It was a relief actually, to know he could leave and not worry about his stepfather hunting him down. But, Dave's mom was another story. He didn't know she had breast cancer and leaving wouldn't have been an option had he known. He still remembered her tears when she walked into the living room and saw her son holding the new piece of luggage and the way she looked at her husband. She was hurt, and looking back, Dave knew she was also on the verge of a mental breakdown. Dave just wanted to smack the smug look of triumph from that old man's face.
Dave glanced at his duffle bag thrown in the back of the Jeep and sighed, knowing sitting in the Jeep wouldn't get this reunion over with. The Army had taught him personal responsibility. And how to fight. Dave knew how to fight and handle confrontation. "Let's get this started then." Gritting his teeth, he reached for his belongings and opened the Jeep door. The smell of fresh cut grass from the various lawn mowers around the neighborhood brought him a sense of peace. The sounds of children screaming in delight as they played ball in the street made him smile. But he didn't feel at home, just a visitor in a pleasant cul-de-sac on the outskirts of some nameless Kansas Midwest town.
"Dave? Man, is that really you?" Dave turned to the sound of his name and saw a ruddy complexion and orange-red hair of his lifelong best friend, Gary. For the first time a genuine smile lit his face as he reached for Gary, getting a hearty slap on the back and fierce hug.
"Gary, man it's been a while. How's life treating you?" Dave fought back tears as the sight of his friend brought back his only good childhood memories. Them working on cars in Gary's garage, listening to Gary's mom sing in the kitchen while Dave daydreamed about Gary's sister in her too short shorts and freckles.
"I didn't know you were coming in, Dave! Mom would be so happy to see you." Gary's smile faltered but returned. "She really appreciated the postcards and letters you sent her. Kept them in a scrapbook." Dave nodded, afraid to speak around the emotion boiling at the mention of Gary’s mom, Naomi.
"I wish I could've been here for her funeral, Gary. She was like a mom to me too, you know? I wish I could've been here for you and Meghan." Dave dropped the duffle bag to the cracked sidewalk and took off his sunglasses. Gary nodded and looked down briefly, as if trying to rein in his emotions. Naomi had died last year while Dave was serving in Afghanistan.
"I know, man, it just happened so fast and we all knew you'd be here if you could. The flowers you sent were the best. Meghan really appreciated them and so did I." A moment of silence stretched as the old friends came to terms with their shared loss. Friends and neighbors for years, they felt no need to make small talk in the midst of such grief.
Gary took a deep breath and finally said, "So, I see you are staying for a bit." Gary indicated the duffle bag on the ground.
"Well, unfortunately." The men shared a small smile of understanding. "I know mom isn't doing well and I had so much leave time. I had run out of excuses too. Mom knew I avoided coming home but I just had to come see her. I'm thinking about getting out. I'm coming up on my re-enlistment. I've got a lot to think about. No matter how shitty, this is home." Gary gave a sympathetic nod while plowing a fist into Dave's shoulder. Both men remembering the nights Dave came sneaking to Gary's house and hiding while Dave's stepfather ranted until the alcohol-fueled mood gave way to him losing consciousness.
"Hey, I know you just got home, but we're having a get together at the house tonight. No big deal, just cooking out. You can meet my girlfriend and Meghan will have a few friends over too. I know she'd want to see you." At Dave's look of indecisiveness, Gary smiled, "If things get tense in there with the Asshole, you can always use it as a way out of the house. You wouldn't have to stay long." Dave grimaced and bent to get his duffel bag. He looked at the house, seeing Henry looking out the window, scowl in place and hatred radiating off him.
"I don't know Gary, but I'll think about it." He returned his attention to his friend. "I can tell the welcoming committee isn't inside that house. I'll see how things are before making up my mind." Gary nodded and reached for another back-slapping bear hug from his old friend. "See ya, man. Take care." At that, Dave turned toward the house and the curtains fell from the window, obscuring his view of his stepfather. Dread increased with each step toward the door.
****
Sadie stepped from the shower and wrapped a towel around herself as she ran to answer the phone. "Well, about time you answered!" Meghan's voice greeted, "I thought I might have to drive over there and check on you." The ever-present smile in Meghan's voice warmed Sadie. They had been college roommates and Meghan helped Sadie move to town and get the job at the steel plant.
"Well I was in the shower. I'm standing here dripping all over my bedroom carpet now." Sadie looked at her wet footprints over the dark mauve shag carpet and frowned. "What is so important anyway? I'm freezing standing in the A/C." Goosebumps lined her body as she stood shivering. The old desktop phone cord was too short to allow her to move away from the window unit chugging out frigid air into her tiny bedroom.
"I just wanted to let you know that Gary said he ran into Dave today and invited him." The warmth in Meghan's voice increased, so did Sadie's goose bumps. "We didn't know he was coming in."
"Oh, that's the hot guy you talked about being raised around huh? The Army guy?" The way she talked about Dave it wasn't hard to hear that Meghan still had that schoolgirl crush for her brother's best friend. Described as having dark brown hair and blue eyes with a killer body of wide muscled shoulders and trim waist. According to Meghan, the way his jeans fit over the rest of his body, was something Sadie had to see for herself. "I bet he's to die for now having been in the Army for a while."
Meghan sounded breathless and sighed. "I bet he is. But you have to be here to see him, if he shows." Her friend's voice changed slightly, "I'm sure he will be though. His stepdad is a real jerk. I doubt Dave will stay at his house long, even with his mom there to run interference." Sadie heard the slight anger in Meghan's voice. She could just picture her friend's face darkening in anger and her freckles standing out on her pert little nose.
"I remember some of the stories you told me about him and Henry. I'm sure things will have calmed down by now. I mean, he's been away for what, three years now? Henry is an old man now and he's not had a drop of alcohol in over a year. Maybe they will work it out somehow." Sadie shivered again and held the phone to her ear with a shoulder as she tried to dry off one-handed. The A/C had never seemed to put out such cold air, but then again, she never stood naked and wet in front of it before either. Her teeth began to chatter.
"Yeah, maybe, but I doubt it. You know Henry. He's always been an ass and he always will be. Something about Dave has always brought out the worst in him. That’s how he earned the nickname the Asshole. Look, I better run—Gary is yelling at me to help him and I know you're cold. Just get over here early and help me set up, okay?" After telling her she would be there, Sadie hung up the phone and ran to her now cold shower and turned off the water. At least she got to shave her legs and underarms before the phone rang.
Making her way to the closet, her thoughts of what she was going to wear had just drastically changed. Her old faithful blue jeans and t-shirt weren't going to be enough to get the attention of a gorgeous Army man. Looking through her meager outfits, her eyes settled on her violet and white sun dress and strappy white sandals. She glanced at the clock, biting on her lower lip, insecurity weighing on her. Well, it wasn't like he was going to be home forever and if he didn't notice her then she would be fine, but she really wanted to catch his eye. Firming her resolve, Sadie pulled the dress out and lay it on her bed. Next, she grabbed her lacy white underwear and decided to not wear a bra. A smile touched her lips as she ran her hands over the thin material of her dress. If he didn't notice her in this, she didn't deserve his attention.
She walked into the bathroom and towel-dried her straight dark hair and brushed it to a high shine then pinched some color into her cheeks. It was going to be too warm f
or makeup and she didn't want to wonder if her eyeliner was smudging, making her look like a raccoon. Sometimes simple was best. She had just enough time to throw on her clothes and grab her keys. Running out the door, she took a moment to glance in the mirror. Something told her tonight would change her life.
****
Dave entered the gate to his old childhood home, feeling like a stone was around his neck. He was twenty-two years old, a war veteran and built like a tank, so why should an old man intimidate him? He was over six feet tall with broad shoulders and a hard body earned from combat. Henry was just a supervisor at the local steel plant. He was a desk jockey, not exactly the same strapping asshole who would drink and use Dave as a punching bag. But he felt like the same ten-year-old boy who would look up into the cold eyes of a man intent on inflicting pain.
Shaking his head, Dave knocked on the door, dreading the first contact. He didn't wait long. Before Dave's arm made it to his side, the front door opened and Henry stood there with that same smirk that put Dave's teeth on edge. "Well, looks like you finally took the time to stop by. What took you so long, boy? Been gone for years and now you think you can pop up just like that?" Dave stared at the man, realizing he was taller than the old bastard. "I hope you don't think you're staying here, David."
A woman's gasp sounded behind Henry.
"Of course, he's staying here, Henry. He's our son." Leigh's voice, so frail and full of emotion, gave Dave the strength to keep his mouth shut and his fists to himself. He shifted his line of vision behind Henry to his mom. She had aged in the last few years. Her chestnut hair had thick streaks of silver, her eyes dull from defeat. Living with an asshole could suck the life out of anyone, and it appeared his mother wasn't any different.
"Mom, I've missed you." Moving past Henry, he dropped his duffle bag and pulled his mom into his embrace. Holding his mother for the first time in three years put his well checked emotions into overdrive. She was so small and fragile, much more than he remembered. She still smelled the same though, like cookies and sunshine. "I missed you," he repeated. "I hope you're okay."
"Why should you give a shit if she's okay or not? You've not seen her in over three years. If you cared about her then you'd have come sooner." Henry's voice held censure making Dave's own guilt slice deeply to the surface. It grated on his nerves that the old bastard was right.
"Henry, Dave was fighting in a war, it's not like he could just come home anytime he wanted." Leigh's voice was muffled against Dave's chest, tears wetting his shirt. The guilt just kept rolling over him, making him edgy and looking for a fight.
"Bullshit, Leigh. The boy got leave in those years, he just chose to not come home." The knowing look on Henry's face and the shaking woman in his arms made Dave's voice come out harsh and angrier than he intended.
"Shut up, Henry. When's the last time you actually went to war with something besides the bottom of a whisky bottle?" Henry's body stiffened, and with his face hot with outrage, he stepped up to Dave, fists clenched.
"Listen boy, keep a civil tone. I can still…" The sentence went unfinished. Dave turned and grabbed the old man's shirt front, at the same time putting his mother behind his own bigger body.
"You can still what, old man? Beat me? I think you and I both know that isn't going to happen. Not now and not ever again." Dave looked down, actually had to look down to see into the eyes of the man who tormented him during his youth. He didn't have to raise his head to stare eye to eye with the monster. The realization of his own size and power, along with his mother's shaking body behind him, gave Dave the strength to drop his hand to his side and smile at his old tormentor. He gave Henry a slight push to put distance between them.
"You know what. I was going to get a room in town but I think I'll stay here for a while." He smiled looking down into his mother's eyes, seeing her joy. "I have some leave saved up from the last three years," he looked at Henry, smiling, "so I think I'll just take my things up to my old room." He kissed his mom on the forehead and bent to pick up his duffel bag. He didn't even look back as he climbed the steps two at a time to his old room.
He threw his duffle bag on the small twin bed and closed the door, leaning on the solid wood. How many times had that door been his only protection against the fists of that cold bastard? How many times had he listened to that man curse and call him names through the thick slab? Memories assailed him, throwing him back to those days of his childhood. The yelling, the smell of whisky, the feel of thick meaty fists pounding on his body. The taste of fear and blood. His mom crying in the background as Henry raged at his stepson for things real or imagined.
If Dave got a "B" in school he was stupid and would never amount to anything. If Dave didn't clean his room and he was an ungrateful piece of shit who didn't take care of the things Henry worked hard to provide. Dave laughed at that. Henry never gave him anything but bruises and pain. Both mental and physical pain.
Moving from the door to the bed, Dave sat down and was surprised to find tears on his face. Why did he come back here? What made him decide to revisit the pain and humiliation of the man that was Henry Blythe? The man who liked to hurt anything that reminded him of his wife's past. Dave didn't even remember his own father, only Henry, the man who worked at the steel plant. Years of lifting heavy pallets and moving large objects had honed Henry into a strapping man with big arms until a back injury sidelined him. He’d kept a job at the plant but he’d taken the job of supervisor where no physical labor was required. Years of doing menial labor had turned him into an angry, bitter man who liked to drink. Alcohol made him mean and he liked to hurt his wife's son.
Dave stood up, opened his duffel bag and poured the contents on the bed, rifling to find something to wear to Gary's house. Screw Henry Blythe. He needed to blow off some steam or he'd kill the motherfucker. Grabbing a pair of jeans and an Army t-shirt, Dave flung open the door and went to the bathroom to shower and shave before heading out. He'd make it up to his mom later and try to take her with him when he went back to the base.
****
Gary walked outside to check on the guests. A few people had already shown up to the cookout. His sister's best friend, Sadie, was there helping Meghan set up for the party. They had brought out paper plates and plastic forks, setting them on the table beside the grill. Chips and a cooler of ice were in the shade along with a few cases of beer. Gary was staring at Sadie's long legs when Meghan slapped him on the arm to get his attention. "You keep looking at her like that and Sarah will have your balls on a platter." Gary took the beer Meghan held out, popped the top and took a long drink.
"Yeah, well it's not my fault. I thought she'd wear something more, you know," he made an up and down gesture with his free hand, "covered up." He was used to Sadie wearing jeans and t-shirts, not tight, sleeveless dresses. Meghan laughed when Sadie bent over, putting beer in the cooler. Her skirt rode up the back of her legs. Gary’s eyes nearly rolled back into his head.
"Yeah, well I think she looks great. It's not like you haven't seen a woman's shoulders and legs before, dumbass." Meghan punched her brother’s arm when Sadie moved to set out the condiments for the burgers and hot dogs Gary would be grilling soon.
"No, it's not. But I haven't seen any that looks like hers either. Except for magazines." Gary wiggled his eyebrows and grinned at his sister and saw her grin back. "But you're right, if Sarah sees me looking at her at all I'm in deep shit, but what a sight to see before I die." He winked and went back inside to answer the front door at the sound of the knock.
Gary dared a glance back to Meghan’s old college roommate, knowing she had put on that dress for Dave. The deep violet and white complemented her skin and eyes. Sadie's long dark hair was loose and flowed around her bare shoulders, held out of her face by a pretty headband. Sadie's light complexion was bare and her dark blue eyes were makeup-free. Her natural beauty and grace surrounded her, making her beautiful but approachable. The tight fit of the bodice of the dress accentuated her trim waist a
nd generous curves. The hem of her dress fell to just above her knees showing off her shapely calves. Her pretty pedicured toes peeked out of her strappy sandals. Dave would be a fool to not notice that sexy woman.
****
The cookout was in full swing as Dave walked up to the house where music poured out of the speakers hidden somewhere in the bushes. The sun was low in the sky but not set, giving a faint glow to the dozen or so partygoers. The smell of burgers reminded him that he hadn't eaten since he left the base that morning. The sound of a beer can opening drew his attention to a group of people chatting next to the patio. He caught a glimpse of long auburn hair and grinned. Meghan had certainly grown up. Fair skin and freckles smattered across her nose, big brown eyes and a ready smile, she was always who he fantasized about. He knew her face as well as he knew his own.
He spent hours at her and Gary's parents’ house to get away from his own home. He would spend nights with Gary, reading mechanical magazines, camping out in the back yard, climbing trees and pretending to not notice how Gary's sister was growing up and filling out. He'd watched her as she changed before his eyes from annoying kid sister to a gangly pre-teenage girl to a knockout with big breasts and luscious pink lips.
He could remember the first time he saw her in a bikini, laying out in the backyard. He'd spent countless hours after that daydreaming about her. Now she was all woman, and Dave wanted to finally see what that bikini hid from his view. Too bad he had only a few weeks of leave. He wanted to relearn her and take his time but he might have to hurry things along a bit.
Double Time (Crossing The Line Book 1) Page 2
