Those That Came Before

Need To

The front door to Becky's peacefully quiet house creaked open. Hadley glanced up from the couch where she was perched. Becky walked in slowly, looking very tired. She closed the door behind her, placing the keys to her car on the catch all table by the door. 

"Hi, sweetie." Becky replied, smiling softly. 

Hadley offered up a small smile back, strumming her fingers on the tops of her knees that were brought up to her chest. She had changed in to a pair of navy blue joggers and a beige sherpa quarter zip. Her short Ugg boots keeping her feet warm. She wanted to ask Becky how the rest of the day went, but she was too angry to even give a damn. She had a feeling, though, that Becky would probably tell her anyway. 

"Hadley, I think you should go back over to Brantley's house." Becky replied, treading lightly. She looked at Hadley, trying to gauge her expression. But she sat there stoic. 

"Why would I do that?" Hadley finally asked, turning to look over at her sitting on the opposite side of the couch. 

Becky thought for a moment. She inched a little closer, placing a hand on top of Hadley's. "I think you need to." 

Becky patted her hand, offering up no other advice except for simply that. Hadley hated it when she did that. She knew Becky was probably right. That something must have happened that she should hear. But she wasn't ready to go over just yet. She wanted to scream at the top of her lungs that Brantley had made love to her in Becky's own guest bathroom last night. That she told him she loved him..... and that he had said the same. No amount of apologizing or explanations would ever change the way she felt right now. Hadley was so overwhelmed she couldn't even think straight. She certainly would not be able to hold a decent conversation. 

"Becky, I know you always know what is best for us. You are like a second mother to me. You always have been. But how am I supposed to go over there and face them right now?" 

"Because you are strong, my dear. And I think you need to do this. If not for your own sanity, then for mine." Becky pleaded with her green eyes. The same ones she passed on to Brantley. The ones that stared back at Hadley the night before as he said he loved her too. 

Hadley sighed, pushing herself up off the couch. She reached for her keys next to Becky's, nodding as she walked out the door. Hadley started her SUV and drove the five minutes over to the house. She didn't want to, but she needed to. At least that was what Becky had said. And you never tell Mama Becky no. 

The gate was open, which was unusual. She turned left in to the driveway and made her way down the light gray cement that led all the way up to the large log cabin home one more time. It was dark by now. A fire off in the yard to the side of the garage. A couple people gathered around it holding plastic cups and beer bottles. Hadley pulled up where Becky had parked earlier that morning. She cut the engine, earning looks from those who were not engulfed in conversation. She sighed and got out, shutting the door. Someone began to walk over, the outline of the body familiar. The smell of cedar and tobacco hitting her nose, making her draw in a quick breath. 

He put his hands out, asking for hers without saying a single word. Hadley hesitated, but placed them in his rough hands and followed as he walked backwards. He let go of one hand, holding on to the other as he turned away from her and led her in to the garage. Once they were inside, he navigated them around his bike and 4x4 that were housed in there. They entered the side door in to the mud room that was connected the garage to the kitchen. Neither one of them spoke a word. He continued to bring her all the way in to the house. They stopped in the dining room where she had learned the news just hours prior. It was sickening feeling all over again. 

"Hadley, let me explain." Brantley stood in front of her, nearly begging for her to listen to him. 

"Why should I listen to you? You lied to me, Brantley. You lied to my face about not sleeping with your wife. You lied to me that you didn't have feelings for her anymore. You betrayed me and now I look like the fool." Hadley spat, growing even more enraged by the minute. 

"Hadley, I didn't lie...."