Three Days of Rain

Just when he thought his life was turning around… Things haven’t been easy for Jacob Morgan. Persecuted by the ghosts of his past, Jake lives each day just going through the motions, barely getting by. Then Lily Burns comes to town and befriends him. As Jake starts to heal, he begins to hope that he has finally overcome the mistakes and tragedies that have tormented him for so long.

But just when he thinks his problems are solved, his past comes back to haunt him, and once again, Jake is confronted by situations he is ill-equipped to handle. Can Jake hold on to the progress he has made, or will the lies, guilt, and secrets he’s tried to ignore shove him back into an abyss from which there is no escape?

5-star praise for Three Days of Rain:

“…draws you in…such real characters…the real world fades away and you are so wrapped up in the story that you forget that it’s just fiction. Christine Hughes…you are an amazing writer…”

“….it is heartrendingly beautiful, full of despair and full of hope…My recommendation is to…maybe have a big box of tissues available…”

an excerpt from

Three Days of Rain

by Christine Hughes

Copyright © 2014 by Christine Hughes and published here with her permission

PROLOGUE

Jake had just finished playing a set at Billy’s and was taking a five-minute break. He caught Billy’s eye from across the room, raised his hand, and nodded. Man, he thought, I need a beer. Regardless of the fact that he’d already put back half a dozen and some shots with his brother, celebrating the fact that Megan just popped out kid number two, Jake needed another drink. These days it was all about having a good time, playing his guitar, working for his dad, and taking home some random girl he’d never call back. The pickins were slim, he noticed. Most were locals, though there were a few married chicks from the next town over just visiting to say they checked out the local scene. No one caught his attention tonight. He’d probably be going home alone.

He saw Maddie’s blonde hair weaving through the crowd, with a tray of pints raised in her hands, and appreciated the way her T-shirt clung to her curves. She’s been quiet since she came back from college, he mused. Maybe she decided drama wasn’t her thing anymore. Some said people grew up in college, not that he’d know from experience.

When his mom died, he’d decided to stay in town and work for his dad and brother over at the docks. Madison’s father, Mr. Olsen gave him a job the day after he graduated

high school and Jake was grateful at the time. He needed to keep busy. Mom’s death hit him harder than it had anyone else.

Jake had done everything he could to block out her death. A long drawn out bout with cancer wasn’t the easiest thing to remember. Drinking helped with that, as did fighting anyone and everyone that pissed him off. As that thought passed through his mind, he noticed a small ruckus starting in the middle of the bar. Marty Donaldson and Nick Jones were mouthing off to a few out-of-towners. One thing led to another and the stranger clocked Jonesy good. He hit the floor cold.

Insanity erupted instantly. Although Jake was glad he was out of the way of the flying chairs, elbows, and drinks, he thought it might be fun to join the fracas. But it wasn’t until he saw some idiot elbow Maddie to the ground that he jumped into action.

Leaping from the makeshift stage, he grabbed the guy who’d hit her. Jake’s six foot two stature easily bested the other guy by almost half a foot. It didn’t matter if it was an accident or if she was just at the wrong place at the wrong time, Jake fisted the guy’s collar, clocked him with a head- butt, and threw him into the wall. The crash was loud. The guy hit the photographs on Billy’s wall. That guy’s gonna get it, Jake thought. Billy was so proud of those photographs. Apparently his niece, the one who lived in Connecticut, took them. Billy hung up every one she sent. When he heard Billy yell, he turned to scan the room for Maddie. Fighting was going on everywhere and she was sure to get trampled.

He looked all over, shoving people out of the way, punching his way through. Finally, he found her cowering under a table with a towel wrapped around her arm. “Maddie, you okay?”

“Yeah. Son of a bitch. These guys piss me off. What the hell?” She flinched at the sound of breaking bottles.

“You’re bleeding.”
“So are you.”

Absently, he lifted a hand to his eyebrow. “I’m fine. Are you alright?”
“I’m okay. Just a small piece of glass. I pulled it out. I’ll live.”

They both looked over to the entrance. The Sheriff had shown up.
Jake grabbed her arm. “Time to go, Maddie.”
“What? Why? I didn’t do anything.”
“Yeah but I did and you’re bleeding. Let’s go.”
Jake pulled her up and led her by the hand through the bar to the stage Billy had set up. He grabbed his guitar and guided her out the back entrance. Pulling his keys out of his pocket he yelled, “Get in!”

Maddie jumped into the passenger side of his new pickup and held on as Jake peeled out of the parking lot.

CHAPTER 1
Five years later

Jake pulled into the parking lot at Billy’s, turned off the ignition, and dropped his head to the steering wheel. He wasn’t sure how much more remembering he could take. When Madison left two years ago, she’d taken every dream, every hope, every future Jake had planned.

He knew it had been too long for him to still be too broken to mend. Waiting two years for her to come back, just so he could confront her, was tragic and sad. But still, there he sat, trying to convince himself she’d come back, just as he had everyday for the past two years. When he was finally able to shake the past from his head, he threw his worn baseball hat on the seat and climbed out of his pickup. The graveled lot was wet with early summer rain. As he walked into the bar, Jake’s eyes couldn’t help but search the tables with tired eyes for Maddie’s familiar face. The same face that had haunted his dreams the past two years—a face that burned in his memory with a mix of emotions. She wasn’t there and despite the promises, she probably would never come back. He knew it, but that didn’t stop him from looking anyway.

Danny watched his brother walk in. There wasn’t much he could do for him but buy him a drink. Everyday, Jake would come to the bar after his shift and sit for a while. All Danny could do was show up and take part in the charade. If anyone ever asked Jake what he was looking for, he’d respond, “Nothing. Just having a drink.” But Danny knew better. Jake was looking for her and though he didn’t show it on the outside, there were small clues that let Danny know his brother was broken.

“Hey Jake! When ya gonna play us a song?” Billy, the owner of the bar would ask just about everyday even though he knew the answer.

“What’s up Billy? You know I don’t really play anymore.”

“Well, let me know when you do. The place is a tomb since you dropped the guitar.”

“Yeah, yeah. I’ll let you know.”

The conversation rarely varied. Sometimes there was a “yo” where the “hey” should be but other than that, it was more of a greeting than anything else.

Billy had been there when Jake began to crumble. He knew the how’s, why’s, and who’s. They all did. It was a small town, after all. Mostly, they all just watched and waited for Jake to wake up.

As Jake caught his brother’s eye and walked over to him, Danny noticed his little brother’s normally jet-black hair was littered with sprinkles of gray and his pale blue eyes were bloodshot. When did that happen? Not that Danny could really judge. He’d let himself go a bit over the past couple of years and carried twenty extra pounds around his middle that he couldn’t seem to get rid of. Still, he hated the fact that Jake looked so serious and dejected all the time. So much had happened over the past five years, it was hard to see all the little things.

“What’s up, Danny?” Jake’s voice pulled Danny out of his reverie as he slid into the booth across from him.

Danny passed Jake the beer he’d ordered for him. “Nothin’ much, Brother. Lookin’ a little tired around the eyes, Jakey.”

“I’m fine. They got me workin’ hard lately. How’s Megan? The boys?”

“They’re good. Been wondering when you’re gonna come around. She’s been playing around in the kitchen and she’s dying to test out her newly developed kitchen skills on someone other than us. You should come by for dinner one night.”

Megan was Danny’s high school sweetheart. They fell in love the minute they laid eyes on each other in the eleventh grade. Married right out of high school, they started a family right away and had two beautiful boys to show for it. It was a life Jake had wished for with the fervor of a preacher promising his flock a heaven bound exit.

“I know. Just been busy.”

Busy. Jake was always busy, Danny thought. Busy letting life pass him by. Busy working. Busy drinking. Busy remembering a girl that wasn’t good for him, and busy practicing a needless apology for when and if she ever returned.

“You can’t avoid us forever.”

“Who’s avoiding? I told you, I’ve been busy.” Jake avoided eye contact as he took a long drink of his beer.

“Busy, right. Didn’t you have a date with that girl from the island? What was her name? Charlene?”

Looking down at his beer, Jake prepared himself for where he knew this was eventually going. “Charlotte. And that was a month ago.”

“How’d that turn out?”

Jake’s knees began to shake as he drummed his fingers on the table. “It didn’t.”

Danny took a deep breath. He knew it would be no good trying for eye contact but he began anyway. “Look, Jakey, when are you gonna let this go? She’s gone. She isn’t coming back and if you ask me, good riddance. She wasn’t good for you then and, God forbid she comes back, she won’t be good for you now. And after all this time, you’ve got to know none of it was your fault. I know I can’t relate. Lord knows I wouldn’t want to. But, Jake, it’s been two years. You have to let her go. You have to let both of them go.”

A dark cloud passed through Jake’s eyes as he white- knuckled the grip on his beer bottle. The muscles in his jaw tightened and Danny waited for the explosion.

Jake spoke through clenched teeth without looking his brother directly in the eye. “No one asked you. She is none of your business. I am none of your business. I’ll come around when I have time. But for now, like I said, I’m busy.”

Jake downed the last of his beer, stood up, grabbed his keys, and took one last look around the bar. “You of all people should know when to let things lie. I’m sick of the pity, I’m sick of the whispers, and I am sick to death of you and dad and everyone else treating me like I’m some sort of fragile thing. I am, in case you hadn’t noticed, a grown man. I can take care of myself. Just leave it, Danny. Just leave it, her, me—leave everything alone.”

“Jake…” Danny called out as his brother turned and walked out of the bar but it was no use. Jake tuned him out. Jake always tuned him out. And now all he could do was slip back into the charade and play by his brother’s rules.

Billy walked over and sat down across from Danny. It took a few moments and a few pulls from his beer before he spoke.

“What happened?”
“Nothing, Billy.”

“Did you mention her?”
Danny played with his pint glass. “Maybe.”

“Good for you. Someone had to. And with Jake’s temper, I’m sure glad it was you and not me. You’re lucky he didn’t clock you.”

“Yeah, I know. I just can’t stand the way he can’t get past her. It’s been two damn years, Billy. She’s trouble, she’s always been trouble and I hope to God, for all our sake, she never comes back. Especially after what happened. She wasn’t there when she needed to be. Damn it.” His fist hit the table a little harder than he wanted, garnering glances from a few patrons of the bar.

Danny dropped his head and rubbed his hands over his face. “He just can’t wrap his head around the fact that it wasn’t his fault. No matter how tragic, he isn’t to blame.  And he forgets that he isn’t the only one hurting over all of it. He’s lost in his own little world.”

Billy leaned in to catch Danny’s eye. “I hear ya. Jake’s just gotta figure this out for himself. Though, to be honest, in all my years, I’ve never seen a boy fall apart like he has, especially over a girl.”

“It’s not just her that broke him.”

“I know. He’s just not the same Jake he was before.” “Some might say that’s a good thing, Billy.”

“True enough. All that fighting he done before, all that anger. At least one good thing came out of this.”
“Oh yeah? What’s that?”
Billy laughed his big laugh, the one that made him sound like Santa Claus. “At least she took the fight out of him!”

Danny’s eyes crinkled when he smiled. Billy noticed he was looking more and more like his father every day. “You’re right there, Billy. I just wish he had something to fight for.”

“She messed him up, that she did. How’s Megan dealing with it?”

“Megan’s fine. She just wishes she could do something. Jake won’t even look at her. He won’t come over. He won’t answer the phone if she calls. He won’t see her when she stops by. When he looks at her, all he sees is Maddie.

“We all want to move on, but for some reason we’re glued to Jake and his memories. I’m beginning to think none of us will move on if he doesn’t and I am sick of walking on eggshells over ghosts.”

“I never understood how two sisters could be so completely different.” Billy said. “Your Megan is an amazing woman. Her sister, however, was quite the manipulator. And after how she left, it’s a wonder he hasn’t gone completely nuts.”

Danny knew, all too well, that Billy was right. Both he and Megan had tried to convince Jake not to get involved with Maddie. Jake just wouldn’t listen and Madison just did what she always did. What no one understood was how Jake couldn’t see it. He’d known her for years. He knew what she was capable of and he knew she was no good.

Maddie and Megan moved to town when Megan and Danny were in eleventh grade. Maddie was in eighth and Jake was a freshman. She rebelled right away, unhappy that Mr. and Mrs. Olsen decided to move their brood from Philly to this podunk town on the coast of South Carolina. Mr. Olsen accepted a job running the docks. He was a hard worker and every one in town respected him right away. Mrs. Olsen ran the PTA, organized town picnics, and helped bring life back to this sleepy shore town. But Maddie wasn’t having any of it.

She started smoking, cutting classes, hanging out with the wrong type of kids. She did every thing she could to break her poor mom’s heart. Maddie was beautiful—movie star beautiful—and she knew it. By the time she hit high school, she’d developed a reputation for getting what she wanted. She dated a lot, slept around, and ran away twice before graduation. At one time, even though her sister was dating him, Maddie tried to seduce Danny. It all backfired, however, and after she graduated, she set her sights on Jake. He wasn’t interested, though. At least not then. And it made Maddie crazy. She went off to school and Jake went to work with his father and brother for Mr. Olsen at the docks. They all thought they were rid of her. She, of course, came back every summer, raised hell then left for school again, leaving everyone to clean up her mess. Then one night, a few years later, Jake looked twice and that was all the invitation Maddie needed to strike.

She was working at Billy’s bar as a waitress and, for a time, the guys who hung out there didn’t come for the food or the drink. They came to see Maddie. Billy knew she was no good but who could argue when she was filling the bar every night she worked? The night Jake noticed her, he was playing guitar on a Friday night like he had been since he was seventeen. No one really knows how it happened but Jake woke up beside her the next morning and sealed his fate for the following five years of shit.

“She’s a bitch,” Danny grumbled. “And she fucked up my brother. He’s a damned mess and there ain’t nothin’ I can do about it.”

“Sure there is. You just have to be there for him. Wait it out. He’ll eventually come to know what we’ve all known for years. And if she ever walks into this town again, kick her ass back to whatever hell she calls home now. She’s not welcome here. Not in this bar, not in this town.”

With that Billy downed the rest of his beer and walked back behind the bar. He was right. Maddie would be back and whether or not she decided Jake was worth her time, she would crush whatever remained of his heart and not think twice about it. That was her way.

Resigned to “wait it out” for now, he dropped a ten spot on the table, grabbed his keys, and drove  home to the  family that needed him and the normalcy that he needed.

CHAPTER 2

As Jake was driving home, he cursed his brother and the memory of Madison Olsen. Two years and no word from her. The day she left, he knew she was the devil everyone thought she was. He thought he knew her like no one else did. They spent three years together. Not all of it good, but not everyone can have a perfect life like Danny and Megan. When was Danny going to realize he didn’t need to take care of him anymore? When would he figure out not everyone needed perfection in their lives?

Jake pulled into his driveway, took the keys out of the ignition, and leaned back in the leather seats of his new truck. With his eyes closed he allowed the memory of that first night with Maddie to flood his brain…

***

Maddie laughed as he peeled out of the parking lot. “Jacob Morgan, you are crazy!”

Her laugh was nice and she seemed to have calmed down a bit since the last time she’d rolled into town. He’d have to ask her about it one day. For now, he just wanted to get the hell out of there before Sheriff Finley showed up and decided Jake was the cause of the fight. The assumption wouldn’t be unfounded, of course. He had been a bit of a renegade lately. His temper was becoming legendary.

Jake glanced at her sideways. “How’s the arm?”
“Fine. Stopped bleeding already.”

“Regardless, when we get back to my place, you should clean it out.”

“Look at you, Dr. Morgan! Awfully presumptuous, aren’t we? Going back to your place? I’m not that kind of girl.”

He rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Sure, Maddie. I forgot you’re a good girl.”

She took his assumption as a challenge. She’d spent years trying to get Jake’s attention and she wasn’t going to let this opportunity slip. “For your information, I have changed.”

“So you keep trying to tell everyone. Look, if you want me to drop you off at your parent’s, then I will. Just say the word.”

Maddie kept silent and Jake drove back to his place. When they pulled up he turned off the car, grabbed his guitar, and jumped out. He was halfway up the walkway when he realized Maddie was still sitting in the car.

“What are you doing? Are you coming in or not?”

With a playful huff, she hopped out of the truck. “You know Jake, I am a lady and as such, I expect a man to open the door for me.”

“You do, huh? I’ll remember that next time.” He turned away and reached for the lock with his key.

“Next time?”

“Figure of speech.”

“Right.”

They walked into the house—a small bungalow Jake bought a few years back. It wasn’t much but the mortgage was cheap and it served his purpose. He turned on the lights and dropped his keys on the table before walking back to his bedroom and placing his guitar on its stand. When he returned, Maddie was standing in the living room looking around.

“Nice place, Jake.”

“Thanks. I bought it from your dad. Let me get something for that cut.”

“It’s fine, really.”
“Then it will be even more fine when it’s cleaned up.” He walked into the bathroom, grabbed the peroxide, antibiotic cream, and a bandage. He motioned for her to sit at the kitchen table. “Have a seat.”
Maddie did as she was told and watched as Jake poured peroxide on a cotton ball. She flinched and he laughed.

“Peroxide doesn’t hurt you know. It just bubbles a bit.”

“I know. Just get it over with.”

She turned her head as he went to work on her arm. The peroxide was cool and not at all painful but she still refused to look. It wasn’t until he patted her arm and told her he was finished that she looked at his handy work.

“Not so bad, huh?” he said. “You should be fine in a few days.”

“Thanks. It feels better already. You have anything to drink?”

“Sure. What do you want? I have beer, whiskey, water…” He opened the refrigerator door and scanned its contents.

“Whiskey would be fine.”

“Whiskey, huh? You don’t strike me as a girl who drinks whiskey.”

“There’s a lot you don’t know. Pour me a double and I’ll introduce you to the new me.”

He noticed the glint in her chocolate-brown eyes as he grabbed two glasses and a bottle from the cabinet then moved them to the couch. He poured the drinks and flipped on Sports Center. Pulling his cell out of his pocket he noticed a couple of text messages from his brother. I’ll get back to him tomorrow, Jake thought as he dropped the phone on the side table.

When he finally sat down, he made sure to leave room between him and Maddie. He still wasn’t sure what was going to happen, but he had a feeling it was going to be a late night.

“So Jake, nice to see you’re still playing at Bill’s. You’re good. Have you ever thought of playing someplace bigger? Even the next town over? Tons of tourists and vacationers there.”

“Nope. I like playing here. If they want to hear me, they’ll come and listen. Hold on.”

Maddie was quiet as Jake turned up the television and listened to the baseball scores from the day. The Mets beat the Phils, the Yanks beat the Sox, and Peterson was now on the DL.

She remembered how much Jake loved baseball. Scouts were interested back in high school when he pitched. Then his mom died his senior year and he lost interest in playing. Everyone was shocked he walked away from it so easily. And instead of going to college after graduation, he signed up for a job at the docks.

“You ever think about playing again? You were good in high school. Everyone thought so.”

He looked at her sideways. “Play what? Baseball?”

“Yeah.”
His attention went back to the scores. “That was years ago, Maddie. I don’t play anymore. No big deal.”

“But you were good enough to go pro. You had a scholarship.”

“And? There are more important things in life than baseball. I’m happy now. Life treats me good. And not everyone needs to escape.”

He could tell his tone irritated her a bit. Maddie’s main goal in life was escaping this little town and doing something with her life. Like so many others, she was back with nothing to show for her time away but a piece of paper stating that she graduated from some random college. No job, no prospects, no found dreams. The grass was always greener and all that.

“Sorry. That was uncalled for.”

“No, no. It’s fine. You’re right. I escaped. Then I realized I needed to come back and make things right.”

“Make what right?”

“Jakey, you know what a terror I was. I needed to make it up to my family, my friends. Too bad no one believes me. They keep waiting for my head to spin around and vomit lies all over them. It’s fine, though. They’ll see.”

Her words gave him pause and he looked at her with new eyes. Maybe she really was trying to change. He noticed the sincerity and determination in her voice and thought twice about his motives behind bringing her back here.

“Look, Maddie. If you want to go home, I’ll drive you.”

“Who said anything about going home?”

“You aren’t stupid. You’ve got to know why I brought you back to my place.”

“You mean you didn’t just want to play doctor?”

The play on words was almost too much and he got a funny feeling in his stomach as she inched closer to him on the couch.

“Well, maybe a little bit,” he said as he took the empty glass out of her hand and placed it next to his on the coffee table. Then he switched off the television.

“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t want to be.”

“But I thought you were trying to change?”

He was playing with her hair, looking at her mouth. “Change, yes. And part of that is getting you to finally notice me.”

“I always noticed you, Maddie. I also noticed everyone else was noticing you.”

She stood and walked over to look at some photos hanging on the wall. “Well, what if you’re the only one I want to pay attention now?”

“Well, you’ve succeeded. I’m paying attention. I’m noticing a whole lot.”

Walking across the room, he grabbed her elbow and turned her to face him. His hands slipped around her hips and settled behind her and as she reached up to playfully bite his ear. He squeezed her breast, causing a quiet moan to escape her lips. Her breath on his neck sent shivers down his spine. With her firmly in his hands and his eyes locked with hers, he stepped forward guiding her backward toward the wall. He interlocked his fingers with hers and slowly slid her arms up the wall holding them in place firmly with his left hand. With his right, he ran his fingers down the side of her body and across her stomach.

Tucking two fingers behind the button of her jeans, he tugged her to him, pushed his knee between her legs, and forced them apart. As his tongue ran softly across her lips, his thumb flicked open the button and pulled the zipper slowly down. Her head fell back against the wall as his fingers teased the top of her panties. He buried his head into the crook of her neck as his two of his fingers found a home. Letting go of her hands, he grabbed her chin, forcing her to look him in the eye as his fingers explored her.

Her arms fell to her sides and her fists clenched as the knot in her belly tightened. In a rush of adrenaline, she cried out, grabbed the belt loops of his pants, and pulled him against her.

His fingers frantic, his eyes closed, and his body moist with sweat, he kissed her hard. When he pulled back, she looked at him and whispered, “Now.”

She leaned in to kiss him and that was all it took for her to seal his fate. As much as he had tried to be distant, she closed the gap with that kiss. When he woke up next to her the following morning, she had changed his mind about her completely.

***

Pulling himself out of his memories, Jake got out of the truck and walked into his house. Grabbing the nearly empty bottle of Jack from the counter, he walked toward the back of the house. He finally turned on the lights when he reached his bedroom. Unscrewing the cap, he took a long pull. His eyes were drawn to his old guitar sitting on the stand, covered in an inch of dust. Stepping over the piles of laundry that littered his bedroom floor, he picked it up and stood in front of the mirror. He lifted the strap over his head and let the Gibson fall in front of him. It still fit as it had two years ago. The last time he played was the night before his life went to hell. His eyes burned with the memory. His throat burned as he poured the rest of the alcohol. He removed the strap and held the guitar by the neck. His eyes shifted to the stand in the corner, but as pain and heartache overtook him, he lifted the guitar above his head and smashed it into his reflection.

CHAPTER 3

Sun streaming through his bedroom window stirred Jake from his restless sleep. He shaded his eyes from the unwelcome intrusion and rolled his neck, trying to stop the throbbing that had begun creeping up from his shoulders. Tangled in his sheets, he pulled a pillow over his head and closed his eyes, not quite ready to face the day. He had almost forgotten what he’d done the night before. It wasn’t until he finally decided to pull himself out of his bed and walk over to the dresser that he stepped on a piece of glass and remembered.

“Son of a bitch.” He yanked a piece of mirror from his heel. Realization dawned as he looked around—he had, once again, let memories control him. For once he’d just like to be able to think about the past without feeling like he was going mad.

He surveyed the damage. The shattered mirror could be replaced, but the destroyed guitar kicked him in the gut. He fought the pain that threatened to overtake him again and refused to allow it to weaken him as it had last night. Instead, he carefully walked across his bedroom to the bathroom and took a shower. He needed habit to dictate his days or he knew he would lose it. It was important to keep busy and, regardless of his inner demons, he had to get to work. He was already running late.

Stepping outside, he felt the sun wash over him with teasing irony. He’d long since given up trying to understand why, if the day was so bright and the sun was so warm, he felt dark and cold inside.

As he backed out of his driveway, he thumbed his cell and it blinked to life. Chirps from missed calls and text messages filled the cab. Danny. His brother was probably calling to apologize or explain—or whatever. Danny was good at all that. He was the politician in the family. He could get out of anything with a few smooth words. Jake? Not so much. He was more of a fist guy. Or at least he used to be. Now, he just didn’t care. Again memories haunted him…

***

“Jakey, you want a drink?”

“Sure. A Jack and Coke would be great.”

He watched Maddie walk back towards the bar. They’d only been dating a few months but he was sure she was the one. His brother had given him a few not-so-subtle “be careful” talks. Apparently, Jake was the only one convinced that she had changed. Why couldn’t anyone else see it? Even her parents and sister were skeptical. Billy was skeptical but he’d kept her on her because she was one hell of a waitress. And Billy wasn’t known for giving second chances. At least that was something.

As Jake watched her make her way through the labyrinth of the normal Friday night crowd, he noticed a few guys walk in that he didn’t recognize. They couldn’t be more than twenty-one, twenty-two, and by their rowdy entrance, they’d been partying awhile.

Maddie appeared in front of him with his drink and gave him a quick peck on the cheek before walking over to the table where the new guys sat. As she was taking their order, one of them looked at her with a bit more than fleeting interest before leaning over to whisper to his friend. After a big laugh from the two of them, the man who had whispered caught Maddie’s attention. As he talked to her, a red flush crept to her cheeks and her lips pulled tight. Before Jake could decide what to do she walked away from the table. Shaking his head, he convinced himself it was probably nothing and started his second set.

In the middle of his second song, Maddie dropped off the order at the table and flinched when one of the guys grabbed her wrist as she began to walk away. He pulled her into his lap. She struggled to stand back up. The look on her face was indecipherable, but it was all the prodding Jake needed. He stopped playing, mid-song, carefully placed his guitar down on the stage, and strode over to Maddie and the group of guys. A dangerous calm kept him focused.

Flexing his hands, he struggled to hold his anger in. “Is there a problem here?”

His sudden exit from the stage had caught the attention of the bar patrons and it was deathly quiet as he spoke.

The man who had grabbed Maddie laughed. “Nope. No problem, dude. Why don’t you go play your guitar? I’ve got it covered here.”

Looking at the man through narrowed eyes, Jake smirked. “I think there is a problem, dude. I think you need to let her go.”

“She’s fine. Aren’t you Maddie? At least you were the last time we hung out.”

He knows her name? Do they know each other? No, Jake thought, she probably just introduced herself when she first went to the table. But the innuendo was as pointed as a knife.

Resting his hands on the table, Jake leaned in and did what he could to control himself. “I told you. Let her go. Now.”

“I don’t think so, man. We were just catching up. Isn’t that right, Maddie?”

Jake grabbed her and pulled her away from the guy. “Go, Maddie. Back to the bar. I’ll take care of this.”

“No, Jakey. Really. It’s all right. I went to college with these guys. Mark was just saying hello.”

Jake never broke eye contact with Mark. “It’s not all right. Go. Now,” he said, through clenched teeth.

Maddie protested a bit but what she saw in Jake’s face must have convinced her it would do no good. He was angry and, more than likely, he was about to zone everything out but the man and his friends. There was no reasoning with him when he got like this.

“You guys need to leave,” he snarled.

The rest of people in the bar were staring, knowing what would happen if these guys decided to stay. Billy was already on the phone to the sheriff.

“Nah. I think we’re going to stay, Jakey.” Mark said as he turned to give Maddie a head to toe once over. “We like the view in here.”

That was all Jake needed to hear. He grabbed Mark, lifted him out of the chair, and tossed him to the ground. Mark’s three buddies sprang up, and, quickly processing his odds, Jake went for the biggest one first. He knocked him into the next table with two hits to the face. Another swung at Jake but wasn’t quick enough with his punch to do any damage. Jake hit him square in the jaw with an empty beer mug he’d grabbed from the table. The last guy was helping Mark up off the floor. Jake stepped over, grabbed Mark, and started punching him in the face. The splatter of blood did nothing to detract from his focus. He didn’t hear Maddie screaming or the sheriff pull up. He barely felt anything as Billy pulled him off and the deputy slapped cuffs on his wrists. When he looked down, he saw Mark was unconscious and bloodied, his friends backing away.

Sheriff Finlay said, “Time to go, Jake.”

The last thing Jake saw as he was walking out was the glare Maddie threw at him. The last thing he heard was the ambulance pulling up as he ducked into the police car.

***

Jake shook the memories from his head and looked back at his phone.

“Not ready to deal with you today, Danny. Let’s just keep the personal out of it,” he spoke to himself as he threw the phone on the passenger seat without checking any of the messages.

Despite his inner demons, Jake was happy the sun was starting to peek through the clouds this morning. It was going to be hot, according to the weatherman, but Jake loved the heat. It made him just tired enough to crash when he got home. He didn’t think when he slept and, for that, he was grateful. He was tired of being held prisoner by his memories.

Halfway to work, he passed a girl on the side of the road kicking the tires of a Jeep. Through his rearview he noticed one of the rear tires was flat. Checking his watch, he pulled a U-turn and parked behind her. The first thing he noticed was her hair. It was wild and curly and the color of chocolate. Amused by the fact that she was yelling at the Jeep while trying to find a signal on her cell phone, Jake chuckled to himself as he turned off his truck and stepped onto the road. “You know, kicking the tire won’t fix it.”

She gave him the once over with her honey-colored eyes and her annoyance was quickly replaced by wariness. “I’ll be okay. Just have to make a call.”

“Well, since I’m here, I could take a look at it. You know, see if I can fix it.”

With one hand on her hip, she used the other to push stray curls behind her ear. “Do you actually know how to change a flat?”

Jake laughed out loud. “I think I can manage. You have a full size attached to the back. I’ll just replace it. All you’ll have to do is buy a new replacement tire.”

He had a nice laugh but she still wasn’t sure if she could trust him. “Sure. Go ahead. If you try anything, I’ll kick your ass.”

Jake’s eyebrows shot up. She was so tiny; she barely came up to his shoulders. And he wasn’t sure she could do much damage in a blue sundress and flip-flops. “I’ll do my best to control myself. You have a jack?”

She softened a bit. “I’m sorry. I’ve just been driving forever. This is the last thing I needed right now. And I have no idea if I have a jack.”

“That’s okay. I’ll grab one from my truck. Where’re you coming from?”

“Connecticut.”

Jake paused. “Connecticut is a far cry from South Carolina. You sure you’re in the right place?”

Her laugh was warm. “Of course, I’m sure. Are you gonna help me or not?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

After retrieving the jack from his truck, Jake went to work on changing the tire. It took all of fifteen minutes. When he was done, he walked around to the front and waited while she finished her phone call. He noticed a couple of suitcases in the back and a camera on the front seat.

“I’ll be there soon. Don’t worry about me. Some nice guy just changed it for me…Yeah…No. I don’t think he’s a psycho murderer. Hold on.” Covering the mouthpiece with her hand she asked Jake, “Are you a psycho murderer?”

He shook his head and she went back to her conversation. “He’s not…Yeah, I know. See you soon…Love you, too.”

She punched off the call and looked at him. His eyes were so sad, tired. “Done?”

“Done. I just fastened the other tire to the back. There’s an auto shop about fifteen minutes down the road. Chase Peterson owns the place. You can tell him Jake sent you.”

“Well, Jake, thanks but my uncle told me he’d take care of it.”

“All right. Well, have a nice trip and be careful. Get that spare replaced.”

He turned to walk back to his truck when she stopped him.

“Hey, Jake! We didn’t properly introduce ourselves. I’m Lily. Lily Burns.”

“Nice to meet you, Lily Burns,” Jake said as he reached over to shake her outstretched hand.

“Nice to meet you, too, Jake. And thanks again for changing my tire.”

“Anytime. You have a nice trip to wherever you are going.”

“I will, thanks.”

Hands in his pockets, Jake walked back to his truck and watched as she climbed into hers. She started it up, pulled into the road, and drove off. It wasn’t until she was quite a ways down the road that he started up own truck, U-turned in the other direction, and headed to work.

The momentary distraction wasn’t unwelcome. The brief encounter was actually quite amusing. Lily seemed like such a breath of fresh air that Jake had made sure he filled his lungs, in case the past came back later to drown him. He was only slightly aware of the tingle he still felt in the palm of the hand she had shaken.

At the speed he was going, he pulled into the parking lot in five minutes. Danny was outside smoking a cigarette, waiting for him. Jake watched as Danny threw his hands in the air as he flicked his butt to the ground.

“Jesus, Jake! Where have you been?”
“I had to change a tire.”
“All night? I’ve been calling you, texting you.”

“My phone was off.”
“Right, and I’m the Dalai Lama. You don’t make it easy for someone to apologize.”

“You don’t need to apologize,” Jake said as he reached into the bed of his truck to grab his bag. He slung it over his shoulder and began walking towards the docks.

“I do. Look, I’m sorry I mentioned her. It wasn’t my place. Jesus, Jake! Would you stop and look at me?”

Jake stopped and turned to face his brother. He was quiet for a minute, reminding himself that Danny wasn’t the enemy. “Look. I’m really trying here. What do you want from me, Danny? I told you to leave it alone. You’re sorry for mentioning her and yet, here you are again, mentioning her. When the hell are you just gonna leave it alone? Look, she’s gone, all right? I know that.

“I’ll get over it when I’m ready. None of this happened to you. One minute my life was making sense and the next it was shattered into oblivion. I know you keep trying but you’ll never understand. Not completely. You’re just a bystander, an audience. You get to watch my life crumble, feel sorry for me, then go back home to your wife and kids—your perfect life. I don’t need your pity, your apologies, or your thoughts on the matter. Look, I’m late for work. Just let it go, Danny. Please.”

Danny was left standing alone in the parking lot as he watched his brother disappear through the building. Aw, Jake, he thought, when are you gonna wake up? He lit another cigarette and called his wife.

“Hey, Meg. I tried to apologize to Jake. He won’t have it. I don’t know what to do anymore.”

“Sweetie, just let it be,” she said. “Jake’s a big boy. He’ll snap out of it.”

“It’s been two years! Two years! What the hell is he waiting for?”

“I don’t know. I just don’t know what to tell you.”
CHAPTER 4

Lily pulled into the parking lot of her uncle’s place, got out, stretched, stared, and took in her surroundings. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and rolled her shoulders before she walked through the door.

There were only a few customers and the bar was exactly how she’d pictured it. The well-worn booths and aged hardwood flooring welcomed her like an old friend. The walls, a pale shade of blue, were sprinkled with photographs she’d taken over the years and sent to her uncle. She walked across the room, taking it all in, pulling her hands slowly across each table she passed.

“This is my home for the next few months,” she whispered.

Billy came in from the back, grabbed a menu, and hurried over to the young girl in the dining room. “What can I get you?” It wasn’t until she turned around that he recognized her. “Lily! You made it! How was the drive? Your tire’s okay? Let me look at you!” He spun her around, noticing just how much she looked like her mother. Even her laugh was the same.

“Uncle Bill! I’m fine. I’m fine. I’m just happy to have finished the drive.”

“I told your mom you shouldn’t have driven all by yourself. I would have paid for you to fly.”

“And leave my Jeep behind? No way! And besides, I’m a college graduate now. I can handle anything.”

“I can’t believe you graduated from college, Lily. The last time I saw you, you were what? Like ten?”

“Yeah, ten sounds about right. Thanksgiving, if I remember correctly.”

“Right, Thanksgiving. I wasn’t sure I’d see you again after that argument your father and I had over the money I lent your mother.”

“Well, I’m here now and regardless of what Dad says, I’m staying. You’ve got me for the whole summer!”

“I’ve looked forward to it. You’ll be staying at my house. I’ve made up the basement room for you. It has its own entrance and bathroom. You can come and go as you please. And as far as money, you can work here, if you’d like. A few shifts a week should keep you in some spending money.”

“And rent. I’d like to pay my way. I don’t want to put you out.”

“Put me out? Never. And I wouldn’t take a dime from you, anyway, young lady. You’re family and family sticks together. Let me get your bags. I’ll call Chase in a little bit and we’ll see if we can’t get that tire replaced.”

She watched her uncle walk out to grab her things then she looked around again. Just the summer, she thought. And then she thought of the guy with the tired, sad eyes who’d changed her tire earlier. Yeah. Just the summer.