A New Hope

by M. L. Ray

  Michelle had railed at God while she waited for the paramedics and police to arrive. She’d cried for the loss of the young life and then she’d cried for herself. For over a year now she had let fear control her life. She’d pushed Tyler away because of it, afraid of losing herself in her love for him until there was nothing left. Afraid of becoming just like Celia when Tyler died! She wasn’t willing to take the risk, and figured it would be better to cut her losses while he was still breathing, than to end up a broken and shattered woman some night in the future, all alone in a strange hospital they had taken him to.

  When her supervisor had found out that Celia had been living with Michelle, he had written her up and asked her to sign a disciplinary action to be placed in her personnel file. Becoming that involved in one of her client’s lives was strictly against protocol and her supervisor had seen it as a personal affront to his dictatorial leadership style. There had been no condolences for the loss of a life. No allowed time off to grieve. No counseling offered. In fact, she’d been told she was not to attend the funeral!

  Michelle had left her supervisor’s office the morning after Celia’s death, picked up her purse and a few small personal items and walked out. She’d emailed him her resignation an hour later, just before she shut her laptop off and began packing her belongings up. The man had responded with all kinds of threats to her career, vowing to make sure she never worked in social work again. Michelle was beyond caring, grieving the loss of her career was the furthest thing from her mind.

  She’d personally paid for Celia to be buried next to her young son and cried with her mother at the graveside. When the minister had offered the words that she’d heard her father say on many occasions, words meant to bring comfort and solace, she’d felt nothing but grief. Her confidence in her abilities to effectively help people had already been at an all-time low, and as she left the funeral, it was almost completely gone.

  Michelle hadn’t called home for comforting words from her parents, knowing they would willingly pray for her and offer words of wisdom. She hadn’t wanted to burden them with her lack of faith or the questions running through her head. Instead, she’d called Trey and told him she was tired of living in the big city and was coming home.

  He’d willingly offered her old bedroom, and she’d accepted. Two days later, she had followed a U-Haul over the passes and come home to nurse her wounded heart and spirit. She’d pretended everything was fine, but she wasn’t a good enough actress to hide the haunted look or sorrow she saw echoed in her eyes each time she passed a mirror.

  She knew Trey and her parents were very worried about her, and she felt bad about hurting them with her silence, but her father was a small town pastor. How was she ever going to explain to him that somewhere between meeting Celia and her senseless death, Michelle had lost her faith in God! If she’d had anywhere else to go, she might have considered it, just to save her parents the embarrassment of having a faithless daughter.

  Trey had been supportive, and when she had declined to share her problems with him, he had simply hugged her and told her he was there whenever she was ready to talk. Her girlfriends had been equally supportive, although not nearly as understanding about her silence. She’d overheard Missy and Stephanie talking and knew that her friends thought she was heartbroken over a boy. The truth was, she was just plain heartbroken over life! That included Tyler and Celia.

  Now Tyler was back in person. And it sounded like he intended to stick around for a while. Tears filled her eyes as she limped down the hallway and into the kitchen. She stopped short when she saw Trey sitting at the kitchen table.

  “Hey,” she offered casually, trying to make it to the freezer and the ice without letting on how badly her ankle hurt. When Trey narrowed his eyes at her and then scanned her from head to toe, she knew she was in for the third degree interrogation.

  “What happened?” he asked, coming to his feet and pointing for her to take a seat.

  Michelle shrugged, “I wasn’t watching where I was going and tripped. It’s just a little sprain.”

  Trey retrieved a bag of frozen peas from the freezer and then pulled up an empty chair and lifted her ankle onto it. He unwrapped the ace bandage the camp nurse had secured around it and then whistled low, “I’d say it’s more than a little sprain. That looks bad enough to warrant a trip to the hospital in Montrose for an x-ray. Tell me you didn’t drive down the mountain like that.”

  Michelle shook her head, “No. I didn’t drive.”

  When she didn’t offer more of an explanation, Trey pushed, “How did you get home then?”

  Michelle thought about not answering him, but in a town as small as Cathedral Hills, it would be all over town by morning how she had tripped, sprained her ankle, and Tyler had come to her rescue. Sighing, she muttered, “Tyler was up at the camp. He’s retiring and taking over the horses up there. He drove me home.”

  “Tyler’s back? Great. Is he in the front room?”

  “He didn’t come in.”

  “What?! Tyler drove you home with an injured ankle and then just dropped you off at the curb?”

  Michelle started to nod, but then she looked at the anger on her brother’s face. She couldn’t do that to Tyler. “Not exactly. I hopped out of the truck as soon as he pulled to a stop and didn’t invite him in.”

  Trey looked at his sister in puzzlement. Rudeness was not something she was known for, but it sounded like she had been unbearably rude to a man she’d known for most of her life. “Michelle…”

  “Look, can we save the rest of this interrogation for later. I’ve been at camp all week and I’m heading for the shower.” Michelle grabbed the bag of peas and then hobbled out of the kitchen and towards her room. It was located on the second floor, and she barely contained her gasps of pain as she navigated the stairs. She intentionally placed more weight than she should have on her ankle, not wanting to encourage Trey to follow her.

  By the time she reached her bedroom and the connected bathroom, she had tears of pain and sorrow running down her cheeks. The pain in her ankle was constant and almost more than she could stand, but it was Tyler’s last words to her that were causing most of her tears. “This isn’t over yet, Michelle. Rest and ice that ankle and tomorrow we’re going to talk. We belong together and I aim to prove it to you.”

  Chapter 23

  Trey counted to fifty and then climbed the stairs after Michelle. He’d been trying to give her some space, sensing that she was hurting too much to talk about what had sent her running home. He knew his parents were very worried, but like him, they had been supportive and were hopeful that whatever was eating at her would eventually fester and come spilling out.

  He paused outside her bedroom door and then he heard the water running in the bathroom. Opening the door slowly, he saw that she was inside the bathroom and he hesitantly walked over. What he was going to say, he didn’t know. The look on her face when she mentioned Tyler’s name had him more than a little curious. Michelle had always had a crush on him, not that either of them had ever acted on it. Had something happened between them on the ride down the mountain? Tyler’s only just came back; maybe he said something to upset her not realizing she was already hurting?

  He raised a hand to rap on the door, but stopped short – Michelle was crying, doing her best to hide her sorrow from him by camouflaging it with the noise of the shower. Trey felt like hitting something. Turning on his heel, he headed down the stairs and straight to his truck.

  Trey drove straight to the bridge and then parked the truck. He could see the small group of women laughing and giggling together and realized he hadn’t seen Michelle laugh, not once, since she’d come home. It’s time for that to change!

  Missy say him first, “Hey Trey. I thought you were going to avoid our little gab fest.”

  “Ladies, I would if I could. I thought maybe I’d come get Jenna and take her back to the house. Michelle’s home early.”

  The somberness of his tone caught ever
yone’s attention and Taylor demanded an explanation, “What’s wrong?”

  “I don’t know that there’s anything wrong, per se. She’s got a sprained ankle from tumbling down the side of a slope, but there’s something else going on.”

  “She drove down the mountain with a sprained ankle?” Missy demanded, angry at even the thought of Michelle putting herself in danger like that.

  Trey shook his head, “No. She didn’t drive herself down. The camp had special guests this week from the rodeo. Tyler Jameson drove her down.”

  “Tyler’s home?” Stephanie asked, as the other women echoed her question.

  “Yeah, I guess he’s thinking about retiring and starting a rodeo training camp down in Ridgway. He’s also taking over the horseback riding up at the camp and stopped by to inspect everything. When Michelle hurt herself, I guess he volunteered to drive her down.

  “I’m not sure what’s going on, but something seems to have really upset Michelle. I mentioned I had a surprise for her,” glancing at Jenna he added, “that would be you, and I’m hoping that seeing you will put a smile back on her face.”

  Jenna gathered up her stuff and prepared to leave, “I can’t wait to see her. Maybe she’ll tell me what’s going on. Your parents seem pretty worried as well.”

  “Call us if you need help,” Missy told her as the two women hugged. Other “Goodbyes” were said and Jenna let Trey escort her back to his truck.

  “Did you talk to Tyler? Maybe he knows what’s upsetting her?”

  Trey shook his head, “No. He didn’t even come in with her. I think Michelle was really rude to him.”

  Jenna thought that over and then shook her head, “That doesn’t sound like Michelle. She’s always had a thing for him.”

  Trey nodded and then looked over at her, “Thanks. I know you’ve been through a lot these last two days, but if you can get Michelle to open up to you, I for one would be grateful. I just can’t seem to reach her, and she arrived home looking as if she’d just lost everything! I think she was even crying in the shower before I headed this direction.”

  Jenna nodded her head and then placed a hand on Trey’s arm, “I’ll do what I can. As for the crying in the shower thing, it’s something us women do when we don’t want to burden anyone else with our tears. I’ve spent more than my fair share of time crying in the shower. I’ll see what I can do to get her to talk to me, but I won’t force the issue. She’ll talk when she’s ready, we just have to be there to listen when that times comes.”

  When they arrived back at Trey’s home, Jenna gave him a smile and then headed up the stairs to Michelle’s room. Seeing the door closed, she tapped lightly on the door and waited for a response.

  “Trey, I’m really tired. I think I’m just going to turn in for the night,” came the muffled reply through the door.

  “Well, that wasn’t the greeting I was hoping for. I guess I’ll see you in the morning,” Jenna took a step back and slowly started counting. She smiled when the door flew open before she even reached three.

  “Jenna?” Michelle whispered, her eyes wide opened and her mouth gasping in shock.

  “Surprise! I guess Trey forgot to mention I was staying here for a while?”

  “What?!” Michelle shrieked, launching herself across the distance separating them and hugging Jenna for all she was worth. Tears of happiness started flowing down the cheeks of both women. “When did you get back? Why didn’t you call? Gosh, I’m going to kill Trey for not coming up to the camp and getting me!”

  “Slow down! First, I’ve only been back a few days. I came back to clear up some paperwork with my parents’ estate. There was a mix up at the bank, and I have to wait until early next week for the correct paperwork to arrive.”

  Michelle shook her head, “Where have you been the last six years? I looked for you so many times…”

  Jenna nodded slowly, “That’s what Trey said. So much has happened, most of it not worth dredging back up.”

  “What do you mean? You sound like that last six years have been nothing but torture.”

  Trey chose that moment to reach the top of the stairs, “Ladies. Michelle, I don’t know how much Jenna’s told you, but I think you all should save that sob story for another time. I just got off the phone with Tyler and it seems you’ve been holding back, little sis.”

  Michelle watched her brother and knew that Tyler had spoken to him about their two years of dates and their final rough breakup. “I don’t have to tell you every little thing that happens in my life.”

  Trey nodded his head, “That’s right, you don’t. But you’ve been moping around here like your best friend died. What I want to know is how much of your sadness is because of Tyler?”

  Chapter 24

  Jenna saved Michelle from having to answer, “Trey, maybe we could give Michelle a break tonight. From the looks of that ankle, she probably needs to go get an x-ray taken.”

  Trey’s eyes moved down to his sister’s ankle and he blanched. It was purple and turning almost black around the outside of her ankle bone, and was swollen to nearly twice its normal size. “Yeah, I’m thinking an x-ray might be a good thing. I’ll go bring the truck around to the front. Jenna, can you help her down the stairs?”

  Michelle scowled at her brother, preventing Jenna from answering, “I can get myself down the stairs. As for a trip into Montrose to get an x-ray, I’m not sure that’s necessary…”

  “Well, I say it is. Do whatever you need to do and get down here.” Trey issued that order and then high-tailed it down the stairs. He was headed for his truck when his cell phone rang. Glancing at the number, he answered the call, “Hey, Mom. I was just getting ready to call you.” Maybe after we made the trip to Montrose, but I would have called sometime before the day was over.

  “Trey, I hate to ask this of you, but your father and I made a trip up to Ouray and we seem to have locked the keys to the car… Inside the car.”

  We locked the keys in the car? More than likely you locked the keys in the car! His mother sounded so put out, Trey barked out a laugh before he could help himself. When he heard her sniffle on the line, he sobered immediately, “Sorry, Mom. How many times has dad told you to put an extra key under the front of the car?”

  “I’ll have you know I did take his advice. But I had to use it a few weeks back when I misplaced my keys and I haven’t had time to replace it yet.”

  Trey laughed and then he remembered what he was doing outside standing next to his truck. Michelle needs to go to the hospital. But Ouray is the opposite direction by an hour. He briefly thought about sending Jenna to go pick up his parents, but that would put him alone with his sister for the next several hours. And switching the chauffer duties around wasn’t any better.

  “Trey?” came his mother’s voice over the line. “What shall I tell your father?”

  “Where are you exactly?” Trey asked, still unsure of how he was supposed to be in two places at the same time. He raised his head and then grinned. The answer to everyone’s problems was just pulling onto his street. Good thing I made that little call!

  “Well, we were getting ready to take a dip in the hot springs…”

  “Perfect. Go ahead and do that. I’ll head that direction and let you know when I get there.” The mineral hot springs had become a normal part of his father’s routine whenever his knees were paining him. The doctor had advised him to look into getting both of his knees replaced, but Terrence Cottrell was being stubborn. He always had one excuse or another for not getting the surgery done.

  “Are you sure? I know this is a horrible imposition…”

  “Mom, it really is fine. I’ll head that way shortly. Enjoy the hot springs with dad and stop worrying.”

  “Thank you, son.”

  “No problem.” Trey ended the call just as the newcomer parked his truck in front of the house. He watched as the man climbed from his truck and then met him halfway with a hearty handshake, “Tyler. Good to have you home.”

&
nbsp; “Well, I have to say, that’s a much warmer welcome than your sister gave me. I decided I better come by and make sure she didn’t need medical intervention. I also wanted to caution you about asking too many questions. We have some things to work out between us, and frankly I’d appreciate the opportunity to do that without a lot of outside interference.”

  “No problem .As for the medical attention, she definitely needs to go to the hospital. And I for one am glad you did come back. It seems my mother has once again managed to lock her keys inside her car.”

  Tyler laughed; the story of the pastor’s wife losing her keys was not something new. “Good to see some things haven’t changed around here.”

  Trey shared his laugh, “Well, the thing is – I was just getting ready to take Michelle down to Montrose to get an x-ray of that ankle. It doesn’t look like an ordinary sprain to me. But now I need to make a trip up to Ouray to rescue my parents.”

  Tyler mentally rubbed his hands together. Is this your way of helping me get a chance to talk to Michelle, God? If so – thanks! Tyler grinned, “Well, allow me to come to your rescue. Your sister’s going to hate you, but I can almost guarantee she’ll hate me more by the time we get back from the hospital.”

  Trey watched this man he’d once called friend and then asked, “There’s something between you and Michelle she forgot to tell the rest of us. Are you responsible for the lost look in her eyes since she’s been home?”

  Tyler looked at the ground before answering, “Trey, I don’t want to lie to you. Michelle and I had a fight over a year ago, I’ll admit to that. But if Michelle hasn’t said anything, I’d really like to talk to her first. I already told her that I came back for her, but she was trying to get away from me when she fell.”

  Trey raised an eyebrow at that and then asked, “Doesn’t seem like she was of a mind to discuss anything with you. Why should I make her spend time with you, especially when she’s hurt?”