New Girl in Town Pt. 24

"I said gimme that fuckin' bottle!" Buck shouted at his wife as the pair faced off in the kitchen.

"No, you aren't getting this or any other bottle," she responded. "I am done with this! It's becoming the same thing every day and I am sick of it!"

"You think I give a good goddamn what you're sick of?" he asked as Patrick descended the stairs. "If I want a drink, then by god, I'm going to drink now give me that fucking bottle!"

She backed away from his advance until her back was to the sink. As she turned to pour the liquor down the drain he grabbed her and yanked her back.

"I said give me it!" He shouted and raised his hand as if to hit her.

His swing started but was halted when Patrick grabbed him by the wrist.

"Stop it," Patrick said as he moved between the pair while he still held his father's wrist. "Just stop! What the hell is wrong with you?"

Buck tried to jerk his arm free but Patrick held tight.

"That bitch was pouring out my drink," he stated. "Thinks that she runs this house. I run this house damn it!"

"You need to leave," Patrick told him then looked back at his mother, who still held the bottle. "Call him a ride. He needs to go sleep this off somewhere else."

"The hell I will!" Buck argued until Patrick twisted his arm up into an arm bar.

Buck groaned out and again tried to free himself but was too uncoordinated to manage to do anything except to cause himself more discomfort.

"I know who to call," his mom said as she placed the bottle in the sink and went to the phone. "Just hold him right there. If he ends up hurting himself more... well that's just one him now isn't it?"

****

"I swear that I think Tank and the rest of the guys are trying to get Jake to be able to bench press Jessica," Jamie said into his phone as he laid on his bed in darkness. "Every five lifts and one of them asks for five more. It's crazy."

"It sounds it," Marie agreed with a giggle. "I can't imagine anyone being able to lift Jessica like that. She's so tall. You'd have a much easier time bench pressing me."

"That kind of sounds like a challenge," he chuckled.

"Not much of one for you! I'm so tiny compared to Jessica!" she laughed then switched to her sultry voice. "Though I would like to see how well you can do it."

"Done," Jamie agreed quickly. "You're still free Friday night, right?"

"So far, so good," she answered him. "I switched afternoons at the restaurant with Amy so she could go out last weekend. She owes me."

"Great!" he enthused as his phone beeped to indicate that he had another call. "I'm getting another call."

"If it's Jessica, tell her that you can only lift me," she giggled. "She's gotta wait on her Jake for that!"

"Jessica doesn't even have my number," he laughed then took his phone from his ear.

He had to read the caller ID twice to be sure that read it right.

"It's Patrick," he told her. "What in heck could he want?"

"That's what I was going to ask you?" she said. "Are you going to answer it?"

"I'm thinking of letting it go to voicemail, deleting it and blocking the number," he admitted. "Probably should have done that way before now."

"Or maybe answer it," she said. "See what he's calling you for out of the blue for then call me back. I want to hear all about it."

"If you're sure," he said and got an affirmative from her then ended the call with a promise to call her as soon as he was off with Patrick.

He checked his voicemail and saw that a message had been left.

"Hey, man," Patrick began. "I know it's been awhile and I'm far from your favorite person but I... I just didn't know anyone else to turn to. Hell, I don't really have anyone else to turn to truth be told. Can you call me back? Something's happened... between my mom and dad and I... I don't know what to do. I don't even think you'll call me back but I hope that you do. I really need someone to talk to."

Jamie listened to the message again then called Marie and told her about it.

"What do you think I should do?" he asked her.

"The easy answer is nothing," she answered. "It's not like you owe him anything if all the stories I've heard about him are close to being true. Though if you're asking me then you're thinking about calling him back at least so maybe you think you do owe him something."

"Maybe I do," Jamie sighed. "We were friends for a long time, Marie. I don't want to call him back but I kind of feel like I have to, you know?"

"I get it," she agreed. "Call me after so I know that you're all right, okay?"

"Thanks, I will," he promised as he hung up then called Patrick.

****

"Hey, Jake, you got a minute?" Jamie asked the next morning as he walked up to Jake and Jessica as the pair stood in the hallway next to Ms. Simpson's classroom.

"Sure, man," Jake nodded. "We got a few minutes before the bell rings."

"Don't hobble off too far, Jake," Jessica told him before she turned back to Staci and Ray. "We don't want Ms. Simpson to have to write up her second favorite student."

"Don't worry, Jess, I'm sure that you'll be fine," Jake joked back as he and Jamie made their way toward the nearby rear door.

They stopped just inside the vestibule where Jake leaned against the wall.

"Everything okay, Jamie?" Jake asked.

"With me, yeah," he answered. "Patrick called me last night. Left me a message since I was on with Marie but I ended up calling him back. I know you probably don't want to hear this stuff considering what happened I just didn't know who else to talk to, you know?"

"Yeah, I get it, Jamie, and it's fine," he nodded. "The less I think about all that the better but if I can help you out then tell me what's going on."

"Thanks, man, I appreciate that," Jamie said. "Patrick's dad has gone off the deep end it seems. He lost his place on the board down at the marina, he's drinking all the time and he apparently got violent last night. Didn't hit either Patrick or his mom but it was close or that's what Patrick told me."

"Damn," Jake commented as the first bell rang to alert them that classes would begin in a few minutes. He glanced over and saw Jessica nod her head toward the classroom door. He nodded back and looked back at Jamie. "What did Patrick want you to do?"

"I think that he just wanted to talk about it," he said then he nodded toward Jessica. "You'd better get back. If I get you in trouble with her, I'll never hear the end of it from her, Staci and Marie, too."

"Everything cool?" Jake asked with raised eyebrows.

"Yeah," Jamie nodded. "Guess I just needed to tell someone too."

"Talk more at lunch?"

"Sounds like a plan," he said then walked Jake back to where Jessica waited. "I brought him back in mostly one piece, Jess."

"I've come realize that's his natural state," Jessica laughed. "Now you get to class too. Can't have you getting Saturday school and missing out on time with Marie."

"Can do," Jamie smiled. "See you guys at lunch."

After he walked away and Jake and Jess went to their seats she nudged him.

"What was all that about?" she asked.

"Patrick called him," Jake answered as the final bell rang. "I'll tell you about it later."

****

"I appreciate you making some time to meet with me," Mr. Edwin Blanton stated as he reached out and shook Mr. Golden's hand. "I should have done this a lot sooner but here we are now."

"Yes we are," Mr. Golden nodded. "How can I help you, Mr. Blanton?"

"Let's walk lakeside, shall we?" he asked as he gestured toward the walkway. "Thankfully it's not too cold today."

The pair walked toward the fishing pier that jutted out over the placid lake.

"The way things ended with your company and this project never should have been allowed to happen," Mr. Blanton stated. "The board gave Mr. Greene too much leeway in the matter and this is the terrible results of that."

He handed Mr. Golden a letter from the EPA that stated the marina was to close down until all the affected areas were cleaned and reinspected. Mr. Golden read it then handed it back.

"Mr. Greene has been dismissed from his position on the board and we would like to ask if you and your company would consider allowing us to rehire you to finish the job," Mr. Blanton said. "With a considerable bonus for all the trouble of course."

"I'd want to see the full report from the EPA before I agree to bring my crew back into this," Mr. Golden told him and received a nod of agreement.

"I can have that to you before you leave," he assured him. "You would have to avoid the areas of concern until we get it cleaned up to the EPA's satisfaction anyway."

"Have you got someone to come in and do the clean up?" Mr. Golden asked.

"We've called around to a few places and are waiting to hear back," he answered.

"There's a company in Charlotte that we've worked with in the past that do this sort of clean up," Mr. Golden offered. "I can give you their number and put in a good word for you if you're interested."

"By all means," Mr. Blanton nodded. "Should I call your office there as well to renegotiate our contract?"

"I believe we can honor the original contract," he answered. "I'll make some calls to be sure and let you know by the end of the day."

"Please do and thank you for your understanding in this matter," Mr. Blanton said. "Feel free to stop by my office at any time. We at the board would like to extend you and your family membership here at the marina. We throw a pretty mean Valentine's party if I do say so."

"I appreciate the offer," Mr. Golden stated. "I'll take you up on that generous offer."

"You should have been offered membership as soon as you moved to town," Mr. Blanton said. "I am merely correcting an oversight that occurred on Mr. Greene's watch. You'll let me know when you've talked with your partners in Charlotte?"

"Should be by the end of business today," Mr. Golden said.

"Excellent," Mr. Blanton said as they shook hands. "I look forward to working with you and I'll look into this company that you've suggested for clean up. Please call as soon as you know something."

"Will do," Mr. Golden nodded as he watched the older man as he made his way back to the marina.

He texted his wife the news then put in a call to his partners in Charlotte to tell them that the job here was back on.

****

"She's all right though, right?" Jake asked Jamie as they worked out with the others after school.

Jamie spotted Jake as he used the bench press.

"As far as I know," Jamie answered. "Patrick said that his dad didn't hit her but it was close to happening."

"That's so messed up," Jake said as he pumped out another lift. "She seemed really nice after... what happened."

"She always was to me," Jamie agreed. "His dad, not so much. You can really see where Patrick got his superior attitude from."

"Seems so," he agreed. "Add ten more pounds for me?"

"Not until Jessica comes back and okays it, Jake," Jamie laughed. "I am not getting on her bad side with her and all the rest when they are going out with Marie this weekend."

"They're going to the mall again, right?" Ray asked as he did arm curls nearby. "Staci's been teasing a return visit to a certain store for Valentine's day."

"All of us guys can hope that's the case," Jake laughed.

"Man, I'm asking Jess to invite Twanda along if that's the case," Tank said. "I can't imagine what they can come up with if they are all together!"

"None of you imagine anything or we're all going to be taking cold showers after this," Jake said.

"Imagining naughty things, Jake?" Jessica asked as she returned from the restroom.

"Can you blame me?" he laughed.

"No, not really," she smiled. "Lord knows I'm imagining the same things probably."

"Did I hear something about naughty thoughts ?" Tonya asked. "Clue me in."

"Not happening, Tonya," Jessica called out.

"Jess, are you going to invite Twanda along on this weekend thing or what?" Tank asked.

"She's always welcome," Jessica said. "I'll call her tonight and see if she's free."

"Oh she will be," he smiled. "As long as you guys are going to a certain store."

"Count me in!" Tonya shouted. "And Tabby too. She needs new undies. Hers are all holey."

"TONYA!" her sister shouted as she blushed red. "That's not true and if it were, not everyone in here needs to hear it!"

"Tonya, stop embarrassing your sister," Jessica told her. "Otherwise she's invited along and you'll be the one carrying all the bags this weekend."

"Make her do that anyway, Jess," Tabitha said. "That was mean."

"Oh fine," Tonya said. "I'll stop teasing my sis and carry the bags for you guys. She does have some nice frilly panties that..."

"TONYA!" her sister shouted again while the guys laughed.

"Cold showers for us guys for sure now," Jake sighed.

"Laying there imagining Tabby in her frilly things, Jake?" Jessica teased him.

"Now who's embarrassing Tabitha?" he asked. "Looks like you and Tonya are going to be splitting the bag carrying duties, Jess."

"I was already planning on it," Jessica said. "Tonya would whine until we relented and helped her anyway."

"Would not," Tonya argued then giggled. "Okay, I probably would but just so I could extort some cookies out of you guys."

"Oh we're totally getting cookies," Jessica said. "I'm burning off extra calories here just for them and yes, Jake, I'll bring some just for you."

"Guys, my girlfriend loves me," he stated.

"We all know that, Jake," Ray laughed.

"Yeah, she makes it pretty obvious," Jamie said.

The group finished up their work outs and were showering when Jake called over to Jamie.

"You're sure that Patrick's mom is all right?" he asked.

"I think so," Jamie answered as he lathered up. "I'm actually going to go by there on my way home to see for myself. Probably a mistake but I guess that I gotta see for myself, you know?"

"I get it," he answered. "Just be careful. That doesn't sound like something that you want to get in the middle of."

"I really don't and after I make sure that his mom's all right, I'm out of there," he assured him. "Kind of feel like I owe Patrick a little more than that but I gotta see how it goes. If he's an asshole then I'm out."

"Hopefully that won't be the case," Jake said. "I can't say I expect him to be a whole lot different but who knows? I think things like this can change people."

"Maybe," he said. "I'll call you tonight and let you know how it goes if that's okay?"

"Cool by me," Jake answered. "Just got homework with Jess and that's about it for my evening as far as I know."

They exited the showers and started getting dressed.

"I appreciate you hearing me out, Jake," Jamie said. "Especially with it involving Patrick and all."

"You're the one asking, not him," Jake told him as he got dressed. "I'm not entirely sure what I would do if he were the one asking. That might make me a bad person but..."

"It doesn't, Jake," Jamie said. "He did try to kill you after all. No reason for you to feel bad about not wanting to help the guy. He's more than earned what you feel about him."

"Thanks, man, I appreciate that," Jake said. "I'd better not keep Jess waiting. She might leave me here."

"Not likely," he laughed. "She'd never hear the end of it from Staci and knows that Tonya and Tabitha would gladly take you home with them."

"I'd never survive those two," Jake laughed. "Talk to you later, right?"

"Once I'm home, sure," he answered. "Thanks, Jake."

"Anytime, Jamie," he told him as he got his crutches under him then hopped toward the locker room door.

****

Jessica looked up from her homework when Jake moved the pillow that helped keep his leg elevated. It was, by her count, the fourth time he'd done so in that past half hour.

"It's bothering you that bad?" she asked.

"Can't get comfortable is all," he answered as he looked up from his book. "It feels like every position is just as bad as the other."

"Hopefully when we go to the doctors at the end of the week they can put you in a lighter one or something," she said. "I looked up a few online and there's options."

"Any that your California friends suggest?" he asked. "I'd really like yours."

"Because I can take it off whenever I want," she grinned then saw his frown. "Fine. When I'm allowed to take it off."

"Better," Jake laughed. "And yes. I'm totally jealous that you can pop it on and off while I'm trapped in this thing."

"I understand how you feel," she rubbed his forearm. "It's just a few more days then we'll see what they tell us."

"Yours is likely to come off, right?" he asked as he adjusted again.

"Ashley out in California seems to think that it should be able to come off," she answered. "They want another set of x-rays to be sure but the updates have been looking good."

"Who ordered burgers for dinner?" Jessica's dad asked as he entered the kitchen holding a couple of bags from Smitty's in his hands.

"We did," Jessica said as she got up to clear the table of her and Jake's homework. "I'll get us drinks."

"Careful of that arm, Jessica," her dad warned her as he sat the bags on the table. "Where's your mother and sister?"

"The bathroom," she answered. "Sarah's homework involved paint and let's just say that she got a little exuberant with it."

"How does the school not know better by now?" Mr. Golden wondered aloud as he started to get the food from the bag. "Jess, can you..."

"Headed up to get mom and the mini paint monster now," she cut him off. "Jake, leave your leg on that chair. Sarah can share mine."

"It's fine," Jake said as he lowered his leg to the ground. "I was losing feeling in it anyway."

"Are you still doing okay with your cast, Jake?" Mr. Golden asked as Jessica headed up the stairs.

"It's starting to feel a lot more cumbersome," he admitted. "I'm hoping for some good news when I go see the doctor this week."

"Jess is as well," he nodded. "Speaking of good news, I have some myself that I'll share once everyone joins us."

Once everyone was seated, Sarah between Jake and Jessica at her insistence, and the food passed out Mr. Golden spoke up.

"I have some news," he started. "The head of the board at the marina called me to meet him today. Our company has been rehired to finish the job we started as soon as the site is cleared."

"So the partners agreed to terms then?" Dr. Golden asked.

"Once they spoke to Mr. Blanton and his insistence on a bonus for all the trouble on the job, they couldn't turn him down," Mr. Golden shared.

"That's awesome, Dad," Jessica agreed while Sarah and Jake nodded along, their mouths full of Smitty's fries.

"That's not all," he continued. "We've also been offered a membership at the marina."

"What's that entail?" Dr. Golden asked.

"Do we get a boat?" Sarah jumped in.

"No, Sarah, we don't get a boat," he chuckled. "Not exactly anyway."

"Then what exactly?" she asked.

"How old are you again?" her mom asked with a shake of her head.

"Too old for her own good," Jessica laughed. "Please continue, Dad."

"Should we get a boat, we'll get a slip to dock her in," he shared. "We also get discounted rentals of any of the boats, paddle boats, canoes or kayaks the marina rents out which should please you, Miss Sar-bear."

"It does," she nodded with a grin then looked at her sister. "When can you take me on the lake?"

"In late spring or early summer, Sarah," Jessica answered her. "It's way too cold to be out on the lake now."

"There's also events, galas, those sort of things that happen year round," Mr. Golden continued. "The next one is a Valentine's thing if you all are interested."

"Might be fun," Jessica said as she looked at Jake. "Did we have plans already?"

"I was thinking dinner some place nice but hadn't narrowed down the options yet," he admitted. "I was kind of waiting to see if I get this thing off me this week. That way I'd know if I needed to avoid places with stairs."