Passing Hearts Chapter 3

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!

Passing Hearts Chapter 2

Passing Hearts

Chapter 2

Amanda

            “I cannot believe it’s been three months since I’ve stepped foot into this office,” I think to myself as I walk through the door to my fifteenth floor, corner office of the World News Network building. I’ve been traveling from every far-reaching corner of Israel, reporting on anything and everything that WNN deems news worthy. It’s good to be back in New York, but that pile of mail sitting on the corner of my desk, is making me second guess coming into work today, instead of staying in bed with the covers pulled over my head. With all of the traveling, flight delays and layovers, and my cell completely dying on me somewhere over Indonesia, I’ve been basically incommunicado for the past two days.

I set my messenger bag and purse down beside of my desk and slide down into my chair. I’m tired and cranky and I really should have stayed at home. Since I’m here, all I can do now is to take a deep breath in, shake off the fog, and get started. One wiggle of the mouse later and I see that I have thirty-five emails waiting, along with a notice for a two o’clock meeting with my editor that I didn’t know I had today. Scanning the emails quickly, at least twenty of them are from my mother. Ugh, this is going to be a long day. I decide to turn my attention to the stack of documents on the corner of my desk. I pull the whole stack over in front of me, and just start with the top. The first thing I run across is the folder with phone messages that were left with my assistant, Gretchen. Thumbing through them, I see fifteen messages from my mother. What could possibly be so important that she would call and email my office so many times? I’ll deal with all of those messages later. I set the folder aside and move on to the snail mail. On top  is a familiar white envelope; one that I’ve seen every year about this time for the last twenty years – the invitation to my high school reunion. This explains the messages from Mother. I really do not want to deal with this right now.

“Ugh! Why did I even bother coming in here today?” I whine as I lay my head down on my desk and close my eyes.

“Because you missed me terribly and have left me here for three months alone, to field calls and messages from your mom. Not to mention leaving me to get my gossip fix from the overly zealous secretarial staff. You know I like my gossip straight up without all of the girly fluff and giggle.” Says the gravelly voice of Gretchen, who is most definitely, the world’s best assistant.

I take a deep breath and smell the heavenly aroma of coffee. Keeping my head down, I mumble, “I will give you a raise if that’s a huge cup of coffee for me.”

I lift my head slowly to look at Gretchen. She’s the epitome of current fashion, and thank goodness for that, or I’d be in definite trouble when I have to appear on air. She is tall, slim, legs a mile long, with long dark hair, and looks as if she should be on a fashion runway instead of my assistant. Today her dark hair is as straight as her charcoal gray pencil skirt. Her pale pink blouse adds just a touch of color to her look and her black, patent leather heels, are every bit of four inches tall. Gretchen is a beautiful woman, inside and out, and I’m very lucky that she took this job. I don’t know what I would do without her.

“Please tell me that coffee is for me?” I finally ask her.

“Did you honestly think that I would come into your office empty handed? Pa-lease!” I take a sip as I lean back in my chair. Looking up at Gretchen, I realize I have missed her sassy banter first thing in the morning.

“Thank you. As always, you’re a life saver.” I take another long, deep pull from my coffee.

Just the way I like it. Strong house blend with just the right amount of half and half. Perfection in a white paper cup!

“I know, you owe me, as always.” Gretchen is still smirking as she takes a seat in front of my desk. “You look like crap by the way.”

“Gee thanks.” I retort. I’m sure my blue jeans, baggie sweatshirt, running shoes, messy bun hair, and minimal makeup doesn’t really help my appearance in the least, but it was the best that I could muster this morning. “You know I don’t do well with traveling all day and trying to sleep when I get home from a long trip. Thank you for the basket of wine and cheese in my apartment when I arrived home, by the way.” Gretchen nods at me. I take a deep breath and get settled for the day. “So, what is the latest going on here?”

“Well, other than your mom calling me every fifteen minutes the past couple of days to see if you’re back in town, nothing new. Tell me you received her messages, texts, and emails, because if she calls again, I might throw the phone against the wall.” Gretchen gives me the same frustrated look I give her while I am on the phone with Mother. She relaxes a little as she sits back in her chair and gets ready for serious conversation.  “Tell me about Israel.” She smiles and starts raising her eyebrows. “Did you meet any gorgeous men? And more importantly, did you bring one back for me?”

“Israel was truly an experience. It is both beautiful and wild in some places. The historical parts are absolutely amazing. The areas where the wars and fighting have reached are terribly sad. Overall, I am very glad that I took this opportunity. I found some true, internal perspective while I was away. I remembered what it feels like to write real journalistic pieces, instead of just thirty second, fluffy, that air on the nightly news. I found me again, and it felt amazing.” I realize I’m rambling, but my ever-faithful Gretchen is just smiling as I go on. I decide to reign in the finding-me part of things and hit the real question that she wants the answer to. “Sadly, no, I didn’t find any specific fellas, nor did I bring one home. I met many different people, but not like that.”

“That’s truly sad Amanda. I send you to another country and you can’t even find a nice guy, with a swarthy accent, to knock you off your feet?” Gretchen sighs, “Whatever am I going to do with you?”

“You know I live vicariously through you, Gretchen.”  She just smiles at that.

“Then you should take me with you next time so I can show you how its done.” We both laugh at that. “Now that we’ve weeded through the important things, what’s this about?” Gretchen leans over and picks up the envelope along with the invitation off of my desk and starts waving it back and forth.

“That, is a terrible reminder of my past and none of your business.” I reply a little more harshly than I intend. I lean forward to try to grab it out of her hand, but, as usual, she is too fast and has already begun reading.

“The Galveston County High School Class of 1994 cordially invites you to the celebration of our Twentieth year Reunion. 7:00 p.m., on Saturday June 21, 2014 at the Glenrochie Country Club. RSVP requested.” I reach out my hand for the invitation, but Gretchen waves it in the air again. She gives me a big smirk. “Ooo-la-la! High school reunion. I have worked with you for six years and have seen these envelopes coming in to your office every year, but you have never gone. So, spill. What’s with the drama?”

“It’s just a long time ago Gretchen.” I lean back in my chair and close my eyes. Images of the terribly nerdy, awkward girl that I was, suddenly come back to me. “I’m not that person anymore, and I don’t know that I want to rehash all of those memories again. High school was not a pleasant time for me. Even the twenty years away from it is has not changed that.”

“Don’t you ever wonder what happened to some of the people you went to high school with? That’s the only reason I go to mine. I had to know if the quarterback is now fat and bald and if the Home Coming Queen is fat, divorced, and living in government housing?” Gretchen is giggling now. I can feel her watching me.

“I don’t care about any of that. Gretchen, I never really had any friends in high school. I was not among the popular kids. I haven’t heard from or talked to any of the people I graduated with. I left town the day after graduation, and other than visiting my mother for a couple of days at Christmas every year, I’ve not been back for anything.” I sit up, open my eyes, and look at her.

“But wasn’t there just one person that you connected with that you would like to see again? Come on, Amanda! You’re a reporter for WNN, who is known world-wide for your work. You should take some time off and show those country folk the person you have become.”

I am beginning to get really exasperated with this conversation. “There was only one boy that was ever nice to me. His name was Trenton. Last I heard, he’s married and has moved on. As for the rest of them, I don’t really care if they see me now or not. I have no connections to that life anymore.”

“So why don’t you go as reporter Amanda and consider this a research piece? Go! Do the research. See who’s gained a hundred pounds since graduation, who’s been married and divorced like five times in twenty years, who has lost their hair, had plastic surgery, and grown another chin! Surely even you are nosey enough to want to know the answers to some of those question! Besides, from the messages that your mom has been leaving, I don’t think she’s going to give up until you say that you’re coming.” Gretchen is looking at me with that ‘I know you’re going to do this’ look that drives me bonkers.

“I don’t want to do this, Gretchen. I don’t have any desire to go back and visit that life again.” I get up from my desk and walk over to the bank of windows behind my desk.

This view of New York has become my home. Other than my mother, there is nothing left for me in Texas. I left that behind many years ago. I don’t know that I could go back and see anyone again, and not feel like I was the girl from twenty years ago. I hear Gretchen get up and move toward me. She doesn’t touch me, she just stands beside me, folds her arms, and stares out over the city with me.

Gretchen’s voice softens, “I get it. I’m not who I was in high school either. But don’t you owe it to that girl you were then, to show up at that reunion as the woman you are now. You made it out of small town Texas, Girl. Show them all.” Gretchen reaches over and lays her hand on my shoulder.

“Ugh! Alright! Alright, I’ll go! Will that please you?” When I turn to look at Gretchen, she’s smiling from ear to ear. “Don’t even go there with me right now. I can’t believe I let you guilt-trip me into going to this disaster in the making. And before you ask, no, I’m not taking a camera crew with me. If I’m going to do this, it’s just going to be me.”

Gretchen does this little girly, squeal thing, jumps up and down for a second, then grasps me in a huge hug. She quickly pulls back, still holding me by the arms. “I’ll make the arrangements. You, call your mom.” And with that, she is out the door, back in her cubicle and on the telephone.

I brace myself as I sit back down at my desk, pick up the receiver and dial my mother’s phone number. I cannot believe that I’m about to do this. The line is ringing.

“Hello?” My mother’s voice comes through the earpiece. “Hello?”

“Hi, Momma. It’s me, Amanda.” I really hope I don’t regret this.

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.