Cross My Heart

by Jaime Russell

  “You’re still going to be that loser boy who was never good enough for my daughter, and my granddaughter will eventually see it, too.”

  “What is it about me that you don’t like? The fact that I loved your daughter and hated your money? Or the fact that my mother chose my father, instead of you? Emma is my daughter, and I’m not that scared little boy anymore. Don’t threaten me.” I thank the valet and tip him, as I get into my truck and head home.

  I then tell them about talking to Quinn, as soon as I got back to the house.

  “Holy shit.” Wes is at a loss for words.

  “Can we see her?” Tucker asks, and I hand him my phone. “Wow. She’s a perfect likeness to a Livingston.”

  “Yeah, she’s mine. She wants to spend time with me.”

  “Go talk to Charlie,” Wes says, handing me the phone back, after Tucker passed it to him. I stand up, grab the keys to my truck, and run out the backdoor. When I get outside, I see lights off in the distance.

  “Guys, are they supposed to be at the house tonight?” I yell back into the house. They come looking out, and we head over there. As we approach, we notice the girls unloading boxes.

  Charlie

  I’m at a loss for words, and Maddie’s not helping the situation, so I sneak out of my room, while she yells at Tucker and Wes for Rhett being an idiot, and I decide to head down to the bar.

  “Hi. Can I get a scotch on the rocks?” I ask the bartender, as I sit, and he nods.

  “Is that wise?” I turn to see Macy sitting there.

  “Pot meet kettle.” When she broke up with her girlfriend, she spent the first week drunk and hungover. She was vomiting her guts out in my apartment every morning, and then she spent the afternoon crying over the failed relationship.

  “Aren’t you being silly? You’re acting like Dana. You’re jumping to conclusions and dumping him, before you two are even a thing.” I roll my eyes.

  “You didn’t hear the excitement in his voice, or the way his eyes lit up talking to Emma.” I sniff, as I motion to the bartender for another one.

  “So, what are we going to do about your job? Or the place we are supposed to live? We have to move out tomorrow. You’re the only one working right now. I’m sure we can go back to Cali and get our old jobs back, if push comes to shove,” she says, as I put my head down onto the bar.

  “I don’t want that. I just need to go and do my job, and when this Emma woman is around, I will be very professional and not try to rip out her fake weave.” We both laugh. “When did I become this girl?”

  “I don’t know, but it’s nice to know that you can be this girl. You’ve always been kind of like the boy in your relationships. Fuck em’ then leave them with no emotions whatsoever. Now, a boy has you twisted up with emotions, and you go off on the rails at the first sign of trouble.” I sigh, as I get one more scotch, because I know she’s right.

  “Let’s go move shit into the house. We might as well start living our lives.” I wink at the bartender, and then stand up, as the room starts to spin, so I giggle. “Whoa, brain freeze.”

  “Sit here, so I can get the rest of the girls.” Macy helps me to the couch towards the door, as she texts them to come down. Not long after she starts pacing the floor.

  “What’s the matter?” I grab the bottom of her shirt, trying to get her attention.

  “Nothing.” She tries to put her phone in her back pocket, but it falls on the ground, so I pick it up.

  Psycho Ex: Enjoying Texas?

  Psycho Ex: You can’t hide from me forever. I’ll find you.

  “She’s stalking you? We’ll protect you. Don’t you worry about a thing.” She smiles weakly at me, as we walk outside. “Alright, where are we going next?” I ask, getting into the jeep with Macy, and she pulls out onto the road.

  “Umm, to move, remember? One more thing. Are you avoiding your sister?”

  “I just don’t want the lecture from her, you know?” She nods in agreement.

  We pull into the driveway, and I tell her the way, so she stays away from the main house. “Karen left the key under the mat for us.”

  “Can I ask you something?” Macy’s all serious, as we park, so I turn to look at her. “Did we make the right decision uprooting our lives to move here?”

  “I’d like to think we did. San Fran was going nowhere. We were in dead-end jobs, busted up relationships, and all living in a one-bedroom cramped up apartment. We deserve to be happy now, and no one should stand in our way or make us feel like we can’t have it all.” We hug, before jumping out and head towards the house. The other girls are standing outside, and since I’ve already seen it, I let them squeal and get all excited about it.

  I start to unlock the truck to get the ramp down to begin unloading, when someone speaks behind me. “Can we talk?” I scream, dropping the ramp and nearly catching my toe.

  “Rhett, you scared me. Don’t sneak up on a person from behind like that. Jesus.”

  “Sorry. Let me help you.” He fixes the ramp for me, as I hear the guys, talking loudly in the house.

  “Are they keeping the girls busy, so we can talk?” I ask him, as I laugh, when I hear Maddie threaten to rip Tucker’s dick off.

  “Look, I know it’s been crazy today, but I talked to Quinn, and then got some advice from my brothers. Come walk with me?” He holds his hand out to me, and I grab it apprehensively. We walk in silence down towards the one pond near my new house. “I’m sorry that I lead you to believe that I was seeing someone else. It wasn’t my intention. Emma is my daughter.”

  “What? Why didn’t you just tell me that you had a kid?” I try to get my hand away from his, but his grip is harder.

  “I didn’t know about her, until last night.”

  “Last night. Why didn’t you just tell me then?” My voice is louder than I want it to be, as Rhett pulls out his cell phone, and I see our picture, as the wallpaper. He tells me to check his text messages, and I see the name Katy-Emma’s mom, as I read over the messages.

  “I just…” I stop, taking a deep breath. “Rhett, why wouldn’t you say something, after your meeting?”

  “I needed to talk to Quinn first for legal advice. I want to make sure that I don’t jeopardize my chances at a relationship with Emma, but I don't want to mess things up you either.”

  “What do you need from me?”

  “I don’t know to be honest. Support, understanding, and patience. Katy is not the easiest person to be around. She's a spoiled brat, who thinks she is entitled to everything, and everyone is beneath her.”

  “Oh, so I need to be on my best behavior, when she is near. Gotcha." He nods. “Rhett, tell me about your relationship with Katy.” I honestly don’t really want to know, because thinking of him with anyone but me, kills me.

  “Katy was a very important person to me a long time ago, and I thought we were destined to be together, until I went to San Francisco and met you, of course. Anyways, we've known each other all our lives, but after my parents died, everyone started treating me differently. She and I became close in middle school, and then in high school we started dating. We waited, until we were both eighteen and out of high school, before having sex with each other. We were inseparable. If she wasn't at the ranch with me, then I was at the country club with her. I had saved for three summers and finally had enough to buy a small engagement ring.” I nod, letting him know I’m listening, as he continues.

  “This town does a big fourth of July celebration, and the fireworks were her favorite part of it, so I planned to ask her, during the show. I waited under the tree, where we always watched them, when I saw Henry, the Stillman’s cook’s son, coming towards me. He handed me this white envelope and left without a word.” I lay my head on his shoulder, trying to give him comfort. I can't imagine anyone breaking his heart, and I want to rip out her eyes. “I opened it, and in there, she told me that it was over, she was going to Europe with her friends, and then off to college. It also said she was going to stop playi
ng with the town orphan and get herself a real man. I actually cried for days.”

  “How awful!”

  “I made a vow then to make this ranch successful. I went to college, put everything I had into it, and it felt good walking into that country club as a member and not some joke.”

  “Emma has to be what about seven-years-old? So, why didn’t she say something sooner?”

  “Something you should know about me, Charlie. I was a very angry kid. When I started getting older and seeing a lot of father/son activities or mother/son relationships, I hated everyone. I had a temper on me, and Katy saw a lot that. She doesn't know that I've changed who I am, but she's going to know it. I'm going to have a relationship with my daughter.” He wraps me tight into his arms. “How do you feel about kids?” I smile at the question.

  “I want them, but we are kind of raising a couple now. Have you met Maddie and Tucker?” We laugh together, as Rhett sits down on a log, pulling me onto his lap.

  “I don’t want to ever lose you, and when I saw your face, then heard you crying when Tucker and Maddie were talking, it nearly tore me into.” I lean in and kiss him. “Charlie, Emma isn’t going to come around for a little bit, until Katy is comfortable with me, and I need to respect that, even if I hate it. Then, she’ll start meeting my family.” My shoulder sags. “I want that to be you, too.”

  “I understand, but I need something from you.” Rhett nods his head, waiting for me. “Honesty and trust. I can handle things if I know it, but if I don’t, then I’m going to think the worst.”

  “Okay, I’ll be honest. I promise.”

  “Even if you don’t think I can hear it.” I grab his jaw and kiss him, as he squeezes me tight. We should go and help them move, but I’m enjoying this making out so much more. I move, so I’m straddling him.

  “God, I missed you today. There were so many times that I wanted to text you or call you just to hear something reassuring from you.”

  “All you have to do is send a text with blueberry pancakes typed, and I'll send you something reassuring, or a simple ‘I'm thinking of you’ text.” I feel like a weight has been lifted off of me, so I kiss Rhett with everything that he missed today. I'm riding up on him to get closer to him, when a twig snaps in the far distance.

  “Guys, come on. Save your energy for lifting boxes,” Tucker yells, as I roll my eyes.

  “He needs to get laid, so he will leave us alone,” I grumble, as I get off of Rhett’s lap.

  We spend the next three hours moving boxes and furniture. It’s nice having the three guys to carry the stuff that would take all four of us to carry. “I’m going to go back to the hotel and get into the hot tub. It’s calling my name.”

  “Why aren’t you staying here?” Wes asks, as we sit down on the porch.

  “Tonight, is our last night at the hotel, and we need to pack up and return the truck. I also need to figure out grocery shopping.”

  “I can go shopping with you,” Rhett says, kissing my neck. “We can do normal couple things.” I can’t help but laugh at his weirdness.

  “Let’s all go shopping.” Tucker kisses the other side of my neck, and then takes off running. Rhett chases him, and we all sit there laughing at their antics.

  Rhett

  The next month starts to get us all into a routine. I've been spending every day at the country club with Emma for lunch, and I call her at bedtime to read her a story. Charlie helped me with about twenty books, and Emma made me a list, because I’m new to this whole dad thing. Mr. Stillman doesn't come around as much lately, since he's been traveling a lot. Katy's strung even tighter, when her dad isn't around, because she doesn't have the bully backing her.

  Charlie and I have been talking so much and getting to know each other. I'm falling more in love with her each day, but I'm terrified of telling her. Dana and Macy haven’t found a job yet, so they've been helping in the kitchen with Charlie, since we hired more help with the children's programs, starting last week. Charlie stays over three times a week at my place, and I stay at her place three times a week. Then, we do a big family night, and guys’ night and girls’ night. I never knew this was what I needed to make my life feel complete.

  “Daddy?” I turn to see Emma standing next to me in a yellow sundress. “How do I look?”

  “Wow. You're the prettiest girl I've ever seen.” I kiss her cheek, as she jumps onto my lap. She loves to spend a few minutes in my lap snuggled up with me.

  “Today is Grandfather's birthday, so I can't stay long to visit you. We always spend the full day together.”

  “Well, I'm honored that I got to see you.” I kiss her temple.

  “What are you working on?” I always bring paperwork with me to do, while she's doing her lessons. I get here early to watch her without her seeing me.

  “Oh, plans for the big BBQ at the ranch. I need to write some ideas down, so I can go over them with Uncle Tuck, Uncle Wes, Karen, and Charlie.”

  “Can I come? Pretty please?” she begs me.

  “I need to talk to Mommy first. Oh, speaking of Mommy, I see her. Let's go.” I gather up my papers, and Emma grabs my hand. It still sends a surge to my heart, when she does this, and of course, when she tells me she loves me or calls me daddy. I never knew a love like this, and it's only been a month. “Hi, Katy. Thank you for letting me see her today, even if it was an abbreviated time.”

  “I'm sorry. I forgot what day it was with him traveling so much.”

  “Mommy, can I go to Daddy's BBQ at his ranch?” I explain to Katy what Emma is talking about.

  “I told her that we would talk. It's still two weeks away.” Katy nods, and I hug her, and then bend down to give Emma a great big, bear hug and lots of kisses. “I love you, and I'll see you tomorrow.” I stand up and wave to Mrs. Stillman.

  As I walk over to the bar to pay my bill, I see Charlie wearing this beautiful light, green sundress with her hair down. She takes my breath away, standing in the doorway. “What are you doing here?” I ask her, after giving her a kiss, but wishing we were in my bedroom, instead of the middle of the country club.

  “Meeting you. I got your text.” She holds up her phone. Emma. I look over to where they are sitting, and Emma is trying to stretch her neck, like a giraffe, to see Charlie. “Emma?” she asks, as we both laugh.

  “Since you're here, how about a lunch date?” I kiss her on the lips, and then we head to find a table that is not in Emma's view.

  “She is a troublemaker that one, isn't she?” Charlie and I laugh, as the waitress takes our orders of salmon, salad, and soup. “How are the plans for the BBQ going?”

  “No. No ranch talk on our date. How’s your day off so far?”

  “It was good. Dana did some job hunting, and Maddie and I skyped with our parents. They want to come for a visit.”

  “Rhett, what are you doing?” Katy asks, standing behind Charlie. I groan quietly, but only for Charlie to hear me.

  “I'm having lunch with my girlfriend,” I tell her, as Charlie tries to turn around to say hi, but Katy stops her.

  “Why here? Emma is disrupting the lunch for Daddy, trying to get a look. It's uncalled for, and I thought we had an understanding.”

  “We do. Emma texted Charlie with my phone to have lunch. We are in a different room, and as far away as we can be. I mean, we are eating outside in Texas with June weather.” I sigh. “Charlie and Emma will meet someday. It's going to happen sooner rather than later.”

  “Can I make a suggestion?” Charlie speaks up, and I nod. “Katy, why don't you and I get together, so you can ask me questions? I'm sure that with all of this change, that it's scary for you, too, and not just for Emma. I'm not trying to take your place in her life. I'm just Dad's girlfriend, and I don't plan on losing that title anytime soon.” Charlie winks at me, and I can't believe it. Katy is speechless.

  “Katherine.” I hear her father say her name with authority, as she turns to walk away. He walks over to us. “I've paid for your food, so you can le
ave. This is my birthday celebration, and I shouldn't have to compete for my daughter and granddaughter’s attention.”

  “Our meal hasn't even come yet,” Charlie says.

  “It's not going to either.” He turns to walk away, and I can see her ears getting red.

  “Charlie, Emma is here.”

  “Fine, I'll behave myself this time.” She throws her napkin onto the table, and we get up to walk out. Before we leave, Charlie does stop to talk to the manager.

  “I just want to say that I've never been in a place of business, where the customer decides who is allowed to eat. I ordered lunch and was told that I had to leave. So, make no mistake about it, it won't be the last you hear about it either.” Charlie storms away.

  “What does that mean?” I ask.

  “Nothing. I've heard customers do that to my bosses before, and they've been terrified that the media will find out, so they kiss ass to the right people.” I laugh. “Besides, I don't take kindly to being treated like that either. I grew up like Katy with money. I never had to want, I grew up with the country club, debutantes, and the whole shebang, but I don’t act that way.”

  “Baby, if you're with me, get used to it. This isn't even as bad as it gets.” Charlie gasps.

  “Well, this town better get ready, because I’m going to be by your side for the ride, and they aren’t going to know what hit them.” I smile, as I shake my head at her.

  She’s going to be a handful to the Stillman’s, and I’m turned on in excitement to see what she’s going to do. “Let's go home. I figured out what I'm hungry for, and it’s not on that menu.” Charlie squeals, as I nibble on her ear.

  When we get to inside the truck, I pull her closer to me to kiss her. My hands are all through her hair, and she’s trying to find my belt buckle. “I’m getting a head start,” she whispers into my ear, before breaking apart panting, and she has this fire in her eyes that has me wanting to break all the laws to get her into my bed.