Ronnie rolled her eyes when she looked at Blaze. “Oh, so now you’re gonna cry.”
“Shut it, Ronnie.” Blaze turned her back to everyone.
Caleigh handed Blaze the stack of napkins she was about to put in the holder and whispered, “Compassion is beautiful, babe.”
“Snot is not. Don’t look at me right now,” Blaze said. “I’m gonna go outside and wash my face.”
“With what?” Caleigh asked.
Blaze moved to the door, keeping her back to everyone. “The hose.”
“Take these.” Caleigh handed the whole package of napkins to Blaze and watched her go.
*******
After dinner, Blaze stood in the doorway between the kitchen and living room watching Chantal talk to the kids who were gathered around where she sat on the couch. When she turned toward the kitchen where everyone else was cleaning up, Ronnie looked at her and laughed. “The sap is back.”
“Would you shut the fuck up—sorry, Edie,” Blaze said quickly and wiped her eyes. “Dinner was delicious, thank you so much.”
“It was the least I could do since you’re taking care of my stubborn granddaughter.” Edie dried her hands on a dishtowel and set it aside. “Now I need to get home and take care of my other hardheaded baby. I made him dinner before I came over here, but you can bet he had potato chips and beer instead.” She gave Caleigh, Blaze, and Ronnie each a kiss on the cheek before she poked her head into the living room and said good night to Chantal and the kids.
“We’ll walk you out,” Blaze said to Edie, and she and Caleigh followed her to the door. “I need to get away from Ronnie before I bite her again and make her cry.”
Ronnie glared at Blaze. “I still have a scar on my thumb from that, you asshole—sorry, Edie.”
“You shouldn’t have stuck your finger in my nose.” Blaze flipped Ronnie off as she followed Edie and Caleigh outside.
Caleigh grinned at Blaze. “Were you a biter when you were little?”
“No, I was sixteen when I did that. I woke up with Ronnie’s thumb buried to the knuckle in my left nostril,” Blaze said. “She made it bleed.”
“Blaze! You still bit it.” Caleigh made a face and shuddered.
“No, I bit her index finger as she pulled her hand away.”
“Caleigh spit orange juice in one of her sister’s eyes. I don’t remember if it was Joanna or Hailey she did that to, my only recollection was the screaming,” Edie added with a chuckle.
“It was Joanna, and she pulled my hair. The spitting was involuntary, and nevertheless, I was the one you made stand in the corner, Gram.” Caleigh scowled as they strolled out to Edie’s car. “I haven’t forgotten that injustice.”
Edie laughed. “I thought it would make your eyebrows grow back quicker. Caleigh, did you tell Blaze about that?”
“I did right off the bat because I knew if I didn’t someone in my family would.”
Blaze smiled as she opened Edie’s car door for her. “If I had been on the fence about going out with her, that would’ve been the tipping point. I was so enamored after she told me that story.”
“Somehow, I knew you would be appreciative.” Edie climbed into her car and put on her seat belt. “I’m sure Caleigh was equally impressed when you told her about the time you urinated on—”
Blaze closed the door quickly and waved. “Goodnight.”
“You are so going to tell me that story.” Caleigh grinned and blew a kiss at Edie as she backed out of the driveway.
“It was a long time ago. My memory of that event is skewed, but I may have peed on someone you work with and is very high up on the management chain.”
Caleigh took Blaze’s hand as they meandered toward the back of the house. “Tell me what you do remember.”
“When I was a kid, all my friends were boys. One summer, Cooper Kassirer decided he wanted to hang out with us because we’d built a cool treehouse. Cooper, being the prick he is, wanted me out of the group because I was a girl. He did annoying things to me all the time to try to run me off, and one day, he peed on my leg. So I climbed up into the treehouse where Cooper was setting up his army men in the dirt below. I squatted over a knothole and pissed on his head. I blocked Cooper from getting into the treehouse because he wanted to kill me, and my grandpa heard all the yelling. All the other kids scattered because Grandpa looked mean, but he was really very sweet. Cooper put on a show and started crying when he told Grandpa what I’d done. Grandpa sent him home, then he climbed into the treehouse with me. I thought I was in big trouble, but Grandpa asked me why and how I did it. I told him and pointed to the knothole. He laughed so hard he was wheezing. Until he died, he loved to tell the story of my impeccable aim, and he would laugh as hard as he did that day in the treehouse.”
“I want you to know had I been with you that day, I would’ve peed on him too,” Caleigh said with a laugh. “I would’ve spit orange juice in his eyes if I would’ve had it handy.”
“Make sure you always have juice when you go to work because you might get a chance.”
“I’m really glad we’re talking about this because on my first day, my boss Sam warned me that there’s bad blood between you and Cooper. Sam already knew we’re dating. Blaze…did you run over Cooper with your car?” Caleigh asked hesitantly.
“I did not run over him, I just kinda dragged him a little bit,” Blaze said as they walked up on the back porch.
Caleigh pulled Blaze to a stop. “Is your memory skewed on that?”
“No, I can recall that like it was yesterday,” Blaze said with the porch light highlighting the wistful gleam in her eyes.
“Please elaborate.”
Blaze led Caleigh to her outdoor seating area, and they sat on the couch. “Cooper was the one who found the tape of that old movie Chantal was in. He made sure everybody saw it, and every time talk about it died down he’d bring it back up again. Whenever we crossed paths he called me porn star, and one day I’d had enough. He was popular and had a big crowd around him, so I said something like he could never do porn because his dick looked like a number two pencil sharpened almost the eraser. He told everyone a mutt like me had never seen it, but some of the guys we hung out with when we were little were there and said I had seen it. Of course, we were kids then and everything on him was tiny, but I struck a nerve. I could tell by the look in his eyes he truly wanted to kill me, and after that it was nothing but vicious barbs whenever we saw each other.”
“So you ran over him—or dragged him with your car,” Caleigh said slowly with concern.
“No, that happened after we graduated high school. I’m just laying the foundation of why we detest each other. I was on my way to work one day, and I stopped at the ATM. Cooper was already there on his bike, not a motorcycle, a bike. He saw that I was waiting so he really took his time. The lane to the machine was narrow, and I couldn’t back up because cars were already lined up behind me and people were honking their horns. Cooper just flipped me off and continued to play with the machine. He obviously didn’t need to be anywhere, but I did, so I tried to go around him. I think he grabbed my side-view mirror, but he told the cops later that I intentionally caught his bike with it. I didn’t stop when he started yelling because, like I said, I thought he was holding it until his bike went end over end, and he shot into the shrubs like a human bullet.”
“Were you arrested?”
“No, I had a whole line of witnesses behind me who said I didn’t do it on purpose, and the bank cameras caught everything. I love surveillance cameras, they’ve saved my ass twice. That’s why I have them all over my store. Anyway, the incident was written up as an accident, and my insurance company bought Cooper a new bike. That asshole still tells everyone he meets that I tried to kill him. Cooper’s dad is the mayor, he tells the same lie, and a lot of people believe it because you can always trust a politician’s word,” Blaze said sarcastically. “You’ll also hear I shoved him out of the treehouse, and that is true. I shoved his ass right out
of it and watched him drop a whole four feet, but he’ll tell you it was forty. He returned after the great urination war, and I wasn’t having him in my house.”
Caleigh snorted. “Sorry to laugh. You look a little pissed off.”
“No, I’m sorry. I’m not surprised everyone already knows we’re dating, but it does bother me that Cooper knows. I’m worried he’ll try to make your life miserable.”
“He might try, but I’ve dealt with people like him before,” Caleigh said confidently.
“Let me give you the heads up on how he works. When we were in high school, he’d stir shit. For example, he told this guy Chad that Evan was talking about him behind his back, then he told Evan the same thing. Cooper stirred it so much that Chad confronted Evan, and Cooper was egging them on to fight, which they eventually did. When Cooper spotted the teachers coming to break it up, he started lecturing the guys loudly on how conflicts shouldn’t be settled with fists. The faculty thought he was a saint and a stellar example of a good student. Carey told me he still does the same thing, and that’s how he moved up the managerial ladder at Falcon. He would embroil the person ahead of him in some scandal or dispute, so he could move into their position. Keep your phone on you at all times and record any interaction you have with him.”
Caleigh nodded. “Good advice. I’ll be ready when I return to work. I called Sam while you were at the store and told him I’d be there tomorrow.”
“Are you sure you’re ready for that?”
“I am. I’m not sensitive to light, I’m not dizzy, and I have all my memories. I don’t have a concussion. I think they said that to validate what I know is a very expensive brain scan. I swear I’m fine. I’m not only fit to return to work, I’m ready to work on you.” Caleigh gave Blaze a seductive look. “I’m gonna have to be on top at all times, the back of my head is still sore. You know you want this little knothead to make you forget everything for a while.”
“My insurance is gonna cover your bills. I’ve already started the claim process.”
“Thank you, I really appreciate that, but I’m talking about sex right now, Blaze.”
The back door burst open. “Do not fly down this road,” Ronnie said as she followed her sons onto the porch. “This is a residential area, Trey.”
I’m riding with you, Mom, Trey’s car smells like chili powder and rotten fish.” Rosie noticed Blaze and Caleigh and smiled. “I’m gonna be a lesbian too.”
“Are you attracted to girls?” Blaze asked.
“No, I just don’t like the way guys smell.” Rosie cocked her head with a thoughtful expression. “Even after they’ve had a bath.”
Blaze nodded. “You’re probably a lesbian. The attraction to girls will come later.”
“Don’t put ideas in her head,” Ronnie snapped. “With hormones raging, teen years are confusing enough.”
Rosie stood on the edge of the porch, planted her hands on her hips, and yelled into the night sky, “I am a lesbian.”
“Go get in the car.” Ronnie grabbed Rosie by the arm and slapped her keys into her hand. “To the car now, and no, you aren’t driving.”
“Goodnight, Blaze and Ms. Caleigh,” Rosie said as she headed for the steps. “Please help my mom find her sense of humor.”
“I might’ve laughed at her lesbian proclamation, but a couple of months ago, she decided she was vegan. That only lasted for a week, but she burned an expensive pair of leather boots because they came from something that had eyeballs. What’s she gonna do now, cut her hair off and start wearing big belt buckles?” Ronnie asked.
“She would never be a cowgirl lesbian,” Blaze said with a grin. “I just wanted you to feel normal again. Has your world stopped being weird now?”
“Goodnight, Caleigh,” Ronnie said kindly. She turned and headed for the steps. “Yes, my world is normal again, thank you very much, wanker. I’m told that’s British slang for dick.”
Blaze stood and pulled Caleigh up with her. “Let’s go to bed, knothead.”
“Wait, am I still on sexual restriction?”
Blaze smiled. “You know it’ll kill me if you get hurt again.”
“I’ll wear a helmet.” Caleigh grinned. “And boots, that’s all.”
“I only have a bike helmet, but I think you’ll make even that sexy,” Blaze said as she headed for the door with Caleigh in tow.
They walked inside, and Blaze switched off the lights in the kitchen as they walked through it. Chantal was still in the living room sitting on the couch. “Blaze, could we talk for just a moment?”
“Okay, this time I’m going to butt out.” Caleigh released Blaze’s hand and smiled at Chantal. “Goodnight.”
“I hope you sleep well, good night,” Chantal said while Caleigh went to Blaze’s room. She watched Blaze take a seat on the arm of a chair. “I sincerely apologize for taking advantage of your kindness and lying to you. I didn’t know how you would receive what I had to say, and I jumped at the opportunity to see what your day-to-day life was like. Although I’m very ashamed of the fact that I manipulated you into letting me stay here, I still have to admit I enjoyed being here very much. First thing tomorrow morning, I’ll make arrangements to leave.”
“And go where, back to California?” Blaze asked with consternation.
“I want to remain in Falcon with your permission.”
“I’m good with that, but where’re you going when you leave? A hotel?”
“At first, yes. I’ll stay there until I find a place to buy,” Chantal said. “You should be able to enjoy the privacy of your own home.”
“I’m not good with that. You could get your scooter caught on something in the hotel room and fling yourself into a wall. No one would know you were lying there unconscious until the people came to clean your room.” Blaze folded her arms. “No, you’re staying here where I can study you.”
A smile flickered across Chantal’s face. “I would like that. In the interest of your study, are there any questions you’d like to ask me now?”
“Yes, and this is one I’ve wanted to know the answer to for a long time. Dad told me you chose my name. Did it ever occur to you my initials would be B.S.?”
“I regrettably realized that after I had named you.” Chantal clamped her lips together.
“You gave Ronnie a typical name, but you named me after fire, why? Was the delivery room ablaze when you had me?”
“No, but the inspiration was a little more interesting than that. I labored with Ronnie for a long time, she was almost nine pounds. I’m not sure if that had anything to do with your birth, but you were smaller, and you…well, you simply popped out. The doctor struggled to get a grip on you, a nurse tried to help, and they somewhat juggled you before you were slung onto the bed. I watched you blaze a trail across the sheet, and Blaze came to my mind.”
Blaze held up a finger and stared at the ceiling. “Okay, I slid across the sheet and probably left a trail of uterus goo, and you came up with Blaze. Shit, I wish Caleigh had been in here to hear that,” she said and started laughing.
Chantal started laughing too. “It wasn’t the trail you left, it was the way you came into the world.”
“I like that story, and it makes up for my initials, even though Ronnie used to tease me about that.” Blaze stood, but she kept her arms folded and turned serious. “I was mad at you on and off throughout my life, but I’m not anymore. I’m glad you’re here, and I want to get to know you too,” she said before she turned and ran.
*******
Caleigh looked stunned when Blaze burst through the bedroom door and asked, “Are those happy or sad tears?”
“Happy.” Blaze rushed into Caleigh’s arms when she opened them. “I hate that I can’t control them because I really wanna tell you how I got my name.”
Chapter 20
Caleigh was surprised and touched when she walked into her office early the next morning and found a vase of flowers from her staff. There were colorful envelopes scattered across the desk
, too. Caleigh opened each one and smiled as she read well-wishes from people in the company she didn’t even know yet. One of the envelopes felt different from the others, and when Caleigh opened it, she found a piece of paper inside. Someone had printed a page from a battered women’s website that showed a picture of a woman with a black eye and bruised face. The caption beneath it read: She didn’t deserve this, and neither do you. Let us help. Caleigh started to wad the paper up and throw it into the trash as anger caused her face to flush. Instead, she folded it and slipped it into her purse.
“Oh, wow, you’re here already.”
Caleigh turned and looked at the young man standing in her doorway. “Forgive me, you’re Tucker, is that right?”
“Yes, ma’am. I usually get here kinda early because my girlfriend has to drop me off on her way to work.”
“I’m sorry I wasn’t sure of your name. I met so many people the other day, and all their names are a jumble in my mind,” Caleigh said as she put her purse in the bottom drawer of her desk.
Tucker smiled. “Well, you got mine right. That’s impressive. I thought my car was making a funny noise, so I opened my door and hung my head out to listen while I was rolling up the driveway. The door hit a post and slammed on my head. I was knocked out. That’s why my girlfriend drives me to work, and my mother is afraid to sit at the kitchen table because that’s where my car ended up. Anyway, I had a concussion, and it was hard for me to remember some things for a while. I’m fine now, but I didn’t want to move or even blink for like a week after that, so can I get you a cup of coffee or something?”
“I had coffee on the way here, but thank you,” Caleigh said with a smile.
“I’ll be happy to walk you to your car after work. Roger and I talked about that when we heard what happened. He’s a little old, but he’s ex-military, and he’s still buff. That woman might not be intimidated by me, but she’ll think twice about messing with you if Roger is around.”
“What?” Caleigh asked sharply.
Tucker’s eyes widened. “What?”
Blissfully Blindsided Page 19
