Tacoma Falls: Home and Heart

A cold hard truth

Beau

I stood beside Hank as Morgan led a drunken Mary away.

Hank scratched his forehead with his thumb. "It might not be my place, but you have much groveling to do." He lowered his hand and looked at me.

I turned to him. "I fucked up, Hank." I rubbed my face before dropping my hands. "I planned to confess my feelings to Mary the night Dixie stopped by."

"What happened? And I want the truth, Beau." Hank crossed his arms.

"I didn't want Dixie to find out about Mary. I know what she's like. So, I told Dixie that Mary was like a kid sister."

"But you have feelings for my sister. Why lie?"

"I was trying to protect Mary from Dixie. Dixie's not the type to leave quietly. She'll cause unnecessary trouble for someone."

"Then you don't have faith in my sister. Mary can handle Dixie. She can't handle people lying to her. Yeah, you fucked up. Now, fix it." Hank walked away.

I stared at the house, knowing I would fix what I broke.

*******
Mary

I rolled over and groaned. My mouth tasted like cotton. I rubbed my face and looked at the end table with two pharmaceuticals and a glass of water. I sat up, popped the two pills, and chugged the water. Then, I ran to the bathroom to pee.

After I finished my business, I washed my hands and looked in the mirror. When did I let a guy run my life?

Someone knocked on the bathroom door.

"Just a sec," I said, splashing water on my face and fixing myself so I didn't look like a train wreck.

The person knocked again.

"Give me a sec!"

The person wouldn't stop knocking.

"I said just a sec..." I whipped open the bathroom door open and saw Beau standing there. I dropped my hand and straightened my clothes. "Did you need the bathroom?"

"No, I need to talk to you."

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before opening them. "We have nothing to say to each other." I brushed last Beau.

Beau caught my wrists as I looked at him. "Mary, give me five minutes. That's all I need."

"Fine." I pulled my hand from Beau and folded my arms.

"I fucked up with you. I should have told Dixie the truth, but I didn't. I didn't want Dixie to cause you problems because you got close to me. But I should have let you handle Dixie. It would be a hell of lot better than not having you."

"Is that supposed to fix everything? Words don't mean anything when all they are words."

"No, I'll show you I'm serious about fixing us. Give me thirty days. That's all I ask. If you don't want anything to do with me after thirty days, I'll leave you be."

I gave Beau a bored expression.

"Please, Mary. I will take anything you dish out. I deserve it for what I did."

I looked into Beau's eyes and saw the sincerity. "Fine. Thirty days. But I can't make any promises if Dixie shows up again."

"I understand."

I shook my head and walked away. What did I agree to with Beau?

******
Beau

Thirty days. I had thirty days to prove to Mary that I meant what I said. No one would stop me from proving to Mary that I want her and only her.