It Had to Be Him

by Tamra Baumann

  Her sports records were the only thing she could be proud of from her high school days. She wouldn’t tell Eric, but she probably still held the record for most hours in detention too.

  Josh stood behind them, his fingers still flying over his phone, just like he used to. Was the phone-obsessed Josh surfacing again?

  She’d had enough.

  “Who’ve you been texting all day?”

  His head whipped up and he sent her a weak smile. “People from my old work. There’s a problem with something I used to be in charge of. Just helping out.” He quickly slid his phone in his back pocket again. “So, how’s this whole deal work? Will it last long?”

  Was he on some sort of time schedule all of the sudden? “Normally, it’s outside on the football field. Everyone eats and plays games while my dad carries on over the stadium’s PA system. Afterward, we watch a fireworks show my brothers take great pride in putting on.

  “But since it’s dumping rain it’ll all be inside. We’ll get our food from the cafeteria and then everyone goes to the gym to sit on the bleachers and eat while my dad bores everyone to tears. Haley and I will have to sit up front on the raised dais with the rest of my family.”

  Josh nodded. “So . . . what? A couple of hours, then?”

  “Got big plans after or something? There’s no set time, we just eat and visit until we’re done. Small town, remember?”

  “Sure.” He turned and punched Eric lightly on the shoulder. “Want to try and set a new school record of our own for the most plates of food consumed?”

  So Josh had been listening earlier. And he’d put his phone away and was interested in the plans. Maybe she was just being paranoid about the whole thing.

  Eric sent an elbow to Josh’s ribs. “Bet I can beat a lightweight like you.”

  “You’re on.” He held his knuckles out for a bump.

  When Eric tapped his fist against Josh’s, Meg smiled. That was probably Josh’s sneaky way of getting some meat on Eric’s bones.

  The kid was going to fit in with them just fine for the summer.

  Hopefully the paperwork would get settled so Eric wouldn’t have to go back to that ranch.

  Keeping an eye on the mayor to be sure he stayed put while Evans planted the tracking software, Josh held back a wince when Eric suggested just one more brownie. He was going to hurl if he had another bite of anything. Where did the kid put it all?

  “No can do.” He held up his palm for a high five. “You win.”

  “Yes!” Eric slapped Josh’s hand and grinned from ear to ear. “Be right back.”

  As soon as Eric left, Zeke took the vacated seat next to Josh on the wooden bleachers.

  “Granger. How’s it going?”

  “Great. The food was fantastic.” He’d have to run five extra miles to make up for all he’d eaten.

  Zeke slowly nodded. “I’ve been thinking about something I’d like to talk to you about.”

  “Sure. What’s up?”

  Zeke cleared his throat and sat up straighter. “I don’t have any children to pass my business on to, and I’ve worked too hard to let one of my numbskull nephews run it into the ground, so I’ve been putting off my retirement. But, now that you’re here, and have taken to the work like a duck to water, I was wondering if you’d consider letting me help you get certified to work on helicopters so I can finally retire? Then after that, I’d like to hand over my business to you. You’d keep all you earn.”

  Josh started to speak, but nothing but air passed his lips. Shock that anyone would be so kind to him, offer him something so huge, rendered him . . . amazed. “What would your family think of that, Zeke? Me running your shop and keeping all the profits?”

  He shrugged. “None of their business. And you might be surprised how much my shop brings in. All the equipment is paid for, so you’d make plenty for your new family, and maybe even some extra so you can help a few more kids like Eric.”

  He’d love to run the shop as long as he could find a way to help kids like Eric too. It’d be the best of both worlds, but things were going to get complicated very soon. “Zeke, I don’t—”

  He plowed on, cutting Josh off. “I’m not giving you the equipment, just letting you use it for as long as you like. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t share this next part because Meggy doesn’t know, but I’ve left everything to her when I die. Those lazy relatives of mine weren’t going to get anything anyway. But knowing Meg, she’ll give them something because she’ll feel bad for them. She talks a big talk, but deep down she’s just a big marshmallow who’d bop me over the head for telling you that.”

  He knew that, but what Zeke didn’t know was Josh’s secret. The old guy might not be so quick to hand over his business once he found out Josh had been lying to Meg for years. Especially if Meg didn’t take the news well.

  “Thank you, Zeke. I appreciate the generous offer. But how about we see what the next few weeks bring, then after that, we’ll talk about it again?” Josh held out his hand for a shake.

  Zeke frowned. “What’s the next few weeks got to do with the price of eggs?”

  “Time to get used to the idea. To think it through.”

  “Okay.” Zeke smiled and shook Josh’s hand. “Enjoy the rest of the evening. I’m gonna sneak out before the mayor gets going. Heard all he has to say a time too many as it is.”

  The rain continued to pound on the skylights above as the mayor went on and on about Anderson Butte and its long history. Eric was slumped over Josh’s phone, playing a game with the sound muted, when the speech finally ended.

  The thunderous clapping probably wasn’t for the content, but because it was finally over. But one thing was for sure. Megan’s father had a true passion for his town. Be a shame if he had to spend the rest of his days behind bars.

  Evans would have had plenty of time to get in and out, but he still needed to let her know the mayor had left after his speech. Just in case.

  Josh nudged Eric’s shoulder with his. “I need to send a quick text.”

  Eric frowned, but paused the game and handed the phone over. Josh had just finished tapping out the text to Evans when a text came in from Meg. Could you come get Haley, please? She needs to run around a bit.

  He looked up at Meg where she sat on the stage, and nodded. “Eric, I’m going to take Haley out in the hall for a minute. Stay here, please.”

  “Okay.” Eric reached out for Josh’s phone to continue his game.

  After Abe, the fire chief, gave his usual speech detailing the need for more volunteer firefighters, Meg sat alone on the raised dais. Over the last half hour, after their father left, the rest of her siblings had found reasons to leave. She didn’t care to stay for Amber’s mystery presentation coming next. She’d done her duty and Haley was at her limit.

  Meg gathered her things and stood as the lights went out and Amber’s voice came over the PA system, asking for everyone’s attention for a special presentation.

  Perfect time to slip out.

  A huge image of a smiling baby was projected on the wall. It took Meg a second to realize it was her up there.

  What was Amber up to? Meg sank into her chair again.

  Sending Meg a sneer, Amber stepped to the podium and grabbed the mic. “In honor of our town daughter’s recent return, I thought you’d all enjoy this little stroll through memory lane. It’ll answer some of your lingering questions, like who really egged Mrs. Beckett’s car that summer when she’d been away for three weeks so it sat in the hot sun baking away. If you’ll recall, it ruined her paint job.”

  The image changed to a picture of Megan with pigtails and braces. Not her finest look. Not her finest moment either.

  Amber laughed. “And here’s your culprit.”

  All eyes cut to Meg.

  Amber had been standing right next to Meg that day, encouraging the whole thing. Seemed Amber wasn’t confessing her role, though.

  Before Meg could figure out what to do to make it stop, Amber said, “
But let’s start way back at the beginning. Be sure to note in all of Megan’s family photos who she’s never standing by. That’s right. Our beloved mayor. Why do you suppose that is?”

  A series of photos appeared in rapid succession of various groupings of her family, starting with her when she was just a baby, up until the beginning of the evening when they’d all lined up for a group shot.

  Meg’s stomach dropped. This wasn’t going to end well.

  “As some of you may have suspected, the truth is that Megan isn’t an Anderson at all. That story about how my father was killed trying to help Meg’s mother after her car went over the edge of the road was all made up by the mayor’s brother, who many of you know was the sheriff at the time. The truth is, Megan’s mother and my father were leaving town with their illegitimate offspring, Megan, when the accident occurred and they were both killed.”

  A collective gasp filled the air. Followed by low murmuring.

  “Megan just recently found out her family has lied to her about it her whole life. And to all of us as well. But hang tight, people, it gets better. It’ll be my pleasure to show you all who my half sister truly is.”

  Meg’s heart beat triple time as she fought back the anger and tears rising in her throat. She wanted to crawl under the table but wouldn’t give Amber the satisfaction. Worse, Eric still sat in the stands seeing all of Meg’s dirty laundry revealed on the wall, twenty feet high.

  Amber added, “And remember when the mayor’s office window got busted out? Yep. You guessed it. Megan again.”

  Yeah, but it was a snowball, for God’s sake. Meg hadn’t known Amber had filled them with rocks before she’d encouraged Meg to launch one at her dad’s window.

  As Amber told them about Meg’s secret crush on Jake the—obvious to everyone but Meg and Pam—gay mailman, laughter rose from the crowd.

  Now she felt bad for Jake too. Hopefully he’d already left so he wouldn’t have to endure the laughs because of her. Would he ever talk to her again after this?

  Each new image on the wall made Meg look worse and worse, reminding her of things she deeply regretted.

  The old, familiar urge to run crept slowly up her spine. It was dark; she might be able to slip out a side door. But that wouldn’t solve anything. No. She’d stay and take her medicine.

  Closing her eyes, she forced her reeling mind to focus. There had to be a way to end her public lynching short of forcibly taking Amber out.

  But was Amber right? After all Meg had done—and it was playing out right before everyone’s eyes reminding them—maybe she didn’t deserve to be welcomed back to town. She couldn’t even claim a family connection earned her the right because she wasn’t an Anderson and now everyone knew it.

  When she opened her eyes, an image appeared on the screen of Mrs. Jenkins with whipped cream dripping down her face.

  The crowd roared with laughter as Meg’s stomach clenched with deep remorse.

  It was the time she’d tricked Mrs. Jenkins into manning a booth at a swim team fund-raiser called “Stump the Principal.”

  She hadn’t told Mrs. Jenkins what would happen if she couldn’t answer a question correctly.

  Meg had found obscure facts on the Internet that no one could possibly know. Mrs. Jenkins had four whipped cream pies to the face that day but had been a good sport about it—until afterward. Meg spent a month in after-school detention for that one.

  She turned to find her former principal in the crowd. Mrs. Jenkins had forgiven Meg just hours before, but probably wanted to take it back after being made the butt of that cruel joke all over again.

  When she locked gazes with the older woman, Mrs. Jenkins mouthed, “Apologize.”

  A wave of hope rose through Meg as she remembered Mrs. Jenkins’s earlier words—that it would make a difference, even after so much time had passed. She’d said only if Meg really meant it. She did. She was truly sorry for her bad behavior.

  Unable to stomach any more, Meg stood and walked toward the podium. Amber was so engrossed in the next picture on the wall, she didn’t notice when Meg slipped beside her and punched the power button on the laptop. When the wall went dark, Amber turned around and Meg yanked the mic from her half sister’s clutches.

  “Could someone hit the lights please? I have something to say.”

  When the lights came back up, Amber stood with her arms crossed. “Ready to leave town now, Meg? I think after seeing this, everyone agrees you’re not welcome here.”

  Amber stood close enough so the mic picked up her words. When a few called out their agreement, it warred with Meg’s newfound courage. Maybe she should just leave before it got any worse?

  As quiet murmuring came from the bleachers, she looked for the answer in Mrs. Jenkins’s eyes. She nodded, urging Meg to do what she got up there to do.

  Courage renewed, Meg said, “It’s true. Amber and I are sisters. Who would’ve seen that one coming, right? But I want to thank my sister for this opportunity.”

  The crowd slowly stilled.

  “We hadn’t gotten to the part in Amber’s thorough presentation, but I’m sure it was there, about how we’d sneak out at night and let your cows out, Mr. Bower. And Mrs. Wilson, I owe you a few lawn gnomes. I see you can still get them on eBay, so I’ll get right on that. And Mrs. Beckett? I’m sorry about the paint job on your car. I didn’t know the eggs would do that in the hot sun, but I’ll find a way to pay you back after I get my lodge up and going.”

  She held up her right hand. “But I swear, it’s been over ten years since I’ve stolen apples from anyone’s trees, thrown snowballs at windows, or even plucked daisies from your lovely garden, Mrs. Mitchell. I used to do that and then give them to Casey because they’re her favorite. I just liked to see my hardworking sister smile.”

  Meg swallowed the tears welling in her throat. “I plan to stay this time, but I also plan to apologize to each and every one of you, individually, for the things I did when I was a kid. I know it’s not enough for me to stand up here and tell you I’ve changed. I’m going to have to prove it. And I will. If you can find it in your hearts to give me the chance. If not . . . I understand.”

  Amber leaned close to the mic. “Nice try, Meg. But we all know you’re a liar and just trying to save face.”

  A liar was the one thing she was not. She’d just been about to leave, but couldn’t let Amber get away with that. It was tempting to tell them all how Amber had been there encouraging many of those stunts, but that was all in the past. Time to move forward.

  Recalling the interesting things she’d learned about Amber at girls’ night, all confirmed by Casey, Meg faced her half sister. She was just about to air Amber’s dirty laundry, but Meg paused. Stooping to Amber’s level wasn’t the answer. She needed to be the bigger person. “I guess time will tell if I’m not being truthful, won’t it? But I wish you nothing but the best.”

  After Meg turned off the mic, she whispered to Amber, “Leave Randy. No one deserves to be treated that way. And I’m honestly sorry about your mom.”

  Amber’s eyes grew wide as she whisper-yelled back, “Who told . . . those are just more lies, Megan.”

  It was too small a town. Everyone knew the truth. The “story” was, Amber’s mother had moved to California, but she was in a mental institution. And Randy was too much a jerk not to brag about all his women to the guys when he’d had a few drinks.

  After Amber’s head swiveled, probably checking to see if anyone else had heard, she said, “Whatever, Megan. I’m outta here.” Red-faced, Amber marched down the stairs and out the side door, slamming it behind her.

  Silence hung heavy in the air as two hundred sets of curious eyes bore down on her, wondering what Meg had said to set Amber off, no doubt. She gently slid the mic into its stand, then turned and stepped off the stage, struggling to hold it together.

  Throwing her shoulders back, she aimed for the rear set of doors, where Eric stood waiting for her. While taking her walk of shame, thoughts of crawlin
g into bed and pulling the covers over her head until next month sounded pretty good.

  Once outside, she let her pent-up tears fall.

  Josh stood beside Haley in the hallway, waiting for her. “I heard the tail end of that. You did good, Meg.”

  When he spread his arms, she melted into his warm embrace and whispered, “I’m sorry you had to hear any of that.”

  He held her tight. “What I heard were the words of a brave woman with a big heart who cares enough to apologize to anyone she hurt. We all have a past, Meg. Let’s go home.”

  Later that night, still lying wide awake long after everyone else had fallen asleep, Meg tried to slip out of bed without waking Josh, but his long arms reached out and pulled her back against his chest.

  She whispered, “I thought you were asleep.”

  He grunted. “You were thinking too loud.”

  “Sorry.” She chuckled and turned in his arms. His eyes were closed but a cute grin tilted his full, irresistibly sexy lips, so she gave them a quick peck. “I’ll go make some tea and try to think quieter out in the living room so you can sleep.”

  Josh rolled over and trapped her under his big, heavy body. “Instead, why don’t I give you something better to think about?”

  The gleam in his eyes challenged her to put her troubles aside for a few minutes and play with him.

  Why not? Her worries would be right where she left them in the morning. “What did you have in mind?”

  “This.” He trailed soft kisses up her neck. “And then maybe some more of this.”

  When he nipped lightly at her earlobe, she closed her eyes and sighed. She loved the way he always took his time, pleasing her before himself.

  Maybe it was time to turn the tables a bit. Show him how much she loved that he’d stood outside the gym, waiting for her, even though he’d just seen some of her ugliest parts she’d wanted to keep hidden from him.

  She whispered, “I’ll play. But let’s do it my way. Roll over.”

  Josh said, “Bossy woman,” but complied with a smirk.

  “I want it to be all about you this time, Josh.” She tugged off her tank and panties, then stretched out beside him, staring deeply into his amused eyes until they grew dark with desire for her. She loved when he looked at her that way. Like she was the last hot fudge sundae with a cherry on top left on earth. “Hold your hands above your head and just pretend your wrists are bound together, because I don’t want to get that kinky. And no cheating. Got it?”