Chapter Five
Kinsey fled the attorney's office like it was on fire. AJ chased after her, calling her name as she rushed down the sidewalk. The third time he called her name, Kinsey finally stopped and then slowly turned around. Her eyes locked with AJ's. They were both silent, but AJ could see it in her eyes. She wanted to talk to him, she needed to tell him something, but she was fighting it.
"I didn't realize you were married," AJ started, hoping it wouldn't scare her away. He needed to tread carefully. "I'm glad."
Kinsey forced a smile and nodded slowly. "17 years."
That wasn't very long after he had left. A sadness filled his heart and his stomach churned. She continued on with her life, but he should have expected that. Kinsey had such big dreams and plans to her life. At one time, AJ had hoped to be apart of it, but that all faded away when he left her.
"Do you have any kids?"
Kinsey brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, while cradling Jack's ashes in her other arm. "Yes, two."
AJ smiled. "That's great, Kins."
"AJ," Kinsey sighed. "Let's not do this. We should keep this professional. We aren't friends, we are just two people who lost someone and are fulfilling his last wishes."
"Yeah, no, you're right." AJ shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans. "So how would you like to do this?"
"How about you go to his place today and get whatever you want and then I will go tomorrow morning and after lunch we can meet at his place in Woodbine?"
AJ wanted to spend more time with her, but he knew that pushing the matter wouldn't help. "Okay, that sounds good. I was planning on cleaning up his place before I left town. The garden and barn are a mess and I didn't-"
"Want to leave it like that?" Kinsey finished with a small smile. "That's just like you."
AJ lit up. She was actually making a bit of a conversation with him. It was nice. "Are you sure you don't want to grab a coffee?"
Kinsey looked like she was considering the idea, but then she shook her head and cleared her throat. "I better not. I'll see you tomorrow, AJ." She walked off without giving him even a second to reply.
When Kinsey was across the street, AJ shook his head. "I'm so sorry, Kinsey."
He hated what he did, how he just left her without a single word. Now that he'd come back, the cold shoulder was truly all her deserved. Kinsey had been so good to him, so kind when they were teenagers. He owed her a great deal, she saved him in more ways than he thought he needed.
-#-
-Twenty-One Years Ago-
AJ left his home not long after his father and uncle had passed out. He wandered a few miles down the road and found a nice garden with some outdoor furniture. It wasn't the most comfortable thing to sleep on, but he really had nowhere else to go. He used his backpack as a pillow and dozed off in the midsummer Georgia heat.
Something poked AJ in the ribs. He groaned and swatted at it, not ready to wake just yet. The object poked him harder this time. Opening his eyes, AJ jumped at the sight of a pretty young girl with a Louisville Slugger ready to swing at his head. He scrambled back and fell from the lawn furniture.
"Wait! Wait!" AJ begged as she glared at him.
"Who are you? And what are you doing in Mr. Henderson's garden?" She didn't lower her weapon.
"My name's AJ," he explained, holding his hands up in surrender. "I needed a place to sleep is all. I'll be on my way, if you could just put that down."
There was a fire in her eyes like she were saying 'like hell I'm putting it down'. She had a crease in between her brows and a snarl on her glossy lips. While it probably wasn't the best thought to have, AJ thought she was absolutely stunning. Her hair was in soft waves, her skin was flawless, and her figure was slender and soft. He recognized her, she went to his school and they were in the same grade. They shared no classes or friends, but he remembered seeing her multiple times around campus.
"AJ...you're the wide receiver, aren't you?" She lowered the bat and placed a hand on her hip.
He nodded. "Yeah, that's me."
"So why are you in Mr. Henderson's garden?"
"I could ask you the same thing," AJ replied with a smirk. "Friendly neighborhood watch?"
"Well, I asked first." She narrowed her eyes. "You look like you were in a fight."
AJ sighed. It wouldn't be the first bruise or busted lip he'd ever received from his father. He didn't want to tell her the truth, so he made up a lie. "Yeah, me and the guys got into it. No big deal."
"Maybe you should say that after you look in the mirror." She shook her head and then smiled weakly. "I'm Kinsey Malloy."
"Nice to meet you," AJ said with a single nod.
The sound of a squeaking wheel caught both their attention. Coming down the garden trail with a worn red wheelbarrow was Jack Henderson. He was in faded denim overalls, a tattered up straw hat, and had leathery wrinkled skin. When his eyes fell upon the two of them, Jack raised a bushy eyebrow and put his wheelbarrow down. Jutting from his pockets were dirty garden gloves and a red handkerchief.
"Keeping the pests at bay, Miss Kinsey?" Jack asked with a chuckle.
"Good morning, Mr. Henderson." Kinsey smiled brightly. She had a wonderful smile, one with a lot of heart and shine. "AJ here slept in your garden all night, I was just about to tell him he needs to pay his dues."
AJ furrowed his brows. "Pay my dues?"
"You can't just sleep on someone else's property without permission, or some sort of payment. Don't you have any manners?" Kinsey pointed the bat at AJ again, causing him to sheepishly step just out of her reach. "There's plenty of work to be done."
"You're Frank Styles boy, ain't ya?" Jack asked, eyeing AJ curiously.
"Yes, sir I am."
"I'm sorry."
AJ titled his head. "I am, sir."
"No, I heard you." Jack waved it off and grabbed his wheelbarrow handles. "I'm just sorry."
Most people didn't react like that, in fact, they usually remained silent. It was the typical response to recieve when people found out you were the son of a drunk, drug selling, gun-toting, asshole like Frank Styles. AJ had become used to the sympathetic stares and head bobs. He got them all the time.
"If you help out for the morning, I'll see that you have a plate ready for lunch." Jack continued on to the back of the garden.
"Thank you," AJ said, but Jack didn't say anything, nor did he look back. He heard Kinsey clear her throat in a dramatic way and turned to face her. "How can I help?"
"How much do you know about beekeeping?" Kinsey beamed.
-#-
-Present Day-
Kinsey sat on the tree swing in the backyard, something she and Nathan had put together for Lauren's fifth birthday. Her bare feet were planted on the plush green grass. Her hands traced her name on the envelope, containing the letter from Jack. It was probably a message from beyond the grave. She closed her eyes and shook her head before flipping the envelope over to open it.
In Jack's cursive writing the letter read:
My dear Kinsey,
The first time we met was at the Market Days in downtown. You were the first person I had spoken to in three months after my wife had passed away. You taught me how to breathe again and for that I will always be grateful. A lot of years have passed since that day we met. You were the one who brought AJ into our lives, and though you may not realize it you saved his life too.
Kinsey, you have suffered a lot over the years. And I hate that we drifted apart after you left Kingsland, but you brought back two very beautiful children. You allowed me to be a grandfather when I thought I'd never have the chance. After the accident, you were stronger than anyone I ever met. You have been holding yourself together with tape and glue. But you don't have to do that.
I know you are still hurt after AJ left, but he was and will always be your first love. Those wounds have never healed, Kinsey, even to this very day those scars run very deep. Words cannot express how sorry I am for the way things have turned out with him, with your family, and with your children. Tape and glue won't be good enough, Kinsey.
If you are reading this, I've already died and my last wish for you is to find the good in your life again. I want you to be happy, and you deserve to be happy. Live the life you want, Kinsey. You don't have to pretend anymore. Don't let your hurt and anger at AJ keep you away from the life that you were meant to have.
All my love,
Jack
Kinsey's tears dropped onto the page, smearing the black ink. She cleared her throat and then quickly wiped away her tears. After Ethan's accident, she stopped talking to Jack. She blamed him for what happened to Ethan, even though he had absolutely nothing to do with it. They were going to his house when it happened. It happened right in front of her. Ethan was tossing a baseball up in the air. He loved going to play with Jack, it was his favorite thing to do.
Kinsey folded up the letter. She stared up at the tree branches and soaked up the evening sunlight. Jack was right, tape and glue wouldn't be enough. It hadn't been for many years now. After Ethan died everything else in her life seemed to slowly die as well.