One Moment (The Little Hollow Series Book 1)

by Danielle Dickson

  Being my area of expertise, I picked up the manual and flicked through it. “I can do this for you, shouldn’t take me more than a couple of hours.” He shook his head.

  “No, son, that’s not what I was asking.” I laughed.

  “That’s okay, I’ve got nothing better to do all day tomorrow, I may as well make use of my time while I’m here.”

  He patted me on the back. “Well then, you’re stay here’s on us.” I went to protest but he shot me down before I managed to say anything. “No arguing, Mac, it’s the least we can do. Betty’s been on at me to do this for weeks, you’d be saving my sanity.”

  Smiling and saying goodnight, I headed straight for my room to get the early night that I desperately needed.

  I was sweeping the floor when the door to the salon crashed open and my mom practically fell inside. Sighing, I went and helped her to a chair.

  “What do you want, Cindy? I told you I was done with you.” Her lip curled up into a snarl before she hiccupped and puked all over the floor right in front of her managing to get it all over her feet. Gross! It landed in a pile of hair and I felt my own stomach turning.

  “Really? Why can’t you go do this in your own place!” Dragging her away from the puke puddle and up the stairs into my apartment; she still hadn’t said anything which was unusual for her, I expected a slew of swear words and curses all about me being a shitty daughter but there were none, for now.

  I placed her next to the toilet bowl, cleaned her shoes and went to get her a glass of water. “You’ve got to stop doing this, you can’t just drink your emotions away. “ She took an unsteady breath and heaved into the toilet.

  “You act all high and mighty but you can’t talk for shit. All you do is bury and run away from yours!” She looked up at me once she’d stopped heaving. She was right but it still got my back up.

  “And I suppose this is where you try to lecture me about not caring? You forget I’m a grown woman, with a business and place of my own. No thanks to you of course. If I hadn’t have had my head screwed on, I’d have been following in your footsteps.”

  She wiped her mouth on her sleeve and propped herself up against the bath. “No, instead little miss perfect is burying herself in work and shying herself away from living in the real world. I know what I am, Sammy, and I’ve learnt to live with that. You? You don’t have a clue who you are or what you want. I may be a drunk but I’m not stupid.”

  She was wrong, I knew who I was and what I wanted. Didn’t I?

  “Why are you here?” It came out a little more menacing than I meant for it to be but my mom just brought out the worst in me. I resented her for everything she’d ever put me through; put Tommy through.

  “It was eight years’ yesterday. I woke up and picked up a bottle straight away. But you know what? I couldn’t take a drink. It made me feel sick to my stomach.”

  I scoffed at her, as if that would ever happen. “Forgive me for not believing you because you sure found it today didn’t you!”

  Looking up at me through tear filled eyes, she held back a sob. “I don’t want to be like this anymore, Sammy. I’d give up every single drop for one more day with my son, yesterday was a bad day, I couldn’t function properly so I had to have a drink today.” Her voice lowered to a whisper.

  I felt a strange combination of furious and upset as I knelt down in front of her. “Tommy. Is. Gone. But I’m right here, mom. Why can’t that be enough for you? I was never enough for you, we were never enough for you, so nothing would change even if he was here and you know if he was, there would be no way he’d want to be anywhere near you. You’re a disgrace and I want you out of my apartment.”

  I stood up and stormed out of the bathroom before I said anything else. I heard her trying to get up and huffed out a large breath before going back to help. “I’ll take you home now.” She stumbled and gripped onto my arm.

  “Don’t put yourself out, Sam, I can find my own way home.” I wasn’t arguing now, I was emotionally drained and I just wanted her out.

  “Just lean against here while I find my car keys.” I left her against the wall, grabbed them and came back to her staring at a photo on the mantel, it was of me and Tommy at my sixteenth birthday picnic that my best friend had arranged for me.

  “I’ve always hated that photo; it reminds me how I wasn’t ever there for you both. Take me to the bar, Sam, I don’t want to go home.” Her voice was somber.

  Oh, hell no!

  “The only place I’m taking you is home and if I have to lock you in there myself, I will! Now take my arm, we’re leaving.” She continued to spout a load of expletives at me. She told me how she was a grown adult and I couldn’t keep her under house arrest. “Watch me,” I gritted out, fed up that I was having to do this yet again.

  I was exhausted by the time I got home. She passed out as soon as I got her into bed and then I really got a chance to look around her place; it was a shit hole. I may have vowed she was on her own but I couldn’t let her live like that. I was there until after ten, getting rid of all the takeout boxes and bottles strewn all over the place. There wasn’t one surface not covered in something and it disgusted me that she allowed herself to live like this.

  I’d forgotten all about the hair infested puke puddle that was awaiting me back at the salon and sighed as I went in the back to get paper towels and bleach to clean it up.

  Trying to put it all out my head as I entered my apartment, I knocked on Kee’s door to see if she was still awake to talk about the decorations for the fundraiser this weekend. So much to do, so little time. I didn’t know why we’d been roped into doing this but with three days left, we should probably organize something. When there was no answer, I started to worry. Had she really been out for this long with Lewis? Did she even make it into Sharlington? I was about to call her cell when I heard the faint sound of the bell on the salon door chime.

  Panic over.

  “Hey, stranger, where’ve you been?” I had a smirk on my face as Keeley turned around and walked, or more like power walked, towards the bathroom.

  “Well I…eww what’s that smell. Are you sick?” She came back out with her fingers pegged over her nose. I’d forgotten to clean the toilet and spray something to mask the smell of puke.

  “Sorry, Kee, my heads not with it. My mom turned up.” I rolled my eyes and Kee clicked her tongue.

  “Seriously? Can she not just behave like a grown woman for more than five seconds? You okay, Sam?” As I was cleaning up my mom’s puke on the outside of our toilet bowl, I was far from okay.

  “I have to be don’t I? Anyway, stop trying to change the subject. When you’re out of the bathroom, you’re not skipping a detail.” I winked at her and shut the door on my way out.

  “There’s nothing to spill. I got there and it was awkward, he was sitting with some guy, some hot guy may I add.” She wiggled her brows at me before continuing, “So I feel like a third wheel and get shunned into a booth while they have a conversation. Then we order food while he tried to make awkward small talk, making an even more awkward moment, awkward! The end!” She huffed.

  I laughed. “Jeez, say awkward one more time.” I got an evil look in return. “And that so wasn’t ‘The End’, Keeley, it’s nearly ten-thirty at night! Spill.”

  She looked down. “Oh shh, there’s nothing to tell, we ate and then he made some excuse that his mom needed him straight after. Great guy, thanks, Sam. I spent the rest of my night sitting down at the beach.” She gave me the thumbs up and I chuckled.

  “He really is a great guy and it more than likely wasn’t an excuse, Kee.” She looked up at me disbelievingly. “Honestly, he’s his mom’s emergency contact. She had a stroke nearly seven years ago that paralysed her so he has to look after her now.”

  She hit her face with her palm. “Well don’t I feel like a douchebag. After he said what I thought was a huge excuse I told him I was paying for myself and he could shove his money up his ass, that I wasn’t owing him any
thing.”

  I couldn’t hold in my laughter as I quickly moved out the way of one of her swats. “It’s not funny, Sam! I’m thick skinned but I’m not an asshole. A little pre-warning wouldn’t have gone a miss!” She hung her head in her hands.

  “Ah, don’t worry about it, he would’ve known you wouldn’t be aware of his situation, I think. But hey, sorry to change the subject, but we need to talk decorations.”

  Cue the signature eye roll. “Anything but that I beg of you.” She was so dramatic.

  “Well, we should probably come up with at least some balloons or something.” Jumping up, I grabbed my notepad off the coffee table. “So the theme is Kickin’ it country, any ideas?”

  Kee made a gesture of sticking her fingers down her throat. “Country Boys and Southern Belles, makes me want to throw up.” Ignoring her, I started jotting down some ideas; this is exactly what I needed to immerse myself in right now.

  I hated all these community events, purely for all the looks I still got to this day, but I’d been roped in to help and I was going to do a damn good job.

  By midday, the sun was pouring down on me and I was covered in a sheen of sweat. “Here you go, son, take a break.” Mr Holroyd had stayed outside and helped where he could. I didn’t want to say, but he was actually slowing me down whereas if I had been left to do it on my own, I would have had it done in half the time.

  Taking a long gulp out the bottle of water that he’d just handed me, I moved over into the shade and sat down in a big wrought iron chair.

  “Should only be another hour or so before we’re done,” I said as he clapped me on the back.

  “No rush, let’s have some lunch first. Betty left us a variety of sandwiches and a salad, I’ll just go and get them.” I stood up so I could help him bring everything outside.

  “Don’t you dare move a muscle, young man, I’m not past my sell by date just yet, I think I can manage a plate of sandwiches and a salad.” I chuckled and sat back down.

  They really took pride in their backyard. The grass was full and green with a beautiful pond in the middle. Flowers sat all along the sides in a beautiful array of oranges, yellows, pinks and purples. I closed my eyes and listened to the birds singing and the bugs buzzing around, it really was somewhere that you could just sit and relax. I couldn’t remember ever being able to do this anywhere else but here. I loved this place.

  My eyes jolted open as a plate clanged on the table in front of me.

  “Sorry, Mac, didn’t mean to make you jump.” Shrugging, I reassured him it was fine and started on my meal. I had certainly worked up an appetite and as soon as Betty arrived home, she placed a huge slice of cake in front of me too.

  “Can’t have a strapping man like you go hungry can we?” I laughed and thanked her before eating every single bite. I got back to work and Mr Holroyd insisted on helping again. That hour of work turned into two, then three. By the time we were finished, we both needed to lie down but I couldn’t because I had somewhere to be.

  “You’re more than welcome to join us for dinner tonight if you don’t already have plans, Mac!” Betty called to me as I was walking up the stairs.

  “That’s very kind of you but I actually do have plans tonight,” I replied. She smiled in acknowledgment and I said my goodbyes before going for a much needed, cold shower.

  All washed and dressed, I sat on my bed and decided to give Mac a call before heading over to meet Lewis at his garage. The garage. The thought of stepping inside there again gave me the shivers.

  “Yo, dude! Where’ve you been? I was expecting you to call at least every hour.” I laughed, typical Mac.

  “Ha-ha. I know you’re very capable and I trust you, I was just checking in to make sure I left you with everything you needed.”

  “Yeah, sure you were. Everything’s A-Okay this end, we finished Sweeney’s roof today so the guys are getting started on the school refurb tomorrow. How’s your mom?” There was no mistaking the suspicious tone in his voice.

  “Yeah, great thanks. Listen, Mac, there’s something I didn’t tell you about this school.” I paused.

  “Well come on then, spit it out, I haven’t got all night, I have a date.” I snorted.

  “A date? Is that what they’re calling a booty call these days?”

  “Yeah yeah, just get to it, Con.”

  “Alright, well, it’s a Catholic school so I need you to reign in that mouth of yours and brief the guys too. I want to keep a good reputation…Mac?” He was silent for a minute.

  “Oh, I’ll be on my best behavior don’t you worry, dad.” I rolled my eyes at the tone of his voice.

  “Just do it, Mac.”

  “Alright, alright! Jeez, I think you need to go find someone to relieve all this tension you’ve got built up.” I looked down at my watch, it was time to go.

  “Yeah, okay, like you are?” I waited for a reply.

  “At least I’m doing something about it.” The teasing in his voice irritated me, he always gave me stick for not dating.

  “And like I always say, I’m fine. Just promise me you’ll treat this job like any other.” He gave his word before saying a hasty goodbye. I’d deliberately kept the fact it was a Catholic school to myself until now, knowing Mac had a gripe with religion.

  His whole family were Catholic but he didn’t agree. He believed that he’d had a stunted childhood because of it so he rebelled as soon as he had turned sixteen.

  Now that was over and done with, I grabbed the keys to my truck and left for Little Hollow.

  The fifteen-minute drive had me in a twist of emotions. I was always careful not to bump into anyone and be spotted but that wasn’t possible now that I was driving to meet up with an old friend.

  Pulling over at the side of the road, I wasn’t sure this was such a good idea anymore. It was nice to see Lew yesterday but the more I thought about it, the more I wondered whether it was such a good idea. If I was honest with myself, I just wanted to hear about Tony and get out of there. As much as I didn’t care about him, it chilled me to know all of these years I could’ve bumped into him right here.

  I started my truck up again and pulled off, deciding to meet up with him.

  Pulling up outside the garage, I noticed the sign read ‘Mitchells’ now. It had been done up a lot since I last saw it, I’d never ventured into this part of town when I came back so I hadn’t known.

  Getting out and walking to the side door, I took a deep breath before walking in. I found Lewis in an office towards the back of the building and knocked on the door.

  “Hey, man, I wasn’t sure whether you were going to show.” He tucked a sheet of paper into a file and stood up, motioning for me to follow him. We walked into what looked like the break room and he went for the refrigerator to pull out two beers.

  “Well I won’t lie to you, I debated not coming but decided I needed to man up. The thought of him having ever worked here creeps me out.” I squinted my eyes as he looked away, his back stiffened.

  Finally, he sighed. “Works here.”

  My eyes bulged out of their sockets as he let that blow settle in.

  “I’ve got to tell you, Con, I don’t like him working here but I didn’t have a choice, he knew how close we were and threatened unfair dismissal if I even tried to do anything when I took over the place...he…he’s a good mechanic, I…” In that moment, I didn’t blame Lewis, this was his livelihood and I told him so.

  “I just can’t believe he had the nerve to stick around after the humiliation of us leaving him,” I shook my head. “What?” I asked when Lew looked away and he blew out a quick breath.

  “He told everyone your mom went crazy and admitted herself into a mental institution and because he wasn’t your legal guardian, you had to go live with your grandma.” My hands clenched into fists at the audacity of him. I didn’t even have a grandma.

  “I can’t fucking believe this! After everything he put us through, he got to stay in town with a job and roof over his h
ead while me and my mom had to hop from one motel to another.” I stood up, finding it hard to control my temper at what he’d told people, my feet moved of their own accord and I started pacing.

  “Con, I hate to tell you this, but I feel as if I shouldn’t leave anything out.” I sat down, waiting for what was about to come.

  Nothing could’ve prepared me, I was gobsmacked. Turns out he met some twenty-one-year-old girl five years ago, married her, adopted her six-year-old daughter and they’ve had a kid of their own. It made me feel physically sick that anybody would have got together with a wash out like him. Those poor kids being brought up how I was didn’t sit well with me. I’d had a major shift in my mood and I didn’t feel much like being here anymore.

  Lewis cleared his throat bringing me out of my thoughts. I started to stand up while thinking I’d not actually found out where my step-dad was, I didn’t want to be here when he returned but at the same time, I couldn’t help picture those helpless kids.

  “Does he still live in the same house?” I asked.

  Lewis rubbed the back of his neck. “He does but before you go out all guns blazing, he isn’t here and he won’t be back until Tuesday next week, he’s away getting a specialized part.” I sucked in a deep breath to calm myself down.

  “I can’t say I saw this coming.”

  Lew was silent for a few minutes. “It’s understandable for you to be angry, Con, what that man did to you, well, I can’t even call him a man.” I did not want to go into that right now.

  “Sorry, Lew, I’ve gotta go.” He stood up and walked me towards the front of the garage.

  “I know we’re practically strangers now but if you ever need a friendly ear, you know where I am.” He said when we were closer to the door. “How long you in town for?”

  I didn’t have time to answer and jerked back as the girl with the jet black hair from last night walked in nearly crashing into me. What was her name again? I couldn’t quite remember.