8. Chapter 7
Richard
“Alrighty, boys, are you hungry?” I looked down into three hopeful faces that nodded eagerly. “Let’s find some food for your mama, and you.”
The three of them stayed near us as we walked up the midway, checking out all the food stands.
“Looks like we’ve got the standard hot dogs, corn dogs, and hamburgers.” Jeremy turned towards me. “Oh! Pizza on a stick!”
“I likes pizza!” Grady’s eyes lit up.
“Mm, I like hot dogs.” Harrison added.
Jeremy held his hand out for Grady. “C’mon, let’s go get us one.”
“Tyler?” Andrew held his hand out. “What would you like?”
“Corn dog.”
We split up each with a boy and got in line. Once we had our food, we met back in the middle as we ate.
Tyler dropped his corn dog and all three boys let out a gasp of horror. I turned to see what had happened and saw tears in his eyes. Harrison handed his hot dog to his brother, then patted his back.
“It’s okay, Ty. You need to eat.”
Reaching out, I tapped Harrison’s shoulder and handed him the spare dog I had. “I’m a big brother, too. I know what it’s like to take care of your brothers.”
Grady’s face twisted up, and he shuddered out a breath before loudly whispering. “Are you gonna hit him?”
“No.” I shook my head and crouched down on their level. “Accidents happen.”
All three boys looked around at each other and I saw their shoulders relax.
Andrew’s nostrils flared out. “Do you boys get in trouble a lot?”
Harrison shook his head, and the ketchup and mustard made a trail down his cheek. “Not at grandpa’s.”
“But dad used to get mad all da time.” Tyler nodded and took another bite of his hot dog.
Jeremy crouched down. “You boys are safe at grandpa’s and if you ever need us, we’ll be there.”
“Where’s you live?” Tyler smiled, showing off a missing tooth.
“Behind you, silly.” Jere ruffled his hair before standing. “What should we bring back to your mom and sisters to eat?”
“Jo likes the deep-fried cheese and veggies.” I stood up.
“How’d you know?” Harrison looked at me in awe.
“She’s one of my best friends.” I smiled down at him. “Hey guys? Did your daddy ever get mad at her?”
All three nodded, and Grady crinkled his nose. “Harrison bited him once to save me.”
“And I bited him once to save mommy.” Tyler puffed up his chest.
My heart stopped beating. I’d heard snippets of conversations between Ma and Mrs. Whitman about her husband being as bad as our dad.
Guilt flooded through me.
I should’ve pushed harder, found a way to protect her.
“Tsk-tsk.” Andrew waggled a finger at me. “We can’t change what was. We can only shape what is and will be.”
“Get outta’ my head.” I huffed. “I know that.”
“Let’s get food to Jo and then get one some rides!” Jeremy changed the topic. “We’re here to have fun.”
“That’s right.”
We went over and got drinks, fried foods, and some desserts. Then we took the offerings to Jo.
“You and the girls good?” I smiled down at the little princess and chubby-cheeked infant gripping a French fry in each hand.
“It looks like we’re good.” She smiled at me, and I wanted to lean down and kiss her.
That’s not what she needs right now. Besides, she doesn’t want you.
“Give a call if you need anything. We’re going to play games and ride rides.” I turned away.
“Will do.” Her sweet voice was music to my ears.
The three of us took the three of them into the heart of the fair. With every passing minute, the boys relaxed and eased into being kids without a worry in the world. This was what they needed. All of them.
We took a turn on the bumper cars, then went over to the swings. The boys wound us through the crowd, trying every ride they could.
“We neber gets to do dis.” Grady bounced alongside Jeremy.
“I have a feeling you’ll be doing more things than the fair.” He bounced with the boy, and I laughed at them both.
Our business hit the ground running and since I lived above work, I had very few bills. Over the last few years, I’d amassed quite the nest egg for myself and knowing I was using it to give Jo and the kids part of the life they deserved gave me joy.
I looked up to see her and the girls coming towards us. Briar walked alongside the stroller, holding on.
We met them half-way, and she twirled her dress. “Wide.”
I bowed to her and swept my arm towards all the small kiddie rides. “What would you like to ride?”
Jo’s eye grew as Briar walked over and took my hand, pulling me towards the merry-go-round.
“Hang on, Princess.” I gave her little hand a tug. “Should we take Emma with us?”
Her little head bobbed shaking her tiara all around.
“Jo, wanna hand me the baby?” I held my arm out.
Jeremy reached into the stroller, pulling her out. “I got little bit.”
I reached into my back pocket, pulled out my wallet, and handed each boy a ten. “Drew? Would you help them pick some games?”
“I would love it!” Andrew motioned towards the games. “Come with me boys, we’ll see if we can’t win some great prizes to take home.”
Jo shook her head at me.
“What?”
“You can’t just … throw money around.” She made a weird motion with her arms.
“I earned it.” Lifting my shoulder in a careless shrug, I winked. “I can spend it how I want.”
“Richie?” Tears formed in her beautiful blue eyes. “I …”
“You’re welcome, Jo.” I stepped closer to her and wiped a lone tear that fell away. “You need some money for food, drink, or games?”
She giggled. “I would love another lemon shake-up.”
I handed her my wallet. “Get what you want.”
Briar tugged my hand again and I let her lead us to the merry-go-round. We got in line and when it was our turn; I let her choose her pony.
I lifted her up to sit, and she squealed with delight. “Hold on to the pole, baby.”
She reached out and grabbed on. Jeremy sat Emma on the horse ahead of us, holding on to her.
“So, big brother?” He smirked at me. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were in love with all six of them.”
“And?” I tossed back as the ride started up.
“And if I ever meet that futhermucker it’s game on.” He growled, his dark eyes filled with anger. “Do you know what Grady told me?”
“What?” My eyes narrowed. I already hated her ex on principle. Everything I’m learning about him is making me feel homicidal.
“When we got off the Viking boat, he couldn’t breathe, and it reminded him of when his daddy held him by the neck.” His lips tightened. “Only the Viking boat was fun, not scary.”
“I love her.”
“You’ve always loved her.” My brother’s voice softened, and he laughed as the baby squealed in delight. “Maybe you should woo her.”
Briar leaned against my chest, and I wrapped an arm around her. “I got you, princess.”
Hell. Not even twenty-four hours have passed and I’m head over heels for the love of my life and her kids.
“Harrison told me she hasn’t smiled in a long time.” I shook my head.
“Ma never smiled a whole lot when he was alive.”
The ride slowed and came to a stop. We exited the ride with our girls and then let them play the duck pond game.
“You’re spoiling them.” Jo came up beside me. “I got some pictures of ya’ll on the ride.”
“Briar liked it.”
“What’s not to like? Little miss princess had a handsome man by her side while riding her noble steed.”
I looked over at the Ferris wheel and back at Jo. “You still like the wheel?”
“I haven’t been on one since the last time with you.”
“Would you like to go on it with me?” Nerves rattled my brain.
Please say yes.
“I would love to.” Her face twisted up. “But we’ll need to take the girls.”
Andrew came over and hip-checked her from the stroller. “I got the girls.”
“I got the boys.” Jeremy smiled.
I offered her my hand, unsure if she would take it. Then I felt her fingers tickle my palm. “Let’s go get in line.”
I gave her a playful tug. “They have the big boats instead of the small two person one.”
“I see that.” She giggled. “I still have your wallet.”
“We should grab some cotton candy.” I smiled at her and stopped at a small booth that offered it.
Armed with a large lemonade and a snack, we got in line for the ride. Her laughter filled my ears, and for a moment, my world shifted.
“Been a long time since you laughed, huh?”
“What makes you say that?” She looked up at me.
I shrugged and let myself get lost in her eyes. “The boys told me you haven’t smiled in a long time.”
“Oh. Well. Things were rough and then with mom dying and Emma being born.”
“Just two a’ you?” The carny asked.
I nodded and handed him some tickets. We got into our gondola and sat beside each other. I stretched my legs out onto the seat across from us and put my arm behind Jo.
“What?” She joked. “Are we on a date?”
“Just getting comfy.”
“Your hair isn’t as thick as I remember it.” She ran her fingers through it.
“Yeah, well, it’s been an interesting ten years.”
“It’s been a crazy ten for me, too.”
My voice came out low. “Did he hit you?”
“I … please, Richard.” She shook her head. “Not tonight. Not now.”
“Awe, Jojo.” I pulled her closer to me. “You deserve better.”
“I keep hearing that.” She dropped her head against my bicep.
“You do.” I took her hand in mine. “We’re still friends.”
“How?” She took a deep breath. “How can you be so kind after the way I left?”
I love you.
“Because sometimes there are things that happen that are out of our control.”
She sniffled and reached for the cotton candy. “I talked to your mom. She tried to make me feel better.”
“Hell.” I blew out a hard breath. “She’s a really good person to confide in.” I shrugged and reached into the bag, snagging a chunk of sticky goodness. “She’s a volunteer at a women’s shelter now. Coop and Jere don’t know. I only know because we ran into each other there.”
“Why were you out there?” Her soft voice made my heart hurt.
“I knew from watching ma that sometimes there are other factors stopping a woman from getting out. And I wanted to help.”
“What did you do?” She looked up at me with her teary eyes.
“When we first opened the garage, I took some gift certificates down to them. And I gave them my cell number. So, if a woman needs a car or repair to get away, they can.” I shrugged.
“Oh, Richie.” Tears fell from her eyes.
I leaned over and kissed both cheeks. “You’ll be okay. You got out.”
She tipped her head up and pressed a soft kiss to my lips. “Thank you.”
Holding her hand in mine, we sat quietly for the rest of the ride. Having her beside me felt so good.
“I’m glad you’re home.” I pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
“Me too.”
When our ride ended, we walked back over to Jeremy and Andrew.
“Guys. I can’t thank you enough for tonight.” She gave them each a hug. “Thank you.”
“Anytime you need a sitter, holler.” Andrew kissed her cheek, and the two wandered off for the night.
The boys were winding down, and Emma fell asleep in the stroller. We walked quietly though the fair and out to the parking area. Tyler tripped on his feet and I scooped him up, carrying him the rest of the way to the car.
Everyone loaded up and before we’re clear of the fairgrounds, all the kids are asleep. She’s quiet on the ride home and when I looked over at a red light, I realized she fell asleep too.
The drive home was uneventful and as I pulled into the driveway, her dad came out and waited on the sidewalk. I shut the van off and slipped out without waking anyone up.
“They all out?” He tried to peer inside.
“They are.” I chuckled. “Where does everyone go?”
“Boys are up the stairs, first room on the right. Girls on the left.”
“If you want to hold the door for me, I’ll bring them all in.”
“Good deal.” He patted my shoulder.
Taking my time, I lifted Jo from the front seat. She wrapped her arms around my neck, and I carried her upstairs to her room, then went back for Briar, then Emma. I pushed the seats forward and started with Tyler, carrying him up first, then one by one the others.
When I come back down, he’s in the kitchen.
“I just put everyone in bed, took off shoes and left them.”
“That works, my boy.” He turned away from the sink to face me. “You know she never got over you.”
“Feelings mutual.” I gave him a nod and handed him the keys to the van. “For her.”
“You’re a good man, Richard.”
“Thank you, sir.” I motioned to the side door where I slipped out into the garage and then outside in their backyard.
Memories flood back as I think about the many times I’d come from their house and hopped over the fence to make it home on time. As I made my way closer to the house, I saw Coop’s legs dangling from our treehouse.
I snorted as I hit his foot. “Damn, still couldn’t seal the deal with Libs?”
“Fuck off.”
“What happened?” I pulled out my smokes and lit one up.
“She left with that douchebag.” He sat up and motioned for me to give him one.
“William?” I felt my face twist up in confusion.
“Yeah.”
“Coop?”
“What?”
“You were gone for six years.”
“I know. I don’t need to be reminded.”
“Coop, listen to me.” I took a long drag and blew it out slow. “There was a lot that happened during that first year you were gone. I know she didn’t tell you everything because you would’ve said something to me or Jere.” I took another long drag. “You broke her heart, and the depression she sank into went from bad to worse when Cora almost died.” I kicked the base of the tree. “Shit, I shouldn’t be the one telling you this.” Shaking my head, I put my cigarette out in the can we use for it and walked back over. “She’s grown and changed, and you need to learn who Olivia the woman is.”
Coop hopped down from the treehouse. “How bad was her depression?”
“Bad. It was really bad, little brother.” Shaking my head, I looked up at the moon. “We almost lost her.”
“Why didn’t anybody tell me?” He paced on the ground.
“Coop, it was shortly after you left. And before you go off thinking you caused it, you didn’t. It happened because Cora went off to find their mom.”
“Fuck.” He scrubbed his hands over his face and up through his hair. “That’s what sent Cora spiraling.”
“Yeah.”
I watched my brother walk over to the tree as he slammed his head against it. “Dammit!”
“Hey.” I grabbed his arm, getting his attention. “She’s good now.”
“I missed a lot.” He ran a hand through his hair. “And I think what you’re saying is the girl I knew and the woman now aren’t the same?”
“They’re close, but you need to give her time.”
“She just … left with him.”
Shrugging, I looked at him. “I bet she had her reasons.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Pfft. Libs is a smart girl. If she left with him, there was a reason.”
“Yeah.” He nodded. “How’d your night with Jo go?”
The smile that split my face hurt my cheeks. “Man, I had a blast!”
“That’s what Jere said. He said the little boys are fun when you get them to get past the flinching.”
“Man, if I meet that fucker in person …”
“We can all take turns.”
“Hell yeah.”
Coop dropped down into one of the patio chairs. “Why did you and Jo break up?”
“Hang on.” I ran into the garage and grabbed two beers from the fridge, then went back to Cooper. “Sorry, I can’t have this conversation without … something.” I twisted the top off one and handed it to him. Then twisted the top off mine.
He handed me a lit cigarette as I sat beside him.
“Truth is, I don’t know. She left me a letter in the treehouse. And never said goodbye.”
“That doesn’t sound like her at all.”
“I know.”
“And that’s how she found douchebag.”
“Pretty much.” I dropped my head back. “I figure maybe one day she’ll let me in on whatever made her leave.”
“You still want her?”
“It’s always been her for me.”
“Even with those five?”
Turning my head, I glared at my brother through the dark. “What the fuck, Coop?”
He held up a hand. “Hey. Some guys don’t want to play daddy to another man’s spawn.”
“I’ll give you that.” I relaxed. “Lucky for her, I ain’t one of those guys.”
We sat in the dark nursing our beers until we heard Jeremy come in. Cooper looked my way and cackled. “Let’s go find an old movie and crash in Jeremy’s space.”
Laughing, I clinked my bottle against his and together we went inside.