Irreparable (Wounded Souls) (23 page)

It’s been three months since those men came to my home and tried to scare Sam.  Three months since I
had to make
sure someone wasn’t tailing Sam.  Even though she put a restraining order on them, the big guy Tyler, he looks like he is out to get her still.  I mean come on, you raped a girl.  You deserved what you got when they hauled you to jail.  It pisses me off that he feels like this is Sam’s fault.  He needs to take a step back and realize it is no one’s fault but his own. 

I hear the ding over the door of the shop and I look up. I look up to see Alex yet again. “Pretty sure I told you I didn’t want to see you again,” I say and start to walk towards him. He holds his hands up in surrender and looks over his shoulder.

“Look, I needed a trumpet for my nephew for school.  I get it if you don’t want to help me.  I’ll just tell my brother to come get it.  I was just going to order it.”  He looks down at the floor a little embarrassed and then starts to walk out the door.

“Wait,” I say and walk over to the counter and then back to
him.  “There are a few in stock over here.”  I
look over and he smiles.

“Thanks.”  He walks over and starts to look around.  He comes back to the counter with a Yamaha 2335 trumpet. 

“It’s a great one
for beginners.”  I shrug and start to ring him up.

“Yeah, he’s only eight but he wants to learn to play so Garrett said he would get him one.” He pulls out his wallet and goes to swipe his credit card. “Look Carter, I know you don’t like me and I understand why. But, I need you to be careful. I really think Tyler is planning something. I was fucked up that night, and I live with the regret of what I did every day of my life. To know that I had a hand in affecting Sam’s life in a negative way,
eats at me, and I hate it.”  He looks up and then at the floor and I exhale with a sigh.

“Thanks.  I can handle Tyler.” I give him his receipt and then it clicks.  I wonder if Garrett is the Garrett that
Mary-Beth
was dating.  It wouldn’t surprise me.  “Alex, I respect you for what you’ve done.  It takes a man to own up to his mistakes.”  I reach over and extend my hand out
,
waiting for him to shake mine.  He looks at me questioningly before slowly sticking his hand out and gripping mine.  He lets go and grabs for the trumpet.

“See you around, Carter.” He smiles a sad smile and then leaves the shop. I swear things get weirder around here as the days go on.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lunch time rolls
around and I hear the ding above the door again.  I look up
,
afraid of who it’s going to be, but it’s just Kate.  I look at her and wonder what the hell she is doing here.

“Well, look at you Carter. You seem to have done pretty damn well for yourself.” She smiles and looks around at the shop.

“Hey Kate. What are you doing here?” I walk from behind the counter and grab her up in a big hug.

“I h
ad to bring Matt and Bella down here for their fitting for the wedding.  I can’t believe you are going to be married in a few months.”  She smiles and then wrinkles her nose.  “I heard about
Mary-Beth
.  I know that chapter in your life is over, but I am sorry.” 

I pull her into my side yet again and kiss the top of her head.  “Let me just close up shop and I will take you for lunch.” I start to walk to the door
and
she follows.  I turn to look at her.  “Wait, where are Bella and Matthew?”  I look around surprised they aren’t
running around with her.

“Sam has them.  She wanted to take them to the park and out for ice cream.  It’s great to see her with Bella.  I know that she had a hard time even looking at Bella when she was born. 
She just handed her over.” She walks with me to the little café down the road from the store. We walk together in comforting silence for a few minutes.

“How are you, Kate?” I look at her as we walk and she sighs.

“I won’t lie to you Carter. I miss Matt daily;
sometimes it’s a struggle to get up and get back to living without him.  It’s life though and I just thank God daily for giving me the man that gave me everything.”  She smiles sadly and then pats my shoulder.

We start to walk into the restaurant and Mason comes flying out of the door,
not paying attention and bumps into Kate.  “Shit, I’m so sorry.  Please excuse me
,” he says,
reaching for her hand. 

“It’s quite alright.
I apologize for being in the way.”  She blushes and then meets his eyes.  His cheeks turn cherry red. 

“Hi, I’m Mason,” he says.
I laugh a little at the exchange and he finally realizes that Kate isn’t the only person standing there. “Hey, Jameson.”  He rubs the back of his neck.

“This is my friend Kate Jackson.  She
is here bringing the kids to get fitted for their outfits for the wedding,
” I say and smile when Kate blushes.  What the hell is going on here? 

“Nice to meet you, Kate.” He smiles and then looks at us both. “Enjoy your lunch. See you around Carter.” I laugh softly as I see him checking Kate out from behind.
Maybe we should try to get them together.  It has been two years since Matt passed away. 

“Well, he was nice.” Kate smiles and walks to the booth the waitress seats us at. “So, what’s good for lunch here, Jameson?”

“They have the best pulled pork sandwiches and the fried pickles are to die for.” I raise my eyebrows up and down a few times and she laughs.

“Hi there, I’m Darla and I will be your waitress.  What can I getcha to drink?”  I look at Kate and gesture for her to go ahead and speak.  I look up at Darla and smile.  Darla has been working here over twenty years and has been serving me my lunches off and on since
then.
  Grandpa and I used to come here.

“I’ll have a Coke.” Kate says and then looks at me.

“Same thing,
Mrs. Darla.  You sure look beautiful today.”  I give her my cocky grin
,
flashing my dimples at her and she laughs her raspy laugh.  Smoking for forty years sure can make you sound not so feminine.  Darla’s gray is starting to show through her auburn color and I can’t help but smirk.   She wouldn’t be Darla without it.

“Sure thing,
sweet cheeks.  Where’s Sam today?” 

“She’s out with Kate’s son and niece getting some ice cream and going to the park. I’ll take the pulled pork and fried pickles please ma’am.” I hand her the menu and Kate does as well.

“I’ll take his word that they are good and I will go with that as well.”  She hands over her menu and then looks at me. “Jameson.  I wanted to give you something.  That’s why I came today.  It was Matt’s and he asked me to give it to you if something ever happened to him.  Please don’t try to change it.  I wanted to wait until you were happier in your life.  I love you and so did Matt.  I left it on your counter
at the shop before we left. I don’t ever want to see it again. Got it?” She looks at me as if she is waiting for me to argue with her. I won’t try to give it back.

“Fine Kate.” I take a sip of my drink and then grab a pickle and put it in ranch as soon as Darla sets my plate down.

“Save some room for dessert. I made your favorite,
Jameson.”  She pats my shoulder and I groan as the flavors pop into my mouth.

“Mmmm, peach cobbler?” I ask as she walks away.  She raises her hand over her shoulder to say
yes.
 
“That woman makes the best cobbler.” I smile as Kate eats a pickle and then bites into her pulled pork sandwich.

We eat our lunch and talk about how Matthew is doing and how Declan has been a big figure in his life.  I am glad that Matt has family that
can help so much. It’s nice to not have to worry about your fallen brothers families. Just like it’s nice that my mom ended up with Will’s dad, Roger. After we finish lunch, I walk back to the shop and Kate leaves me with a hug.

“Carter.” I turn to look at her. “I meant what I said, I don’t want it back. I appreciate you being a brother to my main man.” She gives me a sad smile and starts to walk away. I go into the shop and turn the closed sign back to open. I walk over to the envelope and open it slowly. I hear a rattling and the keys fall into place on the counter. Key’s I have seen before. They belong to the cabin by the lake we used to go to in Mississippi when we needed a break. I immediately think I can’t keep it. Then an idea comes into my head. I will keep it and keep it up and when Matthew is old enough, I will hand it to him.

“So, she left them for you huh?” I look up as I hear Sam’s voice. I look over at her and I smile.

“She did. That sneaky
woman.” I laugh softly and walk over to Sam and kiss her. 

“Seriously, dude. You need to stop that when I am around.” I look up to Luke standing there. “I also think Mason has a crush. He’s over there talking to that chick like she’s his only reason for breathing.” Luke looks out the door and laughs. “Yep, he’s
totally crushing.” 

“That’s funny, I remember someone looking like that over someone else with jet black hair,” Sam speaks as she nudges him in the rib cage. He grunts out.

“Yeah
, well we are kinda on a break for the time being.” 

“What? What the hell Luke? She is a good girl,” Sam yells at him and he looks distraught.
  I swear I hear something like
‘well her job isn’t good, but he mumbles it and I can’t understand it.

“I’m gonna go. I just wanted to walk you here Sam.” He turns and walks out the door.

“Bye Luke! Love you!” She looks back at me and smiles. “Now where were we?” She pulls me into a kiss and I moan. This is where I belong. This is going to be my life and I am looking forward to the next day, as long as this woman is by my side.

“Don’t forget about dinner tonight! I’m making your favorite!”  She kisses me softly and then starts to walk out the door.   I watch her walk out of the door and I walk to the back of the store.  I hear a scream coming from outside and I run straight to the door again. 

I see Tyler with his hands on Sam and Luke and I are both running to get to her.  Sam slams her foot down on top of Tyler’s.  Then elbows him in the stomach.  She then turns out of his grasp and slams her fist into his nose.  Who in the hell knew Sam could fight, and I mean like lay a man out fight. 

“That’s my sister!”  Luke yells and high fives Sam. 

“What the hell just happened?” I look between them both in shock.

“Well, I took self-defense classes in case this happened again.” She smiles and then kicks Tyler in the stomach.

“Sam, that’s enough.”  We all look up to see Officer Stephens standing there.  He walks over and grabs Tyler by the arm and pulls him up. 

“That is not enough. He needs to rot in hell!” She hisses and I pull her into me.

“Calm down.” I whisper as Officer Stephens keeps talking.

“Let’s see your daddy get you out of this one boy. I saw the whole damn thing. You’re going to jail tonight, and if I ever see you lay your hands on another woman I promise you’ll end up a lot more beat then she just did ya in for.” He winks at Sam and then walks Tyler down to his car.

“Damn, Sam that was sexy as hell.” I walk over to her and kiss her again.

“I figured he was going to be coming around again.  He was the one who provoked it the night it happened.  He held the gun to me and told me if I told he’d kill me.”  She shudders and I start shaking and start to turn to go kill the bastard. 

“Oh, no you don’t!” I feel Luke’s arms go around me and hold me back. “He will get what’s coming to him I promise you that.” He pushes me into the store and then nudges Sam. “Go calm him down, I gotta go see Skylar, we got into it again. I love you.” He leans over and kisses her on the top of her head and then walks off in the direction of his truck.

“Jameson, I am okay really. I need to get back to work, my car is about a block away. Come walk me?” I nod yes and wrap my arm around her waist and pull her to me. She sighs and I just smile.

“If something would have happened to you, I don’t know what I would do.” She smiles and kisses me on the cheek. We get to her car and I open the door for her. She kisses me on the lips softly then smiles

“Don’t forget about dinner tonight! I’m making your favorite!”  She kisses me softly
again before sliding into the seat
.  I wait for her to drive off just to make sure she gets away safely. 
I head back to the store and into the back.
I pick up my guitar and I strum a few chords.  Before I know it
, the melody of
Good Life
by OneRepublic
is coming from my fingers.  I smile to myself because in all honesty my life is good.   I am indeed living the good life.