The lack of concern was my first hint that we had a big misunderstanding on our hands.
“You got a text... from a girl,” I continued and waited for him to look worried or guilty or something.
He continued to look confused. The innocence of his lost expression told me all I needed to know. Beau hadn’t cheated on Ash. Thank God. Maybe it wasn’t too late for Lana and me to get to New Orleans today after all.
I picked up the phone and handed it to him, “Read the text from Sugar.”
Then as if a light went off Beau’s eyes widened and my moment of relief was replaced by disbelief.
“Sugar texted me? And Ash read it?”
“Yes, you stupid asswipe. Haven’t you learned by now that when you CHEAT you get CAUGHT! Dammit, Beau, how could you do this? She loves you. She’s a complete mess. I found her on my carport bawling her eyes out this morning.”
Beau’s face went pale and he grabbed a pair of discarded jeans, jerked them on and turned to run out the door.
I followed him, “What the hell are you doing?”
“Where is she Saw? Where’s Ash?” he yelled as he ran to his truck.
“I’m not telling you where she is. You’ve destroyed her Beau.”
Beau stopped and stalked back toward me with an angry snarl on his face. “Sugar is my f**king AUNT. My mother’s baby sister. Now tell me where my girl is before I beat the shit out of you.” His voice had gone from a cold menace to a roar.
“Since when do you have an aunt named Sugar? Aunt Honey’s younger sister’s name is Janet,” I yelled back. Not sure what he was trying to do here. I was his brother for crying-out-loud. I knew his family tree.
“Yeah, well my mama’s name is Paula, but that ain’t the name she goes by, now is it?”
“Janet goes by Sugar?” I asked with relief.
“YES! Now where the hell is my girl?”
I was pretty sure we’d woken up the entire trailer park.
“She’s at home. Go,” I replied and Beau turned and ran to his truck. It roared to life and he spun out of the driveway. I just hoped he didn’t run over anyone on his way to her house because I was willing to bet he wasn’t going to stop if he did.
Sinking down onto the steps, I pulled my phone out of my pocket and texted Ash.
Me: It isn’t what it looks like. Beau is on his way over. Listen to him. Just so happens Aunt Honey has a younger sister, her name is Sugar. Tell Lana to get ready I’m on my way there to get her.
Ashton: Oh no. I made a mess of things. I’m so sorry Sawyer.
Me: Not that big of a deal. It got straightened out pretty fast. Watch for Beau. He sped out of here for your house like there was a fire.
Ashton: Okay
I decided against sending Lana a text. I had a feeling I was probably in trouble because of the last text I’d sent. It didn’t explain things well but I was in a hurry to find Beau and get Ashton calmed down. Showing up and explaining was the best idea.
Beau met me at the door of Ashton’s house when I got there. The serious expression on his face surprised me. Surely, he’d been able to clear things up with Ashton. Didn’t she believe him? “Hey, things okay?” I asked, walking up the steps.
“That depends on you,” Beau replied.
“What?”
“Ash is upset but not with me. She’s upset with herself. Running to you when she thought I’d cheated on her was her first reaction. It has always been the three of us. She didn’t think about going to anyone else. She just figured you would know how to fix it. You always did fix the messes we managed to get into. I’m warning you now that if you so much as blame, raise your voice or even look at her wrong when you walk in that house and hear what she has to tell you, that I will take you down. She got upset. She acted on instinct. What happened as a repercussion isn’t her fault.”
“What in the hell are you getting at Beau?” I asked, starting to feel anxious as I pushed past him and into the house. Ashton was standing in the kitchen with swollen red eyes and chewing on her bottom lip.
“What’s wrong with the two of you?” I asked in confusion. “I’m just here for Lana. Whatever other problems y’all have, I’m out. Fix them yourselves.”