Later on in the afternoon, I hear someone pull in the drive. It’s not a loud truck so I know it’s not Jake coming back for seconds. When I step onto the porch, I’m surprised to see Will walking up the steps.
“Hey. Nice face,” he says with a grimace. “What happened to you?”
“I fell down.”
He chuckles. “Fell down and fell into my brother’s fist?”
“Something like that.” There’s a long pregnant pause before curiosity gets the better of me. “What do you want, Will?”
“Just to see if you’re as miserable as my sister.” That perks my ears up.
“I’m sorry your sister is miserable, but I can’t help that. She made her choices.”
“Yeah, I hear ya.” Another pause. “You know Jake was there last night before he came by to knock you around. He freaked out at her and walked out the door. Apparently, he’s pretty upset at her too.”
“Jake has a right to be mad, but he should be mad at me. I’m the one who broke the code, not her.”
“True, but that doesn’t mean he’s not mad at her for this mess too. He feels betrayed by two of the people he never thought would ever betray him.”
“Have you talked to him?”
“Nope. He won’t answer his phone. You know Jake. Give him a few days to cool off, and he’ll come around. He just needs to process all that’s gone down in the past twenty-four hours.”
“Maybe. He’s supposed to be working right now. We’re off tomorrow but then back on Wednesday and Thursday. Should be an interesting ride-along.”
Will walks over to stand in front of me. He’s just an inch or two shorter than I am and I’ve got broader shoulders and a more muscular physic, but he’s not afraid to stand nose to nose with me. “Whatever happens with you and Jake, happens. He’s a big boy. My concern is Avery and Brooklyn. I’m not picking sides. I’ve heard her side and it sounds like she’s taking responsibility for messing it up between you two. All I’m saying is if there’s a chance at fixing this, do it. No matter whose fault it was, no matter who said what, don’t let her go because of your pride. Because she’s not herself anymore. She’s miserable and sad, and I can’t fucking stand it. If she spends the rest of her life as happy as she was when she was with you, sneaking around behind everyone’s back, then I could die happy. I could die happy because I knew she was finally living the life she deserves. That she was loved. Are you that man, Maddox?”
I look up at Will as he turns and walks back to his car, his words like weights sitting on my chest. Am I that guy? I knew I was falling in love with her but was just too scared to tell her. Maybe she’s not the only one who didn’t trust. Maybe I didn’t trust her to return my love, either. So where do we go when we both have to learn to trust?
*****
Sitting in the small confined spaces of a squad car with someone who wants to kill you and bury your body somewhere in the woods isn’t exactly a great way to pass the day. Yesterday was the longest eight hours of my life, and today is proving to be just as difficult. The tension is so thick in the car you could cut it with a knife. I could probably count on one hand how many words he’s said to me. Yesterday and today combined. I wish I knew where to go with this, but honestly, Will’s right. I just need to let him be and when he’s ready to talk, he’ll talk. As long as he doesn’t throw any more punches.
We pull up in front of the bakery and Jake throws it in park. He gets out and goes inside without as much as a glance in my direction. I check the clock on the dash which says eleven forty. That means Avery isn’t here yet on her lunch break.
Jake’s standing at the counter talking to his mom. I decide to check email on my phone while I wait for whatever it is he’s doing in there.
A few minutes later, I hear a knock on my window. Elizabeth Stevens is standing on the sidewalk and bends down to look in the window, giving me a friendly smile. I roll down the window and smile back.
“What are you doing out here, honey?” she asks.
“Oh, I don’t think I’m welcome right now in the bakery with him.”
“He has always been my most stubborn child. Bull-headed as all get out, that one is.” Elizabeth laughs a little and continues on. “You know, Maddox, I don’t know everything that’s going on between you and Avery and Jake, but I do know that everyone is hurting in their own way right now. And someone has to take the bull by the horns and make this right. You’ve always been like another son to me. I love you just like I do my own boys. You are caring and kind and have the biggest soft spot for helping people. Well, there are two people right now that need your help. Things are happening that they, and you, don’t understand. Talk to them. Figure out if there is a way to make this right. If after you talk to them and you discover that it can’t be fixed, then fine. Move on. Life doesn’t stop because you get knocked down, Maddox. Get up, dust yourself off, and move forward.” She gives me a warm, caring smile that I can’t help but return.