Embrace (Evolve Series #2) (13 page)

“How’s Angie?” I manage.

Parker’s mom will be all alone now. There’s no way
she can run that farm by herself and Parker’s off at school, a great ball
player.

“Not good, but your mama’s been tending to her.
Parker got home last night and funeral’s day after tomorrow.”

“I’m on my way, probably be late tonight.”

“Sounds fine, just be careful driving, boy. And
Evan?”

“Yeah?”

“Find Laney, let her know. Jeff can’t reach her and
doesn’t need to be worrying. He’s pretty tore up, him and Dale so close and
all. Those two,” he laughs passively, “one fishing tournament, they forgot to
put the damn plug in the boat. Sank the damn thing right there at takeoff.” He
sighs sadly. “Anyway, get her home.”

“I will, Dad, see you soon.”

I hang up and say nothing, my head hanging as the
tears keep coming. I can’t look up. I don’t want her to see me like this,
crying like a little girl, but I know it’s okay when I feel the small,
comforting hand on the back of my neck. And when that same hand pulls me to her
shoulder, the other arm wrapping completely around me, I sob shamelessly into
her shirt, her shoulder, baring my soul.

I’m Evan Allen, and I cry when someone I love dies.

Butterfly kisses on my hair and wet cheek,
accompanied with the occasional “I’ve got you” or “let it out” in the voice of
an unjudging, compassionate angel tell me that soul is accepted.

It feels so good to lay my head in her lap and close
my eyes, remembering all the good times I had with Dale, as she strokes my
hair.

Chapter 15

We’ve Been Robbed

~Laney~

E
van: I need 2 talk 2 U ASAP. Please call me
back.

He’d called three times right before sending the
text, and I just hit ignore, not wanting anything to ruin our time here in
Hawaii, even though I knew it had to be something if he’s calling at all, let
alone at this strange hour. I also knew he’d send a text right behind it if it
was
important, and I was kinda hoping I could just read it without Dane waking
up.

“Who is it?” Dane asks against my neck from where he’s
snuggled behind me. “They obviously need something.”

“It’s Evan, says it’s urgent.”

“Call him back,” he gets up now, moving to the
bathroom, “sounds important.”

This week in Hawaii has been so good for us. No
schedules, no friends, no exes, no drama, no insecurities. I hope it’s revamped
“us” and we can stay this way once we’re back, us against the world around us.

“Laney, hey,” Evan answers, not jovially.

“Hey, Ev, what’s up?”

“I’ve got some bad news, real bad. Are you sitting
down? Is Dane there with you?”

“Yes and yes. Evan, you’re scaring me. What’s
wrong?” Dane is right beside me now, his arms curled around me, his lips
resting on my shoulder.

“Dale had a heart attack, Laney.”

“Dale Jones? Well, is he gonna be okay?” Dane
squeezes me tighter, placing kisses on my hair.

“No, Laney, he’s not. He died. Angie found him out
in the field, he’d been working. Dad just called, he said your dad couldn’t
reach you. He’s pretty upset.”

“Of course he is,” I choke on the tears gushing out
of me instantly, “that’s his best friend. Why can’t he reach me?” I look at my
phone and see no calls from my dad, and he definitely didn’t text. “He didn’t
call, Lord knows what he’s dialing in his state. Anyway,” I gulp down the
sorrow making it difficult to talk, “how’s Angie? Parker? Have you talked to
him?”

My hand is shaking so hard I can barely hold the
phone, and I can’t see, and I may throw up. Why??? Dale Jones never met a
stranger. His wife was his queen, his son his prince. He worked hard every day,
he drove the Sunday school bus for the church, he gave all the teenagers summer
jobs… He let me keep calves and baby sheep on his farm, for crying out loud. I
jump up and run to the bathroom, losing all my dinner from the night before.

Dale was like my uncle, he and Angie loved me like
their own. They rounded out my lack of adult family when my mother was gone and
in some way, made me feel whole. The world will be less of a place without such
a fine man in it, and I feel sorry for all of us that inhabit it, because we’ve
been robbed of Dale Jones. I slowly gather myself and get up from the floor to clean
up, my stomach now completely empty. I brush my teeth and splash my face with
water, then pull my hair back. I’ll call Evan back later, having just dropped
the phone and ran. I’ll call my dad later too. Right now, I’m just gonna sit
back down on the floor and be.

“Come on, baby.” Dane bends down and scoops me up I
don’t know how much later. “You’re gonna wait in bed while I run you a hot
bath. I got us almost packed; we fly out soon.” He carries me to the bed and
tucks me in with a kiss to the forehead. “Be right back.”

“I need to call my dad, and Evan. I don’t know when
the funeral is,” I moan, rolling over and sinking into the pillow, my body
racking with sobs again.

His weight moves me as he sits down, rubbing my back.
“All taken care of; I talked to them both. We fly back tonight and I’ll drive
you home when we land. We’ll be there in time, baby, I promise, and we’ll stay
as long as you want. Now close your eyes and rest while I get your bath ready.”

I don’t close my eyes when he walks away, but
rather, find my phone.

Laney: Thnx 4 calling. When r u heading home?

He answers almost immediately.

Evan: Packing up now, will be to Dad’s late tonight.
Dane said you guys would pull in Sun. You ok?

Laney: Not at all. You?

Evan: No, not really. Doesn’t seem real. He was
younger than my dad.

Laney: I know, I can’t believe it. My heart
aches. Will you plz check on my dad when u get there?

Evan: Of course.

Laney: Thnx Ev. Be careful driving.

Evan: Ok, take care of yourself. C U at home.

“Ready?”

I know he saw me texting, but he doesn’t mention it,
just gives me a warm smile. I nod, raising my arms for him to pick me up and
carry me to the bathroom. I love it when he carries me; it makes me feel
feminine, delicate…cherished. I bury my head in his neck and breathe in the
comforting scent of the man who loves me, protects me, will never leave me.

“Will you get in with me?”

“Of course.”

Laying back against his chest, in between his large,
muscular legs, I close my eyes and go limp as a rag doll. He washes every inch
of me with soft and tender strokes, kissing my hair the whole time. We don’t
speak, no words are needed; he simply tries to heal me with his loving care. When
the tips of my fingers are wrinkly and the water is cool, he stands and wraps a
towel around his waist before lifting me out and places me in front of him,
drying me from head to toe. I brush my hair and give it a quick blow dry over
it, pulling it back into a ponytail. I see him behind me in the mirror, holding
my clothes.

“Turn around, baby,” he instructs me in a gentle
voice. I comply, like a robot, while he dresses me. Not long after, he calls
down for bell service on our bags and leads me, his hand laced in mine, to our
waiting car.

The drive to the airport is quick and I’m numb as we
board. I’m going home to put another part of my past to rest. I’ll never see
Mr. Jones again. Parker will never get to hug his dad again. Angie will never
again hold the hand of her love, her life partner. My dad will never swap
fishing stories with his best friend. Life is really freaking unfair.

When you’re young, all you can think about is how
you can’t wait to be old enough to drive, have no curfew, no parents telling
you what to do, be old enough to drink, to vote, to get in clubs—all the
exciting, glamorous things you think adulthood holds. I didn’t have these exact
thoughts, but I’m pretty sure it’s the consensus, and I have now confirmed my
original skepticism…growing up is not all it’s cracked up to be. It’s scary, it
comes with a new set of drawbacks, and mostly, the more
you
change, grow
up and move on…so does everyone around you. Your dad can’t protect you from
everything, he can’t slap a Band-Aid on it or tell their parents and fix it. As
you get older, the adults you love get older, the problems get bigger and less
fixable, and the pain gets worse. And now I’m just letting my mind run crazy
because I’m sad, confused, and overwhelmed…and he’s there. He guides me to my
seat, buckles my seatbelt, and covers me with a blanket.

“Take these, love. It’s a long flight home.” He
hands me two pills and a cup of water.

I don’t even ask what they are. One, I don’t care,
and two, I trust him impeccably. I know it sounds childish and trite, but one
thing, above all, calms me and I need it so bad right now.

“Will you sing me?” I whisper and lock onto his hand
with mine, needing a physical connection as well. “Please? Just until I fall
asleep?”

His answer is his smooth voice, telling me how he’ll
never let me fall, he’ll stand up with me through it all. I know he will, and
how he knows the exact things to say to me, melodic and healing; as he wraps
his arms around me and rubs his cheek to mine, he too wraps me in love. I know
it, “Your Guardian Angel” by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. It just might have
been exactly what I’d requested, had he needed to ask.

When I wake, the inside of the plane is bright and
small. We’re obviously on a private flight that Dane had no doubt arranged at a
moment’s notice, for me. He’s asleep in the seat beside me, head hanging my
way, his hand on my leg. He looks beautiful with his brown hair mussed, his
lashes long and dark. I place a soft kiss on his full lips, lingering until his
eyes open, groggy and clouded with sleep, and he slowly smiles at me.

“Morning, baby.”

“Morning. Where are we?”

He reaches above his head and presses a button,
bringing to life a small screen. “About an hour left until landing. You
hungry?” He turns and cups my cheek. “You haven’t eaten in a long time.”

“No, I’m not hungry. But I’d love to brush my teeth
and get a juice or something.”

“You and your teeth brushing.” He chuckles lightly,
releasing first his seatbelt, then my own. “Come on.” He gives me his hand and
leads me to the bathroom, handing me a wrapped toothbrush. “I’ll grab you a
drink. You sure you won’t eat something?”

“Maybe later; just a juice for now.”

“Okay.” He gives me a disappointed look. “I’ll be
out here when you’re done.” He shuts the door, giving me some privacy.

When I’m feeling freshened, I come out and sit
beside him, gulping down my apple juice in all but one swallow. “Do I remember
you saying you talked to my dad?”

“Yes, I called him. He sounded all right, glad to
get ahold of us. I told him we’d get there as soon as we could and stay a bit.
This man who,” he pauses, “died. You and your dad were pretty close to him?”

“Very,” I reply, my voice cracking in my effort not
to cry again.

His hands move to my hips and he pulls me in his
lap, tucking my head into his hard chest. “Tell me all about him, please?”

So I do. I talk non-stop until we land about all my favorite
memories of Mr. Jones, all the Jones’—their farm, their friendship, their love
and acceptance. I cry the whole time, of course, Dane’s rhythmic rubbing on my
back never faltering. It feels really good to get it out—like I’m honoring
Dale’s memory by telling another exactly how wonderful he was.

Dane is sneakily insightful; he always knows just
what I need just when I need it.

Chapter 16

Deflection

~Evan~

I
arrive home, safe and sound, although I’m
not quite sure how I drove. I felt a bit like a pansy for crying so much, until
I got home and saw my dad’s red-dimmed eyes; then I knew it was okay. Sometimes
real men cry.

My parents are holding up pretty well. Dad’s quiet,
Mom’s cooking up a storm. That’s what my mom does—she puts her own feelings
aside and takes care of everyone else around her. She makes sure everyone’s
fed, everyone gets enough hugs, and everyone has everything they need that she
could possibly provide.

Well, what do you know? I’ve never compared anyone
else to my mother, so selfless and giving, but a certain blue-eyed beauty,
gentle and considerate, just crossed my mind.

Once I’m truly convinced my parents are all right, I
head out to check on Mr. Walker. “Well, look who it is!” he greets me. “Evan,
my boy, come on in.”

“Hey, Mr. Walker. Thought I’d come by and see ya.
Laney’s on her way, bit behind me.”

“Yeah, I talked to that fella of hers. Had her out
in Hawaii,” he grunts. “Guess you don’t want to hear about that, though,
sorry.” He stumbles a bit to the couch, bumping into the coffee table which is
lined with beers cans that fall over noisily.

Can’t say I blame him, really.

“You had dinner, Mr. Walker?”

“Why so formal? You forget my name?” He laughs, but
his eyes don’t. “I’ll eat when I’m hungry. Right now, I just wanna get drunk
and try to get some sleep. Sure gonna miss my friend. Good man he was,” he
raises his beer can in the air, “the best.”

“Jeff, can I use your restroom?”

“Why are you even asking? You know where it is.”

I shut myself in, turning on the water to cover my
voice. I don’t want to trick anybody, but I’m a little out of my league here.
I’m not about to tell a grown man to stop drinking, but I know Laney’d want
something different to be happening right now.

“Hello?”

“Dad, hey, I need your help. Can you come keep Mr.
Walker company? He’s drunk and I need to go check on Parker.”

“Ya, bud. Stay ‘til I get there, I’m on my way.”

When my dad arrives about ten minutes later, I leave
them to it and head to Parker’s. I haven’t seen him in months, but he’ll always
be my brother and I know he’s gotta be a mess. My phone rings on my way, and my
chest feels a little less tight when I see her name on the screen.

“Hey, Whitley.”

“Hey, how are you?”

I’d made her and Sawyer throw everything in the
truck the minute I got the call, barely putting on the brakes when I dropped
them back on campus. I’m not even sure what energy I’m running on right now.

“Hanging in there; ‘bout to go check on Parker.”

“Evan,” she says, her voice gentle, “can I come help
you? I hate that you’re by yourself for all this.”

Every part of me wants to say yes, I could sure use
her here with me right now, a natural, easy comfort, but I’ve got to deter her
from thinking she has to take care of me. I want to be her “cause” even less
than I want to risk our friendship.

“I’m not by myself. I’ve got my parents. Besides,
there’s other people hurting worse than me. I’ve got to be there for them. But
I appreciate it, Whit, I really do.”

“Is Laney there yet?”

“No, probably late tonight, or morning even. Long
way from Hawaii.”

“Dane will come with her,” she says matter-of-factly.

“I know, I talked to him. Laney was pretty out of
it.”

“Okay, I just thought—”

“Whitley, you don’t have to stand beside me just
because he’s standing beside her. It’s not a competition.”

Shit
. I’m tired and sad and talking out my
ass, not only because of the obvious, but from this constant internal struggle
I have about Whitley really starting to wear on me. I regret it the minute I
say it and the hurt in her voice slices into me.

“I know that,” she replies, calmer than I would be
if she said the same thing to me. “That’s not what I meant. I just want to help
you if I can.”

“I’m sorry, Whit. Ignore me. Just a shitty deal, shitty
mood.” Dammit! I slap the steering wheel; she didn’t deserve that. “Listen,
let’s talk later, okay?”

“Okay, just call me if you need me.”

A
very beautiful girl, about my age I’d
guess, answers the door.

“Is Parker here?”

“Yeah sure, come on in. You are?” she asks, holding
the door open to me.

“Evan. Evan Allen.” I take off my cap and offer my
other hand.

“Oh, Evan! Nice to finally meet you. Parker talks
about you all the time. Is Laney with you?” she asks, peeking past my shoulder.

Um, no, stranger, Laney and I don’t travel in two
anymore.
Another jackass thought; God, I am in such a dick mood today.  “No,
she’s on her way in from Hawaii. She’ll be here soon. I’m sorry, I didn’t catch
your name?”

“Lord, my manners. I’m a little out of sorts. I’m
Hayden, Parker’s girlfriend.”

“Nice to meet you, Hayden. So, where’s our boy?”

“In the kitchen with his mama.”

She turns to walk that way and I peek into the
kitchen to see Parker at the table, his head in his hands, hair pushed back and
sticking up through his fingers. Angie sits across from him, hands wrapped
around a coffee mug, staring off into nowhere.

“Honey,” Hayden says quietly, touching his shoulder,
“Evan’s here.”

He lifts his head and his face explodes into a smile
that drops just as quickly as it’d appeared; like he forgot for a second this
wasn’t just a happy reunion. “Hey, brother.” He stands and wraps me in a hug. “How
you been? Thanks for coming.”

I hug him back, my eyes misting. “I’m so sorry, man.
So damn sorry.”

“I know, I know.” He gives me another squeeze, then
releases me. “Sure is good to see you, though.”

“Mama Jones,” I move over and bend down to hug her,
“I’m so sorry for your loss. Your husband was one of the finest men I’ve ever
known.”

“Evan, my sweet boy,” she grabs the back of my head
and moves it to kiss my cheek, “you were always like a son to Dale. He thought
the world of you.” She pats my cheek. “You’ve gotten even more handsome since I
saw you last. How are you?”

“Fine, ma’am.” I sit down and clutch one of her
hands in mine. “What can I do for you? How can I help?”

She cups her other hand over the top of our already
joined ones and pats. “I think it’d be great if you would be a pallbearer with
your daddy and Mr. Walker, and Parker, of course.” She smiles up at her son.
“That’s who Dale would have picked.”

“It’d be,” I suppress a sob, “my honor. Thank you.”

“What about Laney girl?” She almost laughs,
sniffling. “You think she wants to help? You know her, I can just see insulting
her by thinking she wouldn’t want to carry with the men.”

Parker and I both chuckle, despite the sadness, at
the accuracy of Angie’s words.

“It’s okay, Mama, I think she’ll be okay just
knowing you thought of her. I’ll tell her,” Parker offers, moving to his mom’s
side.

That’s all she could get out, her body now suddenly
wrenching and the sounds escaping her positively blood-curdling. It’s
depressing and a little scary and I have no idea what I’m supposed to do.

“Come on,” Parker says calmly as he helps her up,
Hayden scurrying to the other side, “let’s get you to bed now. Time for another
pill.”

I stay sitting right where I am, frozen to the spot.
The house looks exactly the same… What a stupid thought, of course it does. It’s
looked this way as long as I can remember—why would it change just because he’s
gone?

“Evan, did you meet the love of my life?”

I startle at Parker’s voice behind me and stand
quickly, facing him and Hayden.

“Yes, I met Hayden.” I give her a smile.

“Best girl in the whole world.” He kisses her cheek
and she leans into it. “Dad loved her first time he met her. Told me she was a
keeper.”

“Well, we all know he had a keen sense.” I wink at
her and she giggles softly.

“Y’all stop, you’re embarrassing me. Can I get you a
drink or anything, Evan? Babe?”

Parker looks at me and I shake my head no. “No,
we’re fine,” he answers her. “You go rest, you been waiting on everybody.”

“I’m gonna go sit with your mom, make sure she falls
asleep all right.”

“Thank you, angel,” he says, squeezing her hand. “I
love you.”

“I love you, too, Parker.” She gives him a quick
kiss and he pats her butt as she leaves the room.

“Gonna marry her,” he proclaims as sure as anything.

“She’s wonderful. I’m happy for you, man.”

“Come on, shitsack, let’s have some beers. We can
toast the old man. We gotta go in the barn though. If Hayden catches us, she’ll
think I’m
deflecting.
That’s her favorite word.” He laughs and grabs a
six pack from the fridge.

I follow him into to the barn, the memories flooding
me. “Hey, Sebastian.” I pat the horse’s head; Laney’s favorite. Dale had let
her name him, and of course, she’d done so after the crab in
The Little
Mermaid
. There’s a duck waddling around somewhere named Aladdin and the
barn cat is Figaro.

“So,” Parker interrupts my reminiscing, “let’s
deflect. Tell me about you, ‘cause I can’t think about my dad right now.”

“Not much to tell, really. I transferred to
Southern.”

He nods, taking a drink. “I heard.”

“Laney’s in love.”

“Heard that too.”

“Kaitlyn turned out to be a two-faced snake.”

“Already knew that.”

Guess we’re all caught up.

Parker takes the lead on our exhilarating
conversation. “Laney coming?”

“Yeah.” I go ahead and grab a beer out of the pack;
if ya can’t beat ‘em and all. “Should be here soon.”

“Bringing her new man?”

“Yeah.”

He props his chair back, propping his feet against a
stall. “I always thought the two of you would end up together.”

“Me too.” I pop one shoulder up. “Guess that’s what
we get for thinking.”

“You all right?”

His father just died and he’s worried about me? It
makes me feel like a shallow ass that we’re talking about my problems in the
shadow of the much bigger picture, but if that’s what makes him feel better,
I’ll take the heat. “Yeah, man, I’m fine. It sucked at first, but every day is
a little easier.”

I think of Whitley and almost feel guilty, in light
of things, at the small grin that escapes. She’s the reason it’s a bit easier,
plain and simple, no matter how I try to fight it. Then I think of how shitty
I’d treated her earlier and my face falls; I could kick myself.

“Who is she?” Parker asks, a grin on his face.

“Who’s who?” I ask, willing my face to look as blank
as possible.

“The girl you’re not telling me about.”

“How’d you know that?” Damn, Parker’s more aware of
my life than even I am.

“I didn’t.” His grin widens. “You just told me.”

“Dick!” I flick my beer tab at him. “She’s just a
friend. Can’t go there with her, too risky.”

“That’s your problem, Allen, no risk. You’ve been
wrapped up in Laney for so long, you’ve never opened yourself up to other
possibilities. You ever think maybe Laney always seemed so perfect to you
because you never dared let her have a little competition?”

“That’s not true. I messed around with a few girls.”

“Messed around,” he scoffs. “Big deal. You ever
date? Get to know anybody? Let ‘em in?” He knows the answer, he just wants me
to say it.

“Why are we talking about this anyway?” I turn now,
engrossed once again in Sebastian. “Shouldn’t we be figuring out what to do
about your mom, or this farm?”

“Only thing that’s gonna help Mama is time,” he
says. His voice holds a melancholy tone, but only for a moment. “Farm’s simple;
I’m coming home to run it. Gonna ask Hayden to marry me and come with. Give my
mama some grandkids to love.”

“Parker,” I face him abruptly, trying to hide the
condescension in my voice, “you’re what, just turned twenty? Are you sure
you’re not rushing things? Your dad would want you to finish school, be sure of
things. Your mom can hire somebody to run things until you have summer breaks
and graduate.”

“I was always gonna come home and run this farm one
day. Why do I need a college degree for that? Besides, I like farming. And I
love Hayden, more than anything. I want her with me, always. I wish like hell
my dad was still here,” he takes a long drink of beer, “but he’s not. I know
what’s right. This is what I’m meant to do.
Now
.”

“I just think you should—”

“Honey, you out here?” Hayden comes in the barn, her
eyes seeking out Parker. “Oh Parker, are you out here deflecting?”

“
Told ya
,” Parker mouths to me, his shoulders
shaking with suppressed laughter. “No, just out here having a beer with my
oldest friend. Big difference.”