The Road to Glory (33 page)

"So?"

There was a longer silence this time.

"So the guys are worried about you," Rooster finally said.

"Bull shit. The
guys
don’t even know me. And neither do you."

"Leigh – "

"Drive your truck and leave me alone, Rooster."

Rooster sighed and Leigh could hear the enormous man shifting in his seat. The flat tone to her voice worried him, but he wasn’t about to piss her off any further. She’d come around eventually. "If that’s how you want it."

"That’s exactly how I want it."

"Okay, but if –"

Leigh slammed the receiver back into its holder and clicked the radio off. The small teddy bear that was hanging by a homemade noose from her rear view mirror caught her attention and for several moments she stared at it, her face a stone mask. Then she punched it and watched in satisfaction as it banged back and forth several times between her windshield and the roof. "I don’t need you." Without warning, she felt tears sting her eyes for the first time in weeks. She would have sworn she was all cried out. "I don’t need anybody," she whispered harshly as she punched the gas.

Three hours later the road was blurring so badly she couldn’t see it. Angry at her body’s relentless demands, she jerked the wheel to the left and pulled off the road onto a wide shoulder. Fully dressed, she flopped gracelessly down on the small bed. After a brief war with herself, she reached out a hand slowly and rooted around in a pile of new towels she’d purchased the day before to avoid having to do laundry. Quickly, she found what she was looking for — a well worn, small black teddy bear, the last bear that remained, save the one hanging from her rear view mirror.

The bear’s coal black eyes stared back at her and she lightly fingered the soft black fur that stuck out in all directions. RJ had pinned the pilot wings Lucy had given her on the stuffed toy’s chest. As furious and heart-broken as Leigh was, she didn’t have the heart to remove them. She pulled the bear to her breast and curled up into the fetal position, trying not to feel the ache in her chest or think about anything at all as she let the infrequent hum of the late night traffic lull her into a fitful sleep.

*  *  *

RJ let the beer bottle drop carelessly to the floor as she drove toward the diner. She wiped the sweat from her face, wondering why it was so damn hot. Her vision was unfocused and her head was spinning just little.

The ache had only gotten worse over since she’d parted with Leigh. For her there simply was no peace. She continued with her duties as guide to Glory and handyman to the diner, even setting aside a portion of her day to remain utterly sober. What more did they want from her?
They have no right to ask for more. Why can’t they just leave me the hell alone?

Pulling her truck around behind the garage, she killed the engine and pushed the door open, stumbling out of the truck and nearly falling on her face in the dirt. At the last moment she managed to retain a tiny bit of her balance and pull herself up by the door handle. She stared at the truck, which still had its broken windows, then she slammed the door and staggered toward the garage.

As she leaned drunkenly on the garage door it fell open, sending her sprawling to the floor, landing at the feet of a very surprised Tony.

"RJ! Are you okay?" He dropped to the floor near his friend.

She shook her head. "N … no." She burst out laughing. "I’m not even close to okay."

The smell of stale beer was overwhelming, and as much as Tony loved the beverage when the odor came out of someone else’s mouth it was just plain putrid. He tried not to gag as he placed his hands under her and began to tug her to her feet.

"I think you need some coffee. C’mon, let’s go to the diner."

"Don’t want to go to the diner. Came to finish fixing the roof."

"No way, man. Just no way. I’m not going to let you up on the roof like this. You could kill yourself."

RJ laughed so hard she started to cough. "You don’t get it, do you, boy? We’re dead. I
already
went splat. And from a lot higher than this roof. Trust me: I won’t die again. If I could find a way, I would."

Tony went a little pale. "Stop talking like that." He pulled her up, wrapping his arm around her waist. "Let’s get you sobered up."

"You know how?"

The young man nodded grimly thinking of his own childhood.

RJ slapped him on the back. "Good, lad."

He maneuvered them to the door, pulling her toward the diner. Just as they made it to the back door they turned toward a crashing sound to see RJ’s pickup truck rolling down a slight incline, tearing out small trees and bushes as it went. In stunned silence their eyes tracked the truck as it rolled right into pond.

RJ pulled away from Tony, swaying and laughing as the black truck slowly began sinking into the murky water. "Guess I forgot to set the brake," she slurred before her eyes rolled back in her head and she passed out, falling face first to the ground.

*  *  *

Leigh switched off her ignition and stared at the diner. She knew it was a bad idea coming back here. But she had no place else to go.

She yanked the hanging bear from her mirror and exited the truck. The sunset cast its orange and red rays across the plains, painting them in rich color. Leigh pulled off her sunglasses and drew in a deep breath of the fragrant late-summer air. Then she waited, knowing she was bound to see her soon. She swallowed nervously when the woman appeared out the front door of the diner and lit a cigarette. Leigh closed her eyes and firmed her resolve. With a negligent hand she tossed the bear into the ditch alongside the parking lot. It was time to do something, and Leigh marched determinedly toward the front door.

"Leigh?" She quirked an eyebrow. "I didn’t think I’d see you back here."

Leigh ducked her head. "Hello, Judith," she said quietly.

Judith took a step closer to her old lover, visibly cringing at Leigh’s appearance. "Jesus Christ. What have you done to yourself?" She laid a comforting hand on Leigh’s shoulder. "Have you given up sleep and food completely?" Her fingertips brushed across Leigh’s arm. "You’re all skin and bones."

Leigh sighed and closed her eyes at the comforting touch. "I’m okay," she assured softly.

"I can see that." But Judith’s sarcasm held no real malice.

Leigh shook her head. "It’s been a long time."

"Three months." Judith paused. "You’re not really okay, are you?"

Leigh looked up with painfully honest eyes. "No," she admitted. "I guess I’m not."

"C’mere, honey." Judith opened her arms to her friend, and Leigh gratefully stepped into them.

J
UDITH CLIMBED INTO bed alongside Leigh, who was curled up wearing only an old t-shirt and her panties. She was facing away from her.

The bedroom was dark and quiet and held a note of familiarity that Leigh found soothing. Maybe she’d find the restful sleep here that had eluded her for so many weeks.

Judith kissed the back of Leigh’s neck tenderly. The blonde stiffened slightly in reaction, but didn’t move to stop her. "I like your hair like this." Leigh had cut it short the month prior. "It gives me easier access to your neck."

"Uh … thanks. It was … it was bothering me before, I guess."

"You can relax, Leigh," Judith whispered, spooning her body to Leigh’s. She drew her hand down the soft skin of Leigh’s thigh, her body easily remembering the many nights of unabashed pleasure they’d shared. She was hard pressed not to moan out loud. "I’ve missed you … missed this."

Leigh didn’t know what to say. She closed her eyes when Judith’s touch drifted across her belly and pushed up her shirt. She hesitated for a split second, then shifted slightly so her shirt could be pulled over her head. Leigh gasped a little when Judith’s warm hands replaced the cotton and continued their lazy stroking.

"I’m not going to hurt you."

Leigh swallowed. "I know." But her muscles were so taut the waitress figured she could bounce a quarter off her ass with little effort. With a light groan, Leigh turned over onto her back, allowing the sheet to pool around her waist.

Judith leaned forward and kissed Leigh lightly on the lips. The kiss was returned and she deepened it, the taste of Leigh’s mouth ringing familiar chords within her. But something felt different. She pulled back, nipping Leigh’s lower lip as she moved away. Leigh’s eyes met hers and in an instant a bone-deep understanding flashed between them.

Judith sighed. Her luck was never going to change when it came to this particular trucker. She would never be hers and Judith knew it. For a moment she gave serious consideration to kicking Leigh out of her bed and life for good. But this time Judith didn’t want to be left with nothing. Beneath Tom Cat’s exterior was a woman she genuinely liked and wanted to get to know better. Tonight she wanted to get to know her breasts better. But she would live with just being friends. "Wanna tell me about it?"

"What?"

"Don’t screw with me, Leigh. I’m horny as hell and that’s just one step from homicidal. So I repeat, wanna tell me about it?"

Leigh sighed. "No."

"Liar."

Despite herself, Leigh chuckled. "How’d you get so smart all of the a? sudden?"

"All of the a sudden?" Judith laid her head on her shoulder.

"Smartass."

Judith took Leigh’s hands in hers. "So tell about who finally broke your heart."

Leigh’s pale blue eyes widened. "Damn. Could you always read minds too?"

"Of course. I’m a fabulous catch. You were always just too busy leaving me to notice."

Judith felt Leigh draw in a deep breath as it moved her body right along with it.

"Jesus, Judith. I’m so sorry," Leigh said honestly, her voice barely audible.

"Me too. So talk." Judith’s arms tightened around Leigh as the blonde began her story with that first night she accidentally stumbled upon a diner in the mist.

They talked until the moon hung low in the sky.

"Wow" was all Judith could think to say. Leigh had long since rolled over on her side and the waitress hugged her tightly to her. "That’s the most horrible story I’ve ever heard." She sniffed back her own tears.

Leigh nodded, the large lump in her throat making further speech impossible.

"When are you going back to her?" Judith asked, her warm breath tickling the back of Leigh’s neck.

Leigh rolled her eyes. She hadn’t made her final decision until that very moment. Judith knew her far too well. "Tomorrow."

"I can’t believe I’m saying this, but good luck."

Leigh took Judith’s hand in hers and squeezed it gently. "Thank you."

The first rays of the morning sun and Leigh’s nearly incoherent mumble finally broke the dark, silent moments that had stretched out between them. "Judith?"

Judith blinked dazedly. "Hmm?"

"Sometimes love …" A long pause. "Som … sometimes love … it fucking sucks."

Judith rolled her eyes, then gazed fondly at her already slumbering friend. She sighed. "Tell me about it, Leigh."

*  *  *

RJ stood back and appraised her truck. She sighed and shook her head when a large glop of mud fell off the mangled bumper. After she had sobered up, she, Liam, and Patrick had managed to tow it out of the pond. It was then RJ realized that things had to change.

"It’s not that bad." Patrick tried to sound optimistic as he peered into the water-damaged interior. He opened the door and a surge of water poured over his shoes. A hapless fish flopped out and dropped dead on his toe. "Eww." He kicked it away.

"Yeah. Yeah. It’s going to take a long time to fix her back up." RJ dropped down onto the grass and pulled her cigarettes from her pocket. "I’m not sure I even want to."

"You have to. She was one of the sweetest trucks in Glory." Patrick joined his sister, taking one of her smokes for himself.

"
Was
being the operative word," RJ said glumly.

"What do you want, RJ?"

"I want Leigh."

"That’s not what I meant."

RJ closed her eyes and leaned back, using her hand to brace her. "I know."

Patrick lit his own cigarette and turned his head to blow out the smoke. "It’s bad to want something you can’t have."

RJ exhaled calmly. "And Confucius say kiss my arse! Since when are my brothers philosophers and head shrinkers? I’ll go to Pete if I want a bunch of annoying advice."

Patrick furrowed his brow. "Confucius?"

RJ dropped onto her back, moaning. "Mary, sweet Mother of Jesus, please help me not to drown my brother in that lovely pond," she gestured over her shoulder.

"Hey," Patrick protested, "you brought it up."

RJ shook her head. "That I did." Her eyes took on a determined glint. "Besides, I’m not so sure I can’t have what I want." She crossed her legs at the ankles. "I’m going to ask to leave Glory."

Patrick’s and Liam’s jaws both dropped. "You’re joking, right? You know Mother already tried–"

She waved him off. "That was Mother." Her voice dropped to its lowest register. "Not me. I’m going to ask." She plucked her cigarette from her lips and held it between two fingers. "I’m not happy here anymore, Patrick." Her eyes went a little unfocused. "I’m not sure I ever really was. My time with Leigh made me understand what I’ve been. There’s no going back now. Not for me."

"RJ –"

"I know it sounds strange, but I really think that we were
meant
to be together. I’m going to find a way to make it happen."

The two men exchanged knowing looks. "You’re going to get your heart broken all over again. What if you’re told no again?"

"I won’t be told no. I love her and I’ll follow her to the ends of the earth if I must." Her voice was growing stronger and more confident with every word. "I’m going to get out of Glory. I’m going to find her, drop to my knees and beg her forgiveness, and, God willing, I’m going to spend the rest of my days with her."

Patrick regarded his sister carefully for a moment. She’d always had an eye for the ladies. But this was obviously different. "It’s true love, is it." It wasn’t a question.