Second Time Sweeter

  “Hey, Daddy. How’d it go?”

  “Went okay. Your homework done?”

  “Yep.”

  “Just want to let you know your mom’s coming to the reunion.”

  Tiff paused, looked him in the face for a moment, then refocused on her task. “She staying with us?”

  “No.” Tiff and her mother had always been close. In fact, right after the divorce, she’d been so distraught he’d worried about her daily. Colleen initiated the divorce, but Tiff believed that all he had to do was apologize and things would go back to the way they were. Now she seemed to have accepted the reality of the situation. Either that or she was hiding it well.

  “Did you tell Leah?”

  “I did, and she asked the same question about whether your mother would be staying here.”

  Tiff didn’t respond, and he wondered about her silence. He knew Leah’s moves better than he did his youngest’s because during the marriage she’d spent most of her time at Colleen’s side. “Do you want her to stay here?”

  “Doesn’t matter. I’m okay either way.”

  He couldn’t decide if she was being truthful. “I was just saying to Leah that you two never really talked about being in Atlanta this summer. Did you have a good time?”

  She looked up, met his eyes, and went back to her nails. “It was okay. Can we talk about something else?”

  That threw him a bit. “Sure. Do you have a particular subject in mind?”

  “Yes. I have a question.”

  “And it is?”

  “Are you ever going to get married again?”

  That threw him too, because the question was so unexpected. In the three years since the divorce, the subject had never come up. The earnestness on her face as she waited for his reply let him know how important his answer was. “I’m not planning on it. Why?”

  “I don’t want you to be lonely when Lee and I go away to school.”

  “Ah. That’s real thoughtful of you, Tiff. Do you have someone in mind for me?” he asked, keeping his tone light.

  “Not really, but will you think about it?”

  “I will.”

  She smiled for the first time. “Good.”

  “I’ll let you finish your nails.”

  “Okay. Thanks.”

  He left her and went back downstairs to watch Monday Night Football wondering how the trip to Atlanta had really gone.

  Bernadine spent all afternoon waiting for Tina to fly in from New York, but bad weather kept delaying her flight. It was now 7:00 p.m. and Tina had just called to say she’d made it to Chicago. However, due to a fall thunderstorm, Midway was under a ground stop. She and her pilot wouldn’t be flying out until morning. The news was disappointing. Bernadine wanted her friend to be safe, though, so she shut down her laptop and prepared to leave the office for the day. She’d just put on her coat when she saw Mal standing in the doorway. Flooded by conflicting emotions she refused to acknowledge, she asked coolly, “Yes?”

  “Just stopped by to say hello.”

  She waited. He looked uncomfortable and she thought he ought to be on his knees crawling over glass and begging for mercy, but she kept that to herself. “Do you need something?”

  He looked away for a moment as if gathering his words, then responded with, “Your forgiveness, but I know it’s too early for that because I haven’t earned it.”

  She didn’t respond because if she opened her mouth all kinds of ugly anger would spill out and she was too old to be screaming at him. Instead, she rummaged around in her purse and took out the small blue velvet box she’d been carrying around for the past two weeks. Pain rose as her mind replayed the words he’d said to her when she received it. I promise to be there when you need me . . . up front, honest, dependable. Box in hand, she closed the distance between them and handed it to him. “You can have this back.”

  He took it but didn’t open it. He knew what it held. “Bernadine, if I could undo what I did, I would. I know I hurt you. What we had was special. I’m so sorry I screwed it up. If I had just talked to you after we got back from Key West . . .”

  “Did you sleep with her?”

  The abrupt question caught him flat-footed. She saw it in his face but didn’t care. She wanted the answer.

  He shook his head and offered a quiet “no.”

  She supposed that meant something, even if she wasn’t sure what. “I’m locking up and heading home. Anything else?”

  “No, baby.”

  Eyes narrowed at the endearment, she almost told him what he could do with it, but kept that to herself, too. Instead she said, “I have to go.”

  He offered a terse nod and departed.

  She stood there fighting the urge to run after him and curse, yell, and run him down with a combine. She acknowledged the pangs seeing him again gave rise to. Accompanying them was Reverend Paula’s mantra of choosing kindness over rightness. But in this instance, she chose being right. After what he put her and the town through, that he hadn’t been arrested and thrown in jail was the extent of the kindness he’d be receiving. And unless things changed, it would have to be enough.

  She took in a few deep breaths. When her inner storm finally subsided, she hit the light switch and walked down the hallway to the doors leading to the parking lot. She stepped outside into the fading sunlight, and saw Mal sitting in his truck. She ignored him, or as much as a woman could ignore the man she’d given her entire heart to. Climbing into Baby, she started the engine and drove away.

  Chapter 4

  At sunrise the following morning, Mal lay in bed planning his day. At the top of the list: finding a job. He didn’t care what it was or how much it paid. It just needed to be better than what he had now, which was nothing. He’d ruled out returning to the Dog, at least for the present, because honestly, he was too ashamed. He wasn’t opposed to working in Franklin or one of the other nearby towns, though. Back in the nineties, after his veterinarian’s license was suspended due to his drinking, he’d been a janitor in a Franklin bank, so he was okay with what some people called menial labor and what others saw as a livelihood. Online was a good place to begin his search, but he was reminded that he no longer had access to the Dog’s computer and would have to log on somewhere else.

  His eyes strayed to the blue velvet box on the nearby nightstand. He knew Bernadine was mad at him. Considering his actions, what woman wouldn’t be? But he’d convinced himself that once she calmed down, she’d remember what they’d meant to each other, the good times they’d shared, and in a few weeks, she’d eventually forgive him. Now? He sat up and took the box in hand. He hadn’t opened it because of what the return signified. The end. The finale. Over. Done. He raised the lid and stared down at the small sapphire sparkling on its delicate gold chain. Purchasing it had given him almost as much joy as the look on her face when she first saw it. She’d been both surprised and moved. He’d called it a promise necklace, and recited a litany of promises, including being faithful and dependable. From that moment forward, she’d worn the sapphire necklace daily. Last night, she’d returned it, effectively gutting him and his hubris-fed dream of a quick reconciliation. Setting the necklace aside, he put his head in his hands. All he’d wanted was the opportunity to sport her around in the manner she was accustomed to, take her on a vacation he paid for, go out to eat at a fancy restaurant where he took care of the check. What was so wrong with that? He knew stealing the money was wrong, but his intent had been honest. Unfortunately, intent didn’t matter. The consequences made him want to wallow in self-pity, not eating, shaving, or bathing until he had scraggly hair and foot-long toenails like crazy Howard Hughes. Bernadine would be sorry then, he bet, but having always been vain about his appearance, he knew that would never happen.

  He did know he was Black Seminole, the descendant of a people who’d never given up, no matter the odds. He’d also survived the jungles of Vietnam and stared down demon alcohol. He could do anything he set his mind to, even earning the forgiveness of
the woman he loved. With that in mind, he showered, dressed, and had a quick breakfast. He was determined to have a job by nightfall because making restitution was the first step toward redemption.

  He sent Clay a text asking if he could use his computer to begin his search, but Clay sent a text back saying he wasn’t at home. He was at a farm checking out a couple of sows he wanted to purchase and wouldn’t be back until that afternoon. With Bing in Lawrence and Mal having no key to Clay’s place, going online at Clay’s place was out. Lifelong friend Marie Jefferson came to mind. She owned a laptop, but she and Genevieve and TC were in Alaska visiting TC’s son. Her electronics always traveled with her, so he crossed her off his list. He thought about calling Trent but didn’t want to bother him while he was working. His mother, Tamar, had a laptop and a computer in her office at the recreation center, but she was still too angry at him, and he just couldn’t handle it and the disappointment he’d see in her eyes. He opted to get in his truck and job-hunt the old-fashioned way.

  He drove to Franklin and put applications in anywhere and everywhere he could find: the fast-food joints, the two small hotels linked to national chains, the post office, and all the small businesses lining the town’s main street: from the florist to the coffee shop to the hardware store run by the family of Astrid Franklin Wiggins. Disappointed that no one was actively hiring, he took a chance and drove out to the gas station owned by an old friend. Calvin Post.

  The place was a combination gas station and snack store like others nationwide. Cal’s dad, Edgar, had originally owned the place, and when he passed away forty years ago, Cal took over. The place was right off the highway, and was large, clean, and profitable. Mal parked his truck and got out. Cal was helping an elderly lady inflate a tire. Seeing Mal, he called, “Hey, buddy, be with you in a minute.”

  Cal had been a defensive lineman for the Colts back before the team snuck out of Baltimore in the middle of the night and made Indianapolis their home. His nose had been broken more times than one could count, he limped on bad knees, and he’d quit wearing his dentures fifteen years ago. Bald, he still had the height and size that once upon a time gave opposing quarterbacks nightmares, but the girth was now marshmallow soft.

  Cal finished the lady’s tire, sent her off with a wave, and came over and shook Mal’s hand. “Been a while,” he said, grinning, showing off the dark, toothless cave in his mouth.

  “Yeah, it has been.”

  “You just stopping by?”

  “I am, but also looking for a job.”

  Cal paused for a moment before saying, “I do need a clerk to take over the night shift.”

  Mal’s hope rose. Finally.

  “But I can’t hire you, Mal.”

  Confused, he asked, “Why not?”

  “Can’t have a thief minding the register.”

  Shame and guilt singed him to his core.

  Cal shrugged. “Sorry. Word’s out that you stole from the town and your lady love. If you stole from them, you’d steal from me.”

  Mal wanted to explain but knew there was no way to justify what he’d done. “Okay. I understand. Thanks.”

  “Sorry, man.”

  “No problem. I’ll see you around.”

  Making himself walk calmly back to his truck, he opened the door and got in. Smiling falsely, he gave Cal a wave and drove off. In the rearview mirror, he saw Cal watch him drive off, and shake his head as he went inside. Mal was mortified, and embarrassed. He’d assumed people were talking but had no idea the news was so widespread. Was the story of his theft known at all the businesses he’d applied to earlier? If so, he’d never find a job, at least not anywhere nearby. He wanted to be angry, but the only person responsible was himself.

  Mal stopped for lunch at a fast-food place on the highway—he didn’t put in an application—and drove back to Henry Adams. All the high hopes and confidence he’d had at the beginning of the day had been kneecapped by reality. Before throwing in the towel, he decided to make one last stop.

  When he knocked on his son’s office door, Trent, seated at his desk, glanced up from his laptop. “Hey, Dad.”

  “Hey. Can I bother you a minute?”

  “Sure. Come on in.” He gestured Mal to one of the leather chairs near the desk. “What’s up?”

  “Went job hunting today.”

  “Job hunting? What happened to the job in Oklahoma? Did you quit?”

  “No, it quit me. Got laid off last night.”

  “Ah. Sorry to hear that. How’s the hunt going?”

  “I put in a bunch of applications, but nobody had anything I could interview for on the spot.” He didn’t tell him about his embarrassing encounter with Cal Post. “So I’m wondering if you know anybody hiring. I’ll do anything: unload trucks, stock at the store, mop floors. I can’t make restitution if I’m not getting a paycheck.”

  “No, you can’t.”

  His son looked him in the eyes in a way so reminiscent of Tamar that Mal forced himself not to squirm. She’d done most of Trent’s raising, so he supposed the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.

  Finally, Trent said, “There’s a custodian position open at the school. The woman we originally hired fell off an ATV over the weekend and broke her collarbone.”

  Mal winced.

  “Planned to post the opening on the website this afternoon.”

  “Can I apply?”

  “Sure. I don’t see why not.”

  “You’ll have to get Bernadine’s approval, though, right?” he asked, his voice laced with scorn.

  Trent’s eyes speared him, and Mal instantly regretted the belittling dig. “No, but I do need Marie’s since she’d technically be your boss.”

  “Oh.”

  “Let me print out the application.”

  Mal wanted to apologize. Trent hadn’t been obligated to tell him about the job at all. Instead of being grateful . . .

  Once the printer spit out the copy, Trent passed it to him. “Have a seat at the table in the hall and fill it out. I’ll send Marie a text.”

  Borrowing a pen, Mal sat and went to work. His eyes strayed down the hall to Bernadine’s office. The door was closed, and he naturally wondered if she was inside turning the world, or out somewhere, even though he’d squandered that right. Going back to what he was doing, he realized he didn’t know how much the job paid or if any benefits were attached but decided it didn’t matter. Whatever the amount, it would be a blessing.

  With the application completed, he returned to the office and handed it over. “Have you heard from Marie?”

  “Not yet, but I’m sure I will soon.”

  “How much does it pay?”

  “Sixteen an hour, with health, vision, and dental.”

  That pleased him. It was enough to live on and to pay down his debt. “Okay.”

  “Once I hear from Marie, I’ll let you know.”

  “Thanks, son.”

  “You’re welcome,” Trent replied coolly.

  Trent’s tone let Mal know he was still unhappy with the earlier remark, and regret rode him. He fought it by changing the subject. “I stopped over at Cal’s to ask him about a job. He said he couldn’t hire me because he’d heard about the money I took. Does everybody know?”

  Trent nodded. “Just about. It’s a small town, Dad. You know there aren’t any secrets.”

  “But you’d think—”

  “Think what? That folks would want to protect you?”

  Another hubris-fueled miscalculation on his part, and Mal knew it as soon as the words slipped past his lips. “Well, yeah.”

  “Why? You stole from your hometown!” Trent pointed out. “Be glad folks cared enough about the people you stole from that the theft didn’t make the front page of the Franklin paper.”

  Once again shame singed him.

  “And what Devon said about the fence? Yeah, that might go a long way toward forgiveness.”

  Mal’s face tightened with irritation.

  Trent read the res
ponse. “Then don’t. But you need to make some kind of grand gesture. Otherwise you’ll stay a pariah until Lily, the boys, and I put you in the ground.”

  Not wanting to hear any more, Mal snapped, “When’s the next town meeting?”

  “Thursday.”

  “Put me on the agenda. If folks want an apology, I’ll give them one. Let me know what Marie says.”

  “I will.”

  Mal left. Angry, he blew through the doors to the parking lot and almost knocked Bernadine and the woman beside her off their feet. “Sorry,” he said tightly.

  Bernadine shot him a look.

  The woman with her asked him, “And you are?”

  “Mal July. And you?” he asked, still mad.

  “Tina Craig.”

  He knew the name. She was one of Bernadine’s best friends. “Catch me when I’m not so mad.”

  “Not planning to catch you at all after what you did to my girl. Thanks for allowing me to put a face to the name.”

  Bernadine’s small smile made his anger swell, but she didn’t seem to care. She and Tina entered the building without a further word, and left him outside, glaring where he stood.

  “You weren’t lying about Mal being tall, dark, and fine,” Tina said to Bernadine as they settled into Bernadine’s office.

  “I thought he had the brain to go with it. Guess I was wrong.”

  “So sorry, girl.”

  Bernadine shrugged. “Better to learn about it now rather than later like I did with Leo.”

  “That snake,” Tina said, referencing Bernadine’s ex-husband. “Have you heard from him?”

  “Not since my lawyers ran his company out of the county here a few years ago. No news is good news.”

  “Amen.”

  Bernadine was glad Tina had finally arrived. She’d be in town for a few days and staying with Bernadine. Her presence at the house would hopefully offset the pangs of loneliness brought on by Crystal’s move.

  A knock on the door drew Bernadine’s attention to Trent standing in the doorway. “Hey there,” she said. “Your dad almost knocked us down leaving the building just now.”