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Abigail
Vic is driving me crazy! He’s always up my ass about something. I’m not doing this right; I can’t do that right. My fucking pills are getting to the point they aren’t working again. I need to go to Bill’s before going to Mac’s today. I’ve been walking for about five minutes or so when Clayton pulls up beside me in the Mazda.
He slows his driving and rolls down his window. “You forgot your coat.”
I look both ways and cross the little street to Clayton, stopping the car, and I lean against his door. “So, I did. I was hot when I left the house.”
“Well, your hair is wet. So, why don’t you get in here and warm-up? I’ll take you to work.”
“No pushing?”
“I won’t even talk.” He zips his mouth shut and throws away the key.
I smile and walk over to the passenger side getting in. “Just so you know, Vic won’t be able to use his equipment for a while. Pretty sure he’s damaged goods.” We take off down the road. “You can talk, you know. I’m not exactly mad at you. I just have some topics I’m not ready to talk about.” Clayton nods his head. “Ugh, that’s it pull over.” He looks at me. “Pull over before you run us into the damn cornfield.” Clayton pulls over, turning to look at me. “Why aren’t you talking to me? I didn’t hit you, hell I didn’t even really argue with you.”
“I told you I wouldn’t say a word if you got in the car.”
“I just don’t want you to push. Can’t we talk without you pushing?”
“What do you want me to say? How’s your day? Me, peachy. I had a great lunch.”
“I don’t know, what about... You’re beautiful today, or maybe we can touch up your hair? Anything but all the shit I’m still working through.”
“First of all, if I had told you that you were pretty today or any day this week, you’d have punched me and told me to drop dead. As for your hair, unless you want to look like a smurf, I don’t think you want me doing it.”
“You fucked me in the shower this morning. Neither of you all tells me I’m pretty. You fuck me, say you love me, and that’s it. I am still a girl, you know?”
“Now, if I say it, it’s going to seem like you made me say it.”
“Okay, so don’t say it now, but don’t not talk to me either.”
“I don’t know what to say. You’ve been teeth on edge for a while, and all I want to do is make it go away. You’ve got the trial coming up. God knows when and I’m-I-I don’t know what to do. You and Vic are on each other day and night. So, I’m continually reffing.”
“He’s always telling me I can’t do this, I can’t do that, or I’m not doing this right, and that isn’t right. I get it. My shoulder is still fucked, so everything I’m trying to do- it- isn’t like it should be. Does he need to keep reminding me? I’m trying to deal with my shit, but it’s not exactly easy to work through with him always on my ass like a parent.”
“I know he’s being difficult, but it’s not because he doesn’t care. We can’t fault him for doing what he always does. He’s like a little kid, red button-push, red button-push, but we knew that getting into this.”
“Trust me, I know, but enough is enough, and someone has to stop him. He won’t listen to me, and his comments about you gotta stop because he’s putting a wedge between us. When I walked out of the house, I thought about sleeping at Fred’s because I don’t even want to see him tonight. Not that I’m really sleeping, but you know what I mean.”
“Well, I should’ve taken a picture; you should have seen the smashed potatoes slide off his face.”
“I wish that helped, but it doesn’t. It’s getting to the point I can’t deal with him and his bossiness. He’s younger than us but tries to act like he’s the oldest in the house.”
“I just ignore him when he starts barking orders.”
“Clayton, he threw me over his shoulder, hurt my shoulder, thanks for asking and then told me to sit or see what happens. Did you see that happening because I sure didn’t?”
“If he hadn’t, I would have. I have noticed you’re not eating. When I wrapped my arms around you this morning, I could touch both my elbows. You’re losing weight. I’ve chalked it up to stress, but I am worried.”
“I’m not hungry. When I do eat, I throw it up. So, what’s the sense in trying?”
“Because you don’t throw it all up. At least there’s something in you.”
“I’ll grab food at Mac’s. Okay?”
“Yeah, okay,” Clayton says, but I can hear in his voice he doesn’t believe me.
“Would you feel better if I told you a burger from Mollie’s sounds good?”
Clayton nods his head. “Why don’t you call it in?”
“Do you want anything?”
“A milkshake?”
“Chocolate?”
He looks at me like duh. I pull my phone from my purse but look at Clayton before I make the call. “Um, can we pick up a jacket for me? I like yours, but it... well brings back memories.”
“Sure? Do you want to burn this?”
“No, I know it wasn’t your jacket I was wearing, it was just the same.”
Clayton throws his jacket in the back seat. “We’ll go over to Moll’s and have a bite. Then we’ll swing by a shop and pick up a couple of jackets. Just tell Fred you’re going to be late.”
“You don’t have to quit wearing it,” I say quietly.
Clayton reaches over, taking my face between his fingers. “Honey, if it bothers you, it’s gone. Plain and simple. Today I’m Oprah.”
“You’re not black.”
“You get a coat, I get a coat, everybody gets a coat!”
I shake my head. “Did you enjoy your show at lunch?” I say, hitting the number for Mollie’s on my phone.
He starts the car and taking off. Lunch went by with Clayton and I chatting with Mollie as well as ourselves. After lunch, we ran up to Burlington’s to get a new coat for Vic and us. Now I’m at Radman’s feeling like shit. Of course, I’m getting ready to leave here to head over to Mac’s to meet up with the band for the dinner rush.
“Hey Fred, I’m out and headed for Mac’s see you tomorrow?”
“You got it, Monkey. Let me know if you need a ride home.” Fred shouts over Allen, who’s banging on one of the cars.
“Clayton said he’d be around after work, so I’m good.”
I grab my coat and bag before walking out the door. I turn to my left once I hit the road. I can see Mac’s just up the way, but it’s still a good five-minute walk. The band and I have been working on a new song, Down That Road. Devon the lead guitarist heard it on The Voice. He said one of the contestants sang it. I’m working through it when I hear a vehicle slow beside me. I look to my left, and it’s the Rig. Clayton rolls down his window.
“Could ya not do that?” I shout.
Clayton kicks open the door. “Shut up and get in.”
“Dick’s in there, so I’d rather not.”
“Do I have to come get you?”
“Where do you want me to sit Clayton? There are two seats, he’s in one, and you’re in the other.”
“Ouch, fuck,” Vic shouts. “Baby girl, I’m sorry, get in Rig.”
I laugh outright and blow the boys a kiss before I start walking again. I cast a glance to my left to see the rig door still open and them slowly following.
“Get in the truck. Don’t make us follow you all the way to Mac’s.” Clayton pouts.
“I’m a big girl. I can do the five-minute walk without a problem.”
“Honey, if you don’t get into the truck, we’re not going to take you on the surprise trip for Spring break.”
I stop turning to look at Clayton. “What trip?”
“The one out to Great Wolf Lodge in Ohio.”
“Need a little more information than that.”
“Oh, it’s just this little thing out in Ohio that I’ve gone to for the last few years.”
“Yeah, and?”
“Well, if you don’t want to go, then keep walking.”
“Is your boyfriend going?”
“We’re all going, including Wayde and Adam, thanks to the rents, now get in the damn truck.”
“You ride bitch.” Clayton slides over to the middle next to Vic, and I climb in the truck, which takes some effort.
“Baby girl, I’m sorry. What do you want for dinner, and I’ll bring it to you?” Vic says, sucking up.
I glance at Clayton. “This your doing?”
Clayton leans back and points to the both of us before latching his hands together, never saying a word.
“Are you going to talk to me?” Vic asks, pulling into Mac’s.
“Not in this lifetime,” I say, then look at Clayton. “I forgot to tell you that I’ve got two appointments tomorrow, but Fred said he’d take me to them while both of you are at school.”
Clayton nods his head, kissing me on the cheek. “I’ll see you tonight.”
“Baby girl, be good, and we’ll see you around eight for dinner,” Vic says as I’m trying to climb out of the truck.
“Later,” I say with a wave, then walk inside.
***
FRED GETS ME BACK TO the house and helps me make lunch. “You gonna tell me what today was about? Clayton said you had two appointments, but I took you to three.”
“I have to go to the OBGYN every couple of months to run more tests just to make sure nothing is showing up from well, you know.”
“Okay, and the other two?”
“My probation officer was easy to deal with. Checked to see how I was doing. Said she thought it’d be a good idea if I started homeschool till the trial was over. Asked how I was doing- that kind of bs, but that’s the easy stuff.”
“The last stop?”
“Was the lawyer and I didn’t want the boys to know till I knew what was going on.”
“And?” Fred waves his hands frustratingly, at having to pull the info out of me.
“You’re really going to make me talk about this?”
“Yes, I want to know what’s going on just as much as everyone else!”
“Killian, Harmand second and third, as well as mom, all have a witness saying they were nowhere around the trailer when everything went down. Because I was drugged, and it happened to me, I’m not enough of a witness. The only thing I have going for me at the moment is my one witness and trying to make the jury believe what I tell them.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“I wish I was; this is apparently going to be a battle. Start to finish. Everyone that was involved is going to be homeschooled per judge’s orders.”
“I’m so sorry, monkey.” Fred pulls me into him, hugging me.
“Thanks, I’m not sure what I’d do without you.”
“You’ve had a lot dumped on you today, so stay home and rest. I’ll let your dad and Felicity know you’re here alone and to keep a check on you.”
“Thanks, I think I’m going to bed.”
With a kiss to my head, Fred’s out the door. I put the dishes in the sink, and then I’m up the stairs heading to bed. With all the news today, I kind of just need a break.
