Father's Ty: Part 3

 Father's Ty: Part 3

©2011 Mika Star

Jodie stood there watching Ty drive away. What just happened? What did I miss? She went as far as to wonder if  there was something she had done wrong. Her feelings were a bit hurt, but curiosity replaced any insecurity she felt. There was something going on with Tyler and she was determined to find out, one way or another, what it was.

Jodie walk back to her car where she had left the chief salads she had picked up for her and Tara's lunch, suddenly glad she hadn't placed them in the sun.

                                                          *   *   *

  She bounded in the door of the bakery. "Fooood" she called to Sara. "Cooooming" Sara announced as she walked from the kitchen.

"Sounds like a personal issue to me."

"Says the one who probably stopped off for a kissing session."

Jodie eyed Tara "What's that supposed to mean."

"It means, I saw you and Tyler Turner sneak to the back," she pointed in the direction of the back door, "last night."

Jodie followed Sara to a small table and chairs in room off the side of the kitchen.

Jodie's mouth hung open.

"Oh don't look so surprised and no worries I'm won't say anything to anyone."

Jodie knew full well she was talking about her parents.

"Not that it matters now anyway, you're eighteen, right?"

"Yes, but the last thing I want to hear is another sex talk from either of them."

Sara held her hands up in defense, "Hey, what you and Tyler do is your business. I was just teasing you."

*    *    *

Jodie dragged in the house after her shift, shutting the door heavy handed.

"Mom" her voice reverberated in the foyer and carried upstairs.

Elizabeth came from her study to the banister greeting Jodie with a full lipped smile. "Hi sweetheart," she couldn't help but noticed her daughters heavy hearted eyes. "What's wrong, Jo, what happen?"

"Nothing really, I guess. Mom, Tyler and I were supposed to go out tonight, but he never called me like he said he would."

"I'm sure there is a reasonable explanation." Elizabeth descended the stairs one step at a time listening carefully to what Jodie was saying.

"Maybe, but I saw him down the road from Mae'z today. He seemed out of sorts and has yet to call me back or answer any of my texts."

Jodie followed her mother into the kitchen.

Elizabeth became sightly concerned but kept her thoughts to herself. Yesterday, Tyler and Jodie seemed to be just as inseparable as they were when they were younger, so for him to be seemingly ignoring Jodie...

"Hmmm did you talk to him when you saw him?"

"Yes, briefly, but not about much of anything before he drove off while I was in mid-sentence."

"He drove off; did he say where he was headed?"

"No and I never got a chance to ask."

Elizabeth pulled her meat loaf out of the oven, setting it on the stove to cool.

They turned at the sound of the front door opening again.

"Well, hello ladies, how was your day?" Phillip rubbed his hand together nervously with a smile plastered on his face. His smile faded as Jodie turned to greet him with lingering sadness.

"What's the matter, Jo?"

"Nothing for you to worry about Dad. I'm going to bed."

"But, Jo, you're not going to eat?"

"Do you mind saving some for me, Mom?"

"Well, I guess not. It'll be wrapped up in the oven for you when you're ready."

"Thank you, Mom. Dad. she nodded, "I love you. Good night."

Jodie plodded up the stairs allowing her hand to skim the top of the banister.

"Good night dear." they each watched her tired posture as she ascended to her room. 

Once in her bedroom, after countless attempts to distract herself from the conflicting encounters with Tyler over the last couple of days, she flopped down on her bed. Sleep overtook her thoughts quickly as she drifted into subconscious dreams. 

*    *    *

Jodie  flailed in a fit laughter,  in the passenger seat of Ty's car.  She could hear Ty's deeper toned voice, but couldn't see him in her line of vision; she could only assume he was the one driving. 

Suddenly, Jodie eyes grew wide as she was jolted against her seat. Her arm slammed hard against the door. she screamed in pain and terror gripping her shoulder with one hand and the door handle with the other in an effort to brace herself. 

The car toppled once then twice, and if not for splashing into the water there might have been a third roll. In the moments following- water cascaded in from the broken window beside her. Her body instinctively stiffened as she inhaled her last breath of air before the cab became completely submerged in the cold depths. 

Jodie yanked at the seat belt freeing herself from its trap. She glanced over at Tyler; he simply nodded for her to go. She tried protesting pulling against the buckle that threatened to keep him there, but she needed air and soon. She unwillingly swam out between the shards of glass kicking harder as she cleared the frame of the window, leaving Ty. Up and up she went toward the surface of the unknown body of water. Where was she, she wondered right before breaking topside.


A slow rain pelted her face as she stared up at gravel just off the edge of an asphalt road. The car had barely missed the guardrail.  Skid marks left in the dirt and rock caused her to gasp in awe. She jerked surveying the rest of her surroundings realizing Ty had not yet surfaced. 

She dove down to search for him in the wreckage. He was gone--missing as if he had never been there at all. Her chest tightened with panic.

*    *    *

Jodie woke with tears in her eyes covering her mouth after a heaving scream.  

Phillip banged a fist against Jodie's door. She heard his muffled voice from the other side hollering "Jodie! ... Jo! ... Are you okay? ... What going on?"

Jodie head snapped about face, still reeling from the images of her dream; she cautiously slid from under the covers to unlock her door. 

"Daddy, hold on," he heard her whisper though the wood. The knob clicked twice before he carefully pushed the door open allowing light to creep in from the hallway. She back away from the door crawling onto her bed. She felt like a little kid again as her dad sat a few feet away from her at the end of her bed.

It had been years since he had checked on her in the middle of the night. The amber glow from the open door did little to hide Phillip's concerned expression.

"I'm assuming since you are otherwise intact that was one hell of a dream; So I'll ask one more time, Jo, what's the matter? "

"Tyler..." tears welled in her eyes again.  "Disappeared."

"What?" A look of shock graised his face while guilt washed though him once again.

"I'm going to call his mother to see if she has heard from him yet. I'm sorry, Jo, I never meant to hurt either of you."

"What are you talking about?" it was Jodie's turn to look surprised by his statement.

"What did you do, Dad?" Her question came out a bit more stern than she had wanted it to.

He looked at her unable to hide the guilt and shame for having not told her his secret sooner. "Right now, I need to find out about Ty. Stay here; I'll be right back."

Jodie got up to follow anyway. Her palms began to sweat and  her pulse raced as unease set in. She watched her father dial Mrs. Carson's number. She studied his movements as she listened to the conversation.

  "Carol, hey it's Phillip. Have you heard from Ty at all?"

"No, I haven't and I am really beginning to worry. I just tried his cell phone again and now it goes straight to voicemail."

"Carol, I'm so sorry." The mayor eyed his daughter nervously as his stomach knotted. He turned his back to her unable to face her  frightened expressions."If I had thought telling him would have effected him this badly I would have carried it to my grave. If anything bad happens to him..." He fell silent.

"Phillip you can't say that. He deserved to know. Frankly, if it is anyone's fault it is my own for not telling him sooner."

The mayor let out a heavy sigh. "Carol, call me, let me know the moment you have any news. Otherwise I am going out to come first light."

Carolyn sighed "I will Phil. Try and get some sleep. Someone needs to."

"Bye Carol."

"Bye Phil."

Jodie tapped her foot anxiously biting at her fingernails while she lost all sense of what was being said as stared off into space.

"Jo?" Phillip touched her shoulder, bending slightly to meet her eyes, bringing her back to the land of here and now.

She looked at her father square in the face "I'm going with you."

"Okay, honey."

She stood stone still, tight lipped and her storm filled eyes burned like lasers into his soul. "I'm serious. I'll go sleep out in the car if I have to. And I expect you to tell me what it is you told Tyler to make him run off. He wouldn't have left me like that..."

Her mother crossed her arms over her chest startling Jodie as spoke from behind her. "I don't care what your father has done you don't speak to him like that. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, Mama," she said looking over her shoulder out of the corner of her eye.

"She's right though, Liz, I should and I will, I promise. I'll come get you before I leave. Now, we all need to try to get some more sleep. "

*    *    *

To be continued...

Father's Ty: Part 2

Father's Ty: Part 2

©2011 Mika Star

From the look on Tyler's face, the Mayor's secretary decided against her usual bubbly "Have a nice day," gesture and sat back following him with her eyes. He yanked open the lobby door ignoring the sunshine as it cascaded into his eyes.

He wrenched open his car door clasping into the seat. He beat on the steering wheel when the car wouldn't start right away. He choke passed the lump in his throat before letting tears free fall.

A man noticing Tyler's dilemma grabbed his set of jumper cables and hollered "You need a jump?"

"Um, yeah, that would be great." Tyler said with much less gratitude than what he felt.

He got out of the car to help hook up the cables then hopped back in to wait for the battery to charge. The man jumped into his own truck to rev the engine.

Just then, Tyler phone rang. He glanced at the caller I.D.; it was Jodie. "Not now!" he groaned. He tossed the phone in the passenger seat as the engine finally cranked to life.

"Thanks, man!" he called out from his seat.

"No problem. Been there."

Tyler hurried to help unhooked the cables and went their separate ways.

His phone sounded one more time as he climbed in again. He grabbed it off the seat. With tear stained cheeks, his hands trembled at the thought of listening to the message. For a split second, he thought of throwing the damn thing out the window. He had it in hand, all it would take is one flick of his arm to rid him of a little bit of pain. Reasoning kicked in, however. He not only would be out a phone, and have to buy another one, but he wouldn't be able to avoid Jodie and her family forever as long as he lived in Minden.

Another thought crossed his mind--he could leave. His mom wouldn't be home for hours and he hadn't found a job yet himself. He still had money in the bank from his last pay check and fifty dollars left of the money his mother had insisted on giving him for the Father's Day carnival. That's what he would do. Leave. For the week at least. He would pick up a battery for his car, swing by the house to pack some things and be gone before anyone realized.

                                                                  *    *    *

At the house, he ripped his clothes away from his sweaty skin. He dried off as best he could; knowing he was in too much of a hurry to take a shower. He shuffled about his room throwing clothes and other essentials into in a green duffel bag. He slipped into a clean pair of jeans while running into his bathroom to grab a couple razors and noticed his toothbrush and toothpaste, snatching them from the counter as well. He hurried back into his room; shoving the items in his bag. He smoothed a blue tee shirt over his torso, stepping back a moment, scanning the area, hoping he hadn't forgotten anything. He surveyed each room as he walked toward the front door. He stuck his feet in a pair of tennis. He had his hand on the door knob, then turned, grabbing for a pen and a piece of paper. He scribbled:

Mom,

I'm getting outta here for a while. 

I'll try be back Sunday night. 

Please don't to worry too much. I'll be all right.  

love you,

Ty

He stuck the note between the keys of her laptop.

With his bag in hand he headed to the front door hesitating for a moment before jarring the door open, a cool breeze met his face and skimmed throw his black curls. He If he could make it out of town without being noticed he would be free to set his own course before being mainstreamed into reality again.

He jogged to his hand-me-down Mazda slinging his duffel onto the backseat from the open window. He pulled his door open dropping into the seat all the while mouthing a prayer that the car would start; that, in fact, it had just been the battery.

The car fired up without a sputter. Tyler let out a pent up breath and said a silent "Thank you." Pulling out of the driveway, he made a mental note of the streets less traveled at that time of day.

 He was cruising along, windows down and the radio on low enough not to draw attention. He briefly stopped at a stop sign nervously drumming his thumbs on the steering wheel. Tyler look around to see Jodie coming up the sidewalk toward him. His heart thumped in his chest; his pulse quickened at the sight of her. She was the last person he wanted to see at the moment, but damn was she worth looking at. her hair, slightly longer than shoulder length, blew into her face as she tucked some of it behind her ears. Her sapphire eyes burned into his memory. The curves of her body stirred something in him he had been trying to suppress since seeing her yesterday morning.

Snapping out of his trance he remembered where he was and why he was there to begin with. Jodie...sister...she doesn't know... His first instinct was to peel away, leaving her in his dust. However, he knew that would only alarm her so he played it cool as she approached leaning her forearm in the window.

"Ty, I tried calling you earlier. I left a message."

"I'm sorry, I was having some car trouble and hadn't had a chance to call you back."

"It's okay. You're here now."

"So I am..." Tyler revved the engine with a sight impatience building in the pit of his stomach. "but I've got to go." His eyes darted from direct contact with her own. "I'll see you around."

Jodie was taken aback by his sudden urgency to leave she stepped away from the car. She waved him off as if what she had to say didn't matter. "Yeah, I'll see you around. Hey Ty--" He didn't give her a chance to finish her sentence before he sped off not wanting to expose anymore of himself to her then he might already have. He knew she had always had the ability to read him better than anyone else he knew even though it had been years since they had seen each other. She proved that to be true last night.

*    *    *

Last night...

Tyler and Jodie stayed together though out the evening and on into the night. After getting over the awkwardness of wanting to be close, but being unsure if the other wanted the same thing, they took every opportunity to touch and hold one another. When the festivities were coming to an end and it was clear people were beginning to disperse to their homes Jodie's mother found her and Tyler talking among themselves. "Hey, you two, have you guys been having a good time?"

Jodie smiled "Yes, mom, I think we have," trying to hide the stars in her eyes when she looked at Tyler for his agreement. This has been the best day of my life. 

"I'm glad to hear it," she beamed. She looked back and forth between them, "Your dad and I are heading home soon. I hope you two do the same. You both have an early morning ahead of you."

"We won't be too much longer, Mom." They exchanged wordless anticipation after Elizabeth turned away from them.

Taking the arm of her husband, Elizabeth and Phillip walked to their car, got in and Phillip waved to them as the car pulled away from the town square.

"Let's go," Tyler grinned taking Jodie by the hand. They dashed to the back of the bakery. "Since we only have a little while before we are expected home, I wanted to--." Jodie cut through his words with a kiss, just a peck, at first. Tyler returned the kiss before Jodie had time to wonder if that was, indeed, what he had been waiting for, as much as she had since they laid eyes on each other that morning.

The kiss intensified as Tyler opened his mouth inviting her tongue to play. She obliged exploring the wet heat she had only dreamed about before then. Sure, she had kissed and even gone a bit further than, perhaps, she should have with other guys, but kissing Tyler was different. She didn't feel pressured into anything. It hadn't been a dare or a ploy to keep a guy she liked from ditching her. No, this was Tyler and he wanted to be with her just because the sky was blue and the grass was green; because they had kept their bond of friendship even after years of being miles apart.

Their hands wandered freely and unjudged over clothes, under clothes and onto bare skin. Tyler's blood was already boiling and his breathing became sallower. In a rush of hormones, Tyler was about to lift her shirt up over her head when he snapped back into reality. What the hell am I thinking? What are we doing!

He stepped away from her dropping his hands to his sides.

Jodie felt herself come down from the clouds, she opened her eyes meeting Tyler's gaze full force. "I'm sorry, Jo I shouldn't have done that. I shouldn't have brought you back here. "

She looked at him with the same apprehension and shyness he saw in her that morning, then she spoke up, touching the sleeve of his shirt. "Ty, it takes two ya know. I wasn't thinking either."

Well, you're not some back ally whore. "You deserve better than this." He stared into her eyes feeling ashamed.

"I had been waiting all night for the perfect time to get you alone. I wasn't sure what else to do. I didn't want to go another day without being able to touch you, to feel the warmth of your skin and those lips." He tapped her kiss swollen mouth. "At least once..."

"Before God know what else happens to splits us up, again."

"Exactly."

"I understand. This morning when I realized who you were it took everything for me not to kiss you right then. That's part of why I had to make myself get back to work. I couldn't stand there looking at you and possibly making a fool of myself in case you didn't feel the same way. I've missed you so much."

"I've spent so many nights, the last few years, dreaming of  you." He moved to close the space between them again, cupping the side of her face with one hand. He kissed her gently again. "Okay, let's get you home before I start something else and forget to stop."

"One of these days I won't let you stop," Jodie teased leading him back to his car.

He opened the driver side door. "One of these days I won't have to," he said before ducking into the car.

"I'll call you tomorrow, maybe we can figure out something to do after work."

"I've got that meeting with your dad and afterward I have to start looking for a job."

"Okay," she tried hiding her disappointment behind a half smile.

"I didn't mean 'No', but if I don't pick up, leave a message; I'll call you back."

Tyler waited for Jodie to get into her PT Cruiser. He pulled out of the parking lot behind her following until they stopped in front of her house. He watched her walk up onto the porch noticing how well her pants complimented her ass. A "Damn" slipped passed his lips and he hoped she happened heard him.  She waved letting him know she would be okay.

The only memories he had of the rest of the night involved falling into bed and dreaming of Jodie and the day's events.

To be continued....                      

Father's Ty: Part 1

I hope everyone had a wonderful Father's Day whether it was spent with your father or in memory of him.

In loo of Father's Day let's leave Sara and Zara in their private haven for awhile to take a trip back to Minden to see what's been going on...

I hope to get the edit version up soon. Here is what I wanted to post last week anyway...
                                      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Father's Ty: Part 1

©Mika Star ~2011

On June 19th  there was an annual Father's Day celebration coupled with a birthday surprise for the Mayor in the town square. Jodie's dad, Phillip Dumont, was the Mayor of Minden, and as such, the best thing that happened to the town in a long time. 

When Jodie's mother, Elizabeth, wasn't working beside her husband and taking care of Jodie she baked the best fruit pies in three counties. The bakery often bought her pies since she had no time to work at the bakery itself.

Elizabeth had spent the last week in her kitchen making enough pies to share with the town. It was agonizing for anyone driving by the mayor’s house the last week. The smell of apple cinnamon, blueberry, cherry, blackberry, peach, pear and even banana crème pies was enough to make anyone's mouth water.  The neighbors would often leave her front porch with a shadow of disappointment written on their face because Mrs. Dumont turned down each and every plead to taste one or two pies. "No, these are for Father's Day, if you want some you'll be there." She would point to them matter-of-factly, "You better be there; I haven't made all these pies for nothing, you know."

Jodie had spent the last couple of summers working at the bakery full time, and any opportunity during the school year. This summer was her last before she made her way to a college campus. She was so excited to a part of the cake preparation today. Why? Because she, Josephine Alexandra Dumont, had been put in charge of designing her father's birthday cake, which would be displayed next to the town's giant annual themed Father's Day cake.

The last few weeks after the manager kicked her out of the shop to "Get some sleep” she stayed up until the early hours of the morning writing notes and sketching designs.

Finally, Jodie decided on a simple three tier design. On a personal level, her father preferred things as simple and straight forward as possible. She eyed her sketch pad several times before nodding off to sleep. She just knew he would love it!
                                                   *    *    *
When the doorbell of the bakery rang the next morning, Jodie and Sara were putting the finishing touches on what would be the top tier of the mayor’s cake.

Jodie made her way to the register expecting Mrs. Carson there to pick up the loaves of rye she had ordered yesterday. Instead, her breath caught at the sight of a handsome vision straight out of her dreams. Dressed in loose fitting black jeans and red tee, Tyler strolled in the door with the sunshine at his back and shades drawn up on his forehead.

He slumped against the counter his short black curls stiff with gel. She stared, studying his face for something familiar. His arctic blue eyes sunk into her soul sending a chill down her spine rooting her feet to the floor in front of him.

She found her voice long enough to choke out "C-c-can I help you."

"Yeah, I am here to pick up some rye bread my mom ordered.”

"Okay, I'll be right back."

Jodie turned an about face; her legs appeared filled with lead. She urged herself into the storage room. She returned to Tyler with a large bag of individually wrapped loaves of bread. Setting the bag on the counter she rang up the sale. She avoided direct eye contact with him. "That'll be $48.96."
 
"Wow, that must be some bread," he said sarcastically.

"The best, fresh and made to order," she countered.

Pecking at the sale key, the draw popped open; his fingers brushed her skin as he handed over the cash in full. His fingers were so warm compared to hers.

Tyler's heart thumped as he waited for Jodie to count all of the money; to find the extra white piece of paper he had slipped in between the bills. He held still, waiting for her reaction.

Jodie's eyes darted from the folded piece of paper to Tyler and back again. Unfolding it, her pulse racing in her fingertips, she found a picture of the two of them hugging each other tightly the day they had started Kindergarten.

She remembered the morning well; her father rushed her out of the car to catch Tyler before he turned the corner to go into their classroom. Jodie caught Tyler by the arm. “Tyler will get to the correct class.” her dad assured the teacher guiding the boy. Her dad had taken the smiling snapshot of them right before they entered the classroom.

A few years later, after Tyler's dad died he moved away with his mom. She hadn't seen Tyler in what, ten--eleven years?

"Ty?" she said aloud.

Blood rushed to her ears, and her chest tightened with so much joy she thought her heart might burst. She fought back tears. After so long, she was determined not to let crying be the first memory Ty had of her.

"Jo." his white smile lit up the room.

She threw her hands in the air. "Oh my God, I can't believe it is you! How long have you been in town? For that matter, how did you find me?"

His gaze shifted to the tile flooring, "My mom and I moved back here about a week ago. By asking around over the last few days I found out you worked here." He looked back up at her smirking, "When Mom mentioned something about the bakery and rye bread I volunteered to come see you- to pick up the bread."

"Your mom is a Mrs. Carson now? Well, I guess, this explains why she didn't give me her first name on the phone yesterday."

"Yeah she and my Step-dad got married a few years back. He's a good guy; he tries. He treats her right, so I can't complain too much."

Absolutely thrilled, Jodie rounded to the outside of the counter spreading her arms for a hug, secretly hoping she wasn't being too forward after all these years.

He welcomed her into his arms. He took in the sweet smell of cucumber melon body wash and chocolate icing. They hugged for a long moment each reluctant to let go. He set her back down on the floor as she had practically jumped into his arms.

Handing the photo back to him, she played with the seam of her apron. “Ty, I wish I could sit and talk with you for awhile, but I have to help Sara finish Daddy's birthday cake. There is no reason for his birthday to be overlooked just because it happens to also be Father’s Day.”

 Tyler laughed "Yeah, and the fact that he is the mayor of Minden."

"I know. Can you believe it?"

Tyler just shook his head without taking his eyes off of her.

Jodie trotted back toward the kitchen. Sara stood in the doorway, arms crosses and foot tapping, impatiently.

"I'll see you around." Tyler waved to Jodie, slid his sunglasses back over his eyes, and pushed his way out the door onto the busy sidewalk.

 Sara nudged her “So, what was that all about?” she asked almost teasing.

“Oh, I don’t think I ever told you-about him…”                                           
                                     
                                                                      *    *    *
 Jodie kept busy even after finishing her father's cake, but 6:00 didn't come fast enough. She couldn't wait to see the look on her father's face, wondering what he might say when he found out the cake was Jodie's own design.

Of course, any moment she had alone, her thoughts drifted to her encounter with Tyler. He looked incredible. She would have never believed it was him had he not kept the picture all this time.

Hours later, both cakes along with an assortment of cookies and cupcakes were loaded into a van for the short trek to the auditorium in center of town.

The five tier Father's Day cake took up an entire five foot by five foot table. The design had a blue rippling water effect. The top tier depicted a man in his row boat pulling in a fish caught on his fishing pole. Grasses and cattails surrounded the bottom tier. In dark blue icing, Happy Father's Day stretched over the three center tiers.

The Mayor's cake was made of three white layers. Slices of strawberries patterned the entire cake. Each slice had been lined with chocolate fudge icing with Happy Birthday written in strawberry jam at the top. Thick Bavarian Crème filled the center of each layer.

                                                          *    *    *

It had taken an hour to pack the entire (attending) towns people into the auditorium. Jodie met her mother and father at the doorway. She fought the urge to nervously twirl the end of ponytail in her fingers.

Her mother had called her earlier to warn her of how her father's mood had soured after he found she had left for the bakery before telling  him "Good morning," much less anything to do with Father's Day or his birthday.  He wasn't the type of person to get bent out of shape if he didn't get gifts on any occasion. However, like anyone else, he hoped for some sort of recognition from his loved ones. It wasn't too much to ask. Jodie hoped this would make up for her absence this morning.

Jodie and her mother led the Mayor to a lone chair near the center of the stage. Everyone in attendance over the age of nine were given a metal spoon and instructed to aid in a drum roll using the back of each chair when given the signal. Each child nine and under were given party favors--absolutely anything they could make noise with, and instructed to make as much noise as they possibly could when the curtain was pulled revealing the two cakes he had yet to see.

For the most part everything went off without a hitch. The crowd cheered as Jodie came from behind the curtain hugging her dad.

Microphone in hand, Jodie apologized to him. "Dad I'm sorry for not being around this morning for breakfast. I know you do your best to make time for me then, even when your day is otherwise slam packed. But I am hoping you will forgive me this once," she grinned from ear to ear.

                                                           *    *    *

After a few heart felt words from Jodie's father. Her mother announced "Okay, enough of the chit-chat, who wants cake? For those of you are not interested in cake at the moment, let the festivities begin!" Another cheer broke out from the crowd as they descended on stage or out the doors to the small amusement park set up outside.

The Mayor beamed at his daughter as she told him she had personally designed his cake herself. "That's not all!"  Jodie ran frantically out into the crowd of people, hoping she hadn't somehow missed Tyler's exit. Someone tapped her on the shoulder.

"Would I happen to be the lucky one you are looking for?" Tyler's voice was little more than a whisper in the shuffling crowd of people. Jodie turned, instantly melting into his big brilliant blue eyes, he playfully batted a set of eyelashes no boy had a right to own, but any girl would envy. Jodie grabbed him by the wrist, and led him to where her father now stood on ground level in front of the stage.

"Daddy, I want you to meet, Tyler." she motioned between the two of them. " Tyler this is my Dad, Phillip Dumont, Mayor of Minden."

Tyler held out his arm for a formal handshake. "Tyler." Jodie nudged his shoulder, "Show him the picture." Tyler grabbed at his wallet snatching the picture out of its placement among some other photos he cherished-- holding it up for the man to see.

 Jodie's father stared at the photo for several minutes without a word. He looked into Tyler's face with tears welling in his eyes. "Ty, my boy, how are you!?"  He jolted Tyler into a bear hug. "How's your mom?" he choked out while handing the photo back.

"Oh, she's good. I'm good. She re-married and missed 'home' too much, so here I am, Mr. Mayor."

Phillip's beaming expression sobered. "Ah, I trust that he treats you and your mother well?"

"Yes, Sir he does."

"See that I don't find out any different." there was almost a growl in his voice.

"You won't, Sir, I promise."

Carolyn Carson was the widow of Jacob Turner, Phillip Dumont's life long friend, and companion. Phillip had almost had a stroke the night Jacob had died. He had run sobbing, and screaming into the street clasping into a heap of unconsciousness.--That was close to fifteen years ago. 

The Mayor hugged his daughter and Tyler once again. "Now, you two go have some fun before this old man ropes you into a chain of stories that would take up the rest of the evening. Nice to see you again, Ty. Meet me in my office tomorrow morning, 8:00 sharp. We've got some 'catching up' to do. Oh, and tell your mother I said 'Hello' if I don't see her sometime tonight."

At the door Tyler took Jodie by the hand heading out into the cool evening air, and into the future that lay at their feet.
                                                         ***

The next morning, 7:00 came far to early for Tyler. In an effort to impress, he wasn't sure whether to break out a  three piece suit or go casual, so he decided to go with his best dress shirt and a pair of slacks. He'd at least carry a jacket with him to throw on just in case.

Although he was dressed, his hair wouldn't cooperate, he spent ten minutes looking for his toothbrush, and of all days, his car wouldn't start right away. Making a metal note to get the battery checked, he walked up to the secretary's desk with three minutes to spare, and not a clue as to what the mayor wanted to speak to him about.

His stomach knotted when the secretary told him he could go into the mayor's office. He gathered up his nerve along with his jacket that rested on the arm of the chair next to him.
A full toothy grin spread over the Mayor's face as Tyler entered the room closing the door quietly behind himself.

"Good morning Ty. Have a seat."

"Good morning, Sir." He pulled a chair up to the front of the desk admiring the wood stained oak, and glancing at a picture of Jodie and her mother nestled among paperwork next to his computer.

"Enough with the 'Sir'. The formality is necessary when we are among other people, but here, just you and me, 'Phillip' will suffice."

"Yes, S-- okay" Tyler stumbled over the words, not accustom to being informal to his elders, especially to those he respected.

The mayor angled his leather chair allowing himself to look at Tyler and out at the town through the massive office window when he had the desire to do so.

Cutting into the awkward moment Tyler tried it on for size,"...So, what is it you wanted to talk to me about, Phillip?" Yeah, it will take some getting use to.

Phillip spoke quietly as if the walls in his office had ears, and he was afraid of being overheard. "Ty, you know your father was my best friend. After all these years there are still overwhelming moments when I miss him so much." Tyler sat back in his chair studying the man before him and hanging on his every word.

"It was wonderful to see you last night...so grown up. I hope you can forgive me for not trying to keep in touch with you and Carolyn, at the time it just seemed easier to try to forget, and move on with my own life, for Jodie and Elizabeth." Phillip starred at the floor, elbows on his knees wringing his hand together in slight embarrassment coupled with regret.

"Well, you were like a son to me, back then, and I often wondered how you and your mother were doing. You know, in your dad's will, in agreement with Carolyn, you were entrusted to me should something ever have happened to her. I signed the documents myself. I don't imagine she ever told you that?"

Phillip eyed Tyler for the first time in several minutes. Tyler leaned forward, cocking an eyebrow in interest. "No. She never told me that."

"Well, she probably thought it best to tell you if the time ever presented itself."

A bit of anger welled up in the pit of Tyler's stomach. The anger was evident on his face, his lips tightened as he ground a fist in the arm of his chair. Phillip could hear the snarl in his voice "That's great to know, what if she had been killed in car accident then I would have just been shipped over here, whether I liked it or not!"
Phillip looked sympathetic to the boy's reasoning, "I wish I knew what to tell you, son." The word slipped out of his mouth before he could stop it.

Tyler lost control of his anger at that point. "I'm sorry, Sir but you have no right to call me 'Son', you just finished telling me you purposely left my mom and me out of your life and now you have the nerve to call me son! " He yelled, "I miss my dad too, you know. And if I had thought for one second you and I would have been sitting in your office talking about him and all this...CRAP I never would have tried to find Jodie it the first place."

"Now wait just a minute I didn't mean to...You can't take this out on Jodie, this is between you and me. I didn't tell her about any of this either. It is not fair to her."

"Well, I'm done listening. If Jodie wants to know why I am not around maybe then you will tell her, about the brother she might have had. I don't even understand why you told me all of this. It doesn't even make a difference anymore. I'm eighteen."

This was one of those times Phillip wished he had never given up smoking. He felt sorry for the kid, and thought perhaps he shouldn't have told him anything. At the same time he couldn't help, but feel he had done the right thing. As much as it stung to have Tyler around--he couldn't help but notice how much he resembled Jacob-- he wouldn't have it any other way.

Tyler waved him off, storming out, slamming the door. From Tyler's reaction Phillip hoped in time he could see past this meeting, past the hurt, for the sake of his daughter if nothing else.

to be continued at a later time...

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Does anyone now have a serious craving for strawberry shortcake? Yeah, me too! *shuffles off to the kitchen to see what I can find*