She didn't even have a pretty table cloth.

  Why did she care what her mother thought? Her mother was the one who had left them behind.

  She listened as Beck told her about his work recycling the water used in the oilfield drilling.

  “But that drive is getting old,” he added.

  “So Tanya mentioned something,” she said. “She said they went to a drive-in movie in New Braunfels and she thought that might be a good thing for us to have out here, you know, maybe between here and San Angelo.”

  “That would be fun, but who’s going to try it? I mean, we have maybe twenty people who’d use it.”

  “Well, in town, yes, but the idea is to get people to come out from San Angelo to use it.”

  “That’s a long way for something that would only be useful at night. You figure in the summer time, you can’t start a movie until nine, they run about two hours, you don't start driving home until after eleven.”

  “And also we were talking about the city buying the land that the garage is on, getting it cleaned up, since he won’t do it. What kind of business do you think could go there?”

  “What’s with all these ideas? Don't you have enough to think about right now?”

  “I do, but I was thinking, you’re building a house, the drive is getting tiring, even though, you know, you’ve driven across the country. I’m just trying to think of what kind of business you could open in town that would be sustainable. We don't have a garage anymore, and you did work for a race car driver.”

  He shook his head. “That’s not something I’d be interested in. At all.”

  “Well, you wouldn’t have to do the work. You could hire someone. I don't know. Or you could build something else there. Apartments, maybe.”

  “And who would live in those apartments?”

  “People who are tired of living with their parents.”

  He was watching her. “What is going through your mind right now?”

  “Nothing. I guess I just saw the town through different eyes today, and I saw what we’re lacking and what we need, and, I don't know. I feel like we need a way to hold people here.”

  “Hold people? Or hold me? Because investing in a house is one thing, but investing in a business is something else. Investing in a business is like investing in the future of this town.”

  “I suppose. I was just listening to them talk about how miserable we must be because we don't have this, or that, and I was thinking that I don't want you to be miserable without those things, and then I was thinking if anyone in town had the means to do something about it, you did.”

  “Lacey.” He turned her to him, holding her arms. “I have a reason to stay, a reason not to be miserable. I’m trying to tell you this, but you’re not really hearing me right now. I think maybe you will, so I’ve got to keep trying.”

  She blushed and turned away from him. “There has to be something more than me holding you here. I’m afraid that won’t be enough.”

  “It’s more than enough. It’s the best reason I can think of. I swear that to you.”

  The sound of her dad’s car pulling in the driveway gave her an excuse to pull away and think of something else.

  “I brought a tablecloth, too,” Marianne said, so that Lacey had to pick up the silverware she’d just set out. “Hi, Beck, good to see you.”

  The lasagna was already sitting out on the table when Joyce, Tanya, Leonard and the kids arrived.

  “Sorry we’re late. Caydence crashed hard and we had trouble waking her up,” Tanya said, her attention all focused on Beck. “Hi, I’m Tanya.” She approached him with her hand outstretched. “You probably don't remember me because I’m much younger than Lacey.”

  Lacey coughed. “Three years.”

  “Much younger,” Tanya repeated. “You’re Beck, I know. This is my husband Leonard, our kids, Caydence and Leo, and our mother Joyce. Mom, do you remember Beck Conover?”

  Well. Lacey had planned to introduce him, but that was just fine. Her family’s inspection of him was a little awkward, but that was also just fine. Beck knew what he was getting himself into when he accepted this invitation. She wondered that Marianne wasn't getting the same scrutiny.

  “The house looks just the same,” Joyce said, her tone a little flat. “It’s almost like walking back in time.”

  Lacey wasn't sure what she expected to see. Her dad had been busy in the service, and then at the power company. He hadn’t really invested much time in the house.

  “And this is Marianne Skyler, and she’s made a wonderful dinner for us,” Lacey said, stepping forward to Marianne’s side. “All homemade.” Lacey realized as she said it, she didn't indicate the woman’s relationship to her dad, so her introduction made her sound more like a maid than a friend, but she’d already told them about Marianne.

  Her father, to Lacey’s surprise, put his hand around Marianne’s shoulders. “We’ve been together a few months now.”

  “That’s very nice,” Joyce said primly, and Lacey wondered if her voice was ever going to relax. “We brought some wine, from Houston. And I think it will go very well with the lasagna.”

  Okay, so Lacey and her dad not only only had eight plates, they had two wine glasses, and they were different sizes, and etched with the names of different wineries. So she was forced to give the wine glasses to her mom and Tanya, while everyone else used the tumblers they usually used for juice.

  She thought, when Marianne poured her own glass, that she was probably glad of the larger size.

  Lacey had cut into the lasagna and started serving it up when her mother interrupted to ask for a blessing. Lacey’s dad inclined a hand to
ward Joyce to indicate that she should go ahead. All of them bowed their heads while Joyce prayed.

  “What time is church tomorrow?” she asked almost immediately when she was done with the prayer.

  Lacey and her dad looked at each other. “I honestly don't know,” Lacey said. She hadn’t been to church except for weddings and funerals in years, even though the churches were where most events were held.

  Joyce looked at her ex. “You didn't take her to church after I left?”

  “We went for a while.” Her dad would not be shamed. “But it was hard for both of us, with our schedules. So we stopped going most weeks.”

  “I can’t believe Mrs. Lopez didn't give you a bad time about not going.”

  “I let her know it was none of her business.”

  “I left her with you thinking you’d raise her right.”

  Her father sat back in his chair. “And I did. She’s an amazing woman.”

  “I can vouch for that,” Beck added, making Lacey blush.

  “But she didn't grow up in a church, with any kind of spiritual guidance.”

  “You gave her that when she was younger. She was fifteen when you left. She had the background she needed, and if she’d wanted to go, I wouldn’t have stopped her.”

  “Maybe if she’d been more involved in the church, she wouldn't have ended up pregnant and unmarried.”

  “Now wait a minute.” Tanya broke in as Marianne gasped. “One has nothing to do with the other. I mean, there but for the grace of God go I.”

  “Maybe this isn’t the kind of conversation we want to have in front of the kids,” Leonard interjected quietly.

  “You’re right, of course,” her father said, but looked in Lacey’s direction to make sure she was okay.

  She wasn’t. That was what her mother thought of her? That she was an irreligious hussy? That being pregnant was her punishment for not going to church?

  Beside her, Beck’s hand tightened on his fork, so that his knuckles were white. She glanced up at his face to see his expression hard, something she’d never seen before. She reached over and put her hand on his, hoping to calm him. He turned his head sharply to her and shook his head.