Love Me ~ Like That (24 page)

“Not a lot. Then I’ll be back home fixing up some things. Do you need me to help you to talk to anyone? I would like to help you, Bailey. I’m sure if we put our heads together, we can figure something out to help them.”

She smiles. “That’s really sweet of you, Cash, but I’ve got this. Now, you get across the street and get dressed so you can get to work and back home. I’ll have you some things over here that need fixing.”

She gives me an evil grin.

“Besides, when Granny and Papa get home, I won’t be as free anymore, and I won’t be having any overnight guests.” She stands on her tippy toes and gives me a kiss.

I think I’m falling in love, fast and hard.

Three Months Later

Journal Entry:
Granny and Papa came home last week. Granny went to the best rehabilitation center after she was released from the hospital. The money was donated anonymously for her care, but Hendrix can’t fool me. I know he’s the benefactor, and I called and thanked him.

Hendrix and I are back to being friends, but only friends. He is still taking care of Granny and Papa anonymously. I just laugh and say thank you. Cash doesn’t like Hendrix being the good guy for once, but what can he say. Hendrix’s generosity takes a huge burden off of my family and me.

Cash’s mom sits with Granny and Papa a couple of nights a week. She is having a hard time dealing with her husband’s death. They were not officially divorced yet, and he had a nice chunk of change in the bank, so she no longer has to live with Cash. She is still there for the time being because she says there isn’t any reason to rush moving out. Cash is building his own house on the property and he wants her to stay in the current house. The house is so cute, I’d live there and I hate the country.

Cash’s half- sister Oakley lives with Clay on a horse ranch and is having a really hard time adjusting after her parents’ death. I’d have a hard time in the same situation, too, so I take her out when I can and she is warming up to me.

I turned twenty-two last week, and we had a small intimate party. Cash gave me the perfect gift—a bracelet with an orange charm and a sweet tea charm on it. Hendrix gave me two-carat diamond earrings which I promptly gave them back to him. They weren’t an appropriate gift to receive from an ex-boyfriend, and I would never disrespect or hurt Cash by accepting them. However at this time last year, I would have been jumping for joy. Funny how things change. What was he even thinking giving me any gift? I wouldn’t accept anything from him now as a gift, I wish I didn’t have to accept his generosity toward my grandparents.

Cash and I are going strong. We are exclusive and I couldn’t be happier. He treats me like I’m his princess, and he treats his momma like a queen. Granny is always telling Lizzie and me to watch how boys treat their mommas and that’s how they will treat their wives one day. We are a long way from marriage, but I like the way he treats her. She is the sweetest person, too.

I hear a car pulling up in the driveway. The house will be all abuzz over the next few weeks with people wishing Granny well and bringing casseroles. I open the door to find Hendrix with two-dozen long stem pink roses. “Hi, Hendrix. Come in.”

He comes around a lot more than he ever did when we were dating. He seems genuinely interested in Granny and Papa’s welfare and I want to encourage his caring side, but I’ve told him in no uncertain terms we’re only friends so he doesn’t get the wrong idea. I will never go there again. Never.

“Hey, Bailey. I brought these to welcome Mrs. Jackson home. She told me pink roses were her favorite.”

He smiles and comes in, looking back over his shoulder at Cash coming up the stairs.

“She’s in the living room, go on in.” He hands me the flowers, kisses me on the cheek, and goes on in to talk to Granny.

I don’t know what that prick is doing bringing my girl flowers and kissing her on the cheek. But if I’ve learned anything in my life, it is not to overreact. The less you act like something bothers you, the more it bothers them. Things with Bailey have been so good. Besides, she can’t stand the prick anymore.

“Hey, Sweet Cheeks.”

She wraps herself around me as well as she can with roses in her hand.

“Hey, Handsome. I’ve been missing our nights. I need my Man Candy.”

We have spent every night together for the last three months. Mom loves Bailey, and has volunteered to stay with the Jacksons a few nights a week so we can have some time together. Someone has been hired to come twice a week to do the laundry and clean the house for them. Someone else is coming three times a week to help the Jacksons with their baths. They both deteriorated significantly while Mrs. Jackson was in the hospital for so long. She will never be back one hundred percent and will always need assistance now.

Bailey thinks Hendrix is a saint now because she believes he is behind the anonymous payments for the Jacksons’ care. He is full of shit and taking credit for something he didn’t do. Once a prick, always a prick. Lizzie isn’t falling for his shit either. She rolls her eyes every time he comes around. I’m glad at least she can see through him. He just needs to stay the hell away from all of them.

We go inside, and Bailey goes to put the roses in water. I visit with the Jacksons for a little bit. Mrs. Jackson has insisted that I call them Granny and Papa now that Bailey and I are dating. I give Mrs. Jackson a hug. “Granny, how are you feeling today? I saw Bailey had you and Papa out walking at the crack of dawn.”

She laughs at me. “Do you mean Sarg? I think we are in boot camp. She makes me lift these little weights a couple of times a day while I watch TV, too, and cooks turkey bacon. That stuff is nasty. I’m not eating it. You’ll get me the real stuff, won’t you, Cash?”

Bailey is right. Granny is sly.

“I can hear you, ya know.” Bailey walks in and plops down beside me. “You better watch out, or I will make you live with Mom and she won’t let you have ANYTHING fried.”

Granny rolls her eyes, which makes us all laugh.

“Granny, what can I get for you? There must be something to make you more comfortable,” Hendrix asks.

He doesn’t like to be left out of the conversation very long.

“Henry, I’m not your Granny. I’m being very well taken care of already. If there is anything I need, my family provides for me. I don’t like to take help from others, but thank you for your generosity. That is very nice of you to offer.”

Hendrix’s cheeks turn a nice shade of crimson, and I love it.

“Bailey, I know you and Cash have some plans, and I’m feeling a little tired. Would you mind helping me to bed? Henry, thank you for stopping by. Please do visit us again.”

She is a lady, but she just told him to get the hell out of her house

“Sure, Granny. Cash will show Hendrix out while I help you to bed so you can rest.”

Bailey goes to help Granny up. Hendrix walks over to give Granny a hug, but she turns away before he gets there. She really doesn’t like him, and I think that is funny as shit. I love it.

“I guess we will be seeing you around, Henry,” I say. He hates for anyone to call him anything but Hendrix but he can’t say anything.

He snarls.

I just smile at him.

Papa grabs his cane because he doesn’t like to be too far away from Granny since her heart attack. Hendrix goes over to him to help him, but pulls Papa a little too forcefully and Papa loses his balance. I try my best to catch him, but Hendrix, who is standing right beside him, just lets him fall.

“What the hell, man?” I shout as I help Papa up.

“What happened?” Bailey comes running into the room with Granny following behind.

As I steady Papa, I realize he can’t put any weight on his foot, and he is clearly in pain. I put his arm around my neck and help him to the recliner as I hear Hendrix flat out lying to Bailey.

“I was helping him up and he fell. I tried to catch him, Bailey, but he slipped through my hands.”

“Thank you, Hendrix. I appreciate you trying to help him.”

I do not believe this. This prick needs to learn a lesson, and I would love to be the one to teach him.

“Let me know if there is anything I can do to help you guys, Bailey. I still love you and I would do anything for you and your family.”

Okay! I’ve. Had. It. Hendrix isn’t going to profess his love for her where I can hear and get away with it.

“Don’t worry about him, Cash.” Granny says. “He isn’t worth it, and Bailey knows when someone really loves you they don’t have to say it because they show it.”

This little lady has class, and her advice is some of the best I’ve ever received. I could have knocked Hendrix into the middle of next week, but what would that prove? Nothing. Granny is right. Words are cheap when compared to actions. Actions speak so much louder.

Bailey comes back from the kitchen with a bag of ice for Papa’s leg.

“Mom will be over here in a few minutes, Bailey. Are you almost ready?” I ask, letting the prick know it’s time for him to leave. I walk to the door and open it, “We’ll see you later, Henry.” I give Hendrix an “I’ll fuck you up” look. He looks at Bailey for help.

“Bye, Hendrix. See you later.” She arranges the ice pack on Papa’s ankle.

Hendrix struts over to the door.

I whisper in his ear as he’s about to step outside, “I saw what you did and if you try that shit again, I’ll fucking end you.”

He smirks.

I want to punch him, but I remember what Granny said to me.

“I will get her back, redneck, and when I do those two old bastards in there will be in a state run institution.” He walks off the porch and doesn’t look back.