Truth Behind the Lies

Thanks to the reviewers. I was gonna do a Review Response, but I wrote all this stuff out, then my computer messed up and I had to re-update this chapter. I'll do it next chapter though.


Chapter One

2 years later—Wednesday


“Whooooaaa, we’re halfway there!
Whooooaaa, livin’ on a prayer!
Take my hand and we’ll make it I swear!
Whoooaaa, livin’ on a prayer!”

Randy Dodson tapped his fingers against his steering wheel, singing rather terribly to the ‘80s hit, “Living On a Prayer” by Bon Jovi as he drove his blue BMW into the Plumsfield, Virginia speed limits. Watching the houses, churches, and country stores go by him, Randy saw very little changes in this town. Which wasn’t a surprise for him, considering it was such a slow pace town.

The landscape of Plumsfield looked very tranquil and serene, much like the residents. People there were very lax. Time was never a big issue when it came to doing things or just living life. You could travel through and spot an elderly couple at their home, sipping lemonade and rocking slowly in their rocking chairs, a family reunion taking place in one of the parks, the smell of green beans, collard greens, potato salad, macaroni and cheese, fried chicken, and cat fish cascading through the air, a young husband and wife wheeling their young infant through the gardens, admiring the vibrant colors of all the flowers, or a father showing his son how to fish for the first time by the Franklin River. Life and family was truly valued in Plumsfield. At least that was Randy’s view of the town.

He was never a Plumsfield resident. His uncle, Roy Dodson lived here with his wife Corrine for many years and Randy would come to visit them. His home was in Wisconsin.

Randy pulled into the driveway of the convenience store, Roy’s Corner, and turned off the ignition. The green eyed blonde walked to the wide front porch of the log cabin-style store and stood in front of one of the large glass windows, reading the typed note taped on it:

Store is temporarily closed due to death in the family. Will reopen next Monday.

Uncle Roy. Randy remembered coming to Virginia one month before for his uncle’s funeral. He remembered getting the call one afternoon that Roy had suffered a heart attack and died. Roy was his favorite uncle on his dad’s side……..he was his ONLY uncle on his dad’s side.

“Well, well, well. Don’t you look ‘bout as out of place as a hog in a chicken coop.” Randy turned around and saw a sixty-something—she always lied about her age—woman coming out the front door of the store. Of average weight, with flawless makeup, silver short hair, and a captivating smile, the woman “still had it”.

Randy smiled at the woman in the t-shirt and jeans. “What do you mean ‘out of place’?”

“You’re gonna make folks deaf with a shirt as loud as that.” The woman chuckled, referring to the orange Hawaiian shirt the 30 year old had on. Randy had just gotten back from a little vacation to Hawaii with his folks last week and was still in the Aloha spirit. The woman knew this but she liked to tease Randy all the same.

Randy laughed then shrugged. “Hey, whatever I gotta do to wake up this quiet town.” They hugged tightly. “Hi, Auntie.”

Corrine patted his back. “Hey Randy. Glad to see you made it here okay.”

Randy stepped back and put his hands in his pockets. “Yeah, I decided to come straight here first instead of to the lake house. The drive wasn’t too bad. A little lonely though.”

“You know, you wouldn’t be lonely if you’d settle down with someone, Rand.”

“No, no, no. I said the DRIVE was lonely. I didn’t say my life was lonely.” He shook his finger at Corrine. “You know, Auntie, you’re trying to twist my words.”

She placed a delicate hand on her chest. “Who me? No. Never.” She smirked. “Come on. Lets go inside.” Randy followed Corrine into the store. Nothing different from any other convenience store; aisles of canned foods, chips, cleaning detergents, sodas, candy, medicine, batteries, beer, an ice-cream freezer, etc. A magazine rack was placed next to the cashier’s desk and every brand of cigarette possible was placed on a large shelf on the wall behind it.

Roy’s Corner brought back so many memories for Randy. Though he didn’t come as often as he’d liked to as a child, he could still see the 5 year old him sitting on the check-out counter bagging items for the customers while Roy took their money. Corrine handing another Snickers bar to a 10 year old Randy from the back storage after Roy told him two candy bars were enough. Or a 16 year old blonde walking in with Roy at seven in the morning to help open up the store at 8. Roy and Corrine never had any children of their own, so Randy was the closest they had to a son and whenever he’d come to visit, they’d spoil him so rotten, his parents would have to ‘deprogram’ him when he got back home. Roy and Corrine were very important people in Randy’s life. Very important. That’s why it hurt him so badly when he found out Roy had died. That’s why when Roy’s will was read by his attorney and he had left the store and the lake house he used to spend summer getaways with Corrine to Randy, he accepted without question.

It was quiet in the store and Randy looked around for his aunt. He found her staring at a picture hanging beside the door that led to the storage room. It was a relatively new picture of she and Roy standing together in front of Roy’s Corner. Roy was a big and solid man, so his arm nearly enveloped Corrine as he held her from behind, his chin rested on her shoulder. They both had the brightest smiles on their faces. Around the time of the picture, Corrine, a kindergarten teacher, and Roy, a construction worker, had just come out the workforce and were proudly accepting the role of “retired seniors”. Who knew only one month later, Corrine would be burying her beloved.

Randy saw the quiet tears coming down her face. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and brought her close to him, resting his chin atop her head.

“I miss him so much.” She whispered.

Randy kissed the top of her head. “I know you do, Auntie. I miss him too.”

***

Monday morning


Dressed in black jeans, a gray NYU t-shirt, and his favorite beat up leather boots, Randy sat in a chair behind the cashier’s register with his feet propped up on the counter, reading the morning paper and smoking a cigarette. He heard the sound of a bell ringing, signaling someone had entered the store, but he didn’t bother looking up to see who it was.

Atleast not until he heard the light patter of feet. Randy folded down his paper and saw the cutest little boy he’d ever seen. Wearing a white polo shirt with the picture of a truck on it, elastic blue jeans, and white light-up tennis shoes, the boy had blonde hair the color of honey with a slight curl and cut into a shag, a round tan face, large cheeks, and a button nose. He looked cherubic.

Randy set the paper down on the counter and looked at the child that couldn’t have been no more than 1 or 1 ½ . “Hey there little guy. What’s your name?”

The child smiled widely, showing two tiny bottom teeth. “Mmmm ba. Ba uun da. Eeya ma…”

“Wow. That’s a really long name. You should tell your mama you need a nickname.”

“He’s got one.” A soft voice said. Randy looked up and saw a gorgeous young man standing on the other side of the counter. He was a curly head brunette with brown eyes, symmetrical face, slender physique, and smooth tan skin.

Randy was so in awe he couldn’t gather his words. “Um….ah….”

“I’m ready to check-out, thank you.” The young man cut him off, placing a 20-pack of pull-ups, baby powder, a 2-liter of Pepsi, and two small bags of chips on the counter.

“Oh, right.” Randy stood up and started ringing up the items. “You have a sweet little brother there.”

“He’s not my brother. He’s my son.”

Ouch. I fucked up. “Oh. I’m sorry. So you’re married?”

The young brunette looked at the price screen on the register and saw his amount came to $8.00. He pulled out a five and three ones, placing it on the counter. “I’m not married.” He grabbed his bag. “Come on, pookie, lets go.”

The boy pulled on his mother’s pant leg. “Mama ba. Mm ba.” He said pointing to a shelf holding packaged toy rubber balls in one of the nearby aisles.

“No, not today, Jackie. I just bought you a ball last week.”

Jack frowned, his bottom lip poking out in a perfect pout. “Ba!”

“What did I just tell you?”

Jack’s little face started to turn red and tears formed in his eyes as he did one of those baby “I’m about to cry and throw a fit” bounces. Randy could already hear the start of light weeping.

“Hey, hey, hey.” Randy quickly walked around the counter and kneeled in front of the shelf that held the grapefruit-size balls. “Come over here Jack.” Jack habitually placed his ring and middle finger in his mouth, sucking on them as he walked to where Randy was. “I hate seeing babies cry so I’m gonna give you a free ball, how’s that? You wanna ball?” the boy nodded. “Okay, now pick which color you want.” Jack pointed to a red ball. Randy picked it out, took it out it’s wrapping, and handed it to him. Popping his fingers out his mouth, Lil’ Jack smiled as he grabbed his new ball.

The young man smiled slightly while still standing behind them. Jack walked to him and he picked up his son. “Say thank you, pookie.”

“Tank-ee.” Jack immediately placed the ball towards his mouth and tried bite a hole in it, but the rubber was too tough to achieve it……but he kept trying anyway.

The brunette kissed his son’s cheek. “Thanks.”

Randy smiled. “Sure.” as the two walked away, Randy got the urge to stop him. So he did. “Hey.” The man turned around. “I know your son’s name, but what’s yours?”

“……Shay. Shay Gibson.”

“I’m Randy Dodson. If its alright with you, could I get your number and call you maybe?”

Shay smiled. “You’re new here aren’t you?”

“Um, well…yeah. Is it that obvious?”

“A little bit.” He started for the door again.

“Hey, wait a minute.” Randy ran up to him and stopped him again. “Is there some rule here in Plumsfield saying I cant have your number?”

Shay looked at his son as he raised his ball in the air and moved it around like it was an airplane. “No, there’s no rule. But you don’t want my number.”

“Why?” What’s he hiding

“You plan on stayin’ here for good?”

“Looks that way, yes.”

Shay looked Randy dead in his green eyes. “Then you’ll find out why soon enough.” Shay left.

***


That night

“Dinner was very good, sweetheart.” Bryant said from the dinner table. “Wasn’t it, suga’pie?” he grabbed Jack’s chin and the child giggled, his face covered in marinara sauce. Shay had fixed a baked spaghetti that afternoon. Since Bryant was reduced to good days and bad days, he didn’t work in the kitchen anymore. At times, he would advise his son on what ingredients to use and what pan to cook it in, but his stability wasn’t well enough to allow him to cook anything on his own.

“Thank you, mama.” Shay grabbed their empty plates and took them into the kitchen to wash. Once finished, he came back with a wet paper towel and wiped his son’s face.

“Make sure you save the rest for your father. He’ll be mad if he gets home in the morning and theirs nothing to eat.”

“I did. I left the rest in the oven. Did you take your pills today?” Shay watched as Bryant turned his face away. He knew he hadn’t. Shay made it a ritual to count his mother’s pills everyday, ever since he tried to flush them all down the toilet one morning. Shay reached into his pocket and pulled out five green pills—the dosage had increased over the years due to Bryant’s growing need for it. He set them in front of Bryant on the table.

Bryant looked down at the pills. “You gonna watch me?”

“Mama, you know I have to.” Now used to the years of taking the medications, Bryant tossed all five pills into his mouth and drank it down with his water. Shay picked up Jack from his high chair. “I’m going to give Jackie a bath and put him to bed.” Bryant nodded and Shay walked upstairs to the bathroom. Filling the tub up with bubble bath, both he and Jack got in and he shampooed the little tike’s golden hair. Playing around, he twirled the hair up to a point atop the boy’s head.

Shay gasped dramatically. “Look at you, pookie! You look so handsome!” Jack giggled, splashing water. Shay grabbed a handful of soap suds and placed them around his own chin, making a ‘beard’. “What do you think? Do I look like Santa Claus during his off-season?” the boy nodded. Shay laughed.

After the bath, Shay dried them both off then wrapped Jack into a towel and carried him into the bedroom, putting a pull-up on him and changing him into baby blue pajamas. He quickly slipped into boxers and t-shirt. Shay watched as Jack started to rub his eyes. “Someone’s sleepy. Lets get you to bed then.” Shay sat on the side of the bed and with his finger, gestured for his son to come. Jack walked over to him and raised his hands in the air. Shay grabbed him and placed him in the bed.

two hours later

Shay laid on his bed with his head propped up, looking at Jack as the boy wiggled around restlessly, fighting sleep. “Pookie, why won’t you just go to sleep? I can tell you’re sleepy.”

“No, no eepy.” Jack pouted, rubbing his eyes again.

Shay sighed. “Go to sleep, Jackie.”

The boy began to whine. “Nooooooo…”

“Lie down, love.”

“Uh uh!”

There was a knock at the door and Bryant peaked in the room. “For goodness sakes, Shay, its 11 at night. Put the baby to bed.”

“I’ve tried to. He’s just so nosey, he thinks he’ll miss something if he goes to sleep.”

Bryant looked at his grandson who was currently sitting Indian-style on the bed, sucking his two fingers. “Jack, go to bed, hon.” Jack shook his head ‘no’.

“See, I told you.” Shay replied.

Bryant walked into the room and picked up Jack. “I can fix this.” he positioned the 1 ½ year old horizontally in his arms which signaled to Jack he’s putting me in the ‘go to sleep’ position. He started to get fussy. “Shhhh… Tranquillité Jack. Il est temps d'aller dormir maintenant. Shhhh….” Bryant ran a slow, soothing hand over his grandson’s soft blonde hair repeatedly and slowly but surely the child started to calm down. He plugged his favorite fingers back in his mouth as his bright brown eyes began to fight to stay awake. “Sommeil, amour. Sommeil.” Bryant spoke softly, still rubbing the small head.

When Bryant turned around, Shay saw his son was practically in a coma. He opened the bedsheets and allowed him to place Jack in bed. “Was that French?” Bryant nodded. “I didn’t know you spoke another language.”

“And I don’t. Not really. I used to.” he sat on the edge of the bed. “Over the years, my medication has helped deteriorate most of what I know about the language. I only remember that cause I used to say it to you when you were a baby.”

Shay smiled. “Really?”

Bryant nodded. “Almost every night, until you were three. I don’t know, maybe it was something about the smooth, gentleness of French pronunciation that’s soothing to babies, but it worked every time I did it.” He placed a hand on his son’s cheek. “You do a wonderful job raising him, sweetheart. You’re a great mother.”

“Thanks. But its difficult having a baby alone.”

Bryant thought of the years where Larry would always be gone—either working or going out for cheap thrills—and nodded his head. “I know it is.”


***


Same time, different place

Randy had just gotten home to the lake house that night and he was exhausted. He never knew his dad’s older brother did so much work for such a little store. Wanting nothing more than to get to bed, Randy took a quick shower and dove into bed. His new employee, Doug, would be coming the next morning and Corrine volunteered to train him that day while Randy worked his other job.

Running his hand over short, honey blonde hair, Randy lay in his boxers and wifebeater, gazing at the ceiling. He was tired…..dog tired, but his mind was restless. He couldn’t stop thinking about that attractive curly headed brunette at the store earlier that day. Everything about him was appealing to him; the beautiful brown eyes, the full lips, the slender face, and the soft voice. Oh that voice! And his hair—Randy would give his ring finger just to caress that mane.

“Is there some rule here in Plumsfield saying I can’t have your number?”

Shay looked at his son as he raised his ball in the air and moved it around like it was an airplane. “No, there’s no rule. But you don’t want my number.”

“Why?”

“You plan on stayin’ here for good?”

“Looks that way, yes.”

Shay looked Randy dead in his green eyes. “Then you’ll find out why soon enough.”

“What did he mean?” Randy thought aloud, a frown forming on his forehead.