Page 32 of Rainwater

Chapter

Twelve

E llie’s birthday party was in full swing.

They had just finished eating cake and opening presents.

A group of Ellie’s friends were dancing and having a good time, and it took Jennifer a moment to settle back and relax.

She closed her eyes and let the music take her away.

The fast country beat wrapped around her, and she relaxed against the barn wall, sinking a little deeper in the bale of hay on which she sat.

Corey had spent so much time helping her that he had neglected his duties, but now he stood near the door watching Ellie and Tucker dance, a reflective look on his face.

She saw Corey stiffen and draw away from the doorway and then she saw why. Jay Butler stood at the barn entrance, searching out the crowd. Corey pushed away from the wall with a murderous look on his face. Jennifer jumped up and tried to intercept Corey.

She got to Corey just before he got to Jay. She looked up into his eyes, pleading with him not to make a scene. With her hand against his chest, she could feel the tension in him.

She turned to face Jay, Corey a large warm shadow behind her.

“Jay, what do you want here?” he asked in a steely voice.

“I came to pick Tucker up. Isn’t that right, boy?” he said with smug confidence.

Jennifer could see that Tucker hadn’t expected Jay and was just as angry as Corey that he was here. Tucker’s eyes flicked to Jennifer’s, and she saw the realization in them that if he said he didn’t want to leave, there would be a fight.

Tucker turned to Ellie and jammed his hands into his pockets. “I’ve got to go, Ellie. I’ll see you around, kid, okay?”

Ellie took in the scene and her mouth tightened. She began to reach out to Tucker, but he sidestepped her touch and turned toward his father. “Let’s go,” he said between clenched teeth, and Jay gave them all a self-satisfied grin as he followed his son out.

Ellie watched Tucker walk away and Jennifer felt her heart constrict when she realized what Ellie didn’t even know yet. She had her first crush on a boy. Jennifer’s heart ached for her little girl.

Ellie then looked at her as two silver tears tracked down her face and Jennifer heard Corey swear low and vicious.

Jennifer approached her daughter and took her into her arms. “I’m sorry, honey.”

“He’s mean and horrid, Mom. Just like Dad, just like Sonny.”

Shock held Jennifer immobile. How had Ellie found out her father’s name?

Ellie supplied the answer. “I heard you and Grandpa talking about him, and since it was easy to follow him on the circuit, I collected every clipping and every article until his retirement.”

Ellie looked at Corey and he nodded his encouragement, then very quietly left.

“I saw him at the junior championships. He wasn’t very nice and Corey punched him out.

Oh, God, I hate him and I hate Mr. Butler.

I wish he would die and leave Tucker alone!

” With tears running down her cheeks, she ran out of the barn.

She sighed deeply, calling Sonny every vile name she could think of.

Jennifer had a feeling she’d find Ellie with Corey.

They had gotten so close in such a short time.

It warmed her heart to know that Corey would be there for her daughter.

When she got to the horse barn, she stopped in the doorway so her eyes could adjust. She heard Ellie’s voice clear and trembling.

“I know it was stupid and that I should have stopped wishing for him to come and visit me, but there were times I just wished…”

“I know, darlin’,” Corey encouraged her with his tone of voice.

“Do you know what I wish now? I wish my father was just like you.” She gently kissed him on the cheek. “Corey, you’re the best.”

Ellie then saw her mother at the entrance to the barn and went to her, wrapping her arms around her waist. “I love you, Mom.”

Jennifer hugged her daughter.

Ellie said very firmly, “I’m going back to enjoy my birthday party.”

Jennifer’s daughter looked up at her, the pain in her eyes gone and she smiled impishly when she saw where her mother’s soft gaze searched. “You like him a lot, huh, Mom?”

Jennifer’s eyes searched for Corey’s shadowed form in the barn and the feeling inside her swelled. “Yes, sweetheart. I like him very much. Now scoot.”

Jennifer went to where Corey still knelt in the barn. She lowered herself down and gently took his face in her hands. “Thank you. Ellie’s been wrestling with the absence of a father every birthday. I think she just came to terms with it, thanks to you.”

His voice hoarse with suppressed tears, he uttered, “Touch me, hold me, Jennifer.”

Her eyes widened, realizing that this was the first time in their relationship that he wasn’t taking command.

The first time he was relinquishing control.

The knowledge flashed through her mind, and she loved him all the more.

She loved him for his open giving, his tenderness, and even his fears and doubts.

She realized how stupid she’d been when she was young.

When she thought she loved Sonny. This feeling she felt now didn’t even come close.

She pulled him down with her into the hay and very simply touched him by rubbing his back and holding him in her arms.

Corey was coming around the chow hall, thinking about the day before, remembering how he had immersed himself in the feel of Jennifer’s hands on him, when he stopped dead, his eyes resting on the gleaming black bike sitting in front of Jennifer’s house.

She’d had it fixed. Corey was the kind of man who took care of his own debts.

He didn’t want to be beholden to anyone, especially Jennifer.

He didn’t want to owe her anything. The fury built and he changed direction and headed instead for the house.

He burst into the kitchen without knocking. Ellie was just getting her lunch out of the fridge. Her eyes widened when she saw his face.

“Is something wrong?”

“No.” For Ellie’s sake, he tried to rein in his anger. “I just need to talk to your mom.”

“She’s upstairs changing her bed, I think. I’ve got to go catch my bus. I’ll see you tonight.”

He wasn’t sure he would be here tonight, he thought as he watched Ellie slip out of the door. He charged for the stairs and took them two at a time. “What do you think you’re doing?” he snarled when he entered her bedroom.

“Changing the bed. It’s something I do every week,” she replied flippantly.

He swore under his breath and stalked across the room. Grabbing her arm, he steered her to the window. “ That is what I’m talking about.”

“It’s yours, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it’s mine. I don’t want you footing my bills.”

“It was smashed because of me, Corey. It was my responsibility to get it fixed.”

He heard someone clear her throat. “If you guys can stop arguing long enough, I’m afraid I missed my bus.”

“Ellie,” Corey said between gritted teeth. “Go downstairs and wait by my bike. I’ll take you to school.”

“Cool. Oh, by the way, you guys don’t have to sneak around at night. Corey spends enough time in your room, Mom. He should just sleep here. It’s okay with me.”

Both of them stared at her with their jaws hanging open. Ellie smiled and retreated from the room. “See you downstairs, Corey.”

“Damn,” he swore, feeling as if his life was splintering into little bits.

He felt pushed from too many sides. Ellie and Jennifer.

Everyone wanting something that he couldn’t give.

Wanting him to stay, when he couldn’t. He turned to Jennifer, whose shock seemed to have worn off, and he saw the determined slant to her chin, the mulish set of her mouth.

“Jennifer, I told you before. You don’t owe me anything.”

“Can’t you just accept a gift?” she asked in exasperation.

“No. All I’ve ever wanted from the beginning was to leave.”

Her expression changed then from determined to panicked and that was when he saw it.

The certainty that if she gave him an opportunity to flee, he would take it.

He’d just confirmed her doubts that when she had his motorcycle fixed, he would leave.

That realization finally broke him, the knowledge that she knew and had still brought the motorcycle within his reach.

He had to get out of here. The pain in his chest was cresting like a huge wave.

He would collapse into a heap on the floor like a child and cry if he didn’t leave right away.

The humiliation of breaking down in front of Jennifer had him backing up, shaking his head.

“No,” he growled hoarsely. “No!” He tried to get out of the bedroom, but she put out her hand and stopped the door. His arm slipped, his elbow hitting her in the nose. She backed up, clutching her nose and Corey spun in horror. When he saw the blood, a relentless fist closed around his heart.

You’re just like me, son.

He could hear his father’s gleeful, accusing voice in his head. “Jennifer. God. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. Oh, God.”

“Don’t just stand there, get me a cold cloth.”

He bolted for the bathroom, his stomach in knots, his hands shaking so badly he could barely turn on the faucet. He brought the cloth to her and pressed it gently against her face as they both sat on the edge of the bed.

“Well, we can look at the bright side,” she quipped. “At least you didn’t pop me in the eye and give me a shiner. Then everyone would wonder what kind of guy I got myself tangled up with.”

Her voice was light and teasing, but Corey only heard her words and to him, they were an accusation. This was what he’d feared forever. This was why he avoided relationships.

Before Jennifer could say another word, he surged up off the bed, terror gripping him. “You have no idea. No idea at all!” he cried, his voice breaking. Then he left the room, slamming the door behind him.