The Long Road Home [The Final McCassey Brothers Book] (33 page)

Just then, Blackie stepped forward and knelt in front of her. It was strange being the same height as him for once.

"Angel and I want you to come home, Georgia. Things will be different this time,” he promised. “I ain't gonna smother you. At least I'm gonna try not to. I finally figured out that I acted like such an asshole because I didn't want you throwin’ your life away like I did. I was tryin’ to keep you from makin’ my mistakes, but I know now that makin’ them mistakes is the only way you're gonna learn ... just like I did.

"I realized the day you left that you may look like Judd and be smart like Rebel, but that hot temper of yours is all mine. Most likely, that one fight we had ain't gonna be our last; we'll probably go a thousand more rounds before I'm too damn old to argue with you. But I promise you, little girl, I ain't never gonna lay a hand on you again. Never,” he swore. “I'd die first before hurtin’ you again."

Blackie wanted her back ... Georgia didn't think she'd ever been so happy.

She threw her arms around Blackie's neck, squeezed, then backed away. “I love Rebel,” she began, then paused, turned to Reb, and did her best to look apologetic. “I do,” she assured him, “even though I never thought I was good enough to have your love."

She was awarded with a wink and a nod from the brother who's outward, I-have-it-all-together appearance had once intimidated her, and knew then that the two of them were finally okay.

"And I can't help feeling so close to Judd,” she continued, once again focusing on Blackie. “He killed Dolan, so I feel like he saved me. Like he was the one who made the world safe for me again. He's understanding and easy for me to talk to, and always does what he can to make me feel better, even when he knows it's something you'd kick his ass for.

"But you, Blackie,” she said, reaching out and gently running her hand down the side of his stubble covered face, “with your rules, watchful eye, and most-of-the-time annoying, overprotective personality—are the closest thing I'm ever going to have to a father. I love you, I respect you, and I want you to be proud of me."

Blackie blinked, lowered his head momentarily, then looked at her again. Taking her small hand in his much larger one, he gave it a slight, reassuring squeeze. “I am proud of you, Georgia. Half the men I was in prison with wouldn't have been able to survive what you've been through. And not only did you survive it, you moved past it and put your life back together."

"With help from all of you ... and Wade."

"It don't matter how many people attempted to help you. Ain't no one woulda been able to do anything for you if you hadn't been willin’ to help yourself. If I'd been in as deep as you—had the kind of things happen to me that happened to you—I ain't sure I woulda been able to get over it. You're stronger than you give yourself credit for, little girl."

She gave Blackie a half smile, trying desperately not to cry. “Thanks. I needed to hear that."

"So what do you say?” he asked. “Are you gonna come home and give me a chance to do things right?"

"Yes, I'm coming home. But I want to do it with a fresh start. I want you to know everything. I need you to know what happened during the time I spent with Dolan. I know you said Bert told you a lot of it, but I need you to know the rest."

Blackie swallowed hard. Georgia knew he didn't want to know the horrifying, gory details, but she needed to tell him. The things she'd learned about her brothers and their pasts had helped her understand them better, and she knew this would help them understand her.

After Judd sent Jay back downstairs, everyone gathered at the kitchen table. Georgia focused on her brothers’ faces as they listened to her talk. She knew what they were hearing was probably killing them, but this was something she needed to do ... for herself and for them.

"But as bad as all that was, the one thing that kept me sane was thinking about the three of you,” she told her brothers. “I used to pretend that you were coming to rescue me; that if I held out long enough, you'd walk through the door one day and announce that you'd come to take me home. I thought about it so much that I almost had myself believing it.

"One day, I was so out of it that I actually called out for you to help me,” she told Blackie. “Dolan got angry and went crazy. He yelled things about you that sobered me up fast. That was the day I realized that he was afraid of you. And that if you ever did show up, Dolan would back down and I would be saved."

When she was finished, Georgia leaned back in her chair and released a deep breath. Her siblings were all quietly staring at her. “You don't have to say anything,” she told them. “I just wanted you to know so you'd understand me better, and so I could finally put it all behind me once and for all.

"Don't pity me, don't feel sorry for me, and don't treat me any different because of what you just heard. I just want to be Georgia McCassey; Blackie, Judd and Rebel's sister. I want to be part of the family again, and,” she paused and eyed her brothers, “I want to learn how to shoot a gun."

Rebel raised his brows, Judd choked on the sip of beer he'd just taken, and Blackie, Georgia could tell, was doing his best not to smile.

"We'll talk about that later,” Blackie said, sternly. “
And
about the lessons you need on how to fight when you're takin’ on opponents three times your size. Right now, there's somethin’ else we need to talk about."

"There is?"

"Yeah."

"What is it?"

"Not what,” he said firmly, “who."

"Who? Who do you want to talk about?"

"Wade."

This time, it was Georgia who was doing her best not to smile. A quick glance at Judd and Rebel told her that they were also amused. But the expressions on their faces also told her something else, too ... that she was on her own. If she wanted Wade, she was going to have to stand up to Blackie and fight for him.

"I love him and I want him in my life, Blackie,” she answered with as much confidence as possible. “And that's just something you're going to have to deal with. We're not having sex and we're not getting married. Right now, I just want to spend time with him."

Blackie was quiet for a full minute before he nodded. “Fair enough."

That was it?

He wasn't going to argue with her?

She had fully expected him to give her a hard time; tell her to stay away from Wade.

But he didn't.

Even as she quietly stared at him, waiting for him to change his mind, he never once gave any indication that he was going to.

That's when she realized that he'd meant what he said.

"That was a gift,” she stated, “wasn't it?” thinking that maybe he wasn't hassling about her feelings for Wade because he didn't want to fight.

"No,” he said seriously, “you earned that one, Georgia.
Wade
earned it. But I'm warnin’ you, the first time I catch you in tears because of somethin’ he did, Wade Pickett's a dead man."

She shrugged and smiled. “Fair enough."

[Back to Table of Contents]

Two weeks later

Opening Day, Hagerstown Tradesman Softball League

"Come on, Georgia,” Jay pleaded quietly from his seat next to her on the bench, “please! Don't you want to play?"

So bad she could taste it.

Georgia jammed the softball she'd been holding back into Judd's bag and whispered, “I can't, Jay,” hoping that Blackie, who was leaning against the fencepost with a clipboard in his hand because it was his turn to manage the team today, didn't hear them talking.

Jay crossed his arms in front of his chest and tilted his head, looking so much like his father. “Why not?"

Yeah, why not?
“Because I'm not on the team! And besides, McCassey's Garage already has a pitcher."

Jay sighed in frustration, making Georgia smile. He was so smart, and so savvy, that most of the time she forgot she was talking to a nine-year-old. “Brady's not a real pitcher, only a miserable excuse for one."

She laughed because Jay was right. Her cousin Brady—although he had a good windup and made powerful throws—hadn't thrown a strike in two innings. “Still, it's his position,” she explained, “I can't take it away."

"Why not?"

"Because it wouldn't be right. Plus, there aren't any girls on the team."

"That's just because none of the other girls in the family want to play."

Jay was wearing her down—fast. Georgia really did want to play. But no one besides Jay knew she could pitch; there had been so many other things going on since she'd moved back in with Blackie and Angel, that she hadn't had time to think about telling them ... until last night, when Blackie had asked her if she was coming to the game today.

She'd almost said no. But Georgia knew that the guys took their softball games almost as seriously as they did their football. Her brothers’ feelings would've been hurt if she hadn't come to support them.

"I just can't, Jay, I'm sorry."

His slumped shoulders and the disappointed look on his face nearly broke her heart. Since Georgia had come home, the two of them had walked to the park and practiced pitching and catching every day after Jay had gotten out of school. Jay was an amazing catcher—just like Judd—and she was back to her old form, pitching better than ever. Jay was convinced she could blow away every batter she faced.

Georgia wasn't so sure about that, even though she would love to try.

Maybe another day.

"Goddammit, Brady!” Blackie swore, smacking the fencepost with his clipboard when the next two batters reached base on balls, walking in another two runs. “What's with you today?"

Blackie tossed his clipboard to the ground and sat down next to Georgia on the bench, giving up on his cousin. “That guy couldn't hit the side of a damn barn."

Georgia never had time to reply. The next pitch, a bad attempt at a curve ball, was a line drive straight back to Brady. Georgia knew it was instinct that made her cousin reach for the ball barehanded, and knew right away that his wrist was broken when the ball ricocheted off of it and sailed over toward third base.

The umpire called, “Time!” when Brady fell to his knees, and Blackie ran out to the mound mumbling something under his breath about Brady finally throwing a strike.

When her brother was gone, Jay jumped off the bench, bubbling with excitement. “This is it, Georgia!” Jay shrieked like a little girl. “This is your chance!"

Georgia's mouth was suddenly bone dry. “Stop it, Jay."

Time was still out as Blackie, followed by the entire team, walked back to the bench. With the exception of Brady, who was sitting in the corner of the dugout holding an ice pack on his wrist, they stood in a circle.

"Now what?” Kane asked.

"Now we forfeit,” Blackie said roughly. “The rules state that each team has to have nine players on the field and a manager on the bench. Whoever starts the game as manager has to finish it, so I can't fill in for Brady, and since we're missin’ two players today, we ain't got no one else to take his place."

Jay nudged Georgia, but she elbowed him back, silently telling him to keep his mouth shut.

"Dammit,” Judd swore, “I can't believe we're going to lose to a bunch of landscapers. They're never going to let us live this down."

The disappointment in Judd's voice made Georgia feel guilty. Her brother's team shouldn't have to forfeit the game. Before she could stop herself, Georgia shouted, “I'll do it!"

Everyone, with the exception of Jay, who had let out a loud cheer, fell silent and turned to look at her.

"You'll do what?” Blackie asked.

"I'll fill in for Brady."

It was sort of funny, having Blackie stare at her the way he was ... like she'd just announced she was going to run for president.

"Georgia—"

"She can do it, Uncle Blackie!” Jay said in her defense. “You're not going to believe how good she is!"

"Can you pitch?” Blackie asked seriously, ignoring Jay.

She nodded.

"Are you sure?"

She nodded again, hating the fact that he doubted her.

"What about a glove?"

"She has one!” Jay announced, surprising Georgia. And sure enough, he pulled her glove, which she had no idea he'd taken, out of his backpack, and handed it to her.

Blackie looked at the rest of the team, settling his gaze on Judd and Rebel, who both nodded their heads yes.

"What'll it be, McCassey?” the home plate umpire called to her brother.

"We're addin’ another name to the roster,” he called out loud enough so the manager of the other team could hear. Then, after spelling Georgia's name for the woman keeping stats for the landscapers, Blackie dug into the equipment bag and pulled out the smallest team jersey he could find. He handed it to Georgia. “You can change in my truck."

Then Blackie tossed Jay a ball. “Get her warmed up. You got ten minutes."

Georgia jumped off the bench and ran to Blackie's truck, where she put her hair into a ponytail; not even caring that the scar on her temple was visible. Then she used a switchblade from the glove compartment to cut the sleeves off the shirt. When she was finished, she jumped out of the truck and walked to where Jay was waiting for her.

"I should kill you for this, you know,” she told him.

Jay did nothing but grin. “You can kill me later. Right now, you have a game to pitch.” He tossed her the ball and they walked behind the snack bar.

After five minutes of throwing, Jay signaled to her that it was time. “Are you ready?” he asked, taking the ball Georgia offered him.

She swallowed hard. “I don't know. I feel like I'm going to throw up."

"Good,” he said, happily, “then you're ready."

"I don't know, Jay—"

"You can do this, Georgia,” he encouraged as they made their way toward the bench. “You're the best softball pitcher I've ever seen. The guys’ jaws are going to hit the floor when you throw that first pitch, and I can't wait to see it."

Blackie was motioning for them to hurry, so Georgia and Jay jogged the rest of the way to the bench. When they got there, the rest of the team, which included, Judd, Rebel, Flynn, Frank, Jimmy, Kane, Wade, and their cousin, Tank, all nodded to her before retaking the field.