20. Hayes
Chapter twenty
Hayes
Something is wrong. When the women left the shop, it was all smiles and laughter. The women that walked out of the restaurant were not the same people. Lennon had put on a smile for Rosie’s sake, but I could tell it was her fake smile. When she went upstairs with Rosie, I grab my phone and send a text to my sister.
What happened at dinner?
Tess
I don’t know what you are talking about.
Tessa Jane.
Tess
Damn, you full named me?
I sure did. Now, what happened?
Tess
Fine. But I can’t tell you everything. It’s not my business to tell.
Tess
I will say, Shelby shared something with us. And she was nervous to talk to Cash about it. But her reasoning was a roundabout way of saying that he is stressed out because of Lennon.
Tess
And Lennon shut down pretty much after that.
Shit. Lennon doesn’t need this. Shelby should have known that Lennon wouldn’t take something like that well. Why would she insinuate that?
Okay thanks, sis.
Everything okay with you?
Tess
Yes, big brother. I’m getting ready to sit down and work on the next collection.
Ok, let me know if you need anything. Love you, little sister.
Tess
Love you, big brother.
I couldn’t be prouder of my sister. When she came to me with her business idea, I backed her completely. She started off by renting the building that she is in, but she has already been able to buy it. I don’t know how she has any spare time, or when she gets to sleep, but she seems happy and that’s all that matters.
I set my phone down on the coffee table as Lennon walks down the stairs. She has changed into sleep shorts and one of my tee shirts, and heaven help me, but I don’t think she has ever looked better. She has thrown her hair into a messy bun and has washed her makeup off for the night. “Come here, sunshine.” I love that she doesn’t hesitate to climb into my lap and lays her head on my shoulder, closing her eyes. “What’s wrong? ”
She burrows further into my chest, like she can’t get close enough. That’s fine with me, I always want her as close as possible. “I screwed up a lot since I went to college. And then I just made everything worse when I came back. Cash…I’ve stressed him out since I’ve been back.” I reposition us so she can see the sincerity in my eyes. “You did not make everything worse. I know for a fact that Cash missed you and wanted you to come home.” The part hope, part disbelief that I see in her eyes kills me. “Really?” “Yes, sunshine.”
We step outside, she with a glass of wine and me with a beer, and discuss our plans to move. I am shocked that she already talked to Travis about drawing a flyer for our grand opening and he already got it back to her. I really don’t know how I ran my business without her. She hasn’t mentioned what comes next with her, and I am in no rush for her to find something else even though I know she will need more than being a receptionist at an auto body shop.
She shocks me when she asks her next question. Not that I don’t foresee a future with us, just she hasn’t been the one to openly talk about our future. “Where do you see yourself within the next year?” I sit my beer down and pull her chair closer to mine. “The next year?” She nods her head. “I see being in the new building. Travis is going to make a name for himself in restoration. My ring will be on your finger. You will have been officially moved in here, for about a year. And I will be falling asleep and waking up to you. Does that sound good?”
I can tell even in the dark that her cheeks redden. “What about kids? Do you see yourself with more? Do you want more?” Lennon is really hitting me with the hard-hitting questions tonight, but I don’t mind. Surprisingly, the answers come easily. I just hope that my answers don’t scare her away. “Lennon. Sunshine. I want everything with you. A marriage. Kids. After Rosie was born, I couldn’t imagine having any more kids. In fact, I couldn’t imagine being with anyone at all. And I was fine with that, as long as Rosie was happy. And then you moved back. And growing old alone didn’t seem like that great of an idea anymore.”
I’m thinking I took it too far, because she is just staring at me with wide eyes and her lips are parted. “Sunshine?” She shakes herself out of her stupor and takes a large sip of wine. “My parents were best friends, they loved spending every minute together. I always thought that was how it was supposed to be. Then Cash and Shelby got together, and they fit so well together. And I thought that I was going to have that, too. But then, Connor happened. And I thought that I would just be alone forever because there must be something wrong with me. Then you happened, and now I want it all. I want you. I want to be a mother to Rosie. I want more babies with you. Maybe two. And a dog.”
I guess I need to get my girls a dog.
“We are going to have an amazing life, sunshine. I know it’s quick, but I am so in love with you. I’m never letting you go.” A gasp escapes from next to me, and Lennon has tears streaming down her face. “You love me?” How she can’t see just how easy she is to love, blows my mind. “So much. I was going through the motions before you crashed into my life. But you brought the sun. You make everything better, make me want to be a better man.”
She stands from her chair and comes to sit on my lap, bringing her hand to my cheek. “I was literally bruised and broken. I’m still a little broken, so please be patient. I love you, Hayes. I love Rosie. I’m all in.” I’ve got the girl, Lennon is mine. Now I just need to find her ex and run him out of town. Scottie showed his picture around the station, and Lennon told him what type of vehicle he has, so everyone is on the lookout.
We make our way upstairs and spend the rest of the night showing each other how much we love each other. I know without a shadow of a doubt that I will never get sick of being with Lennon. I didn’t know how unfulfilled I was until she came into my life.
We are brought out of sleep when two things happen; we wake up to Rosie screaming from her room, at the same time a phone starts to ring. Anyone knows that if you get a call past midnight, it isn’t going to be a good call. Lennon and I both jump out of bed and race to Rosie. Whoever is on the phone can wait.
We make it into the room and find Rosie sitting up in bed, a death grip on her stuffed dog, with tears streaming down her face. Lennon climbs into the bed and takes my daughter into her arms. “What happened, Rosie?” Lennon brushes away Rosie’s hair from her face and wipes her tears. “I heard a scary voice. He is in my room!” I start looking around the room, checking the windows, but I don’t find anything out of place. My phone starts ringing again and see that it is Scottie. I step out into the hallway to answer, having a feeling like my girls don’t need to hear this conversation.
“Yeah. Everything okay, Scottie?” He wouldn’t be calling this late if he didn’t have a good reason, I’m hoping everyone is ok. “Hey, man, sorry to call this late. But the alarm is going off at the shop. I was driving by on patrol and heard the alarm, so I stopped. It looks like someone tried to get in through the back door, and some windows are broken. I hate to pull you out of bed, but can you come up here?”
Shit. I have a feeling I know who tried to break in. I have never had any problems like this before. “Fuck! We know who did this, Scottie. But yes, I will come up there. Give me a few minutes. Rosie woke up screaming, saying she heard someone. I’m going to walk around outside, see if I can find anything. Is the alarm still going off?”
“Don’t do anything stupid, Hayes. We need to be smart about this. And no. I called Travis when I couldn’t get ahold of you, and he called the alarm company.” I need to give Travis a bigger raise than what I originally offered him, he really has been stepping up lately.
“Okay man, I’ll be up there soon.” We hang up, turn around, and find Lennon standing in front of me with her brows furrowed. “Hayes? What happened?” Shit. Shit. Shit. She is going to blame herself. “The alarm at work went off and Scottie stopped when he was doing patrol. I need to head up there and see what’s going on, but I am going to do a sweep here first. Everything is okay, sunshine.”
She stares at me for a moment before turning around, grabbing a stuffed animal, and picking up Rosie. “C’mon, sweet Rosie. Let’s go sleep in Daddy’s comfy bed.” I follow them out of the room into mine and watch Lennon settle Rosie in the middle of the bed. Once they are both settled in bed, I make sure Lennon has her phone and give them both a kiss before leaving. I don’t miss the worried look coming Lennon, but she is hiding it well for Rosie’s sake. Before going downstairs, I check the whole upstairs, even the attic, and don’t notice anything array. I do the same downstairs and in the basement.
Once I check the perimeter outside, I check my shop here and everything is how it should be. I go back to the garage and get into my truck. I don’t feel right leaving Lennon and Rosie here alone, a part of me feels like that asshole is just lurking in the shadows waiting for me to leave. I take a chance and text Cash before I leave.
Hey, are you up?
The reply is instant.
Cash
What’s wrong?
Someone tried to break into the shop. But at the same time Rosie woke up screaming saying there was a bad man in her room.
I need to go to the shop, but I don’t feel right leaving them. Something doesn’t feel right.
I hate to ask, but can you come and just sit here till I get back?
Cash
Grabbing my keys now, be there in three minutes.
Thanks, man.
Cash
No thanks needed. But if I catch that fucker, no one will find him.
If you are on your way, I’m going to head to the shop. Scottie is waiting for me.
Do you want the garage code? I’ll let Lennon know you are coming in.
Cash
Nah. I’ll sit in my truck till you come back. Do perimeter checks.
I still want to let Lennon know even though he won’t be going into the house. I’m ready for this to be put between us. She won’t be able to fully heal with him still tormenting her. But he will never touch her again, I can guarantee that.
Hey, just wanted to give you a heads up that Cash is coming to sit outside while I’m gone. Just in case you hear something, it’s him. He’s about three minutes away.
Sunshine
Is that necessary? Did you find something outside?
No, everything was fine. I’m just being overly cautious with the two people that own my heart.
Sunshine
Ok. Please be careful, Hayes.
I will, I’ll be home soon. I love you, sunshine.
Sunshine
I love you too, so much, Hayes.
Knowing that Cash is only a few minutes away, I pull out of the garage and head to the shop. My blood is boiling that this fucker has started coming after my business to get to Lennon. I’ll suppress this anger in Lennon’s presence. I never want my emotions to affect her, even though I’m usually calm and composed.
A few minutes later, I pull up at the shop and park next to Scottie’s cruiser. There is another police car stationed at the front of the building. I climb out of my truck and start taking in the damage. I’m shocked when I see my dad pull in and park next to me. He quickly gets out of his truck and jogs over to me.
My dad reaches me, slightly out of breath, and gives me a quick hug. “Son, what the hell is going on? Where are Rosie and Lennon, are they okay?” When I was a teenager, I gave him such a hard time with things that I now understand as a father. He worked…a lot. Wasn’t home a lot, working as an over the road trucker, trying to get more money for my sister and me. Now as an adult, he and I have an unbreakable relationship.
“Hey, Pop. The girls are fine, now. Rosie woke up screaming, something she has never done. She said there was a bad man in her room. Cameras didn’t pick anything up, and I didn’t see anything.” I pause my story when Scottie walks up to us, but he waves his hand, letting me know that he wants to hear the rest of the story. “While Lennon and I were trying to calm her down, my phone was going off about the issue here. I have Cash sitting at my house, something doesn’t seem right about this.”
“Sorry to pull you away from home, man. We have dusted for prints already. It looks like two of the back windows were broken, there is evidence that someone tried to pick the lock. I need you to take a look and tell me if it was already like that. And do a walk through inside, just in case. Once you unlock it, I’ll do a walk through first.”
The three of us walk to the back door where I confirm that the door wasn’t like this. I unlock the door and Scottie goes in first to check everything while I wait outside with my dad. “Son, this was him, wasn’t it? Lennon’s ex.” Sensing my unease, he squeezes my shoulder, waiting for my response. “With what happened here and with whatever happened at the house, my guess is more than likely it’s him. ”
I’m floored when Travis runs around the corner, stopping in front of me. “Boss! I hope it’s okay that I deactivated the alarm. Scottie was here already. I got here as soon as I could. What can I do?” I see my dad give a slight nod of his head, impressed by Travis. Hell, so am I. I continually am surprised by him. “Hey, Travis. You didn’t have to come out. But thank you for handling the alarm, I was dealing with some issues at home.” While we continue to wait for Scottie, I fill him in on what happened at home, and when I finish telling the story again, Scottie is in the doorway.
“Alright, I don’t see anything out of order in here, but take a walk around and see if you can notice anything.” Travis shocks me again when he runs to his truck and takes pieces of wood out from the bed. “I figured we would need to board up some windows for the night.” I’m embarrassed to admit that the thought did not occur to me. He gets to work taking care of the windows while I walk through my business.
An hour later, all the glass is cleaned up, the windows are boarded, and I was able to confirm nothing was out of place inside. Once we are all together, I pull up the camera feed, but whoever did this was thorough. He wore a mask, all black, and gloves. There is no way to tell who did this. And since he wore gloves, I’m sure we won’t be able to get anything from the prints. Scottie lets me know he is going to go to the motel in town and see if he can get a list of names of who is staying there, and then he takes off.
My dad, Travis, and I talk for a few minutes more and then we each get in our trucks and head home. Trying to mellow out before going home to my girls, I drive around town before heading in the direction of my house. I’m pissed that my business was vandalized, but thankfully there wasn’t too much damage. I’ve poured my soul into making it the business it is today, and someone went there with the intent to ruin it. If they had been able to get in, I could have lost everything.
I find Cash sitting on my porch when I pull into the garage. He meets me in the garage, looking like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders.
And I thought I had a lot on my mind.
“You guys find anything out?” Cash asks, straight to the point. “No. Camera caught whoever it was, but they were covered head to toe. There is no way of telling who it was.” We talk for a few more minutes, but we are both ready for bed, so we agree to talk in the morning. Well, when we wake up because it is already technically morning.
I shut down the house and do another check, making sure all the doors and windows are locked. Pine Creek is a safe town; I have never had to be so vigilant about our safety. But when I get to my room and see Rosie and Lennon cuddled in bed, sound asleep, I know I would do anything to keep them safe.