Sage…

I have been in my new home for twenty-four hours and I slept so good last night. I don’t know what the first thing I need to do this morning is because the lists go on and on, but I know it’s one step at a time. I want to go and see every nook and cranny of this place, but I know I need to hit that to-do list hard this morning.

I have been on watch for my mom to show up anytime now. Roger said that it wouldn’t take long for Mom to find out and I’m sure he knows what he’s talking about. If I’m being honest with myself, I would be forced to face the fact that I no longer feel the dread that I once did thinking about facing her. I will hate the confrontation, but I think just getting it over with would help me overcome the guilt I feel. I feel guilty for running and not facing the situation like my dad taught me. He always said that no one could run from their problems—only put them off for another day. I guess I needed all those days I was on the road to mature but I want my friends and family back. Family by choice not by blood. Dad’s band members and their children—they have always been family and would always be family. I want them all to meet Nick and Haddie. I even want them to meet Botie and Trask.

I need to get a move on before Nick shows up. He is going to show me what crops I need to get in the fields now, so I’m not behind on my harvest schedule by too much and he is going to help me pick out a couple of trucks. I need one for farm work and one for transportation. I have decided to only plant half of what Nick was used to handling to get the feel for it this year. My new equipment should be here by the end of the week and although Trask and Botie agreed to help I have hired a few extra hands that Nick suggested to help too. I don’t know a lot about tractors and farm equipment, but I intend to learn. I know the basics, or by theory, I know the basics. I have been on a tractor more than a few times, but I will learn how to operate it in every situation and eventually learn to fix it when it breaks down. I can’t hire someone to do something that I wouldn’t do myself. That’s my opinion anyway. I will learn it all and put everything that I have learned in classes to use. I am filled with enthusiasm for my future. I have one bump in the road left to get over and then I hope my life will be on the road to a promising future paved with challenging work and rewards.

I make myself a light breakfast of toast and juice. I am going to need to make a trip to the grocery store if I want to eat anything more than peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. After I finish eating and getting dressed, I hear tires on the rocks in my drive. It doesn’t sound like Nick’s truck. I walk through the house to the front door and open the door without thinking. I see my mom and Greg getting out of mom’s car. My gut reaction is to call Nick or Haddie, but I can’t do that. I’m an adult and I need to stand my ground and face the ghosts that have been chasing me for over four years. I step outside on my porch and shut the door behind me. I don’t want either of them in my home. I still hang onto hope that someday my mom and I will be able to salvage something of our relationship, but I know that time isn’t now. Today, I stand up for myself.

“Well lookie what a beauty our girl has grown up to be. Lyric you are one fine looking woman.” I don’t like the way Greg is leering at me, but I don’t let him scare me. I look him straight in the eyes.

“I’m not anyone’s girl, especially yours. You both need to get back in that car and leave my property. You are not welcome here and you are trespassing. My property has no trespassing signs posted so anyone can see them. I don’t want to involve the authorities, but I will if need be.” My mom stops and puts her hand on her hip and looks at me.

“What has put a burr up your butt for over four years Lyric Sage? I don’t know why the hell you took off when you did leaving me high and dry and I don’t know what you are trying to accomplish now. I am your mom and I have every right to see my daughter and you know Greg loves you. We are the only family we have left, and we need to help each other out. Surely you can see that. We need each other. I thought we had come to an arrangement regarding the money of yours I need to use. I thought we were all getting along fine. Your dad did not leave me enough of an allowance to keep your schooling, food, the house operating, and still be able to live the life I was accustomed to—I thought you understood that. This has all been an awful misunderstanding and if you had called me once since you have been gone then we could have cleared everything up.” I want to yell and scream. My mom is twisting everything, so she is the wronged person. I expected this of her but hearing it is unreal. I decide to act like an adult instead of a child.

“Once again, I am telling you to get off my property and don’t come back.” I straighten my back as I say the only words needed.

“Babe, this looks like a good set up here, but you must realize that you can’t stay out here by yourself. You’d be lonely way out here alone and who knows what could happen to you. A woman like you needs the luxuries you can soon afford and more. We can all have a good life if you just come back to Dallas. You’ll see how much you missed it when you get all settled back in our home.” It takes all my strength not to go after Greg with my bare hands, but my mouth can’t be stopped.

“Let’s see why I would leave my home, hmm, could it be my mom’s lecherous boyfriend wouldn’t stay out of my bedroom? Hmm, or could it be Mom took the money from my allowance?” I calm myself a little and continue. “The house was paid for, there was an allowance for food, upkeep, servant’s pay, and utilities. The estate was taking care of the taxes so why did you feel the need to take my money too?” Mom didn’t know that I knew about the arrangements my dad made so everything would be seen to until I turned twenty-one. I wait for one of them to say something, but both are just looking at each other. “Greg, you are my mom’s boyfriend and nothing else to me. Truth be told, I don’t like you and never have. You were moved into my home less than twenty-four hours of my dad dying. Do you think I was so stupid that I couldn’t figure out that my mom was cheating on my dad with you and then you were in his home, sleeping in his bed? You could have had a little class and at least waited until after the service was concluded.” I take my attention away from Greg to my mom. “You and I have never had much of a relationship unless you consider having hundreds of photos taken so the press can splash them everywhere. I love you Mom, but if you and I are ever going to have a relationship it will take us both to work on it. I will not be your meal ticket on Dad’s dime. I loved and respected Dad and I will honor his wishes. You will not use me to spite him even though he’s gone.”

“You are a real piece of work aren’t you little girl? After everything we have done for you. Do you know your mom gave you the time you needed away to come to terms with Travis’s death? She could have had you dragged back to the mansion, but she was trying to be considerate of your feelings and now we see how you repay her sympathy. You throw it back in her face and spit on her.” Greg is on a roll today. He makes me sound like a major brat. I see Nick’s truck pulling into the driveway, so I am no longer worried about what Greg will do. He’ll do nothing in front of a witness.

“Your dad is not who you thought he was. He was a cheating and abusive man. I tried to protect you from that side of him, but I guess I should have let you see more of it, so you could understand why I stepped outside my wedding vows. I needed someone to love me and take care of me and I will not apologize for it.” Mom is screaming by the time she has tears falling down her face and I know mom is lying. My dad was not a cheater or abusive man.

“You can’t convince me that Dad hit you or anyone. If he did something out of character for him, then he had a reason and you will not tarnish my memories of him. I couldn’t have been made to go back to Dallas after the first year and we all know it. I was emancipated and after that I was free to do what I wanted if I kept up with my education which I have complied with. This discussion is over and you both need to leave.” I see Nick getting out of his truck and he has his phone to his ear. He puts it away as he walks up on the porch beside me.

“I believe the lady told you to roll off her property. I called the sheriff and Roger,” Nick says the latter to me more than the two still standing by their car. “I also called Trask and Botie and they should be here in just a few minutes. You two need to leave Sage alone and go back to Dallas or anywhere but here.” I don’t know why but when Nick mentions Trask and Botie I don’t want my mom anywhere near them. She has always been able to convince most men to see her way of thinking.

“Nick it’s alright. My mom came to state her final plea and I turned it down,” I say facing Nick, so he knows I am handling this much better than I thought I would be when this happened. I turn to face the car in my front yard but not looking at either person standing beside it. “I want both of you gone. Mom, maybe one day we can connect as a family but now isn’t the time. I will get my inheritance soon and I have made temporary provisions for you, but my advice is to get a job or find a man that you don’t need to pay his bills along with yours.”

“You are one ungrateful child. You’re just like your dad. Never considering my feelings before your own. I have obligations that I need money to take care of. I need Greg to keep me sane, he’s my rock and the only person that thinks about me first.” Mom is losing hold on her anger.

“How long do you think it will take for Greg to be gone when the money is cut off? You better get a new rock because he’s not going to hang around and I won’t let him see another dollar of Dad’s money after my birthday. The two of you will not be able to get by when you are forced to pay rent. I’m sorry it has come to this, but you were warned by Roger. Roger is also contesting the life insurance policy that you took out on me. I am over eighteen and I never gave you permission to take it out, so it will be canceled if Roger hasn’t already had it done.” Mom looks shocked that we knew about it.

“We’re not leaving town until we have a meeting between us and our attorney and you and Roger. Katrina deserves more than what she has received from Travis’s estate and I am not going to let anyone run over her that way. We’ll get what is coming to her one way or another.” I see Botie walk around the side of the house and the look he has on his face shows he has heard more than I wanted him to. I thought I could get my mom to leave before it came to this.

“That is about enough,” Nick speaks up.

“No Nick, let the fool talk. Everything that’s coming out of his mouth shows what kind of snake he is. He only cares about the money. He doesn’t care about that woman standing beside him or Sage. The sheriff is coming up the drive as we speak.” I look over Botie’s shoulder and I see the sheriff’s cruiser just turning into my drive.

“My, my, looks like you do have some of my DNA in you, but I really thought you were too naïve to use it,” my mom says while eyeing Botie from head to toe and back. “I’m Katrina the mom. My daughter has seemed to have already found the men she is going to hide behind.” Mom is laying the sweetness on thick, her words are dripping in it. Then suddenly it’s all gone, and my mom’s eyes are back on me. “You can’t hide behind these men. They don’t even know who you really are, now do they? It seems you might have some explaining to do little girl. This one here,” she points at Botie, “can come to the meeting too. I may need something to keep me from strangling you and Roger.” Mom smiles at Botie. Botie is staring at me. “We’re going but make that appointment for tomorrow. The sooner, the better.” The sheriff steps out of his SUV.

“Can I help with something out here? Sage are you having problems?” I don’t know the sheriff very well, but he’s trying to make my mom think that we are friends.

“No officer, my girl is just overreacting to an unexpected visit from her mom. We are going. I don’t want any problems with law enforcement.” My mom barely gets it out of her mouth when Sheriff Jenkins corrects her.

“That’s Sheriff Jenkins and Sage is not one to overreact so if she told you to get off her property I would be doing so, or we may need to take this to city hall.” The sheriff is very direct and straight to the point. Very unlike him but I could hug his neck right now because Greg is already back in the car, but Mom has more to say.

“Remember what I said, tomorrow, if not your business will be told all over this county by night fall and you’ll see how the press loves to tear your life apart. No one here knows who you are, but you won’t be able to hide anymore. If you go to the bathroom, they will have their lenses trained on you to see what kind of toilet paper you use or if you have a bidet to wash and blow dry you. It’s no fun and it’s not what is best for anyone. Think about it, sweetie, before the meeting tomorrow. I know you will come to the same conclusion I have.” Mom’s fake sweetness is back.

“If that was any kind of a threat then I will be talking to you again. Now, please leave the premises and don’t return. I will be filling out the paperwork that you have been warned.” Sheriff Jenkins warns my mom. She waves her fingers at the men—I know it wasn’t meant for me—and her and Greg turn around in my drive. I know that will not be the last time that I see them here. My mom will only take the sheriff’s warning as a challenge and Greg will be enraged. I know the meeting we have is going to be loud.

“I will need you to come to the office and fill out the paperwork for a no-trespassing notice, so it can be filed about you wanting the two of them to stay off your property.” I think the sheriff is going to leave but he looks at me instead. “Sage are you sure about this. Your mom and you may have had a misunderstanding between the two of you, but don’t you think she has a right to be in your life? She did give birth to you,” I start to answer him, but he holds his hand up, “and you only have one mom in this world and around here children don’t shun their parents for any reason. You’re not going to make a lot of friends around here like that. I understand about the man, but it is hard for me to see your side in this. My children and I always have differences of opinion. I am the sheriff, and I take that job seriously and I’ll file the paperwork once it’s signed, just please think it over if for nothing else but your own sake.”

“Sheriff Jenkins this is more than a difference of opinion, much more and I will be in this afternoon to sign those papers. I would like to make friends here but not if I am going to be judged by every decision I make. My personal life is exactly that—mine. I thank you for thinking of my feelings and the probability that I might not make many friends. I am sorry for interrupting your day but mostly thank you for your help with this matter.” I know it’s time to let everyone in on who I am, so they can understand my situation with my mom, but I am just trying to live my life without having to worry about cameras flashing and people treating me differently because of who my dad was. I just want this farm and the life I have always dreamed of.

“I’ll see you later, then. Nick have a good day and you too Botie.” The sheriff walks to his cruiser and leaves. I look at Nick and then Botie. Nick has a look of concern in his eyes but Botie has nothing but questions in his. Questions I’m just not ready to answer yet. I turn to Nick and Botie.

“Thank you both for your support but I don’t want my mom’s venom leaking over to either of you.” I am embarrassed for the scene my mom just caused. I need to get on the phone to Roger—he will know what Mom is demanding now.

“Don’t be going on about it. We knew she would show up sooner or later, but I didn’t expect her this soon. Better sooner than later, I guess. We’ll get you into town, so you can sign the complaint.” Nick is as understanding as always. I look at Botie next.

“Is it true?” I don’t know what he’s asking. “Are you lying about who you are? Are you not Sage Collins? Have you been hiding things from everyone and just using us, so you could get this farm from Nick? Are you acting all shy, so Nick will feel protective, because that is not flying with me?” Botie is mad and I don’t know where the anger is coming from. Botie has come closer to me as he has been yelling at me. I don’t feel threatened, but I don’t know why Botie is so angry.

“You don’t understand,” I try to tell the enraged man.

“I understand the truth from a lie so what is it Sage? Are you a damn liar like all the other women around here?” I feel like someone has kicked me in my belly. I am lying. Nick wedges his way between me and Botie.

“I don’t know what has gotten into you Botie. Step back and quit calling Sage a liar. I know everything I need to know about Sage so calm down.” Nick is trying to calm Botie down, but I still see the anger.

“I don’t owe you or anyone in this town anything. Haddie and Nick know everything about my past so the two people I owe an explanation to has it. I have known you how long? The first time I met you, you weren’t friendly towards me, but not because of something that I did but something someone from your past did to you. I didn’t pry or demand answers. I accepted it as you protecting yourself from being hurt again. Why can’t you give me the same respect? Why can’t you see that this is something that I don’t want to discuss and leave it at that?” I am on the verge of tears and I hate it. I hate being emotional.

“Keep your fake tears and your lies to yourself then. If you need any more work done on your farm, you need to contact someone else. I won’t be available.” Botie is gone before I can wrap my mind about what he’s doing.

“I don’t know what has gotten into that boy. Sage, do not take anything he said to heart. I know he will come back and apologize to you sooner or later.” I look at Nick and I see he’s worried.

“No, Nick, Botie is not going to apologize to me. He was talking from somewhere deep in his soul. He has been hurt by a woman that lied to him and from that minute on every woman he meets will pay the price. I can understand that raw emotion. I feel it every day towards my mom and I know the only way to deal with it is to get it out. Let him work through it because I have a feeling, he has been keeping it locked down tight inside of him. When he has had enough, he’ll blow up on someone and if I can help release some of that blackness inside of him, then I am alright with that. Botie, did make me realize it is time to go public, so everyone will know what they think they are entitled to even though it’s none of their business. I need to talk to Roger and do what he has wanted me to do for a long while.” I hate that is what this has come to. “I don’t owe anyone, anything but I want to set down roots here and make it my home and if I alienate everyone before I can accomplish that then I’m the one that loses. I must stop running and face my past, so I can move on with my future in more ways than one. I always say I stand on my own two feet, but I want to be a part of this community and fit in.” I can tell that Nick doesn’t know what to say so I save him from having to say anything. “I am going to call Roger and see if he has time to come and spend the night, that way we can make that meeting happen tomorrow. Do you think I could get Fran from the newspaper to interview me tomorrow after the meeting? The Comfort’s newspaper is going to be getting the only interview that Tra Dade’s daughter ever gives, and her phone will be ringing for days if not weeks.” I see the worried look in Nick’s eyes, but he’s smiling so it can’t be that bad.

“Sounds like we need to be making some phone calls and then we can look at some trucks.” Nick seems more like himself now, so everything is going to be just fine. “Haddie is going to love this.” Yes, she will.