18. Chapter 18
Chapter 18
Piper
I ’m ready to call for the sheriff, from the look on Billy’s face. At first, it looks like he’s going to take a round out of him, but then the man lifts his arms, seemingly for a hug, and Billy reluctantly leans in. “Wade.” He says, as if in disbelief.
“Billy, my man. I thought you were dead.”
“I thought you were, too.”
“I figured as much, since you just looked like you’d seen a ghost.” He chuckles.
“I did.” Billy stands at the door, in shock, like he’s numb. His friend looks at me and then at Billy, and he seems to snap out of it. “Oh, shoot, my apologies. Piper, this is Wade. Wade, Piper.”
Wade sticks his hand out for me to shake, but Billy’s still not letting him in the house. “I’m an old friend of Billy’s. He saved my life once or twice when we were in combat.”
“It’s nice to meet you.” If I know Billy well enough, he would have had a much different, much more aggressive welcome, had Wade been a threat, so I take the reins here, hoping that Billy’s just in shock, seeing an old friend that he thought was dead. “Why don’t you come inside? Would you like some tea?”
“Ah, sure. I can’t stay long, though. I’ve got a meeting with a potential business partner in town.” Wade says, as we both make room, so that he can come inside.
“Business?” Billy asks, still very pale.
“Um, yeah. I’m trying to open a tanning shop here. Hoping to sell leather and hides and some ammo and things. A hunter’s haven. In fact, I’m thinking of using that as the name.” He explains. “I came into some money after the military, and I’d like to do something with it, you know?”
“That’s like Billy, too.” I volunteer, but then I bite my tongue, as I’m not sure if it’s my place to divulge, even though it’s as plain as the nose on my face that that’s what Billy is doing.
“I see that.” He looks around. “You’re doing a great job here, man.”
After a moment, Billy responds, albeit reluctantly. “Thanks.”
I can’t figure it out. Why is Billy so shaken by this? As I make the tea, I hope that Billy will relax, and maybe provide some insight as to why he’s so beside himself. I take my time, pulling muffins out of the container on the counter, keeping my distance. And then it happens. “So, Marsha got discharged, huh.” Wade states.
“Marsha? That why she disappeared?” Billy checks, but he still seems rattled, by his tone.
Wade nods and scoffs. “Yeah.”
“How come? She get hurt? I didn’t hear.”
I bring the muffins over to the table, trying not to make it seem so obvious that I’m eavesdropping, while I wait for the kettle to boil.
Then Wade changes the subject. “How’s your belly? You get a big scar, man? Chicks love those.”
Billy seems unimpressed as I pour the water into the pot and bring it over to the table, along with mugs, spoons; the works. The hair on my arms is standing on end for some reason. And I feel like I’m intruding suddenly, since both boys aren’t saying a word, making like they’re busy fussing with their tea.
“I’ll just be outside tending to the Paxton boys.” I say, taking the hint.
...and soon I’ll wish I hadn’t...
Billy
I watch her leave and watch the hair standing up on my arms. It’s like I’m in the middle of one of my nightmares, but this time it’s real life, not fiction. I’m not going to wake up in a cold sweat, thanking God that it was just a dream. No. It’s like my past is here in the flesh. Even though I saved this boy’s life a couple of times, and he saved mine, too, it’s just too hard. I’m seeing a ghost of my past here in the flesh. In the present. The hair on my arms has been on end since the second I opened the goddamn door.
“Why are you here, Wade?” I suddenly blurt, unable to hold it in any longer.
“Well, that’s a fine howdy doo, partner.” He scoffs.
“Don’t hand me that shit, man. A person calls first. They don’t just show up unannounced. Especially when you haven’t seen a person in ages, and said person lives in Copper Cove. You’re no stranger to the likes of this place, man. I told you enough fucking stories.”
Wade guffaws. “What, are you afraid your cronies will see an old army buddy? What’s the big deal?”
“You know damn well that I’m nobody’s favorite in this town. And anyone that comes here for me will stick out like a sore thumb, even more so. So, tell me, how come y’all didn’t call first?”
“Man, you never change, do you.” He shakes his head slowly. “Still can’t leave the past alone.”
“You’re a fucking hypocrite, asshole. Seeing as my past is sitting right here in front of me.”
“You saying I’m not welcome?”
“I got a gut feeling here, man. Tell me I’m wrong.” I seethe.
He smirks. He’s smug. “Marsha was discharged on account of her being pregnant.”
Marsha is one of the girls I had a casual relationship with. We slept together twice and then she disappeared. I put two and two together and realize the reason for his visit. “What does she want.” I ask, sliding my thumb over my bottom lip, wondering why he’s making this call and not her. If she was pregnant, that would mean that the kid’s already here, for a while. This doesn’t add up.
“Well, I’ve been helping to support her and the kid, and I think it’s high time that you did, my friend.”
Suddenly I feel like Wade is no longer my friend. “How come y’all was helping her if it’s my kid, hm?”
“She knew you was wrecked, man. She didn’t want to put you out.”
“Bullshit. I was no more wrecked than you were.”
“Alright. Fair enough. We got a thing going on. Or, we had one.”
I tilt my head, not giving him eye contact. “Let me guess. You broke it off with her and now y’all don’t want the responsibility anymore.”
“You catch on quick.”
“So, how come you’re here and not her, man? If it’s my kid.”
“She doesn’t know I’m here. She has no idea I’ve reached out.”
I sit here, thinking that after last night and the past week, my life has changed so much, for the better. And now, with my past sitting right here, staring me in the face, I feel like now I’m taking two steps back. It figures. The minute I feel like I’m just getting ahead, something always comes down and fucks me up the ass. My jaw muscles are working. My mind is reeling. The smirk on Wade’s face is enough to make me want to slap it off him. And then he says something that makes my fist ball up.
As he gestures with his eyes towards the door, to where Piper is, he says. “She know about Marsha?”