River's End: River on Fire Part 13

Her entire face was red. "We're working on that next," Allison said calmly. She floated behind with her head laid back. Obviously, she was playing a significant role in Erin's education, whereas Erin seemed skeptical that she could accomplish anything. Allison lifted her head up, meeting Erin's gaze. "Then? Who knows? We'll see. Sky's the limit then."

Erin stood now on the sandy bottom with her hands on her hips. "Oh, for G.o.d's sake! I'm not that capable. I can almost read a grocery list now. Big difference than what you four... well, I a.s.sume Hailey is college-educated, aren't you?"

Hailey was startled at Erin's adamant tone. She nodded in the affirmative. Erin scoffed. "See? Everyone here is. Doesn't mean I'm suddenly-"

"Not stupid? Yes, again, illiteracy isn't any gauge of your intelligence. But I'll keep telling you that for another six years, twenty years, or whatever it takes. If Allison says the sky's the limit for you, then so do I. Has she been wrong yet?" Jack came up behind Erin, unbeknownst to her. She was hot-faced and embarra.s.sed, nearly yelling at them. But it was a sweet, almost break-your-heart tirade about her inability to learn.

Jack hooked his arm around her waist and she clasped it with her hands, leaving it there. She hung her head. "It's just odd. And I think Allison rates my reading skills much higher than what they truly are."

Allison didn't move or seem riled at Erin's near freak-out. She glanced toward Hailey with a small smile. "She does this about once a week. You'll get used to it."

Kate nodded. "Yes, she does. She's used to thinking that she's stupid. We're all trying to convince her otherwise. She's a work in progress. But I like that. We should help Erin go to college. So here's to the sky." Kate held up her arm with a beer in her hand.

Kailynn smiled and with no drink, raised her hand in a silent support of cheers. As did Allison and Shane, AJ, Joey, and Ian.

"f.u.c.k yeah," Shane called out. "My wife can take you there."

Erin sunk down, trying to hide in the water, but Jack was right behind her, holding her up. She scoffed and hid her face against his chest. But not before Hailey managed to catch a glimpse of a glance between them that seemed to speak volumes. Something really huge swelled in Hailey's chest. Wow. This family. These people. She glanced at Joey, who was already staring at her. The way they all seemed to celebrate each other's successes and nurture each other's faults and quirks. The way Jack and Erin loved each other... she didn't think she'd ever felt that way. No. Not like that. Not with Brent. Joey held her gaze, and his face was unsmiling, even serious and intense. She slowly raised her hand up too, unsure of why she joined in. She wasn't one of them or part of them... but this weekend was so rare. And wonderful.

Joey came up towards her and took her hand. She blinked back the tears that surprised her when they filled her eyelids. She was thinking about her family. Her broken, messed-up family. It wasn't like this. It never had been. Joey noticed. "Thinking about your kids?"

"I was. I always do. I miss them so much. It's hard to be happy or feel whole when they aren't near me, even though I've had an amazing weekend."

"Me too. Better than ever before because you were here with me. I wasn't the sixth wheel tagging alongside them all. Do you understand now, why I would have done that before?"

"Yes, they are all very distinct couples."

"Try being the only one who wasn't."

"I could see why."

He squeezed her hand. "I think your kids would be welcomed by them all too."

"Before or after Brianna tries to a.s.sault you again?"

"I have to believe that'll pa.s.s, Hailey. It'll fall to the wayside. She's just... confused and hormonal right now."

"I am too," Hailey muttered, her gaze searching as she looked at Joey.

He nodded. "I understand that. I'm not. I'm pretty clear on things. Clear enough for both of us, right now, that is. Or for however long it takes for you to get there."

Fear gripped her heart when he spoke like that. "I can't-"

He touched his finger to her lips. "Then don't. Just float in the water with me."

She smiled in response and did just that. Later, they all decided to go back to Jack and Erin's for dinner. Hailey thoroughly enjoyed the impromptu buffet made up of leftovers from the wedding. They talked and told stories, and Hailey talked sometimes with only one person, and at others, with little groups or couples. She was being included and accepted, as Joey's girlfriend. And strangely enough, it didn't feel weird or odd at all.

They finally went back to Joey's house after saying their goodbyes and exchanging hugs. They all had an amazing day together. Joey and Jack even hugged and Jack thumped his brother's back. "You make me so proud." Then he added with a gleam of humor in his eyes, "I did a d.a.m.n fine job raising you."

Joey laughed and patted Jack on his back. "You doubted it there for a while. But you did, Jack. Thank you, you know? For taking me on. For always being there for me. I could have been traumatized forever by what happened to Mom and Dad. But because of you, it became no more than a tragic story to me."

"I love you, Jo. As my son and my brother. And my friend. What the h.e.l.l does it matter how I love you? Just know and believe that I do. And I probably should have told you more often. But I didn't know how to then. I know how to now."

"None of us knew then. But we also never needed to. It was just there, Jack. We all felt it. Between all of us. It still is, only now it's grown much bigger."

Jack nodded. "d.a.m.n straight. The Rydell brothers forever."

"Forever." Joey echoed. No hugs. No words. Just an exchange of smiles before they all turned and went to their prospective spouses, or in Joey's case, girlfriend. For the first time however, he too had someone to turn towards.

The words were prophetic. Beautiful. Binding.

And too soon. Joey had a strange feeling that pa.s.sed through his body like a tremble. Perhaps the words were spoken eerily too soon.

Chapter Twelve.

JOEY WOKE TO LOUD knocking and thumping. He sighed and blinked his eyes open to find it was still night. Hailey mumbled and turned over in her sleep. He glanced at the alarm clock and saw it was after eleven. They'd fallen asleep almost right after they got home from Jack and Erin's. After the fun-filled weekend, Joey still felt a little hungover. He pushed the covers back and found a pair of sweats, which he tugged on to cover his nakedness. His mind was fuzzy as to who could be knocking at that hour. It couldn't be his brothers. Of that he was sure. His heart began to palpitate erratically as he suddenly wondered if something might be wrong.

He hurried to the front door, which he so rarely used, usually coming in through the back slider that overlooked the river. He jerked the door open after looking through the peephole only to see a man he didn't recognize.

Then he froze. Behind the man was a small figure he did recognize. Brianna. What the h.e.l.l?

Rubbing his eyes, he tried to make sense of what he saw.

"Joey Rydell?" the man asked.

He nodded. "Yeah, who are you?" He glanced past the stranger at Brianna. "And what are you doing here, Brianna?"

"I can't find my mom."

"Well, why would you come here?" His heart pumped quickly. Did they know? No way. They could not know. Who were they? Except... he closed his eyes as reality slowly filtered in. f.u.c.k! It was Brianna's dad. Hailey's ex. He opened his eyes quickly, trying not to give away anything. Like the knowledge that her mom was asleep in his bed right now.

"You're her dad?" Joey asked the man as he sized him up. The man was not short, over six feet, several inches taller than Joey. He had dark hair that was graying at the temples. Dressed in slacks and a b.u.t.ton-up s.h.i.+rt, he seemed the epitome of the spit and polish type.

"I'm her dad," he confirmed, his mouth bracketed in stress lines. "We need to have a discussion."

"What? Right now?" Joey again rubbed his eyes, unclear of what was happening or what they wanted, or worse still, what he should do about it.

"Now works for me."

"I take it you just got here?"

"Yes, I flew back and drove here. However, Hailey's cabin is empty. And her children don't know where to find her, since she told them she was staying there."

He had no choice. If he didn't let them inside, it would appear odd. If he did... maybe Hailey would stay asleep. He opened the door wider. Then, without a word, he turned and went to the living room. The ex followed and sat down when he saw Joey sitting.

"What's your name?"

"Brent Starr."

"Right, Brent. What do you want?"

"Brianna told me all about what went on with you two. Including the parts she didn't tell her mom." His tone was icy cold and his gaze was lethal. Joey glanced at the teen who conveniently kept her face looking downward. His stomach knotted. He just bet she told him all about them. Lies. A bunch of lies were all she could have said about him.

"Again, I have to ask, what is it you want?"

"I can't allow what happened between you two to stand without voicing my strongest objection. It's wrong. And I can't, in good conscience, allow you to move forward in the capacity you are currently employed. I'm sure you are constantly in the presence of young girls like my daughter. I understand your family owns this place. But that is no justification for such inexcusable behavior. I'm alerting the police about this."

Joey leaned forward, holding his suddenly aching head. c.r.a.p! Was he for real? Police? What? Like he was some kind of pedophile, a s.e.xual predator? How could he tell the man it was actually his own daughter who was trying to initiate all of that?

Still, if Hailey were found there, it could irrevocably destroy her and Brianna's relations.h.i.+p, and subsequently his relations.h.i.+p with Hailey. So he'd have to use all of his finesse in extricating himself from suspicion.

"Why come here and warn me?"

"You don't deny it?"

Joey leveled a glance at Brianna, but she wouldn't meet his gaze. "I most certainly deny it. Brianna knows what happened. She just doesn't want to admit it to you. I imagine it's easier to blame it on me than to tell her dad about her not-so-innocent behavior. But again, why did you come here?"

Brent fidgeted. "I can't just let it go. I keep thinking of it. I had to see the face of the man who would victimize my little girl." He fisted his hand. Joey actually felt sorry for the man. A growing respect for him too. Joey would also have had to repress the urge to kill any man that would dare to hurt his daughter. He sympathized with that, of course, although it didn't help the situation much.

"I'd like to hurt you. Smash up that pretty face of yours. But I know that will only get me in trouble. I won't risk that, not when Brianna needs me so much."

"I didn't touch your daughter. I don't want to. Ever. I'm sorry she insists on playing games like this. But none of what she said is true." He spoke up for himself, knowing it was futile.

A G.o.dawful rumbling suddenly filled the room. Brent and Brianna both jumped, looking visibly alarmed as they glanced around in caution.

"What was that?" Brent asked.

"Thunder."

Then the room lit up with a weird, blue light. Joey didn't point out the obvious. Lightning.

Brent glared at him. "How can you live with yourself?"

He sighed. "What exactly did she tell you I did?"

"She described how you nearly forced yourself on her. And if someone hadn't come along just then and stopped it, you would have succeeded. She got away, sure, but barely."

"Let me ask you this: did that little scenario occur in the river?" he asked, feeling more than tired now. His voice was losing steam, as Brent's voice seemed to deepen in his accusation. He stood on his feet, both fists clenched, his jaw clamped, and his throat pulsating with boiling blood.

"Yes. You dirty, filthy, no good son-of-a-b.i.t.c.h! I'll see you registered permanently as a s.e.xual predator for this and losing your job and..."

"He didn't do anything, Brent."

They all three whirled around. There stood Hailey, standing in the hallway where his bedroom joined the living room. She wore a pair of light pajamas. More clothes than Joey left her in. Her hair was rumpled. There was no use in her trying to cover up what she'd been doing there. Sleeping. Staying. With him.

The thunder was what most likely had awoken her. Hearing her ex-husband's voice in Joey's d.a.m.n living room, she didn't have to reveal herself. Joey fisted his own hands. He was anxious now that she had and he wondered what would happen now. How could they work things out now?

Silence grew thick between them, and more claps of thunder growled and disturbed them, a fitting backdrop for all the drama.

"Hailey?" Brent's voice trailed off as his eyes scanned her up and down. His flabbergasted shock manifested. "What... what are you doing here?"

"I was sleeping," Hailey answered and shattered the quiet in more ways than one. The flaming round of gazes were glaring at her. Her tone was calm, cool and resolute.

"Oh, my G.o.d. MOM," Brianna screeched. Then, without any warning, she suddenly launched herself at Hailey, crying. "You? Your-"

Hailey grabbed Brianna's shoulders as her own sagged. "Yes, Brianna, I'm spending the night with Joey. I have been for a while; although it's none of your business."

"But-"

"Nor yours," she snapped at Brent. Then she stepped further into the living room. "Whatever she told you is a pack of lies. As I told you on the phone, I was the one who interrupted them in the river and the one who found Joey pus.h.i.+ng her off him, trying to get her to stop coming on to him. He's been rejecting her advances and trying to discourage her from the start. I'm not sure why you didn't believe me."

Brianna suddenly screeched and started crying before she rushed around her mom and ran out of the room. Hailey's body sagged with the weight of her revelation and she walked over and sat down on the couch, deflated and defeated. Lightning again illuminated the room for a fraction of a second.

"Where's Jacob?"

"Trinity came with me. She stayed back at your cabin with Jacob while we came looking for you."

Hailey winced. Joey naturally a.s.sumed Trinity was Brent's new wife. "Is he okay?"

"He's been good, actually. Smiling a bit more often. We spent a lot of time together."

"He needed that. They both need that."

"Yes." Silence followed, but Brent's body was still emanating waves of unspent energy. "So you started an affair with the same boy that your daughter liked?"

Hailey snorted. "Boy? He's as much of a boy as your wife is a little girl. And how dare you accuse this boy of statutory rape and threaten to send him to prison. Which is it, Brent? Is he a predatory older man after our daughter, or a boy that I'm toying with?"

"Trinity is..."

She held up a hand. "No. No, don't explain. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that. I don't want to fight anymore. I don't care about Trinity. I'm sorry. Really. I've put all of that to rest. I just get petty sometimes, especially when you get petty about me."

"Hailey, really, you can't be having-"

"Excuse me, but my s.e.x life and the partner with whom I choose to share it no longer concerns you. In fact, it doesn't concern either of our children either. She lied to you, Brent. She went so far as to bring you here to prosecute an innocent man. Has that fully registered in your mind yet? Brianna's coming undone. And we, as her parents, together, need to figure out what to do. No fighting, or being petty. This isn't about Trinity or Joey. It's strictly about us."

Brent shut his eyes as if he were suddenly in pain. Joey squirmed on the couch, wanting to leave or become invisible. He felt like an intruder and muttered, "I'll give you two some privacy."

But Hailey grabbed his hand and tugged. "Stay. This concerns you too."

Brent frowned. "I just didn't know you were..."