THE LOST CAUSE BAR #wattys2017

Chapter 19

A big thanks to Natalie Delaps for editing this chapter !

                    

                    

Delaney

"Can you just drop me off at the bar? I have alot to do if I want to open the place again," I say, although in truth I really just want to sell it, not that I told them that. 

There's no need for Sawyer and Wyatt  to know what happen between Devin and I; not what he said and definitely not what I let slip about my life before graduation.

The silence between the three of us in the truck is suffocating, but no one says anything to relieve the tension.

                    

                    

Sawyer starts the truck and slowly drives down the dirt road in the direction of town, thankfully towards the bar. For once they're not arguing with my request, not yet at least.

 

A moment later there's an earsplitting crack of thunder and the skies open up. The pouring rain pounds the parched earth, washing away the dust on the truck and soaking the thirsty hay fields.

Sawyer and Wyatt  start laughing. What is with them? Stunned at their sudden laughter for no apparent reason, my gaze bounces between the two  to ensure they haven't gone mad.

"What is with you two?"

Wyatt's laughter dies down as he says, "Nothing, sug, an inside joke between Sawyer and I. We'll tell you later."

The rest of the drive is spent in silence and thankfully the journey's a short one.

As we approach the bar I can smell the smoke filling the air even though the car windows are closed. It doesn't click until the building's in sight where the smoke is coming from – my bar.

                 

My best hope for a better future is burning, and while the drenching rain is helping to keep the flames in check, I can tell that the damage has already been done. My precious new venture won't survive.

Yanking the lock up and jerking the door open, I'm out of the truck before it even comes to a complete stop. I hear yelling coming from inside the burning building and as I draw closer I recognize the voice of my estranged father, trapped inside. My only thought is to get him out.

I hear footsteps slice through the gravel behind me, getting closer then rounding the side of the building.. My thoughts are on the door and what lies behind it.. 

Desperately I try to get the door open but the heat drives me back. Suddenly the windows are blasted outwards as they explode from the heat expanding inside the building. 

Confused, I take a step towards them, unable to hear their attempts to warn me away from the big glass doors. There's a moment of almost silence before there's another deafening explosion,  , catapulting me into the air.

I find myself on the ground ten feet away from the front of the porch, my ears ringing and the wind knocked out of me. As I gulp in a breath, sound slowly starts to filter back in from the world around me.

I hear two masculine voices filled with concern yelling at me to come back to them to give them a chance at what they think they want.

I slowly open my eyes, blinking in the brightness of the midday sun shining from overhead. I recognize the voices as  . The first is older but still recognizable as my father's voice, even after years of not speaking to each other, and the second rougher but I instantly know it's Devin's.

As my vision comes back into focus I can see my father telling everyone to give me space and not to move me because of the damage the forceful blast could have done. Tears threaten to spill over my cheeks when I see the bruises on his wrinkled face. His hands grab mine, crying and kissing my knuckles, offering me comfort whilst being careful of my injuries.

No doubt, I'll have harsh words for him when the emotional burden of him almost dying in my bar passes, but for now I take comfort in that fact that, my father is back.

Looking behind Wyatt and Sawyer, I find him standing behind everyone; Devin, the same jackass that not long ago spit venom at me for my perceived wrong doings. He does have a heart and hopefully he can keep it open because I do have hope.