~Chapter Six~

Leah awoke in the unfamiliar bedroom, the sun high in the sky, and it took a few moments to put together where she was. Once she'd fallen to sleep around mid-night the toll of her two day-drive coupled with the shocking news of her mother's passing, she'd been utterly exhausted.

She heard voices downstairs. She glanced at the clock on the wall. It was almost noon. She got up, rummaging through her handbag, finding and then running a brush through her hair. As soon as she deemed herself presentable Leah descended the stairs to the kitchen of the Aimes home, Hank and Alice had been adamant that she not spend what little money she had left on a hotel room when they had an empty bed upstairs.

A blonde woman sat at the table talking with Alice. Leah didn't have to ask, she'd recognize Josey Aimes' shoulders anywhere. She caught the tail end of the conversation.

"…but Mama, he just sits in that house day after day. Even Sammy is worried about him. Karen keeps asking me why "Uncle" Kyle doesn't go to church anymore."

"Who is Kyle?" Leah asked, after clearing her throat.

The answer never came as Josey, squealing with delight as she turned, engulfed Leah in an Aimes bear hug. "I can't believe that you're here. How long has it been six, maybe seven years?"

Leah laughed back, "Closer to seven, I think, you had just married Wayne and the two of you were taking Sammy and moving south. You're mom told me about the divorce. Sorry to hear it didn't work out."

"The son of a bitch beat me." Josey simply ignored her mother's gasp at her use of profanity and continued. "I couldn't stay there and let my kids see that, so I threw some stuff in the back of the truck, shoved the kids in and here we are."

Leah's face fell and Josey was instantly concerned, What had she said? "Leah, you okay?"

"That's why I came home, my boyfriend wasn't any prize either. The last beating put me in the hospital for three days. As soon as I got up the money, I came back home."

She met Josey's gaze and realized she could confide all in Josey and Alice, Hank was gone for a while. She let it all spill out, fresh tears over her losses streaming down her cheeks. Words one wouldn't have even expected Alice Aimes to have ever heard of, slipped from her mouth when Leah got to the part about her miscarriage.

Even gentle Alice was furious enough to perpetrate violence on Jake. She embraced Leah again, her eyes welling up with tears. "You poor thing, and that poor baby!"

Josey was stunned as well, hell—it made Wayne's abuse look like a walk in the park. She was about to ask Leah another question when the phone rang. Alice answered but it was for Josey. It was Kyle.

Leah and Alice made no effort whatsoever to hide the fact they were eavesdropping on the phone call. Josey listened attentively, sticking her tongue out at Leah as she kept her answers to yes and no or minimal word-age so as not let them know what was going on. By the time the call was over Josey couldn't contain her smile.

"Thanks Kyle, you're really doing the right thing. I'll get a hold of the girls. Yeah I'll get a hold of Bill in a bit. Of course we'll both be there."

Leah's curiosity surfaced, demanding, "Okay Josey, who is this Kyle, and who is Bill?"

"Bill White is my boyfriend, he's a lawyer. Kyle Dodge. He was Glory's husband."

"Was?" Leah asked. "What happened, did they split up?"

"Leah, Glory died a few months back. She had ALS, you know, Lou Gehrig's disease."

"Oh my God, but she was so young." Damn it, would the blows never stop coming? She and Glory had been in high school together. Tears were in Leah's eyes again, and she made no effort to fight the sniffles, her eyes were going to stay red-rimmed for ages.

"Yeah, today is her birthday, I was over to Kyle's ear-lier today and he was having a tough time of it."

"He must have really loved her."

"Leah you don't know the half of it. I've never seen a couple like those two; they were something really special together. The way he took care of her, he never asked for help, he did it all, the only assistance he allowed at the end was the home care nurses who checked on her daily."

Josie sighed, then continued, "He was alone with her at home at the end. She died in his arms. Even at the end, they were so in love, there were times in a room full of people you could look at them and know that as far as they were concerned there was no one else in the room. Kyle is amazing, he got through to Sammy when I was suing the mine for sexual harassment."

"That was you? I remember something about some big class action suit, but given what was going on in my life I didn't pay any attention to names or anything. You still working up there?"

"Yes, and I'm still working the job they hired me for and now I'm a Union rep, I took over Glory's place there, but I'm hoping to get Kyle to take it on. He's not getting over Glory's death very well. He needs to get his ass out of that damn house. If not for his back, he could go back to the mine. He hasn't had to work a regular job, he has his disability check because he got hurt on the job. He's just not coping with any of it, and staying inside like that isn't going to help him."

"Okay, that covers Kyle and Glory," Leah swiped her fingers across her wet cheeks, and took a steadying breath, then forced a smile. "Now about this Bill of yours."

Josey literally beamed, and began to gush about Bill, "He was my attorney, and he's an ex-hockey star, he and Kyle have been buddies since they were kids. Had to twist his arm to take my case, but together we beat the system and the mine and now we're together."

"What does Sammy think of him, and how old is that boy now anyway?"

"He's fourteen going on forty, he has quite a mouth on him, but since the court case we have this new understanding. First off though, Sammy thinks the world of Kyle, he got through to Sammy about things he didn't want to hear about from me. And with Bill, well it's like he went from Wayne's glaring indifference to having two good, reputable father figures.

At the very least he has examples of what a real man is. Bill is currently assistant coaching Sammy's hockey team, and well Karen just eats up the attention, Bill and Kyle both treat her like this little princess. That's why Karen worries so much about Kyle. The little thing even worries about Wayne. She keeps asking if her Daddy's sad because he's all alone now."

The last thing the two women wanted was to discuss the male scumbags who beat on them so after a moment or so of awkward silence Leah abruptly changed the subject. "Okay now back to the phone call, what exactly is Kyle up to that put such a smile on your face."

"He and I had it out this morning, and I told how disappointed Glory would be in him and ask him what would she want him to do for her birthday. He just called to tell me what he'd decided…"

"And that would be…?" Leah pressed for more.

"Drinks down at the bar, you know a get together for all her friends, he said the drinks would be on Glory. You were friends with Glory, I know Kyle wouldn't object if you came along."

"I don't know Josey, I still have to face my Dad, and I need to go to the cemetery, it's time I said my goodbye to Mama."

"I understand, you do what you need to today, but the invitation is open."

There was tap at the back door, and a voice called out, "Anybody in there?" It was Bill.

"Come on in, honey," Josey called out, a smile brightening her face, her sparkling eyes resting on Leah's face. "I have someone I'd like you to meet."

Bill stepped into the kitchen, having eyes for only Josey as he reached for her, pulling her close into a deep kiss. It last for several moments, until Alice began to make throat clearing noises. Hesitantly, he released Josey, nodding a greeting at Alice, turning his gaze to Leah, extending his right hand. "Bill White, pleased to make your acquaintance."

Leah clasped his outstretched hand, "Leah Petersen, same here, Josey was just telling me about you."

Bill cast a look of fake worry at his lover, "All good, I hope…"

"I told her you were an attorney."

"Oh god, now you've done it, I sure she thinks I'm a bottom feeder like most lawyers." His arms went back around Josey's waist hugging her from behind.

"Not at all, not with the smile she has on her face while talking about you."

Alice interrupted, "Leah honey, your Daddy just pulled into the drive."

Leah swallowed, time to face the inevitable. "Bill, Nice to meet you, but I have personal business to attend to." She turned and hugged Alice, "Thanks for last night, Mrs. Aimes, if it's no imposition can I just come back and collect my things later?"

"That'll be just fine, sweetie, and if things don't work out over there, you're welcome right here until you can find you a place to live. I'm sure Josey has no objections to you using her room."

Josey reached out to squeeze Leah's hand reassuringly, "And don't forget you're invited tonight."

"I won't make any promises Josey, but I'll try." Leah stepped out into the cool air and headed across the yard.

~*~*~*~