Tag: romance

CAT

It was roughly an hour from East Providence to Easterly. Cat knows her mom would be expecting her home within the next twenty minutes or so. Seeing as that wasn’t going to happen any time soon, Cat decides to walk. She’s never been good at being idle and the way she figures, she could make it to the gas station and call her mom or Jacob from there. Decision made, she grabs her backpack from the backseat, along with her purse and hops out of her car. She’s almost positive there’s a gas station maybe a mole or two up the road. As she closes the driver door behind her, she takes in her surroundings. The sun was beginning to set, and it cast a warm golden glow over the trees. The air was cool and crips, but Cat is determined to reach the gas station before it gets any colder. Slinging her bag over her shoulder, Cat sets off confidently in what she hopes is the direction of the gas station. 

*~*~*~*

BRADY

Brady pulls the rag dangling from his back pocket and begins wiping away the thick coating of grease on his hands. He backs up a few steps, taking in the sight of his handiwork with a satisfied grin. The freshly painted cherry red Mustang shone brightly in the sunlight. A deep rumble came from the engine as it idled. Over a year had gone into bringing this model back to life. Jacob had bought the 1966 Mustang from Russo’s junkyard and asked if Brady could restore it to its former glory. It’d been worth every minute of labor. Jacob was going to be stoked when he saw it.

Brady’s sense of accomplishment quickly fades as the sound of an engine growls outside the garage. Peering out the large pane window he spots Hannah’s black Mercedes double parked on the side of the garage. The driver door whips open, and Hannah explodes from it like a tornado. She stomps around the side of the car and yanks open the left passenger door.

“Get Out!” 

“NO!” 

“For Christ’s sake Maddie, Get out now!” 

“No.”

“I don’t have time for this shit! You need to get out!”

“No! I wanna go back home!” 

“Damnit, Maddie! how many times do I have to tell you? there’s no one there to watch you. I have to go to work.”

“I don’t care!”

“ARGH! Brady!”

With a heavy sigh, Brady realizes he needs to step in. He exits the garage, his hands still greasy and his jeans splattered with paint. As soon as Hannah sees him, her expression turns to frustration. She’s always been fiery, quick to get angry but also quick to forgive. This was especially true when it came to Miles, Brady’s older brother – who was just like the rest of the Bishop boys, a screw up. Despite Miles’ repeated letdowns, Hannah couldn’t seem to shake off her soft spot for him.

Over a year ago, Miles disappeared without a trace, leaving Hannah to raise their twelve-year-old daughter Madison on her own. The last time Brady heard from him was about a month ago – he called and said he was okay. He asked Brady to tell Hannah that he just needed some time to sort things out. And Brady promised to take care of Miles’ family while he was gone, without hesitation. He even told Miles that he would be there for him if he ever wanted to come back. It was a short phone call and when Brady delivered the message to Hannah, she didn’t take it well. But deep down, Brady knows that if Miles were to return right now, Hannah would take him back in an instant, despite his drug addiction and constant arguments with her.

“What’s going on?” He asks, calmly. 

“Maddie’s being a pain in the ass, as fucking usual.” Hannah replies, throwing her hands up in frustration. 

“I’m sure it’s not helping with you cursing at her like that, Han.” 

She glares at Brady, “Give me a fucking break, Brady. Listen, I have to work tonight. One of the nurses in the ICU asked I can swap shifts with her. I can’t leave Mads home alone again. The last time I was stupid enough to do that, she almost burnt my house down smoking a joint.” 

“That I got from you!” Maddie yells from the backseat of the car.

“Who the hell cares where you got it from? you’re not supposed to be going through my stuff or smoking my shit!”

“Enough,” Brady says firmly, cutting of the bickering between them. “Maddie can stay with me for the night and you can pick her up after your shift tomorrow.”

Hannah looks at him skeptically, “You sure?”

“Wouldn’t offer if I wasn’t. I’ve got to pick up some equipment from Russo’s Hardware on Main. I’ll take Mads with me and we can grab a bite to eat after. We’ll make a night of it.” 

“Brady, I owe you one.”

“Don’t start counting now.” He utters wryly and opens the rear door of her Jeep. “Alright, Kiddo, come on out. You’re with me tonight.” 

With a scowl on her face, Maddie slides out of the backseat at a snail’s pace. She’s definitely taken after her mother in terms of looks and height. At twelve years old, she was still pretty small; her height barely reaching five feet. Her dark brown hair was tied up in a high ponytail, just like her mother’s, but her eyes were all Miles – a deep bourbon color that shoot daggers at Brady. She’d inherited not only the Bishop family’s signature eyes, but also their thick eyebrows and straight nose. There was no doubt that she was Brady’s niece. Her casual outfit consisted of sweatpants and an old Transformers t-shirt.

“I don’t want to stay with you.” She whines, arms folded over her chest.

“Learn this lesson quick Kid, you won’t always get what you want in life. Now grab your backpack and give your mother a hug.” She huffs in frustration, knowing she has no other choice, she reluctantly complies. She gives her mother a half-hearted half hug before stepping away. 

“Be good, Mads.” Hannah warns. “Don’t give your uncle Brady a hard time.”

Maddie rolls her eyes. “I wasn’t planning on it.” she bites back. 

Hannah drives off and Brady leads her back to the garage. Maddie follows at a distance. 

“Wait here I’m going to wash up and change and we’ll head out in a few.” He comes back a short time later to find her walking around the mustang, a look of admiration on her face. 

“Is this your car, Uncle Brady?”

“Nope, just restored it for church friend of mine.”

“Is this what you do all day?”

“Yes and no. I fix cars. But restoring cars is a hobby.”

“I’ve never seen a car like this in person before. It’s really cool.”

Brady chuckles, a part of him beaming with pride. “Oh, it’s definitely cool.” He says, taking her backpack from her shoulder. 

He sets it down in the back of his Ford Pickup before walking around to open the door for her. “Hop in and buckle up.”

~*~*~*~

The rumble of the truck engine fills the quiet garage as Brady carefully backs out of the designated spot and onto the street. He takes a deep breath before turning to Maddie, his voice taking on a serious tone. “So, you’ve started smoking weed?” he asks bluntly, glancing at her for any reaction.

Maddie releases a deep sigh and turns to look out the window, avoiding Brady’s gaze. “I didn’t even smoke it.” she mutters, frustration evident in her voice. “Mom is just making a big deal about nothing like she always does.”

“And you’re not taking this seriously enough,” Brady counters, his tone firm. “Look, Mads, I’m not going to treat you like you’re stupid. We both know you’re not.” He pauses, choosing his words carefully. “Addiction runs deep in our family, especially in the Bishop bloodline. Your dad and I—“

“I don’t want to talk about him,” Maddie growls through her teeth, meeting Brady’s stare dead on. The pain and anger in her eyes are palpable. “He’s dead to me.”

Brady lets out a heavy breath. Who could blame her for feeling that way? He certainly didn’t. Miles had been in and out of jail since Maddie was born and when he was around, there was always chaos. Whenever things got too bad, Brady would take Maddie in for a few weeks at a time so she wouldn’t have to witness the violence between her parents.

“I get it,” Brady says quietly, the weight of their conversation sinking in. Unlike his two youngest brother, Kyle and Oliver, Brady and Miles had the same father. But the man had fallen victim to his own addictions before either Miles or Brady had a chance to know him. The men that their mother let into their lives in the wake of his death had only brought pain and misery with them. 

“But that doesn’t mean you can ignore the reality of what addiction can do. Your decisions have consequences, Maddison. If you start using drugs, it could lead to very serious problems down the line.”

“I know,” she replies solemnly. “It was a stupid thing to do.” Maddie turns away from him and gazes out the window. It was true, she knew that getting caught up in drugs could lead to terrible things. She had seen what they had done to her parents, and she didn’t want to go down that path. “I won’t do it again.” Maddie says, her voice small. “Uncle Brady…?”

“Yeah?”

“Can I ask you something?”

“Shoot.”

“Have you…have you ever been addicted to anything?”

Brady pauses for a moment, his grip tightening on the steering wheel. Memories flood his mind. He remembers the nights spent tossing and turning, consumed by cravings for substances that he knew would only bring him temporary relief. He recalls the desperation as he searched for his next fix, losing himself in a whirlwind of self-destruction. But most of all, he remembers the hollow emptiness that addiction left in its wake shattering his sense of self.

“Yeah, Maddie,” he admits, his voice tinged with a hint of sadness. “I have struggled with addiction in the past.”

“But you stopped?”

Brady nods solemnly. “Yes, I’ve been clean for over ten years now.”

“What made you stop?” she asks cautiously.

“I met Jesus,” he says with a soft smile, “he gave me a new life. His love and grace helped me to break free from the chains of addiction. Jesus is the reason I’m fixing cars and not rotting in jail or dead.”

Maddie falls silent for a moment, seemingly absorbing his words. “I don’t want to end up like my dad.” she admits quietly.

Brady’s heart ached for his niece, knowing that her pain was real and unavoidable. “You don’t have to,” as long as there was breath left in his lungs, he would do everything he could to prevent yet another Bishop kid from tumbling down the same destructive path. “I want you to remember that you’re not alone.” Brady says softly, his gaze fixed on the road ahead.  “We’re family, and family looks out for each other. I will always be here to support you, no matter what.”

“Thanks, Uncle Brady.” She reaches over to turn on the car radio. She doesn’t bother to change the Christian station that plays softly in the background. The lyrics from a Phil Wickham song fills the truck, providing a sense of comfort amidst the heavy conversation. Maddie occasionally hums along as they fall into comfortable silence. 

As the miles pass by, Brady can’t help but think back to his own teenage years. This very road used to be his playground, where he would race down with his friends. He remembers the thrill of speeding down this long stretch of blacktop, the wind rushing through his hair and the adrenaline coursing through his veins. It was a different kind of high back then. He hadn’t grown up in Easterly like Maddie, but two highways over in Central Falls. The Pit. Memories of skipping school and heading to Easterly with his friends, floods Brady’s mind. They would find secluded spots in the vast forests that bordered the small highway and fueled by alcohol and drugs they would spend hours doing reckless things.  Those memories seem like a lifetime ago now, and it always brought a pang to Brady’s chest to realize that most of those friends were gone or serving life sentences in prison. Time may have passed, but the ache never went away. But it was a constant reminder that by God’s grace he’d been given a second change at his life, to make something of himself and as he looks over at his niece, Brady was more than determined to steer her away from his mistakes and the best way he knew to do it was to help guide and lead her to Christ.

They drive up another mile or two when he spots someone walking on the side of the road, but it’s the individual’s light purple hair that catches his attention. 

CAT 

Cat’s attention is mostly on the long stretch of road ahead, her mind occupied with the miles she still has to walk. She pulls up her hoodie and tightens her bag straps, trying to protect herself from the harsh wind that cuts through her clothing. Maybe walking wasn’t the best option, she thinks to herself as a gust of wind hits her, she shivers and wraps her hood tighter around her face. She knows better than to expect anyone to stop for her, and she wouldn’t stop for a stranger either. So, when a large black pickup truck actually pulls over just a few feet ahead of her, Cat is taken aback. Fear and curiosity keep her rooted in place as she watches the intimidating vehicle.

A tall, broad-shouldered man steps out of the driver’s side and Cat can feel his dominating presence immediately. His purposeful strides and controlled movements only add to his strong aura. She notices his tousled chestnut hair cascading past his broad shoulders. He wears a snug black sweatshirt that accentuates his muscular arms, faded blue jeans, and worn black boots that bring him closer with each step.

As he walks towards her, Cat’s eyes trail up his neck and she catches a glimpse of tattoos peeking out from under his collar.

“Hey,” he calls out in a deep, rough voice that unexpectedly sends shivers down Cat’s spine. “Looks like you could use a hand.”

He stops right in front of her, and Cat’s breath catches in her throat.

Wow. The man is incredibly good-looking up close.

There’s character in the slight crook of his nose and pronounced cheekbones leading down to a strong jawline covered in scruff. He exudes an air of roughness, an unrefined nature that lies just beneath his confident exterior. Cat can’t help but feel drawn to him. Her interest only grows stronger as their eyes meet and words fail to come out of her mouth. His eyes are a deep, warm amber, like the sinking sun on the horizon. They hold an intensity that draws her in, as if they are searching every inch of her face.

She becomes aware that she’s been staring at him for too long and quickly averts her eyes, feeling her cheeks flush with warmth. “Actually, I’m waiting for a friend to come pick me up,” she lies unconvincingly. He gives her a knowing look, his eyes glinting with amusement.  

“Are you sure?”

The way he looks at her suggests he knows she’s lying. It’s getting darker by the minute and Cat has no idea how much further she has to walk before reaching the gas station. Not to mention, the already freezing temperature seems to have dropped even more since she started walking thirty minutes ago. Her hoodie did little to keep her warm and she was actually shivering more than she let on. She takes a moment to weigh her options: tough it out and hope to make it to the gas station or take her chances with the attractive stranger and hope he’s not some deranged murderer. Just then, a young girl with brown hair jumps out of the truck’s passenger side.

“Is everything okay, Uncle Brady?” She asks, staying close to the black pickup.

“Yeah, just offering some help,” he responds loudly, turning to face the little girl. Cat finally exhales, realizing that she’d been holding her breath. 

Uncle Brady. With his niece around, there was no way this man could harm her. Right?

It frustrated Cat that she couldn’t trust her own judgment anymore, after years of being manipulated by Nate in their toxic relationship. But as she looks up and meets his curious gaze again, she feels an instinctual sense of trust towards this man; something tells her he means no harm.

A small smile forms on his lips. “I’m Brady,” he introduces himself, extending a hand for Cat to shake. She hesitantly takes it and is surprised by the strength and gentleness of his grip, sending a jolt of electricity through her body. 

“I’m Cathrine, but everyone calls me Cat,” she responds, feeling slightly breathless from his intense gaze. “I would really appreciate that ride if you’re still offering.”

“Of course,” he leads her to the passenger side of his pickup truck where his niece stands. “Cathrine, this is my niece, Maddie.” Slightly taken aback by the sound of her full name coming from his lips, Cat tries to hide her surprise as she looks at Maddie. The young girl stares back at her with curious light brown eyes.

“Hi,” she quietly greets, giving a small wave.

“Hello Maddie,” Cat replies with a warm smile. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“Alright kiddo, you can sit in the back,” Brady says as he guides Maddie to the backseat and closes the door behind her once she’s settled in. As Cat moves towards the passenger side door, Brady quickly strides ahead and opens it for her. The air around them seems charged with energy as they stand close together, with Cat completely captivated by him. His intoxicating scent fills her lungs as she inhales deeply. “Are you getting in?” he asks with a grin.

Cat clears her throat, snapping out of her trance. “Uh, yeah sorry.”

The door closes just as she slides into the passenger seat. The leather seats hug her body, and the car smells like a combination of leather and something masculine, like cologne. Cat can feel Brady’s presence close to her, his body heat radiating towards her as he gets in the driver’s seat and starts the engine. 

Cat tries to ignore the way her heart races in her chest as Brady shifts into gear and pulls back onto the road, the purr of the engine filling the small space. The silence palpable, each of them acutely aware of the other’s presence. Cat steals a glance at him, taking in the way his strong hands grip the steering wheel and the way his muscles flex with every movement. Her skin prickles with awareness and she can’t help but wonder what it would feel like to be in his arms. 

What is wrong with you? Get a grip, Cat. Her mind fires back.

“So, where to?” he asks, breaking the silence and pulling Cat out of her thoughts. 

Cat hesitates for a moment. Having Brady drop her off at the gas station is the safest choice. But the desperation of wanting to get to her mom wins out. “I was actually on the way to see my mom. She’s on Glendale Court just another three miles up from here. It’d be great if you can drop me off there.”

“You got it, I know exactly where that is. In fact, I know someone who lives on Glendale court.” He replies and before Cat can follow up with a question Maddie speaks up from the backseat. “What happened to your car?” she asks. 

Cat is grateful for the distraction. “I thought I had enough gas to get me from Providence to Easterly. But I ran out just a little bit ago.” 

“Why didn’t you just call for help?” 

Cat lets out a sheepish laugh. “I forgot to charge my phone.”

“Not very smart of you.”

“Watch it, kid.”

Cat laughs this time, actually meaning it. “No, it’s okay. She’s totally right. Can’t say I’ve been making the smartest choices these days.”  

Brady glances at Cat, a small smile on his lips. “We all make mistakes,” he says, his voice low and smooth. “Sometimes it’s just a matter of being in the right place and having the right person show up to help you out.” His eyes flicker to hers before returning to the road. “I’m just glad we were able to find you in time.”

“Yeah,” Cat says quietly, “it’s lucky you guys happen to drive by.”

He makes a noise, “I don’t believe luck has anything to do with it.”

Cat looks at him with a frown, “What do you mean?”

He turns his head, and they lock eyes for a brief moment, “God is control of everything we do.”

Cat sighs, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. “I don’t believe that’s true.” she says, looking out the window. “I don’t believe in God.” 

Silence falls soon after and it’s only broken when Maddie speaks up again from the backseat. “Uncle Brady, can you put up the volume? I like this song.”

“You got it.” He murmurs before reaching in front of him to dial up the volume.

“What’s the name of the song?” 

“Lord, I need you.” he replies. 

Cat waits, one, two, three seconds to see if Brady will say anything else to her. But he doesn’t and Cat figures maybe it’s for the best. She doesn’t really want to talk too much anyway. She hears Maddie humming the tune under her breath in the backseat, but it’s soft enough that Cat can tune it out. 

 Cat leans further back into the seat with a small sigh. She closes her eyes, letting the hum of the engine lull her into a sense of peace. 

God, what a day. 

When she woke up this morning, Cat never imagined she’d actually muster up the strength to just leave. She can almost guarantee Nate had called and texted more than a dozen times by now. Cat was sure that he was probably coming to some conclusion about her lack of communication. He will undoubtedly come back to their apartment in a rage. His cold, predictable rage that’s able to produce such an unimaginable fear in Cat. Fear that grips her now, it settles into her bones in anticipation of an attack. The song doesn’t help.

 What ifs begin to germinate in Cat’s mind. What if he’s on his way to her mom’s? What if he was already there? Cat knows her mom won’t believe his lies. But Nate can charm his way out of a paper bag. He’ll say something, convince her to let him in and–would he hurt her?

 The panic that begins to spread through Cat feels like a physical weight pressing her down into the seat. 

Can’t breathe. I need air. 

“Are you alright?” Cat is sure he sees the rabid panic on her face when she turns to look at him. She’s sure he wishes he’d never made the decision to pick up an absolute whack job. She turns and clutches at the door handle of the passenger door. 

“Catherine.” The weight of his hand comes to settle on her shoulder, and Cat nearly leaps out of her skin.

“Please let me out.” She’s suddenly yanking non-too- gently at the door handle. A step below violent. “Let me out…!” Does he hear the hysteria in her voice?

“Alright…” Brady’s voice is calm and steady, but Cat can sense his concern.

A few seconds later they’re turning off the main road into a small street with houses lining both sides of the street. He comes to an abrupt stop in front of one of the houses on this particular street and cuts the engine.

The world swirls around Cat as soon as she opens the door and she tries to breathe in huge gulps of air, holding onto the car for support. 

Her heart races like a rabbit as Brady’s voice comes from behind her, worry in every syllable. “Catherine, are you alright?” His powerful hands grip her shoulders as he gently pulls her back from the car. His intense gaze scans over her, searching for any signs of hurt. 

Cat shakes her head, unable to breathe properly. Suddenly Cat finds his face, gently, tenderly cradled in his large calloused hands and his piercing eyes fasten on hers. 

“Shh,” he soothes, “take a deep breath,” his low voice rumbles with a soothing command and he inhales deeply to show her how. “In through your nose,” following his lead Cat sucks in air through her nose, “Good,” he murmurs. “Now, out through your mouth.” She follows his direction again feeling the panic ebb as she exhales out of her mouth. 

“Good girl,” She doesn’t find it all belittling when he says that. In fact, Cat finds herself silently basking in it. “In,”  There’s only him. “Out,” There’s only his molten gaze anchoring hers. His deep voice gently coaxing her back from oblivion. As she breathes with him, concentrating solely on matching his rhythm, fear slowly dissipates and Cat finds herself taking in more controlled breaths. 

“Thank you,” she chokes out, her throat still tight with emotion. “I’m sorry for freaking out like that.” 

A small smile tugs at the corner of his lips as he replies, “Don’t be sorry. It’s okay not to be okay sometimes.” Warmth spreads throughout her body at the understanding in his tone and Cat can’t begin to put into words how grateful she is to him for this moment.  

“You, okay?” His deep voice vibrates against her chest, calming the jittery nerves within and she nods slowly, forcing out a whispered “Yeah,” as she the last traces of fear drifts away. Just before he releases her face, his thumb sweeps across her cheek in a gentle caress. Cat barely has a chance to lean into it before his hands are gone and it astonishes her just how badly she wants his touch back.