One Moment (The Little Hollow Series Book 1) (7 page)

“That’s very kind of you but I actually do have plans tonight,” I replied. She smiled in acknowledgment and I said my goodbyes before going for a much needed, cold shower.

All washed and dressed, I sat on my bed and decided to give Mac a call before heading over to meet Lewis at his garage.
The garage.
The thought of stepping inside there again gave me the shivers.

“Yo, dude! Where’ve you been? I was expecting you to call at least every hour.” I laughed, typical Mac.

“Ha-ha. I know you’re very capable and I trust you, I was just checking in to make sure I left you with everything you needed.”

“Yeah, sure you were. Everything’s A-Okay this end, we finished Sweeney’s roof today so the guys are getting started on the school refurb tomorrow. How’s your mom?” There was no mistaking the suspicious tone in his voice.

“Yeah, great thanks. Listen, Mac, there’s something I didn’t tell you about this school.” I paused.

“Well come on then, spit it out, I haven’t got all night, I have a date.” I snorted.

“A date? Is that what they’re calling a booty call these days?”

“Yeah yeah, just get to it, Con.”

“Alright, well, it’s a Catholic school so I need you to reign in that mouth of yours and brief the guys too. I want to keep a good reputation…Mac?” He was silent for a minute.

“Oh, I’ll be on my best behavior don’t you worry, dad.” I rolled my eyes at the tone of his voice.

“Just do it, Mac.”

“Alright, alright! Jeez, I think you need to go find someone to relieve all this tension you’ve got built up.” I looked down at my watch, it was time to go.

“Yeah, okay, like you are?” I waited for a reply.

“At least I’m doing something about it.” The teasing in his voice irritated me, he always gave me stick for not dating.

“And like I always say, I’m fine. Just promise me you’ll treat this job like any other.” He gave his word before saying a hasty goodbye. I’d deliberately kept the fact it was a Catholic school to myself until now, knowing Mac had a gripe with religion.

His whole family were Catholic but he didn’t agree. He believed that he’d had a stunted childhood because of it so he rebelled as soon as he had turned sixteen.

Now that was over and done with, I grabbed the keys to my truck and left for Little Hollow.

The fifteen-minute drive had me in a twist of emotions. I was always careful not to bump into anyone and be spotted but that wasn’t possible now that I was driving to meet up with an old friend.

Pulling over at the side of the road, I wasn’t sure this was such a good idea anymore. It was nice to see Lew yesterday but the more I thought about it, the more I wondered whether it was such a good idea. If I was honest with myself, I just wanted to hear about Tony and get out of there. As much as I didn’t care about him, it chilled me to know all of these years I could’ve bumped into him right here.

I started my truck up again and pulled off, deciding to meet up with him.

Pulling up outside the garage, I noticed the sign read ‘Mitchells’ now. It had been done up a lot since I last saw it, I’d never ventured into this part of town when I came back so I hadn’t known.

Getting out and walking to the side door, I took a deep breath before walking in. I found Lewis in an office towards the back of the building and knocked on the door.

“Hey, man, I wasn’t sure whether you were going to show.” He tucked a sheet of paper into a file and stood up, motioning for me to follow him. We walked into what looked like the break room and he went for the refrigerator to pull out two beers.

“Well I won’t lie to you, I debated not coming but decided I needed to man up. The thought of him having ever worked here creeps me out.” I squinted my eyes as he looked away, his back stiffened.

Finally, he sighed. “Works here.”

My eyes bulged out of their sockets as he let that blow settle in.

“I’ve got to tell you, Con, I don’t like him working here but I didn’t have a choice, he knew how close we were and threatened unfair dismissal if I even tried to do anything when I took over the place...he…he’s a good mechanic, I…” In that moment, I didn’t blame Lewis, this was his livelihood and I told him so.

“I just can’t believe he had the nerve to stick around after the humiliation of us leaving him,” I shook my head. “What?” I asked when Lew looked away and he blew out a quick breath.

“He told everyone your mom went crazy and admitted herself into a mental institution and because he wasn’t your legal guardian, you had to go live with your grandma.” My hands clenched into fists at the audacity of him. I didn’t even have a grandma.

“I can’t fucking believe this! After everything he put us through, he got to stay in town with a job and roof over his head while me and my mom had to hop from one motel to another.” I stood up, finding it hard to control my temper at what he’d told people, my feet moved of their own accord and I started pacing.

“Con, I hate to tell you this, but I feel as if I shouldn’t leave anything out.” I sat down, waiting for what was about to come.

Nothing could’ve prepared me, I was gobsmacked. Turns out he met some twenty-one-year-old girl five years ago, married her, adopted her six-year-old daughter and they’ve had a kid of their own. It made me feel physically sick that anybody would have got together with a wash out like him. Those poor kids being brought up how I was didn’t sit well with me. I’d had a major shift in my mood and I didn’t feel much like being here anymore.

Lewis cleared his throat bringing me out of my thoughts. I started to stand up while thinking I’d not actually found out where my step-dad was, I didn’t want to be here when he returned but at the same time, I couldn’t help picture those helpless kids.

“Does he still live in the same house?” I asked.

Lewis rubbed the back of his neck. “He does but before you go out all guns blazing, he isn’t here and he won’t be back until Tuesday next week, he’s away getting a specialized part.” I sucked in a deep breath to calm myself down.

“I can’t say I saw this coming.”

Lew was silent for a few minutes. “It’s understandable for you to be angry, Con, what that man did to you, well, I can’t even call him a man.” I did
not
want to go into that right now.

“Sorry, Lew, I’ve gotta go.” He stood up and walked me towards the front of the garage.

“I know we’re practically strangers now but if you ever need a friendly ear, you know where I am.” He said when we were closer to the door. “How long you in town for?”

I didn’t have time to answer and jerked back as the girl with the jet black hair from last night walked in nearly crashing into me. What was her name again? I couldn’t quite remember.

“Oh, hey, Keeley,” Lewis huffed. Keeley, that was it, Sammy’s best friend. I recovered from nearly being ran down and turned to Lew.

“I’m not quite sure yet but thanks for the beer Lew. I’ll see you around.” With that, he shook my hand and I walked out in a daze. I took a lungful of the fresh evening air in as I stared up at the sky, it was time to do what I came here to do.

Going to my truck to grab what I needed, I couldn’t resist the urge to see Sammy so I decided to walk and see if she was in her salon.
Her
salon, I was proud of her, more proud of her than I was about my own business.

As I turned the corner onto main street, I shivered, it wasn’t cold in the slightest and there was no breeze but the atmosphere seemed different somehow. I came to the conclusion it was just me coming back here with so many memories involved in this one little town, mixed in with what I’d just found out.

I’d never had this feeling before but I ignored it and carried on. Stopping at the opposite side of the road to the salon, the sight inside took my breath away, there was Sammy singing quite animatedly while sweeping up the floor.

She was as beautiful as ever and she had her long, flaming red hair all bunched up on the top of her head, wearing a simple tee and jeans combo that hugged her curvaceous figure in all the right places. It was all I could do to stop myself from barging in there and taking her in my arms. Then how I left her came flooding back to me, I couldn’t enter her life and tip her world upside down, it would be selfish of me. With that thought, I turned on the spot and headed towards the beach.

Putting the broom down I turned to look out the window at the front of the salon, I could have sworn someone was watching me. Turning back around, I carried on sweeping while humming to myself.

Today had been such a long day, I was up for hours last night writing a plan of action for the fundraiser. The salon had been relatively busy too but I wouldn’t have had it any other way, being busy meant keeping my mind busy.

Speaking of busy, Kee sure seemed eager to finish up and go apologize to Lewis so I told her I’d clean up so she could go early. I had a feeling that she liked him, more than she let on, but she’d never admit to it.

Stretching my back out, I looked around the salon, it was both mine and Keeley’s pride and joy. Coming from a broken home wasn’t easy but I also wasn’t the type to sit around and let things rule my life. I wanted better for myself and I wanted to prove that I could do anything I put my mind to.

If Tommy was looking down on me in any way, I wanted to make him proud. Thinking about Tommy made the familiar ache creep back and I felt this pull towards the dock that I couldn’t explain.

I finished sweeping the floor and locked up.

The walk down there was beautiful, the air was warm and the sun was still up in the sky giving off the dusky pinks it normally did at this time of day. I stopped as I got to the middle of the park, looking at Old Oak where me and my old best friend used to frequent. Sighing, I looked away, it brought up too many emotions from a past life I’d rather forget.

I carried on walking towards the beach, taking in every sound, scent and sight. Speaking of sights, as I made my way across the beach, there standing at the end of the dock was a beautiful man. I stopped short, he had his back turned away from me but I could tell he was as handsome as I pictured him to be. Tattoos covered his muscled forearms and I watched them tense as he ran his hands through his hair. It made me want to move closer so I stepped forward. No one had ever made me feel the way he did, I never found anyone attractive. Well, not since
him.

I shook my head as I got closer, sure that I was imagining things but then it made sense, why I felt this way just from looking at him. I gritted my teeth as a thousand thoughts ran through my head.

He turned slightly, letting me see half of his face and I couldn’t help but call out to him “Connor?”

Walking through my new school halls, I realized how out of place I was. We lived out in the sticks now and judging by all the stares I was getting; they didn’t get many new kids here.

I hated being the centre of attention and right now, I was just that. Following a random students’ directions to the main office, I found it in no time, it wasn’t as if the school was that big anyway. I’m just glad my mom finally gave in and let me come in alone. I was big enough to come in by myself, I didn’t want to be seen being walked through the halls by her.

Another group turned around to stare at me and my stomach clenched, being the new kid would die down soon enough. I hoped.