DOWN THE ROAD

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.