Falling to Pieces (5 page)

The little shit that I met when I was
twelve has grown on me over the years and though he can be a typical moronic
male at times, he is still my brother.

“The fact that you think I would let
them come between us is insulting. Now stop being a whore and tell me what you
know before I go throw out every jar of pickles in this apartment.” Smirking at
me, Sawyer crossed her arms waiting for me to spill.

“That’s a low blow.” I laugh. Sometimes
it sucks how well we know each other. And she knows I would die without my
pickles.

I might have a slight problem.

“Don’t say anything to Martha, I really
do think they need to handle this.” After a nod from Sawyer I continue. “Okay,
Aaron came by the apartment Friday night and was distraught. I have never seen
him so upset, Sawyer. He didn’t even want to talk about it. So I thought, what
would make me open up if this was me?”

“So you fed him shots until he let his
guard down and told you what was wrong.” Sawyer so rudely, yet accurately,
filled in the story.

“Exactly. Anyways, he was supposed to
visit his mom this weekend, but instead, decided to surprise Martha since he
hadn’t seen her in a couple weeks.”

Aaron is attending State, living in a
dorm, but also pledging with some fraternity therefore he doesn’t get a whole
lot of free time. Martha chose to do her first two years at the junior college
in Redwood, much like Sawyer.

“Well, when he got into town he saw her
blue Civic parked at the feed store and pulled in figuring she was working.
Everything was locked up so he called her, but got no answer. Growing concerned
he was about to call your parents’ house when a black Beamer comes pulling in
the parking lot and parks next to her car. Martha jumps out of the passenger
side acting suspicious and before the car backs out he is able to see that it’s
a guy driving; an older guy. He flips his shit on Martha, who claims it wasn’t
what it looked like, and got in his car and drove four hours straight back here.”

I watch Sawyer as she soaks in the
details and lets it settle. We all know Martha has always been the wild child
of the Jameson’s but had calmed down noticeably once she started dating Aaron.
I guess with him out of the picture she retreating to her old ways.

“I am going to beat her little ass!”
Sawyer exclaims, jumping from the bed, pacing back and forth in my room. “She
was being sneaky with her phone all weekend. Her fingers hitting the screen so
hard when she was texting, I thought she would crack the screen. Last night she
got a call and walked outside to answer it. By the time I caught up to her I
only heard her say it was over and never to call her again before hanging up.
That’s why I thought Aaron did something, I mean who else would be on the other
line.”

“Easy killer. Remember, we are letting
them deal with it. Aaron has a suspicion of who it is, but wouldn’t tell me. As
pissed off and hurt as he is, he is still protecting her, even when I may have
said a few choice words about your sister, which I apologize for now,” I look
at Sawyer and she just brushed her hand in the air letting me know its okay,
“he stuck up for her. When he finally answered her calls he told her he needed
time and would call when he was ready to talk.”

“Poor Aaron. I wish I would have known. I
should have pried her for more answers, but I doubt she would have given me
anything. Next time I see her, she better come clean.”

“Well, now that we have all the family
drama out of the way, let’s go eat. I am starving.” Right on cue my stomach
growls.

“Do you have an animal in there?” Sawyer
laughs pointing to my stomach, which does sound bear-like.

“Maybe I do.” I say, patting my belly.
Luckily I showered when I got in last night and just need to throw on clothes.
“Deli sound good?” I ask and Sawyer nods. “Sweet. I will just throw on clothes.
See if Becka wants to go, if she is here. And at lunch, I will catch you up on
my experience with the
rockstar
.”

“I can only imagine.” Sawyer shakes her
head walking out, turning on my overhead light on the way out. “Hurry up, I
didn’t let Preston stop for food on the way because I wanted to see your lovely
face.”

With the semester just barely even
started and I am already wishing it were over. Then, with only one more after
this one, I will finally graduate. I am not positive what my plans will be
after I finish with my degree in business management. Dad has always told me I
will forever have a job with Thomas Building, but I would like to try and make
a name for myself. I want to start at the bottom and work my way up knowing
that my success would be accomplished from hard work and not because of my last
name. However, the family business makes for a great safety net if things don’t
pan out how I imagine.

Tonight I had plans for dinner with my
dad as a late birthday celebration. My actual birthday was last month and he
was out of town. In true Dad fashion, he made sure to call me at six in the
morning to sing me happy birthday. Only on my voicemail of course, I never hear
my phone ring that early in the morning. This past weekend he left another
voicemail letting me know he would be in town tonight and I made us
reservations at my favorite Japanese restaurant.

Dad was running late and he asked me to
just meet him at the restaurant. Without seeing his car in the parking lot, I
made my way in side to wait. As soon as I walk through the door I notice my dad
standing by the waterfall and koi pond, looking down at his phone. I could
almost guarantee it is work related, but considering he did take half the day
off and drove all the way to meet me, I had no complaints.

 
I observe a group of women checking out
my dad and laugh to myself. My dad was undeniably handsome. As a matter of
fact, I won when it came to gene pools; both my parents were beautiful. My mom
is barely five-foot, very petite, with short brown hair and blue eyes, and dad
stands over six-foot with a solid frame. It’s obvious whom I get my height
from,
however, it’s my dad who gave me the thick auburn-red
hair and honey brown eyes. He also passed down the collection of freckles
across my nose, which I tend to keep covered with make-up.

Looking up from his phone, Dad spots me
and walks over pulling me into a hug.

“Hey, sweetheart. They have the table
ready for us. And I am turning my phone off until I leave here.” With his phone
already in hand, he powers it down before he slides it back into his pants
pocket. Coming straight from work he is dressed in his slacks and button down
shirt, but must have taken off his tie. It is a rare event to find him in
something other than business attire.

“You don’t have to do that. I know you
are a man in high demand.” At this time of night, there is probably only one
person who might actually call that would make me mad, and it’s the one woman
who knows she better not.

“Nonsense. It’s my little girls birthday
dinner, so you get my full attention.”

“Dad, you do realize that I am no longer
a little girl right? I am twenty-two now.” I reply as I take my seat across
from him.

“Cheyenne you will always be my little
girl. Even when you are sixty.”

Well, I guess I can handle that.

Dinner, as expected, is delicious and I
even have a good time catching up with my dad, hearing about the business and
the plans Grandfather has to open another office. This one being somewhere out
in Texas and if all goes well, means that Dad will be spending a lot of time
out there helping it get off the ground.

After our plates have been cleared and the
check’s been paid, Dad reaches in his pocket and slides a key fob across the table
in front of me. Noticing the four connecting circles I look up at him in shock.

“What is this?” I ask.

“This is your birthday present. You
wouldn’t let me get you a car when you turned sixteen, or when you graduated high
school. I have talked to your mom and Bill, and they both agree it is time to
retire the Jetta.”

For my sixteenth birthday he did try to
buy me a car, but I refused only willing to take Mom’s used Jetta. In our small
town kids weren’t driving a BMW or Lexus or whatever else Dad wanted to buy me.
Everyone knew my family had money but I hated to be judged by that fact, and
never wanted anything showy or flashy. My mom understood my decision because it
was an adjustment for her when she first married my dad.

By the time I graduated high school, I
still didn’t want a new car. The Jetta had a couple issues, but always got me
where I needed to be. Now the only time I drove was when I went back to
Redwood, we hardly ever used our cars anywhere around here, and if we did, we
just took Sawyer’s Jeep.

“The Jetta runs fine, Dad, really. This
isn’t necessary.” I argue, but know it isn’t true. My check engine light has
been on for weeks now.

“Cheyenne, that car is fifteen years
old. It has to be on its last leg by now. Please, take the car. I love you and
I want to know that you are in a safe vehicle.” Dad says with a stern look, letting
me know he won’t budge.

“Alright, I will accept it. Thank you
and I love you too, Dad. But you do realize that you could have gotten me a Kia
and I would have been just as happy, right?”

Picking up the key, I examine it closely.
I still can’t believe that his is what car keys consist of these days
;
just a little black and silver box with three silver
buttons and a small red one at the bottom

“I know. That is why you deserve the
best, baby girl. Now, why don’t we go take a look at your new car?”

Making our way outside, I realize why I
didn’t see my dad’s BMW when I parked. He had driven the beautiful, shiny,
pearl grey Audi A6 to bring to me.

And as much as I loved
my old Jetta, one look at this baby and I was in love.

Turning around I throw my arms around my
dad, hugging the life out of him. “Thank you so much. It’s amazing and I love
it.”

“Man, does that make me happy. I know
things have been tense at the house the last few years and I am working on
that, but just to see that smile on your face right now makes everything
better. Hand over your old keys and I’ll take the Jetta back with me so your
mother can donate it.”

Of course she would. That woman is a
saint. Every year around the holidays, she made me spend an afternoon going
through my closet pulling out items to donate. Knowing that I would be getting
a new wardrobe for Christmas helped to ease the pain of letting things go.

“Okay, let me grab me stuff out of there
first.” Running over to the Jetta I unlock the doors and gather up all my
belongings.

“You’ve been good to me girl, I will
miss you.” Kissing my fingers I place them on the steering wheel before
standing and walking back to my new car and laying my stuff on the passenger
seat.

“Alright sweetheart, I will let you get
back home. I am sure you have schoolwork to do. I am extremely proud of you
Cheyenne. I know I don’t tell you enough, but just know that I couldn’t be more
proud. I love you.” Pulling me into another hug, Dad kisses me on the top of my
head.

“Thank you, Dad.
 
For the car, but mostly for driving up
here to see me.”

“I would come weekly if I could.” He
says looking frustrated.

“I know you would.”

“Your grandmother is planning a family
dinner the weekend after this. Are you able to make it?” Dad asks, almost
pleadingly.

“Yeah, I will be there.” I wrinkle my
nose in distain.

“She won’t be home. Her father is having
surgery so she is flying out to New York.” Dad informs me, bringing instant joy
to my night.

Smiling I confirm, “I would have come
anyways, but at least now I am looking forward to it.”

“You get your honesty from your mother.
Both of you are like open books and could never fake an emotion. One of the
many things I love about you. I know you usually stay with your mom and Bill,
but you are more than welcome to stay at the house. Either way, I will see you
then. Love you and drive safe.”

“I will, Dad, love you too. I will call
early in the week and let you know when I am heading down. Friday is my free
day so I will more than likely come then.”

It is sometimes difficult planning a
trip home and making sure to spend equal time with both my parents. Mom and
Bill see me the most, especially since I usually always stay at their house. This
trip I plan to take advantage of spending time with my dad and will stay at his
house since the witch is out of town.

Sitting in the driver seat of my new car,
I look around at all the knobs and buttons wondering how long it will take me
to figure out what each one does. For tonight, I just need to get the radio on
and make it home to show the girls. Tomorrow, I can start playing with all the
buttons.

My phone hasn’t yet been synced to the
Bluetooth, so I grab it out of my purse and call my mom.

“Hey honey.” She answers.

“Hey Mom. Guess what I am doing right
now?”

“Hmmm…. I don’t know. Tell me.” Mom
says, feigning ignorance.

“Well, I am on my way home. In my brand
new car!” I exclaim, letting out my excitement.

“Oh good, I am so happy you accepted. I
bet your dad was ecstatic. He had been nervous to try again, but we told him
not to take no for an answer.”

 
“Yes, he was. Part me wanted to turn it
down, but then I saw the beauty on four wheels and that was all she wrote.”

“Good. You deserve it.”

“I also wanted to let you know that I am
coming down next weekend. Grandmother wants to have a family dinner and Dad
would like for me to be there.”

“Oh, Cheyenne, I’m sorry. We have a
wedding that weekend and won’t be home.” Hearing the sadness in my mom’s tone,
I feel the same way.

Mom and Bill have a lot of friends and
enjoy getting out of town on the weekends. I’m happy that they get to do this,
but sad when it happens on a weekend I am coming home.

“That’s alright, Mom. I guess Dad will
be solo that weekend, so I wanted to stay his house anyway and some spend time
with him.”

My dad’s house was my first home and is
the last place where we were all together as a family. It will always hold a
special place in my heart.

“That will be nice. You guys need it. If
something comes up or you need to get away, the house is yours. I will make
sure the fridge is stocked with all your favorites, but most importantly I
would never forget your pickles.” My mom laughs; everyone thinks it’s a joke. Pickles
are not a joking matter.

“You’re the best mom ever! Okay, well I
am at the apartment. Tell Bill I said hello and I miss you guys.”

“We miss you too. Love you, honey.”

“Love you too, bye Mom.”

Ending the call, I quickly send a
message to Sawyer.

Come downstairs. Bring Becks.

Sawyer: K. Just me.

I am leaning against the hood of my car
when I see Sawyer bouncing down the stairs of our apartment building. As soon
as she sees me, her faces drops with worry.

“What are you doing, crazy? Are you
drunk and need help up the stairs?” Sawyer asks.

“Huh?” Oh wait, I guess we have been
here before, last year when I got drunk and needed her help up the stairs. She
found me up against a nice car with the alarm going off. “No, not this time.
Just thought you might want to check out my new baby.”

 
“Quit playing, Chey. And get off that car
before you scratch it.”

Holding the key fob in my hand, I hit
the lock button causing the headlights to flash and the alarm to chirp.

“Shut your mouth!” Sawyer yells, leaving
her eyes widened and mouth hanging open.

Running over she admires the outside
before I unlock the doors, allowing her to view the inside features.

“I know, right. Late birthday present
from my dad.”

“Lucky bitch. Preston is going to be so
jealous. I got to send him a picture.” Pulling her phone from her pocket,
Sawyer snaps a few photos and chooses one to send.

“Where is Becka? She was here when I
left.”

 
“Not sure. She left about an hour ago,
but didn’t mention where she was going.”

“She is being so secretive these days.
Why can’t she just tell me who this mystery guy is? The other night at Penny’s
I kind of got the feeling it might be Chad.”

I still haven’t come around to asking
her about him yet.

“I don’t know, I don’t really see her
with Chad. But, it looks like she is pulling in now,” Sawyer comments, looking
past me. Turning around, I see the headlights of
Becka’s
car.

Walking through the parking lot, paying
attention to only her phone, Becka doesn’t even notice us until she is right
upon us.

“Oh, hey. What are you guys doing hanging
out in the middle of the parking lot?” Becka asks and then takes notice of the
car we are standing around. “Sweet car, might want to back off a bit before the
owner comes outside.”