Chapter 4 #3
“I can help spread the word through my postal route,” Kris offered. “Everyone talks to their mailman.”
“And I can work on getting donations for a silent auction,” Mrs. Chen said. “Local businesses usually love to support youth programs.”
“Perfect,” Grace said, clearly pleased. “We’ll plan something special. Dinner, dancing, maybe a few words about the program. Make it a night to remember. Then let’s talk logistics. We’ll need to meet regularly as a committee.”
“Sundays?” Pastor David suggested with a teasing glance at Reese. “After church? We could meet at my office.”
“Perfect,” Walter said.
“How do we start?” Reese asked. “I mean, what if the kids don’t want to get involved?”
Pastor David nodded, tenting his hands under his chin. “What if we had a little holiday gathering? Pizza and ice cream? A fun ice breaker type of game?”
“Somewhere neutral,” Mrs. Chen said. “Not school. Or even church. We don’t want them to feel like we’re forcing them into anything.”
“We could do it here,” Grace said.
“What about at my gym?” Roan asked. “Lots of room to move around.”
“I love it,” Grace said.
“Does anyone have ideas for ice breakers?” Pastor David asked.
“Freeze dance?” Walter asked.
Reese shook her head. “Too awkward. Teenagers don’t want to dance in front of each other.”
“Good point,” Mrs. Chen said. “They’re so embarrassed of their bodies.”
“Plus, Julia’s pregnant,” Reese said.
“What about some kind of game while they’re having pizza?” Mrs. Chen said. “Like ‘Never Have I Ever’ or ‘Would You Rather?’”
“‘Would You Rather’ is good,” Reese said. “We can keep it light. But they can get to know each other through the game.”
“I suggest just Reese and Roan attend the party,” Grace said. “The rest of us might put the kids on the defensive.”
“I agree,” Pastor David said. “Mrs. Chen and I are too associated with school and church.”
“And Grace and I are old as dirt,” Walter said.
A rising panic worked its way up from her stomach. She would be working with Roan alone. How had she gotten herself into this?
They talked for a few more minutes about the party. Roan offered to buy the pizza. Walter said he’d drop some soda by the gym. Mrs. Chen and Pastor David offered to collaborate on the game so that Reese and Roan would have something to work with.
When the meeting finally wound down and people started gathering their things, Grace caught Reese’s arm.
“Thank you for agreeing to be part of this,” Grace said. “I hope it isn’t hard or awkward for you to work with Roan.”
She made sure her tone was light as she said, “We were kids when he left. Now he’s just someone I used to know. Not a big deal.”
“Oh good,” Grace said. “I was worried it might feel like too much.”
“No way. This is a great idea. Put your worries aside.” Reese held her breath, hoping God wouldn’t strike her for such a blatant lie.
Outside, Reese pulled her coat tight against the December cold. Snow was starting to fall, tiny flakes catching in the glow of the porch light. She was halfway to her car when she heard footsteps behind her.
“Reese. Wait.”
She turned. Roan stood at the bottom of the steps, hands in the pockets of his jacket.
“What is it?”
He walked across the yard, stopping a few feet from her. Close enough that she could see the green of his eyes in the dim light, far enough that it was still safe.
“I just wanted to say that it’s nice to see you.” He dragged a hand through his hair. “And I’m sorry for how I left.”
She stared at him, anger catching in her throat. “Whatever. It was forever ago. We were just kids.” She waited once more for the strike of lightning. Fortunately, it didn’t come.
He nodded, looking down at the ground. “Yeah, I guess so. But still, it was a terrible thing to leave without saying goodbye.”
“On prom night.”
“Right. Even worse.”
She shivered and pulled a knit cap from her bag, tugging it over her hair. “If you think breaking the heart of the girl who would have given up every dream just to have you by her side sounds terrible to you, then try a thousand times worse than terrible. You broke my heart.”
“I’m sorry for the pain I caused you.” He stepped closer. “Losing my mom—I couldn’t handle it. Going with you to New York would have just dragged you down with me. Your father was right, you know.”
She drew in a sharp breath. “My father? What does he have to do with any of it?”
For a second, he looked surprised, then resigned. “Never mind.”
“No, you owe me the truth. What do you mean?” A snowflake landed in her eyelashes. She brushed it aside.
He shifted weight from one foot to the other, not meeting her gaze. “Your dad told me to leave town. To let you go, instead of running after you to New York. He was very clear that I would ruin your chances for a professional dance career.”
“He said that?”
“Yeah. He told me to go with Jason. And to stay away.”
“And you did it?”
“He was right,” Roan said flatly. “You and I both know it.”
She shook her head, swallowing back the tears that wanted to spring to her eyes. “What I know is that you wrecked me. For years. I couldn’t trust anyone. Wouldn’t let anyone in. It’s no surprise that I’m not married. I couldn’t risk feeling that way ever again.”
The look of devastation on his face nearly broke her. But she clung to the anger that had fueled her back then. The only thing that kept her moving. Kept her in toe shoes. Rage.
“He told me he’d call in Walter’s loan on the farm,” Roan said. “If I didn’t go.”
Her mouth dropped open and she stumbled backward. “That can’t possibly be true.”
“You can choose to believe whatever you want.” Roan lifted both shoulders. “But I’m telling you what happened.”
“I have to go,” Reese said. “The snow’s starting to stick.”
“Sure, yeah. Good idea.” He shoved both hands back into his jacket and started walking toward the SUV she hadn’t recognized.
She turned and got into her car, numb, her mind reeling. What had her father done? Was Roan telling her the truth?
Threatening Walter’s farm? It was evil. Had he really wanted Roan out of her life that badly? And what did it mean that Roan accepted it so easily? Just off he went. Leaving her in a thousand pieces.
She hated him. She might just hate her father too. Even if he was dead.
She cried all the way home.