The Trouble With Scarecrows (The Trouble With Men Book 2) (16 page)

Chapter 28

Brenda pulled up to the little green house and checked the map on her phone. She and Zadora had put their heads together and figured Neal might have gone home, and then Brenda had called Larry to get the address.

Since Neal’s truck wasn’t in the driveway, she knew he wasn’t here, but it was the only lead she had. Maybe he’d already been by or was on his way.

The leaves of the tall oak trees rustled in the wind as she walked up the sidewalk. Brenda wished she had a place like this to go home to. She had no family childhood home, no house with a fence in the backyard, a little flower garden, or a sidewalk out in front. She and her dad had moved from apartment to apartment, and all of them had been so much alike - same white walls, same beige carpet - she’d lost track of them individually.

Another person swiftly passed through her mind as she walked up the steps to the front porch—her mom. She had no real memory of her; she had died when Brenda was a year old. Her dad would talk of her fondly until Brenda noticed the pain in his eyes and would change the subject. Although Brenda never complained to her dad and tried to tell herself it wasn’t his fault, that her dad had done the best he could, the truth was she did feel a little let down by her childhood. Maybe there was even a tiny bit of animosity coming to the surface.

Funny, a few weeks ago, she’d thought her struggles growing up had made her a stronger person. But perhaps she was only good at hiding her lack of self-confidence. At least she recognized it now so she could make it her mission to work on it.

She knocked on the door, and a few minutes later she heard “Who is it?” in a rather harsh voice.

“Hi, Mrs. Parker? I’m trying to find Neal.”

“He doesn’t live here.”

“I know. I was hoping you could help me find him.”

The door cracked open and was stopped by a chain. “I know my tree is dead but unless you are going to cut it down for free . . .”

“I’m not here about the tree.”

“You’re not one of those church people, are you? I told y’all I have my own relationship with God. I don’t need your doom and gloom.”

“No, really, I’m a friend of Neal’s and was wondering if he’s been by today.”

“Ha. He don’t ever come visit his mama.”

“Right,” Brenda whispered, remembering the conversation she’d had with Neal about his problems with his mom. “Do you know where I could find him?”

The door shut and Brenda exhaled, already trying to figure out what she should do next. Maybe she could sit in the car, like some cop on a stakeout.

But then the door opened and a tiny woman with salt-and-pepper hair and dressed in a tank top and blue jeans said, “Come in. Sorry about that. You can’t be too careful these days. You said you’re a friend of Neal’s?”

“That’s right.” Brenda stepped inside. The house was cozy and clean and probably had the same décor it had had in the eighties. Brenda was drawn to the wall of metal-framed pictures; she wanted to see if there were any pictures of Neal when he was little.

“Have a seat. I’m Renée. Renée Parker.”

Brenda nodded and sat on the faded plaid couch in front of a long window that faced the street.

“You don’t look like the girls my son usually dates, but I haven’t been around him in a while, so . . .”

“We live in the same building but in separate apartments. But I don’t really live there.” She was surprised by how nervous this little woman made her feel.

Renée sat in a plastic chair, one that looked like it had been outside during a few harsh summers. “So if y’all live together, why are you here?”

“He left and won’t answer my calls.”

“Y’all had a fight.”

“You could say that.” Brenda swallowed, trying to hold back the tears she’d been crying all day.

Renée stared at Brenda, her eyes little slits, like Brenda was a suspicious character. Which Brenda supposed she was.

After a few awkward seconds, and after Brenda had managed to find her voice without breaking down, she said, “I need to find him to apologize.”

“What did you do? Did ya cheat on him?”

“Neal thinks I betrayed him. Which I guess I did. But only for a second, if that makes sense.”

“One second, a lifetime, it doesn’t matter in Neal’s eyes.” Renée voice was softer, and she lost that hardness in her face for a moment. What Brenda read into Renée’s face was remorse, easy to spot when you felt the same way.

“I really want to talk to him before it’s too late.” Brenda put her hand on her chest. “I love your son very much, and I don’t want to lose him.”

“Well that’s . . .” Renée shook her head and a frown appeared. “Wait. How do I know that you’re not some crazy stalker person?”

Brenda shrugged. “I guess I’m being one right now, aren't I?”

Renée frowned as her mouth gaped open.

“But I’m not! Believe me, I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think he had feelings for me too.”

“I see.”

“So do you know where I can find him?”

“My guess would be at my nephew Rocky’s.”

“I’ve met him.”

“I’m sure you have. Quite the ladies’ man. Is that who came between you two?”

“Oh, hell no,” Brenda said too quickly and then grimaced. He was Renée’s nephew. “I’m sorry. I’m sure he’s the right man for someone.”

“I like you.” Renée stood up. “I hope you and Neal set things straight. He deserves to be happy.”

Taking the cue from Renée, Brenda also stood. “Would you mind telling me where Rocky lives or at least give me his number?”

“No, I can’t do that. I can’t betray Neal’s trust. Not that I have it now, but I don’t want to make things worse. You see how he gets. If he wants to be alone, I should respect that. And so should you.”

“What?” Brenda found herself ushered out to the front porch. “But I want to apologize to him. Please, Mrs. Parker—”

Renée held up a hand for Brenda to stop talking and then moved her head and eyes in the direction of down the street as she said, “Yep, Neal and Rocky grew up on this street together. Always together. When there was one, there was the other. They lived so close that they could walk to each other’s houses. One green, one blue. That is, until Rocky got his driver’s license. He was always fond of the old cars . . . still is. And he still lives in his momma’s old house.”

Brenda hugged Mrs. Parker. “I’m so sorry,” she said, releasing her. I’m not a hugger. I don’t know what got into me.”

Renée laughed. “That’s okay. Do me one favor? When you do find that boy of mine, tell him that his sorry-ass mama is sorry.”

Chapter 29

Neal sat at the bar. He remembered this place, The Barn, from when he was a teen. He and Rocky would play pool and somehow Rocky had always managed to get whiskey in their soda. The bar had a new name now, Stella’s, and it looked a lot different—more modern, more girly, even. The only thing that had remained the same were the locations of the restroom and the bar. A dance floor had been built around the bar, so now you had to dance if you wanted a drink.

It was early, 8:00 PM,  and pretty much empty. He didn’t mind. The bartenders seemed to be busy though, getting things ready for the big crowd that was sure to be there in an hour or so. One couple stood on the dance floor, not really dancing to the country music, more like hugging and swaying. Neal felt a twinge of jealousy.

He drank his beer and felt someone sit beside him. The scent of cotton candy caused him to turn his head.

A pretty, very young-looking girl had sat beside him. She had long blond hair and a cute pugged-nosed profile. She didn’t call the bartender over or anything, just sat and stared down at the bar. Obviously, since she’d sat next to him when every other seat at the bar was available, she had already checked him out, maybe from a dark corner somewhere and wanted him to notice her.

Why not? What the hell? “Can I buy you a drink?” he asked.

“Sure,” she said quickly and quietly.

Neal got the bartender’s attention. “Get the lady whatever she wants.”

“I’ll take a . . .” She cleared her throat. “Sex on the Beach.”

“Sex on the Beach, huh?” Neal asked after the bartender left.

The girl glanced behind her. Neal turned to see a group of young women huddled together at a corner table. They had been laughing, but as soon as they noticed Neal had turned around, they all became quiet with huge eyes and uh-oh faces. He gave them a ‘what’s up’ nod, and they all began to giggle again.

“Friends of yours?”

“Yeah, I’m sorry. This was a dare. They all think I’m too timid when it comes to guys. This was really stupid. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. I could use the company, and we’ll give them enough where they’ll leave you alone. Okay?”

She smiled. “Okay.”

The bartender set the drink in front of her, which she sipped and then made a face. .

“You don’t even like Sex on the Beach, do you?”

“What? Oh.” She laughed. “The drink. No, it’s too sweet. But it is better then what they wanted me to order . . . a Screaming Orgasm.”

Neal laughed. “What would you really like to drink?”

“A light beer.”

“Done,” Neal said then called the bartender back over and ordered her the beer. “My name is Neal, by the way.”

“I’m Mandi, with an I.”

“Well, it’s nice to meet you.”

They shook hands. Her hands were small, delicate, and as Neal studied Mandi’s features, the thought that she was just a kid came to mind. But he was a bad age guesser. A lot of women looked younger than their age. And she had to be at least 21 if the doorman had let her in the bar. “So what do you do Mandi, with an I?”

“I’m a college student. Nursing.”

He felt himself cringe, physically and mentally, and growled softly to himself. Why did the fact that she was in college bother him? A month ago, anyone in a bar had been fair game. Even though she was a bit on the sweet side, she was hot and had approached him. Two weeks ago he wouldn’t have cringed. He would’ve already been standing beside her, whispering in her ear with a game plan as to how he would get her home. “That’s a good profession,” he said into his beer.

“It’s what I’ve always wanted to do ever since I was little. My mom’s a RN.”

What did she mean? Since she was little? She was still little—a little girl, right around his sister’s age. And why did she have to bring up her mother? There was a possibility that said mother was closer to his age than Mandi.

He cleared his throat and couldn’t believe what he was about to say. “Well, that should be enough to please your friends. I think if you take that drink back over there, they won’t hassle you anymore.” What the hell had happened to him? Why did he feel so much older than her? No, that wasn’t it—the girlfriends giggling in the corner, the dare, the games—No, not older, more mature. He wanted to spend time with a real woman, not a girl who had no life experiences and no heartbreak to compare to happiness. What could she bring to a relationship anyway?

“Whoa,” he said and rubbed his head.

“Are you okay?” She frowned. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I’m sorry. It’s been one of those days.”

“Oh okay,” she said with a shrug. “Well, there’s one more part to the bet. It’s stupid. They are so stupid. I know I shouldn’t let them pressure me.”

“What is it?”

“A kiss. I’m supposed to come over here, get you to buy me drink with a suggestive name and then kiss you. I wasn’t going to ask for the kiss. Not at first because, well, you’re a little intimidating.”

He let out a breath. At least she hadn’t said old. Nevertheless, that’s how he felt, and so the whole thing made him nervous, made him feel weird.

She arched an eyebrow and licked her pink lips. “But you know, now, I don’t think you’re scary at all.”

“Is that so?” The thought that this girl might not be as innocent as she acted eased into his mind. After the whole ordeal with Zadora, he wasn’t about to take anyone at face value. As she flipped her hair and made eyes at him, he wondered if the kiss was the last part of the bet. She had a new expression on her face and a gleam in her eyes, which he translated as “Come and get me.”

A week ago his answer would have been “Where’s the fucking door?”

“But you don’t have to kiss me if you don’t want to.” She bit her bottom lip as she placed her elbow on the bar and eased closer.

“He’s with me.”

Neal twisted around to see Brenda standing there, staring directly at Mandi, an air of sophisticated woman oozing from her in contrast to the young college girl.

Brenda placed a hand on her hip. “Now scram,” she said before turning to Neal.

As Neal tried to process the situation, Mandi climbed off the barstool. He touched Mandi’s arm, stopping her before she walked too far. “What the hell, Brenda? She’s not going anywhere.”

“You seemed like you were in need of a scarecrow.”

“I don’t need anything from you.”

Mandi looked down at where Neal held her arm and gently pulled away. “I’m going to go back to my friends.”

“Is it okay if I join you?” Neal asked.

“Sure.” Mandi said, taking a quick peek at Brenda. “I guess.”

Neal was about to get up when Brenda put her hand on his arm. “Please, wait. I really want to talk to you.”

Neal’s heart pounded and his jaw tightened. He knew Brenda well enough to know that if she’d tracked him down, she wasn’t going to stop until he talked to her. Fine. “Give me a second. I have unfinished business.” He stood up and turned to Mandi, who he couldn’t deny looked very uncomfortable. However, he ignored it, put the fact that a second ago he wasn’t going to go near this young girl’s lips or anything else, out of his mind. He bent over and kissed her. She didn’t kiss him back at first, she was most likely stunned and rightly so. But after a second, she did. It was the best and worst kiss of his life.

Neal looked Mandi in the eyes as he pulled away, hoping it served her purpose as much as it had served his. She gave him a slight nod, smiled, and then went back to her friends.

He turned to Brenda.

Brenda’s arms were crossed, and she had a scowl on her face, and Neal wasn’t sure if she was actually bothered by the kiss or if she was just getting impatient because he was taking up too much of her time. Larry might have been waiting for her in his fancy car. But then again, her expression kind of reminded him of that first day he’d met her when she’d found out that Larry and Haley were engaged. But he shook it off because he knew why she was here. To make herself feel better about dumping him.

“How’d you find me?”

“Rocky told me.”

“Bastard.” Neal heard Mandi’s friends from across the bar cheer for her. But he didn’t look that direction, everything seemed to blend in the moment, the music, their voices, Brenda’s anxiety. “How’d you find Rocky?”

“I visited your mom.”

“Shit, Brenda, what the hell? You know I don’t want her in my business.”

“I know. I’m sorry, but I was desperate to find you. But she seemed regretful and like she missed you. She told me to tell you she was sorry.”

“Oh come on. I can’t believe you’d stoop to using my mom.”

“That’s not what I’m doing. I desperately wanted to talk to you. I had to find you. I want to fix what I’ve broken.”

“There’s no fixing this. You’re getting back with Larry. There’s no way you can make me feel better, and there’s no way I’m going to make you feel better about it. So get the fuck out of here.”

“I made a mistake.”

“Really?” he said flatly.

She touched his arm, and he shrugged it off. He couldn’t let her touch him . . . it was just too much. He sat down and faced the liquor bottles that lined the shelf of the bar.

“I fell back to old habits without thinking,” she said. “I was so wrong.”

Neal tried to steady his hands as he reached for his beer.

“And I told Larry that it was wrong two seconds after you left. Nothing happened. I only betrayed you with my words.”

“So you figured out he was just using you for another booty call. That you would never be first, always second. And since he’s getting married, you’d even have a real title: mistress.”

“Okay. And maybe that’s what he wanted. But it doesn’t matter because I didn’t let it get that far. I had a moment of insanity.” Brenda sat down on the barstool abandoned by Mandi.

Neal eased his glance so he could see her out of the corner of his eye.

Her eyes were closed for a second, and then she took a deep breath before saying: “Larry is . . . was my family. After my dad died, he was the only constant in my life. I was accepted to plenty of law schools around the country, but I chose the one that would keep me closest to him. You’re right. He’s always been my number one priority, and I’ve always been his last, but I always held out the hope that one day he would see me. That he would realize that he loved me and was sorry he broke off our engagement. And so when I thought that was what was finally happening, I got sucked up into all those memories. But I know Larry is not the love of my life. Neal, you, you’re the love of my life, and I can’t live without you. I don’t want to live without you.”

Neal redirected his focus from the bottles to Brenda, and for the first time he noticed the tears and acknowledged the panic in her voice. He tried to get his thoughts together, tried to figure out what he was feeling. Anger, sure. But mostly he felt beat up, wounded . . . hurt.

Brenda said, “What if Alexandria had arrived on your doorstep and said she had changed her mind, that she left what’s his name and wanted you? Wouldn’t you have at least thought about it? Even for a second? Please come back to the house, and you can live there, and you don’t have to do anything but go to school. I’ll pay for everything. I’ll buy your groceries, and maybe one day you’ll invite me for dinner and we can talk it through.”

Neal cleared his throat and turned away. She had just called him the love of her life. Did that mean she loved him? At the apartment, she hadn’t flinched when he’d practically begged her to not to leave him. He’d poured his heart out to her like he’d never done to any other woman, and she’d still picked Larry. “It doesn’t matter that you regret your decision to choose Larry. What matters is that you did it. You didn’t even give our relationship a second thought. You didn’t give
me
a second thought. I was so easy to push aside.”

“I made a mistake. The biggest mistake of my life. Please, Neal, please forgive me and give me another chance. Come home and let me make it up to you.”

“I can’t just come back to the house and pretend that none of this happened. I can’t come back now and let you take care of me like some chump because you feel bad. That’s not going to work. Just because I’m broke doesn’t mean I don’t have my pride.”

“I didn’t mean that,” she said. “We’ll do it however you want.”

“Fuck, Brenda! You can’t toy with my emotions like this. I need some time to think about everything because right now, I can’t stand to look at you.”

She put her hand over her mouth as big tears rolled down her face. After a second, she nodded.

He found it interesting how easy it was to ignore her tears; his normal empathy bucket was empty. He had to get away from her so he could think. He was so weary he didn’t know if he could walk out of the place, but he had to. He picked himself up, crossed the dance floor, and left Brenda crying at the bar.