Chapter 2. Familiar Faces

We walked into the house. It hadn't changed one bit. It looked like a cabin inside because it was made of all logs. The mudroom had a shoe rack and coat hangers.

Through a large double doorless frame, we stepped into the hall. The stairs were on the right side of the hallway.

The hall stretched all the way back. To the right before the stairs, through another doorless frame, was the living room. It took two steps to get down into the living room. The living room was large with a massive fireplace at the far back wall­–an old recliner that had always been there, a couch that matched, and an armchair with a footrest. All the furniture was old and brown leather without a single tear in it.

There was a large flat screen over the fireplace. While I was growing up, Aunt Helen never had a TV. Helen said that we didn't need it. The floors throughout the downstairs were all hardwood flooring. A large area rug between the couch and fireplace had different leaf and bear designs on it–it was brown, green, and red.

There was a reading nook with a large bookshelf in the center. An elk and whitetail buck hung on the wall on each side of the fireplace that Arnold had shot. There was a lion that Helen had shot on the wall beside the bookshelf. A large bay window was to the right with a seat that stretched the length of the curved window, which looked out over the front yard.

“You got a TV,” I said in a surprised tone.

“With cable, too. Can you believe that?” Helen chuckled.

“Can I watch cartoons?” Lyle asked excitedly.

“Why don't you put cartoons on for him, and I'll make us some tea.” Helen smiled at me and squeezed my shoulder gently.

I smiled gratefully at her and nodded. “Sounds good,” I told her.

Helen made her way down the hall. The kitchen was down the hall past the stairs. It was the last door on the left. I put Lyle on the couch and grabbed the remote to turn on cartoons for him.

Lyle clapped when Paw Patrol came on. It was his favorite cartoon. “Thanks, Mommy,” he said and smiled.

I smiled and nodded. I walked back into the hall and passed the large dining room across from the living room—the dining room connected to the kitchen by an old swing door.

The bathroom was the last door on the right. There was a small closet under the stairs and an entrance to the basement.

A long rug extended down the length of the hall. Straight back was a large patio door and window, which let a lot of light in. I entered the kitchen and looked around. Helen stood straight ahead at the double sink, and she gazed out the window.

The kitchen was big. The house hardly needed a dining room. When Helen and Arnold bought the ranch, they expected to have a load of kids, but that never happened. There was a small wooden table in the far-right corner, four wooden chairs, and a chandelier above it. A vase sat on the center of the table, with wild Montana Bluebell flowers in it.

The cabinets were tall and wide, a light oak. The countertops were white marble with a dark grey pattern. The island was in the center of the kitchen with cabinets above it that were two-sided. Four wooden bar stools lined the island.

It looked like Helen got a new electric stove with an oven–plus two more ovens on the far right near the fridge. Aunt Helen always loved to cook, and her cooking was to die for.

I took a seat at the island.

Helen turned and handed me my cup of tea. Helen looked at me, worriedly. “Dallas, I'm so happy but so surprised to see you here,” Helen said.

“I'm so sorry, Helen,” I murmured.

“Baby, I just don't understand why you lost touch. Did I do something wrong?” she asked. Tears built in her eyes.

I couldn’t look at her. I bowed my head and shook it. “No, god, no,” I said. I looked back at her. “When I left, I had every intention of coming home for holidays and stuff. Then I met this guy, Jax. He seemed nice, and I trusted him. He was terrible to me. I had to get out of there, Aunt Helen, before Lyle and I wound up dead. So many awful things, I don't even think I can say it out loud.”

“Don't, sweetheart.” Helen placed a hand over mine. “You don't have to. It's all over your face,” Helen murmured. “You should know that no matter what, this is always your home. I'd love to have Lyle and you here.”

I looked into her eyes, and they were kinder than I deserved. “Thank you.”

“Do you need help getting your things?” Helen asked curiously.

“I don't have anything.” I let out a humorless laugh. “I left everything. All I could grab was money and Lyle. I had to get in Jax’s pants pocket for the keys. He passed out. I–” I stopped. My throat thickened with emotion. “I can't believe my Camry made it here.”

Helen smiled at that. “Arnold said that it would be a trustworthy car.”

“And it has been,” I admitted with a smile.

“Well...” Helen trailed off. “Why don't I keep Lyle, and you run into town. I can give you some money.”

The offer was beyond what I deserved. “That's great, but I still have about fifteen hundred dollars,” I told her. “I'll take you up on the babysitting offer, though. I doubt Lyle wants to get back in that car. Can I use some of your makeup to cover my face?”

“Of course, you can. Lyle's a handsome boy, and I love the name.” Helen winked at me.

I laughed and nodded. I named Lyle after my father, who was Helen's brother. I went into the guest bathroom, where I knew Helen kept her makeup. It didn't take long to cover the bruising.

I let Lyle know that I would be right back.

Helen went into the living room, sat beside him, and talked to him as I headed out the door.

The car started a little rough, but after a long drive, it was expected.

Anaconda had a few clothing stores, and it wasn’t like clothes in Los Angeles. When I got to Los Angeles, people laughed at my clothes. Anaconda sold nice clothes, but they were country clothes. You couldn't get Maurice or Forever 21 in this town. You got boots, plaid shirts, t-shirts, tank tops, and a whole lot of Wrangler. The truth was I liked this kind of clothing more; it was more comfortable.

I reached the Beautiful Life Boutique and stepped into the store. It was the same as far as I could tell. I'm going to have to make it fast because they're closing in about an hour. I walked over to where some of the dresses were. I looked at a white summer dress.

A throat cleared behind me.

I spun around.

My eyes locked with a pair of familiar blue eyes. “Oh my god,” I gasped.

“Dallas?” Liz asked.

“Hey, Liz,” I said and smiled at her.

“Oh my god,” Liz said, stunned.

That made two of us. I can't believe she's still here. “You're still here?” I asked, surprised.

“And you're back?” Liz asked curiously.

I laughed. “I'm back.”

Liz stepped forward and embraced me tightly. We hugged for a long moment. Liz and I were once close friends, but I had lost touch with her as I had everyone.

“So, you never left for New York?” I asked.

“No, I couldn't. Jordan begged me to stay. I just couldn't leave him. You know? I don't regret it either.” Liz flashed a ring at me that was on her third left finger.

“You're married,” I gasped.

“Yeah, I've got a son and daughter too,” she said.

“I've got a son too,” I admitted.

“Really, how old?” she asked.

“Going to be four next week,” I told her.

“Mine just turned four yesterday,” she said and laughed.

“That's crazy. So, do you work here?” I asked.

“Yep,” she said and nodded. “Do you need help?”

“Well, I'm looking to get some clothes for my son and me, just a few new outfits,” I explained.

She helped me find seven cheap outfits.

I wound up only spending a couple of hundred dollars.

When I finished, I said goodbye to her and gave her Helen's house number. I put things in my car and walked down to the corner to Giddy Up. It was also a boutique, but they had all kinds of clothing and other things.

Just as I was walking in, someone else was heading out. When I recognized the woman, I swallowed hard and stepped back.

“June?” I asked, surprised.

June took a deep breath as she looked me over.  “Dallas,” she said stiffly. Her hand tightened around the strap of her purse.

“How are you?” I asked softly.

“Like you care.” June rolled her eyes and stormed past me. What she said hurt, but she had every reason not to speak to me.

I watched as she climbed into her newer Chevy truck. I took a deep breath–I knew returning home would have some drama. I'm sure that it will get worse, but it is still better than California.

I threw the door open and walked into the store. There were all kinds of clothes. I found shoes for Lyle and a cute cowboy hat. I found boots and a hat for myself and a few dresses. The cashier was the same cashier I always knew.

“Dallas, how are you?” Mrs. Harper asked.

“Good. How about you, Mrs. Harper?” I asked politely.

“I'm terrific,” she said and smiled.

“Good,” I said.

“Are you in town for a while?” she asked.

“Permanently,” I told her.

“Oh, I'm sure that makes Helen happy,” Mrs. Harper said. Her glasses fell down her nose slightly. I was surprised that she wasn't retired. She must have been in her seventies.

“She's ecstatic,” I agreed.

“You have a great day, honey,” she said.

I spent a few hundred dollars in Giddy Up too. Lyle and I had plenty of outfits.

I pulled out of my parking spot. On the drive back home, I couldn't help but cringe at the memory of running into June. However, I tried hard to push the thoughts away.

Helen and Lyle were in the kitchen. Helen told me I could have my old bedroom. It was one of the rooms with a bathroom in it–that faced out over the front yard. Helen's bedroom faced out over the back yard.

There was a room straight across from mine that was empty, that I would put Lyle in. I didn't even think about it, but I really should have bought Lyle some toys. There was already an old oak dresser in the bedroom with a single person bed. Once I got Lyle's clothes put away, I went to put away my own.

My room looked exactly the way I left it. “Wow,” I huffed.

There was a queen-sized bed with blue matching bedding that was mine. The bed sat between the two windows on the far end of the room that looked out over the front yard.

My bathroom was to the left, and my closet was to the right. There was a big wooden vanity on the right wall, and a desk still on the left wall.

Some of my books were still on the bookshelf beside my desk. Straight across from my bed was my dresser.

After I sorted through everything, I put it away and went back downstairs.

Helen and Lyle listened to a country station on her radio in the kitchen and sang along.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“Making your favorite cookies,” Helen said. Helen smiled at me.

I laughed. “Chocolate chip?” I raised my eyebrows.

“Aunt Helen's famous chocolate cookie chocolate chip,” Helen corrected. It sounded all professional like which had me doubling over in laughter.

“I can't wait,” I told her. I kissed her on the cheek.

“Were you able to get everything you needed?” Helen asked.

“Yes, I did. I should go back to town tomorrow and look for a job. I still have about a thousand dollars. Besides, I should maybe get a couple of more things to entertain Lyle,” I said. I didn’t want to say toys and get him worked up.

Helen nodded in understanding. “That sounds good to me. Maybe I can keep Lyle, and you could take my truck into town and pick me up some feed, too?” Helen asked, sounding hopeful.

“Of course, I will,” I said

“So, run into anyone?” Helen wondered.

            “Yes, I ran into Liz, Miss Harper, and June,” I said. June's name came out a little quieter as the same sadness overwhelmed me.

“I take it your run-ins didn't go good,” Helen said.

“Liz was happy to see me, and it was great seeing her. We talked for a little bit. It was awesome to catch up with her. Miss Harper was nice, but June still hates my guts. I don't blame her,” I said and shrugged.

“That was not your fault, Dallas,” Helen argued.

“Try telling her that,” I murmured. “I get it, okay? If I were her, I would be mad at me, and everyone involved.”

“I have told her that she had it all wrong. The way she treats everyone about it is hardly fair,” Helen said.

When I asked the next question, I couldn't even look at Helen. “Is he out?” I asked. I peered out the window over the sink to avoid Helen’s gaze.

Helen sighed. “He is out...” she trailed off.

I looked over at her and wondered why she had trailed off.

“He's doing good as far as I can tell. He seems different somehow,” Helen said thoughtfully.

“Oh,” I said and shrugged. “How long was he gone?”

“Three years,” Helen said.

I nodded in understanding.

“You're eventually going to see him too, honey,” Helen said softly. She came to stand beside me as Lyle licked the cookie dough out of the bowl.

“Yeah, I know that. It was so long ago, Helen. It shouldn't even matter. This little town just... won't ever forget,” I said and swallowed hard.

“Probably not,” Helen said. Helen grabbed my chin and forced me to look at her. “But it might forgive if you give it a chance.” She pecked me on the cheek. Helen turned back to Lyle and the cookies.

I wished that I could agree with Helen, but I knew how hard it could be to forgive. From what I heard, most people said what happened was unforgivable.