Rotten (28 page)

After passing through the strip, we headed towards Lake Mead. I tapped David on the shoulder to let him know I was about to let go. Using his horn, he signaled that it was time. I popped the top of the can, shoving the lid into my pocket. Saying a little prayer, I slowly began to shake the ashes on the road behind us. Everyone yelled above the loud motors in celebration of Stephen Knox, forever a part of the thing he loved so much.

I didn’t cry, surprisingly. I could only hope my life was lived as well as his. Not only was I given the gift of seeing who my daddy really was, I was given the chance to become the person I should be.

The closer we came to I-70, the bikes began to split off in various directions. David and I decided since I had to return to Indiana to finalize the divorce, we would take advantage of the opportunity to ride. There was a large group we traveled with for nearly the entire journey, giving us both the opportunity to know my daddy in a new way. Hearing stories over beers in roadside bars and making new friends, I understood a little more each mile why my daddy loved this life and welcomed the distractions from the impending days to come.

I had told David everything that happened with Andrew and Erin and showed him the video. He shook his head in disbelief. What he found more surprising was I was able to remain so calm, yet told me I was a badass and he wished he had been there to see it go down.

In the two weeks since I had left last, nearly everything was complete. We accepted an offer on the house and arranged for an expedited closing so I could sign off on it at the same time. After the divorce hearing, we would be no longer bound by obligations.

I half-expected Erin to be present, yet Andrew was alone in the conference room. Walking in wearing jeans and a new leather jacket, I looked vastly different than the sweater set wearing housewife whose name graced the papers. I watched Andrews’s nose crinkle in disgust as we approached. He stared viciously at David, yet David paid no attention, further provoking his irritation. Giving David a deep kiss, I asked him to wait for me. I needed to do this alone. He kissed my forehead and smirked at Andrew before walking out of the building.

“I see you wasted no time running into David’s arms now, did you?”

Andrew’s displeasure with David was by no means concealed. He was livid about the fact that I returned to Sloan and was never coming back. His contentions with the divorce were a portion of the house sales to get a new place and offset the cost of starting over. Taking into consideration my new inheritance, I obliged without question. Thankfully, since I filed before my daddy died, he was not entitled to any of it, nor would he know about it.

For the first time I saw us as we really were. I felt sorry that he married a phony. I had lied to others and myself for so long about who I really was, I began to believe the lie. It was only when I was given the opportunity to be myself that the truth broke through ferociously. There was no going back.

After signing the papers, Andrew stood up and held the handle on the door before looking at me. The love for me he once felt had left long ago. He was a coward for not being honest with me. Nothing was gained by stringing me along except pain and lost time, both which could have been avoided. No longer would I be sad for what could have been, knowing that there was so much more to come. I texted David to return to come pick me up, but he didn’t come back. Walking outside to see if I had a bad signal, I caught David mid-swing as his fist was flying into Andrew’s face. A small crowd was already standing on the sidelines.

As I ran towards the two men, I could see that David had a thin line of blood coming from his lips, yet Andrew’s face was quickly swelling with bruises. The moment David saw me, he dropped Andrew, who then slumped to the ground and crawled away from him.

“What the hell is going on?” I was frightened and furious. I didn’t bring him here to beat the shit out of Andrew, but I should have known that given the chance, he would. David was itching for this moment.

“Baby, he came after me and threw the first punch. I was sitting on the bench, drinking a cup of coffee, and the fucker wailed on me. There are a ton of witnesses.”

I closed my eyes as I heard the sirens approach. When the cruisers pulled up, they assessed the situation and placed both David and Andrew in cuffs. Witnesses gave an account of what happened, and I was instructed to wait. Once it was recorded that Andrew did indeed start the fight, David was un-cuffed and asked if he wanted to press charges. He rubbed his hands together and looked at Andrew, who was still sitting in a cruiser with an expression of resentment.

“No, no charges, officer. I don’t want to have to come back here because of that asshole. He won’t be fucking with me ever again.”

I exhaled deeply as David kept the ties to Indiana severed. Perhaps Andrew deserved it, but there were worse things in life than jail, and he was experiencing all of them.

The officer handed David a card and recommended going to a doctor to get checked out. David scoffed, thinking about all the fights he got into playing hockey, and this came nowhere close. We got onto the bike and headed away from the scene before Andrew was released, and then we set out to Fr. Laurie’s house as I promised. Pulling up to the rectory, I noticed that there was a sign hanging on his door. Walking up to read what it said, my hand came to my mouth in disbelief. Fr. Laurie passed away the same day my daddy did in Sloan. David would never have the chance to meet my sweetest friend.

“Annie, is that you?”

Margo came walking out of the parish office and towards the porch. Looking down at my clothes, I realized it was easy to be unsure. She looked at David and then back to me before tears filled her eyes.

“Annie. I wanted to tell you, but it’s been so crazy around here. I am glad I caught you, though. I have something for you. He would have wanted you to have it.”

Before I could stop her, she had turned and hurried into the office. I wiped the rogue tears away as quickly as they fell. I was thankful that I had been able to see him once again as well. It didn’t make it easier to accept that he was gone, but it gave me peace. Margo approached me with a small, paper-wrapped square. Gently unfolding the creased edges, I held the needlepoint picture affectionately. On a faded cream fabric, the red, stitched lettering clearly read the saying I had recently become so fond of.

Saints are the sinners that keep on going.

I showed David and laughed. I hugged Margo and asked where he was buried. Thinking it was somewhere close, I was shocked to know that his body was flown back to New Hampshire and the parish he was baptized in. I vowed to visit him if ever that way, and treasured the small token of kindness they saved for me. I tucked the frame safely away, and we headed towards the west, chasing the sunset until it was dark.

Before the last slivers of light disappeared, we pulled off to a chain hotel on the side of the road. Walking in wearing jeans and leather, I experienced for the first time in a while judgment based on appearance. Although it was subdued, the staff’s behavior was uncouth.

I crawled into the large bathtub with David and vented as the warm water soothed my aching muscles. “They have no idea who the fuck you and I are, and they are being super shitty because we rolled in on a Harley and are wearing leather. I want to call corporate and bitch.”

His finger went up to my lips to silence my loud rants. “Baby, it’s our world. We are all guilty of judging others. Save your energy to make a difference where you can. Tomorrow, we’re going to get on the bike and go back to our life. They will remain in their ignorance until something changes their opinion, but not by force. It has to come from a place inside.”

I pouted for a moment before crawling onto his lap and resting my elbows on his chest. I truly loved this man and the fact he didn’t feed my ego.

“Yes, Yoda,” I said as sarcastically as possible without cracking up. His fingers grabbed my ribs and caused me to scream out in laughter.

“You are such a little shit. I am going to teach you a lesson.”

“Oh, does it involve spanking?” I waggled my eyebrows expectantly.

David shook his head and pulled me down against him. “What am I going to do with you, woman?”

Gently biting into his lower lip, I tugged back and spoke into his mouth. “Whatever you want.”

“Ms. Knox, there is a student here to see you. Can I send them in?” The intercom on my office phone was entirely too loud, yet I found when I turned it down, it muted the entire system, and I missed important calls. There was no in between, and I wasn’t allowed to ignore them. I looked at the calendar impatiently, knowing it was my freedom anniversary and David would be finished soon, ready to go out and celebrate with my little sisters. It felt strange saying that after spending an entire lifetime not knowing they existed. However, between David’s insistence and the nagging feeling in my gut, I sent the first email and it turned into a whirlwind.

The first time we met, I was taken aback when Christian, the oldest, gave David a giant hug. Amanda followed and squeezed him just as hard. I stood off to the side, unsure how to react, but both girls tackled me and destroyed any hesitation from that point on. Looking into eyes as blue as mine, although they were strangers, was a wonderful feeling. Tonight I would be meeting my mother for the first time. It was easier talking to the girls, but speaking to Kaitlyn was brutal the first few times. Eventually I pushed through the hurt and discomfort, allowing myself to open up, but until now, I wasn’t ready to see her. A few weeks ago, something in me changed and implored reconciliation.

I hit the button and called them back. I had taken over as the guidance counselor for Sloan High School at the beginning of fall after taking a real summer break and traveling through Mexico and the Caribbean with David. We both needed to escape reality, and the warm palm beaches were the perfect distraction.

A young man entered my office with a sullen expression. I had seen him twice this month, and it was always for the same thing. He was a transfer student from Canada and was having a difficult time adjusting.

“Hi Brandon, what brings you back here again?”

I smiled as brightly as I possibly could, but I knew the answer. The other kids made fun of his accent and mannerisms. Although he spoke English, his nationality singled him out in a homogenous town like Sloan. I had offered suggestions, but nothing had worked previously. Breaking into cliques as a junior in high school is difficult for anyone, much less someone set apart as being different.

“I just want to go home. I hate it here.” He looked out the window and my heart sank.

“Did you go to the rink like I suggested? I thought maybe being out on the ice might help.”

He shrugged in his seat. “My parents can’t afford for me to play. I’d love to, but things are tight already. But it was a good thought though.”

“If you could play, would that help you?” I knew the answer; I just had to have him tell me. I wouldn’t offer something without knowing it would make a difference.

“Absolutely, I miss it so much, you have no idea.”

Brandon picked at something invisible on my desk, keeping his fidgety hands busy. He had so much nervous energy, I worried about him. He reminded me of David in so many ways, and I feared what would happen if he wasn’t able to channel it. I knew I couldn’t rescue every kid, yet I actually focused on helping kids, not just counseling them.

“Tell your parents that your season has been taken care of by David Stark. That includes your skates, sticks, uniforms, and a monthly gas stipend to get to and from practice. However, you must maintain a B grade point average to keep the offer. How does that sound?”

I typed a message to David while we spoke so my composure would remain intact. He would be thrilled to coach a kid like Brandon, and I was equally as ecstatic about being able to do this for him.

“Are you serious, you’re not messing with me are you?”

He didn’t believe that something like this was possible. I cracked a smile.

“One hundred percent serious. The email has been sent. Take these release forms to your parents and show up at the rink tomorrow after school. A physician is scheduled to provide physicals to all of the athletes. It is included in the deal.”

I printed an official letter for him to give his parents so they too knew this was not a hoax. As I handed it over, everything about him changed. A light sparked in his eyes, and he became buoyant with enthusiasm. His hands trembled slightly, looking at the letter repeatedly.

“Will you be able to finish your last class, or do you need an excuse? I know this is very exciting. Just remember there is a great responsibility attached to it. Do not take it lightly.”

He jumped up and went to hug me, yet I stopped him and extended my hand.

“Oh, sorry, I was just excited.”

I shook my head and laughed. “No worries, I will see you at practice. Be on time.”

I was confident this would be a catalyst in his life. I had to release it to become what it would be and not try to control it. For as difficult as it was for me to accept, I learned to embrace the unexpected. As we exited the doors, we came across a young girl being verbally attacked in the hallway. Holding my arm out to stop me and Brandon from being seen, I wanted to witness what was about to unfold without intervening right away. Bullying was still a terrible problem at the school, and I made it my personal mission to reduce, if not eliminate it completely.