“They can stay at my place still,” scrambled Jason. “We can work this out. I know you want to see them, so maybe, once you calm down...”
“I appreciate the offer, replied Kyara. “My place is a little small for three of us. But I am calm, Jason. More calm than I have been in a long time. And what you did was out of line, and dangerous. More dangerous than you know.”
“Then why don't you tell me?” he said.
“Goodbye, Jason,” she said, completely out of energy.
“I don't want this to be over,” he said, sounding wounded, his pride hurt.
“I didn't either,” said Kyara, closing the door behind her. The wind pushed it closed, sealing it tight behind her.
The next day was hard. She hadn't slept much that night, though if she'd dreamed, she didn't remember. Getting up to start the morning prep had never seemed so difficult. But she did it, as she always had.
This is the life I made for myself. I won't let Jason Waite, or anyone else, take that away from me. Not with meddling or anything else.
So d
ownstairs she went, never more grateful for the friends who were keeping her brothers out of her hair for the morning.
As usual, once she started working she lost herself in the flow of the everyday tasks. Preparing the food, making sure everything was clean, teaching Crystal how to ready that day's sides – all the little things which made her business run – each was a familiar dance to take her out of her troubles. By the time lunch came and went, she felt much better. Tired, but better.
The phone rang. Kyara ignored it. People had started trying to call in their orders to go. She didn't mind, but wasn't really set up for it, at least not yet. Crystal crossed to deal with it as best she could.
Maybe once Crystal graduates I can put her on that? Assuming she's even staying in town, of course. I should really check with her about....
The tone of Crystal's voice pulled Kyara out of her thoughts.
“It's OK. I'll tell her and she'll be right down. No, Ashley, it's fine. She'll be right there. Just hold on.” Crystal's voice was trying to be soothing, but held an undercurrent of real worry.
Kyara rushed up behind the teenager.
“What's wrong? What happened?” asked Kyara.
Crystal turned, holding the phone out for her.
“Um, your brother has been arrested. Ashley's down at the sheriff’s office trying to get him out.”
Kyara snatched the phone from her assistant's hand.
“Ashley? What's going on? What did Marcus do?” Kyara tried not to yell into her friend's ear, but it was a near thing.
Ashley's voice on the phone sounded concerned and upset.
“I don't know. We stayed up pretty late last night talking. When he didn't show up for our, I mean, when he didn't come see the place, I figured he'd overslept. But then I went to drive to wake him up, and I saw his rental car on the side of the road. Kyara, when I got there, Marsh was loading him into the back of the cruiser. He looked ... pretty pissed.” Ashley's explanation came in a desperate, worried rush.
Shit. Marcus and Marsh. That's ... shit.
“Tell me he wasn't resisting arrest,” said Kyara.
“I thought he might be going to, but I got him calmed down, told him I'd get you and your brother. He seemed okay after that.”
She got Marcus to calm down? Will miracles never cease? Thought Kyara, her mind still trying to catch up with the situation.
“Alright, I'm on my way to the station. Call Caitlin and have her get Trip down there. And Ashley ...” said Kyara, “Thank you. This could have been way worse without you.”
By the time Kyara had hung up the phone, Crystal had already moved over to the stove, neatly sliding in behind Kyara to continue the work.
“It looks like I'm going to have to shut down for lunch today,” said Kyara, but Crystal was already shaking her head.