“Where am I?” Monty asked hoarsely.
Landon didn’t answer.
They drove on for several more minutes. Monty wasn’t sure if he was just dreaming as he dazedly looked around, trying to remember the sequence of events that had led them both here. He rubbed his head where the crowbar had hit him. It was tender to the touch and agonizingly sore. Unable to keep his eyes open, Monty leaned his head back on the headrest and dozed.
It wasn’t until the sun began to rise that they finally approached a town and Landon slowed the car. They drove past a number of gas stations and fast food places before Landon turned off the highway, pulling into a parking lot in front of a grocery store. Parking on the outer edge of the lot where there were fewer cars, Landon turned off the car, and the engine quieted.
Monty opened his eyes again and looked around. This time his vision was less blurry. “Where are we?” He gazed at the unfamiliar parking lot and grocery store.
“Far away from Willow Creek,” Landon answered. He watched Monty attempt to gather himself.
Monty looked over at him, confusion engraved into every angle of his face.
“I know what you did to Emmarie, Monty,” Landon said quietly, trying to keep his voice even as he thought of her.
Monty shook his head in disbelief. “C’mon Landon, we were just havin' some fun…” His voice was on the verge of imploration.
Landon shook his head and instinctively placed his hand on the crowbar on his left side. “Having fun? You think assaulting a girl is fun?” Landon asked, his voice growing louder as he grew angrier. “You’re a disgusting excuse for a man, Monty,” Landon said sharply. It was all he could do to not swing the crowbar again at Monty. Maybe he should have finished him off when he had the chance, Landon thought to himself. Restraining his emotions, he took a deep breath. “Emmarie’s dad told me what happened, and that you and Jace hurt her.” Landon turned to face Monty.
Monty gripped the seat at his movement.
“I’m not gonna lie,” Landon went on. “I had every intention of killing you both last night, and I very well could have.” Landon flexed his hand around the crowbar.
Monty gulped uneasily. He was no fool. He knew what Landon was capable of.
“But I also know that you’re now a dad, and that you’re engaged to Virginia Summer, the sheriff's daughter.”
Monty squirmed at the mention of Virginia’s name.
“Don’t worry. I’m not like you,” Landon said, reading Monty’s thoughts. “I’m not going to go after your girlfriend because you went after mine.”
Monty relaxed, but only a little.
Landon took a deep breath and went on, “I don’t know why you did this to Emmarie...but you made the biggest mistake of your life by hurting her, a mistake that I’m going to ensure you’ll pay for every day of the rest of your Goddamn, miserable life.” Landon spoke through gritted teeth, harshly enunciating every word.
Monty remained quiet as he fearfully watched Landon, wondering what he was going to do to him.
“The way I see it, you have two options, Monty.”
Monty glared at him, but he was listening.
“You can either leave Willow Creek and start a new life, or you can return home.”
Monty raised a quizzical eyebrow, not quite understanding the offer he was being given.
“Just know that if you do return to Willow Creek, your days as a free man are numbered.” Landon watched the color seep from Monty’s face. Landon leaned in closer to him. “I can easily and quickly destroy your life,” Landon said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure you end up behind bars for what you did to Emmarie. That is, if Emmarie’s dad doesn’t find you first.”
Monty gripped the seat, his knuckles white.
“Think of the shame you’ll bring to your family, and to your fiancé. Do you really want them to know what you did to Emmarie?” Landon paused, and then leaned back in his seat as he rubbed the back of his neck. “Think of your daughters, Monty. Felons typically don’t make the best fathers. Or husbands,” he added. He looked over at Monty.
Monty was staring down at the floor, pale as a ghost as he absorbed his reality. Landon knew he had him.
“I’m giving you a choice here, Monty. Would you rather be the wonderful, imaginary father that your daughters never had the chance to know? Or would you rather be the father they wished they never knew? The father they’re ashamed of?”
Monty swallowed hard, and he wiped his sweaty palms on his jeans. He sniffed, fighting back the instinctive tears as he thought of his daughters, and how he would never see them again. The shame and regret gutted him to his very core. What he had or hadn’t done to Emmarie didn’t matter anymore. He was guilty. Plain and simple.
“I think you know the answer,” Landon said softly.
Monty looked over at him, knowing he had only one choice to make.
Landon took the keys out of the ignition and held them out to Monty.
Monty watched the keys swing from Landon’s fingers, glinting in the morning light. A few moments passed as Monty stared at the keys, knowing that once he took them, he could never turn back. He finally reached out and slowly took the keys from Landon, the keys feeling oddly weighted in the palm of his hand.
Landon opened his door and got out. He looked around at the new scenery as he stood up. Almost forgetting what he had brought along with him, Landon reached back into the car and grabbed the crowbar. As Monty walked around the car, Landon swiftly squatted down and flung the crowbar under the line of parked cars next to Monty’s. He heard it skid far away under the row of cars, the metal scratching against the worn concrete. Landon knew he wouldn’t need it anymore.
Monty came around and Landon held the door open for him. Monty stopped before he got in the car, his hand on the door. He looked up at Landon, his eyes wide with unspoken fear. It wasn’t Landon he was afraid of anymore; it was the unknown that loomed ahead. He had no idea what the future held for him, and it frightened him. Willow Creek had been all he had known for his entire eighteen years of life, and now he was about to say goodbye to it for forever.
Landon looked into Monty’s eyes and recognized the very same fear that he felt about his own life. For a brief moment, the two teenage boys understood each other. They had both made mistakes, mistakes they could never take back. Now they were here on the brink of change, a change that would forever alter the course of their lives.
“What are you going to do?” Monty asked Landon.
Landon felt the weight of his question hit him like a ton of bricks. He shook his head with uncertainty. “I don’t know,” Landon responded, his voice sounding as lost as he felt.
Monty didn’t say anything. He didn’t need to. He understood how Landon felt. Giving a slight nod to Landon, Monty slid into his car.
Landon slammed the door shut and stepped back. Without another look back at Landon, Monty drove away.
Landon watched him drive out of the parking lot and turn back onto the highway, heading north. As he watched Monty’s car become smaller and smaller, Landon felt relieved. He stood there for several minutes, paralyzed by the enormity of his own unknown future, and also from sheer exhaustion. He so badly wanted to just go home and sleep in his own bed, but he knew he could never return to Willow Creek. Landon remembered how his dad had looked at him when they stood on his front porch, and the overwhelming disappointment in his eyes. To his dad and all the rest of Willow Creek, Landon was just a juvenile delinquent, a bad kid that had tried to steal a gun from his own father.
Landon wondered if Jace had gotten himself to a hospital. No doubt his family would have phoned Sheriff Summer to report what had happened. Landon imagined Jace’s mother, fretful and crying as she tried to find out who had done this to her son. Regardless if Jace had kept his mouth shut about Landon, and most likely Jace had remained quiet, Sheriff Summer would have instantly suspected Landon.
Landon’s thoughts shifted back
to his dad. He wondered when his dad would find out about Jace. Willow Creek was a small town, and it would be only a matter of time before he heard. Or worse, before his dad, the local family doctor, saw Jace as a patient for follow-up care.
Landon envisioned his dad’s face as he felt along Jace’s broken ribcage, his experienced hands feeling the breaks deep under the skin. Dr. Young was a consummate doctor and professional. He wouldn’t have said anything as he carefully and methodically taped up Jace’s ribs. But, he would have suspected the worst about his own son, wondering if the broken bones were a result of his child’s tempestuous, erratic behavior.
Landon knew he couldn’t go home. He could hardly bear the thought of disappointing his dad again. He turned and walked towards the grocery store, his stomach growling from hunger. Though he had only a few dollars in his wallet, at least he could buy something to eat. As Landon neared the grocery store, he saw a phone booth at the far end of the building. Forgetting about his rumbling stomach, he suddenly had an idea.
He walked briskly to the phone booth, taking out his wallet as he walked. Digging through his wallet, he found a scrap piece of paper that he had kept since last summer. He reached the phone booth and smoothed out the paper, squinting as he read the hastily written number. He dropped a few coins into the slot and dialed the number.
A woman answered the phone, “Hello?”
“Um...Hi. Is Emmarie there?”
There was a pause that followed as Emmarie’s mom realized who was calling.
Landon held his breath. The only reason he even had her number was because Emmarie had given it to him when she went to her mom’s in Tennessee for a week last summer.
“Landon?” Emmarie’s mom asked. Though she had never met Landon face to face, she knew who he was. Landon had been all Emmarie talked about since she first started dating him.
“Yes. This is Landon. It’s Nina, right? Can I talk to Emmarie?” Landon asked, trying to keep his voice from sounding as nervous as he felt.
“Emmarie is asleep, Landon,” Nina said. She sounded sad.
Landon gripped the phone tightly in his hand. “Is she okay?” His voice nearly broke as he thought of Emmarie.
“Maddox told you?” Nina asked, lowering her voice.
“Yes, he did. Is Emmarie okay?” he asked again. He could tell Nina was struggling to keep herself together.
“No…but she will be,” she said hesitantly.
“Has she told the authorities yet? Or…anyone?”
“No. And she doesn’t want to.”
“Why?” Landon demanded, feeling the tears prick his eyes. He thought of Monty who was well on his way up north now, and Jace, who was still in Willow Creek. If Emmarie could just give a statement, Landon thought to himself, then maybe her two perpetrators could be brought to justice. He knew it wouldn’t fix Emmarie, but it could help her to heal.
“Oh, Landon…” Nina said. She shifted the phone, putting her head in her hands. “She’s scared. She feels…ashamed. She just wants to move on and forget.”
“But she’ll never forget, Nina. She needs to tell someone,” Landon pressed. “Maybe I could talk to her—”
“No, Landon. You can’t tell anyone. This is Emmarie’s choice. You have to honor her decision,” Nina said firmly.
Landon paused as he gathered the courage to ask his next question. “Maybe I could come see her then, and be the support she needs.”
Nina sighed. “I don’t think that’s such a good idea, Landon. She needs time alone. I can hardly get her to talk to me.”
Landon felt the weight of her words crushing him. “Can I please come see her?” He was begging now. He felt as though his heart were splintering into pieces as he thought of Emmarie—his first real love—alone and hurting.
Nina paused, trying to muster the strength to answer his question. “No, Landon. When she’s ready, she’ll give you a call.”
Landon lifted his head and looked around at the unfamiliar grocery store parking lot. People milled about as they went in and out of the grocery store, running their errands for the day. For the vast majority of them, today was just another normal day. Landon suddenly felt very alone. Nina and Emmarie didn’t even know that he had run away from Willow Creek. “Do you know when that will be?” He blinked away the tears.
“I don’t. I’m sorry."
Landon nodded. “Okay…I understand.” He looked down at the ground, studying the gum-studded cement. “Can you tell her I called?” he asked, looking up hopefully.
“I will, Landon.” Nina’s voice was unsteady. Landon wasn’t sure if she would keep her word.
“Okay. Thank you.” He gulped nervously. “Take care of her, Nina.” Landon was holding the phone so tightly he felt like his hand might break.
“I will. Goodbye, Landon,” Nina said.
“Goodbye.” Landon hung up the phone. He stared at the phone, his heart breaking as he thought of Emmarie. Maybe he should just go to Tennessee and see her, and not let Nina stop him. Surely Emmarie would want to see him.
But she had left without saying goodbye. She had been desperate. She had wanted out. Landon felt his stomach twist as the doubts began to enter into his mind. Maybe she didn’t want to see him, Landon thought to himself. Maybe she was done with him. Maybe she didn’t even love him anymore. Landon felt his breathing grow shallow as he considered this possibility.
“Are you all right, sir?”
Landon jumped and whirled around. A young man in a crisp military uniform stood before him. He looked exceptionally impressive in his freshly pressed khaki, button-up shirt, navy blue pants, and a gleaming array of badges on his chest. Landon tried to not stare at him. “I-I-I’m fine. Just tired. Sorry, long night…" Landon’s voice trailed off. He felt embarrassed. He knew he probably looked like a mess, especially next to this clean-cut guy. Landon suddenly felt self-conscious.
“You sure you’re all right?" the young man asked again, wrinkling his brow with concern.
Landon paused, looking at the man. He couldn’t be older than twenty-five years old. This man had no idea who Landon was or what he had been through in the last twenty-four hours, and yet here he was, showing genuine concern for Landon’s well-being. “I’m fine,” Landon repeated, his voice more solid as he gathered himself. He straightened up. He was easily the same height as the young military man. “I was just going to go grab something to eat.” Landon motioned to the grocery store entrance.
The young man nodded, studying Landon as he spoke.
Landon wondered what he was thinking.
A pregnant pause followed as they looked at each other, not knowing what to say.
“So, um...What do you do?” Landon asked. He kept his arms pinned to his sides as he spoke. It had been at least a day since he last showered, and he was sure his underarms were a testament to this fact.
“I’m a Marine,” the young man said, drawing himself to his full height as he answered. He seemed proud. Not haughty, but self-assured and poised. The opposite of how Landon felt right now.
“Oh,” Landon said, a touch of awe to his voice.
“I actually work over at the local recruiting center,” the Marine explained further. He nodded in the direction behind him, as though the center were mere steps away.
Landon nodded in understanding and cleared his throat. “That’s cool,” he said stiffly, not knowing what else to say. His eyes whisked down to the young man’s uniform again, taking in the shiny badges and perfectly pressed shirt. “My dad actually served,” Landon said, attempting to make conversation.
“Oh, really? What branch?”
“The Navy.”
The marine squinted at him. “And what do you do?”
Landon froze. Well, he had just graduated from high school a few days ago. He didn’t have a job. He wasn’t going to college. Oh, and he had just run away from his hometown last night. He was completely alone in a town he had never heard of, in a state he had never been to before. Landon stammered, “I-
I-I just graduated from high school.”
A smile stretched across the Marine's face. “High school? Wowee. I remember those days. They seem so long ago.” He chuckled, shaking his head as he recalled his more youthful days.
Landon looked again longingly at the man’s uniform, feeling insignificant next to this decorated Marine. He wondered what places he had been to, and what adventures he had experienced.
“Do you have any plans?” the Marine asked, cutting off Landon’s thoughts.
Landon searched his mind for an answer, wondering if he should lie to try to impress this man that seemingly had it all together. “No…I don’t,” Landon admitted, choosing instead to be honest. He looked down at his worn tennis shoes and shuffled them as he waited for a critical remark from the Marine.
"Well, if you’re interested in learning more about the Marine Corps, here’s my card.” He held out a business card to Landon.
Landon’s eyes swept up to the card that he had extended. He took it from the Marine’s outstretched hand and held it up, examining it more closely. “Thank you,” Landon said. The card felt curiously heavy in his hand.
The Marine nodded. “I'd better get back to work. You take care now, and best of luck to you,” the man said.
“Thank you, and to you, as well…” Landon answered, his voice drifting off as he watched the young Marine leave and head back across the parking lot.
Landon looked down again at the business card in his hands. It had the young man’s contact information, along with the address of the local recruiting center. Tucking the card into his pocket, Landon walked over to the entrance of the grocery store, his mind absorbed by what had just happened.
After Landon had paid for a sandwich and a couple of granola bars, he wandered around the store for a few minutes, basking in the cool air conditioning. Roaming through the aisles aimlessly, Landon wolfed down his sandwich and one of the granola bars. He had just made it to the men’s personal hygiene aisle when he had an idea.
Standing in front of the travel-sized cosmetics, Landon quickly formulated a plan. Without thinking further, he grabbed a mini deodorant, a small canister of deodorizing spray, and a travel mouthwash. He then went back to the checkout line and paid for the items.
Georgia Summer Page 24
