Passing Hearts Chapter 1

Passing Hearts

Chapter 1

Trenton

            As our boat docks in Galveston, I look down the beach to see my old house. I would still be living there if I liked living in this tourist disaster of a town. I don’t want the memories that house has inside either. Better to live where I do. Alone!

            “You gonna get out of the boat or just stare at your ex-old lady’s place?” Ben nudges me.

            I shake my head. “Yeah, Man, ready to go home.”

            I get out of the boat, put my head down, and go straight to my truck. It’s good to be home after spending almost ten weeks out on the oil rig. Ready to park myself on my worn leather couch and catch up on some much needed R&R. I’ve never spent that much time out on the rig before, but I needed to be away from my now, ex-wife and my family. The men on the rig know to leave me alone and let me do my work. I’m usually stuck in my office doing paperwork, but this time I needed to be a roughneck and get my hands dirty. Drives my dad crazy when I work on the rig, since he is the owner of the oil company, but I love it. It’s where I started and where I plan on working until I have to take over the company.

            When I get into my truck, I let out a sigh of relief. Not sure if it’s relaxation setting in or the fact I’m rid of that cheating ex-wife of mine. Either way, I’m free to live how I want.

            Ben knocks on my window. I roll it down, “Yeah, what’s up?”

            “You wanna go out for a beer?” He looks at me with pity in his eyes.

            “Nah, Man, I’m ready to head home tonight. I’ll give you a call. Besides, you have your beautiful wife and kids to get home to. Giv’em all hugs from their Uncle Trent.” I start my truck.

            Ben slaps his hand on my left shoulder. “Will do. See you soon.”

            I put up the window, crank the a/c, and pull out. Ben and I have been friends since birth. No greater friend. He was the one that pulled me off of that sniveling weasel of a fitness instructor, Garret, when I found him giving my ex-wife extra lessons. We had come off the rig a day early last year. I walked in and they were doing a lot more than exercising. Hit that  S.O.B. across the face and kicked his naked butt out of my house. Then, he made some snide comment about me not taking care of my wife and I went after him down the beach. I tackled him, punched him again, and that’s when Ben grabbed me and pulled me off before I killed Garret. The little prick cried and finally ran away without another word. My wife came running out, spewing the apologies, but I couldn’t even look at her. I got in my truck and drove straight to my parent’s ranch in a small town just outside Houston. Moved back into my little, one bedroom house that sits on the back of the property. Then, I let the lawyers take care of the rest. My dad made her sign a pre-nup before we were married, so she got nothing and was left penniless. I allowed her to stay in the beach house for a while until she started spreading lies about me. Saying I was banging one of the women that work on the rig. She was shut up quick by those women, too. I would never cheat on my wife and I have never gotten involved with any women that work for my company. The beach house was in my name only, so I kicked her out. Stopped being the nice guy and a pushover when it came to that woman. Haven’t seen or heard from her since. Good riddance!

              When I get near my house, I see my mom’s car in the driveway. She’s probably making sure the house is clean and stocking the fridge. I’ll be the first six-foot-three inch, two hundred and forty pound man to openly admit that I’m a Momma’s boy. She gave me life, has tried to take it away a few times, and is the only woman who has loved me unconditionally. Momma is the only woman I care to have in my life right now. I pull in the driveway as she’s coming out of the house. She’s a little woman at five-foot-five inches and a hundred and ten pounds, soaking wet; wearing her old blue jeans, t-shirt, and straw hat, which means she did some weeding of the flower beds while she was here. We have people that take care of the upkeep of the land, but mom insists on doing some of it herself. I know she gets bored not having any of her children in the house. I’m the only one that stuck around. Well, I left to try out the big city after high school, but there were too many people and too fast paced for this country boy. I moved back and agreed to take over the family oil company after Dad retires. Working the rig is what I know and enjoy anyway. I get out of the truck and mom wraps her arms around me.

            I lift Mom off of her feet. “It’s great to be home!”

            After I set her down, she swats me on the chest. “You were gone too long, Young Man.”

            “Just needed some time to think is all. I’m back for a while.” I lean down and give her a kiss on the cheek.

            She smiles. “Well alright. I put your mail in there on your table, stocked the fridge for you, and put you some dinner in the oven. Just a warning, your ex, Linda, has been driving by here a lot lately. Your Daddy ran into her in town a couple of weeks ago and he told her to leave you alone. Now that the divorce is finalized, there’s no reason for you to see her again. Last I heard she was moving up to the city. I hope she does, awful sort of woman.” Mom shakes her head in disgust. “Well, I’ll get on so you can rest. I put you some of that special soap that gets all of that oil off of you. Scrub up before your Daddy sees you. He doesn’t like it when you roughneck like he did.”

            “It was good enough for him.” I put my hands behind me head and stretch.

            Mom pats the side of my face. “He just wants better for all of his kids. That’s why he worked so hard, so you kids didn’t have to.”

            “Momma, I like the work.”

            She puts her hands up in defeat, not wanting to get in the middle. She stands on her tip toes to kiss my cheek. “Come for dinner up at the house, tomorrow night about six?”

            I nod yes. She gets in her small blue car and drives off. I just stand there grinning while watching her drive off in her Ford Focus. Daddy tried to buy her a fancy car and she refused. She just wanted a little car to putter around in. He gave in and told her to get what she wanted and that little thing is what she chose. No matter how much money my parents have, they live modestly. I look at my small house with white siding and a white front porch and realize I’m no different. My ex only wanted the best, I just want simple.

            I step inside, into my living room. I’m greeted with fresh wildflowers on my coffee table and the smell of pot roast from the kitchen. My stomach growls in anticipation. I turn to the right into my dining and kitchen area. There on the table is a huge stack of mail. On top is a larger white envelope with a local address in the corner. That’s strange. I open it and pull out an invitation to my twenty year high school reunion. It’s this weekend at the school. I throw it on the table not very interested in going this year. For the last twenty years I have gone to all of the reunions they have had in hopes to see one person. She never shows. There’s no way she’ll show this year. Heard she was working somewhere overseas. I grab a plate and put it on the counter, pull the roast out of oven and pile my plate full of roast, carrots, onions, and potatoes. Mmmmm, comfort food. I sit down at the table with my food and begin shoveling it into my mouth. Then, I look over at the invitation again. What if she shows this year? Ugh, I finish eating and go crash on the couch. I lay down on my soft, worn leather cushions and think of Amanda Waters as I drift to sleep.