Misplaced Trust (Misjudged)

by Sarah Elizabeth

  Instead of Neil and Ryan calling their friends back in Olympia every day, the ones who Brandon may get in touch with have promised to give them a call if they hear or see anything of him.

  Alyssa and Ryan left for Olympia as soon as their final class ended yesterday, and Neil stayed over at Corey’s place, writing new material for their upcoming gig in Aruba next weekend. It’s quiet. It’s too quiet, and although it might be a better idea to spend time in my father’s company, rather than just my own, I wish it could be under different circumstances. It’ll be hard sorting through my mom’s things. It still just feels so final.

  Damn this case is heavier than I’d anticipated.

  While dragging it down the steps of my building, I hear something that really doesn’t sound so good and when I look to the ground, I see one of the wheels has snapped off. Great.

  Taking a deep breath as I try to compose myself and stay calm, I turn around and attempt to carry the damn thing.

  “Let me get that for you.”

  For some reason and although I’m not particularly sure why, I feel uncomfortable in this guy’s presence, “Thanks, but I’ve got it,” I answer, but it’s too late. He’s already scooping it up and is watching me, with his eyes slightly creasing at the sides. It’s as though he’s amused about something, but I’m not overly sure what that something quite is.

  “Thanks,” I mutter. He nods, and is still watching me intently as I tilt my head towards the parking lot.

  “Are you going anywhere nice?” he asks as he begins to walk beside me, making it seem as though the case he’s carrying is feather light as we make our way along the pathway.

  Entering the parking lot, I’m about to tell him we’re at my car, but he has already stopped walking and is placing the case by the trunk. What the hell?

  “Visiting my father …” my voice betrays me, and by the way he’s looking at me, I can tell he can sense that I’m not overly sure about him. “Hey, how do you know my name?”

  His eyebrows furrow and he looks slightly taken aback by my question, “What?”

  “Last week, by the lake. You called me Alexis. I don’t recall ever giving you my name.”

  He chuckles lightly and breaks eye contact with me. He seems apprehensive from the way his shoulders have now become tense, “Sure you did,” he seems very sure of himself. Too sure in fact. Perhaps I did introduce myself and I just don’t remember.

  “Well, thanks for helping me,” I say as he lays the case in the trunk, before taking a couple of steps back. “Bye.”

  “Will you be away for long?” he walks ahead of me and stands right in front of the driver’s side door, blocking my path. My heart rate begins to accelerate and I’m starting to feel really nervous. I have no idea why this guy is so interested in my plans. “I mean, college is out … you’ll be away until classes resume?”

  Shaking my head and glancing around, my eyes land back on him and I notice he’s clenching his jaw, still awaiting my answer.

  When he realizes I won’t be answering his question any time soon, he scowls and steps away, allowing me room to climb inside. I have no idea what’s going on but my chest is beginning to feel tight. I think now is a really good time to be leaving.

  Fastening my seatbelt and starting the car, I adjust the mirrors and switch the radio on, ready for the three hour drive to my father’s. I filled the tank to maximum capacity yesterday, so I know I won’t need to make any stops en route.

  Reversing the car and pulling away, I look through the rearview mirror and narrow my eyes on Harry. He’s watching my car as I drive away from him and towards the exit of the parking lot, now speaking to someone on his cell phone.

  As I pull away and begin my journey, I turn the music up loud and try to focus on the next couple of days ahead, rather than everything that’s happened over the last couple of weeks.

  Time away at my father’s might be just what I need.

  ***

  Shit.

  Slumping back in the driver’s seat and hitting the steering wheel with both fists firmly clenched, I cannot believe this is happening to me.

  I’m only approximately an hour into my journey time, and today of all days, my car just had to let me down. I only got it back from the garage last week and it’s been driving absolutely fine, well, up until just a few seconds ago.

  Grabbing my cell phone from my purse that’s on the passenger seat beside me, I grimace when I realize I have no numbers stored for this type of situation. Double shit.

  Okay, think.

  Ryan. Ryan will know who I’d need to call and he’ll be able to grab a number for me. Taking a deep breath, I dial his number and wait … and wait.

  Straight through to the voicemail, all five times. Triple shit.

  Clambering out into the fresh air, I take in the surroundings, or lack thereof. Hitting the central locking button on the key tab, I start walking back on myself. There has got to be a gas station somewhere close.

  After roughly twenty minutes of walking and cursing the heels I’m wearing, my cell phone springs to life and when I check the caller ID, I sigh with relief when I see Neil’s name flashing on the screen.

  “Thank God,” I say as I answer the call. “Neil I broke down and I haven’t been able to—“

  “Where are you?” he sounds worried. I love this guy so much. “What happened?”

  Sitting myself down on a grass verge by the side of the highway, I explain to him where I think I am, what happened with heap of junk of a car, and wait for his advice. One minute it was driving fine, then it started making weird noises, before refusing to carry on any further.

  “Sit tight. Give me a few minutes, alright?” he asks, and I’m so thankful he called when he did. I don’t know why I didn’t think to call him. Maybe because he’s supposed to be heading back to Olympia for the weekend to meet up with his family, Ryan, and Alyssa. Well, that, and because he hasn’t ever seemed like a mechanical type of guy, which may sound a little strange. I just see Ryan as more in the know how about cars than Neil, that’s all.

  After promising to help me, I call my father, telling him I’ll be a little delayed. What is it with voicemails these days? Apart from myself, does no-one ever answer their damn phones?

  Leaving him a message and making my way back over to my crappy excuse for a car, I hear a horn sound and when I turn to my left, I see a grinning Neil pulling over in a bright yellow truck, “Where on earth did you get that thing?” I ask, shaking my head as he sounds the horn one more time, before coming to a complete stop and jumping out.

  “You’re such a fucking girl, Alex,” he bumps my arm with his and then walks over to inspect the problem. “It’s okay, you can thank me and call me your hero for all eternity later!”

  Laughing at him, I walk up to where he’s now standing, so I can see what he’s doing, “What are you checking for?”

  I watch as he pulls a few faces, answering me a little while later once he’s cranked the hood and checked for damage, “Well, your engine is fucked,” he mumbles, grabbing his cell from his shirt pocket as he goes to make a call. I hear him speaking to what I assume to be a towing company. This day just seems to be getting better and better.

  Kicking the stones around at the side of the road as I wait for him to tell me what the plan of action will be from here, I feel him place his arm around my shoulders, turning me around so we’re facing each other. The sympathetic smile he’s wearing has made my stomach drop to floor. This is not good news, I just know it.

  “How do you fancy riding to your father’s in the truck?” he asks with a gleam in his eyes, showing me that for some reason he’s enjoying this whole scenario. “Unless you feel like just walking the rest of the way, that is.”

  “What about my car?” my voice is a little higher in pitch than I’d intended. I can’t just leave it at the side of the road, and even though it’s let me down today, I kind of love my car. She’s usually extremely reliable. “Don’t you need to get back ho
me? Neil, I can’t expect you to—“

  Lifting his hand and placing his index finger gently on my lips to hush me, he rolls his eyes, grabs my shoulders, and then steers me towards the truck.

  ***

  Upon entering the outskirts of Salem, I have to admit, I really can’t wait to see my father.

  The tow company arrived just under an hour after Neil made the call to them, telling us they’d call once they’ve discovered the route of the problem. They didn’t look too optimistic when they did a quick check under the hood though. That’s certainly one bill I’m not looking forward to receiving.

  It’s almost four o’clock, so I’m a couple of hours later than what I’d planned. Luckily for me Neil had borrowed Corey’s truck for the weekend, and although his plan was to use it to drive to and from Olympia, he has been kind enough to drive me all the way out here instead.

  “I owe you, Neil,” I tell him as we round the final corner onto the street where my father lives. “I’m sorry I messed up your weekend plans.”

  “Alex. Fuck off,” he says with all seriousness. Nice. He has such a way with words. The wide grin appearing over his face and the wink he throws when he looks over in my direction, has me laughing though.

  Digging him in the ribs with my elbow as he parks on the driveway, I can already see my father appearing in the porch way. He looks pale.

  My father is only forty three, but he looks a lot older. He always looked so good for his age, but since my mom passed away time hasn’t been so kind to him, “I’ll grab your case, you go see your dad,” Neil tells me as he climbs out of his side. Making his way around to my side and offering his hand out to me, he helps me down from my seat.

  Kissing him on the cheek and noticing his cheeks redden slightly, I turn and walk towards my father. His arms are out wide, waiting for me to embrace him, “Always so beautiful,” he says, and kisses me on the forehead, before wrapping his arms around me tightly.

  Damn that word. After the events of the day, I haven’t dwelled so much over Brandon as much as I would have if things has been more straightforward. It’s the small things that tend to remind me, and now I feel like I’ve just been sucker-punched really hard in the chest.

  “I missed you, dad, “I say, squeezing him tightly, only stepping back when I hear Neil’s footsteps approaching us from behind. “Dad, this is Neil. Neil, this is my father.”

  “I’ve heard a lot about you, sir,” Neil greets him, shaking his hand as he places my case beside me.

  I notice my father’s gaze darting between the two of us, and I already know what he’s thinking, but he’s wrong. He thinks we’re together. The over protective look in his eyes is giving it away, which makes me laugh and roll my eyes before the three of us step inside.

  Leaving my case in the hallway, we make our way into the large kitchen. It looks as though our arrival has disturbed my father’s dinner preparations, “So, Neil, seeing as though you rescued my daughter from the middle of the highway, will you be joining us for the remainder of the weekend?”

  Neil glances between me and my father a couple of times without answering. I’m sure he’d rather be spending what’s left of his Saturday and tomorrow with his family and other friends, instead of sorting through my mom’s things with us, “Neil already has plans, dad,” I answer for him.

  “Actually, by the time I drive from here to Olympia, I’ll pretty much miss what we had planned …” Neil says, leaning against the countertop and watching me hesitantly. “It’s really nice of you to offer, Mr. Harper, but I wouldn’t want to intrude. I think I’ll just head back to campus.”

  “Nonsense, I wouldn’t hear of it. We have plenty of room and I don’t think Alex has thought about how she’ll get back to Seattle tomorrow without a car either,” my father states, while keeping his eyebrows raised on me. He’s right, I hadn’t thought about that at all. I wish the garage would just call and put me out of my misery already.

  My father leaves early on Monday morning to visit some relatives in Florida, hence why I was originally only coming back for two days.

  “Stay with us,” I smile at Neil, and although he still looks unsure, he returns my smile and nods once in agreement.

  “Dinner will be another hour or so,” my dad informs us as he leads the way into the living room, and that’s when the smile I was wearing is immediately wiped from my face.

  Pausing in the doorway, I start feeling a little sick. There are boxes stacked on top of more boxes, and they’re scattered all around the room. It looks like all of my mom’s possessions are within these four walls.

  Neil rubs my arm gently as we make our way into the center of the room, “It’s time, sweetheart,” my father tells me, his voice laced with sadness. Without saying another word, I sit cross legged on the floor and begin opening the first one, as I try to hold back the tears.

  After sorting through clothes, jewelry, and photographs for the past forty minutes, the oven finally sounds. My father heads through to the kitchen as I reach for another box. Neil looks uncomfortable and I can’t say I blame him for being so. It’s not how he’d planned on spending his day, and it certainly lacks any kind of fun that he’s so used to.

  “Alex, can I use your bathroom?” he asks, standing and making his way over to the side door of the room.

  “Sure,” I look up and smile at him. “It’s at the top of the stairs, second room along the hallway on the left.” Bringing my attention away from him as he leaves the room, I grab for some more items.

  Sitting in my hands is a small pink diary. I never realized my mother had kept one. I smile, wondering what memories she would have kept inside as I open it up at a random page.

  Thursday.

  Its eleven o’clock and he just called. I love when he calls to say goodnight, although I wish he’d have stopped by like he said he was going to. My mom and dad invited him over to have dinner with us, but at short notice he had to cancel, something about having to go to another band meeting.

  He’s dedicated, I’ll give him that. He loves music and since he started the band not so long back, he’s worked hard to try and get Vultures some local gigs. I just wish sometimes he was as dedicated to our relationship as much as he is to his mic.

  What is this? I don’t recall my father ever being into music. There are no dates, other than the Thursday, so I’m not even sure when this was written. I’m intrigued by this, extremely intrigued, and so I keep reading.

  Friday.

  He’s just dropped me home after spending some alone time together. He took me to the outskirts of the city and we gazed at the stars and kissed most of the time underneath the moonlight. He’s such a sweet, caring guy, even though he said he had to cancel our dinner date for tomorrow evening. Band duties ... again.

  “Hey, dad,” I call through and wait for him to appear in the doorway. “Were you ever in a band?”

  He shakes his head at me before disappearing back out from my view.

  “This place is so big that I thought I was gonna get lost,” Neil chuckles as he closes the door behind him. “Hey, are you alright?”

  My only response is a nod as I keep my eyes transfixed on the little book that’s still on my lap. Neil’s leg brushes with mine as he sits beside me, and as I glance up, I notice his eyebrows are knitted together as he studies me. “Yeah … yeah, I guess so,” I pass the book over to him. “This was amongst my mom’s things but my dad said he was never in a band.”

  Shrugging my shoulders, I grab another photo album from the box as Neil flicks through a few pages of the diary, “Where did you find this?” his voice is quiet, with his eyes not once leaving the item he’s holding.

  “It was in one of the box—”

  “Alex, can you come through and help me serve dinner sweetheart?” my dad interrupts mine and Neil’s conversation. Taking the diary back from Neil and placing it in the closest box to us, I grab a hold of his hand, pull him up onto his feet, and lead him through to the kitchen with me.
r />   ***

  “The food was delicious!” Neil states enthusiastically. Smiling, I stand and begin to clear the dining table. “Here, let me take those.” Neil grabs the empty plates from my hands and takes them through to the kitchen.

  I notice my dad holding his inquisitive gaze on me, like he has been ever since we arrived, “Okay dad. What is it?” I ask, sitting back down in my seat and resting my chin in my hands.

  “He seems like a nice boy,” he answers me with narrowing eyes. “Are you and he …?”

  “No, dad. We’re not. We’re just friends. Good friends, that’s all.”

  He looks at me with a small and disbelieving smile, and I can already tell that he doesn’t believe me, “Does he know that?”

  “What? Yes of course!”

  He knows this because he’s been there for me ever since my heart was smashed into tiny pieces, so yes, of course he knows.

  I’ve never discussed Brandon with my father. It was over so fast, I hadn’t really had a chance to tell him, let alone introduce them to one another. The dull ache in my chest begins to circulate again as I think about how much I miss him.

  Once Neil returns from the kitchen, we relocate to the living room and finish sorting through more of the boxes.

  By eleven o’clock, we’re done. It only took a few hours to sort through the entirety of my mom’s belongings. Throughout the evening we laughed, we sobbed, and we remembered all of the good times.

  My dad wants a lot of her possessions to be donated, but I’ve managed to keep a couple of sentimental items for myself. Her engagement ring, and a necklace. My father gave her the white gold necklace on their one year anniversary, with each of their initials engraved on the back.

  Bidding both Neil and my father a goodnight, I head to my room, my thoughts filled with both my mom, and Brandon.