One Moment (The Little Hollow Series Book 1) (4 page)

“I get it, I really do. Here, these should fit you. I’ve got a spare pair of boots that should fit too. Well, don’t just stand there staring, take them.”

I took them out of her hands and went to put them on. This was beyond weird, why was this stranger helping me out? Doing up my fly, I splashed some water on my face and looked in the mirror.

If death was a physical being, this is what it would look like. Sighing, I decided the quicker I got out of here, the quicker I could be at home under my comforter, hating myself.

“We’re about a five-minute drive to the bar. You could jump in with me if you’d like, I’m headed that way anyway?” she said when I came back out. I shook my head; I’d already took up too much of her time.

“No, thank you...Keeley did you say?” She nodded her head with a quizzical expression on her face. “I couldn’t possibly ask you to do any more than you have already done. If you give me a mailing address, I can have these dry cleaned and sent straight out to you. Once I find my purse, I will reimburse you for the motel room too.”

She stared wide eyed at me, then started to laugh. “What? Do I have something on my face?” Damn, I thought I checked before I walked out here.

“You don’t have to pay for anything or send anything back. I was staying here anyway, just passing through. And I’m sure there’s plenty more second hand shops I can raid to find some skinny jeans and a tank. Don’t sweat it.” She flipped her hand and started to close the duffel. “If you’re ready, I need to go hand the keys in.”

Hesitating, I thought about it. Coming to the conclusion I didn’t really have a choice, I picked up my things, which smelt awful, and followed her out the door.

On the way to the bar, we rode in silence which I was grateful for, I didn’t think my brain could deal with anymore small talk. Arriving outside, I turned towards Keeley. “I honestly can’t thank you enough for what you did. If there’s anything you ever need, I live in a town forty-five minutes south of here called Little Hollow. Ask anywhere for Samantha Reynolds, they’ll know where to find me.”

She looked like she was about to say something but thought better of it. “I’d better be going then.” I gave a little wave and climbed out her car. She rolled down the window.

“Hey, if it makes you feel any better, I was glad for the distraction. Take care, Sam.” She winked and took off.

Turning around to face the bar, I took a deep breath before walking in. The owners were not happy with me but readily handed over my purse after I had apologized profusely for my behaviour and I was on the road headed home in no time. My head was pounding and as I eventually pulled into the parking lot of my apartment building, a familiar car was sat there.

Getting out and making my way over, she wound down the window.

“I know this is weird, but I’ve been driving for days and I actually realized I’m not headed anywhere. What better place to stop in than a little nowhere town, sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just...look, I have nowhere else to go.” She looked down at her steering wheel.

“Why don’t you come on in, I’ll make coffee,” and she never left.

Getting on the road, I’d planned to drive straight through the day with a few stops to stretch my legs. I’d made the mistake of ringing my mom last night and she gave me the same speech she did every single year.

I knew what I was doing wasn’t healthy, she was just worried about me but I couldn’t let it go like she said I should. A vision of red hair and bright green eyes had me in a daze, the very thought of seeing her delicate face again with those sad eyes made my heart clench.

She never knew I was there when I watched her from a distance. I felt like I was bordering on stalker territory but I didn’t care. She was always right there in front of me and I was too chicken to go to her, to tell her how sorry I was.

A loud horn brought me back to reality and I realized I was driving in the wrong lane and pulled over, narrowly missing a semi by inches.
Come on Connor, get your head in the game.
I flexed my arm and turned the radio to my favorite country station, trying to concentrate on anything but Sammy Reynolds.

Hours later, I found myself getting restless. At six-foot-three, sitting in a truck for hours on end was starting to grind on me and I needed to stop. I was about three hours away from Sharlington, the next town over from Little Hollow, where I had reserved a room in a B&B, the same as every year. As soon as I arrived, I planned to drop my bags off and grab a bite to eat.

I needed an early night, I had so many things running through my head and this drive had really taken it out of me. I wanted to get what I had to do out of the way so I could leave as soon as possible, I didn’t want to bump into anyone. A couple of years ago, I’d bumped into someone that I used to date, if you could call it that, and I had to pretend I wasn’t who she thought I was, I hightailed it out of there so fast she didn’t have a chance to say anything back.

There was one person I hoped hadn’t stuck around town to bump into; my step dad. He was a flake and I assumed he’d bailed out as soon as he realized we left him, but one thing I’d learnt was to never assume. The thought of bumping into him made my blood boil, that man was the epitome of evil. Part of me wanted to bump into him just so I could show him how much better off we all were now that we weren’t under his control.

I wanted to tell him I fought through all the bullshit and became the man I am today but most of all, I wanted him to know that my mom had found a loving husband after years of being untrustworthy of anyone who came within a five-mile radius of her. I wanted to see his face as I told him she was finally happy after years of his cowardice. No man should ever treat a woman the way that he had treated my mom.

“But what if I don’t wanna move?” I didn’t understand why I was being pulled out of my school and having to move half way across the country just because of my sorry excuse of a step dad!

“Connor, please don’t make this any harder than it already is.” Mom looked around the door and closed it as gently as she could. “You know Tony needs this job now.”

I snorted in disgust. “It’s not me who beat you in front of the neighbors,” I tried to say it under my breath but she heard me.

“Connor Matthew Hartley! I will not hear those words come out of your mouth again, do you understand me? We’re a team but not only that, I’m your mother and I deserve some respect!”

Those words stung. “Yeah, you do.” I looked into her piercing blue eyes. They were so sad. “I’m sorry, mom.”

She nodded and turned around to continue packing. “Can I at least know where we’re going?”

She stopped and I saw her shoulders tense up. “Not until we’re out the state, sweetheart, I just know it’s going to be an adventure. You used to love adventures when you were little...”

As she carried on talking, forever changing the subject, it dawned on me that she didn’t know either. All I felt was emptiness and a longing for her to get up the courage to leave. Tears started to rise to the surface of my eyes and I quickly blinked them away, I was nearly thirteen now, I needed to stop acting like such a sissy.

That word was ingrained on my brain because it was used so much. I wasn’t even sure he knew what my real name was anymore.

I got up to help my mom pack and after ten minutes the kitchen door slammed against the wall. “Stephanie!” We both froze and I stepped in front of her instinctively. “Stephanie!” he shouted even louder, clearing her throat she gave me a look that told me not to say anything before answering him.

“Just in Connor’s room helping him pack darling.” She didn’t sound any louder than a little mouse. My step dad burst through the door with a scowl on his face and his rotund belly sticking out the bottom of his shirt.

“Do you not think this little sissy is old enough to pack his own things, hmm?” Mom looked from me to him, nodded and kept her head down as she exited the room.

He stood there staring at me but I refused to back down and remove my eyes from his lifeless gray ones. “Well? Get on with it then, the removals come at eight and I won’t be having you make me late boy.”

He turned on his heel and I couldn’t help but notice that he was starting to go bald and a little snort escaped me. I immediately threw my hands over my mouth but it was too late. All I saw was him come flying at me and felt the weight of him pinning me to my bed in a matter of seconds.

“Something funny, boy? Something to share with dear old dad?” All my bravado seeped out of my pores and I knew I had to say the right thing otherwise mom would try to come to my rescue and I couldn’t let that happen again, so I swallowed my pride.

“No, Sir! I had a tickle in my throat!” He looked my face over with squinted eyes.

“You’re lucky I’m in a good mood tonight, now get your shit packed!” he growled, giving me a small shake before pushing up off me and walking out of my room.

As soon as he was gone, I buried my face in my hands and made a promise to myself. One of these days, I’d be bigger than him and it will be on that day that he’ll regret ever laying a finger on me and my mom!

Scenes of my childhood remained ingrained in my brain, I’d learnt to lock them away in the back of my mind from an early age.

I just couldn’t take seeing my mom’s face, all beaten and bruised. Hearing her scream and the slew of insults we heard on a daily basis… they needed burying away. So that was what I did but it was times like this, when I was taking a trip into the past, that they came back full force.

Pulling over into a gas station to stretch my legs, I almost forgot to indicate and nearly got run off the road, again. I leant my head against the steering wheel until I pulled myself together and climbed out of my truck.

I had three hours to go until I reached the B&B and I needed to keep my wits about me, I couldn’t keep letting my mind wander. Grabbing a bottle of water, I paid and got back on the road.

As I pulled into the parking lot of the B&B, I blew out a sigh of relief at not having to be cooped up in this truck any longer. It was a quaint little place but it suited me perfectly. I stayed here every year and I actually looked forward to seeing the old couple that ran it. They were always so nice and never asked any questions, better yet, they didn’t know who I was because I always used my best friend’s name. I didn’t want them to know who I really was in case they connected the dots.

Walking into the building, the smell of freshly baked cakes hit me and I closed my eyes to take it all in.

“Well, look who the cat dragged in, Mac Jennings! How are you, dear?” Mrs Holroyd greeted me with a sweet hug and I instantly felt at home.