Mississippi Nights

by D. M. Webb

  David shook his head. “You shouldn’t be. I should be more for you. I don’t deserve you.” He pressed his fists against the ache in his head.

  “Do you think anyone deserves those who love us?” She scooted around to face him. He turned away. He couldn’t look into those angelic eyes. “David?”

  She cupped his face, guiding him to look at her. Backlit against the light, her hair glowed in a halo around her face. Her blue eyes shone brightly with unshed tears. Freckles played across her nose and forehead. Those freckles that captivated him. Those lips he traced with his fingertips the other night.

  Tears fell and ran down his face when he blinked. “I failed you, Maggie. I failed everyone.”

  “Oh, David. We didn’t expect you to do this in one week or even in three. We know there will be times when you will fall.” She pulled him to her, cradling his head against her chest. “We all fall. But Jesus picks us back up, love. Jesus, and family.”

  He wrapped his arms around her waist, holding on for dear life. If he let go, he would disappear forever down into the swirling black void. She was the voice of reason in his hell of a life. The angel of salvation and love. Never had anyone ever understood him so completely.

  Really? He answered his own question. There was one person who made all things right. Made everyone whole. His hold on Maggie tightened.

  Her arms cradled him, her heart beat in time with his. Slowly, the calming presence of peace filtered into his body. Time stood still, and everything quieted. Only he and Maggie were there, held in each other’s embrace. He wanted to stay that way forever.

  But as with everything in life, it didn’t last. Jeremy cleared his throat.

  “Maggie, go downstairs. I’ll take over from here.”

  His life buoy in an ocean of uncertainty pulled away from him. “You think he’ll be okay?”

  “Yeah. He’s going to be sick for a while. He’s pretty messed up right now.”

  David snarled. “He can hear, you know. He isn’t deaf, just fighting a wicked hangover.”

  Oh, that was stupid. Pain rocketed through his head again.

  “Shh.” Maggie held his head to her, her hands stroking his hair. “Let Jeremy help you, love. I’ll go get you some aspirin, okay?”

  “Don’t have a choice, do I?”

  Jeremy reached past him and pulled Maggie to her feet. “Go on. Now.”

  She eased past. David heard the door click shut. He felt Jeremy squat down behind him.

  “Get it over with, whatever you plan to do. I–”

  His stomach heaved again, and David hurled himself at the toilet. Whatever he was going to say left him, along with everything else.

  How many times was this going to happen? He had nothing left inside.

  David sank to the floor again, cool tile against his hot skin. He groaned.

  “Come on, little brother. Let’s get you bathed and clean.”

  Shame kept him on the floor. He refused to look at Jeremy. Another moan escaped him. “Leave me, okay? Just go.”

  Jeremy’s hands grabbed him roughly under the arms and lifted him to a sitting position. David leaned back against the tub and looked up into his brother’s eyes. There was no anger this time. Not even pity. That surprised him.

  “I can’t do that. Like Maggie said, you can’t expect to beat this in just a couple of weeks, nor beat it alone. Come on, buck up.” Jeremy reached past him and turned on the shower.

  David groaned and covered his head with his arms. The water’s tempo drove spikes through his skull. He allowed Jeremy to pull him to his feet and push him into the tub. Lukewarm water splattered against his hot skin. His stomach rolled, and a spasm gripped it. When he swayed, Jeremy’s hand lashed out through the shower curtain and steadied him. Slowly, the sick feeling passed, and David held his face up to the water’s stream.

  “You’re good?”

  David grunted.

  “I left a towel on the sink. Be right outside if you need me.”

  The door closed. David was alone. He fumbled with his shorts and pushed them off. Water ran over him, washing away the clammy film on his body. If only the film on his soul could be washed away as easily. A black haze filtered through his vision, and David leaned his head against the cool fiberglass wall until it receded. He stood under the stream, battling nausea and his own shame until the water ran cold.

  : : : : :

  Jeremy entered the kitchen. Maggie had filled a glass with orange juice and had some bread ready in the toaster. He shuffled to the bar and leaned against it. Weariness ate at his bones. His eyes hurt, and that old familiar pain drummed its way back into his head.

  He scrubbed at his face with his hands and sighed. Mom and Dad would be home soon. Then they would know. His brother didn’t need that this time.

  Maggie looked up from buttering the toast. “I’ll take him to Dad’s. That way no one will know, okay?”

  Not only did she have the compassion of an angel, but apparently the woman could read minds too. “Yeah, that would be good.”

  “Will he be fine in the shower?”

  Jeremy shrugged. “Either he will get clean or drown. I’m betting on the former.” He pushed away from the bar and crossed to the patio door. He needed a cigarette.

  He slid open the door and leaned against its frame. The pack in his pocket was almost depleted. He would need to stop at the store and get some more. Jeremy shook one out and slipped it between his lips. The taste of the tobacco soothed him. He lit it with his Zippo lighter.

  A ring of smoke floated across the patio as he exhaled. His nerves began to calm down. He felt Maggie’s presence and looked over at her as he inhaled another dose.

  “It’s pretty bad for him, isn’t it?” She stared out across the yard, eyes distant.

  “Yeah.” Jeremy hunched his shoulders and drew another drag into his lungs. Bad was an understatement. “For an alcoholic, the lure of a drink will eat at him. It’s an addiction that is hard to control. Just takes time.”

  Maggie leaned her head against the opposite frame and sighed. “Like smoking?”

  Jeremy coughed mid drag. “What?”

  Her blue, innocent looking eyes turned on him and traveled down to his hand. “If alcohol is a craving, and David feels like he can’t live without it, then what is smoking? You crave the nicotine. David is killing himself with booze. You’re killing yourself with tobacco. You two are so much alike.”

  Jeremy stood mouth gaped open as she walked back to the bar. His eyes narrowed, and he returned his gaze to the backyard. He was quitting; David was not. That was the difference. He put the cigarette to his lips and paused. He was such a hypocrite.

  Infuriating woman! How did she do that? Jeremy felt the pull of the cigarette in his hand. If this was hard for him, Lord only knew how hard it was for David. Jeremy growled.

  “We’ll do it together, little brother.”

  He flicked his barely smoked cigarette to the patio concrete and ground it to death with his boot heel. Lord, help his family. He amended his prayer. Lord, help the idiotic criminals if he got his hands on them before he kicked his habit.

  He heard Maggie’s soft voice and turned to find David easing himself onto a bar stool, a shirt in hand. His brother was in bad shape. His face was drawn, and dark circles ringed his eyes. For a man who was a lump of lead earlier, he was looking like a small breeze could break him in two. David struggled with his shirt as Maggie fixed his food.

  Jeremy slid the patio door closed and went to help his brother slip into his blue Hawaiian shirt. He snatched the garment from David’s hands and held it open as David slid his arms through the sleeves. “Well, you are contrasting nicely. Put on a pair of white shorts, and you would be quite patriotic.”

  Maggie pushed the orange juice closer. “Did you put the aloe on?”

  “Yeah.” David took a sip, and his body melted into a slump. “I found it.”

  Jeremy sat beside him and slapped him on the shoulder, taking perverted pl
easure in seeing David wince. “Now that you are up and about, after you eat, you are going to see Bro. Johnny.”

  David nibbled his toast, not saying a word. Finally, some humility from the man. He was too tired for this today. Jeremy looked at Maggie and pushed away from the bar. “I’m heading back home. Call me if you need me, but I pray to God you don’t have to.”

  David ignored Jeremy’s pointed stare.

  Maggie nodded. “I will, but we’ll be okay. Thank you, Jeremy.”

  He nodded and waited, but David just chewed in silence. Yeah, it would be too much to hope for an apology or thank you this soon. He gave David a heartless smile and slapped him one last time across the chest. “See you, little brother.”

  Chapter 19

  DAVID TURNED THE IGNITION. Nothing. He caressed the dashboard. Come on, baby. He turned it again, and the Mustang answered with a purr of the engine and a billow of black smoke.

  “Rough morning, huh, baby?” David inspected the inside of his car. He was sure he got all the trash out yesterday. Better check the glove box. One hit on the button, and it fell forward. David paused. The bottle glinted at him, beckoning. His breath caught in his chest, and his mouth watered.

  He hadn’t touched a drop in two weeks. The stores, the shelves, the billboards, they all mocked him. Even the ads in the magazines. He ignored their callings. His finger fondled the smooth glass, and slowly he brought it out of its cave and into the light.

  He’d forgotten that he’d hidden the fifth of Smirnoff. His hands shook as he peeled at the cap. Just one taste. It wouldn’t hurt. David broke the seal and removed the metal cap. The scent reached his nose, and David frowned. It didn’t smell the same.

  He stared at the label. He couldn’t do this. Not to Maggie. Not to himself. He recapped it and held it away from him. It still called to him. He’d make it hush.

  He hopped out of the car. The trash can stood at the corner. A couple of plastic bags full of nuts and bolts lay in the corner on top of a toolbox. David dumped one of the bags into the box, slipped his vodka bottle into the bag, and threw it into the trash can. No one needed to know that he found the vodka.

  He passed the test, didn’t he? He threw it away. David slid back into the seat and searched his glove box for anything else. All clear except for an old pack of Big Red gum. Paper rattled as he pulled the hardened piece out of the package and slammed the glove box shut. There was no heat to the gum. He grimaced as he tried to chew it. How old was that stuff?

  He twisted around and backed the black Mustang out onto the driveway. The rocks crunched as he drove slowly to the front door. She stood there waiting, his vision in pink. His floating cotton candy delight.

  David stopped the car, hopped out, and rounded to the passenger side. With a flourish, he opened the door and bowed. “Milady, your black vintage chariot awaits.”

  Maggie smiled. She didn’t immediately get into the car; instead, she ran a hand over the top. “She’s marvelous, David.”

  “And so are you. Hop in. Let’s go.”

  Maggie turned to him and leaned against the opened door. Her bright baby blues twinkled as she stared up at him. “Always in a rush.”

  David dropped a small kiss on the tip of her nose. “I am this time. Come on, hop in.”

  She lowered herself into the seat, smoothing her sundress down over her knees. David closed the door and ran to his side. His surprise for her was going to be great. As he slid in, he spied her rummaging in the glove box. Good thing he found the bottle first. Her hands pulled out the gum.

  “Is this any good?” The piece she pulled out broke and cracked in her hands.

  David spat his wad out the window. “No.”

  Her laughter filled the car as he pulled away from the house. She shut the glove box, turning to him. “So. Where we going? You owe it to tell me.”

  “Surprise, darling.” He looked over at her. “You look great, by the way.”

  “Thank you. You’re handsome yourself.” She leaned closer. “Tell me, please. I dressed up for you. Wore this pink dress, pink polka-dotted headband, and pink shoes because they’re your favorites.”

  “Surprise. And I really like you in that outfit. Makes me think of cotton candy.”

  She punched his shoulder. “And you look like a secret agent man, just country style. No black slacks?”

  David glanced down at his dark denim pants, black boots, and white shirt. “What’s wrong with this?”

  Her voice purred in his ear. “Nothing. Makes you look . . . stunning.”

  David stopped the car at the intersection and breathed again. He shot her a sideways glance. “That wasn’t what you were thinking.”

  “No. But it’ll have to do. Unless you tell me where we’re going.” The little pink pixie dared to tease him.

  David leaned over and pulled her closer, inhaling her scent. His lips barely grazed hers as he spoke. “No.”

  She caressed his cheek and kissed him quickly. “Fine, Mr. Mysterious.”

  He smiled, shifted the gears, and drove straight on. “You really hate surprises, don’t you?”

  “No. Not really. I hate the suspense.” She settled back into her seat.

  “Well, this one you will like. Been planning it for days now.”

  “Cool.” She reached for the radio. “Does it work?”

  “Only AM.”

  He drove down the narrow road. The gravel road was just ahead, right past the stop sign. Maggie would love it. And he had it all set up. Umbrella, blanket, and cooler. Just a private, little picnic by the creek.

  David dropped his hand back to the steering wheel and stopped the car at the sign. Maggie tuned and turned the knob, smiling at the info stations and talk stations. Didn’t she realize that was all AM practically consisted of? He smiled at her persistence and batted her hand away from the radio to turn it off.

  “There’s nothing on AM, honey.”

  He shifted in his seat and checked both ways. Nothing was coming. He hit the blinker and started his left turn toward paradise.

  Maggie screamed his name. A curse flew from his lips. The truck roared down upon them. His foot hit the gas pedal. The Fastback jumped and came to a rest at the side of the road. It rocked as the truck barreled past.

  David slumped against the steering wheel. “That was close.”

  Maggie’s hand gripped his forearm. Her chest heaved. “Way too close. I thought it was going to hit us.”

  David blew out his breath. “So did I. Stupid idiot.” He reached into his back pocket, pulled out his phone, and dialed.

  “Who are you calling?”

  “Joe at the highway department. Let him know that there’s a reckless driver out here– Joe! . . . yeah, man, I used your extension. Shouldn’t have given it to me, dude . . . ha! Look, there’s a reckless trucker on Middleton. Black semi cab, no trailer. I was making the turn on River Creek, and the idiot about plowed into me and Maggie . . . Sure. Okay. Bye.”

  David pocketed the phone. Maggie stared at him. He cocked his head. “What?”

  “Nothing.” She grinned and leaned toward him. “I like how you get all self-assured and in control. True boss man.”

  He laughed. Tension from the near miss melted away. “And you’re being silly.” His lips almost touched hers when his phone cackled at him. He sighed as he retrieved the phone. He’d chuck the thing in the river if someone called while he and Maggie were on their picnic.

  Maggie arched her brow. “Seriously? Joker from Batman?”

  “Yeah. Jeremy’s ringtone.” He flipped open his phone. “Jeremy?”

  “David, get to the Littleton house. There’s a fire. Just called it in. Entrapment.”

  David snapped the phone closed, chucked it in Maggie’s lap, and peeled out onto the road. “Hold on, baby. We gotta get to Poppy’s house.”

  Her eyes widened, fear etching itself across her face. “Why? What’s happening? Is Poppy okay?”

  David shook his head. His knu
ckles whitened as he gripped the steering wheel. “Fire.”

  Maggie blanched. Her hands flew to her mouth. “Poppy?”

  “I don’t know, baby. We’ll get there. Just hold on.” He shifted the car into a higher gear and floored the pedal.

  He risked a glance at Maggie. With eyes closed, tears coursed down her face, fingers pressed to lips that moved silently. His heart wrenched at the sight. The car swerved dangerously onto Main Street.

  Rage boiled within him. They couldn’t lose Poppy. Not after he fell in love with her and Maggie.

  The car squealed around the turn off Main Street and onto Thomas Drive. David cursed the traffic light up ahead as it switched to yellow.

  “Hold on!” He hit the gas and took the left turn as the light turned red. Angry honks followed him. Who cared? Nothing was going to stop them from getting to Poppy.

  Ahead, Engines One and Two had hoses out. B-shift’s captain hurried about as they ripped open side panels. David slammed on the brakes and jumped out.

  Maggie followed. He vaguely acknowledged Jeremy as his brother wrapped his arms around Maggie, halting her run.

  David ran to Engine One. “Tony?”

  The captain turned to him. “David. Thank God! Suit up. I need men in the house.”

  David yanked a bag out of a side panel. He dumped the turnouts out as Tony pulled an air pack, still talking. “Two of us are on light duty. Chief’s on his way. I’ve four full-times and three rookies.”

  The suspenders on the pants snapped against David’s shoulders.

  Tony continued. “Engine Three is out for repairs. Classic case of being under budgeted, man. Pencil-neck mayor.”

  David hooked his jacket closed, slipped on his gloves and helmet. “Let’s go.” He spotted a rookie suiting up. “You, come on. You’re with me.”

  Tony helped him shrug into his air pack while hurrying to the house. The heat from the fire beat at them. Glass broke to his left. The guys had a hose going. David thumbed his mike and nodded to Tony. He pulled his mask over his face. The respirator hissed.