“How long are
you guys staying?” Kaye Leigh asked everyone.
“As long as it
takes to convince you to forgive yourself.” Anna said.
Everyone shook his or her head; Kaye Leigh just looked at her
plate. Jeff took her hand and squeezed it.
“Is there a
game Friday?” Brent asked.
“Yes it’s their
homecoming.” Jeff said smiling.
“Great we can
watch our grandson’s win a spectacular game.” Adam said.
“We are the
best aren’t we?” Dan said laughing. “Just kidding, it takes a
whole team to win, not just two players.” Everyone laughed.
After dinner
the kids went to Jon’s with Alexis, they were going to stay
there tonight then Alexis would take them to school in the
morning. Curtis took Becki out so that she and Kaye Leigh
would stop fighting. The rest of them were sitting around the
living room talking. Kaye Leigh was leaning against Jon, her
eyes shut.
“Looks like
someone might be asleep.” Brent said.
“Sis, why don’t
you go up to bed?” Jon said shaking her.
“What did I
miss?” she said sitting up. The sudden movement caused her to
wince.
“Nothing you
need to go to bed honey.” Her dad said.
“I think you’re
right.” She said getting up and hugging everyone.
“I’ll come with
you.” Jeff said.
“No that’s ok;
you stay here and entertain these guys.” She said quickly.
Jeff watched her go upstairs.
“She just needs
some time Jeff.” Amanda said.
“She’s going to
leave.” He replied.
“No she won’t.”
Jon and Rich said together.
Kaye Leigh went
into their room, changed her clothes, got into bed, and cried
herself to sleep. When Jeff came up a little while later, he
got undressed and carefully climbed into bed next to her,
wrapped his arms around her, and pulled her close. “I love you
Kaye Leigh.” He whispered. He prayed that everyone else was
right and that she was not going to run.
The next day
Jeff did not go into the office.
“You’re not
going to work today?” Kaye Leigh asked when she came
downstairs.
“Nope, I’m not
going in all week, I want to be here with you and the rest of
the family.” He replied. The phone rang and Kaye Leigh
answered it.
“Hello?” she
said.
“Hi Kaye Leigh,
its Mr. Fisher. I heard what happened, I am so glad you are
ok. I was wondering if we could get rid of these divorce
papers now.” He said.
“No I am still
going to do it.” She replied, she had gone out onto the porch
so Jeff would not hear.
“Oh I thought
the whole situation was taken care of, that Jeff didn’t have
an affair.” He said.
“That’s true,
however I am still planning on it, and I will come in if you
need me too.” She said.
“No that isn’t
necessary I just need to send Jeff a letter saying the divorce
is proceeding and if he doesn’t sign the papers by the end of
the month it will go through uncontested.” He told her.
“I do want to
change something though, I want to give him the ranch, and I
am going to be leaving Texas.” She told him.
“Are you sure
you want to do this Kaye Leigh?” He asked.
“I’m sure.” She
replied.
“Ok, then I
will get the letter ready and then I will do the amendment and
file the papers.” He said.
“Thank you.”
She said and hung up.
Jeff came out
onto the porch.
“Who was that?”
he asked.
“Mr. Fisher.”
She replied.
“Did you stop
the divorce?” he asked.
“Everything is
taken care of.” She said.
“What do you
want to do today?” he asked.
“I don’t know.”
She said as she went inside. “Sit in my room.”
“Kaye Leigh you
can’t do that you can’t hide from everything.” He said.
“I know it
Jeff.” She snapped.
Amanda and Anna
came into the kitchen.
“Everything
ok?” Amanda asked.
“Everything is
fine mom.” Kaye Leigh said pouring herself a glass of tea.
“Do you want to
talk?” Amanda asked.
“No mom, I
don’t want to talk, I won’t want to think, I don’t want fifty
people around, and I just want to be left alone.” She said
grabbing her glass and going outside.
“I’m sorry
Amanda.” Jeff said.
“It’s ok Jeff;
I’ve been through this with her many times.” She said smiling.
“Anna, she doesn’t mean anything of what she’s saying, she’s
angry with herself and wants to shut herself off and since we
won’t allow that she’s lashing out at us.”
“I understand,
and no matter what I still love her.” Anna said smiling.
“Thanks mom.”
Jeff said hugging her.
Kaye Leigh had
gone out by a tree in the front yard and sat down. Rich and
Jon came and sat down on either side of her.
“What’s up
sis?” Rich asked.
“Nothing just
trying to be alone with a house full of people.” She said
bitterly.
“Full of people
who love you and care about you, and who don’t want to see you
do anything stupid.” Jon said.
“I already did
something stupid.” She replied.
“Drop it Kaye
Leigh, no one is upset about it they are all just worried
about you.” Rich said.
“I’m fine; no
one needs to be worried about me.” She said. Jon and Rich
laughed. “I’m glad I can keep you two entertained.” She
snapped.
“Oh stop it,
you know we love you.” Jon said.
“When are you
going to let someone know what you’re planning?” Rich said.
“I’m not
planning anything.” She said.
“Well according
to Becki you plan on leaving.” Jon said.
“Well Becki
first of all has a big mouth, and secondly she has no idea of
what she’s talking about.” She said.
“Becki is your
best friend Kaye Leigh, she wants to help you.” Rich said. She
just shook her head.
Jeff came out
and joined them.
“Was I out of
sight too long?” Kaye Leigh snapped.
“How are things
going?” he asked.
“Your wife is
just so pleasant today.” Rich said laughing.
“She always
is.” He said smiling. “
You’re all just
so funny.” She said.
“We’re teasing
you Kaye Leigh. We’re trying to get you to smile or laugh.”
Jon said.
“It hurts to do
either.” She said.
“We’re going to
go see everyone.” Rich said. They stood up.
“Aren’t you
working today?” Kaye Leigh asked Jon.
“Not until
Saturday.” He replied.
After Rich and
Jon left, Jeff said, “Pastor Mark called, and he’s going to
come out later today.”
“I don’t want
to see him.” Kaye Leigh said shutting her eyes.
“He just wants
to make sure you’re ok honey, you don’t have to sit and have a
long conversation if you’re not up to it.” He said. He was
watching her; he was not sure how to reach her.
“Hey Kaye Leigh
can we talk?” Becki asked as she came over.
“No.” she
replied.
“I’ll leave you
two alone.” Jeff said starting to get up.
“It’s ok Jeff I
have nothing to say to her.” Kaye Leigh said.
“Good maybe
you’ll listen then!” Becki yelled. Jeff went back up to the
house. “I understand that you’re angry.” Becki continued.
“Really Becki?”
Kaye Leigh yelled as she stood up.
Jon, Rich,
Jeff, and Curtis were watching from the porch, they could not
hear what was being said though.
“If they start
throwing punches we will step in.” Jon said.
“Maybe that’s
what Kaye Leigh needs.” Rich said laughing. “
She got hit
enough.” Jeff said.
“Yeah, but not
lovingly.” Curtis added. Everyone laughed.
“You understand
what I am feeling? When you look at your husband and family
do, you hate yourself even more? When you look in a mirror
does it make you sick?” Kaye Leigh yelled.
“No Kaye Leigh
I don’t know exactly how you feel, but I do know how it feels
to have been wrong a few times in my life. I know that you
love Jeff and he loves you. You’re letting Morgan win!” Becki
yelled back.
“Morgan already
won, don’t you get that! She did exactly what she set out to
do, she destroyed my life.” She yelled tears running down her
face.
“Only because
you’re letting her!” Becki yelled.
“You have no
idea what I am going through, you can’t even get Curtis yet
you can tell me how I am supposed to feel and think!” She
yelled.
“You’re right
Kaye Leigh, I don’t have a husband who loves me
unconditionally, or kids that want to be close to me, or a
family that is doing everything that they can to make me feel
better.” Becki said a little quieter. “But I would never let
someone like Morgan win and ruin my life.”
“Then
congratulations Becki you’re a much stronger person than I
am.” She said walking away.
Becki watched
her go. The guys walked over when Kaye Leigh left.
“That was a
little intense.” Curtis said putting his arm around her.
“I can’t
believe her!” Becki said. “She can be so stubborn at times.”
“Not our Kaye
Leigh, she’s way too sweet to be stubborn!” Rich said
pretending to be shocked. Jeff laughed.