Sorry the chaps are shorter right now; but I’m trying to write this story better than its prequel, so it’s taking more time to think things through and add the necessary details. Let me know if you think anything needs improved here. Thanks!

CHAPTER NINE

Upon the three, dark mahogany end tables sat vases full of colorful bouquets. Bekah paused to touch a purple flower, not surprised to find that it was plastic; but at least the room had been spiced up with some natural-looking magic. The walls were decked with small, countryside paintings and family photos, which included pictures of Kristin, with her blond spirals tamed in pony tails and massive, pink hair bows. Her blue eyes seemed to dance with merriment, her chubby, rosy cheeks dimpled and shiny, her teeth white but slightly crooked on the top half. Her father had said more than once that the little pixie probably needed braces, but she’d died before the dentist could say one way or the other.

Kristin never had the chance to straighten what little bit needed to be straightened in her bright, little world. Even her bedroom had been left with a mess of Barbie clothes and plastic tea cups scattered on the floor, a pile of laundry sitting in a corner, never to be worn by the same girl again.

Bekah pursed her lips but managed to taste the salty tear that had roamed down her cheek and slid across the corner of her mouth. So many things to straighten out in life and so little time to do it all. Dan went the extra mile to straighten things out- almost to a fault, and now look at him.

“Are you going to stand in there all night, or get to work in here, Rebekah Rose?” Her mother called from the kitchen, and Bekah whisked away her tear while thanking God that her mother hadn’t seen this show of heartbreak.

“I’ll be there in a sec,” she called back, and braced herself as Dan’s cold eyes blazed over her. He’d shown a lot of emotion today, but at times there was such an awful, distant, angry look on his face that she wondered if he really was the same man she’d known in high school.

Hugging a bowl with one arm, she headed toward the dining area, passing the floral, mauve and forest green curtains framing the front living room window- the same curtains which surrounded the sliding glass door in the dining room, where Bekah’s mother now stood with her thin arms folded across her smaller than usual chest. The light green t shirt she wore hung loosely about her hips and brought out the green in her hazel eyes. Eyes that stood out more than ever, since they were no longer perpetually accented by dark lines.

Not only had Kaye lost the pale, tired look, but she’d freed herself of an extra twenty pounds, the extra worry, the extra effort to make herself look more presentable.

The shiny, linoleum floor, cleaned out sink, and the scent of roast beef mingled with the thick aroma of melted chocolate also gave testimony to Kaye Rose’s return to life.

Bekah lowered the supplies she’d brought to the table top, and watched as a bird swooped down to the brick patio to devour the seeds that had dropped from the birdhouse feeder at the edge of the fenced-in area.

The image of a tiny, chocolate bird spreading his wings as he perched on an old man’s tongue almost made her smile. If only the stunts shown in the movies were possible, she might not have to bust her butt trying to earn enough money to pay for the stupid spot she’d purchased at the fair.

If only Johnny Depp’s eyes weren’t as chocolate as Dan’s, she wouldn’t have been so freaking miserable while watching the Willy Wonka remake.

“Stocking up before it starts raining again, you think?” Kaye asked with a grin.

Bekah blinked. “What?”

“The bird,” her mother motioned at the robin flying back up toward the trees. “Bedtime snack, too, I guess,” she added.

“Yeah,” Bekah nodded. “I guess so.”

She could tell by the way her mother’s eyes began to scout over her that there were many questions in store. Thanks to Mr. Fields, Bekah had recovered from one very deep bout of depression, only to be plunged into another, and her mother was always in tune to the changes in Bekah’s moods.

Thanks to Mr. Fields.

As a matter of fact, if it wasn’t for Mr. Fields, her family never would have been able to move into this condo. They’d still be stuck in a less than desirable neighborhood; but the funny thing was that she desperately wanted to get back to the very area he’d rescued her from. To build some sort of home for kids who needed somewhere to go after school, somewhere safe and warm – and hopefully the bullies would have sense to stay the hell away.

“OK, I’ll start melting more chocolate.” The floor squeaked as Renee entered and rattled a bag of chips, and Bekah was surprised she hadn’t even heard the girl enter the house.

Kaye frowned at their tall companion, and stepped into action, pulling a tray out of the refrigerator and setting it on the counter. Grabbing a short crop of green leaves and lifting to show off a bright red strawberry wearing a black and white “tuxedo”, she grinned, “I got a head start after you called me. Chocolate dipped fruit will draw a lot more health-conscious people… that and chocolate-dipped pretzels.”

Bekah nodded at the fruity treats and sighed as Renee placed a bowl full of chocolate chips atop the double-boiler on the shiny, white stove near the pantry door and the basement entrance.

So, here she was, getting ready to spend the remainder of her night making pretty, little candies, while Dan battled his demons on the other side of the city, trying hard to forget that he’d run into her today. Was he kissing Denise at this moment? Or worse- sleeping with her? Oh, crap, what if he’s been sleeping with her? She shivered with disgust and hoped to God he hadn’t. Gross. Totally gross!

No, no. Dan wouldn’t do that, not after what we’ve been through, would he? How could he toss their love aside and fall into bed with a girl he hadn’t even married yet? That seemed so… cheap. God, tell me he didn’t do that yet.

If she left her supplies sitting on her mother’s dining room table and sped over to his house, would he listen to her pleas to straighten his life up? Heck, if a brat like her could cave under his pressure, shouldn’t he do the same under hers? True, he’s a guy, and guys are the most stubborn creatures in the entire universe, but there was still the slight chance that he might actually listen to what she had to say.

Heck, for that matter, didn’t Denise ever try to show him the error of his ways? Didn’t she give a crap? Any girl who knew the real Dan Fields would never settle for him backsliding the way that he had! Maybe Denise was just as bad as he was, or worse, and maybe Bekah would be overstepping her bounds by planting herself on Dan’s porch step tonight. But Dan had helped her out of her own hell hole, and she owed it to him to be more proactive in pulling him out of his!

“OK,” she said, just as her mother was shaking her head and opening her mouth to say something. “I have to go somewhere, Mom, but I’ll be back in an hour or so.”

Her mother cocked her head and gawked like Renee, who’d turned around with a chocolate-coated spoon dripping onto the nice, clean floor. “Where are you going?” Asked the younger of the other two women.

“I just have to check something,” her stomach flipped. “I should have done it earlier, but I can’t wait anymore, so just keep going, and I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“Wait a minute, you dragged me out here for help with this stuff, and now you’re running off?” Renee protested, but Kaye simply closed her mouth and gave a slight smile- one of those horrible, motherly, knowing smiles. Somehow her mom knew that Bekah’s battle had to do with love, and sometime in the near future, Kaye would most likely try to pull all of the juicy information out of her.

“I’m sorry, Renee, but it’s really important.”

“But I’m not sure what I’m doing here!” She motioned toward the boiling pots with an odd look on her smooth, sweet face.

Bekah frowned. “What do you mean you don’t know what you’re doing? Yes, you do! And besides, my mom is here to help you, now I’ve got to go, and I’ll be back in a little bit!”

Without another word, she flew through the front of the house, passing her father, who’d stopped on the bottom stair step and raised a hand to slow her down. “Hold on, Little Girl, I finally come downstairs, and you’re taking off?”

Bekah noticed the bottle of beer in his right hand, but ripped the door open and tossed back, “Sorry, Dad, we’ll catch up later.”

“Yeah, that’s what you always say,” he rolled his dark eyes.

“I promise,” she insisted, though she wasn’t sure when the heck she’d be able to keep that promise, unless he decided to stay sober and join the ladies in the kitchen tonight. Her father had taken to the typical, ‘manly’ pass times of watching sports, drinking beer, and playing cards with guys from work. Men… geez. She sincerely hoped there was more going on in that head of his than he let on; but he was probably just still depressed over losing his daughters- one was dead and the other had moved away from home the minute she’d turned eighteen.

As she jogged across the yard, she wondered what her father would do if he knew who Bekah was running off to visit- and why. Would he toss that beer bottle aside so that he could thoroughly intimidate Dan Fields for breaking his ‘baby’s’ heart; or was he already too lit to care?

She gripped the driver’s side door handle and inhaled deeply. “OK. God…” she whispered, and hoped none of the neighbors would notice the brunette who appeared to be talking to herself. “I’m going to try, OK?” And with that, she flung the door open and plopped onto the seat.

Hopefully Dan still lived in the same house he’d lived in two years ago. And hopefully God would give her the words she needed, because right now she wasn’t sure she could speak anything but a bunch of mournful clichés.

And what if Denise spotted her at the door and presented her nicely manicured, red claws in a silent threat?

Well, Bekah clenched her teeth and started the engine. The cheating, little snot who apparently didn’t give a damn about Dan’s fallen state had met her match.

Of course… Allison was there… Bekah’s shoulders slumped. Allison had to have noticed Dan’s problems, and she wouldn’t keep silent about that, would she?

Didn’t matter. Either way, she owed Dan Fields a major favor, for everything he'd done for her and her family.

Within seconds, she’d screeched away from the curb…