I wander through Barbara and Harrison’s house to the kitchen and I can hear pans, plates and cutlery being moved, as I get closer on my approach I start to hear a bit of family chatter. I can also smell food and I realize I am hungry and looking forward to my home cooked meal. Arriving at the kitchen, I see Barbara getting food, which looks like homemade pie, mashed potatoes and vegetables, out of the oven and into serving dishes. These are then in turn being transported to the table in the adjoined kitchen dining area by one of the twins. Harrison is popping caps of beer bottles, he hands one to me and takes a swig out of another one. Barbara is still fussing around with food and hasn’t really looked in my direction yet.
“Hey Barbara, need a hand?” I offer.
“No thank you. We are about good to go. OK, the food is on the table and ready, let’s eat before it gets cold,” she says.
I back away from the kitchen island and turn to the dinner table, it’s at this point I notice it’s set for six people. There are only five currently in attendance. Fuck. This means it’s a family dinner and they are expecting Jonas to put in an appearance so I take my usual place between the twins, opposite Jonas’s spot.
“Jonas is on route and won’t be long, so we’ll make a start,” says Barbara. We all make a grab for a dish and start passing round pots of food and putting bits and pieces on our plates, I say putting pieces, but the twins are piling it on like they haven’t eaten for a week, when in reality it’s probably only been a matter of hours. Strangely, no one is really talking and I’m hoping I’m reading more into this than is the case because if we’re all here for some announcement about why Jonas is back, I will not be happy. He didn’t want me to know at the time he came home six weeks ago, so I can’t promise bitchy Dolly won’t make a dinner appearance now. I’m also conscious that I’ve decided I don’t care; he is not going to affect my life anymore, so maybe it is time for care free, nonchalant Dolly to come out and play. I agree to go with that plan in my head.
“I’ve been grocery shopping this morning,” says Barbara calmly. I understand now why I’m here and where this dinner is going, it’s like I’m fifteen all over again. If one of us did something wrong it was discussed as a family so someone else could learn from it. Barbara felt that learning from something bad or wrong turned into a little bit of a positive and helped close it off. So she trusts her approach and continues forth with her shopping trip discovery.
“Imagine my surprise when Dilys in the Deli section tells me there was a fight in the store yesterday, I couldn’t believe it, it’s not often she has something that juicy to tell me. But what I found more unbelievable was that our very own Dolly was one of the two main contenders in this unscheduled bout.” I carry on eating. Harrison tries to look stern over a mouthful of pie, but looks more like he’s trying not to laugh. The twins don’t contain it though, and they pass a glance between each other and then burst out laughing.
“That is the funniest thing ever, no freaking way,” said Jake.
“New name, Dolly duel. I don’t think I will ever tire of you giving us a hilarious situation we can use to name you for Dolly,” says Jack.
“Who’s been fighting?” In my attempt to ignore all and lose myself in my dinner I haven’t even heard Jonas come in. Fan-fucking-tastic. He cannot seriously want to talk about how I went all WWE DIVA on his piece of ass in front of everyone?
“Dolly felt the rage apparently yesterday and decked someone at the grocery store. Hey, Dolly decked, another one,” says Jack looking all smug at his creativity.
“Ha, I bet that would have been a sight, who was your unlucky victim?” Jonas says. Seriously, he’s being all nice and talkative now, but he wasn’t yesterday. I think I was right, he must have just tolerated me for the sake of the Griggs and family harmony. What is even more worrying is that he is acting like he doesn’t know about this and if he really doesn’t know, now is not the time to tell him I just bitch-beat his girl. I can tell this dinner is about to go all kinds of wayward and I imagine not the family sharing session that Barbara envisaged. I need to put this line of conversation to bed, quickly.
“It doesn’t matter, it’s history, past tense, over. Can’t we just enjoy dinner together as a family now Jonas is back?” I’ve gone for the deflection tactic of reminding Barbara that her big boy is back safe and sound.
“Well details are a little sketchy and I also imagine they’ve been embellished a bit by the gossips, but rumor is that you openly attacked young Letitia Brunel, is this true Dolly? I mean, seriously, brawling in public like a common wrestler,” she carries on regardless.
Thank you Barbara, marvelous, I tried, I made an attempt to put a lid on a boiling pot and I don’t want to look up now to see that boiling pot opposite me; that would be stupid.
I’m also sat between the twins, so if the reason for my attack comes out, they’ll get a visual of what an actual Dolly/Twins spit roast would look like, without the erotic sex bit. I sense Jonas freeze, which must mean he didn’t know. The twins look at him and Jack laughs while Jake mutters “No way, Dolly decks Jonas’s bike.”
Harrison heard this and knows this dinner could now go wildly wrong quite quickly so he gives the twins a look that indicates they should leave it alone.
“I mean, I understand you two weren’t buddies at all growing up and I know Jonas is friendly with her.” Barbara says the word friendly in such a way that indicates she knows exactly what kind of friend’s they are. “But seriously, Dolly, how did you let an argument get so out of hand, in public, that one of you ends up nursing a bruised face surrounded by...male contraceptive products and the other is dragged out of the store by Chris Hales?” All I can think to myself is Oh Barbara, for the love of God, please SHUT UP.
The occupants at the table quickly deduce that I am not bruised so she must have been and that means I was the one taken away by Chris. I think for once I can actually see and not just feel the waves of rage coming off Jonas.
“Wow, can it get any better? Knocked up the side of the head by the condoms in the supermarket.” Jake is beside himself and Jack starts chuckling and asks “What the hell set you off Dolly? Hey Jonas, she could have been trying to follow in your footsteps and gone for the FED cruiser taxi cab home.”
I cannot answer this.
I do not want to answer this.
I am not going to answer this.
I am a little scared by what could happen if I do because Jonas can be unpredictable. However, he is just going to have to deal with it, it’s not like we’re epic BFF’s and he’ll not feel the need to defend his baby foster sister anymore. But the twins however, will go all ‘Jonas’ and then I’ll have three moody brothers operating on a police code 217, Assault with intent to murder. My knowledge of these trivial things is down to Neely. I open my mouth...
“Well, Dilys said Dolly was arguing over the two of you,” says a very untimely Barbara, pointing at Jake and Jack.
“WHAT?” comes back from the twins and Jonas in full surround sound. It’s like a bark, only you’re not sure whose bite will be worse at this point.
“Alright, that’s enough, Barbara if I’d known this was the reason for the impromptu dinner I would have said no. Leave it alone, Dolly is a grown woman and until she wants to talk about it we stay out of it.” Excellent, now, Harrison wades in and reminds all I am grown woman who has been fighting.
“Exactly,” she replies in a haughty tone. “She is a grown woman. She shouldn’t be getting into smack downs and those are Dilys’s words, in public. It’s just not on; I raised you better than that. I never thought we’d be having this conversation with you, ever, and not at your age. Thank goodness we’re not looking at police involvement, fines or a criminal record.” I drop my fork to my plate with a clatter and I’m feeling the same sort of rage starting to bubble inside that I did in the supermarket.
“FOR GODS SAKE, I asked you to drop it. I’ve said I don’t want to talk about it.” I get a puzzled look from Barbara. “What? Th
at statement is only acceptable when Jonas says it? It happened, I’m not proud of it, any of it, but I’d do it again in a sodding heart beat because no one talks shit about me or my family and gets away with it.” I’m greeted with quiet, they know I’m spirited, but I rarely have outbursts and they generally would never happen at a family dinner.
“What did she say?” asks a quiet and restrained Jonas.
“Not important for fuck’s sake, it’s done,” I snap back at him.
“Dolly, language, no need for that,” inserts Barbara.
“You started this Barbara, not me,” I snap back at her.
“I wasn’t the one who...” she tries again.
“Answer me Dalton, what did she say?” I sigh and look at him; it’s obvious he won’t let this drop.
“She implied some things about the twins and I, look, it’s over.”
“What sort of things?” asks Jake. I glare at him. I know they’re jocks but they’re not stupid, so I wait for the answer to come to them.
“YOU FUCKING WHAT!” explodes Jack
“Seriously, that is not fucking cool. Jonas tell your piece of ass that is absolutely not cool and she’d best stay out of my way. I can’t believe this shit,” says Jake.
“RIGHT,” shouts Harrison pointing at Jack, “You, enough with the swearing”, then pointing at Jake as he says “You, deal with it and remember that if you come across that excuse for a lady in the not too distant future you’re better than she is.” Next turning to Jonas he says “You need to think about getting better friends,”, he then moves on to Barbara and sharply says “You, I asked you to leave it, and you didn’t and this is the ugly result, Jesus, Fuck I was enjoying my pie. Dolly are you OK?”
“I’ve had better experiences at the grocery store. Anyway I’m not feeling all that hungry anymore, so excuse me; I’m going to head home.” I’m starting to feel sick and angry again.
“Dolly, no need for that dear, eat your dinner,” says Barbara. But it’s too late because I’m already out of my chair and have dumped my napkin on the table as I start to walk away.
“Leave her be Barbara, give the girl some space and remember this night the next time you plan an ambush.” I hear Harrison tell her and it’s the last thing I hear from inside the house. I’ve already got my car keys in my hand and am rapidly pressing the bleeper multiple times to get the doors unlocked on my jeep. I need to get to my car so I can calm down, breathe and possibly cry...again.
The next thing I hear is “Dalton.” Fucking seriously, I cannot catch a break. I spin round. He’s followed me out of the house and has a confused look on his face, it doesn’t help me figure out why he’s come after me. If he’s come out here to defend her I swear to God I will kill him and if that look is concern for me, it will break me once more. I can’t allow that to happen, I need to put a stop to whatever it is he’s going to say.
“What? Am I not embarrassed enough? Jesus fucking Christ, leave me alone. You want answers go and talk to your skank, but make sure you tell her if she comes within a two mile radius of me she’ll have a matching fucking bruise on the other side of her fuck ugly face. Maybe I slapped some sense into her and the only two brain cells she has at the moment, have met, banged together are rapidly multiplying as we speak. Either way, you don’t get to be all ‘stay out of my shit’ nasty Jonas one day and then the concerned foster brother the next. Deal with whatever is going on in your life and let me hide in embarrassment over the latest hideous development in mine.” All this comes out in a sharp tone and what feels like one breath.
With that I climb in my jeep and pull out of the drive. I didn’t let him say anything and I just left him standing in the drive at Barbara and Harrison’s. Jonas is still stood there when I check my rear view mirror; I hate to wonder what the mood will be like at the rest of dinner. I make it home and contemplate knocking on Neely’s door, but I can’t medicate my mood again with beer, it’s just childish and stupid. So I manage to make it through the front door before I start crying, I am so totally sick of feeling like this. I am even sicker of crying over someone or something involved with Jonas and his life. He’s only been back in my life for a few days and even though he wants nothing to do with a foster sister he just tolerates, he’s turned it upside down again. Fuck him, fuck her and fuck whatever crazy part of my brain used to think he was worth the tears he’s making me waste again.
With my resolve back and intact I tell myself again I am done with him. I have a new photo job and I am going to embrace it and make it the best yet. I have an opportunity to get my work in a magazine outside of this town and with it comes a dinner date with a hot sounding guy. I am going to do what the girls suggest, move on, hook up, get laid and have some fun.
With those final thoughts, I take the phone off the hook, pull the shades down and lock the door. I grab a single beer from the fridge, it’s not a beer to forget my troubles; it’s one to take to the tub whilst I put some Massive Attack on my iPod and have a soak. I’m going to sup my beer, feel the soft bubbles and then get to sleep for my early start and working day out with Tommy.
Chapter Eight
I drive down the track to Chris’s ranch the next morning and am feeling refreshed and excited. I’d sent a text to Tommy last night telling him I’d meet him where the ranch staff park their cars because it’s about a fifteen minute walk from there to where we’re doing the shoot.
Last night I’d slept better than I thought I would and the soak in the tub helped shut down my whirring mind for a bit too. At some point during the night I heard my answer machine kick in and Barbara leave a message saying she was sorry and that she hoped to see me soon. At least she’d made the effort and the first move, this was because Barbara was never one to go to sleep on an argument, but I was more stubborn, in her words, ‘as stubborn as hell.’
Parking at the ranch I was surprised I couldn’t see Tommy’s cab, but as I looked over all the cars again I noticed he was sitting in the front of an old Ford pickup. I climbed out of my jeep and wandered over to him.
“Hi, I was looking for the cab.”
“No, Joey’s got it in case any additional jobs come in,” he replies and starts to walk towards me. How had I not seen how sexy this guy could be? I was glad I’d made the effort and not gone for slob comfort work clothes today. He was wearing old beat up Nike sneakers, a pair of navy three quarter length shorts that stopped mid-calf which was mixed with a fitted cream, blue and khaki camouflaged patterned base layer t-shirt which was tight and clung to his toned and muscled upper body. To finish it off he was wearing Oakley sunglasses. It appeared that Tommy Sevens was all kinds of cute and it wasn’t until then that I realized that I’d probably not noticed his body shape or physique because he was usually behind a steering wheel when I saw him, that and because ninety percent of the time I was possibly drunk and getting a ride home. The remaining ten percent was probably mentally down to the fact that I hadn’t noticed him because he wasn’t Jonas.
“OK, I’ve put a strap on the big tripod so we can carry it on our backs, and I’ve got my expensive damagables and bits and pieces in my waterproof lock box. I’ve got a cool bag, picnic blanket and....I think that’s it.” I inform him.
“I’ll take the lock box and picnic blanket, you take the cool bag and tripod on your back and if you need to stop, rest or swap just let me know,” he says.
“OK, I’ll just get a camera out to carry so if we see anything on route I’ve got it ready.” I bend, undo the box, take out the smaller camera and secure it round my neck with its strap. We each grab our designated items and make our way through the ranch to the corner of the field through a gap that picks up the trail. We trek for about twenty minutes until the ranch noise becomes quieter and the sounds of nature take over.
“So.... kicking ass in the supermarket? You’re wilder than I thought.” He says it with a laugh and there is no judgment in his tone, he wants me to talk, but only if I want to. I know he’ll drop it if I don’t continue.
“Yeah, it’s been a wild couple of days, I’m not really sure what came over me apart from the red mist and anger, I’m pretty embarrassed,” I reply.
“Violence doesn’t usually solve much apart from make the one dishing it out feel better for just a little bit, but I’m guessing that wears off after a while and you start to regret it.”
“I don’t regret all of it, like defending my family, but I regret flipping out. Here’s hoping she doesn’t take it further.”
“Yeah, well, I’m sure Jonas will put a stop to that if she does. You know I’m always about if you just want to scream at someone. I won’t take any offence and I may scream back. Isn’t getting into a girl fight on every males bucket list?” he says smiling at me.
“Thanks Tommy.” I reply very simply and the conversation is over. If only last night’s conversation had gone so easily. I like that he’s heard me out, and offered me something to think about and then just let it drop.
We’ve finally reached our destination and I haven’t stopped to take any pictures, this was probably due to our chat, it felt more comfortable to keep on the move whilst talking about it, stopping would have made it more intense and he may have asked more. He probably doesn’t need to know any more details; he’ll know what went down with Tits in the supermarket.
The weather report says that today is due to get into the late seventies or early eighties for the temperature, with midday sun and some cloud. It’s hazy and foggy at the moment but it won’t be for long. Tommy sets the lock box down and looks at me for further guidance, but right now I’m busy. I’m simply staring around me and taking it all in. I hear the gentle rush of the waterfall at the very far edge of the lake and I see the beautiful well worn path that takes you around the edge of the water which is quaint and invites you to just wander that bit further through the beauty. It stops and swerves around boulders that beg you to explore what’s on the other side of them. I look at the boulders made of rock and sandstone with its mixture of deep earthy colors; they randomly jut out of the foliage and greenery and are a contrast to the beauty of the wild flowers. Some are pointy and rough; the kind of climbing challenge a child loves to play on and some are smooth and flat enough to stop and sit on for a while, to either rest or have a picnic. I see absolute calm and stillness on the water until you look further towards the waterfall end which is bubbling and cascading over the rocks.
Fostering Love (The Soul Sisters Series Book 1) Page 7
