Two weeks had
gone by and Kaye Leigh missed Jeff so much it was like a
constant stomachache. Jon and the rest of her family had been
calling and leaving messages. She had not heard from Jeff at
all, but she did get a call from Mr. Fisher saying that Jeff
had signed the papers so it would not be long until the
divorce was final. She had been sick that day and night.
Jeff had made
it clear to everyone that he did not want to discuss the
situation with Kaye Leigh. Jon made sure he got over there for
a while everyday. They were on the porch talking with Becki
and Curtis. The phone rang; Jeff went into the house to answer
it.
“We’ve got to
do something about this.” Becki said.
“I talked to
Mr. Fisher; he’s going to “lose” the paperwork for a while. He
said he talked with Kaye Leigh and she sounds miserable.” Jon
said. “I’ve left Kaye Leigh a message almost every day, so has
the rest of the family.”
“Did you check
the flights out of El Paso?” Curtis asked.
“Yes, she left
on one going to Denver, then onto Raleigh North Carolina, but
after that they weren’t on another flight. She used her maiden
name to fly under. So as close as I can come she’s in North
Carolina.” Jon said. They had to stop the conversation because
Jeff had come back out.
“That was Tim,
he wanted to see if Kaye Leigh was still here, apparently when
he was in the hospital and she went to see him, he had
mentioned that he would like to work for her again, and she
said that she was giving me the ranch so he would have to talk
to me. He said he tried to tell her not to let Morgan win, but
she said that she had already won.” He said sitting down and
laughing sadly.
“If he had been
able to call sooner, this might not have happened.” Jeff said.
“You could
find her you know.” Jon said.
“We’ve been
through this Jon.” He said.
“I’ve got some
work to do.” Becki said, “Trying to set up interviews and book
signings when I have no idea where she is is extremely hard.”
“If you find
her let us know.” Jon said.
“Don’t bother.”
Jeff said. Jon shook his head.
“When I find
her I am going to strangle her.” Jon said.
“You might
have to wait in line.” Curtis said.
Becki went into
the house, sat down with her laptop to try to figure out how
to set things up without knowing where Kaye Leigh was. She had
some e-mails waiting for her so she decided to read them
first, then she could try to figure out what to do.
There was an
e-mail from Josh, she opened it and began to read it. She got
up and went to the door, “I’ve found Kaye Leigh.” She called
through the door.
“What?” all
the guys said getting up and going into the house. Becki
showed them the e-mail.
“They’re in
Jacksonville, North Carolina.” Becki said.
“Isn’t that
where she and Sam lived?” Jeff asked.
“What are you
thinking?” Jon said.
“Nothing, I
just thought that was where they lived at one time.” He said.
“They did, but
that wouldn’t have anything to do with why then went there.”
Becki said.
“I know it
wouldn’t I just asked.” He said.
“Josh said that
Kaye Leigh isn’t doing so well, says she’s crying all the
time, not eating, not writing.” Jon said reading the e-mail.
“He said that his mom told him North Carolina would be the
last place anyone would think to look for them.” Jeff shook
his head.
Jon finished
reading the e-mail. “Josh wants you to come and take them
home.” Jon told Jeff. “So what are you going to do?”
“Nothing, I
told you I’m not chasing her.” Jeff said.
“Do you want to
lose her forever?” Curtis yelled. “Are you going to be so
stubborn that you’re going to let pride stand in the way of
love?”
“You’ve been
hurt Jeff, but so has she. The whole situation was hard on
everyone, but Kaye Leigh is taking the full blame, she walked
away from everything that means the world to her because she
thinks you deserve better. Do you?” Becki asked.
“What are you
talking about Becki?” Jeff said.
“Do you believe
that you deserve better than Kaye Leigh or that she doesn’t
deserve you?” she replied.
“I don’t think
either. I will never love anyone else but her.” He said.
“So you’re
going to allow both of you to be miserable and alone instead
of following her to the end of the earth like you told her
once that you would do.” She said quietly.
“I would have
no idea where to look for her without her knowing Josh
contacted us.” Jeff said.
“I can arrange
that, you just leave it all to me and the four of us will go
get her and the kids and bring them home where they belong.
However there will be no strangulation while she’s pregnant,
after the baby comes then you can do whatever.” Becki said.
The guys laughed.
Kaye Leigh
received an invitation to do a book signing at a bookstore in
Jacksonville for the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. She had
thought about letting Becki know but she would probably want
to come there. She still had not answered any of the phone
calls and she was dealing with the kids on a daily basis about
wanting to go back.
Josh was angry
because he missed the last few games, and because he missed
home. They all missed Jeff, Dan, and Faith. Her and Josh had
gotten into a huge argument the night before about Jeff, it
ended with Josh saying he would rather live with Jeff.
“Hi guys.” Kaye
Leigh said when the kids got home.
“Hi.” Grace
said.
“Josh can we
please talk?” she said.
“What mom?” he
said sitting down on the couch. Kaye Leigh went and sat down
next to him.
“I’m sorry
about last night Josh; I know that this is hard on you guys.”
She said.
“It’s hard on
you too mom, you want to be with dad I know it.” He said.
“You’re right
Josh, I love him very much, but you don’t understand.” She
said.
“I understand
that you believed something that wasn’t true, I don’t
understand why that made it so we had to leave.” He said
trying to fight tears.
“Someday when
you’re older you will understand, I just hope until then you
can forgive me and help get our relationship right again.” She
said. He left the room without another word.
By the time the
day of the book signing came, Kaye Leigh was glad she had
something to do outside of the house. Her writing was going
nowhere, the kids barely spoke to her, and she was extremely
lonely. She was getting bigger with the pregnancy and had no
one to share it with. Thinking about the baby made her think
about Jeff, which led her to cry more.
She arrived
about fifteen minutes prior to the book signing.
“There she is.”
Jeff said.
“She’s gotten
so big.” Becki said. Jeff watched her cross the street. Once
Kaye Leigh was in the bookstore, they all got out of the car.
They were all wearing light jackets because it was colder here
then in Texas. Jon stayed home so he could spend Thanksgiving
with his family, but gave them instructions to inform his
sister that she was in for a severe lecture when she got back,
and a good strangling when she had the baby.
Curtis looked
around, and then said, “We’ll wait in that dinner across the
street.”
“Can’t we go
see mom too?” Faith asked.
“You’ll see her
soon, but your dad and her need a little time.” Becki said.
Curtis, Becki
and the kids went across the street and sat down in a booth by
the window where they could see the bookstore. Jeff had gone
into the bookstore, went behind some shelves, and watched Kaye
Leigh for a few minutes.
Kaye Leigh had
been signing books and talking with people for about half an
hour when she heard.
“Could you make
it out to Jeff?” she looked up quickly, and there in front of
her was Jeff looking at her with all the love he had for her
before she left.
“What are you
doing here?” she asked shocked.
“I’m looking
for my runaway wife; you’ve might have seen her.” He said
smiling.
“You shouldn’t
have come.” She said taking the book and signing it.
“You shouldn’t
have left.” He replied.
“There’s your
book.” She told him.
“I’ll be
waiting over here until you’re finished.” He said. She watched
him walk away. For the rest of the time she had trouble
concentrating on what people were saying and whom she was
signing books for. After the last person left she thanked the
bookstore owner, Jeff was right beside her making sure she did
not slip away.
“Can I help you
sir?” the owner asked.
“This is my
husband Jeff.” Kaye Leigh said.
“I’m sorry I
didn’t realize he was here.” The owner replied.
“He’s leaving.”
She replied.
“Not without my
wife.” Jeff said.
“Thank you so
much for allowing me to come here today.” Kaye Leigh said.
“No need to
thank me it was a Rebecca Stevenson who set it all up.” The
owner said.
“Oh really?”
Kaye Leigh replied. Jeff laughed.
“It was nice to
meet you Kaye Leigh.” The owner said and shook her hand. Kaye
Leigh went out of the store ahead of Jeff.
“Becki knew
where I went?” Kaye Leigh asked stopping and facing Jeff when
they got out of the store.
“Not until she
got an e-mail from Josh.” He said. He had not wanted her to
know but he knew it would come out so he thought it would be
best to get it out of the way.
“Josh sent her
an e-mail?” she said.
“Yes and she
shared it with the rest of us.” He said.
“I can’t
believe that kid.” She said more to herself than to Jeff.
“Don’t be mad
at him.” Jeff said. Kaye Leigh laughed.
“I’ve got to
go.” She told him. She started to cross the street but he was
right beside her.
“I’m going with
you.” He said. “Let me tell Becki and Curtis to follow us.” He
took Kaye Leigh’s arm and steered her towards the diner where
the others were.
“This isn’t
fair; I can’t out run you right now.” She said. Jeff laughed.
“What isn’t
fair is you making me chase you all over the country, one of
these days I’m making you chase me.” He said smiling at her.
“Mom!” Faith
and Dan yelled running towards her. They stopped so they did
not bump into her.
“Hi guys.” She
said wrapping her arms around both of them and kissing their
heads. “How have you been?”
“We’ve missed
you guys.” Faith said. Kaye Leigh smiled at her, because she
could not speak afraid that she would break down.
“Mom missed us
too.” Jeff said for her.
“Hey boss
lady.” Curtis said hugging her.
“Curtis, Becki.”
She said giving both of them a hug.
“You two follow
us where ever Kaye Leigh takes us.” Jeff said.
“To the
airport.” She said. Becki laughed.
“Lead the way
boss.” Curtis said. Kaye Leigh paid for their stuff and led
the way out the door. Curtis and Becki went to their car,
Jeff, her and the kids went to Kaye Leigh’s car.
“How are you
guys doing in school?” she asked Dan.
“Great, but I
really miss having Josh to do homework with.” He replied.
“He misses you
being there too.” She said smiling.
“So why did you
guys leave?” Faith asked.
“That is
between your mom and me.” Jeff said quickly.
“Are you coming
back?” Faith asked.
“Yes.” Jeff
said.
“I’m not sure.”
Kaye Leigh said. Faith and Dan laughed.
They all got
into her car and headed to Kaye Leigh’s house.
“Is this your
car mom?” Dan asked.
“It’s a car
that my publishing company is renting for me until I can get
my truck here.” She replied. Kaye Leigh made sure that Curtis
and Becki were behind her.
“Cool.” Dan
said.
“But you guys
are coming back to Texas right.” Faith asked again. Jeff
laughed.
“Yes they are
coming back.” He told her. Kaye Leigh looked at Jeff, and he
smiled at her.
When they
pulled up to the house Josh and Grace came outside.
“Dan!” Josh
yelled when he seen him. “How was the rest of the season?”
“Good, we
missed you though, could have used you in the last game.” Dan
said.
“I wanted to be
there.” Josh said looking at Kaye Leigh.
“I said I was
sorry Josh.” She told him.
“I know, I’m
sorry too mom.” He said.
“It’s ok, I
love you kid.” She said. “Even though you sent Becki an
e-mail.” Josh just grinned unashamed.
“Let’s go
inside.” Jeff said.