Chapter 12
Clem
Oren has been up, had breakfast and is now with Whitney. The kid spends more time with her than here with me, and now Myles.
I take the mug of coffee I’m drinking and sit in front of the fire watching the false flames glowing. Myles is already sitting with a drink and looks more relaxed than I’ve seen him in a long time.
Myles speaks calmly, “I’m more than happy that Greta is out of Oren’s life.
She threatened to take him, and I lost it.
That’s why I kidnapped her and tied her up.
You know I would have ended her, Clem. Buried her deep somewhere, and if I’d got caught, I could have lived with being incarcerated as long as Oren had a good life with you. ”
“I guessed something like that might happen before we spoke on the phone, but thankfully, we don’t have to worry about her now. She’s signed away her parental rights. You have proof she took a huge chunk of cash for that, which wouldn’t go down well if it went to court. How did you let her go?”
Myles chuckles. “Well, it seems she has a bit of a habit, you know the kind, brother. She was twitching in no time at all, and when this guy started looking for her, she got mighty worried. Seems her pimp needed to be paid for her latest purchase.”
“Fuck!”
“Yeah, but it worked out well because she needed cash to pay him and get him off her back. She took the money, and then I cut her loose. I’ve seen no one run so fast. That money isn’t going to last long, Clem. But she best not come back for more.”
I take a drink of my coffee, mulling over what Myles has said. I’d help him bury the bitch if she comes back.
“Hey, what’s your impression of Whitney?”
“She’s great, Clem. You know the relationship she has with Oren is amazing. He needed a female in his life, and she fit that bill perfectly. I really do like her, and I’ve only known her a short while, but even in a few hours you can see she’s a great person.”
“Oren latched onto her so fast it was unreal. I liked her right from the get-go. I reckon I need to tie her down and fast. She’s newly divorced, so she may be slow at wanting to commit, but I can’t wait long or some fucker will come and grab her from under my nose.”
Myles chuckles. “I can see that happening. She’s not meant to be a woman alone. She has a warm, yet alluring thing going on. You know, where you want to snatch her up, wrap her up, and never let her out of your sight.”
“Hey, you keep your eyes off my woman,” I chuckle, but I’m being damn serious. I’ve never had a fallout with Myles, but I would over Whitney.
Laughing again, Myles continues to rib me for a few minutes before reassuring that he’s joking and can see she’s the one I want. “I’ll support you however you need it, Clem. But, you know…hm, we could use Oren to help tip her your way.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, if she loves Oren, how would she feel about having her own Oren?” Myles grins. “I’m sure Oren would like a cousin.”
I look at Myles, rub my chin, and then slowly a devious smile crosses my face. “Yeah, we need to plant that seed in Oren’s mind, and he’ll do most of the rest.”
“Changing the subject, Clem. How did we end up with all these Christmas decorations? We’ve got a damn scene going on in the front yard! I know we went to Hobby Lobby, but I wasn’t sure why we were buying so much.” Myles takes another sip of his drink.
“Well, it turned out that Oren needed us to decorate since Whitney was decorating. But why we had to have so much, I’m not sure. I got a few things, and then Oren and Whitney gave me a look that said I was being a miser, so I knew at that point I had to buy more.”
“We went a bit overboard don’t you think?” Myles chuckles.
I smirk. “Not when you see the delight on Oren’s face.
He loved it when he saw it finished. He keeps singing Christmas stuff and dancing around.
It’s worth it just to see that. If you’d seen how upset he was after that little shit Bryan spouted about his mother hating him, you’d be happy to see the smiles on his face now. ”
“He seems so happy following Whitney around like a puppy dog. I don’t think I’ve seen him smile so much in a long time.”
“Well, brother, we have a carol singing thing to attend, or so Oren tells me. It’s your fault for having a kid who wants to do everything he encounters.
Oh, then, of course, we have his holiday concert at school.
Both things he’s already enrolled Whitney to do as well.
” I chuckle because she’s getting roped into everything, yet she doesn’t seem to care and throws herself into everything with enthusiasm.
Even in the snowball fight, she gave as good as she got, all with a huge smile on her face.
“I reckon you should have another date night since you took Oren on your last one,” Myles grins at that, and I roll my eyes because yeah, who takes a nephew on a first date? Yeah, that would be me.
“Think you're right, I’ll go tell her now. I’m not asking either. But you need to make sure Oren stays home this time.” We both laugh at that because we know he’s not going to take it lightly.
Taking Whitney’s coat and hanging it on the back of her chair, I push her chair in as she sits.
I’ve brought her to a bar where they have great steaks, burgers and other easy to eat foods.
There is country music playing and a cowboy theme running through the place.
They have line dancing going on from Friday through to Sunday evenings.
I’ve even been and watched dancing competitions here in the past. It’s just a fun place to be, and it is rare that any fighting or drama happens.
“This place has a great vibe to it, Clem.”
Nodding as I take a swig of my beer. The only one I’ll be drinking tonight as I’m driving and the weather is not good, so need all my wits about me.
“It has been here for years and always has a huge following of diners. If you speak to anyone they would always say they come back, and they always have good things to say.”
Looking at the menu, Whitney grins, “Bacon, sausage, eggs and biscuits along with the grits seems to be a real cowboy meal.”
“For sure. What do you fancy?” I ask. “I’m having the garlic buttered steak and a side salad.”
“Oh, that sounds good. I’ll have that as well.” Whitney settles in her seat and watches some kids line dancing and having a hoot of a time. “Oren would like it here. We’ll have to come again with Myles and Oren.”
There it is again, that thoughtful side of her. She is always considering everyone else. I’ve no idea why her idiot of an ex-husband didn’t fight for her.
“Excuse me for asking, but did your husband cheat on you, Whitney? Because let me tell you that is something I would never do. I want you to understand that I’m nothing like him.”
Whitney looks at me and studies my expression.
She must come to a conclusion as she gives me a small, shy smile before taking a deep breath.
“Kyle didn’t cheat in the sense that he slept with the woman.
But he did cheat in that he was considering her in far more ways than he was considering me.
If she needed a something fixed, Kyle would go running.
If she wanted a ride somewhere, Kyle would take her.
When he was home, he would look out of the window watching her house. He was mentally having an affair.”
“Okay, I understand, but it’s still cheating, still hurts and still destroys a relationship.”
“Yes.” Whitney nods. “I am actually happier now than I have been in a long time. So, all things considered it is maybe a good thing it is done with.”
“Are you okay with Oren spending so much time with you? If not, I’ll curb him some.”
“No, don’t do that. He is great, and I have to tell you I love him to pieces already. He is such a sweetheart. He hugs me, and it just melts my heart. I couldn’t wish for a better nephew,” Whitney grins. “You know he adopted me.”
Chuckling because I totally agree with her, he adopted her. Before I can say more our meal arrives, and we settle down to eat.
We eat, then dance, dance some more all the while laughing. I cannot remember a time I’ve enjoyed a woman’s company as much as I have Whitney’s tonight.
Dropping Whitney at home, I stop at her front door, not pushing to enter the cottage. I take her face between my hands and slowly lean down to place my lips over hers.
The kiss deepened, even though I had intended to keep it a light one. The urgency of the kiss stole the air from her lungs, and was easily swallowed by me. My tongue traced her lips before again delving further. I taste what is unique to her, and it’s stealing my thoughts.
Once I break the kiss, I smile as her eyes are cloudy, and her lips are pouting. She looks thoroughly kissed, and I can’t help but feel proud of myself for putting that look on her face.
I kiss the tip of her nose. “Night, Whitney. I’ll see you tomorrow.” I gently push Whitney into the cottage and close the door, using my key to make sure it’s locked.
Walking around to my house I have a spring in my step, and a hum under my breath. I feel so good, and I know that was the start of something special.
“Well, you look pleased with yourself,” Myles smirks as I walk into the house.
“I sure feel pleased with myself. Brother, she is definitely the woman for me. I’ve had a great night, and I am not letting her get away from me.
I’m going to nail it down faster than she’ll ever realize.
Now, I need to speak with Oren tomorrow.
” I high-five Myles as I walk past him and head to bed. Yeah, we have to get a plan together.
Twelve hours later, I’m not so rested or relaxed. Mr. Peterson is back in the garage regarding his vehicle. I’ve walked away from the argument before I punch the man. He’s pushing Myles and me, and I can see it’s not going to end well.
“I’ve told you I had to go out of town for family business.
That has nothing to do with you, and you certainly don’t need to know my personal business.
If you can’t wait for your vehicle, take the fucking thing somewhere else.
I’m done. I want it out of here in the next thirty minutes or I’m calling Benson to take it for scrap.
” Myles walks away, leaving Peterson opening and closing his mouth in shock.
I’m sure he didn’t think he’d have to go out of town for work from now on, but that’s exactly what is going to happen.
I walk into the office, covering my mouth with my hand because I would love to do nothing more than laugh loudly at the clown.
He’s a pain in the town’s ass, and now he’s going to go around calling us names I’m sure.
But he’ll find people are loyal to us because we’ve been nothing but loyal to the town.
A young woman walks into the garage and gives Peterson a nasty look. He spouts about being thrown out, and I don’t stop the laugh this time when she tells him he’s an asshole and it serves him right because she knows it would be him that caused trouble and not us.
Myles walks out of the office and speaks with the woman, and I just keep my head down where I’m working on receipts for this month's bills.