Chapter Thirty One
Tim returned to his tent for a nap, where he dozed off until he heard more of the campers stirring, and he rose to join them. His parents exchanged a look when they saw him but neither commented. Daisy had coffee ready, which Tim gratefully accepted. He had quickly come to appreciate the rich brews his family enjoyed, especially after the bland, bitter Academy coffee. Jesse stumbled out of the tent looking sleepy, his dark hair disheveled and eyes bleary.
The day was spent in the usual manner of the Belden-Duke Clan: plenty of games, hiking, and
the twins terrorizing everyone.
Tim found himself with a follower in the form of a small young boy with bright red hair. Tim didn’t mind. He missed the big family, liked kids, and knew Regan must be lonely. Jim’s kids were younger than the rest, and while Tim had had plenty of playmates growing up, Regan didn’t. Sean was about the same age as Byron, and they got along well, but Hallie kept the kids from having as much interaction with their cousins as they wanted.
Tim helped Regan with his swimming. The boy was better than Tim had anticipated, but Regan was used to swimming in the lake at Manor House. He kept his floats on and determinedly swam from the dock to where Tim was, and back. The jet skis were brought out and Jim let Regan ride with Tim, providing Regan held on tight to his older cousin. Regan laughed with delight as Tim raced them over the water against Leif and Logan, keeping ahead of the mischievous cousins by about a foot.
They took Jim’s boat out at one point, with Jesse driving, cruising around the lake as the adults sipped margaritas and beer, and Bo gave Tim permission to throw his twin sons overboard when they wouldn’t behave.
Tim spent the day smiling and laughing, happy to be home with his family.
They sat around the campfire that night, singing as Bo, Luke and Mart played their guitars, and everyone, especially the twins, stuffed themselves with s’mores, despite Daisy’s warnings about rotting teeth.
Eventually the younger kids dozed off, and the adults began to drift towards their tents. Tim claimed fatigue and laid down in the tent, hoping the twins and Matthew would go to bed soon so he could sneak out. But the three fifteen year olds and sixteen year old Jesse, sat up talking and laughing until Bo ordered them to bed.
Jesse joined his older brother and was busy situating his sleeping bag when he whispered “Tim.”
Tim just grunted, pretending to be asleep. The lamp was on low so his brother could see.
“I know you’re playing possum,” the younger Mangan whispered.
Tim opened one eye. “What is it, Jess?”
“You sneaking out to meet that girl?”
“What girl?” Tim asked. Had Jesse followed and spied on them too?
“The one the twins said you saw in the store and were uh, with last night.”
“Not your business, little bro.” Tim answered, annoyed.
“Leif said to give you these.” Jesse looked at his brother and hesitated.
Tim sat up. “Give me what?”
The younger boy held out his hand, almost blushing. Tim snickered.
“What the hell is Leif doing running around with condoms?” he demanded in a whisper. Jesse chuckled.
“Are you kidding me? Leif and Logan are total studs. They get all the chicks.”
“They’re fifteen!”
“Weren’t you fourteen when Dad caught you with that girl? And you claimed it wasn’t your first time?” Jesse pointed out.
“You better be using these with your girl.” Tim said sternly.
Jesse blushed and nodded. “Every time.”
“Good boy.” Tim shook his head. “ The twins as studs? I find that hard to believe.”
“They are. They’ve always got girls hanging around them. Logan’s more of a player, Leif likes to get to know them.”
Tim grunted as he inspected the condom packages.
“Are these real?” Tim asked. “Not some kind of joke condom that’ll burn your dick or make you itch?”
Jesse frowned. “I don’t think so. I don’t think Leif would do that to you.”
Tim wasn’t so sure, but thanked his brother anyway.
“What’s this girl like, anyway? And how come you didn’t tell me about her?” Jesse asked.
“I hadn’t planned on telling anyone about her yet,” Tim answered. But since I’ve got the spies out there following me, I don’t have much choice. Besides, I’m eighteen, I can do whatever I want.”
“Is she?” Jesse asked.
Tim hesitated. Remembering. She was two months shy of eighteen.
“Sure,” he lied.
Jesse just eyed his brother, then nodded, and laid down, shutting off the lamp. Tim waited another twenty minutes until he was sure everyone was asleep, and snuck out. Stealthily, he slipped the rope between the zippers on the twin’s tent and tied it, effectively trapping them in it.
But the night wore on as he sat on the dock, alone. He stretched out on his back and counted the stars as he waited for her.
It was the ray of warm light on his face that woke him as the sun came up.
He couldn’t help but be disappointed. She had changed her mind. Of course, her father might have found out and kept her in. Tim slipped the condoms into his shorts and got up, disappointed. Sleeping on the boat dock was actually comfortable for him; he had slept on the ground plenty of times The Academy.
He and Regan took a walk after breakfast, headed towards Lyris’ campsite. To his horror, he saw the camper pulling out. They weren’t supposed to leave for two more days, and his heart sunk. Her father must have found out, he realized, and made the decision to leave.
Staring after it, he was sure he saw her in the back window, looking frantic.
***
The day was decidedly less fun after that, and come afternoon, Tim helped them break down the camp and load the vehicles. He managed to get Jesse to ride with the twins, and ended up in Jim’s car with the redhead and his kids. They talked amicably the ride home, and Tim dozed for a while, Regan sleeping against him.
He thought of Lyris, and wondered if he should try to call her. Once home, with the equipment put away, he used his laptop to search the net to find her address. He came up with three potential street addresses and what he was sure her email. He emailed her a short note, hoping she would get it and be able to reach him back.
He tumbled into bed exhausted, knowing tomorrow he had to start making some decisions.
***
The smell of coffee woke him, and he wandered into the kitchen to find his father dressed and leaning against the sink, sipping at a cup. He was clearly surprised to see Tim up.
“I’ll be damned. One of my children actually rises before noon of their own accord.”
Tim half smiled and poured himself a cup of coffee. “I’m used to it.”
“You have an agenda today?” Dan asked.
“Not really. Need to make some phone calls, try to see about a job. Jim said he’d be happy to have me work at the school, in phys ed or security.”
Dan nodded.
“I don’t know if I want to make a career of the military. I’m good but I don’t know that I want to be on the move so much.”
“You’ve got time, Tim. There’s no rush. You’ve got a place here as long as you want.” Dan said quietly.
Tim nodded. “I know. I wish Aralyn and Tiff were around. I miss those two.”
“If you want to join them, we can arrange it, I bet,” Dan offered. He shook his head.
“Nah. They got their girl thing to do. I’ll figure out something. I might see about the Y, if I can get a job there for the summer at least.”
Dan nodded, and glanced at the clock. “I have to pick up Bo. If you think of anything and I can help, let me know. I should be home in good time tonight.”
Tim nodded. Dan clapped him on the shoulder and went to kiss his wife goodbye.
***
Tim spent the day surfing the internet and making phone calls. By mid afternoon he had three interviews set up over the week, and an appointment with Jim. Working at the school sounded like fun. He’d get to work with the orphaned boys, be outdoors, and still be near his family. Jim had offered him boarding at the school too, which he thought about. So far he and Dan were getting along. He knew his dad wanted to ask questions, and talk about what happened but Tim didn’t. It was over, he had come out of it a better man.
After making himself lunch, he went back to the computer and checked his email for the umpteenth time; his heart jumping when he saw the return email address.
Tim, I’m in a lot of trouble. Can you meet me at the Loads o’Books in Croton tomorrow? I should be there around 2. Don’t park near the entrance, I’ll find you. L.
He exhaled. At least it was her. He replied an affirmative and couldn’t help but smile to himself.
He dragged Jesse out to Sleepyside and the Academy for a good work out. He knew he could go to the Marshal’s station and use the gym there but he didn’t feel like feeding the rumor mill.
“Why do I need to work out?” Jesse asked irritably. “I’m in great shape.”
“Health, Jess,” Tim replied. He was driving his brother’s car, with Jesse sulking in the passenger seat. Dan had said they’d go looking this coming weekend for a vehicle for Tim. “You’re young, you should be fit. You’ll score twice the amount of girls if you’ve got muscle and tone.”
“I’ve got natural charm and an awesome girlfriend,” Jesse flashed a grin.
Tim smiled. “Trust me little brother, chicks dig the well toned man. Stephanie will thank me.”
Jesse rolled his eyes.
***
The next day, Tim sat in the car, watching the entrance. He saw a sedan pull up, and he recognized her tall figure. She walked inside and the car left. He got out of his brother’s borrowed car and leaned against it. Without his field glasses he couldn’t see her inside the building, but she came out of the café door two minutes later, and walked quickly towards the parking lot. When she saw him, she broke into a run and dashed to him.
Throwing her arms around his neck, she clung to him as he hugged her tightly.
“Hey,” he murmured, laying his cheek against her soft hair. She pulled away and his mouth dropped open when he saw the bruise on her eye. She had tried to cover it with makeup, but it was still visible.
Tim felt his whole body stiffen.
“Did your dad do this?” he demanded.
She nodded, her pretty eyes tearing up.
“I tried to hide it,” she murmured.
He shook his head.
“Did he find out about us?”
“Sort of,” she sighed. “My hair was still damp when I got up. I told him I had gone for a late swim but he flew off the handle. Called me a slut and spent the better part of the day screaming at me in the camper. By the time he decided to leave, it was dark, so we left at first light. He didn’t let me out of the camper.”
“I’m so sorry,” he whispered, tilting her head for a long kiss.
“It’s not your fault,” she answered when they done. “I should have dried my hair better.”
He held her close. “C’mon, let’s sit in the car. How long can you stay?”
“I only have an hour. He won’t trust me. I had to wait and make sure his car left the parking lot. I was sure he was going to park and watch me.”
“He left. And didn’t come back, I was watching too.”
They sat in the front seat, cuddled together.
“Lyris, don’t get mad at me for saying this, but he has no right to hit you.”
“I know,” she said in a small voice. “I thought he’d mellow over the last two years, but he hasn’t. He’s even worse. He couldn’t be bothered to come to my graduation even.”
Tim kissed the top of her head. “I can have him investigated,” he said, half joking.
“I’ll be eighteen in August,” she murmured. “I can leave then. By the time anyone could investigate him, I’ll have reached my majority. It would be a waste of time.”
No, Tim thought. He knew exactly who he could call.
Tim hugged her close and frowned when she winced. Lips pressed together tightly, he pulled her up sleeve to see the ugly bruise.
“Any others?” he asked.
“My back,” she murmured.
“You’re coming home with me,” he told her firmly.
She gasped.
“Tim, no. He’d have you brought up on kidnapping charges!”
“My father is a U.S. Marshal. He can put you in protective custody. It’s what they do.”
She shook her head. “Tim, you don’t understand. My dad has lots of dangerous connections. It’s not that bad, really. I just have to behave until August.”
“He has no right to hit you!” Tim’s eyes were dangerously dark.
Lyris touched his face, her eyes sad. “They don’t know about my email. The phone is too risky but I’ll sneak out to see you when I can.”
“It’s not enough,” Tim answered. “He seemed impressed by me when we met at the campsite, maybe if I talk to him-”
“That was before he realized I snuck out,” she answered. “He called me a slut and a whore and said he was sorry I ever came back.”
Her pale green eyes filled with tears as he kissed her gently, then deeper, until he pulled away for air.
“I’ll find a way to get you out of there,” he said. “I promise.”
“I don’t know when I’ll see you again,” she whispered.
“Trust me.” He gave her a devastating grin. “I’ll find a way.”
***
He managed to boost her spirits until it they had ten minutes left. She kissed him again and hurried back inside the store. Five minutes later, the sedan returned. Tim sat watching the man driving, and wrote down the model, make and license plate of the car.
There was no way he was letting this bastard get away with hitting Lyris. He had a feeling he was going to need Dan.
Meet the cast in full & see the family tree!
Author’s Notes
- A huge yee-haa to the fabulous and lovely Ronda, for editing this! The poor woman had to slog through some crazy typos!
- Word Count, 2,446
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