Passing Hearts
Chapter 3
Trenton
For
the last four days, I’ve been avoiding everyone other than my parents. Phone
calls have gone to voicemail, emails have gone unanswered, and texts have gone
unread. My ex-wife has driven by three or four times a day and I’m beyond
annoyed. She is the main reason I’ve been staying put on the ranch. How am I
going to get rid of her? My dad’s ready to get a restraining order and my mom
wants to give my ex a piece of her mind. Way too much drama for me. If I wasn’t
so tired I’d be ready to get back on the rig for another few weeks.
I
have woke up every morning dreaming of one woman, Amanda Waters. I go to sleep
thinking of her and wake thinking of her. I haven’t had dreams like this since
I was a teenage boy. Maybe I’ve been single too long. I walk over to my table
in the kitchen to see that high school reunion invitation sitting in the middle
of the table. Ugh! I pick it up to look at it one more time and throw it across
the table. I need to get that woman out of my head! She’s not coming back.
Hell, I wouldn’t if I were her!
After finally reading
my texts, and being threatened by Ben, numerous times to get my butt to the bar
for a beer, I decide it’s time to get out and face the town’s people. They are
a nosey bunch of bored people and some of the women are relentless. Jennifer,
being one of them. I’m sure I’ll run into her. Typical small town story for us.
She was head cheerleader, I was quarterback, and we dated for a while. We did the
whole prom thing as king and queen, but that was it. I left right after high
school and she stayed in town to work at her family’s diner, the only
restaurant in town. As soon as the divorce came through, she started hitting on
me. Jennifer’s been married twice and has three kids. Ummm, just escaped the
ex-wife’s madness, I don’t need anymore. I didn’t have feelings for Jennifer back
in high school and I definitely don’t now. Not sure why I keep attracting the
crazy ones.
As I drive into town, I
look behind me to see my ex-wife following me. This has to stop! I pull over
and park in a small parking lot beside the town diner. She pulls in the spot
beside me. Guess it’s time to be up front, in her face, and downright mean to
the woman. I slowly get out of my truck. She leaps out of her red BMW M3
convertible. She just stands there staring at me get out of my truck.
I lean on the back of
my black Ford F-350 cross my arms, and my legs. “What do you want, Linda?” She
stops, looks me up and down, and starts to walk closer to me. I put my hand up,
“Far enough.”
Linda stops again and
puts her hands on her hips. “I just want to give you a hug. I haven’t seen you
for a while. Thought we could talk.” She smiles that smile that got me the
first time I met her.
Nope, does nothing for
me! “Linda, we are done. No need for talkin’.”
She puts her hands on
her hips and kicks one leg out to the side. I’m going to let her get it out then
I’m outta here. Not sure what I saw in her. She’s too skinny and her skin’s
starting to look like leather because she’s out in the sun so much. What the
hell was I thinking? I must have been really lonely.
“Oh yes we do need to
talk, Trenton Davis! I gave you five years of my life and you are not going to
walk away from me! I still love you, Trent. Now, I apologized for screwing
around, but you were always gone. I needed your attention and you wouldn’t give
it to me. If you would’ve stayed home and maybe worked in the main office, I
wouldn’t have had any need to go out with, Garret. Come on Baby, you’ve had
enough time to get over your man-pride thing. It’s time we worked this out. I
know you still love me.” She smiles and winks at me.
“Really?” I laugh a
little. “No, I don’t love you! Are
you seriously blaming me for your cheating?” I rub my face with my hands to
calm down. I can tell she has more to say so I cross my arms again to get
comfortable. She is impossible!
“Why yes I am blaming
you! I told you I had needs. Come on, Trent, you haven’t dated anyone so you must
still have feelings for me.” Linda moves a little closer to me. “Let’s go to
the beach house and I’ll show you just how much I’ve missed you.” She walks to
me and puts her hands on my chest.
I quickly grab her
hands and lightly push her away. “I told you, I want nothing to do with you. The
feelings I had, left the day I caught you with, Garret. Now, leave me and my
family alone. Move on with your life!” I stand to my full height and she backs
away. I’m still trying to stay calm. “Last I heard, Garret’s, still single. Get
to it!” I walk away toward the diner.
Linda starts crying,
but it does nothing to me. She used to cry to get her way; now it’s just
pathetic. As I get to the door, she starts screaming cuss words at me. What a piece
of work! I pull open the door and go into the diner. I walk straight back to my
old high school booth. It’s empty, thankfully. I slide into the back corner,
relax, and let out the frustrated sigh I’ve been holding in since all of the
drama in the parking lot. I look around and see everyone in the diner staring
at me. I’m sure they heard it all, but I could care less. They’ll be gossiping
about it until something more interesting happens in this small town.
It’s been a while since
I’ve been in here, but nothing’s changed since it opened in the sixties. Still
has the red vinyl seats, black and white checkered tile, and black tables. Even
has the long counter at the front with red vinyl stools for the old men and
their daily coffee. I take a deep breath and inhale one of the best smells.
There is one thing I have missed about this diner. Okay there are two things I
have missed about this diner. The cheeseburgers and my one and only date with
Amanda Waters. I lean my head against the back of the booth to remember that night.
Then, I hear a familiar laugh and clicking of heels. I close my eyes. No,
please not today!
“Well hi there, Sweetie.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen you.” Jennifer’s southern drawl and high
pitched voice are like sharp nails on a chalkboard.
I open my eyes and raise
my head to be the gentlemen my Momma taught me to be, “Hi, Jennifer. Yep, been
working out on the rig.”
“Oh, Honey, I know. I
talked to your momma a few days ago.” She sits down on the seat opposite me. “I
bet I know what you want.” She girly giggles, smiles, and winks at me. “You
want a cheeseburger, Coke, and to take me to the reunion.”
She is persistent. “Yes.
You’re right about two.”
Jennifer puts her hand
on mine, the one that I mistakenly rested on the table. “So no Coke, Sweetie?”
“I’ll have the
cheeseburger and Coke. I’m not going
to the reunion, Jennifer.” I slip my hand out from under hers and put it down
on the seat.
She gets up, readjusts
her very short black skirt, writes my order down, and walks away. I’m sure that
will not be the end to her endless flirtation. I’m exhausted by all of this
woman drama. Why did I come out today? As I’m about to get up and get my order
to go, I hear the bell on top of the front door ding. I look to the front to
see long dark hair and stunning blue-grey eyes. It can’t be her. I wipe my eyes
with the palms of my hands and look again. All I can see now is the back side
of this beautiful woman standing at the cash register.
Jennifer squeals, runs
over to the woman with dark hair, and wraps her arms around her. She releases
her and holds her at arm’s length, “Oh my goodness! I can’t believe you’re
here. It’s been twenty years. Are you here for the reunion? Oh, I have to call
all of our friends. EEEEEE! This will be the best reunion ever!” Jennifer is
laying it on thick and the poor woman with dark hair is just standing there
looking a little shocked.
There is a ding at the
service counter for an order to be served. Jennifer lets go of the woman,
turns, and runs to get the order. Now, everyone in the diner is staring at this
woman. I have to admit I’m staring too because she looks just like……
The dark haired woman
turns around and looks straight back to me. My eyes widen and I’m sure I look
like a deer in headlights. It is her! She’s walking toward me. What do I say?
It’s been twenty years. Last time I saw her I asked her out on a second date,
but moved to Houston the next day. I never called to tell her and I’ve regretted
it every day since. I can’t screw this up.
“Hi, Trent.” She puts
her hand out for me to shake it.
I get up, still in
shock, and pull her into a hug instead.
I lean down and whisper next to her ear, “I’ve missed you, Amanda.”
I finally have her in
my arms again and I’m not letting go!
