Chapter 11 #4
Mac returned to Maddie’s and found her and Thomas still sleeping.
He checked his watch and decided this would be a good time to take care of something else he’d been putting off.
Taking his keys off the table, he tiptoed out of the apartment.
In the driveway, he rolled the motorcycle to the street before he kick-started it.
Driving along the south coast, he noticed dense fog—an island staple in June—clinging to the horizon as the sun fought to break through.
Mac pulled into the parking lot at the South Point Light and killed the engine.
He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and called his brother Evan, who was on speed dial, along with Grant, Adam and Janey.
“Hey, man,” Evan said.
“Did I wake you up? You sound rough.”
“Nah, late night, but I’m on the way to the studio now. What’s up with you?”
“This and that. How’re you? How’s the recording going?” After years of struggle and toil, a small Nashville label had recently signed Evan.
“It’s the most fun I’ve ever had in my life.”
“That’s awesome. Been a long time coming.”
“You know it. So, Janey emailed me that you’re on the island. What brought that on?”
“Did you hear about Dad selling the marina?”
“No way!”
“Yep. I’m doing some repairs for him and toying with the idea of relocating and maybe keeping the place in the family.”
“Seriously? You won’t go nuts stuck on that island?”
“A few things have changed lately.”
“What could’ve possibly changed to make that place look good to you?”
“I met someone—someone you know, in fact.”
“Who?”
“Maddie Chester.”
“Oh. Really? Wow.”
“I hear you’ve got some history with her.”
“Mac, wait. You don’t understand—”
It took everything Mac had to keep from yelling at his brother. “You’re damned right I don’t understand,” he managed to say calmly, even though he churned inside. This whole thing made him sick.
“It was Darren. He started it and told us to go along with him or else.”
“Or else what?”
“He was like a god in high school. No one wanted to piss him off. When he told us to do stuff, we did it.”
“How could you be part of something like this, Ev? After everything Dad was always hammering into our heads about how to treat women?”
“Believe me, it’s eaten at me over the years. I never felt good about it.”
“What you guys did to her ruined her life. Do you realize that? It ruined her.”
“It was high school. How could it ruin her life?”
“Because she’s never shaken it! The whole island thinks she’s a tramp, and until last night, she’d had sex twice in her life!”
“God,” Evan said softly. “I had no idea. . .”
“You’re going to fix it.”
“What do you mean?”
“Here’s what I want you to do.”
Mac’s next stop was Darren Tuttle’s body shop. The place looked well-kept and, judging by the cars lined up out front, it was busy. At the front desk, Mac asked for Tuttle.
“Who should I tell him is calling?” the dowdy-looking receptionist asked.
“An old friend.”
She got up and went through the door to the work area, returning a few minutes later with Darren, who was greasy, dirty and thirty pounds overweight.
His hairline had receded into unattractive baldness.
The “god” who’d once been able to intimidate a legion of boys into going along with his every plan had clearly fallen a few notches in the twelve years since graduation.
From the quirk in his lips, Mac could tell Darren recognized him.
“What do you want?”
“A word outside.” Without waiting for Darren to reply, Mac turned and went out the door.
“I heard you were back in town,” Darren said as he followed Mac outside.
Mac kept his back to the other man, planning to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Darren snickered. “You and Maddie Mattress, huh? Have you ever seen knockers quite like those?”
Screw the benefit of the doubt. Mac spun around and plowed his fist in Darren’s doughy face.
Knocked to the dirt, Darren flopped like a fish out of water. Blood poured from his nose. “What the hell?” he sputtered. “What’s your problem?”
Mac reached down with one hand and hauled Darren to his feet. Speaking right into his fat, red face, Mac said, “What you did to her—that’s my problem.”
Darren tried to wriggle free. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yes, you do.” Mac tightened his hold. “You know exactly what I’m talking about.”
Darren wiped at the blood on his face and winced when he connected with his bloody nose. “I’ll have you arrested.”
“No, you won’t.” Mac released him abruptly, and Darren stumbled backward. “Do you have any idea what you did to her? What your stupid-ass-she-rejected-me-so-I’ll-make-her-pay crap did to her life?”
“I rejected her.”
“Rewriting history now?” Mac raised an eyebrow. “She didn’t want you, so you trashed her all over town.”
“That’s not what happened.”
“My brother Evan confirmed her account. Right now, he’s contacting everyone else who was involved.” The bead of sweat that appeared on Tuttle’s brow pleased Mac. “You married, Darren?”
“Yeah,” he muttered, sending a nervous glance at the office, where the receptionist watched them anxiously through the window.
“That your wife in there?”
“So what if it is?”
“What version of this story you want her to hear? Mine or yours?”
“Are you threatening me?”
“You bet I am. Here’s what you’re going to do.”