Katie excused herself to the restroom almost immediately and Buck followed her. Randy was setting at the table quietly.
“I’m sorry, did I say something wrong?” Billy asked, upset that he had offended Katie somehow.
“No, you didn’t, son,” Randy said as reassuring as he could. “Can you tell me anything else about your dad? I know he never inquired about you and you haven’t even heard a word about him until recently.”
It was all starting to make sense to him now. Randy was a master at figuring out puzzles. From the little bit Billy went on to tell him, he knew exactly why he hasn’t heard from his dad and why his mom kept it a secret from him.
Buck met Katie as she was coming out of the bathroom. Her cheeks were flushed pink and he could tell that she had started to cry. She knew that he knew as soon as her eyes met his.
“How is this possible,” Katie asked holding her hands up in frustration. “Tate, has a son and it just so happens that our daughter met him at school!”
Buck gave her a big, warm hug. All he could think in his head is that it was going to be a long night.
“We have to tell Daisy, Katie. She knows everything else. She is going to ask us what the deal is, you know she is. The normal, “nothing, it’s fine,” isn’t going to work in this scenario.” Buck said.
Katie rubbed her forehead as she felt a headache coming on. This is too much for her mind to deal with.
“What are the chances that this would even happen? When did this happen? He had to have met this girl sometime before everything happened with me. He was watching me for awhile, Buck. He must’ve met her in that time frame somehow. Then, when she rejected him, that must’ve been when he came after me. I couldn’t reject him if he forced me.” Katie’s mind was spinning in circles. She was trying to process everything, but she just couldn’t.
Buck cupped his hands around her face. “It’s going to be just fine, Katie. We are going to figure this all out. But right now, we have a kid in there who thinks we are angry with him and he has no idea why. We have to go in there and conduct ourselves in a cordial manner.”
Katie felt bad for running out of the room like she did, but she felt like that was the only way to escape what she was feeling all over again. She had to get away.
She and Buck walked back into the kitchen. Katie felt embarrassed as she looked at Billy.
“I’m sorry, Billy,” Katie said a she sat next to him. “You didn’t do anything wrong; I promise.”
“That’s reassuring, I thought I had.” Billy said.
“Has your mom ever said anything to you about me concerning your dad?” Katie asked Billy, as they moved the conversation to the living room.
“All, I know about my dad, is that he and mom met when she came through town for business. She fell for him hard, things got heated and then they fell apart. Nine months later, there I was and she didn’t talk to him anymore. But I guess at some point she had to have since he knows about me. My problem, is why he didn’t try to come and see me or at least call me or why my mom has kept it such a secret.” Billy explained as he sat on the oversized ottoman beside Daisy.
Buck felt bad for Billy. He was innocent in all this and has no idea that his dad is a maniac. Daisy has no idea that Billy’s dad is the one who shot him or kidnapped Katie. How would this affect their friendship? They have to handle this as tactful as possible. Billy is not to blame for any of this and when they talk to Daisy alone, that’s a point they want to make sure is clear.
“So, why the sudden fascination with Billy’s dad all of a sudden, guys?” Daisy asked Buck. “Billy said his name and mom went white as a ghost and left the table and you guys bolted.”
“It’s a long story, hun. You know the lot of it. But we never told you who it was.” Katie explained.
“Are you telling me that his dad did that to yall?” Daisy asked upset and confused.
“What did my dad do exactly?” Billy questioned.
“That may be a question for your mom to answer, son.” Randy said. “That may answer a lot of questions you have as well.”
Billy stood up and gave Katie a hug. “I don’t know what my dad did, but I am sorry. Please know I am nothing like that. I wouldn’t know how to be anything but me.” he said as he adjusted his glasses.
Katie sat back down with Buck as Daisy and Billy made their way outside.
“We need to figure out what in the heck is going on.” Randy said. “Tate is in jail, how is he possibly contacting his mom?”
“Well, they are allowed phone calls, dad. Maybe he’s calling her.” Katie said as she rubbed her still pounding forehead.
“What a way to start a school year, right?” Buck said. “Geez, she makes a friend and it just so happens to be the son of Tate Stevens, it almost doesn’t seem possible.”
“I feel like I have just stepped into the twilight zone quite honestly, Randy said. Are we sure we aren’t dreaming? I mean, I never thought we’d hear that name again, much less have to deal with him.”
Daisy came back inside and sat in the recliner across from her parents.
“Billy feels just awful guys. He doesn’t know what is going on but yet, he feels like it’s his fault.” Daisy said as she sat down and pulled a big overstuffed pillow over her.
“Well, we will figure this out, but yes, to answer your previous question, it is Billy’s dad that did all of what we told you about.” Buck said.
Daisy’s mind was flooded with thought of what they had told her about Tate. Flabbergasted, she couldn’t wrap her mind around all of this. No doubt her parents and grandpa felt the same, or worse.
"Well, don't you guys worry, Billy couldn't do anything like that, he wouldn't harm a fly." Daisy said smiling.