Kaye Leigh
stayed away from the house almost all day for the next few
days. When she was around, she did not talk to anyone much no
matter what. She had purchased tickets for her and the kids to
leave the week after her parents were leaving.
Jeff was in the
stable.
“Hello Jeff you
in there?” Curtis asked waving his hand in front of his face.
“Oh sorry, I
didn’t hear you.” He replied.
“You were a
million miles away.” Curtis said.
“Not that
many.” He said.
“Kaye Leigh
huh?” Curtis asked.
“How did you
know?” Jeff said smiling. “I just don’t know how to reach
her.”
“Don’t look to
me to reach her, I’ve already been yelled at enough these past
few days now.” Becki said laughing.
“She doesn’t
mean it, well ok she means it, but she’s not angry at us.” Jon
said.
“Has she talked
to Pastor Mark?” Rich asked.
“No, he came
the other day, she said hi and assured him she was fine, then
left and never came back. He wants to see her alone, but she
won’t have anything to do with him.” Jeff said. “Or me, I can
hold her at night if she’s asleep when I come in, but if not
she stays as far away from me as possible.”
“You guys don’t
think that Sam did something to her that she didn’t tell us
about?” Becki asked.
“Like what?”
Jon asked.
“I don’t know,
touched her or something like that.” She said.
“She never said
anything, I really don’t know and I wouldn’t know how to go
about asking her without upsetting her.” Jeff replied.
“Looking at her
pretty much upsets her nowadays.” Jon said laughing.
Kaye Leigh had
gone into town to meet with one of her publishers to go over
her next contract. When she was done, she called and told
everyone she would just meet them at the football game. She
sat in the library and looked things up on the internet, she
was not sure where she and the kids were going to go because
she did not want anyone to know so that they would not come
looking for her.
Brent and Adam
had come out to the stable.
“What’s going
on?” Brent asked when they came in.
“Nothing, just
trying to figure out how to reach Kaye Leigh.” Jeff said.
“Well that’s
going to be hard to do if she keeps staying away; she called
and said she would meet us at the game.” Brent said.
“Where is she?”
Jeff asked.
“She had a
meeting with her publisher and I guess she had some other
things to do.” Adam said.
“I didn’t even
know she left.” Jeff said laughing. “She doesn’t talk to me
much.”
“She doesn’t
talk to anyone, she screams a lot.” Becki said.
“Reminds me of
old times.” Jon said laughing.
When it was
time for them to go to the game, they piled into the cars and
head to the high school. The boys had gone early like always
with David. When they pulled into the parking lot, Jeff did
not see Kaye Leigh’s truck. They got out and went inside.
“Kaye Leigh
isn’t here yet.” Anna said.
“No not yet but
she will be, she hasn’t missed a game yet.” Jeff said.
Kaye Leigh
pulled into the parking lot, got out of her truck and headed
to the gate.
“Kaye Leigh,
we’re glad you’re ok.” Someone said.
“Thank you.”
She said trying not to be noticed. She hurried her pace so
people would not stop to talk.
“Here she is.”
Brent said.
“Hi there.”
Jeff said giving her a hug and kiss.
“Hi.” She said
stepping back from him.
“How is
everyone?” she asked.
“Good, we
missed you for supper.” Anna said. Kaye Leigh smiled.
Jeff went to
take her hand but she pulled away from him.
“Kaye Leigh?”
he said.
“Where are the
girls?” she asked.
“Over with some
friends.” He told her. Kaye Leigh put their parents between
them.
“You should be
by your husband.” Amanda whispered.
“I should be
where I want to be mom.” She snapped.
“There is no
reason for you to take that tone with me Kaye Leigh.” Amanda
said.
“There no
reason for you to constantly nag me either mom.” She hissed
and started to walk away.
“I’m sorry
Amanda.” Jeff said.
“You don’t have
to keep apologizing for her, she will realize that she is
wrong and make it right.” Amanda said smiling at him.
The announcer
asked them to stand for the national anthem. When it was over
and the kick off was complete Jeff went to find Kaye Leigh.
“You know you
shouldn’t be so mean to your mother.” He whispered when he
came up behind her.
“No she should
mind her own business.” Kaye Leigh said.
“Kaye Leigh can
I ask you something?” he said.
“What?” she
replied.
“Did something
happen between you and Sam?” he asked.
“What are you
talking about?” she said, “Why would you even ask something
like that Jeff?”
“Not to get you
mad Kaye Leigh, but you don’t want me to even hold your hand
much less anything else.” Jeff said. He was watching her.
“So you think
because of that, that I am longing for Sam or something?” she
said. “
Just drop it
Kaye Leigh, just forget I said anything.” He said.
“Why apparently
it’s something you’ve been thinking about an awful lot.” She
snapped.
“No I am trying
to figure out how to get my wife back.” He said angrily.
“She isn’t
there for you to get back, everyone needs to understand that
and accept that I am not her anymore!” she yelled.
“I won’t accept
that Kaye Leigh.” He said.
“You have no
choice Jeff.” She said, turned, and walked away.
Jeff went back
to where the others were.
“Are you ok
son?” Adam asked.
“Yes, I’m
fine.” He replied.
“Did you and
Kaye Leigh fight?” Amanda asked.
“When doesn’t
she fight with someone nowadays?” he said.
“She probably
even fights with herself.” Becki said. Jon and Rich laughed.
Jeff walked off
to the side away from the parents and told the others about
his conversation with Kaye Leigh.
“So she didn’t
give you a straight answer.” Jon said. Jeff shook his head.
“When will this
nightmare end?” he said running his fingers through his hair.
“Well maybe
once everyone is gone you two can get back to where you were
before all of this started.” Rich said.
After the game,
everyone went home while Jeff and Curtis waited for the boys.
“Great game
guys.” Jeff said when they climbed into the truck.
“Thanks dad.”
Josh said.
“Where’s mom?”
Dan asked.
“She went home
with the others.” He replied.
“Your grandpa’s
were very impressed with the way you two played tonight.”
Curtis said.
“Cool, I’m glad
we won since they were here. When are they leaving?” Josh
asked.
“Tomorrow
afternoon we take them to the airport.” Jeff said.
Everyone was in
the living room when they got home.
“Go take a
shower and then you can come back down.” Kaye Leigh said.
“We’ll be back
in a few.” Dan yelled.
“I’m first.”
Josh said as they went up the stairs.
“That was a
great game tonight.” Brent said.
“It was.” Kaye
Leigh agreed.
“What time are
we going to the airport tomorrow?” Adam asked.
“We’ll leave
around noon.” Jeff said.
“I won’t be
able to go with you guys, I have to go back to work tomorrow.”
“It was really
nice to see you and your family again Jon.” Anna said.
“It was great
to see everyone too; hopefully next time when you come down it
will be under better circumstances.” Jon said.
“It was great
to see you too brother, bring the family down sometime.” Jon
said giving Rich and Brooke a hug.
“We’re going to
try to get down here soon, Julie wants to come and visit.”
Rich said. “I want to bring my boyfriend the next time we come
down.” Brooke said.
Jon laughed and
said, “You don’t need a boyfriend. I will see you guys later,
you behave Kaye Leigh don’t make Jeff call me back here.” Jon
waved as they went out the door. “Love you guys.” He called.
“Love you too.”
Amanda said.
Right after
they left Josh and Dan had come back down.
“Now you can
both hug me.” Kaye Leigh said. Both gave her a hug. “Great
game.” She said.
“Thanks.” They
replied.
“Did Uncle Jon
leave?” Josh asked.
“Yep.” Jeff
said sitting down next to Kaye Leigh and handing her a glass
of tea.
“Thanks.” She
said taking it and moving over so that they were not touching.
“Well everyone,
I am very tired so I am going to go to bed now, I will see you
all in the morning.” She said when she finished her tea.
“We’re all
going to bed now.” Amanda said.
“Don’t feel
like you have to, Jeff is here to entertain you.” She said
quickly.
“No we’re going
to bed it’s going to be a long day tomorrow.” Brent said
smiling at Kaye Leigh.
“Good night
everyone.” She said.
She was in the
bathroom changing when Jeff came in. When she came out Jeff
was already in bed so she turned off the lights and laid down
as close to the edge as she could without falling out. She was
trying to keep her distance from him, so it would not be any
harder when it came time to leave, but she longed to be held
by him one last time.
“Kaye Leigh?”
Jeff said.
“What?” she
replied.
“Come here
please.” He said.
“I’m really
tired Jeff.” She said.
“I’m really
tired of you shutting me out.” He said angrily.
“Then leave.”
She replied.
“I’m not
leaving you ever Kaye Leigh.” He said.
Jeff pulled her
closer to him.
“Jeff stop it.”
She said.
“No, I know you
love me Kaye Leigh say it.” He said, leaning over her and
kissing her.
“Stop it.” She
said again.
“Say it Kaye
Leigh.” He said again.
“Why Jeff?” she
said tears in her eyes.
“Because I know
you love me and I want you to stop fighting me and everyone
else.” He said kissing her again. “Say it.”
“I love you
more than life Jeff, but it doesn’t change a thing.” She said
tears falling.
“Yes it does.”
He said kissing her again. Finally, she stopped struggling
against him.
“All I want to
do is hold you close Kaye Leigh.” He said lying back down next
to her and holding her close to him. He really wanted to be
with her, but he knew she was not ready for that.
“I love you
Kaye Leigh.” He said in her ear.
“I love you
too.” She said.
“I want you to
know Kaye Leigh, I didn’t mean anything by what I asked you
tonight, I just wondered if Sam hurt you and you felt like you
couldn’t tell me.” He said.
“No Sam didn’t
touch me other than kissing me once when he got to the hotel.”
She replied.
“I thought
maybe that was the reason you didn’t want me close to you.” He
said.
“Good night
Jeff.” She said quietly.