Krisa Chester smiled as she pulled into the bar parking lot. It had been years since she'd been home and being at the bar was bringing back memories. Getting out of the car she walked inside. It didn't look all that different but it wasn't the same either.
It had changed over the years it seemed only things hadn't or rather one person hadn't. Sitting at the bar six foot four, hair short but she could see his amazing eyes and his smile. Was the man she'd secretly loved for years. Cordell Walker, he had married Emily and lost her a year ago. She heard they had two kids, a boy and a girl. Krisa hadn't wanted to see him, but she should have known he was here hanging out with Gerri.
Cordell, Gerri , Emily and Hoyt had been friends for years. Krisa remembered how close the four had been. At one time Cordell had been her best friend. But they'd grown apart. Regretting even stepping foot in the turned to walk out when she heard someone call her name .
"Krisa…Krisa…"
No,no tell me he didn't notice me. Krisa though.
"Hi Cordell"
"Hey,why won't you turn around and say hi to my face"
Because one look in your eyes and I'll never want to leave. Taking a deep breath Krisa turned around to face him.
"Hi Cordell"
"Hey Krisa, been a long time"
"Twenty years."
"What brings you back to town?"
"My dad needed me"
"Oh, wow how is he doing?"
"His alright"
"Good, hey can I buy you a drink?"
"I can't stay I wanted to stop in and see the place"
"Please, we could catch up. It's been a long time Kris"
"Another time Cordell"
"Okay" Cordell smiled as he tried to hug Krisa
"No Cordell , I'll see ya around" Krisa said as she practically ran out of the bar. Getting back out to her car. I never should have come here. Krisa signed as she started the car and pulled away from the bar.
Cordell stood in shock. Krisa Chester was back in town. What a surprise that was to him. It had been twenty years since he'd last laid eyes on her.
"Cordi, was that Krisa Chester who just ran out of here" Gerri asked as she stood next to him.
"Yeah, she's ahh back in town."
"And she just happened to come here?"
"She knows this place, remember. Maybe she wanted to stop in and see it."
"OR maybe she stopped in to see you."
Cordell just laughed at the thought. "Yeah right."
On the drive home Krisa kept beating herself up about running into Cordell. I should have never gone in there. It's Gerri's place of course he'd be there. What did I expect? I'm a total idiot for going in there and not expecting to run into him. I mean seriously Krisa you knew he would be there. Krisa had been beating herself so much till she hadn't realized she was home until she turned into the driveway.
Turning off the car she got out and headed inside the house. Her dad was sitting in the living room in his recliner when she walked in the front. Tommy Chester looked up when he saw his daughter walk through the door. He also noticed the look on her face as well.
"Your back early though you'd be at the two step for at least a few hours"
"Changed my mind," Krisa said as she walked into the kitchen to grab a drink.
"See anyone?"
"I ran into Cordell" Krisa said as she walked back into the living room with her drink and sat on the couch across from her dad.
"Well that's a surprise. Did he say anything to you?"
"He spotted me first"
"And?"
"And we spoke for no more than a minute. He wanted to buy me a drink but I said no. He tried to hug me. I said no and walked away."
"Krisa you should have stayed and talked to him. It's been almost twenty years since you spoke to him and you two were at one time attached at the hip"
"Daddy, you know why I don't want to talk to him. Why I can't talk to him"
Tommy just shook his head at his daughter. He thought for sure after all this time she'd forgotten about what happened. Only the sting of young love never fades. And he knew that his daughter was still in love with Crodell Walker even if she didn't want to admit to it. Cordell and Krisa had been attached at the hip for years until Cordell fell for Emily. When that had happened Krisa had been heart broken and had asked that same summer if she could live with her grandparents in Houston because it was too hard for her to stay in Austin and see Cordell every day. So Tommy had allowed her to move to Houston with her grandparents. Up until a week ago she'd stayed in Houston. Only coming home because he needed her help since his heart attack.
"Krisa, I know you came home because I asked but you don't have to stay long if it's to hard sweetie"
"It's not to hard daddy"
"Baby girl, you ran away from Cordell because you're still in love with the boy".
"Daddy…"
"Krisa.. I see the look in your eyes, baby girl. You're still in love with Cordi and you always have been."
"That was years ago, daddy. He never even knew. He only ever had eyes for Emily."
"Sweetie Emily died over a year ago."
"I know but he was forever in love with her. They had a family together. And I'm not about to go running and declare that I was madly in love with him when we were kids. It's not done Daddy."
"Krisa.."
"No daddy…"
"Alright,alright don't go telling him that. At least talk to him though Krisa. He lives out at the ranch. Why don't you go out and visit. I bet Addy and Bom would love to see you."
"I can't go out there"
"Krisa..now you're just being a child. You can go visit Abby and Bonham. They treated you as if you were they're own daughter. Now I don't care if you don't want to see Cordell or not. But sure as hell should want to see Addy and Bom ". Tommy said to his daughter.
"I can't daddy"
"Krisa.."
"No! I can't be around any of them! I moved to Houston so I wouldn't have to see any of them. Just seeing Cordell tonight has stopped my heart. I can't go out to the ranch and risk running into him again. Only to stand there like an idiot and run away again. I can't do it. Please don't ask me to do that."
Tommy shook his head and took a sip of the beer he'd had sitting on the table beside his chair. The last time they'd had an argument like this about Cordell and the Walkers was the day Krisa was leaving for Houston. He'd done everything he could to get her to at least go and say goodbye to them. Only nothing had worked and it wasn't until she had been showing up at school that Cordell had come over to check on her. Tommy remembered the look of hurt and sadness in Cordell's eyes when he'd told him that Krisa had moved to Houston. It was almost like the boy had lost his world. Course from time to time Cordell would come by a few months anyway. Until he stopped all together. Tommy missed him coming around hell; he was like a son to him. He didn't understand his daughter at all. There was something more than just a broken teenage heart that was going on. Teenage broken hearts heal but for some reason. Krisa was acting like hers never did. Curious if there was Tommy asked his daughter
"Krisa, is there something more that happened between you and Cordell years ago that you can't talk about?"
"No, daddy there is nothing that happened back then for me to talk about."
"Then go out to the ranch tomorrow just while Cordell is at work. He's a ranger now, you know. Go out and visit Abby and Bonham for a while at least do that for me will ya kiddo?"
"Fine daddy if that's what you want I'll go out there tomorrow just for a while"
"It is. Abby and Bonham would be happy to see you. I bet anything they always loved you."
"Alright daddy whatever you think I'm going to bed. Good night daddy" Krisa said as she got up to leave the living room and head upstairs for the night.
"Goodnight Krisa"
Meanwhile Cordell had just gotten from the bar himself when he thought he would stop at his parents' place to let them know who was back in town. He found his mom in the kitchen and his dad sitting at the kitchen table eating a late night snack.
"Momma, Dad" Cordell called as he walked into the house and went straight to the kitchen. Leaving his hat and keys by the door.
"In here Cordi" called Abby from the kitchen. Cordell made his way through the house and reached the kitchen pretty quick. In his haste to tell his parents just who he ran into at the bar.
"Momma you will not believe who is back in town"
"Who?"
"Krisa, she's finally come home"
Abby's face lit up like a Christmas tree while Bonham just chuckled at the mention of the woman's name. Abby and Bonham had always loved Krisa; she was like a daughter compared to their two boys. When she'd moved away Abby had been in shock Bonham had been sure she would come home. When she hadn't it had broken their hearts. So to hear that Krisa was finally home was wonderful news.
"I hope she comes by and sees us. It's been way too long. How'd she look, Cordi?" Abby asked with excitement.
"All grown up. Almost didn't recognize her."
"Did she stay long, did y'all catch up?" Bonham asked as got up to put his plate in the sink.
"She didn't even let me buy her a drink and when I went to try and hug her she told me no and then ran out of the bar. It was like she didn't want to see me at all." Cordell said as he grabbed a beer out of the fridge. "It was weird"
"Maybe it has something to do with why she left. Tommy never did give a clear answer. Just said some boy broke her heart and she had to get out of town" Bonham said as he joined his son in a beer.
"Krisa didn't date daddy, she … oh no do you think it was me? Could I have been the one reason she left?" Cordell wondered.
"Well you two had grown apart Cordi. You barely spoke to her when you and Emily started dating. Then suddenly it was you ,Emily ,Gerri and Hoytt. And it was like you had left Krisa out of the picture." Abby told her son.
"I remember the last time she came out here. She had come looking for you and I told her you were out with Emily, Gerri and Hoytt and that you would be back in about ten minutes. She told me to tell you she was leaving town and that she wouldn't be back for a while and then turned and walked away. After that we never saw her again" Bonham added.
"I remember that day she had wanted to tell me something after school but I blew her off. Dammit, so i'm the reason she left town".
"Cordell I hate to be the one to tell you this son. And it's not easy for me to say but it's something I've known for years and so has your momma. Cordell Krisa left because you broke her heart." Bonham admitted to his son.
"What?!.. How…"
"When you and Emily started dating." Liam added suddenly no one had realized he'd even walked into the house.
"How do you know? Did she tell you?" Cordell asked his baby brother.
"No,Tommy did about two years after she left. I ran into him at the courthouse. He was settling something to help save his farm. And I asked him about Krisa. That's when he told me. That you had broken her heart. Krisa kept a secret locked inside for a long time Cordi and no one knew, not even you. Not even Tommy until she left." Liam told his brother.
"What was that?" Cordell asked fear on his face. If his one time best friend had been hiding something from him even back then it must have been something serious. Because Krisa told him everything. At one time he'd been the only person who got her to talk about her heart and what was in it.
"She was or is in love with you Cordi"
"No." Cordell laughed "No way she was in love with me.. Krisa never thought of me that no"
"She did Cordell, that girl was in love with you for ages. But you broke her heart and she left". Abby told her son.
Cordell felt a strange feeling come over him and he had to sit down. He had been best friends with the girl who had been at his side for years. Had been or was in love with him. He had no idea which. Sitting down on one of the stools Cordell tried to rack his brain on he should have noticed the change in her and then it hit him like a ton of bricks.
"The day after homecoming… she had wanted to hang out just me and her and I blew her off because I wanted to take Emily on a ride. That's why she'd come looking for me… oh my .. … I hurt her. I hurt Krisa.." Cordell told everyone.
"Cordi, you didn't know. She didn't tell you she loved you because you were with Emily. Hang on.." Abby said as she walked into the room and came back about two seconds later. Holding an envelope in her hands.
She passed it to Cordell who looked at it then back to his mother. It was addressed to him and it was dated the day before he married Emily. He was confused and so Abby answered his silent question.
"Krisa mailed that to me the day before you married Emily with a note telling me never to give it to you. Unless something happens to her then you could read it. But I think you should read it now. It'll explain everything"
Cordell got up off the stool hugged his mom, said good night to his brother and dad and left the house.
"So you think she'll come by?" Liam asked suddenly.
"I'm sure Tommy has talked her into it" Bonham answered
"Let's hope so it'll be good to see her again" Abby said.
Cordell couldn't take his eyes off the envelope as he let his feet lead him to his own house. Once inside he sat on the couch and looked at the envelope even closer. August and Stella had gone to bed so he wouldn't have to hide the letter from them. Opening the envelope he took out the letter and began to read it.
Dear Cordell,
If you're reading this then something happened to Me and your momma gave you the note. Or if nothing happens to me then I've moved home and your momma decided you should read this. Either way you got the note.
Cordell laughed at how she started the letter
I figured this might be the best way to tell you about why I left without a goodbye. Cordi we had been friends since childhood and until high school you were the closest person in the world to me. And then you found your happiness with Emily. I wasn't about to come between you two so I'm the one who pulled away. Guess I pulled away too far for you to reach but I had to. I love you Cordell Walker.
I've loved you for years. I just never had the nerve to tell you.
I know you're marrying Emily today and I wanted to wish you both a long and happy marriage. Don't be hurt by this Cordell and don't stop your wedding because of me. I have no right to your heart. I just wanted you to know how I felt.
Have a happy and long life Cordell that's all I've very wanted for you.
See ya around cowboy,
Love
Krisa .
Cordell sat stund as he read the note. So he had been the reason she left but she was the reason they'd grown apart. She chose to let him be happy with Emily rather than be selfish and try to stop it. That was Krisa though. She always wanted everyone else happy even if it cost her her own happiness.
Laying the letter aside he took out his cell phone and dialed a number he hadn't in a long time. The person answered on the second ring.
"Hey Tommy, it Cordell I got a letter that Krisa wrote to me.. is it true…"
On the other end of the line Tommy Chester chuckled.
"It's true she loves you Cordell. That's why I brought her home."
"Does she know?"
"No I haven't told her but I will once she settles. She is coming out to the ranch tomorrow. So don't be home"
"She doesn't want to see me does she?"
"She's not ready Cordell, but soon she will be"
"I hope so"
"Cordell one more thing and I shouldn't be telling you this but I think you should know."
"What's that?"
"If your gonna win her back you better do it fast"
"What do you mean?"
"She's getting married in six weeks, Cordell. And then she'll never come back home".
Cordell felt his heart stop as he hung up the phone. Six weeks he had six weeks left to win back his old friend..that was it. Cordell then made up his mind that if that was all the time he had then he'd spend every last second he could to win her back and maybe even figure it out if he could restore they're friendship.
