This Trust of Mine (19 page)

I
opened my mouth to protest, but Mr. James silenced me with a raise of his
finger. "Let me finish, son."

"Sorry."

"That
little girl in there is my entire world, always has been. Just as you say you
would give your life for her, so would I and I wouldn't even hesitate to do so.
Now I'm not sayin' that I completely trust you yet, but you sure have proved to
be more of a man than I could have expected you to be. I know you've had it
rough, just as she has, but I won't sit back and watch my daughter, for all
intents purpose, get her heart broken. Now, I reckon you know what happened to
my daughter and that's why you stayed under my roof last night, am I
correct?"

"Yes,
Sir." I still couldn't bring myself to look directly in his direction. As
much as I didn't want to be intimidated by this man, I was. He had a, don't
fuck with me attitude, and if I ever questioned my future with Kayla, now would
be the time to walk away. Clearly, that was never gonna happen, so I sat back
and listened to everything Mr. James was sayin'.

"How's
your granddad doin'?"

I
wasn't exactly sure what caused the change of subject or even how he had known,
but I welcomed it all the same. "He's hangin' in there, I suppose."

Mr.
James' hand stretched over and grabbed onto mine. He didn't hold it tight, but
gave it a good squeeze, just as I noticed the tears forming behind his eyes.
"He's very proud of you Madison. After everything that happened with your
father, he was so worried that you would end up goin' down the same path. That
stubborn old son of a bitch is a fighter, and I know he will make sure he
sticks around along as god allows."

"Sir,
I'm not tryin' to be rude, but I was under the impression that you and my
grandfather no longer spoke to one another?"

"There
was a long time when we didn't. There was a bit of bad blood between us, but as
you get older and you see the mistakes your children make and how your
grandchildren could possibly follow, you learn to let things go. I've accepted
our pasts for what they are. I made amends with your granddad awhile back.
Never told my wife, but there was no reason to. Her and your grandma are on
good terms now, and that's all that really matters to me." I got the
feeling that he would've continued to open up to me, but just then the screen
door creaked open and Kayla's beautiful glowing face, appeared on the other
side of it.

"What
are you two doin' out here all by yourselves? Does my grandmomma know and if so,
is she waitin' inside with a shot gun?" A small giggle escaped from her
mouth and I instantly relaxed, knowing that today seemed as though it was goin'
to be a better one.

"I
was just havin' a chat with your fella here. I'll let you two spend some time
together. No school for you today, you hear me?" Kayla nodded her head in
understanding and placed a small kiss to her grandfather's cheek.

"Thank
you, Sir." I stood and reached for his hand to shake it, and just like
that, he returned the gesture.

"Anytime,
Madison."

After
I was sure that Mr. James was back inside. I reached my hands out for Kayla's
and pulled her into my chest. I wrapped her safely into me and kissed the top of
her head.

"How
did that go?" She whispered.

"Better
than I could have imagined."

"Good."

She
bent her head back to look into my eyes. She looked amazingly beautiful in the
early mornin' sun, and her eyes were a sparkling grayish blue. I was mesmerized
by her beauty and strength. I had never met anyone like her and hopefully she
would never give me the chance to do so.

"What
would you like to do today, if school is out of the question?"

"Honestly,
I'd like to go see your grandfather, if that's okay with you?"

"Of
course, pretty girl. Anything you want."

****

We
made it over to my grandparent's house in time for lunch and just as I had
suspected, my gran was busy cooking up a storm. When I first walked into the
kitchen, she hadn't realized who I had brought with me until I cleared my
throat. Then she finally looked up and the smile that woman wore on her face
lit up the entire room.

"Kayla.
It's so good to see you dear." I could her the sympathy in her tone and I
just hoped it wouldn't deter Kayla from still wantin' to hang out here for the
day.

"Hi
Lydia. Is there anything I can help you with?"

"Absolutely
not, but you can come over here and give this old woman a hug."

I
watched as Kayla and my grandmother embraced one another, and I couldn't help
but smile. Just seeing the acceptance in my grans eyes, made me happier than I
could ever be.

"I'm
very sorry for your loss."

"Thanks
Lydia, but really, I’m okay."

"I
know ya are dear, but still, no child should have to lose a parent under those
circumstances."

I
shook my head, silently chastising my gran for even bringin' it up. I wasn't
sure how Kayla was goin' to handle all of this, but I doubt that she wanted to
talk about it. I heard my grandfather's footsteps get closer behind where I
stood, and I turned quickly to make sure he didn't need help.

"Don't
ya dare even try boy. God, you act like I'm dyin' or somethin'."

A
small wave of laughter filtered through the room, catching Kayla a little off
guard.

"Oh
darlin', if you can't joke about it, then what's the point?" He winked at
her, before pulling her into a hug. "Thanks for comin' over and makin' a
dyin' man's day. You look even more beautiful than the night we picked ya
up."

I
watched as the blush rose up into Kayla's cheeks. She rarely got embarrassed,
but when she did, her whole face looked like a bright red tomato.

"Thank
you Mr. Raine."

"I
told you to call me Jasper."

Sorry,
Jasper."

"Now
that's more like it. Come, sit, let's eat and y'all can fill me in on what's
been goin' on with the two of you."

Twenty
minutes later, we were all sitting around the dining room table laughing and
having a great conversation, when we all turned as the doorbell rang. I was
pretty sure that we weren't expecting anyone. Cami wasn't due to come into town
until tomorrow and I sent Glenn a text this mornin' letting him know I would
call him later. I wiped my hands on the cloth napkin on my lap, before excusing
myself to go and answer it. When I pulled back the door, the last person I
expected to see was Joey fuckin' Green, standin' on my goddamn doorstep. I
pushed past him, pullin' him along with me out onto the porch.

"What
the hell do you think your doin' showin' up at my house unannounced? Are you
ever goin' to get the fuckin' hint?"

"Look
Madison, I'm not lookin' to cause trouble. I just wanted to check on Kayla and
make sure she was okay after yesterday."

"Of
course she's not, but she has me and her family to help her through all of
this. She doesn't need you sniffin' around."

I
could feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins and I swore if he said one
thing that was even remotely out of line, I would drop him where he stood.

"Jeez
Madison, you really are
that
insecure
about me and your girl bein' friends, aren't you?"

"Not
sure I would call it insecure. Let's just call it, I know the games that you
play and you ain't playin' them on
my
girl."

"Madison
really, back off. I can handle this. We are just friends." I hadn't heard
her come out the door and I quickly turned, makin' sure she wasn't pissed.

"Then
by all means." I waved in Joey's direction before pullin' up a seat on the
porch. If there was somethin' he needed to say to her, then he could say it
with me there.

Kayla

"Madison,
please give us a minute."

"Are
you serious right now?" Madison was fuming and I knew he was gonna blow
any minute now.

I
moved my hand across his chest and then rested it over his heart. "You
have nothin' to worry about cowboy. Just give me a few minutes to get some
stuff straight with him, please?"

I
looked up at him, turning on my signature pouty face, knowing he caved every
time. "Fine, but only a few minutes. I’ll be inside." What started
out as a small peck on the lips turned full on rated PG-13 kiss, that I'm
almost certain he had planned out. When he finally broke contact, I just smiled
and pushed him in the direction of the door.

"Okay,
okay I'm goin'. Don't touch my girl Joey."

"Inside
Madison, now!"

I
swear he was like a dog marking his territory. I turned towards Joey and
motioned for him to sit next to me on the steps. When he settled in next to me,
I turned wanting to know why he felt the need to come over to Madison's house
to speak to me.

"What
are you doin' here Jo?" I crossed my arms over my chest as a cool breeze
blew across my skin.

"I
just needed to know you were okay. Yesterday was pretty-"

"Intense."

"Yeah,
intense. Look first off, I'm sorry for what I said. I was outta line and I
never should've put you in that position."

"You're
right you shouldn't have. I thought you knew we were just friends Joey. This
entire time, you knew how I felt about Madison. You knew what he meant to me. I
thought you respected that?"

"I
do KJ, I do, but...KJ I couldn't have dreamt up a better girl. From the minute
you bumped into me outside the grocery store, I wanted you. I knew that I could
only be your friend, but I guess I thought in time, Madison would screw up like
he usually does and then you would see me as more. Obviously, I underestimated
the effect he has on you."

I
placed my hand on Joey's hand that was sittin' on his knee. "I like you
Joey, but as a friend. I know it's shitty to hear that, but it's always been
Madison. I'm sorry if I ever led you on or made you think otherwise. I swear
that was never my intention."

"I
know. A guy can hope, right?"

"Yeah,
I guess so. Look it was one hell of a day yesterday and I'm still tryin' to
sort it all out, but I still want to be your friend."

He
turned his body towards me and pulled me into a deep hug. "Of course, if
friends is all I can be with you, then I'll take it."

"Good.
I'm so glad to hear that. Now, why aren't you at school?"

He
pulled back out of our embrace and stood wiping the dirt from his jeans.
"I just wanted to clear some things up with you and make sure you were
okay. Call me if you need anything at all KJ. I'll always be here."

"Thanks
Joey. I'll see ya after this weekend."

"Sounds
good." He gave a small wave as he made his way over to his truck at the
end of the driveway.

I
stood there watching him walk away and feeling like the biggest asshole for
havin' to actually put him in his place. Joey had been nothin' but nice to me
and here I was all but breakin' his heart. But, I knew Joey well enough to know
that he wouldn't have a hard time gettin' over me. There was a line a mile long
of girls at school who were dyin' to be with him.

I
made my way back inside and just as I passed through the foyer, I squealed as
Madison's arms wrapped tightly around my waist, swinging me around in circles.
"Put me down, Madison."

"As
you wish pretty girl." He gently threw me over onto the small sofa in the
living room before settling in over me. "You drive me crazy, you know that
right?"

"I'm
beginning to see that." I giggled.

My
hands slid into the back of his hair, knocking off his hat as I pressed my
eager lips against his. I knew his grandparents were still in the other room,
so the kiss didn’t last as long as I would of liked it to, but the look in my
eyes should have conveyed that we would continue this later.

"To
be continued?" He whispered just below my earlobe, sending goose bumps
across my skin.

"Exactly."
I whispered back.

He
pulled me up off of the couch with him and led me back into the dining room
where his grandparents still sat chatting away.

"We're
gonna take off for the day, is that okay with y'all?"

"Of
course dear. Just be back in time for dinner."

"Will
do Gran. See ya a little bit later Grandpa."

They
both waved us off as we went running out the back door and straight up that
hill to our spot. I took off faster than Madison, as I playfully teased him
about how there was no way he was gonna catch me. Apparently, I hadn't taken
into consideration that he practically ran laps everyday of his life for
baseball, because he was on my heels within seconds. Just as I felt his hand
graze my backside, I faked to the right, but took off running in the left
direction. It threw him off just enough that I made it safely to the side of
the shed before he did.