Haven from the Storm (Storms of Life #1) (7 page)

I took my hand from hers and placed it on the computer mouse. “Thanks, Mindi, you’ve been very helpful.” I turned my attention to the computer, hoping she’d get the hint and leave.

“No problem, Dean.” I hated how she continued to use my name, like that somehow connected us. “So, I was wondering if you wanted to get together while you’re in town? Maybe pick things up where we left off?”

I looked up from the computer. She was very pretty; I could see why I was attracted to her in high school. It didn’t hurt that she was a couple years older and every high school guy wanted a college woman. She had the curliest red hair I’d ever seen with light green eyes and a body that would turn most women green. But when I saw her, all I could think about was how I used her to hurt Lily. I’d never forget the pained look on Lily’s face.

“That’s very nice of you. But I’m not sure that’s such a good idea. I’m staying with my grandmother and want to spend as much time with her as possible. Plus I’ll be busy with my student teaching. I hope you understand.” I tried to be gentle because the last thing I needed was another scorned woman making my life harder. I could accomplish that without anyone’s assistance.

She smiled weakly. “Oh I do, Dean, but I’m here and so are you. If you get bored or need some company, just call me. I still have your number, so I’ll text you in case you’ve lost mine.” She finally turned and entered an office with a placard stating
Mindi Bartlett, Counselor
next to the door.

I printed Lily’s information and grabbed it from the computer along with a blank piece of paper. I wrote a quick note to Lily and slipped it into her locker on my way back to Mr. Roberts’ classroom. Lunch was almost over, so I grabbed peanut butter crackers and a bottle of water from my messenger bag. I finished them just in time for students to start filing into the classroom.

The rest of the day went by painfully slow. I tried to pay attention to Mr. Roberts’ rambling, but it was difficult. All I could think about was Lily and how I could attempt to make things right with her. The only plan I could come up with consisted of making her listen to my side of the last four years, even if I had to force her, but I didn’t know if it would change her mind. Even I had a hard time believing my excuses were enough for what I’d done.

The end of the day had finally arrived. The first day back at school was worse than I could have ever imagined. Apparently Dean’s arrival at the school stirred more emotions than just mine. I couldn’t go anywhere without hearing a female voice yammering on and on about him. Even now, as I walked to my locker, I could hear a group of the more popular Barbie-like girls trying to get information out of Adley about him. She saw me coming and used it as her opportunity to escape. She practically ran to my locker and threw herself against the one next to me.

“They are wearing me out. Like, seriously exhausting me with all the Dean Haven questions. Like I know a single thing about that boy. Who they should be asking is Y-O-U.” She pointed her finger in my face while accentuating every letter.

“Why do I even allow you to speak to me? I can’t figure it out,” I snapped at her.

“Because you have no choice. If you didn’t, Violet would hound you until you loved me again. We both know that old lady gets whatever she wants from whomever she wants it from and that includes Y-O-U.” She smirked at me and then laughed at her attempt at humor.

While I was pulling my books out of my locker, I saw a piece of plain paper folded several times with my name written on it. Either I had a new bully wanting to torment me or I had an annoyingly handsome man from my past wanting to torment me, just in a completely different manner. There was no way I was reading this while Adley was with me. I’d wait until I dropped her off to see which of the two evils I’d been blessed with. I placed my bet on the latter.

“Hello? Earth to Ms. Cold Hearted Fool. How many books you gonna put in that backpack? What’s that? Did someone pass you a love letter?” She gasped and tried to grab it from my hand, but I shoved it in my pocket quickly.

“Get a move on before I make you walk five miles home.” I glared at her.

“Puh-lease you would never leave me so you aren’t fooling anyone. Plus, I could just get a ride with Dean anyway,” she said, trying to play my bluff.

“Fine by me, traitor.”

I stomped off to my car with Adley right on my heels like I knew she’d be and it put a smile on my face. I’m not sure how we’d gotten to this point in our odd relationship, but what started as Violet trying to
make
us be friends had turned into a weird kinship. I didn’t trust that she’d never abandon me, but I allowed her into a small part of my heart that was already hardened so it couldn’t be broken again. Adley and Violet were the only two that were allowed in any part of my heart, but that was mostly because trying to keep them out proved too difficult. But the rest of my heart, the only part that could still be shattered, was well guarded against intruders and I had an iron clad protection plan to ensure I wouldn’t suffer that same fate twice.

When we got to Violet’s, she was sitting on the front porch swing. I assumed she had timed her need for fresh air perfectly with our arrival. She waved for me to get out of the car and of course I did, even though I wanted to speed away and never look back.

“Good afternoon, dears. I hope you both had a great first day back at school.”

Adley and I looked at each other, smiled, and nodded our heads in response.

“Well good, good. Adley, why don’t you go on inside and get ready for work while Lily and I talk.” She gave her sweet, innocent smile while patting the swing for me to sit next to her.

I gave her a small smile, knowing it probably showed the hesitation I was truly feeling. She reached her hand out to me and, like I always did with Violet, I gave her what she wanted by taking her hand and sitting next to her. She began to rub small circles with her thumb on the palm of my hand while she hummed and pushed off with her feet so we were slowly swinging. We stayed this way for what felt like an eternity as the tension built inside me. I knew what she wanted and she knew I couldn’t give it to her so we sat, stuck in a stalemate and waiting for the other to break. Usually in these games I clearly had the upper hand because I never cared as much as my opponent. However, Violet was the most stubborn human being in the county and might as well have her hand tightened around my throat. I’d grown fond of Violet over the past few years and for some reason always wanted to please her. Even though I had tried hard not to, I’d actually grown to love her.

She finally broke the silence and a small part of me felt like a victor, but that feeling didn’t last long. “Okay, let cuts the theatrics and get on with what we both know is coming. Dean’s back in town and you’re avoiding him.”

“He’s been here for less than twenty-four hours. How can you possibly be so sure I’m avoiding him?” I asked, even though I already had a pretty good idea what her answer would be.

“Because I knew you would avoid him before he even decided to step foot back in this town. I also know you’ll continue to avoid him until you’re somehow forced to face him and the feelings you’ve buried so deep that you probably don’t even know they still exist.” She lightly squeezed my hand in a show of support.

I withdrew my hand from hers as gently as I could and stood up. “Violet, I have zero feelings concerning your grandson being back in town, buried or otherwise. And even if I did, you know it would take more than a few hand pats and nicely timed words from you to make me listen to anything he has to say to my face or in a note.”

A slow smile spread across her face and I was immediately afraid of what it meant. “So my grandson’s already working on you with some note, huh? Well I guess I should leave him to it then, until my services are needed.” She stood and gave me a hug. She reached up to lay a gentle hand on my cheek. “Liliana, you know I love you like my own and I only want what’s best for you. You’re young and can’t see past the hurt you feel, but please keep in mind that even those who love you can unknowingly inflict pain when they themselves are hurting. I don’t believe everyone deserves a second chance, but those willing to try and place a patch on past wounds at least deserve the opportunity. Now, that’s all I’m gonna say until one of you invites me back into your drama.” She turned me around and gave me a light push to start down the stairs. “Now go, before I can no longer control my big nose and the business it wants to get in to.”

After I left Violet’s I decided I had no desire to go home, so I headed back into town. It was a sunny, warm January day. The snow that was covering the ground just yesterday had already melted, leaving everything wet and covered in a white film. It was a perfect day to relax and enter a whole new world through my camera lens. I pulled into the parking lot of an abandoned building that was once a Dairy Queen. It used to sell the best blizzards you’d ever eaten. My favorite was the
Chocolate Xtreme Blizzard
. Who didn’t love pieces of brownie, chocolate and fudge mixed in creamy vanilla soft serve ice cream?

Before I completely lost focus, I pulled out the note from my pocket. My name was written in elegant, yet messy script across the front. I unfolded the paper.

Please let me speak to you. You don’t have to talk, but at least let me explain the last four years and why things ended up like this. Please give me a chance. After I explain if you don’t want me around, I’ll try my best to honor that. But I’ll keep trying until you at least give me a chance. I don’t expect things to pick up where we left off, but I think we can be something again, if you’ll let me try. Please. Please, Sunflower.

The letter wasn’t signed, but I knew who it was from. I crumpled it up and threw it in the back seat. Sunflower! I wish he’d stop calling me that. I couldn’t even look at a sunflower without feeling an ache deep inside. I didn’t understand what he and Violet wanted from me. They had turned my world upside down in a matter of days. I didn’t even know why Dean came back to this town or what he wanted. Unfortunately, I knew the only way I’d find out was if I caved and listened to his explanation.

I really needed to spend a few hours seeing the world through the unbiased lens of my camera to help escape my tortuous life. When I was behind a camera, I could feel the release of the dark feelings that built up inside me. The doubting, hurtful voice that haunted my every thought faded away for that short amount of time. I loved all photographs, no matter how good or bad the quality was. Photos never changed, they stayed exactly the way they were the moment you captured them. Even if the people or places in those photos changed its essence remained the same, frozen in time. Memories you would always have to share with the world.

I spent the next few hours using my camera to capture the gritty images that inspired my creativity and helped put my mind at ease. I decided to focus on the southeast part of town near the old ice plant, a place that once contributed to the economy in this small town and served its citizens well. Now it sat completely empty with only its structures left behind as a reminder of the purpose it once fulfilled. As the sun fell lower in the western sky, it created a perfect backdrop for the dilapidated exterior of the ice plant. With the sun gleaming off the water left behind by the melted snow, it gave the allusion of a newer, less worn building. I could almost catch a glimpse of the time when this plant was busy with trucks delivering ice to the homes throughout town. Today the usefulness of such a place was dismissed and therefore it was wholly discarded as such. That’s why I was drawn to this type of scenery, its worn exterior resembled my inner most feelings. This was the only time I was able to escape the darkness that surrounded my life by envisioning a much simpler time that occurred just beneath my feet. Thankfully many of these historical buildings in town hadn’t been destroyed by time or the tornado.

I finally felt more relaxed after my time spent around the ice plant and decided I’d better head home. The earlier I got home, the less likely I’d encounter my father. I drove out of town and was forced to pass Violet’s house in order to get to mine. I noticed Dean’s truck wasn’t there and a pang of jealousy passed through my stomach as I wondered where he might be and
who
he might be with. I immediately berated myself for even noticing or caring. He was probably still at the school, at least that’s what I told the green eyed monster who threatened to break loose.

Without even realizing where I was driving, I turned onto a side road that led to a place I’d avoided for a very long time. But every inch of my body wanted to be there, especially today. I drove off the main road and down a path covered in brush that was hidden from any passerby. I parked behind a row of trees, just in case my father possibly drove by and saw my car. I pulled out my trusty rain boots from the trunk and started the walk to my favorite location as a child.