Home to Whiskey Creek (29 page)

Then there was Noah. She didn’t want to leave him. They’d grown so close the past few days. It was all she could do not to tell him how much she loved him. She would have, except she wanted him to feel free to change his mind about her....

She’d just finished the first draft of the menu when the doorbell rang. Wondering whether or not it would be wise to open it, she hurried to the window but couldn’t see more than one muscular arm and some denim. “Who is it?” she called out.

“Dylan Amos.”

Aaron’s brother. She opened the door right away. “Dylan, how are you?”

“I’m fine. I have some good news.”

She blinked in surprise. “You do?”

He grinned. “For you and Noah. Is he around?”

“He’s at the store.”

“I peeked in but didn’t see him.”

“He must be in the workshop.”

“Then I’ll stop by and talk to him on my way back. But I wanted to tell you it wasn’t Mayor Rackham’s car.”

She gripped the door frame. “How do you know?”

“Because I finally found what I’ve been looking for.” He handed her a facsimile of a work order from A-1 Auto Repair, which had a Sacramento address.

“What’s this?”

“It’s where Stephen Selby took his Chevy to have it fixed after hitting that retaining wall as he was driving you to the mine.”

“How do you know he took it to this place?”

“They told me.” His smile turned devilish. “I’ve been calling every auto body shop in Northern California. Some of them didn’t want to take the time to mess with me, so I pretended to be a P.I. investigating a rape, which made them much more eager to do what they could.”

She couldn’t help laughing. “I hope you can’t get into trouble for impersonating a private investigator.”

“Even if I can, as far as I’m concerned it’ll be worth it.”

She doubted Cheyenne would feel so cavalier about that. She was too much in love with her husband not to want to protect him. But Dylan was definitely his own man and made his own decisions. “So...it
was
Stephen,” she breathed.

“The little bastard,” Dylan muttered. “I
knew
it had to be him.”

“Makes sense, since he was the only one with a white vehicle.”

“But the others could’ve gotten access to one. I knew it was him because, out of the four you named, he’s the only one who’s ever hung out with Aaron.”

“
That’s
how he got Aaron’s knife!”

A muscle flexed in Dylan’s jaw, giving her the impression that he was tempted to punish Stephen himself. He nodded.

“I knew he wasn’t a nice guy,” she said, “but...as far as I’m concerned, none of them are.”

“We won’t let them discredit you.”

We.
She liked the sound of that, except she knew she was splitting the town in two. “But if Chief Stacy isn’t going to go after him or the others, will anything we do really help?”

“Sure it will. I’m about to call Ed over at the paper. If we put enough pressure on him, Stacy will
have
to investigate.”

“He won’t be happy you’re trying to force his hand.”

“I’m going to do more than try. Chief Stacy has been so eager to bust my balls, I’m finding this a pleasure.” With a wink, he added, “Give Milly my best.”

* * *

When he learned that Callie was back, Baxter felt the first sense of relief he’d experienced in several days. She’d called as soon as she landed in San Francisco to let him know she was coming. She must’ve dropped Levi off at their ranch once she hit town because she stood alone on his porch when he answered the door.

“I leave for eighteen days and all hell breaks loose,” she complained in lieu of hello.

“And I’m not sure you’ve heard the latest,” he said, eager to take the spotlight off himself.

She hugged him before coming inside. “You mean about Cody and his baseball buddies committing a felony at that grad night party? I’ve heard.”

“Do you believe it?”

“Don’t you?”

“I don’t know what to believe.”

“Noah is siding with Adelaide Davies.”

“I’ve heard. But you realize he was seeing Adelaide when the news came out, right?”

“I do. He’s still seeing her. He’s smack in the middle of the whole thing. Poor guy. But...”

“But?” Baxter repeated.

“Goes to show you’re not the only one who has problems.” She surveyed his living room. “Jeez, would you look at this place?”

He shrugged at the mess. He’d never let his house go before. But it just wasn’t in him to care anymore.

“You’ll never be able to sell it like this,” she said.

“That’s all you’ve got to say? I got drunk and
kissed
my best friend, who doesn’t have a homosexual bone in his body. I took a whole bottle of sleeping pills because I didn’t want to deal with the reality of my situation anymore. My parents have learned that I’m gay and my father hasn’t spoken to me since. And you’re worried about me selling my house?”

He’d finally said something that surprised her. He could tell by the way she cocked her head. “Who told your parents?”

“My mother said Noah paid them a visit last weekend.”

“Wow, he’s on a roll.”

“Making friends all over.”

He expected her to be upset with Noah.
He
was. But she pursed her lips, studied him for a moment and said, “He did the right thing, Bax.”

“What?”

“You heard me.”

“That’s bullshit!” he said, but he actually found Callie’s approach refreshing and welcomed the opportunity to react frankly. Eve, Ted, Cheyenne—the rest of them had been killing him with kindness since he got out of the hospital on Monday. They were obviously afraid the slightest misstep might push him over the edge again. He hated that.

“It’s not bullshit,” she insisted. “I’m sure that wasn’t an easy decision for him to make.”

“You think he had my best interests in mind?”

“Knowing him, I do. Embrace who you are. Once you do, everyone else will, too.” With that she started straightening up his living room.

“Stop cleaning!” he yelled.

“Nope, sorry. Makes me feel better to be doing something.”

He thought of the many times he’d done the same thing to Noah and almost laughed. “Well, it makes me feel like shit.”

“You already feel like shit.”

She had a point, so he didn’t argue. He just sat down.

“You could help,” she said when he merely watched.

“Looks like you’re doing a pretty good job.”

When she stopped working and folded her arms across her chest, he knew he was about to hear the bottom line as she saw it. “You can’t go on like this, Bax.”

“That’s it? That’s all you’ve got for me?”

“That’s it.”

“What else am I supposed to do, Cal?”

“You only have one choice—pull your shit together.”

For the first time, he heard anger in her voice and couldn’t help bristling. “Easy for you to say.”

“No, it’s not easy for me to say. After what I went through last summer, I know how precious every minute should be. I didn’t fight for my life so you could throw yours away. Dark times only last if you let them. Pick yourself up and reconnect with the people and things you care about.”

“I care about Noah.” He missed his best friend, missed knowing they were okay. It had been hard the past few days, hearing what was going on with the Rackhams and wondering how Noah was handling it.

Her lips curved into an understanding smile. “Then call him.”

“I can’t.”

“Of course you can.” She brought his phone from where he’d left it on the counter. He had a slew of calls he hadn’t returned, from friends and clients. And a whole list of texts.

“He’s dying to hear from you,” she said. “Just because he doesn’t want to have sex with you doesn’t mean he doesn’t care about you. Rebuild a relationship with him—one you can both live with.”

He stared at his “favorites” list on his phone. “And my father?”

“He’s got some adjustments to make, some apologies, too. But he’ll come around.”

30

B
axter was nervous as he dialed Noah’s number. He felt so fragile, wasn’t sure he could handle the emotions hearing Noah’s voice would evoke. But staying away from him wasn’t easy, either. Their group of friends had been together since grade school, and the events of the past two weeks had upset them all—like a beehive that’d been struck and was suddenly in chaos.

“Bax, is it really you?”

He couldn’t help smiling at Noah’s relief. “Yeah, it’s me. You okay?”

“I’ve had a shitty week, but no worse than you.”

As Baxter looked around his house, he felt as if he was seeing it for the first time in a long while. “We’ve both had better.”

“I’m sorry,” Noah said. “I’m sure you know this by now, but I’m the one who told your parents. I didn’t do it because I was trying to hurt you, though. I hope you believe that.”

Callie was watching him a little too closely. Baxter waved her off to let her know she could quit worrying. “I do,” he said. “Maybe it was time for the truth. And maybe it’ll be for the best. I’m not sure I would’ve been able to summon up the nerve. The look on my father’s face when you told him—” he winced, imagining what that had been like “—it must’ve been pretty bad.”

“Your mom seems to be handling it better.”

Baxter guessed he’d been right about his father when Noah dodged the question like that. “She’s come to see me a couple of times.”

“But not your father.”

“Not yet.”

“I feel bad, Bax. I really do.”

Baxter rested his head on the back of the couch. He’d thought this call would be difficult, but the familiarity of talking to someone who’d been such a big part of his life more than compensated for any awkwardness. He just wished he hadn’t kissed Noah. He was embarrassed he’d taken it so far. “It’s okay. I’ll survive.”

“You scared the shit out of us. You won’t do anything like that again, will you?”

Baxter didn’t want to address his suicide attempt. He couldn’t even say why he’d done it. He’d just been so desperate for a way out. “I won’t, no.” He couldn’t promise too much at this point, but he owed his friends
some
reassurance. “I’m going to make some changes that should...help,” he finished simply.

“Like therapy?”

“And moving away from Whiskey Creek until I can figure out who I am and who I want to be.”

“We’ll miss you.”

“I won’t be that far,” he said, but he knew what Noah meant. The distance was already there. “And we’re getting older. Change happens.”

“That doesn’t mean it has to be a bad thing.”

“True.” Eager to drop that topic, Baxter moved on. “I owe you an apology for how I behaved at the cabin—”

“Forget it. There’s no need to discuss that. I was an idiot for dragging you up there.”

Relieved to be able to put
that
subject behind him, too, Baxter drew a deep breath. “So...how are things with your family?”

“I’m getting along with my parents about as well as you’re getting along with yours,” he said with a rueful laugh.

Baxter smiled at Callie, who sat down next to him, put her arms around him and leaned her head on his shoulder. “Do you really believe Cody raped Adelaide, Noah?”

There was a long pause. “I don’t want to, but...”

“You do.”

“Yes. You don’t?”

“The boy I remember...I can’t see him doing that. He had Shania, the whole world at his feet.”

“Maybe that was the problem. He thought he should be able to have everything.”

“I could see that. Do you think your parents will ever believe her?”

“I bet they already do. They just don’t want to face it. But I’m not going to let them treat her as if she’s lying.”

“I’m getting the impression you really care about this woman.”

“She’s different from the others,” he admitted. “Are you coming to coffee tomorrow?”

“I don’t know.”

“I’d really like to see you.”

“I’m not sure I’m ready.”

Callie lifted her head to frown at his response, but he arched his eyebrows as if to say it was the truth.

“We’re your friends, Bax,” Noah was saying. “Your
best
friends. We don’t care if you’re gay. We only care that you’re all right.”

“I appreciate that, but...it’s not going to be easy to get over you.” Baxter had intended that to come off as a flippant remark, a joke making light of The Kiss. He thought things might be more comfortable between them if they could laugh at the situation. But it was too close to the truth to be funny.

“You’ll find the right person, Bax,” Noah said. “It isn’t me, but...I don’t want to lose you as a friend.”

Baxter said nothing.

“I mean that,” Noah insisted. “Will you be there tomorrow?”

“I doubt Callie will let me stay home even if I want to.”

“Damn right,” she said, and kissed him on the cheek.

* * *

Noah wanted Adelaide to accompany him when he went to coffee the next morning. She was hesitant, because she wasn’t sure how his friends felt toward her. They’d been close to Cody, too. Did they believe he was involved in a gang rape? Or did they believe what Kevin, Tom, Derek and Stephen kept telling everyone, with the support of Shania and the Rackhams? Because that was the thing about Whiskey Creek. They were all so connected, all so familiar with one another. It was difficult to find anyone who’d be unbiased.

As she walked in with Noah, Adelaide was thinking that she would’ve been smarter to give it more time before showing up at Black Gold, but Kyle, Cheyenne, Dylan, Eve, Riley, Brandon, Olivia, Ted, Callie and a man she’d never met—obviously Callie’s husband, since she knew they’d been on their honeymoon—were already there. They all got up to greet her with a hug.

“I’m sorry for what you’ve been through,” Eve murmured.

“I wish we’d been closer, that I could’ve been there for you fifteen years ago,” Olivia told her. “I can’t even imagine how hard it’s been.”

Dylan’s hug was a little tighter than the others. “You’re going to be okay,” he whispered in her ear. Then he shared what he’d found out about Stephen’s truck with the others, which got everyone mad that Chief Stacy wasn’t doing more to bring those responsible to justice.

When Baxter walked in, the entire group seemed relieved to see him, but they also seemed slightly ill at ease. Addy sensed that they weren’t used to having problems within the group. Fortunately, because they knew this moment was significant for Noah, they stayed seated and allowed him to be the only one to meet Baxter as he crossed the floor.

“Hey, I’m glad you came,” Noah said, and embraced him.

Once Baxter joined them, everyone seemed so happy to put the rift of the past week behind them that Addy forgot her own problems for a while. Then Noah had to go to work. It wasn’t until he dropped her off at Gran’s that the hope and happiness she’d enjoyed at the coffee shop disappeared.

And it started with the arrival of his mother.

* * *

When Noah returned to Milly’s a few hours later, he was surprised not to see Adelaide’s 4-Runner. It had sat in the drive all week because she hadn’t really gone anywhere, other than his place.

“Where is she?” Noah asked Milly, who answered the door.

She frowned as she shook her head. “I’m sorry, Noah. She packed up and left.”

“Why?”

“Because she thought it was the best thing—for you, for your family, for everyone here in Whiskey Creek.”

“But...that’s not true.”

“Isn’t it?” she asked sadly.

He didn’t know what to say. He wasn’t pleased with what his parents were doing, but he’d never been more convinced that Addy was telling the truth. “What about the restaurant? She—she’s been creating new menus and—”

“That was when she thought her mother would be heading back to Salt Lake. Now Helen’s getting a divorce. She’ll be here, at least for a while. Addy seems to think it might be healthy for her mother to have some responsibility and...something to care about each day.”

But would Helen be reliable? From what he could tell, she seemed to have calmed down a bit since her younger years, but...who could say what she’d do if she suddenly decided to reunite with her husband, since it seemed to go back and forth from one day to the next, or if she met someone else?

“What caused this?” he demanded. “Everything was fine when I dropped her off.”

Milly pursed her lips as if she wasn’t going to say. She didn’t soften until he put his hand over hers. “I’m in love with her, Milly. I think we’re meant to be together. You have to help me. What made her go?”

“Your mother came by,” she admitted.

“My
mother?
What’d she say?”

“She said, ‘I only have two sons. You’ve already taken one from me. Can you really be hardhearted enough to take the other?’”

With a sigh, Noah shoved a hand through his hair. “Oh, God.”

“I don’t think Addy can live with the constant hate and anger she’d face here, Noah. That’s why I didn’t have the heart to try and stop her,” Milly said as she closed the door.

* * *

Addy wasn’t sure where she was going. She didn’t care as long as it was away from Whiskey Creek. Kevin, Tom, Derek and Stephen had achieved what they wanted, with a little help from their friends. She wished it could be otherwise. Noah meant everything to her. But his mother had made her see the truth—that even if Chief Stacy aggressively pursued the investigation and eventually put all four men behind bars, there’d be long-lasting resentment. She’d run into Kevin’s wife or parents at the grocery store or Just Like Mom’s. She’d see his kids around town. The same went for the others. There was no reason for her to make life so difficult for people who were as innocent as she claimed to be, Mrs. Rackham said. If Noah loved her, he’d make arrangements to see her wherever she lived.

But Addy knew Mrs. Rackham didn’t believe that was the case. Noah had never had a long-lasting love interest. His home
and
business were in Whiskey Creek. So were all his friends. Mrs. Rackham thought if she could get Addy to leave, she’d be able to bring her family together again.

And maybe she could. Addy hadn’t been with Noah long enough to expect him to make any great sacrifices. She’d begin looking for an apartment and a job. Only this time she’d head to Los Angeles or somewhere even farther. She needed a fresh start in a place where she wouldn’t have to be reminded of the past.

Her phone rang. It was Noah. But she turned it off. She wasn’t in any kind of shape to talk to him right now.

* * *

When Noah arrived at his parents’, he found his mother’s car in the drive. She was home, apparently. Good. Because he had a few choice things to say to her—to both of his parents.

They were eating dinner when he stormed into the house.

“How dare you!” he burst out.

His mother rocked back at the interruption, but she wiped her mouth, set her napkin aside and tried to explain herself. “Noah, you need to understand that I was only being honest with Addy. I didn’t say anything that wasn’t true. It was all stuff she should consider.”

“You were wrong to take matters into your own hands, to get involved. You’ve been wrong from the start. Cody was on coke on graduation night. Did you know that? He’d been doing drugs for months. I didn’t tell you. I couldn’t. I felt it was too big a betrayal. But, in a roundabout way, that makes me as guilty for what he did to Addy as he was, because the rape probably wouldn’t have happened if he’d been able to control himself. That doesn’t excuse his behavior, but it makes me damn sorry I didn’t speak up.”

“Sorry enough to protect a woman who may or may not be telling the truth?”

“Stop pretending you don’t believe it’s true,” he said. “Cody and his friends raped the woman I now love. That’s a terrible thing for us all to have to live with. But...I’ll tell you this—nothing would be more terrible for me than living without her.”

His father bumped the table as he stood, nearly toppling the wine goblets. “Noah, let’s face it. Women come and go in your life. Addy’s only been home for a few weeks. Give this some time. Let the intensity of the emotions die down. And then see how you feel.”

He whirled on his father. “Maybe I don’t have the most stellar track record when it comes to commitment, Dad. But how do you know this girl isn’t the one who can change all of that? I’ve never felt like I have since I got with her. Are you really willing to ruin my happiness in order to preserve an inaccurate image of my dead brother? To protect some men who feel so little remorse for what they did, and so little compassion for their victim, that they’re trying to make a pariah out of her? Wouldn’t you rather stand on the side of truth and justice?”

He threw his napkin down. “I would if I knew what the truth is!”

“You
know
what the truth is. You just don’t think telling it should require a sacrifice.”

Noah was halfway to his truck when his father came after him. “Noah!”

Because he refused to turn back, he was inside his car, starting the engine, when his father knocked on the window.

“Will you give me a minute? I think you’re going to want to hear this.”

Something about his father’s expression made Noah roll down his window. “What is it?”

“You win,” he said.

“What does that mean?”

“I know who sent us that note fifteen years ago. Come over to my office. I want to show it to you.”

* * *

Of all the times for her 4-Runner to break down, Addy couldn’t believe it would be today. She was stranded on the side of the road and it was getting dark. She had to call for a tow. But Joe DeMarco owned the only towing service she knew of, and that was in Whiskey Creek. She was afraid if she went back there, she’d never scrape up the determination to leave again. She already missed Noah so much she could hardly stand it.

“I’m leaving
because
I love him,” she reminded herself, and clicked on a phone application that would search for the closest towing service. She was just about to call one in Jackson, even though it was farther away, when she got a text.

Come back to me.

It was from Noah. She’d been avoiding his calls. She’d also been ignoring his texts, but this one was more poignant than the others, which were mostly questions.
Where are you going? Why are you leaving? What happened
?