by Janae Keyes
The TV had been on and a story about the fire played. Kayleigh’s boyfriend and his crew were arrested on attempted murder and arson charges, while Kayleigh was arrested for accessory to commit murder and hiring a hitman. All of them were also picked up multiple drug charges. Kayleigh would be going away for a long time.
It was sad, mostly for Serenati. She didn’t know yet, but eventually she would know her mother was in jail. She’d eventually hear the details as to why, and she’d have questions. My job was to come up with the right answers—the truth. She deserved the truth in terms she could understand and as she got older I would divulge more when needed.
For now, my daughter would live on as a vibrant and joyful six-year-old girl. I’d recover and continue to build a life she could be proud of, the same way my parents had done for me.
“Her first court hearing is tomorrow,” Bethany commented. “I’m thinking about going, but I’m not sure yet. I’m still in shock she would do something so low. She’s not the girl who was one of my best friends growing up. She became a–”
“A monster. Drugs seem to have a way of doing that to people around these parts… and anywhere drugs are,” I added as I thought of the girl Bethany and I once knew. The one who’d become the mother of my child, and later the woman who wished me dead.
Bethany was silent as she stroked the back of my hand with her thumb. I was still in awe she even came. With the way we’d left things, I had doubts she’d ever return, no matter what happened. Yet, Bethany was sitting with me as if she’d never left.
My eyes left my hand in hers and travelled to see the tears rolling down her cheeks. My heart hurt whenever she shed tears.
“Girlie, what’s wrong?” I asked her, my voice soft.
She peered up at me and my heart shattered at the pain that filled her eyes.
“I saw the bar. Well, what was the bar. Liam, nothing is left. All of my dad’s hard work. Over thirty years of blood, sweat, and tears reduced to mere ashes. Liam, it’s gone. My everything. All I’ve ever known is gone,” she sobbed before she pressed her head to my bed. She cried for all she lost. It was hard enough losing her dad, but to lose the last bit of his legacy was the knife in the coffin.
“Baby,” I whispered as I rubbed her back with my bandaged hand. If I wasn’t in my current state, I’d pull her into my arms and hold her tightly.
“Everything is just gone,” she whimpered before she raised her head and glanced up at me. A new wave of pain seemed to hit her as she shook her head. “And then...and then...I almost lost...you.”
“But you didn’t lose me. I’m right here in the flesh. Don’t go crying over me. I’m right here.” I did my best to reassure her, but so many emotions were running through her at once. “Hey, when I get out of here we can do something like a fundraiser. We can raise money to rebuild the bar and the shelter.”
“I did meet with the insurance guy today and he gave an estimate on how much it should cost to rebuild, but honestly, I don’t think Dad would have,” she said as she reached into her bag and pulled out her tablet. “Instead, I had Olivia sketch me this.” She showed me the building on her tablet and I grinned.
“Crossroads Community Center and Shelter,” I read aloud as I looked at the expert sketch by our talented architect friend.
“I talked to Minister Garland about it and he likes it,” she noted as we looked over the sketch together. It was nothing like Fort Shasta had ever had before. “Community, it’s always been about the community and I think a place like this would bring everyone together.”
“I know everyone would pitch in for something like this. It will be out of this world. You’ve always been smart that way.” I brushed a strand of hair away from her face and ran my thumb that was free of the bandage over her smooth cheek. I had my girl, at least for that moment.
“I have always had this dislike for Fort Shasta. It has never been a secret, but Dad loved this town for all it’s great points and flaws. Dad’s gone and I have to be a vessel of him. He would want this place to have the best possible chance at thriving. My duty is to make sure that happens and in his name. I obviously want your help. Dad would want it that way.” Bethany wiped away the final remnants of her tears and gave me a weak smile.
“Baby, you know I’ll be by your side every single step of the way,” I proclaimed. It was a promise I knew I could keep without a doubt. Through the years, I’d made promises I couldn’t keep. I’d always told Bethany I’d love her forever, then I broke her heart. It was time for me to make up for broken promises.
“I did want to thank you for something,” Bethany began as she reached into her oversized designer bag. That was Bethany, no changing her. She was never a small town girl, but a big city girl with dreams that soared above all and her fancy handbags and shoes put that on display. She pulled out an envelope and from inside it she produced the picture from the Wall of Fame. “I don’t know if you remember, but when Minister Garland found you, you were clutching this picture in your hands for dear life. You saved one little piece of the bar, the most important bit to me.”
I hadn’t remembered what she described, but it sounded like me. I touched the now wrinkled photo with the tips of my fingers. I saw the pride on Mr. Cross’s face as he stood with his only child. Not just a reflection of him and his hard work, but a success in her own right.
“I want you to heal first and then I’ll come back up here. We can work on raising some money and getting this place together. I know it will be great, Dad would have made it great, so will we,” Bethany said as she placed the photo back in the protection of the envelope.
“You’re leaving?” I asked anxiously at the mention of her not staying around.
“I have a job, Liam. I have patients waiting for me. Don’t worry though, I’m coming back. I promise you, I can never leave you behind, not again. But–” she paused abruptly.
“But what?” I questioned.
“I love you. You know I do, but Liam. I don’t know how we could make anything work. My life is there and yours is here. I know you’d never move to L.A. and I’m not made for life in Fort Shasta. I’m just afraid we will end up back where we started, with our hearts broken, again.” Bethany turned away from me.
“Look at me,” I demanded and her gorgeous pools of blue met mine. She was honestly afraid of going back in time. She didn’t want me abandoning her again, she was already alone enough. “We’re not doing that again. We’ll figure it out. We’ll be long distance, whatever. I want you in my life. I know I fucked it up before, but I’m not fucking up the best thing in my life ever again. You hear me?”
“Yeah,” she whispered.
“Now, come here, my range of motion sucks after getting shot and I’d kiss you, but I can’t quite get to you,” I joked as I pointed out my current state in the hospital bed. It was almost easy to forget I was in the hospital when alone and talking to Bethany.
Bethany grinned and leaned in. Her soft lips met mine and all was right in my world. I had secured my daughter in my loving home and now Bethany was truly mine. It couldn’t get any better.
“Daddy!” screamed an overly excited voice that I could never forget. Bethany pulled away and I spotted Serenati bounding my way, her red pigtails bouncing with her.
My parents strolled behind her, Dad giving me a thumbs up as they’d obviously seen Bethany and I. I reached out for my daughter as she hopped onto the edge of the bed. She gave me the biggest hug she could muster up.
“Careful with your daddy, Renni,” my mom warned.
“Sorry,” Renni quickly apologized. “Are you feeling better, Daddy?”
“So much better now that you’re here. I’ve missed you so much!” I was beaming with my little girl there. I held her close and used my other arm to grab Bethany around the waist.
Though the circumstances were grim, this was my life and it was beginning to be a damned good one.
Chapter Nineteen
Bethany
The generosity of
those from Fort Shasta and around Siskiyou County was unbelievable. It took just over a month before the town was ready to raise money to build the new community center. I’d spent my time split between Los Angeles and Fort Shasta. It took so much out of me, but it gave me the biggest reward. Plus, there was Liam.
Once out of the hospital, it was hard to keep Liam from overdoing it. He was constantly working on something when he should have been resting. He was hard headed that way and no matter how much me or his mom fussed, he would get right back to it. He threw his everything into making sure the Fall Fundraising Fair was a success.
All of the main street of Fort Shasta was blocked off for the festivities. There was everything from a dunk tank that the Sheriff sat in, to bobbing for apples, a haunted house, and a kissing booth that housed none other than Liam.
“The turnout is fantastic,” Olivia, who stood next to me with a glass of fresh apple cider Mrs. Stevens had provided, noted.
Everyone in town provided what they could and many of them showcased talents none of us ever knew they had, like Mrs. Stevens and her cider, or Dale and his rock band who were doing a fantastic job on stage.
“I’m still in awe,” I mentioned to my best friend as we stood watching all the kids in the bounce castle.
“Bethany, look at me!” Serenati cheered from inside the castle with Olivia’s kids.
I waved to the little girl I’d grown close with over the last month and a half. She was filled with joy as she bounced around. Her life had been turned upside down. Her mother was in jail awaiting trial and her dad was nearly murdered. Liam worked to show her every day nothing could take him down and he was her superman.
“Announcement time!” Minister Garland called from the stage and everyone seemed to pause what they were doing to pay attention. He’d been up on multiple occasions announcing how much money had been raised so far. “We’ve just received an anonymous donation, a pretty big one. A check was just delivered for, drum roll.” He pointed to the drummer in Dale’s band who gave an expert drumroll. “Twelve thousand dollars!” Everyone broke into cheers at the announcement. “That, with the donations we have received from around the county and country in the last month, plus what we have raised so far today, brings our total to one hundred twenty-eight thousand dollars and forty-six cents!”
“I wonder who donated that money?” Olivia inquired in my ear. That’s when I saw a blond woman leaving the festival area. I knew her.
“I have an idea,” I mentioned. “Be right back.”
I jogged away to follow the woman. I weaved through people dancing as the band kicked back up and everyone was back to enjoying themselves. Finally, I reached her as she stopped at an old station wagon.
“It was you,” I said to her and she raised her head and gave me a weak smile. My mom.
“I had to,” she commented with a shrug. “Your dad and I had a rocky marriage, but no matter what, that man cared for me. And when I left he took on the responsibility of raising you on his own. He could have tossed you to the side, but he grew a pair and did what he had to. You and I may never get along or anything, but it’s been weighing on me since you came up to my place. I was wrong for taking the money. Yeah, I did spend a good chunk of it, but in the end, none of it made me feel good. I didn’t feel like a better person. I felt worse. Figured the best thing would be to give it to the cause. Your dad would love that community center you’re building.”
I couldn’t help it. I threw my arms around her in a hug and held her for a moment. Tears came flooding from my eyes as she held me too. It was a first, my mom and I stood embracing one another.
“I really am proud of you. You’re more than I could ever amount to. Your dad did a great job.” She pulled away and looked me over with reverence before she turned back to her car and opened the driver’s side door. She got inside, leaving me standing on the street watching her.
“Take care of yourself...Mom,” I noted. She gave me a smile and a wave before she drove off. I watched her car disappear as she turned a corner.
Taking a deep breath. I inhaled the air of the town that would forever be part of me. There was no leaving Fort Shasta behind truly. This place was in my blood and she was my flesh and blood.
My fingers wiped away my tears before I started back toward the festival. The sun was beginning to set and a glow filled the main street. A warmth surrounded me and it was as if Dad was there. He was proud, I knew he was. Maybe Fort Shasta wasn’t as bad as I made it out to be. Every town had its problems and Fort Shasta was no different.
I arrived at the kissing booth where the line remained long. For ten dollars anyone could get a kiss from Liam who sat proudly on his stool giving innocent kisses to all who paid.
After a few minutes, I arrived at Mr. Howard who was in charge of collecting he funds for Liam’s booth.
“Ready to pucker up?” he asked as I handed him my money.
“I’ve kissed him a few times. He’s okay I guess,” I joked, receiving a side eye from Liam. I smirked in his direction before I arrived face to face with him.
“I’ve been waiting for you to come claim your kiss,” he said proudly.
“Better be a good one. I normally get these for free, but I paid ten dollars for this one,” I pointed out with a wink to the man that had once again stolen my heart the same way he’d done in high school. It was like we’d never been off.
“I think I need to come from behind the booth for this one,” Liam announced as he got off his stool and stood up straight.
He strolled around to greet me in front of his booth. He stood proud and healed. He still had occasional pain from his surgery incisions and gunshot wound, but he was back to being the man and father he always strived to be. His circumstances made him stronger than ever before. He’d fought for his life and was fighting past the pain for his brighter future.
His strong arms wrapped around my waist and pulled me to his hard body. I gasped, inhaling his scent that filled me all the time. When in L.A. and I missed him, I’d sprayed a pillow with is favorite cologne just to feel like I had a bit of him near.
Liam’s brown eyes gazed into mine and he grinned down at me. Even in heels, he still slightly towered above me and he bent to me, pressing his lips hard against mine. Our mouths together, tongues wrestling, and his arms keeping me steady and on my feet as he gave me the best kiss he could. One of his arms travelled up my back and his hand clenched into my blonde curls while his teeth took a nibble at my bottom lip, evoking a moan.
At once, Liam broke away. I was out of breath and exhilarated at a kiss that was worth thousands if not more. He then did something completely unexpected and dropped to one knee. My heart flew into my throat as he took my hand into his.
“Bethany, I couldn’t think of a better place than right here in front of where your dad’s bar stood then to do this. When I was introduced to you, I remember thinking what could this skinny little blonde teach me. Well, she taught me everything there is to know about love, hard work, and finding your place in the world. I screwed things up eventually, and the worst circumstances brought us back together. I love you so much. We’ve both grown in these past months and I can’t think of anyone else I’d want to grow old with, but you. Bethany Lydia Cross, will you marry me?” I stood in awe as Liam produced a ring from his pocket. It was a simple silver band with a small, but beautiful diamond.
“Liam,” I whispered, not fully able to say anything else.
I wanted to marry him. God, knows I did, but there were logistics I could never see happening. Liam hated the city. He hated me in L.A. and it was never a place he’d truly want to live. I couldn’t leave my career to settle down in Fort Shasta and he knew that. We’d been long distance, but that would never sustain us through a marriage.
I walked away.
I didn’t say a single word to him, I simply walked away. It would never work, and getting into a marriage would set us up for disaster. Liam wasn’t thinking right and he didn’t have his head
on straight.
The crowd that was excited a moment ago and surrounding us, was parting for me as I kept walking. I didn’t exactly know where I was going, but I had to get away for only that moment. I had to do what I did best as a successful doctor, think clearly.
Chapter Twenty
Liam
“Well, that didn’t go to fucking plan,” I said as I watched her walk away. I shook my head not knowing how I could have fucked that up. I’d spent weeks thinking about exactly what I wanted to say and how I wanted to say it.
“She didn’t exactly say no,” Dad pointed out as he tried to cheer me up.
Those in the crowd that had joined us dispersed and looked away from me. I was embarrassed as all fuck. What had I done so wrong? I thought about it over and over again. I went over every single second of the moment that started out so great until she just walked.
Olivia approached me. She knew all about my plan and she encouraged it.
“I don’t know what happened,” she confessed to me as she glanced off in the direction that Bethany had walked away. She shook her head. “I didn’t see that coming.”
“I didn’t either,” I grumbled with a loud sigh.
“Go find her. You know Bethany, she’s probably thinking too much. Go find her and talk it out. Put her mind at ease about whatever is bothering her,” Olivia suggested and I knew she was right. Bethany was always in her head.
Leaving the festival behind, I walked down the street that lead toward my dad’s garage and my apartment. It was the direction Bethany had taken and I figured that is where she went. We’d promised one another that we would work together to make us work. I wanted to make us work forever.
I jogged the rest of the way and up the stairs to my place. Swinging the door open, I found her as she stood crying over her suitcase. She was packing. She was running away. Her head shot up and she spotted me in the doorway.
