The Sugar Queen by Tess Thompson

16

Trapper

I pulledup in front of Breck’s house in great spirits. I’d enlisted him for my special errand in Louisville. I didn’t tell him why, figuring I could fill him in on the way there.

“What’s the big secret project?” he asked as he hopped into the truck.

“I need to see a guy about a ring.”

He smacked my shoulder. “No way. You guys obviously talked everything through.”

“We did. Thanks for being there for me.”

“I’m glad, man.”

“Brandi and I have been apart long enough.” I backed the truck up and turned to head down the driveway. “We’re getting married tomorrow.”

He did a double take. “For real?”

“For real.”

“How is she?” he asked. “I couldn’t stop thinking about her after you left.”

“She’s good. I mean, it’s not something she’ll ever get over, but she’s strong. Together, we’re stronger.”

“No doubt.”

“I’m going to spend the rest of my life making up for all the times I’ve let her down,” I said.

“Good man.”

We avoided going into town and headed straight for the highway. I used the voice control to call my parents. “Dad?”

“Trapper, everything all right?”

“Yes, sir. I’m calling to tell you that Brandi and I are getting married at the church tomorrow at five.”

“Tomorrow?”

“Yes, sir,” I said. “We’re having a reception at my house afterward.”

“Well, all right. I’ll let your mother know.”

“Can you tell her to invite Tiffany?” I asked.

Breck shoved my shoulder and made a face.

“Sure thing. Why don’t you and Brandi come by tonight? We’ll have a drink and officially give our blessing.”

“Sounds good. See you then.”

I called Grammie and Pa next. She answered, sounding a little breathless. “Hello, honey. How are you?”

“I’m getting married tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” Grammie asked. “To whom?”

“Brandi.”

“Your high school sweetheart?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Isn’t this kind of sudden?” she asked.

“Yes, but I’ve loved her forever and we’re back together, and I don’t want to waste any more time.”

“Well, then, I guess it’s meant to be. Will she want a bouquet? I can put one together from the garden.”

“She would love it, Grammie. Can you come to the church tomorrow around four thirty?”

“Your Pa and I will be there in our Sunday best.”

After I hung up, I sighed. “I need to invite Huck. I haven’t talked to him since the blowup the other night.”

“Maybe go by and see him later?” Breck said.

“Good idea.”

Breck scratched his neck. “I haven’t wanted to make a big deal, and we’ve had a lot of other stuff going on, but I’m seriously worried about Huck. Ever since he came home from being over there, he’s been quick to anger and, honestly, kind of paranoid.”

Last night, after we’d returned from the cemetery, Brandi had told me what Huck had threatened. I wasn’t convinced he knew the full story. I thought he might have been bluffing to get her to confess. Whatever it was, I aimed to find out and clear the air.

“What did he say about Brandi to you?” I asked.

“Nothing, actually. I haven’t talked to him since the other night either. I’ve left a few messages, but he doesn’t return my calls or texts.”

I told him about his threat to Brandi. “He basically threatened to out her if she didn’t tell me. Do you think he actually knew anything or was he just fishing?”

“I’d guess fishing,” Breck said. “I’ve never heard anyone talk about her disappearance after high school. I wonder who he heard that from?”

“I don’t know, but I wouldn’t put it past him to dig around in any records he could find. That’s his job, after all.”

“You’ll have to talk to him,” Breck said. “I think he’ll say he was concerned about you and wanted to make sure you knew what you were getting into. Whatever it was, he’s going to have to apologize to Brandi.”

“Agreed.”

We drove a few miles in silence. I turned on the radio. Breck relaxed with his head resting against the back of the seat with his eyes closed. I figured he was asleep. The guy could fall asleep anywhere.

He startled me when he jerked upright. “How do you think her parents are going to take this?”

I shrugged. “Not well, would be my guess. Neither of us cares.”

“I feel bad,” Breck said. “Can you imagine what it would feel like to have a mother like that?”

“I can’t.”

“She’ll have your parents now,” Breck said. “They’re the best.”

“They are. Your mom’s pretty special, too.”

“That she is. She’s going to want to be at the wedding,” he said. “Is it okay if I bring her?”

“Yes, please do. I can bet she’s on the phone right now with my mother anyway. Mama’s going to invite her friends, if I have my guess.”

The jeweler showedus various styles of rings, so many my eyes started to cross. If Breck hadn’t been with me, I might never have chosen. My desire for the perfect ring had caused paralysis of the mind.

“This one here,” Breck said finally. He held up the princess-cut solitaire to the light. “And this band for her wedding ring.” He pointed to a one with a row of diamonds across the top. “She needs a lot of sparkles.”

I laughed. “Done.”

Next, I chose a thick platinum band for me. “Let’s get out of here so I can propose to my girl.”

“I’m afraid to hear the total,” Breck said. “I might pass out.”

“Don’t be such a cheapskate,” I said. “You’ll never get a girl.”

He sighed. “I don’t think that’s my only problem.”

I droppedBreck at his clinic and headed the other direction. Huck would be at the newspaper office this time of day, and I needed to talk to him. The way we’d left it between us was terrible. As bewildered as I’d been over his behavior the other night, I couldn’t get married without him there. We needed to clear the air.

I parked in front of the newspaper office. A few blocks to the south of Barnes Avenue, the building was like Brandi’s, with the office on the ground floor and an apartment above. The windows of the apartment were open and as I exited my truck, Stormi stuck her head out and yelled down to me. “Hey, Trapper. Congratulations on your wedding. I’ll be there to take photographs.”

I cupped my hand over my eyes to shield them from the sun. “Great news. Be sure to leave me a bill.”

“I’d do it pro bono, but I need the cash,” she said. “A girl has to eat.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” I said. “You’ll come to the reception as a guest, I hope?”

“Totally. I’m psyched to be included. It’s really cool you’re back together. Epic, dude. Epic.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Sounds good.” Her head disappeared inside the window.

The door to the newspaper office needed a good shot of oil. At the sound of the creak, Huck looked up from where he’d been slouched over a laptop at the back of the room. His thick brows came together. He rose from the creaky chair, which looked as if it had been there since the early 1970s. “What’re you doing here?”

I walked past the empty reception desk. The room smelled of burned coffee from the pot that had clearly been left on all day. Several more desks, all piled with papers, took up a large portion of the workspace.

“Brandi and I are getting married tomorrow, and we’d like you to come.”

He clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“Brandi told me about the baby,” I said. “You can take the threat off the table.”

He crossed his arms. “I was right, then? She had a baby?”

“You didn’t actually know? Why would you do that, man? You hurt her. What reason would you possibly have to attack her?”

“I was trying to protect you.”

“Brandi is hardly someone to protect me from. I just don’t get it,” I said. “Why would you threaten to tell me? What the hell kind of friend does that?”

“She’s been lying to you. I’d think you’d want to know that.”

“You forced her to have to tell me before she was ready.”

“You’re welcome.”

“It’s not something to be proud of,” I said.

“When I moved back here, I heard rumors about how she disappeared after high school for like a year. No one knew where she went.”

“She didn’t go anywhere. Her mother basically locked her inside for the whole time she was pregnant.”

“Whose baby was it?”

“What do you mean? The baby was mine. Who else’s would it have been?”

“I don’t know.” A corner of his mouth lifted in a sneer. “You tell me. Why else wouldn’t she tell you back then?”

“It’s complicated. But basically, she didn’t want me to give up hockey.”

“How can you marry her with such a big lie between you? She gave away your baby.”

“She didn’t, actually,” I said.

“What’re you talking about? Where’s the baby?”

I flinched. “She’s in the town cemetery.”

He paled. “What?”

“She was stillborn,” I said. “Her parents wanted her to put her up for adoption, but she’d been planning on running away with the baby.”

“To where and with what money?”

“Do you always have to be the investigative reporter?” I asked. “It’s really none of your freaking business. She planned on going to Crystal’s mom’s in Seattle. She was going to live with them until she could figure out what to do. But Ava didn’t live.”

For once, Huck didn’t seem to have one of his sardonic responses.

“She went through hell, all alone,” I said. “We were kids, and she did the best she could.”

“I don’t understand how you can feel okay about her having your child without you knowing. She clearly didn’t trust you to take care of things. Is that really the woman you should marry? She lied to you. Broke your heart. She doesn’t deserve you. But go ahead. Get married to a woman who lied to your face while sleeping with you over the last few days. She’s not a kid now, Trapper. She’s a full-grown adult. You want to see what your future is? Take a look at her manipulative mother. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

I shoved him against the counter. “Shut your damn mouth.”

He rammed both hands into my chest. “This is a free country. I can say whatever I want. Brandi is a liar.”

I took a swing at him and caught him on the jaw. He yelped in pain. His hand flew to his face. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

“What the hell is wrong with you?” I shouted back at him.

“You hit me,” he said quietly. His dark, intense eyes glittered as he glared at me. “You hit me.”

I got inches from his face and spoke through gritted teeth. “If you say anything else against her, you’re out of my life. Do you hear me?”

“Screw you, Trapper.” He came for me, butting into my stomach with his head. I lost my footing and fell backward into the window, which shattered into tiny squares. Safety glass. I had that going for me, at least.

I lunged for him, and we both fell to the floor. I had my hands around the collar of his shirt but he was surprisingly strong, despite being a few inches shorter and weighing a good thirty pounds less, and flipped me over. He raised his hand to punch me. I shoved him with both hands. He flew across the room and landed against the wall.

He slumped over his knees. “Fine, you win. Just get out.”

“Trapper? Huck?” A female voice. Stormi burst into the office. “What in God’s name is going on?”

“Nothing,” Huck said.

“Are you all right?” She knelt by him.

He slapped her hand away. “I’m fine.”

She stood and glanced my way. “Trapper, your arms.”

I looked down. A few pieces of glass had stuck into my skin and caused minor bleeding. “Nothing to be concerned over.” My voice was hoarse and dry.

She brought her hand to her mouth. “You guys were fighting like two middle schoolers? I thought you were cousins and best friends.”

“Distant cousins,” I said, bitterly. “And former friends.”

Huck had his knees bent with his head between them. “Get out before I call the police.”

“No problem,” I said. “Sorry, Stormi, that you had to see us acting like idiots.” I left through the front door and got into my truck, completely shaken.

How could a twenty-eight-year friendship end like this? What had happened to the friend I’d known? What had they done to him over there?