Chapter 7
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Kayla
After an hour, I’ve sent two of the bartenders on break. Jack’s grandmother, Nana, grabbed Hobbs ten minutes ago and sent Devlin home. He’s been here for over twelve hours. The man should have left hours ago. The party is finally winding down. Two bartenders are more than enough.
“Can I get you another drink?” I wipe down the bar in front of the man tucked away in the corner.
Whoever this man is, he doesn’t talk much. He’s sat in this dark corner since I’ve been here. No clue exactly how long he’s been here. He sits bent over with his head down. His dark blue hoodie hides his face enough so that I can’t get a good look at him. He hasn’t spoken a word to me. He only shakes his head. The only person he talks to is Chez when he needs a drink.
“Nah. Thanks, though.” He stands and pulls out his wallet. “There were four of you.” He tosses four twenties on the bar and walks away.
I scoop up the trash and pour out his almost full beer before tossing it in the trash. I knew he didn’t need a drink. It’s best to always check, though.
“Chez, who was the man in the corner? Does he have a tab?” I glance up at the light where he was sitting. It’s the only light around the bar that’s out. Something about this feels off.
“No. Jack took care of his tab when he showed up two hours ago.”
Wow. He was here for a long time. “Do you know who he was?”
“Nope. Just a friend of Jack’s.”
“Okay.” This is strange, but not my problem. “He left each of us a twenty-dollar tip.”
“Oh, that’s sweet.” He takes one of the bills. “You’ll find Hobbs in the kitchen with Nana. Just give her Devlin’s. She’ll get it to him.”
I swear. Half the men around here think women are stupid. I already know where Hobbs went. And of course, Nana will get Dev his tip. Chez is new, though. He doesn’t know I work here regularly. He transferred from the Texas chapter two days ago.
“Thanks, man.” No point in explaining things to him. He’ll find out soon enough.
No sooner than I turn to face the kitchen door, a crash and loud cry come from the other side. Chez and I hurry through the door with Granddad, Pops, and Lily on our heels. The scene has all of us frozen for a moment.
“Why, Mom?” Harley, Jack’s older sister, shouts.
Jack’s mom, Nanny, holds her hands in front of her, trying to calm her daughter down. “You know, we do this every year.”
“But why?” Harley whines. “It’s horrible. It doesn’t help.”
“It helps in a way. When we lost your sister, we vowed to do this every year.” Nanny takes a deep breath and fights back tears.
Harley has been lashing out for years. No one seems to be able to get through to her.
“Well, we shouldn’t. It needs to stop.”
Nanny slowly shakes her head. “We won’t stop, not ever. It’s sad and painful, but it helps us remember Ariel.”
Harley laughs with tears running down her cheeks. It’s heartbreaking and painful. “Remember Ariel? That’s all we do. It’s not like we can forget.”
“The pastor and his wife are hosting the vigil this year. I know you’re against it, but you can spare thirty minutes of your time to be there with us.” Nanny sniffles.
“Harley, yelling at your mother isn’t right,” Nana says. “The vigil lets the town come together on a horrible day.”
“Who can I yell at then?” Harley snaps. Nothing’s right. Nothing will ever be right. We don’t need a candlelight vigil in January. We don’t need memorial dinners and fundraisers in the summer and fall.”
“That’s enough, young lady.” Granddad has been begging Mack to do something about Harley’s attitude. Nothing they try helps.
“No!” Harley cries. “It’s not enough. It’s been fourteen years. This town doesn’t care about us or Ariel. Half of them hate us. We don’t all need all that to remember her. I can sit right here and remember Ariel just fine without the extra mess.”
The youngest daughter, Maci, bursts through the door and plants herself between her mother and older sister. “You need to stop.” She jabs her finger at Harley. “You can be mad all you want, but don’t you dare disrespect my mother and grandmother again. You need to lower your voice before somebody pops you in the mouth.”
“Who?” Harley laughs painfully again. “You?”
“Don’t think I won’t,” Maci snaps.
Harley goes quiet for a moment. She wobbles and steps toward Maci. I should have known she was drunk. She does this at nearly every club party. I can’t watch this quietly anymore.
I move to Maci’s side. “Harley, you need to calm down. You’ve had too much to drink. Go sleep it off and talk with your mother tomorrow.”
Harley’s head jerks back as though she had been slapped. She mean mugs me. Her face turns red and her hands ball into fists.
“And who are you to tell me anybody what they need to do?” Harley’s ready to fight.
“I’m a friend of your sister and this family.” I’m a couple of years older than Maci, but we’ve always been friends.
Harley’s laugh is hateful this time. “You’re the idiot who’s blaming a man who did nothing to you for the faults of another.”
Shocked gasps go around the room. Wow. That didn’t hurt at all. How did she know? I’ve kept most of my personal life quiet. Harley McLeod has become someone I don't recognize anymore. This new version is cruel and hateful. I don’t want to know this Harley.
“I get that you’re hurt, upset, and angry, but you don’t get to hurt other people.” Nanny swipes at her eyes. This is so hard for her.
“You get nothing. You’re too busy remembering Ariel. It’s Ariel this and Ariel that. You’ll always love her more than the rest of us!” Anyone near the bar can hear Harley’s screams in the other room.
Nanny gasps. She places a hand over her heart and squeezes. Maci and Lily rush to her side and wrap her in their arms. Nana cries out. Granddad rushes to her and does the same. Chez and Dobbs don’t know what to do. I’m too stunned to move. Harley cut us all deeply tonight.
The kitchen door bursts open with force and slams against the wall. It wouldn’t be surprising if it cracked. Mac storms into the room. Worley Bird, Jack, and Coty follow.
Mac wraps his hand around Harley’s upper arm. He shakes, trying to control his temper. “You’ve said and done enough. This ends now. You will never disrespect your mother and grandmother like this again. Our family will grieve forever. You can’t lose a child and heal from it. This family has lost three. You may not understand our pain, and pray you never truly know it, but you’re not going to lash out at us anymore.”
“You think I don’t know pain.” Harley tries to jerk her arm away.
“I know you’re hurting, but it doesn’t give you the right to hurt the rest of us.” Mac doesn’t let her go.
“So, you’re all against me.” Harley jerks harder.
“No one is against you, Harley. We love you and want to help you. Let us,” Mac pleads with her.
“I don’t need help!” she screams.
Mac takes a deep breath and glances over his shoulder. “Nick, is everything arranged?”
“Yes, Prez. It is.” Nick slipped into the kitchen without half of us noticing.
“Eve.” Mac waits for Maci to walk her mother to him. “I love you. I’ll be back as soon as I can.” He gently kisses her and reaches up to wipe her tears away with his thumb. “Don’t cry, love. It’ll work out.”
“What’s happening?” Harley fights to get free from her father.
“You need help. The drinking and erratic behavior have gotten way out of control. You’re destroying yourself. We’re not letting that happen. We’re getting you some help.” Mac moves Harley toward the side door without looking back. “Worley, Jack, Rodeo, let’s go.”
Harley leans over and locks eyes with Nick. “You did this? You found this place he’s taking me to?”
“I did,” Nick admits.
“I hate you! I thought you were my friend,” she screams.
Mac ushers Harley out the door before she says more hateful things.
“I am. It’s why I did it,” Nick whispers.
Jack gives Lily a long kiss goodbye. “I’ll call you as soon as I can. Kayla will stay with you.”
He raises an eyebrow at me. I nod. I’ll gladly stay with Lily until he returns. No one has said where they’re taking Harley. From the sound of it, it’s not a local rehab center. No matter what, I won’t leave Lily alone.
Coty pauses when he reaches my side. “Stay close to Lily and Jack’s family.” I nod to him, too. “And we’re talking when I get back. I’ll text you from the road, Sparky,” he whispers the last part next to my ear.
Why? Why did he call me that? Why do I care?