Day of Regret

by hearthandhomeauthor

Trent Malloy once assured Jake Lyons that the day they fight would be a day Lyons would soon regret. When a fun afternoon with his closest friends turns threatening, Trent must draw from his first encounters with Lyons as he prepares to come to terms with the villainous karate teacher. Katheryn and Molly encounter a young girl's struggles. / Legacy of Thunder series (no. 6)

2. Part 2

"Day of Regret" PART TWO

One of C.D.'s small square center tables was occupied by Trent, Carlos, and Katheryn two days later, following the challenge that had been put forward to Malloy by Lyons in such a blatant fashion. Trent could still picture the arrogance steaming from his enemy as he sat there in C.D.'s, staring at his drink, toying with the handle of the mug as lively country tunes filled the air and the gap of silence among the three friends.

Carlos also found solace in the silence as he recalled the event.

Katheryn too sat unmoved, her eyes focused on the salt and pepper shakers as she wondered which of them would be the first to speak up. With arms crossed at her chest, she turned her head to her left and then her right…and then her left again…trying to read the thoughts of the guys before her. She sighed, landing her gaze on Trent. "I'm sorry, Trent."

Trent attempted a smile. "For what?"

Katheryn's upper lip curled towards her nose as she spoke. "I shouldn't have spoken out like I did yesterday." She sighed sharply once more. "God knows how worse I may have made things for you."

"Nonsense," Trent offered, finally gripping the handle of the cup and taking a sip of the steaming liquid before him and returning the mug to the table. "Jake Lyons is who is…no matter what you or anyone else could say."

"Still…I feel kind of bad about it."

"I was kind of proud of you," Carlos interjected, drawing Katheryn's gaze toward him.

Katheryn glared at him. "Oh?"

Carlos nodded. "That was a heck of speech, Kath. You sure did put him in his place."

Katheryn sighed, unconvinced that she had helped anyone. "Still…What if Jake Lyons causes more trouble than it was worth?"

Trent drew her eyes back to him as he laid a hand on her shoulder. "Kath…Don't ever be ashamed for speaking up. I wish more people had the guts. You do. And I'm glad of that." He ended with a smile on that final note.

Katheryn finally smiled, convinced somewhat that Trent was right. "I suppose. I just couldn't live with myself if something I said or did caused you guys harm."

"I know." Trent nodded, drawing his hand back to cradle his coffee. "And for that we are grateful." He glanced up at Carlos in anticipation of the detective's approval of his statement.

Carlos received it heartily with a broad smile and nodded affectionately towards Katheryn.

A bit of breeze could be heard from the entrance to the little restaurant as street noise mingled with the lively music before ceasing quickly upon the door's quick close. The door opened again. Several patrons filed in and out passed the young woman who had just entered and remained confused, glancing at the bar and then the dining area as she seemed to be looking for something in particular.

Carlos shifted his gaze, nodding towards the young woman as he lightly tapped the table to get Trent and Katheryn's attention. Trent turned to see the befuddled girl and watched her a moment. She still stood near the entrance in danger of colliding with someone else who was leaving. She huddled by the window and toyed with the strap of the little purse she held, glancing over the place continually.

Trent stood soon after and crossed the short distance to the young woman. "Are you alright, Miss?"

The cautious young woman glared at Trent with deep apprehension glazing over her eyes. "I—I'm okay. I—I'm just meeting someone here."

Trent offered a smile, waving a hand towards the table that he occupied with Carlos and Katheryn. "If you'd like, you're more than welcome to join my friends and I while you wait."

The young girl eyed Carlos and Katheryn from a distance. They seemed trustworthy enough, she thought to herself, directing her attention back to Trent. "I—I guess that would be alright."

"Great. I'll introduce you." Trent led the way to the table, the young woman cautiously following from behind while her eyes scanned left and right as she walked. "Kath…Carlos…Would it be okay if this young lady joins us while she waits on someone?"

Carlos grinned and stood swiftly, pulling out the vacant chair for the girl. "Absolutely!"

Katheryn stood and offered a handshake. "My name is Katheryn. What's yours?"

The shy girl accepted the hand offered from across the table as she sat down. "Bree Anna…Bree Anna Hutchinson."

Katheryn reclaimed her seat with a smile. "That's a pretty name, Bree Anna. Very lovely indeed. Who are you meeting?"

Bree Anna's eyes surveyed the nice folks before her. "Um…my mom. I think. She didn't say when she'd come. Just said to meet her at C.D.'s Bar and Grill."

"Well, you're at the right place," Carlos grinned yet again.

"Good." Bree Anna returned flatly, her smile far from the surface and her eyes shifting towards the door as she propped her chin on her fist while her elbow rested on the table.

Trent, Carlos, and Katheryn each exchanged wary glances as silence fell among the table yet again. None knew quite what the girl was up to…or why she seemed so…distant.

Katheryn couldn't stand the tension but held her tongue, concluding that the girl would speak when she was good and ready to.

The young girl's eyes suddenly widened, her chin coming off of her fist with one swift movement as a smile crept on to her sullen face. She kept her eyes fastened upon C.D.'s welcoming doorway as Trent and Carlos both turned to view what had caused such a jovial reaction in the young lady. Katheryn glanced to and from Carlos and Trent, hoping they would hint as to what was going on so that she wouldn't have to turn around so foolishly. Yet her curiosity nearly got the better of her, almost causing her to twist in her seat and land her own eyes upon the scene. Yet she fought the urge successfully.

"Momma!" Bree Anna called out as a middle-aged woman clad with her purse held securely to her shoulder against her business-like attire and her flowing brown locks approached the table with an undetectable laugh gracing her voice as she smiled and moved to embrace her daughter.

"Oh, honey I've missed you so much." The woman pressed Bree Anna's cheek to her shoulder with her hand softly upon the girl's head. She held her tightly, not wanting to let go as she willed away a tear. The woman reluctantly drew the girl away from her and looked into her eyes. "It's so good to see you. Where's your father?"

Bree Anna nearly rolled her eyes. "He dropped me off here and left for some errand."

The woman hung her head and sighed, raising it upwards with a sarcastic laugh edging her quiet voice. "That no-good, rotten…."

"Donna?" Katheryn had suddenly gotten a clear look at the woman's face and could swear it was her. "Is that you?"

The woman turned, facing Katheryn as if trying to determine the voice's identity that drew her out of the pain and anger that had preoccupied her for a moment. She slowly smiled. "Katheryn?"

Katheryn quickly rose from her spot, abandoning the falling chair beneath her as she moved to give "Donna" a quick embrace. A chuckle soon followed. "So you finally decided to take me up on that offer, huh?"

Donna drew away from the embrace with a smile still gracing her lips. "I suppose so. Seemed like the right thing to do."

Katheryn turned to Trent and Carlos, knowing they were clueless. "Um, Trent. Carlos. This is Donna Hutchinson. We briefly met at a writer's conference a couple of years ago and stayed in contact since then." She glanced at Donna. "I've been trying to convince her that she should come work for Miss Cahill at the H.O.P.E. center with her experience as a teacher and charity board member back in Tennessee. Looks like she finally decided to come." Her forehead wrinkled. "Donna, I didn't know your husband and daughter already lived here."

"Yeah." Donna nodded with displeasure. "My husband and I got a divorce last year. He moved here, taking Bree Anna with him without full custody. I'm hoping once I can get settled at the H.O.P.E. center that I'll be able to claim official custody and not have to worry about Brian anymore."

Katheryn offered her friend a smile. "Well, I pray nothing but the best for you."

"Thank you," Donna replied with affection, her lips pursed together as she willed away joyful tears this time.

Trent nodded towards the women. "What brings you by C.D.'s today, Donna? I'm guessing it's not the food."

The little group issued a light chuckle at Trent's humor.

"Actually I've already been here once this past Saturday with Miss Cahill when she wanted to interview me."

"And a good thing!" Katheryn sighed. "The renovations going on at the center has been a little crazy lately."

"I told Bree Anna to ask Brian to drop her off here after school." Donna continued. "It was the only way I could see her I'm afraid. Besides, Miss Cahill wanted to give me her answer of whether or not she was hiring me today. She said to meet her here." Her eyes shifted to her daughter who returned the gaze as Donna gently stroked her light brown hair that gathered by her temple.

Miss Cahill's familiar step sounded in the entryway, garnering all their attention.

"There she is now." Carlos grinned. "Hi, Alex."

Alex returned the detectives smile. "Hello, Carlos. Trent. Katheryn." She raised her eyes to Donna. "Donna…"

Miss Cahill slowed her step, approaching Donna as Katheryn stepped aside to make way.

"Welcome aboard," Miss Cahill released with another grin and extended her hand towards the now teary-eyed woman.

Donna took hold of Alex's hand and gave it three firm shakes before glancing at her daughter with a tear streaking her face. "Thank you so much, Miss Cahill. You don't know what this means to me. You truly don't."

Miss Cahill's smile of satisfaction graced her demeanor well. Her eyes sparkled at having been a small part of bringing this little family a small ounce of joy back into their lives. "Can you start first thing in the morning?"

"Absolutely!"

"Great!" She turned to Katheryn. "Would you mind taking Donna over to the center and getting her settled in this afternoon. There's a spare room she could take to get out of her hotel room while she looks for a more permanent place."

Katheryn nodded and put a foot forward, ready to be on her way. "I'd love to. And I'm sure Bree Anna would love a little tour. What do you say?" She focused her joyous eyes on the young girl who answered her question with a brisk nod and soft smile. "Then it's settled." She turned to Trent. "Can you come with us? There's something I'd like to run by you."

"Sure." Trent nodded, standing to his feet at the same time as Carlos who gazed at his watch. Trent turned to Carlos. "Duty calls?"

"Yup!" Carlos grunted a bit as he stretched. He nodded towards Katheryn. "I'll see you guys later." He waved a hand, moving away and towards the entrance of C.D.'s to return to work.

Miss Cahill briefly notice the glint of longing in Katheryn's eyes as the young woman watched Carlos leave. Alex smiled and returned her attention back to the group before her. "You all have fun." She slowly moved passed the foursome and set her handbag on a barstool nearby.

Trent stepped aside, indicating for the ladies to leave ahead of him. "I'll keep a fast eye on them all."

Alex grinned approvingly and leaned against the bar, her arms crossed one over the other as she watched the group leave. She slowly lifted a hand and waved as they crossed the threshold to the comfy spring weather outside. Returning her attention to her now lonesome state, she glanced at her watch. She had promised to meet with Alice Rialto who had received some very devastating news just yesterday…hours after Alex had offered the H.O.P.E. center to host a grand party for Alice's son Andy's return home after years of being away in the trucking business. After a brief moment, Alex sighed, gathering up her purse and willing her steps back out of C.D.'s. She knew Alice would be grieving. Losing a son was hard. And Alex wasn't sure if she could offer the support the woman needed…since evidence had suggested the young man had been dealing in drugs just prior to his death.

Shaking her head, Alex pressed on, pushing her way out of the little bar as a swift breeze blew at her shoulder-length locks. She has a hard task of ahead of her…telling Alice what had been found out about her son…before she could ever think of returning here later on to join Walker and Trivette for a casual evening meal.

##

Katheryn walked alongside Donna up the narrow sidewalk affront the H.O.P.E. center, a smile edging her lips as the two ladies turned up and towards the sidewalk that led to the front entrance of the center. Bree Anna was not far behind and turned also a short second later as the sound of Trent's roaring Stingray pulled up alongside the street next her.

The noise seemed to disturb the young girl as she sped up ever so softly, nearing her mother with a hastened need.

Trent silently questioned the little scene as he tore away his sunglasses from his eyes and tossed them onto the seat next to him, stepping up and out of the car with ease as he made his way behind the little group.

Katheryn skipped a step jovially as she made her way up the veranda steps and opened the center's door for Donna who gladly accepted the invitation and eased into the cool building with Bree Anna heeling her from behind.

"I can't quite get over how much this place does for the city. It's definitely been a God-send." Trent also skipped a few steps as he landed on the veranda near Katheryn.

Katheryn rounded the door to enter herself, returning Trent's statement with a smile. "Indeed!"

"Oh, look at this place!" They could hear Donna's voice from the room to the immediate right as they entered.

Katheryn's beaming smile approval could be shadowed by nothing.

Donna scurried from one room to another…maturely of course…inspecting every element of this place she had come to Dallas to work in. She soon returned back to the first room where Katheryn and Trent remained waiting, glancing upwards towards Kath. "And what's this room being used for?"

A sly smile passed over Katheryn's jovial demeanor. "Well, Miss Cahill was using it as part of the daycare but is using another whole space for that now. She asked Josie and me to put our heads together and come up with a great use for this room." She rolled her eyes softly towards Trent, still grinning at the prospect rolling around in her mind.

Trent caught wind of the young woman's mischief, grinning slightly himself as she noticed her facial expression. "And that's why you asked me to come, right?"

"Yep!" Katheryn was quick to answer.

Donna shifted her eyes from one to the other as she tried to think of what could be the whole secret here. "What? What was your idea?"

Katheryn's smile softened. "Well, I was thinking, Trent, that you could utilize this room to perhaps hold some self-defense classes for some of the ladies we have coming through here." She turned somber, remembering a few of the recent women they had helped escape from near trouble. Had they had even meager defense skills, they may have not been hurt as much. At least that was the hope the women of the H.O.P.E. center held on to. "They could really use it, Trent."

Trent thought through the prospect for a moment and nodded. "That's a good idea."

"So you'll do it?"

"You bet."

Katheryn embraced Trent swiftly, garnering a few giggles from the three children who had wandered away from the daycare area and had found their way to the threesome there.

Donna also stifled a near-chuckle as she moved forward, waving her hands in front of her. "Come on, kids. Let's get you back to where you need to be."

Katheryn shrank back from the sisterly hug as she realized what had happened. "Sorry," she offered in a raspy sort of whisper.

"No need." Trent stifled a growing smile before stepping further into the open room, glancing at every inch of the room with his hands resting inside the edge of his front jeans' pockets. He pictured in his mind the equipment that would be needed. In his mind he saw the confidence of scared you ladies who feared some outside force growing to exceed their distance from happiness. It would work, he whispered only to himself. It would work. And it would make a world of difference for anyone who would ever enter the H.O.P.E. center.

Bree Anna slowly tiptoed into the room after completing a little tour of her own. "Nice place."

Katheryn spun on her heel to face the young woman. "Thank you, Bree Anna. Is there any part that's your favorite?"

Bree Anna's eyes scanned the floor below as she pondered the question, raising her head a moment later. "No, ma'am. I love every part." She ended with a smile…the first of which Katheryn had witnessed since meeting the girl earlier this afternoon.

Josie then entered the room in a flustered state, passing by Bree Anna with a forced smile, a sharp sigh, and a rather used kitchen towel gracing her shoulder while she wiped at her brow with another. "Oh, my Lord, you would not believe the mess those children make."

Katheryn chuckled. "That bad, huh?"

Josie joined in her laugh. "Donna is a God-send for sure! I left the room for just a moment and felt she had it all under hand."

"That's good," Katheryn smiled, waving a hand towards Bree Anna. "Bree Anna, I'd like you to meet Josie Martin who helps run this place with Miss Cahill."

Bree Anne extended her hand. "Pleasure to meet you, Miss Martin."

"Oh, call me Josie." Josie grinned, shaking the girl's hand three times with confidence in every shake that the young girl returned.

Trent laid his hand on Katheryn's shoulder. "Well, if you three ladies would excuse me, I've got a karate class to teach within the hour."

"Alright," Katheryn waved as Trent aimed for the door, his steps taking him rather swiftly back to his Stingray only to be stopped by a voice from behind as he heard a click and a soft shove of an object in his lower spine.

"Don't say a word," the voice warned.

"What do you want?" Trent still faced forward. His hands relaxed but ready for whatever was to come.

"Simple. You come with me…no one will get hurt."

"And if I say no?"

"Then I have a little barbeque courtesy of this nice establishment in front of you."

"Hmm…Attempted murder and arson. Nice."

The object was shoved a bit harder into Trent's back. "Shut up. Now move."

"Papa?" A shaky voice eased from the veranda and neared the sports car.

Trent sternly looked towards the girl with growing concern. "Bree Anna, get back inside!"

The girl didn't seem to mind Trent's harsh tone and did as told, nearly appearing sacred to death with only one look at the man behind Trent as she turned and scurried back into the building.

Trent took the distraction as an opportunity and spun on his heel, lunging forward and around to secure his hand on the gun. He brought the man's wrist within his grip and twisted it downward, sending the culprit helpless to the ground before doubling back into fighting stance, his guard held high in front of him in case that had not quite done the job.

The man who was close to Trent's own size and build tried to get back up but doubled forward easily, apparently not very skilled in the fighting arts as he groaned and cradled his hand against the asphalt pavement.

Katheryn and Josie quickly rushed from the center and surrounded Trent.

"Are you okay?" Katheryn looked towards him as he moved out of fighting position.

Trent picked up the revolver and swiftly flipped it open, tipping the rounds out of it and into his other hand. "Yeah. I'm alright. C'mon, get up," Trent tugged at the man's collar, giving him a start to his necessary leave.

Trent shoved the useless gun into the man's hand and gave him a small push from behind towards a nearby car he assumed belong to the man. "Get out of here."

"Who is he, Trent?" Josie rubbed at her arms amid the spring coolness.

"I don't know," Trent focused on the man's gruff expression as he glared at Trent threateningly shutting his car door on himself as a sped away from the scene. Trent then turned his focus to the steps of H.O.P.E. center, somehow sensing Bree Anna was not too far away. "But Bree Anna called him papa."

"Really?" Katheryn cringed at the thought of such a man being a father to such nice little girl. "Then Donna was right…He's a piece of work."

"I'll say…" Trent sighed, still cradling the handful of bullets from the revolver he had emptied. "And I have this feeling we haven't seen the last of him either."

Katheryn's gaze passed over Trent and landed on Bree Anna who now occupied the porch almost scared to leave it, it seemed. Silently, she hoped she could help the girl in any way she could. For there was indeed more to this family than Katheryn had assumed in the first place.