I changed the title of this story. Thank you all for reading, from here out the chapters will be shorter. :)
Chapter 3- Arizona
The days past slowly by, I kept myself busy around the property, there was a lot still to clean from the storm. Although the tornado went just north of our property, we still had a lot of trees down. Alex and I spent the better part of two days cleaning up everything. Now we had a big wood pile that we had to either burn or take to the compost place. Callie wasn't ever far from my mind. I wondered if I'd ever see her again, or if it were a chance meeting. I had found the clothes of mine she wore, folded neatly on the bed. Which is where I had left them, I just didn't have it in me to wash them, or even move them for that matter. "dude" Alex says, we were out back fixing a fence, I had just swung the hammer and almost hit him in the face with it. "sorry" I mutter.
"where's your head at?" he asks,
"I'm sorry" I let out a deep sigh, I hear him sigh and he takes the hammer from me, tossing it onto the trailer. "sit" he says pointing to the trailer.
"we have to get this done"
"I know, but with your head not in it, I'm worried one or both of us is gonna get hurt" I nod and take a seat. He reaches into the cooler and pulls out a can of coke, handing it to me "thanks" it was another hot day, the cold can feels nice in my hand. Opening it I take a long drink, almost finishing the can. "tell me what's in your head" Alex says sitting down next to me.
"I can't get her out of it" I say staring off into the distance
"I noticed"
"I've never felt this way before Alex, I'm sorry"
"hey" he says his hand was on my arm "you don't have to be sorry, Pop and I miss her too" I chuckle at that dad never missed anyone, except maybe my mom. "have you tried calling her?"
"I don't have her number"
"finding her on Facebook?" I shake my head and finish my drink "what good would it do anyway?"
"maybe you'd get some closure"
"I don't need closure, what I need is to get this fucking fence fixed" I toss my now empty can into the bed of the truck, this truck was even older than the one the tree fell on, but this one was only used for around the property.
"hey guys" the walkie talkies we use when we're out came to life
"what's up Pop" Alex says into it
"I need one of you to run into town, just got a call saying the new fencing we ordered is in"
"alright, we're almost done here then we'll be in"
"ok" dad says then goes silent. Alex tosses the walkie talkie into the cab of the truck and picks up the hammer handing it to me "do not hit me with this"
"I'll try not to" I laugh, and we go about fixing the fence.
Xxxxx
An hour later, all three of us were heading into town, dad decided since we needed to go we'd grab some dinner while we were at it. Also we need to make a stop at good ol' Walmart. I loathed going to that place, but it had to be done. I noticed I was running low on all my bathroom products, and Alex needed some deodorant. "let's get the fence then grab some dinner" Dad says, Alex and I both agreed. Although I haven't been eating much, I just couldn't. every time I tried, I'd just end up pushing the food around on the plate. A song came on the radio, Alex climbs forward from the back and turns it up. Causing my dad to laugh, as we all sang along, once the song was over a commercial came on. "come on down to Torres Motors and we'll get you into a newer car or truck today" it was the voice I would know anywhere, the feeling of longing started all over again. "was that Callie?" Alex asks
"hmm" I replied and turned my attention out the window watching the corn fields as they whizzed past.
"you do need a new truck" he laughs
"not today" I mutter and keep my attention focused on the window.
"it wouldn't be a bad idea to swing by and check out what they have, you will be getting that insurance check any day now" dad says not taking his eyes off the road.
"no" my voice is soft
"who knows you might even run into a certain brunette" Alex says into my ear
"I don't want to see her"
"right" he moves and sits back in his seat "that's why you've been moping around for the past week"
"shut it"
"Zo, I know you miss her" Alex puts her hand on my shoulder "hell I kind of do too" I heard my dad chuckle "maybe she misses you too"
"doubtful"
"why you say that?" Alex leaned forward again
"if she misses me she would have called, besides, she's straight, remember ex-boyfriend"
"I don't know about that Arizona" dad says, he never uses my full name unless I'm in trouble, I look over at him "maybe she just doesn't know what to say to you"
"or maybe she's scared, I mean the dude did propose to her"
"we're done talking about this" I say and turn my attention back to the window
"I saw how she looked at you" dad says "there was definitely something there"
"if there was something there, then she knows how to get a hold of me" I sigh "can we please just let this go" I roll my eyes, as we pull into the parking lot of the farm store.
"I'll run in and grab the receipt" Alex says hopping out of the truck. Another commercial came on "At Torres Motors we offer you the best deals on new and used cars and trucks, come on down, tell them Callie sent you, and receive a free gift" reaching over I turn the radio off, rolling my eyes.
"you got it bad" dad says
"no" I shake my head
"yes" he says, I turn to look at him, he smiles "you know when I first saw your mom, I knew she was the one. When our eyes met, I felt a tingle run through my body" I look away "I know that's how you felt with Callie" he paused waiting for my reaction, when I didn't give him anything he went on "I saw it"
"you didn't see anything" I mutter sighing and looking out the window "dad, I really don't want to talk about it"
"your mom and I didn't have it easy in the beginning"
"I know dad" I sigh
"then you know how much shit her daddy put us through"
"I do" I nod and turn back to look at him "it's just" letting out a long sigh "if she wanted something she would have called or come by"
"what if she couldn't?" he says "if I know anything about Carlos Torres, he's probably got her under lock and key" I turn to look at him again. Wanting to laugh, she's 40 some years old, no way her dad has that much power over her. "I know she's an adult, but people like that" he pauses "people with money, they do whatever they can to get what they want. And I'm sure senior Torres" he says in his crappy Mexican voice "doesn't want his little princess hanging out with a no body like us" I let that sink in, as he reaches over touching my arm "she'll call when she can" I nod. Alex was back now, jumping into the back seat "got it, head around back" he says, tossing the receipt onto dad's lap. As we drive, I think about what my dad had just said. From what I knew of the Torres family, what he said makes sense. I guess I'll just have to wait and see what happens.
