Lead On (Complete)

~ Chapter 7 ~

                The following morning, she sat down at her small kitchen and sighed as she pulled out the box.  In there was everything from their high school life and up to their marriage.  When she took everything down, she threw it in the box, took it down to the basement and placed it in the far corner, forgetting all about it.  She should have tossed it but never could get herself to do it.  And now that box haunted her and she was aching to see everything again.  So, after she had breakfast, she walked down and got it, going back up to her kitchen and looking over everything.

                She flipped off the lid and took out the first book, which were all photos of their wedding.  She ran her fingers over the cover before she sat it aside and picked up the yearbook.  Rose flipped the cover over and smiled as her fingers rummaged over the pages to the one she wanted.

                20 pages in and her fingers stopped on the best couples of the school spot.  Jeff and her were front and center; the picture taken outside in the school courtyard.  Her nails ran over it as she read the caption beneath the picture.  ‘Most beautiful couple and the couple that would stay throughout the ages.  And our favorite couple throughout the whole school’.  Her eyes canned over the picture and she smiled as she thought about that day…

                … “We want to have your picture in the yearbook.”  Jeff looked at the man before him, his arm around Rose’s waist.

                “But why?” Jeff asked.

                “Because you two are our favorite couple and we want to do a section about people we think will make it after school.”  Rose lightly slapped Jeff’s stomach.

                “Don’t be a pain hon.  Let’s just take the photo.  What’s one more going to hurt us?”  He looked down at her and grinned.

                “Fine, Steve, where do you want us?”  The other teen looked around and the nodded to the set of tress. 

                “Let’s see what the shots look like over there.”  Jeff took her hand and then led her out to the area and glanced down at her as she stopped in front of him.  He pushed her hair away from her face as he gazed into her eyes, everything else falling away.

                “One day Rose, I will make you my wife.”  Her hands rested on his fore arms as she smiled softly up at him, the camera blinking but neither saw it, their gazes locked and their focus being on only each other.

                “One day Jeff, I will say yes.”  He smiled down at her and gave her nose the softest kiss.  And as he pulled away, and they were left smiling at each other, the other guy snapped that picture and that was what got posted in the yearbook…

                She closed her eyes at that memory and dropped her head.  She had loved him with everything she and had such faith in him that he would always be there.  But when everything that mattered to him was gone, he booked it.

                And in all truth, she couldn’t blame him.  Small town life wasn’t for everyone and she knew he came from a bigger city.  Skyville was a gorgeous spot to live, but not for the young kids.  She had always known in the back of her mind that he would leave one day.  And she knew that if her mother wasn’t around, she would have left with him, even though she had hated Austin.

                She shook her head and poked around out a couple more pictures before letting out a breath.  She sat everything down and the moved the box off the table.  She ran her hands over her face and pushed hair back.  Rose had spent many of years pushing back thoughts of Jeff and she had prided herself on that.  And yet, he waltzes into her life and she’s pulling out a box of their memories.

                “Get a grip Rose, you need to stop it.”  She couldn’t help the laugh that was directed to herself as she got up and grabbed herself a glass of wine.  Yes, it was still morning time, but nobody was going to fault her for day drinking.

                An hour later, she was leaning back against the couch with her feet kicked up when her phone went off.  She quickly grabbed it and answered it with a laugh when she saw the caller ID.  “Yes mama?”

                “I’m just checking up on you to see how you are?”  Rose knew her mom; her mom wasn’t just checking in.  She fiddled with non-existent lint on the couch as she thought over what to tell her mom.

                On one hand, she could lie to her mom, and hope she didn’t see right through that, but she knew her mom.  Before she could even say she was fine, her mother would be calling her out on her bull s**t.  Or, she could confess that she had seen Jeff and that awoke feelings and still get yelled at.  Either way, she was in for an earful.  So, she took a deep breath and answered.

                “You know its okay.”  Rose heard the hitch in her mother’s voice and she almost laughed.

                “You talked to that boy and you are okay?”

                “Mama, Jeff is a man.”

                “Nope, still a boy playing games.”  Well, she couldn’t fault her mother that.  “Are you gonna be okay, dumplin’?”

                “Mama, I’ll be okay.  Jeff will always be Jeff and feelings may be there, but I am strong.  Have some faith in me.”

                “I do, it’s him I don’t trust.”  Again, logic Rose couldn’t fault but before she could say anything, the phone beeped, letting her know she had another call.  When she pulled it back, she saw it was Jimmy and quickly told her mom she had to go and would call her back, and then she switched the lines.

                “Hey Jimmy, what’s up?”

                “Are you free tonight or are you working?”

                “No, I’m free, why?”

                “I was gonna have a BBQ and was inviting you.”

                “Oh yeah, I’ll be there.  What do I need to bring?”

                “Can you grab some extra beer?”

                “Not a problem, Jimmy.”

                “Thanks, a case of Bud and some bottles of Coors aught to do it.  It starts at five.”  Rose looked at the time.

                “On it.  See you then.”  And as she hung up and headed to her room to shower and change, she frowned.  Their round of friends all drank Bud and only one person drank Coors in a bottle.  Ah s**t, Jeff was going to be there.  No way could she back out now, she knew that!