Chapter 62 Derrick
DERRICK
Today was a rough day for Stacey, having to go to the funeral home and make arrangements.
Little Lockie had a hard time last night not quite understanding what was going on, so Stacey and Oscar decided to stay at her sister’s place last night with the kids.
Sienna and I looked after little Lockie, and we made him walk us around the garden where we picked flowers and veggies.
We collected the eggs and then chased the chickens around the backyard, which he thought was hilarious, his little giggles filling the stifling summer air.
We are now sitting on the deck of Stacey’s sister’s home having beers, and the kids are all in bed.
“I think the kids are pleased to get some items back,” I say, breaking the silence between us all. Oscar explained how the lawyer handed over personal items from the crash to Stacey, and how it overwhelmed her getting the items back.
“It’s not much, but it is something.” Stacey plays with the label on her beer bottle.
“Lockie has been really well-behaved,” Sienna informs Stacey, who nods. Sienna and I look over at Oscar, who looks as lost as we do.
“I’m gonna have to talk to Dad’s mortgage broker in the morning. Find out how much is owing on the farm and the homes,” Stacey states more to herself. “And Hunter thinks he’s going to be able to pay for it all. The mortgage, the kids’ schooling, the bills on some farmer’s wage.”
Oscar explained to Sienna and me while Stacey was getting Lockie ready for bed, how Hunter had told her that he was an adult now and that her life was in LA, not here, and that he would provide for his brother and sisters. He said that his words hurt her, but she didn’t say anything.
“He probably thinks it’s the right thing to do,” Oscar tells her.
“And you think that I wouldn’t do the right thing?” Stacey argues back.
“Of course, you would do the right thing.”
“You won’t be a part of it.”
Oscar looks over at Sienna and me. We shrug because we’re not sure what she means.
“Excuse me … what did you say?”
“I bet you can’t wait to get on the first flight back to LA, to civilization, your cozy life, and your precious fucking club.” Stacey abruptly stands up, her chair screeching loudly across the deck as she starts heading into the darkness.
What the hell just happened?
Oscar’s face falls. “Stacey,” he calls after her as he gets up and rushes after her.
“What’s going on? Did something happen today that we don’t know about?” Sienna asks me.
“I don’t know.” I get up.
“Derrick, no.” Sienna grabs me.
“She’s walked off into the darkness, Si, in the fucking bush.”
Sienna gets up and walks with me as we follow the footsteps.
“I heard you on the phone to your mum this morning,” Stacey screams at Oscar. What the hell did she hear?
“It’s not what you think,” Oscar tells her.
Oscar, what the hell did you say?
“What, that you could never see yourself in a shitbox like this?”
My heart stops. Sienna and I look at each other.
“I never said that,” Oscar argues back at her.
“It’s what you meant.” She continues to stomp through the darkness. “Leave me alone.”
“Stacey. Come back. It’s dark out there. You’ll get lost,” Oscar calls out, sounding distraught. We make ourselves known, and Oscar looks frantically at us.
“Got my phone. I’ll be all right.”
“Wait for me then.” Oscar pulls out his phone and flicks on his flashlight. “Don’t bother. I’d rather be alone,” Stacey yells at him.
Shit.
This isn’t good. Oscar stills, and you can see how lost he is. I reach out and place my hand on his shoulder.
“She’s been through a lot these past couple of days, and she doesn’t mean it. She might need to be alone.” Oscar’s shoulders sag in defeat.
“She’s had a really hard day today, and from what the girls told me about what happened in the lawyer’s office with the will. Give her time. I’m sure she’s got a lot going on in her head, and she’s lashing out at the ones she loves,” Sienna adds.
Oscar nods and follows us back to the deck. I go back inside and grab another beer for him, he gladly takes it.
“I never said I didn’t want to be here,” Oscar tells us.
“We know. You love her,” Sienna says, giving him a sad smile.
“I love her with all my heart. I hate that she is hurting this much, and I can’t help her.”
“Being her rock is what she needs, and sometimes that might mean being her punching bag,” I tell him.
“She can scream and yell at me all she wants, I’m not going anywhere.”
“Look, I don’t think she means to push you away right now. She might be worried that she’s signing you onto something you weren’t wanting to sign up for,” Sienna explains.
“What do you mean?” Oscar asks.
“She’s this family’s guardian. Hunter always assumes she is going back to LA to be with you. Your life is in LA. You don’t really fit out here, now do you?”
“What does that mean?” he asks, sounding hurt.
“You’re a rockstar, not a sheep farmer,” I tell him.
“I don’t want to be a sheep farmer,” he says, looking between us.
“Exactly,” Sienna says.
“I’m not following, guys, please just spit it out,” Oscar asks.
“You think Stacey is going to want to pack up the kids’ lives and leave the only home they have ever known?”
Oscar’s eyes widen as he realizes what she means. “Fuck.”
“We all know you love her, Ragnar, but …”
“There’s no fucking buts, Derrick,” he snaps at me. “I love her. That’s it. Nothing more, nothing less. I love her, and whatever she needs from me I will fucking give her. If that means I’m now a sheep farmer in Mudgee then I’m a fucking sheep farmer.”
Wow. Wasn’t expecting that.
“Seems like you might need to tell her that,” Sienna says softly.
“Stacey knows,” Oscar says.
“But has she heard it?” she pushes. Oscar shakes his head. “Sometimes women need to hear it out loud for it to sink in.”
“Fuck,” he says, scrubbing his face.
“You love our girl, we see that, just reassure her,” I gently add.
Oscar nods. “Thanks, guys.” I walk over and give the giant man a hug, and he instantly hugs me back, thought he needed one.
“Everything is going to work out,” I reassure him.
“I sure as hell hope so, D.”
Stacey’s with the kids, and Oscar finds Sienna and me.
“Everything sorted?” I ask, seeing Oscar.
He nods. “Yeah. Everything’s sorted, but I need to talk to you guys about something.” We are all ears. “Amelia wants me to speak to Stacey about the possibility of the kids moving to LA.” I gasp. “She said the kids have been talking, and they don’t want to stay.”
“They’re grieving,” Sienna adds.
“That’s what I said, but then she made some great points,” Oscar states as he explains how the kids have been bullied about their relationship. Then they spoke to him about how hard it’s going to be growing up in the small town with this tragedy hanging over their heads.
My own memories of growing up in a small town hit me. They are right, I still remember everyone talking about Mrs. Sullivan and her husband leaving her for another woman. They all gossiped about her until one day she got up and left, leaving the church and the town, unable to cope with it anymore.
“I get what they are saying, the town is never really going to let them move on, they are constantly going to see it on people’s faces everywhere they walk.
The whispers, the pitied stares …” Oscar turns to me, his brow pulled together.
“I grew up in one of those towns, I get it, is all I’m saying. ”
“And you think LA is better for them?” Oscar asks me.
“No. But they lost their entire family, and one thing we have in LA is family. Your family and the Dirty Texas family. Maybe a change of scenery might help them cope with such an immense loss.”
“What happens if it’s not the right choice?” Oscar asks.
“Then you can always come back,” I tell him. Oscar doesn’t look convinced.
“The kids have asked you to talk to Stacey about it. Maybe it’s something you broach with her and go from there. I’m sure you could talk to psychologists and other mental health professionals to see if this is the right thing to do,” Sienna adds.
Oscar nods. “Thanks, guys, this is all …”
“You’re doing good. No one could ever be prepared for something like this,” I reassure him. He nods and disappears off to find Stacey.
“I’m worried that Stacey might not be on the same level as the kids,” Sienna tells me.
“Me too. It’s a hard one.”