The Magnolia Cafe(26)

Natalie grabbed another tissue. “It’s all so twisted now, though. I’ll always have these doubts.”

Hunt squeezed her hand. “You shouldn’t. I know you made him happy. And he was a great dad. He loved being a dad.”

“He was. He loved his boys. He felt so guilty when he realized he wouldn’t be around to help raise them, to see them grow up.”

“It must have been very hard on him.”

“I think he felt like he was getting punished for his part in the accident.”

Hunt reached up and rubbed the muscles in his neck. “I wish I would have been here for him. Could have talked to him. The poor guy.”

He was Kevin’s best friend, and he hadn’t been there for him. Add that to the list of responsibilities he’d miserably failed.

“He made me swear I’d never tell his secret. You can’t tell anyone. He was so ashamed of what he did, and so ashamed he never claimed responsibility when he came back. But at the end, he didn’t want to be remembered as the man who caused Katherine’s accident. Didn’t want that for the boys. He never wanted the boys to find out. Ever.”

“I won’t, I promise.”

“So, you see why I wanted to work at the cafe and help out Keely? For Kevin. But, it ends up I really do love working there. I like getting out of the house and talking to people. I like hearing the town news. I really like working with Keely and Becky Lee… and you know the silly thing? I feel guilty for enjoying the job. Like I’m not helping Kevin out since I’m enjoying it so much.”

“You’re a bit of an over thinker, aren’t you, sis?”

“A bit. But I can’t help it.” Natalie shook her head. “I was so glad when you offered to help Keely and Katherine with the patio. I feel like we owe that family so much. They’ve been through a lot, it’s the least we can do. For Kevin’s sake.”

~ * ~

Hunt grabbed an ice-cold beer out of the fridge and went out to sit on the porch. The night was cool enough that he’d had to pull on a sweatshirt. He sat on the porch swing and watched the moon climb higher in the star lit sky. The moon cast dancing tree shadows spilling across the yard. For a moment he considered going back in and grabbing his camera, but he didn’t want to disturb Natalie. She’d fallen asleep on the couch in exhaustion from the day or from the trauma of telling Kevin’s secret, or more likely, both.

Kevin. He couldn’t get him out of his mind. He should have been here for his friend. Helped him deal with everything. At the very least he could have eased his mind with promises to help out Katherine and her family.

A cloud chased the moon in a game of tag, and the front yard was swallowed in darkness. Hunt took a long swallow of beer and stared out into the night, not really seeing anything, lost in thought.

“Hunt?”

He looked up. Keely stood on the top porch stair, one hand on the railing. The moon ran out from behind the cloud at that very moment and the moonlight drifted around her shoulders like a blanket, wrapping her in an unearthly glow.

Kevin. He looked up at the stars and almost nodded. I got this one, buddy. Don’t worry about a thing. I hear you.

“Hey, Keely. What’s up?” He kept his voice low. Afraid to break the spell he was under, or whatever it was. A chill ran up his spine.

“I was walking home and I thought I’d come home by way of Natalie’s house. I was wondering if you had any luck getting the pavers today.”

“I got some of them. Enough to get started. Don’t worry about it, I’ll get the rest.” There was no way he was telling her there was a possibility that he couldn’t find matching pavers. He would scour the whole country if need be. He’d cross that bridge when he came to it. Cross that bridge when he came to it? That wasn’t his thought, wasn’t something he said. But it was a phrase Kevin used to use. A lot. A shiver ran through him.

“You want to sit down?” Hunt slid over to the side of the swing and motioned to the empty spot beside him. Please sit down. Talk to me. Convince me I’m sane.

“I could for a few minutes. I really should get home soon, though.” Keely crossed the wooden porch, her footsteps echoing hollowly against the boards.

She sat down beside him on the swing and a cloud swept in front of the moon again, plunging them into semi-darkness, lit only by the light drifting out between the curtains on the front window. He could feel her warmth up against him, familiar and friendly, yet unnerving. He absentmindedly rocked the swing with one stretched out foot. She sat quietly, chewing on her bottom lip. The sign he now knew meant she was thinking.