A Different Perspective
1152 Words
[Jaxon]
When Tammy was finally calm, sitting in a chair with her girlfriend in her arms, Teddy explained she was in MMA and had at least one black belt in martial arts. Unlike most ‘only sister with three brothers’ stories, Tammy learned to fight before they did and she was the oldest, so she taught them.
We were explaining our ideas to them when there was a knock in the other room. Reg went and answered the door. It was Red. He seemed surprised at the full house. Chairs had been brought in from the other room and Kelly had elected to sit on one of the two beds in the room. As far from everyone else as possible.
“So… why don’t we do an impromptu sleepover?” Amber asked. “He wouldn’t try anything while we’re there. He never has in the past.”
“I don’t know if that’d work. He might think she planned it while out with you and would get mad. No tellin’ what direction it would end up goin’.” Teddy said.
“Why are you working on getting her out of the house, when it’s easier to get him out of the house?” Tammy asked.
“What do you mean?” I leaned in.
“Easy, if she managed to turn it around and made him angry at Carson and Clayton, then you’d just have to get him out to where they are. He’d speed down to confront them. Set up a speed trap and you’ve got him. Hank’s entitled. He’ll make a simple traffic stop into something worse. It’s the weekend. Courthouse waits until Monday to arraign people arrested on Saturday and Sunday.” Tammy smirked.
Trace nodded in confirmation of the process for weekend arrests. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t thought much past the investigation for getting him in jail. Juniper was smart enough and motivated to not be punished. She would’ve definitely tried to turn it around.
“What did Clayton do?” Red inquired coolly.
Amber retold the story of the restaurant confrontation with a few more details than before. She leaned against Tammy’s arm when she was done. Trace shared a look with Red.
I knew neither one of them would ever let their sons get away with disrespecting a girl or harassing her. As his uncle, I was acknowledged by them with the same look. The boy would be forced to do whatever was needed in order to be given a less than severe punishment.
“Let me call her and find out how it worked out.” Amber volunteered.
She pulled out her cell phone and called. When she saw Carson’s wistful expression, she put her finger up to her lips and put the phone on speaker.
“Hello?” Juniper answered.
“Juni, are you okay? Hank looked mad when we dropped you off.” Amber said.
“Oh, hang on.” She replied and her voice seemed distant for a moment. “It’s Amber, she wants to check on me. I’m just going to step out for a second. Okay?”
“Tell her I’ll kick the butts of anyone who tries to make her cry, too.” Remy yelled.
Everyone in the room smiled. It was hard not to like the kid.
“Will do, Remy.”
“Don’t take too long. Remy was lookin’ forward to hangin’ out with you.”
“Of course, Hank. You know my friends like to make sure I’m okay.”
“Why can’t you just talk here then?”
“Because I’m still upset. You know how Remy gets when he sees me cry.”
“Fine. Go.”
A few seconds later, there was a jingling noise.
“Sorry. Hank’s a little on edge.”
“Was he mad at you?”
“No. I told him what happened and apologized for potentially embarrassing him with my outburst. He said he wasn’t mad at me. Thank goodness. Now, I just have to wait and see what the Becca situation ends up being. I’m not entirely worried. Tammy’s been training me to fight as p*****t for her tutoring. I just hope Carson didn’t go around telling too many people old information about me, or that I have crushes on them.” Juniper sighed.
Carson looked upset, but held his tongue. I understood how hard it was.
“So… did you have a crush on Clayton?”
We looked at her. Tammy picked up and notepad and wrote something. She passed it to Reg who passed it to Gary and so on until it reached me. It said: ‘She has to make this look like a normal call. Juniper can’t know we’re involved with you. Yet.’
“Amber. I’m not here to be the butt of your idle gossip.”
“Seriously? I’m, like, your best friend, and you never tell me about crushes or anything. In three years, you haven’t liked anyone. How am I supposed to have fond, girlish memories with you if you act so weird?” Amber pressed.
“Fine. At one time, yes I did. But I don’t anymore. There’s a guy I do like, though. And he’s nothing like that jackass. That’s all I’m saying. Now, I have to get back. Hank’s glaring at me. I’ll talk to you later.”
“M‘kay, bye!” Amber replied and hung up. “If I hadn’t bugged her, she woulda gotten suspicious.”
“Clayton won’t be botherin’ her again. I promise you that.” Red told her.
“How are you gonna stop him?” She asked.
“I’m his father. He better listen or he’ll suffer the consequences.” He said darkly.
“Oh. Wow. I didn’t even realize. I’ve only ever met his mama. I guess you do kinda look like him, though. So does, Jaxon…”
“I’m his uncle.” I replied.
“You pride yourself on knowin’ everyone in town, but you didn’t know Clay’s dad? That’s hilarious!” Kelly laughed too hard at that. I guess it was an inside joke, because even Tammy snickered.
“Well, now we know she’s not in trouble. Let’s get Clayton down here and set up a plan.” I said.
“I’ll text Juni and have her call me when she gets home.” Teddy mumbled as he pulled his phone out.
“Good thinking, Tammy. This should buy us a lot more time.” I nodded to her.
“It only buys you two nights. We’ll work on something to try and get her through the week.” Tammy said.
Trace started to slowly smile. “Do you think one of you girls, or Teddy could get into his home office? He has some files that might be enough to prosecute him on felony charges. We could find a way to get proper evidence for an arrest, if we knew where we were needing to look.”
“He changed the locks on the home office after Carson left. I didn’t get a new key because he said I would never inherit, since I’m gay.” Teddy said.
“I can pick locks.” Kelly said, barely looking up from a book I hadn’t noticed her having before.
“Why would you know how to pick locks?” Teddy asked.
“Because I wanted to. It’s about learning and trying new things.”
“And getting into the cupboard where your mom locks up the good food whenever she puts the house on another diet.” Tammy laughed.
“I regret nothing.” She murmured with a smirk.
- Writer
