No Turning Back (Full Circle) (11 page)

“Don’t forget about me this weekend.  I’m sure Cash is going to be waiting on you.  Just remember I want to get to know you, too.  He’s had eighteen years and has an advantage.  Just don’t mark me off the list yet, okay?”

“Okay.”  I give him a quick kiss on the cheek and go to my room.  I get my bag and tell Georgia that I’m heading home.  I’m about to walk down the stairs when I realize I left the envelope in the closet.  I turn around, grab it, and head to the Honda.  Just the thought of carrying that envelope with me makes me sick.  I don’t know what the hell is in there, and I’m not sure if I want to know.

I throw my bags in the trunk, put on my shades, open the sunroof, and head home.  Traffic isn’t near as bad as I thought.  The worst part is when I get close to Grassy Pond.  I don’t know why the Department of Transportation wants to put a stoplight every 100 feet.  I begin to get excited as I drive through what little bit of town we have. I can’t wait to see Tessa, Mom, Dad, Blue, and Cash.

When the Honda hits the gravel road heading to our farm, I grin from ear to ear.  As I pull onto the dirt road, I can see my daddy on the tractor in the field.  Mom must be at work, and Tessa must not be home from school yet.  I start to grab my bags when Blue rubs up against me.  I give him some good lovin.’ Oh, how I’ve missed this dog.  I rub his ears and give him a kiss on his head.

“Come on, boy. Let’s go unpack.”

Blue and I go in the house and I take it all in.  I have only been gone a couple of weeks, but I feel like it has been forever.  As I walk in, I can smell the familiarity of home, the smell of cows outside, sound of my daddy’s tractor, Blue’s touch as he nudges me, and the smell of my mama’s cookin’.  I make my way to my room.  I unpack my bag and decide the safest place for that god awful envelope in my purse.  I don’t know when I’m going to open it, but I do know I will be with Cash when I do.

Me: I’m home :)

Cash:  :) I’m fixin the fence by the club u can come help if u want

Me: c u n min

I better change really quickly.   I know better than to go help on the farm in “good” clothes.  I throw on a pair of old cut-offs, ratty t-shirt and my old Araits.  I start to walk out the door when I see Tessa making a beeline straight for me.  Oh shit, I think she’s gonna run me over.

“Char!  Char!”

“Tess, I’m right here.”

She greets me with a big ‘ol hug, and then starts being Chatty Kathy.  She tells me everything that has been going on, what’s expected at the game tonight, how she went to the pool hall and Cash went too, and then she finally looks at me. “Sorry, Char, I just got so excited!  I haven’t seen you in like forever and I miss your face!”

“I miss you, too.”

“What are you about to do, Char?  ‘Cause I know that wasn’t what you wore home.  I know you better than that.”

“’Bout to go see Cash.  He’s fixin’ the fence by the club.  Wanna go?”

“Hell no, I’m gonna leave that to you two alone.”  She giggles.

“Shut up!  It’s not like he’s gonna attack my face or anything.”

“Yeah, whatever!”  She smiles and walks inside the house.

I walk to the shed to grab my four-wheeler.  I can’t wait to get on it and punch the gas.  I know I better stop by Dad before going to the club.  As I get close to Dad, he stops the tractor and jumps down.

“Hey Char!”  He gives me a hug, and asks how I am.

“I’m good, Daddy.  Just about to help Cash fix the fence by the club.”

“Okay, you’re going to the game tonight, right?”

“Yeah.  I should be back at the house soon.”

Dad gets back on the tractor and I take off.  As I approach the club, I can see Cash.  I know he hasn’t noticed me because he hasn’t looked up.  Damn!  I feel like my heart is about to jump outta my chest!  Cash is squatted down with a 2x4, hammer, and nails.  He is shirtless with a perfect tan and pair of Carhartts.  He stands up to wipe the sweat from his head.  There is just something about a hot and sweaty country boy.  All I can think about is getting in those arms.  He looks up and does a double take.  He puts down the hammer and jumps over the fence with little effort.  He walks toward me with that half grin of his. 
Oh lawd!  Maybe Tessa was right! 
I put the brake on the four-wheeler and hop off.

Cash and I continue to approach each other.  After about three seconds of me trying to act like I’m not excited, I take off in a full out sprint.  Cash starts to laugh, and when I reach him, I jump into his arms.  Cash holds onto me for dear life and spins us around.  He hugs me like he will never let go.

“Well, Char-coal, that’s one way to know you’re glad to see me!”

“Cash Money, I’ve missed you so much!  It’s just not the same not seeing your face every day.” I smile.

He looks into my eyes and shakes his head.  He gives me several quick pecks on the lips before putting me down.

“So, you gonna help me or not?”

I shrug my shoulders, “I guess.”

“Well, that damn Joker is the reason I’m out here anyways.  Last time he jumped the fence he took part of it with him.”

I just laugh.  That damn goat.  He has the perfect name.  I walk with Cash to the fence.  Cash holds the 2x4 while I hammer it in place.  We have always made a great team.

Once the fence is fixed, we take just a minute to sit there and take everything in.  The farm is gorgeous today.  The sky is clear, I can hear the pigs in the distance, Dad on the tractor, and I have Cash beside me.  It doesn’t get any better than this.

Around 4:30, I decide to head back to the house to get ready for the game and visit with Mom and Tessa.

“Alright Cash, I gotta head back to the house to see Mom and Tessa before the game.  You riding with me to the game?”

“Um no, you’re riding with me,” he says with a wink.  I get up to head toward the house.  Cash stands up as well.  He pulls me into his arms, looks me in the eyes, and brings those lips toward mine.  He starts out soft and sweet, but before it’s over, he is devouring my lips with his.  I can feel my insides begin to heat up.  At this rate, we aren’t going to make it to the game.  That thought makes me giggle like a little girl.

“What’s so funny?” Cash says while he is still kissing me.

“Nothing, just think we might not make it to the game at this rate.”

He starts to grin and slows his kisses.

“Alright, I get your point.  So I’ll pick ya up at six.”

“Okay, I’ll see ya then.”  I kiss him quickly once more and ride back to the house.

I walk into the house, and Mom’s in the kitchen.  It smells like heaven.  There is nothing better than the smell of country cookin’.  She has my favorite meal in the works, country style steak, mashed potatoes, corn, and homemade rolls.  Yum!

“Hey Mama!”

“Hey sweet girl!”  Mom wipes her hands on the dish towel before walking over to give me a hug.  “You hungry?”

“Yup!  Nothing like doing a little work on the farm to give ya an appetite.”

She walks back to the stove to finish supper, and I sit down at the bar.   We talk about school, swimming, and what has been going on at home.

“Charley, hun, if you’re going to the game, you better get ready while I finish supper.”  I look at my watch, oh crap.  I go upstairs to get a shower and get ready for the game.

The Dixon-West game is the biggest rivalry of the season in Grassy Pond.  It’s been that way since the schools were built. Tonight every store will close, every person in town, and those that are from West High will arrive in our little rinky dink town to watch two great teams go head to head to see who comes out on top.  Tonight after the game, we all hope to celebrate a win at someone’s farm or the pool hall.  But regardless of a win or loss, there will be a party somewhere.

I get ready and decide that I’m going to wear my old Dixon High Tigers t-shirt that I have totally cut up, added ribbons and made original.  I grab my favorite pair of Miss Me jeans and my boots.  I leave my hair down, add make up, and I’m ready to cheer on the Tigers.

I go downstairs with about ten minutes to spare before Cash gets here.  Tessa comes down about two minutes after me.

“Dang, Char!  I love that shirt!  You’re gonna have to do mine like that!”

“Thanks Tessa, and you know I will.  So, you riding with Cash and me?”

She gives me the
are you crazy
look.

“Nah, I’m going to pick up Sally, and we’re going to go together.”

“Oh okay.  So, do you know where the post-game party is tonight?”

“Yeah, there’s a bonfire at the McCracken farm.  Y’all going?”  Tessa smiles.

“Not sure, but I’d guess so.   Cash never misses a good old country party.”

“I’ll see you at the game, Charley.  Ya’ll be careful. “

“You too, Tessa.  Call me if you need me later.”

Tessa makes her way out of the house and tells Mom and Dad bye, but not before grabbing a bite to eat and inhaling it.  Tessa is very different from me.  I always went to parties but rarely drank until I started dating Dylan.  Tessa loves to party.  I know she is smart enough to call me or stay put rather than drive.

Mom has supper ready, and I fix a plate. I text Cash that supper is ready when he gets here.  We didn’t discuss supper, but it’s kinda a well-known fact that if we’re going to do something and my mama has cooked, he’s always welcome.

Cash knocks and then opens the screen door.  He comes into the kitchen, and his mouth hits the floor when he sees me. He quickly picks it up before my parents notice.  We eat quickly, and out the door we go.  Mom and Dad aren’t far behind us.  Like I said this game shuts down the entire town.

I climb into the cab of Cash’s truck, and he looks at me like, really?  I slide over sitting right next to him.  He puts his arm around me, and I place my hand on his leg.  I give him a quick kiss on the cheek, and we’re at Dixon High before I know it.

Walking back into Dixon High is kinda an eerie feeling.  I loved and hated the school at the same time.  There were so many great memories but also my worst nightmare.  We approach the gate, and it’s like Cash can sense what I am thinking.  He grabs my hand, interlocks our fingers, and squeezes reassuring me that everything will be fine.

Once we are inside the gate, we see our entire graduating class, except for Piper and Dylan. Thank God!   We talk and catch up on what is going on.  We also make plans to go to the McCrackens’ tonight after the game.

At seven on the dot, the band begins to play the well-known beat before the Tigers come out and pile up.  That is a tradition that goes back to before my dad played.  All the players pile on top of each other, and by the end of the team, they are jumping and flipping.  It’s freakin’ fantastic.  The game starts, and Dixon has control of the ball first.  There isn’t much headway in the game.  Both teams aren’t giving up any yards, which is exactly why this game is such a big deal.  You never know who will win.

At halftime, the score is still 0-0.  When the Tigers come back on the field, there is a difference in the atmosphere, and that’s when the Tigers get the break they were looking for.  Crawford #45 gets an opening and that’s all she wrote.  TOUCHDOWN Tigers!  We are all screaming.  The field goal is good, and now West has the ball.  They get a little more yardage, but not enough to make a difference.  We hold them the rest of the game.  With thirty seconds to go, the band starts to play the well-known tune… Nah, Nah, Nah Nah… Hey, Hey, Hey … Good Bye!

After the game, we walk back to the truck and see Tessa and Sally on the way. “Hey Char, we’ll see you at the McCrackens’ and I’m staying with Sally tonight.”