Mother Nature
The following morning, the couple made their way to the gym early for her training, before Caleb left for work. Neither of them found much to say after their eventful previous day, which left an uneasy cloud hanging between them. Grabbing a quick shower while she cooked, he scarfed the breakfast and made his way to the door. “I’ll see you tonight, little bit,” he called to her cheerily as he exited, leaving her to clean up the mess.
After he was gone, Bailey tried not to think about their relationship; she had spent enough time worrying over it. However, since her discovery, she could see Amanda for who she really was, and that had changed things for her on so many levels. She felt deeply concerned about the man the other girl had used, and would still hurt, until they could get the whole situation sorted out.
Realizing she was about to waste another day worrying about things she could not change, she mentally put her foot down; you will stop this instant. Placing items in the dishwasher, she turned on a music station rather than the news, ready to focus on cleaning the house until it was time to go to work. Soon, the tunes had put her more at ease, and she felt a sense of pride at taking care of their household.
Making a trip to the laundry, she took his clothes, as well as her own. A small smile painted her lips as she shoved his into the first machine. She had never done so before, forcing him to take care of his wardrobe as best he could, between his long hours at work, and the time he spent studying. He said we were in this together, she rationalized, recalling his comment when he gave her the money for her phone. For the first time since their arrival, she actually believed it.
A short time later, she carried their items back to the apartment, hanging up and placing them in drawers accordingly. That task complete, she set about the bathrooms, then the bedrooms, and even gave the kitchen a thorough scrubbing, as well. She left for work shortly before five, beside herself with joy at what she had accomplished.
When Caleb arrived home that evening, the fresh smell of pine-scented cleanser greeted him at the door, indicating her latest cleaning spree. He smiled his approval at her efforts while glancing around at how neat and well-kept everything seemed to be. Strolling down the hall, he entered his room, his pleased expression fading at discovering his laundry basket sat empty, and his own room was spotless.
Surveying the closet, his features took on an actual frown, as it appeared that all of his things had been washed and put away. Well, fuck; this ain’t gonna work, he chastised the girl’s efforts. Keeping it to a short shower, he passed on the computer, and gathered his school work to take over to the shop.
Arriving at the counter a short time later, he stared calmly into her clear green eyes, noting she seemed in good spirits. Accpeting his card from her, he nodded, “Come an’ see me on your break?”
“Sure,” her lips curled, and she shooed him away to help the next in line with a giggle.
Watching her take the next order while he filled his cup with ice and soda, an uneasy feeling settled in the pit of his gut. He knew he would have to handle this gently if he didn’t want to damage their mending relationship. Plopping his book on the table, he briefly considered not even mentioning it at all; but I can’t. I have to say something, before it gets out of hand.
When the time came for her to eat, Bailey gathered her dinner and carried it to the lobby, taking the seat opposite the tall blond. Careful not to disturb his papers, she unwrapped her dinner and began to nibble at the burger and fries.
“Thank you for doing my laundry,” he stated quietly, without taking his eyes off the page before him. “It’ll save me some time.” Lifting his gaze, he studied her, “But you don’ have t’ do that,” he finished quietly.
“I know,” she agreed between bites, “It was my way of thanking you; for the spider assistance. Besides, you said we were in this together, so I figured I could be doing more.”
Caleb stared at her, his gut twisting into a knot, “Bailey, I don’ wanna play house with you.”
Her jaw dropped, she stared at him, “Play house?” her breath hung in her chest. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means, I can do my own laundry,” he struggled to keep the edge out of his voice, “I like the way you keep everything clean, an’ I get that you like things a bit more tidy than mos’ people. But I gotta draw the line at takin’ care o’ my personal stuff. I’m not mad that you did, but you’re not my maid,” or my wife, he mentally challenged, “An’ I’d rather you left my stuff alone.”
The girl gaped at him, “I see,” she breathed. “Well, I’m glad we got that cleared up. May I eat my dinner, or is there anything else you wanted to say.”
Running his fingers through his hair, he sighed, knowing he had upset her. “No, that’s it. I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings,” he glanced at the television above her, “But after what happened yesterday, I jus’ wanna keep the boundaries clear. You an’ I are good friends, an’ I don’ wanna do anything that’ll mess that up.”
Taking a few more bites of her hamburger, she chewed slowly. Switching to French fries, she quietly agreed, “I guess you’re right, and I didn’t think about it that way. I have no intention of playing house with you; I wanted to step up and be a better teammate, that’s all.”
Emitting a small laugh, he continued to watch the broadcast above her head, “Ok, little bit. I’ll buy that. An’ I do appreciate it.” He decided not to push the subject any further in the public place, but nothing she had said had cleared his conscience over the issue. Noticing the scroll at the bottom of the screen, he groaned, “Did you hear about the earthquake?”
“Yeah, goofy, we talked about it days ago.”
“Not that,” he indicated the television, “The one today.”
Swallowing quickly, Bailey gulped her soda to wash down the bite, “Another one?”
“Yeah,” closing his papers inside his book, he slid to the right, “Come look.”
Switching sides of the table, she leaned her head back, absently eating a few more fries while watching the words slide by. “Wow. Nine-point-three, so it’s the second largest ever recorded. And I bet there will be another tsunami to follow.”
“That’s generally how it works,” he agreed softly. “Mother nature, at her finest. O’ course, FEMA was already crawlin’ all over the place, helpin’ out victims. This’ll only add t’ th’ chaos.”
Bailey could see his jaw tighten, “You don’t think they’re really helping?”
“Oh no, they’re helpin’,” he agreed. “They’re doin’ what they can.” His voice grew distant, “We got another huge hurricane comin’ into Florida tomorrow night; which makes three big storms this season so far. I’m wonderin’ what the government’s gonna do about that. FEMA’s stretched thin t’ say the least.”
Glancing at her long auburn locks, he smiled, “Eat your dinner, little bit. This’s nothin’ new, an’ no sense worryin’ over it.”
“You say that a lot,” she accused, her brow furrowing, “But I get the feeling you do.”
“Do what?”
“Worry,” she countered evenly, “So go on; spit it out.”
Stretching in an exaggerated manner, he gave her a half grin, “Not right now. Maybe tonight, after you get off.”
“Are you going home then?” she gathered her trash to get back to work.
“Naw, I’m gonna hang out here, an’ study. Walk you home an’ all that,” he winked at her with a grin.
“Ok, then I’ll see you after a while.” Leaving him to his book, the girl did her best to immerse herself in the flow of customers, only periodically stealing a glance at the screen. However, her mind would not let go of the issue he had presented her, and by the time her boss locked the door behind her, she couldn’t wait any longer to ask.
“How many people work for FEMA?” she demanded as soon as they were walking down the path to the light.
“Come on,” he laughed, “Have you been thinkin’ about that all night?”
/> “Yes, as a matter of fact I have, so how many?”
Shaking his head, he stared at the signal, waiting for it to change, “About ten thousand,” he replied softly. “But that’s not th’ problem.”
“Ok, what is the problem?”
Glancing at the girl next to him, he reached over and clasped her fingers lightly in his, “Why do you wanna know?”
“Because,” she could feel the anger beginning to grow, “I’m as concerned about the future as you and your crazy friends are,” she spit, yanking her digits free. Putting a stiff finger in his face at the bottom of the stairs, she hissed, “You know, just when I think I can trust you, you go all secretive on me and then I feel like you’re lying to me again!”
“I tol’ you before, I never lied t’ you,” he indicated the steps with his left hand, “Le’s take this inside at least.” Once the door had closed behind him, he worked the lock, pausing before he faced her. “It’s the fact that we have never had or needed such a group, but today we do. Have you ever wondered why?”
“No,” she sighed, dropping her purse on the couch, and kicking off her shoes, exhausted from her full day of chores and work.
“It’s because we’ve had more natural disasters in th’ last twenty years than we had in two hundred before that. An’ I’m not jus’ talkin’ about here, in th’ States, either. It’s a world-wide phenomenon,” he used both hands to add quotes to the last word, grinning wryly.
“What’s with the little quotes,” she could feel the breath being sucked out of her chest, “Is it not really a phenomenon?” she copied his motion.
“No, it really isn’t,” he pulled his shirt off, and flopped down on the sofa, “That would be somethin’ unusual or unexpected. This ain’t. We can predict the weather, really well I might add, an’ we can see that it’s changin’ for th’ worse at an alarming rate. Only…” he paused, watching the lines in her face grow deeper, “No one seems alarmed about it. Except the pockets o’ people, like the ones at The Ranch.”
“What do you mean,” her voice dropped as she sank down on the cushion next to him, “You don’t think people care about it? I know for a fact that isn’t true! There’s been a great deal of environmental actions taken in the last few years.”
“Yeah, there’s been some action, little bit, but not as much as you think. I mean, does it look like they care?” he indicated the room around them with an open palm, “For the most part, people haven’t changed, an’ the ones that have get a bad rap. You say it yourself, every time you call th’ community down south a bunch o’ crazies. We get horrible, derogatory names, like tree huggers or activists… an’ survivalists.”
He paused, drawing a soothing breath, “You act like preparin’ for th’ worst is a bad idea, but then you seem really bothered by the earthquakes, an’ th’ hurricanes, an’… everything.” He lowered his tone, not intending to belittle her, “I’m sorry, little bit, but I grew up out there.”
He stared into her wide green orbs, “An’ for a long time, I didn’ believe it either. I guess I didn’t really wanna believe it; most people don’t. I know you think they’re doin’ what they can, with the protesters, an’ FEMA, an shit like that, but it’s like puttin’ a bandaid on a broken arm. It’s not nearly enough,” he paused, clenching his fists nervously for a moment. “When I see what’s happenin’ around us, I realize... eventually I’m gonna go home.”
Her eyes grew misty, “Does that mean you’re not going to help me get Jess and Jase back?”
“No, it doesn’t mean that. I said that I would, an’ I will. If I have t’ sneak in there an’ steal ‘em back for you,” he reached over, patting her affectionately on the knee. “You’re gonna get your little brothers back, Bailey. That’s a straight up promise.”
“Ok,” she smiled for an instant, before it slipped away, “So what is it you’re not telling me?”
Caleb swallowed hard, torn between the life he had always known, and the girl he had come to care so much about. “I don’ wanna hurt you.”
She stared at him for a full minute, her tongue sliding across her teeth, and making a slow lap around the inside of her mouth. She considered his words, her gut twisting into an anxious knot. “Well,” she huffed, “I’m glad that you don’t. What has that got to do with anything?”
“I’m afraid that lettin’ you take the boys an’ leave would be th’ thing that gets you hurt, or killed,” he finished weakly. “I tried to tell my dad, before I brought you back here…” he swallowed again, causing his Adam’s apple to slide up and down, “I think you belong with us.”
Leaping up from her seat, Bailey looked as if she had been slapped, “I don’t want to talk about this anymore!” Bending over to grab her shoes, she stood up to find him next to her, catching her and peering down into her pure green eyes.
“I won’t say anything else about it,” he panted noisily, “I know it bothers you t’ think about, an’ I’m sorry that it does. You’re still my best friend, an’ I really don’ wanna see anything happen t’ you.”
“Why couldn’t we make our own place?” she suggested loudly. “If you really think they’re right, we could locate a place and make our own community, only not filled with crazy people, who want to hurt everyone else!”
“Stop it!” he commanded, “They don’t wanna hurt people, they jus’ wanna protect what they’ve worked for all their lives. An’ that’s somethin’ t’ think about. Maybe we could find a place t’ build a similar set up,” he allowed her the dream, fairly certain there wouldn’t be enough time. Not now, with things spiraling as they have been.
“You have to finish school, little bit. Worry about that, at least for the time bein’, an’ I’m sorry I made you worry about the rest o’ this,” he swung his arm, again indicating their home and the world beyond. “This’s one o’ those things I shoulda kept safe for you; until you were ready t’ know it.”
“Yes,” she stared up at him, still angry that he didn’t trust her, “No worries. I’ll go to bed… and sleep on it.” Pulling herself out of his grasp, she made her way down the hall, closing her door behind her.
Thanks Be Given
Bailey slowly climbed the steps to the apartment sooner than normal due to the early release. Thanksgiving break was upon them, and she found herself trapped in the idea of holidays and the past. She had been torn between angry and sad at their current situation for weeks, and facing the memories of what she had lost seemed only to drive her further into her depression.
Back home, their maid would be preparing a huge feast. Her grandparents would be coming down from Peoria for a visit, and it would be a day-long event. First, there would be the parades on the television; the family had a set in the den that put the one Uncle Pete had purchased to shame. Then the giant meal followed by naps and football games to round everything out.
Making her way into the boys’ room to fire up the computer, she recalled how excited they had been each year, eager to watch the floats on the giant screen. Of course, Bailey had never really had time for her younger siblings before their lives were changed. Back then, she had no time for anyone except herself.
The girl had been seven when the twins came along, and what little time her mother had had for her before that, had evaporated entirely when they were born. That’s when she had started building her shell, becoming the perfect little girl in everyone’s eyes. As long as they didn’t look too deeply, no one would ever discover how empty she had been on the inside; empty and alone.
Heaving a deep sigh, she pulled up her Facebook page. She dreaded it more and more as the days crept by, hating to see all the posts that Amanda made regarding her pending birth and marriage to Caleb. He says it’s not going to happen; but I bet it does.
He continued to insist that Amanda and he were not a couple. But at the same time, he insisted that Bailey was only a friend, as well. I think he has real commitment issues, she half kidded with herself, emitting a small chuckle. The thought of him marrying the bl
onde only made her angrier; more despondent that his perceived deceitfulness would hold true.
Of course, there were a few pleasures that came from visiting her page. Besides her new circle of friends, and their never ending discussions, the boys would check in with her regularly. Almost daily, they sent her messages, and uploaded pics of themselves, along with what went on at The Ranch, and that seemed to balance things out.
Today, they had been riding four-wheelers, and had over a dozen shots for her to view. Laying her fingers across their eager faces, a cloud of sadness settled over her; they don’t even know they’re in danger.
An instant later, she shuddered, fighting the urge to cry. They’re only in danger because of you. If she hadn’t run away, they would be perfectly safe. Of course, they wouldn’t ever be allowed to leave there. The boys had been absorbed by the clan, and were living the only life they would ever know; unless I can get them away.
Hearing a commotion in the front room, the girl reluctantly closed her page and shut down the machine. Exiting the hallway, she discovered her roommate bringing in a large number of bags, shocking her that he had managed to fit them all into the compartments on his bike.
“What the hell is all this?” she demanded, indicating the haul with an open palm.
Looking up at her from his bent position, Caleb grinned, “Uh… it’s a surprise.” He could see she didn’t look pleased, but he hoped he could remove the frown she almost constantly wore, if only for a few hours, with the feast.
Bailey lifted one of the items, still in the sack. The giant turkey unmistakable by the shape, she frowned at it. “You realize I have no idea how to cook this,” she berated him in a hushed voice.
“It’s pre-cooked,” he replied, keeping his tone low, “An’ there’s directions on the package on how t’ heat it up. Plus, I got some other stuff that goes with it.”
He lifted a few of the bags and made his way into the kitchen. “My boss gave me a ham too, so I’m gonna put it in the freezer, an’ we can cook it after the turkey’s gone. We should be able t’ eat for a few weeks on this stuff,” he ended his explanation by retrieving the remainder of the bags.
The Irrevocable Series Boxed Set Page 23
