Under the Owl Tree

by Sara Daniell

  “Hales, what the hell?” Trevor yelled and dropped his bat. “I’ve hit every damn ball!”

  Dane and Zach finally came out. Dane made his way to the field, and Zach still looked pissed.

  “Sorry,” I said, trying to get my head in the game.

  Everyone turned when my dad walked over. Zach looked at my father as he came over.

  “What?” he asked in a snap.

  “I’ve been watching my daughter struggle, and you haven’t corrected her once!” Dad snapped back.

  “Get your ass off my field,” Zach growled.

  My eyes widened.

  “Your field?” Dad scoffed. “This is the taxpayers of Stockbridge’s field, and if I want to stand out here and watch my daughter practice, then I damn sure will!”

  Zach pointed to the bleachers. “You can watch from there. If you’re down here, you’ll do nothing but bitch and complain! Get to the bleachers and watch!” Zach was in full asshole mode and angry on top of that.

  Dad looked at me. “You better get it together, Hales.” He walked past Zach and went to the bleachers.

  “Sorry, guys. Now let’s get started,” Zach said firmly.

  When practice was over, I was so embarrassed. My dad didn’t respect Zach at all and basically took over Zach’s position as coach and yelled at the guys and me the entire practice. We were all definitely off our game today.

  I couldn’t concentrate because I was worried about Dane, annoyed by my dad, and trying not to think about some woman touching Zach. This is exactly why Dad never wanted me to get emotionally involved with anyone. He wanted me to care about baseball and baseball only.

  Dad walked over to me as I was getting a drink of my water and started yelling at me. The rest of the guys were packing up and clearing out.

  “What the hell was wrong with you today?” Dad said, unpacking my stuff as I was packing it up.

  “You’re getting your ass out there and getting it right before we go home!” He shoved my glove and ball at me.

  “Dad, my arm hurts. Bad.” It was the first time I mentioned it out loud. It was really bothering me.

  “Work through the pain!”

  Tears filled my eyes. I was tired from no sleep, worried about my friend, and my arm was hurting worse by the second.

  “Are those tears?” Dad snapped. “Hailey Naomi Grayson, on the field now!”

  I kept my head down and went onto the mound. Dad stood at home plate with a glove. Dane and Zach were taking their time getting everything together. I knew what they were doing. They were concerned, but I didn’t need them to be.

  “Curveball!” Dad demanded.

  I put a brave face on and clenched my jaw as I threw it to him.

  DAD AND I stayed at the field for hours. By the time we got home, I could barely move my arm. When we got inside, Mom smiled, but it faded when she saw my dad’s face.

  “Uh-oh. Hales have a bad practice?”

  Dad started complaining about how shitty I did so I went up to my room. I was in too much pain to eat. Instead, I turned on some music and got in an Epsom salt bath, hoping it’d soothe my arm. My phone dinged so I dried my hand on a towel.

  Zach: Are you okay?

  Me: Just embarrassed. How’s Dane?

  Zach: Well, let’s just say if I’m not at practice tomorrow I’m in jail.

  Me: What!

  I almost dropped my phone in the water. I caught it and dried off the water that splashed on it.

  Zach: I’m heading to Dane’s house.

  Me: Why!

  I immediately called him.

  “Hey,” he answered.

  “What’s going on?”

  “I’m going to go kick Dane’s father’s ass,” he growled.

  “Wait. Why?”

  I got out of the bathtub and dried off.

  “I want him to feel how it feels,” his tone was furious. “You should call Dane. I need to go.” His voice had started shaking. “And rest that arm. I could tell you were in pain.”

  “Zach, you’re scaring me. Whatever you’re about to do—” he hung up on me.

  I quickly got dressed and grabbed my keys.

  “Dad, Mom?” I stood by their bedroom door.

  “Yeah?” Mom said sleepily as she opened the door. She looked at me. “Honey, where are you going?”

  Tears filled my eyes. “Something is wrong with Dane. I need to go check on him. And before you ask for the millionth time, no, I’m not into him. He’s my friend.”

  Dad walked over and yawned. “Hales, you aren’t going out. It’s late.”

  “Something is majorly wrong!”

  “Go to bed, Hailey.” Dad gave me his warning look and shut their bedroom door.

  I growled in frustration. I waited until I knew they were asleep and snuck out of the house. I drove to Zach and Elliot’s and saw Dane’s truck there. I got out and called Dane.

  “Can you let me in?” I asked when he answered.

  “What? You’re here?”

  We both hung up when he opened the front door.

  “What’s going on?” I asked as I went inside. “Where is Zach?”

  “Hales, everything is—”

  “Don’t! Don’t lie to me!”

  “Shhhh, you’ll wake up Millie.” He took my hand and led me outside on the deck.

  He motioned for me to sit, but I didn’t. I was too damn anxious to sit.

  “Hailey, my dad is abusive. It’s why I stay here a lot.”

  I couldn’t understand why anyone would want to hurt Dane. He was the nicest guy I had ever met.

  “Why?” I asked as I looked at him. “Why haven’t you told me?”

  Dane ran his fingers through his messy hair. “I’ve been asking myself that since I was four. He’s an angry drunk, and I get to be his punching bag. And I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to worry you about it.”

  I didn’t know what to say so I just wrapped him up in a hug. “Never keep anything from me like this, Dane. Ever.” I squeezed him tighter.

  “I won’t.”

  “Where’s Zach?” I asked as we pulled apart.

  “He went to handle it.” Dane looked down at his hands. “He was already pissed off. Then he saw my back, and he got angrier.”

  “What do you mean by he went to handle it?”

  “He went to go beat the shit out of my dad.” Dane looked embarrassed. “Can you do me a favor?” I could see his cheeks turning red. “I need someone to look at my back. Zach cleaned it up, but I need someone to look at it again. I don’t want Elliot to know, and it will just make Zach angry again when he gets here.”

  I nodded and helped him out of his shirt. He turned to let me look at his back: it was covered in thin, red welts. Some were bleeding through bandages. My mouth got dry, and tears filled my eyes.

  “This is horrible,” I breathed out. My hands started shaking. “Who all knows about this?”

  “Elliot and Zach. No one else knows. I-I don’t want them to know.”

  I nodded and looked at him as he turned around to face me. He wiped my tears. I laughed a little.

  “You shouldn’t be wiping my tears, Dane. I’m not the one who needs comforting.”

  “I’ll be okay. It’s not the first time this has happened. Well, it’s the first with the whip in a long time but not the first time I’ve been beat up by him. So now you know why I didn’t want you meeting my parents or coming over.”

  I gently moved him until his back was to me again. “It’s bleeding bad still. Want me to help clean it up and put new bandages on?”

  He nodded. “There should be a kit in the downstairs bathroom, under the sink. I’ll call and check on Zach while you get it.” I headed inside quickly, went to the bathroom, grabbed the kit, and headed back outside. When I came out Dane was pinching the bridge of his nose, and the tough act he had been trying to put on was gone. He looked so broken in that moment before he realized I was there.

  I started working on his back. “Talk
to me, Dane.”

  “Zach’s driving around until he calms down, then he’ll be home.” He stiffened when I touched a sore whip mark. “And I don’t know what to say. Nothing I say will change anything.”

  “No, but having someone to vent to may help with the emotional side of it. I won’t force you to, but if you ever need to yell about it or cry, I’m your girl.” I pulled off a bandage and cleaned the wound before putting on a new one.

  He nodded. “Thanks, Hales.”

  I heard a truck pulling into the front driveway just as I was finishing up. I helped Dane get his shirt back on and then quickly gathered up the supplies to bring back inside. I came back out onto the deck; Zach’s eyes widened when he saw me. I could see that his fists were busted up, but besides that, he looked okay.

  Dane looked down at his feet. “Zach, I told you not to.”

  Zach shrugged. “How’s your back?” His voice was strained.

  “Hales cleaned it up again and put new bandages on it. I’m going to take some Advil and go to bed.” Dane gave me a little hug. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” He nodded toward Zach then went inside.

  Zach looked at me. “How’s your shoulder?”

  I looked at Zach. “I should go.”

  “Not before I look at your shoulder.” He kissed my forehead.

  “You need to clean your hands. My shoulder is fine, Zach.”

  He cocked an eyebrow at me. “Humor me. I need to calm down and talking to you and checking on you will help.” He motioned for me to follow him inside.

  We went into the bathroom, and he shut the door behind us. He washed his hands and then leaned against the counter, waiting for me to show him my shoulder.

  “I think you just want me out of my shirt,” I teased.

  He gave me an actual smile. “Possibly.”

  “Damn, baby. It’s swollen bad.” The smile that had shown up briefly left just as swiftly.

  “I’m fine.”

  He touched my shoulder gently. “Let me put some Icy Hot on it and rub it in. I don’t need the pitcher throwing her arm out before the season begins. Elliot would kill me.”

  “I was fine until my dad made me stay late.”

  He got some Icy Hot out of the drawer and started rubbing it in. I closed my eyes because it hurt.

  “Sorry he just took over practice like that.”

  “I normally would handle it, but as angry as I already was, I had to let it go. For now. I’m sorry it hurts, but I have to do this.”

  “I’ll be fine.”

  When he finished putting it on, I put my shirt back on. “I should go before my dad notices I left.”

  He nodded. “Be safe.” He kissed my lips softly. “And so you don’t think I’m showing you favoritism, I massaged Trevor’s shoulder last year.” He winked at me.

  I laughed. “Good to know.”

  When I got home I couldn’t sleep. I kept staring at my phone, hoping I’d hear from Dane but never did. I was so angry for him and hurt.

  Two nights in a row with no sleep, this was gonna suck.

  I was on my second Monster drink when Dane met me at his truck.

  “Every time I’ve seen you today you’ve been drinking one of those nasty things.”

  It was good to see an actual smile on his face.

  A car pulled up and parked. Coach Elliot and Millie got out. Millie ran straight to Dane.

  “Dane!” She launched herself against his legs.

  Coach Elliot walked over to us. “You guys ready for practice?” he asked with a smile. He looked better today than he had been. He saw the drink in my hands. “Those are horrible for you, Hales.”

  “Yeah, they work though.”

  I wanted to ask where Zach was, but they would see the disappointment on my face. I smiled. “You look good today, Coach.”

  “Thanks. I feel good today which is good since Zach had an emergency.” He motioned toward the drink in my hand. “They may work, but they do a number on your heart.”

  “They are the one unhealthy thing my dad actually approves of. I promise I’ll be fine.” I smiled at Millie. “Hey, Millie.”

  Millie smiled up at me. “Hi, Hales.” She wrapped her arms and legs around Dane’s leg as he tried to walk.

  Dane laughed. “Millie, I need to be able to walk.” He bent down so she could climb on his back. “Hop on, little monkey.” I grabbed Dane’s bags so he could carry her. I saw him wince.

  “Dane, maybe you shouldn’t carry her because your back is still—” I stopped when he shook his head.

  “I’m fine. Don’t talk about it around her,” he whispered.

  I nodded and cringed a little when I put the bags on my bad shoulder. I switched them to my other shoulder.

  “Come on, monkey; let’s go help your dad set up the pitching machine.

  “I’m gonna run to the bathroom really quickly,” I said to Coach before heading toward the bathroom I pulled out my phone and called Zach.

  It took a minute before he answered. “Hey.”

  Zach sounded exhausted and upset. There were sirens in the background.

  “What’s going on?”

  “My crazy ass manager set my pizza place on fire when I fired her. With me inside!” He sighed heavily. “Luckily, I got the fire out before it got too bad.”

  “Holy shit! Are you serious?”

  I went into the bathroom and leaned against the wall. “That’s crazy. So I guess I won’t see you tonight?”

  I sounded clingy. Ugh. He was dealing with a major issue, and here I was sounding like a clingy little teen. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to sound whiny.”

  “You didn’t sound whiny, and you will definitely see me. I need you to make me smile.”

  “My parents are out of town tonight for something with Coke. Want to come over?”

  “Aren’t you being rebellious,” he teased. “And yeah I want to come over. What time?”

  “Just whenever you can. I’ll text you when I’m done with practice.”

  “Sounds good. What do you want for dinner?”

  “Something really unhealthy.” I laughed.

  “I can take care of that. I have to go. The paramedic wants my attention.”

  “You’re okay, right?”

  “A few scrapes, bruises, and burns but nothing major. Now go get your sexy ass to practice.”

  “Yes, sir.” I hung up and went back out to the field.

  Dane pulled me to the side when I came over. “Coach is making you sit out of this practice.”

  My mouth fell open, and I swear steam was coming out of my nose and ears. I went to give Coach a piece of my mind, but Dane grabbed my hand, and it pulled my shoulder. I screamed in pain.

  “And that’s why. Looks like lover boy tattled on you.”

  I grabbed my shoulder and sat down with a pout. I glared up at Coach as he walked over. Dane went out to the field to practice.

  “I’m fine!” I yelled.

  “Your shoulder is two times bigger than normal, and you couldn’t even carry Dane’s bag on your shoulder. I saw you wince.” He sat next to me. “I don’t want you out this season.”

  “If you don’t let me practice, my dad is going to flip out!”

  “So what the hell do you want me to do then?” He sighed and looked over at me. “Hales, if you’re not careful, you will ruin your career before it even starts. If you want to practice then I’m going to teach you to throw with your other arm.” He stood. “Or you could go soak in an ice bath. One of the two.”

  “Okay then.” I stood and grabbed my glove. “Teach me to throw with my other arm.”

  He nodded. “Come on.” He got the guys practicing then started showing me how to train my other arm. We worked for a while until Coach looked out on the field.

  “Trevor, sit!” Coach Elliot said when he saw Trevor limping. “Tomorrow we’re hitting weights. I can’t have my team out of commission before the season even starts!” He snapped.

  Trevor cursed as he went over
to sit on the bench.

  “Dane, come catch with Hales while I go look at Trevor’s knee,” Coach said, handing me the ball.

  Dane came over, and I tossed the ball to him. “Sorry about last night,” Dane said as he threw the ball to me. I caught with my bad arm and clenched my jaw. I threw it with my left hand to him. “It’s fine, but are you okay?”

  He nodded and smiled. “I have a group of people who care for me. I don’t need that sorry son of a bitch. It just sucks.”

  I nodded. “Yeah.”

  “What about you? Your dad was tough on you yesterday. Zach said your arm looked like shit. He was right. It’s bad. I guess you’re kind of abused too.”

  I stopped throwing the ball and raised a brow. “Excuse me?”

  “I didn’t mean it like... Well, I don’t know. Seeing how crazy your dad gets over baseball is kind of like abuse. Don’t get pissed; it’s just my opinion.”

  “My dad does not abuse me, Dane!” I was pissed.

  “Whoa, Hales, calm down. I am just giving you my opinion. Look at your fucking arm! What parent would be okay with that and push you harder? And your feet? What parent makes their kid run until their feet bleed?”

  I threw the ball so hard Dane missed it. I threw my glove down in the dirt and stormed into the dugout.

  “What’s going on,” Coach Elliot asked. He was icing Trevor’s knee. He got up and grabbed an ice chest for Trevor to prop his knee up on. “Don’t move,” he said sternly then walked over to me. “Talk to me, Hales.”

  “I’m going home.” I grabbed my bag.

  Dane came over. “Hailey, I’m sorry.”

  Coach stepped in front of me. “What the hell is going on?” He looked at both of us.

  “It doesn’t matter. I just need to leave. I need to go ice my stupid fucking shoulder since my dad is soooo abusive!” I looked at Dane with all the anger I could muster up. “Fuck you, asshole!”

  Coach sighed. “I think we need a team night. I will text you with details.” He moved out of my way.