Perfect Storm

by Geri Foster

  She followed his stare. “Is he moving in across the street with Russ?” She hoped not. That kind of proximity was more than she could take.

  “No. I hear he’s looking for a house to buy.”

  That lessened her concern a little. At least they wouldn’t be neighbors. “I hope he finds what he’s looking for.”

  “Today Russ and his brother, along with Austin, went out to look at the Patrick’s old place. Jeff needs a place for his cattle.”

  “That’s next to the Travis’.” She shook her head and glanced back at him. “I wouldn’t want to live there.”

  He chuckled as he knelt down and began arm wrestling the pumpkin vines. “From what I’ve heard, Jeff can take care of himself. I’m not too worried about him living out there. Maybe he can make Levi behave.”

  She didn’t mean for it to happen, but a dry scoff slipped up from her chest. “He’s never going to behave and neither is his son. They don’t know how.”

  “Maybe someone can teach them a lesson.”

  Standing, she walked over and opened the back door. “I’ll be right back. It’s time for Tyler to get off the video game and outside in the fresh air.”

  “Texas sure has a beautiful fall. After that hot summer we had, I’m thankful for cooler temperatures.”

  “So am I,” she called over her shoulder as she stepped inside. “I’ll be right back out.”

  She found Tyler and Kyler lying on the living room floor, their attention on the TV screen. “Okay gentlemen, game time is over. Outside for some fresh air.”

  They grumbled and begged for another ten minutes but, in the end, she won and they turned off the game. Within seconds they jumped to their feet and ran outside. “Can we ride our bikes to Kyler’s house?” Tyler asked. “We promise not to play games there.”

  “Okay, but don’t go past the city park.”

  They were putting on their helmets when she closed the door, following them outside. “Be back before dark,” she called out as they sped down the driveway. “And be careful crossing the streets…” Her words trailed off.

  “Don’t worry about them, Candi,” George said. “They’ll be okay. The whole town knows them and watches out for their safety. This isn’t a big city, you know.”

  “I know, but I can’t help worrying about him. He’s so young.”

  George straightened and took a seat in a retro metal chair she’d cleaned up and painted red. “You have to let him be a boy, so that one day he’ll be a man.”

  She didn’t want to think about her son becoming a man. There’d be time enough for that in the years to come. For now, she wanted him safe.

  “I plan to keep him little as long as I can, George.” She wiggled her finger at him. “You and Helen were the same way with Benjamin. I remember how you two worried about your only son.”

  The distance captured his gaze. “Oh, I can’t deny that. Helen especially.”

  She lowered her head and slanted her eyes. “Tsk tsk,” she shamed. “You were just as bad and you know it. Don’t blame Helen.”

  He chuckled, deepening the lines in his face. “Guilty as charged. I sure love that boy and I hate that he moved away.”

  She put her hand on his bony knee. “You and Helen visit him once a year and he always comes home for Christmas.”

  “I know, but it’s never enough.”

  She smiled. “I understand completely.”

  Austin took his dad and uncle to Denton for dinner, after which they drove by his office so he could show them where he would be working. By the time they turned into his dad’s neighborhood, evening shadows inched toward the area.

  He pulled to a stop and his dad offered to make coffee. He jumped at the chance to enjoy the company, although he knew his dad’s door was always open. He’d rented a hotel room and it grew pretty boring once the sun went down.

  They got out and headed toward the door when a young boy on a bicycle rode up and stopped in front of the house. “Hey, Russ, how’s it going?” asked the kid. He’d stopped his bike and straddled the bars between his legs, his toes barely touching the sidewalk, hands gripping the handle bars.

  His dad stopped and turned, a big grin stretched across his face. “Hi there, Tyler. Isn’t it time you were home for the night?”

  “I’m going right now. I just stopped by to say hi.” He waved at Austin’s uncle. “Howdy, Jeff.”

  “Evenin’ Tyler. I hope you’re behaving yourself.”

  “Yep, I am.”

  Russ touched the boy’s shoulder. “Do you know my son, Austin? He’s an FBI agent,” his father said proudly. “Big fancy lawman.”

  He tried not to blush beneath his father’s glowing words as he reached out his hand to Tyler. “I’m glad to meet you.”

  “That’s Candi’s boy. Quite a big fella, isn’t he?”

  Surprise slammed him in the chest hard enough for him to step back. Upon closer look, the boy proved to be the spitting image of his mother. No hint of Aaron in his features at all. He smiled, strangely happy to get to meet the young boy Candi thought so much of. “He is. I bet he plays sports.”

  “I sure do.” He nodded to Russ. “He comes to my ball games all the time.”

  “That’s good,” he said. “Maybe I’ll join him sometimes.”

  “You gonna live around here?”

  “I hope to. If I find a place to live.”

  “Live right here with Russ. He needs the company.” Tyler sounded much wiser and older than seven. “Least that’s what my mom says.”

  “Well, I won’t be living here, but I’ll be close enough to see him every day. And my Uncle Jeff might buy the Patrick’s old place.”

  “I don’t know where that is. I just know around here. I see Russ a lot. Sometimes we play checkers.” The boy’s face clouded and his light brows lowered. “He’s better than I am.”

  He glanced at his dad and tossed him a crooked grin. It wasn’t beyond his dad to cheat every once in a while, but he refused to fess up.

  Evidently Tyler and Russ were kindred spirits and spent considerable time together. “Don’t feel bad, he still beats me.”

  “I have to go before my mom gets worried.” He shoved forward then called over his shoulder, “See you tomorrow, Russ.”

  “You bet, buddy,” Russ called. “I’ll be right here.”

  Austin watched as Tyler rode across the street then up the driveway of the Humphries’ house. They’d lived there a long time. He remembered they had a son who liked to invent things and wondered what ever happened to him.

  “Is that where Candi lives?” he asked. “With George and Helen?”

  “No, she stays in that garage apartment they fixed up for their son. You remember Benjamin, don’t you? She’s fixed it up pretty nice. She and Tyler are very happy there.”

  His eyes moved to the next house. “Her grandma lives next to them, doesn’t she?”

  “Nope, that’s Grandma Mercy, Marcus and Lucas’s deputy, David’s, grandma. Her grandma is Faith. She lives two blocks that way.” He pointed to the right.

  “I have a hard time keeping them straight.”

  “You live around them long enough you won’t. I’m surprised you forgot from your childhood.”

  “It has been a few years.”

  They went inside and Jeff pulled out his cell phone and walked into the bedroom.

  “Who’s he calling?” he asked.

  “I think he’s contacting the banker.”

  He looked at his watch. “At this hour?”

  “I guess he’s making sure he has enough money to afford the offer he made to the Patrick’s.”

  “I have money if he needs it,” he offered. “I don’t mind sharing.”

  “We both know that, but Jeff’s a proud man. And he’s not hurting for cash. He’s done very well since getting out of the service.”

  “Good, two tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan should equate to being okay the rest of your life.”

  His dad took out the coffee
carafe and filled it with water, dumped three scoops into the basket, then, poured the water in the back of Mr. Coffee. A few seconds later, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air.

  “I think ranching helps him deal with the past. He was pretty messed up when he first came home.”

  “I remember, but it’s been ten years.”

  “Some wounds don’t ever heal completely.”

  “Why didn’t he ever marry?”

  “He had a gal while he was in the service.” His dad took three cups down from the cabinet and lined them up on the counter. Their gazes clashed. “He received the proverbial Dear John letter. About tore him up.”

  “I can imagine. So far from home and unable to get answers.”

  His dad filled the cups, set out the carton of half and half and shoved the sugar bowl closer. “He survived, but he’s not had a serious relationship since.” His dad placed a cup in front of him. “Nothing like you and Lydia.”

  He wrapped his palms against the hot mug and shook his head. “Lydia and I weren’t that close.” He glanced at his dad. “I think we were just used to each other. Neither of us gave the split a second thought.”

  His dad lowered his head. “That’s too bad. I thought you two were in love.”

  He took a sip of the scalding brew. “It’s better this way. Neither of us was hurt by the breakup. Maybe that’s what we were both avoiding the whole time.”

  His dad shook his head. “You kids today. It’s all different. When I met your mom, I thought I’d died and gone to heaven and couldn’t live without her.”

  Hopefully she died knowing how much she was cared for, but he wouldn’t count on it. His dad had been a tough man to live with for a lot of years. Taking the seat across from him, his dad sighed. “I wish I had all those years back.”

  The sadness in his voice touched him. Maybe he hadn’t been as heartless as he’d thought all these years. Being an alcoholic had to have been a rough road for Russ, as well as he and his mother.

  Unfortunately, he and his mom took the brunt of Russ’ addiction. Thankfully his dad realized the harm he did to his family and managed to drag himself out of the bottle long enough to care for his mom while she lay dying of cancer.

  Maybe that’s what mattered the most. Having someone there at the end.

  His thoughts returned to Candi and he wondered if she ever regretted the choices she made. Not keeping Tyler, because everyone said it was clear to anyone who saw the two of them together how much she loved that boy, but getting involved with Aaron Travis in the first place. Still, it had to be difficult to raise a child on your own. Did she feel tied down to more responsibility than she could manage? Especially on a waitress’ salary?

  Deciding to get some info where he could, and with a mind to not arousing his dad’s curiosity, he carefully asked, “So how does Candi manage? She can’t make much working at Gert’s Diner.”

  His dad raised his head a little to glance across the street. The garage couldn’t be seen from Russ’ house, but that didn’t keep him from trying. “She does okay. Kendall helped her set up a blog for single mothers. According to her grandma, she does okay with the sponsors on that. At least enough to see that she and Tyler have what they need.”

  “Must be hard.”

  “No one in this town is going to let Candi or Tyler go without. Between her parents, Simone and Joseph, her brother Marcus, Grandma Faith, her cousins, Lucas, the Humphries and me, nothing slips through the cracks. Last year Tyler had a wonderful Christmas.”

  He thought about the residents of Rainwater and how generous they had been to him when he was younger. Not one soul acted out of pity. They simply saw a need and filled it. That meant school clothes, dental visits and much more. It touched his heart that Russ cared enough to pay it back.

  Jeff walked out of the bedroom with a wide grin. “Well, I placed an offer on the Patrick’s place. I’ll know first thing in the morning if they accept.”

  He stood and slapped his uncle on the back. “That’s great news. I’m glad you and Dad will be closer.”

  Jeff lowered sad eyes. “Yeah, that’s what I figure.”

  Before he could question just what his uncle meant, his dad cleared his throat and changed the subject. “You talked to Nancy at the bank?”

  “Yes, I talked to Miss Wigan. I was glad to hear she not only got her job back, but was promoted to Bank Manager too. And I have more than enough money to cover the cost of moving.”

  “You gonna be okay living next to old Levi? He’s a cantankerous old cuss.”

  “Oh, I don’t worry about him. He’ll either mind his own business or I’ll pay him a visit and make sure he respects the property line.”

  “Don’t go getting into a ruckus with him,” Austin warned. “He’s not only unfriendly, he’s also a shyster, liar and, at times, a cattle rustler. Lucas has to keep a close eye on him.”

  “Don’t worry about me. You have your dad to be concerned with.”

  His gaze slid to his dad. “What’s going on with you?”

  “Aw, nothing much.” Russ tossed Jeff a mean glare. “You shouldn’t be such a big mouth.”

  “Then you ought to tell your boy what the doctor plans to do.”

  “Doctor?” he asked. “You said you got a clean bill of health earlier. Are you having health issues?”

  “Nothing serious. The heart doctor wants to put in a defibrillator. Says my heart isn’t beating strong enough.”

  “That means surgery.” Anger filled his chest. Now that things were finally better between father and son, he didn’t want to lose the chance to be together. “When were you planning to tell me that?”

  His dad lifted his chin defiantly. “Tonight.”

  Now, more than ever, he knew moving back to Rainwater would be the best for everyone.

  Chapter 5

  Candi arrived at work bright and early as usual. Helen routinely saw Tyler off to school, making it possible for her to get to work on time. The diner opened at six, but Buck always handled customers until she arrived at seven.

  Not many Rainwater residents showed up that early for a sit-down breakfast. That meant Buck filled a lot of to go orders. Even with two fast food places opening up, the community still came in to Gert’s Diner for breakfast to go and they didn’t even have a drive through.

  She reached inside her car for her purse and apron and when she straightened and turned, Aaron stood inches away, pinning her between him and the car. “What do you want?” she grit out. “I’m late for work.”

  “No, you’re not,” he snapped back. Dark clouds in his eyes told her he was madder than hell and for some reason he intended to take that anger out on her. “As usual, you’re ten minutes early.”

  She tried to shove past him, but he grabbed her upper arms, pulling her to a halt. Glancing down at his big fist wrapped around her bicep, her heart sped up and she licked her lips. She had no idea what he wanted this time, but whatever he had in mind, it wasn’t going to be good.

  “Let me go. I don’t know what’s got you so riled up this early, but I’m not in the mood.”

  “Lucas came out to my place last evening and told me to stay out of the diner or he’d arrest me.”

  “Why are you here then?”

  “Because I can do what I damn will please, Sheriff or no Sheriff.”

  She yanked out of his grasp and glared at him. “Lucas is a man who means what he says. He drives by and sees you out here harassing me, you know he’ll lock you up for sure.”

  “I’m not worried about him. It’s you I have a problem with. You and your big mouth. Always going around town complaining about how bad I treat you.” He curled his lips into a snarl. “You make a point to let the whole town know you’re a poor little single mom trying to raise her pitiful son all by herself.” He made his voice sound like a five-year-old.

  “I don’t say a word to anyone, Aaron. I mind my own business, work my job and raise my son. If that bothers you, then maybe you should b
e a better man so you don’t feel so inferior all the time.”

  He tightened his hand into a fist and raised it even with her face. Closing her eyes and wincing, she waited for the weight behind the punch to hit her.

  Several seconds flew by.

  “I hope you weren’t thinking of hitting her,” came a voice she recognized well. She peeked and Austin stood between them with his palm covering Aaron’s fist in mid-air.

  Aaron tried to squirm out of the grasp, to no avail. Austin only squeezed tighter and tighter until her ex’s face twisted with agony.

  “Let me go!” Aaron screamed. “You’re hurting me.”

  “That’s exactly my intent. I want to hurt you, but mostly I want to keep you from hurting Candi.” Austin grit his teeth and tightened his grip. “You see, if it’s either you get hurt or Candi,” he smiled sadistically, “who do you think wins?”

  By now Aaron had contorted his body to the point his face nearly touched the ground. “Let me go.”

  “I will, but don’t come back to this place again and don’t get the bright idea to show up at her house. Leave her alone. This is your last warning.”

  He released Aaron so quickly that he stumbled and rammed head first into the side of her car before he fell backward and landed on his rear.

  Glaring down at Aaron cradling his hand, Austin tapped his leg with the toe of his boot. “Go on home now. Don’t you ever ambush her again.”

  Taking her by the arm gently, Austin headed toward the diner. She pulled her arm away and tried to settle her nerves. What had just happened? Where did Austin come from and why did he stick up for her? She thought he wanted her to fight her own battles.

  “Thanks,” she mumbled. “I really appreciate you showing up.”

  “The guy’s a bully and always has been. High time someone set him straight.”

  “Don’t count on that. Aaron was mad at me because Lucas went out to the ranch yesterday and told him to stay away. You see what good that did.”

  Austin reached out and took her arm again, turning her to face him. “Why doesn’t he leave you alone? It’s been over seven years and he’s hanging on to what exactly?”