Chapter Thirteen – Haley

“And he told you that Buck was accused of beating a woman?” Sorcha asked, shocked at the news as they got ready for their shift. After going back to Tiana’s house and seeing her girls playing outside with Rhett, Haley had relaxed, convinced Harrison wasn’t about to kidnap them. It wasn’t his style. But she was certain this wasn’t the end of his threats. Soon, he would reveal his real motives, and Haley had a growing suspicion it might involve money.

Blackmail to be precise. She could think of no other reason, other than simply to hurt Haley, why Harrison would take on a man like Buck.

“Yes.” Haley shut her locker and leaned back against it. “But enough of me, what about you?”

Tiana fixed a smile on her face, even though it didn’t hide her concern about Haley. “Yes, come on, we want all the details.”

Sorcha’s eyes opened wide. “Believe me, you do not want all the details.”

They giggled as they walked through to the restaurant. “Perhaps you’re right,” Haley said. “But you look happy, which is the main thing.”

“I am happy,” Sorcha replied. “I just wish we all were.” She fixed Haley with a knowing smile.

“I’m happy. I just wish I knew what Harrison’s endgame was.” She shook her head. “What does he get out of making these accusations?”

“He gets to feel big. He gets to believe he’s keeping you down and not letting you move on.” Sorcha sighed. “He’s ruined his own life and now he wants to ruin yours. Or at least try to.”

“Well, he’s not going to. Buck has explained what happened with this Krella. And I believe him,” Haley said firmly.

“And I can confirm Mason was with him at the time of the attack,” Tiana told Haley, and placed an arm around her shoulders. “And we all know he can’t lie.”

“Unless they are lying about lying,” Sorcha suggested. “What?”

“They don’t lie. They can’t lie. Not to their mates,” Haley reminded Sorcha.

“So they say.” Sorcha looked defensive. “You don’t know.”

“I do,” Tiana said emphatically. “I do know.”

“Okay, so have you tried Googling this like Harrison said?” Sorcha asked.

“Yes, and it was reported that a local construction owner was helping with enquiries. He was never arrested.” Haley had done the online search before she returned to Tiana’s house. She had also spoken to Tiana, who asked Mason, who confirmed Buck’s alibi.

“And the case was dropped because Mason gave him an alibi.” Sorcha mused over this for a moment. “So he really was set up?”

“It looks like it.” Haley sighed. “What worries me is the construction company that orchestrated the whole thing has gone bust.”

“And you’re worried Buck had something to do with that?” Tiana asked.

“Oh, I’m certain of it. What worries me is if Harrison goes sniffing around, trying to resurrect this story, he’ll cause more trouble. For Buck and for the rest of us.” Haley inhaled deeply and let go of the anger building inside her. “Why can’t he leave us alone?”

“I’d be asking how he found out about Buck so quickly.” Sorcha looked up as a couple sat down at one of her tables. “Show time.”

As Sorcha walked off, weaving between the tables, Haley glanced at Tiana. “Sorcha’s right. How did Harrison know about Buck?”

“It wasn’t the girls. I asked them.” Haley knew they weren’t lying, they hardly talked to their father, so they definitely wouldn’t have made a point of contacting him about Buck. “I kind of wish they were close enough to their father to be the first to tell him. But they are not.”

“Which must make his behavior over your relationship with Buck even more annoying,” Tiana adjusted her shirt over her baby bump as Mr. Monroe seated someone at one of her tables.

“I don’t think annoyed covers it,” Haley said as Tiana walked away.

Haley turned her back to the restaurant and went to work cleaning up the section where the waitresses collected cutlery and condiments. It gave her something to do while she turned over the puzzle of who told Harrison in her head.

“Busy night ahead,” Mr. Monroe said as he came to stand beside her. He faced the restaurant, watching the door like a tiger ready to pounce on the next diner. He had built the business up from scratch after moving here several years ago from one of the big cities.

“I think so.” Haley turned around and folded her arms across her chest. “If you want to steer more diners my way, I’d happily take them.”

“More tips?” Mr. Monroe asked. “I thought you had a new man in your life, doesn’t he take care of you?”

“How did you know?” Tiana asked.

“I hear things,” Mr. Monroe said. “So do you need money? Tiana said your ceiling collapsed.”

“No. It’s not about the money.” She shook her head, confused about her boss’s words. “I thought we could make it easier on Tiana. She’s struggling with the baby so close.”

“Yes, I’ll be sad to lose her. I rely on you three so much.” Mr. Monroe looked at her sideways and then sighed. “How are your kids, Haley?”

“They’re good. We’re staying up at Tiana’s right now because of my ceiling, but they are happy.” There was an undercurrent to Mr. Monroe’s questions that troubled Haley.

“That’s good to hear. After what happened with Harrison.” Mr. Monroe gave her a sympathetic smile. “I never did believe he could treat you badly.”

“Well, he did.” Haley glanced at Mr. Monroe. “Have you spoken to him lately?”

“Who, Harrison? Why would I?” Mr. Monroe’s gaze swiveled to the door leading into the restaurant.

“I don’t know. You used to play pool with him, didn’t you?” Haley frowned as Mr. Monroe leaned forward like an athlete on the starting blocks.

“Occasionally,” his answer was noncommittal.

“Did you tell him I had a new man in my life?” Haley asked.

Mr. Monroe’s face flushed pink and a look of relief crossed his face as the door opened and a family of four entered the restaurant. “I’ll seat more diners at your tables to take the pressure off Tiana,” he promised. Then he added, “I always try to do what is best for my employees.”

Haley stared after him, certain she had found who had told Harrison. She wanted to be angry, but she wasn’t. Mr. Monroe had been there for all of them at one time or another. She believed he didn’t intend to hurt anyone. He was doing what he thought best.

Although maybe he figured if her relationship with Buck didn’t work out then she would stay here and work for him.

“Are you okay?” Tiana asked as she waddled to the kitchen with her order.

“Yeah. I’m good.” She inhaled deeply, taking in all the familiar scents of the restaurant. From the sizzling steaks, and the hot spicy curry, which was Bobby’s signature dish, to the smell of warm dishes just out of the dishwasher. All of this got swirled around and mixed up as the doors opened and diners, new and regulars, entered.

Old, familiar, the restaurant was a rut she’d been stuck in. Like the rest of her life it was safe, comfortable. But she was ready for a new challenge, whether that meant a new job, a new baby, and most definitely a new husband, she didn’t know. But she was ready to face the future, a new future, with fresh challenges.

As Mr. Monroe worked the room, Haley sidled up to him. “Could I have a word with you after my shift please?”

“Sure.” He smiled at her, although there was a questioning look in his eye. But then the door opened, and the next group of diners entered the restaurant. He was right, this was going to be a busy night.

***

“You quit?” Sorcha asked, shocked by Haley’s news.

“Yep.” They were in the parking lot at the end of their shift, the cool mountain breeze on her face. She inhaled…freedom.

“Haley, are you sure that’s the right thing to do?” Tiana asked.

“Yes. For once it feels as if I’m doing something for me. I want to build a new life; a new future, and I’m never going to do that if I keep doing the same old, same old.” She shrugged. “I want to embrace a new life with Buck.”

“Wow.” Tiana smiled despite the strain on her face. “I’m proud of you. I’m proud of us.”

Sorcha pressed her lips together and swallowed hard. Karl put his arm around her. He’d come to meet her like he always did, night after night like a faithful dog. Haley had never acknowledged that before. “Maybe it’s time we all had a change.”

Sorcha didn’t sound convinced. “We’ll lose touch. And I’ll have to get used to working with other people. We have a rhythm, it’s like we all know how the others think.”

“You could quit, too,” Karl suggested. “When we have a baby, you’d have to have time off.”

“Me, a stay-at-home mom?” Sorcha asked. “Not even forgetting that I have to conceive a child first.”

“You’d make a great mom,” Tiana assured her. “And during that time you can figure out what you want to do with your life.”

Sorcha gave a begrudging smile. “I always wanted to do interior design.”

“You did?” Haley asked. “You never told us.”

“No one ever asked. Everyone always assumed I never had any ambitions other than waiting tables.” Sorcha looked at Karl. “Do you think I could do something else?”

“It doesn’t matter what I think,” Karl told her. “It’s what you think, what you believe that matters.”

“That doesn’t answer my question,” Sorcha told him.

“I think you can do it. I believe you can do whatever you want to do. But you have to take those first steps.” He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, capturing her lips with his in a passionate kiss.

“Okay, we’ll see you on Monday,” Tiana said, pulling Haley away.

“I think they might conceive a child in The Mountain View Restaurant parking lot,” Haley confided in Tiana as they reached her car. Sorcha and Karl were still locked together, and his hand was caressing her bottom.

“Let’s get out of here.” Tiana giggled and got in the car.

“Home. My feet are killing me,” Haley said as she drove away from their place of work.

“Why did you quit?” Tiana asked. “Why tonight?”

“I think it was Mr. Monroe who told Harrison about Buck.” She wasn’t one hundred percent sure in her accusation, but she was sure enough.

“Wow. He overheard us talking last night and called Harrison?” Tiana asked.

“Someone did.” She drove along the familiar roads, heading toward her daughters and her mate with a sense of adventure threading through her veins. “But that’s not the real reason.”

“What is?” Tiana asked.

“I want to prove to Buck that I’m committed to our new life together. He offered me a job, the two of us working alongside each other. I’m showing him I want that life.”

“You’re also showing him you don’t take the things Harrison said seriously.”

“You always were perceptive,” Haley told her friend. “He’s upset about it. This is one way I can prove to him that I don’t believe those rumors. He told me they weren’t true, and Mason told you he was with Buck. These men don’t lie.” She glanced sideways at Tiana. “Do you think I’ve acted too hastily?”

“Not at all,” Tiana said quickly. “You and Buck are true mates. Soul mates, if you want to call it that. Putting your trust in him is the right thing to do.”

“I’m not always good at making judgment calls,” Haley confessed her worst fears.

“You have always done what you thought best. You could never have guessed Harrison was a wife beater. How could you? You were together for years before that all began. He changed, something flipped inside him. So unless you had a crystal ball, how could you have known?”

“I know. I know. I guess I wanted it to be perfect and Harrison kind of ruined that.”

“But he can’t destroy it. No one can. Don’t let him win, Haley. Let it go and enjoy your life with Buck. He loves your girls. He’ll look after them and protect them. Something Harrison never did.”

“He never even protected them from himself,” Haley admitted as she parked the car outside of the house.

“I’m going to say goodnight and crawl into bed,” Tiana said as she got out of the car and walked slowly toward the house. “And thank you.”

“For what?” Haley asked.

“For making my shift easier. I know you took on more diners.” She smiled through her tiredness. “Maybe the three of us should work together. In a couple of years’ time. We could start a business.”

“I like that idea.” Haley caught up with Tiana and hugged her close. “We’ve been through so much together. We can give it a lot of thought and take our time.”

“I think the thing we need to hang on to is that we have come through a lot, and we’re still here to tell the tale. With kids we’re proud of and good men by our side.” Tiana took Haley’s hand and they continued to the house side by side.

“How was work?” Mason asked as they entered the kitchen where he was seated next to Buck. They were studying the plans for the warehouse.

“Tiring.” Tiana rubbed her back and slumped down in the chair next to Mason. She leaned her head on his shoulder and he kissed her tenderly, his face filled with concern.

“Will you quit, please?” Mason asked.

“Yes.” Tiana kicked off her shoes and leaned back in the chair.

“I also quit,” Haley announced as she settled down next to Buck, her hands clasped on the table in front of her.

Buck covered her hands with one of his massive palms, the warmth of his touch coursing through her. “Did something happen?”

“Yes, I realized I want to spend my life with you.” She looked up at him through her eyelashes, hoping she’d done the right thing.

His expression, which had been filled with uncertainty ever since the revelations about Krella, cracked into a wide grin. “I like the sound of that. You, me and the girls.”

“Good. Because I’ve got my heart set on a fresh new start.” Haley leaned on his shoulder and he put his arm around her and held her close.

“You’ll be happy to know the guy who has the land for sale called, we can go and look at it tomorrow afternoon.” Buck glanced at Mason. “Mason and I have been talking plans and timescales. If it’s suitable, we could build the house alongside the warehouse project. I’ll do the majority of the work myself, but any tradesmen we need can come from the warehouse project.”

It was a big step, but Haley was more than ready to take it. “Great. I can’t wait.” She looked around, a sudden chill threading through her veins. “Where are the girls?”

Mason pointed upstairs. “Playing video games with Rhett. Don’t worry, they are safe.”

Haley nodded. “Thanks. I’m sure Harrison was just blowing hot air.”

“And now that they are aware of the situation, they’ll be on guard if they see him,” Buck assured her.

Haley nodded. “You’re right. I want to put all this behind us and move on. Harrison can’t hurt us.”

“No, he can’t.” Buck kissed her cheek.

“And if he did, we would hurt him,” Mason promised. “And I don’t mean physically. I’m sure Harrison wouldn’t enjoy a stint in prison, and blackmail and slander is enough to put him there.”

“You’re right. He’s the biggest coward I’ve ever met.” Haley got up from the table. “Tea?”

“Oh, yes, please,” Tiana said.

As Haley made tea, she finally let go of the demons from her past. It was time to build a future and tomorrow was the start. She couldn’t wait for them to build a house of their own and live in it forever.