He wore the typical blue vest and a baseball cap with the company name on it, shaggy blonde hair sticking out from under it.
“Hey! Just dropping off a couple packages.” He waved up at me with a big smile on his face, a thin scar running through his bottom lip.
I didn’t even hear him drive up. “Hey.” I waved back as I looked out at the road and then back at the man. “Did you walk here?” I asked when I didn't see a vehicle.
“Yeah, just parked a couple houses down, but this is the last house on the street before I turn around, so I figured I'd walk it.”
“Oh, okay...have a great night.” I gave the delivery driver a nod. He lifted a hand in a quick wave before heading back down the drive.
Through the branches of the trees surrounding Rae’s parents’ place, I caught a glimpse of the front of his vehicle as he climbed in and drove off. Something about it didn’t sit right with me. Maybe it was just my nerves wound tight from worrying over Rae’s safety. I forced myself to shake it off. Just a delivery driver in the same uniform they all wear. He was gone. Not hanging around.
I went back to the camera installation, trying to push the feeling away. He’d had a company logo on his hat, packages in his hands—everything lined up. Still, the unease clung to me. Something about that guy felt...wrong.
Awhile later, I walkedinside to find Rae asleep on the couch still. She looked so peaceful. She had the blanket curled up under her chin, her mouth was open slightly, and I could hear the faintest snore.
I got myself a glass of water and walked to the wall of photos Rae's mom had hung up. I figured I would wait a bit longer and avoid waking her. I scanned the photos on the wall and remembered Rae loved taking pictures more than being in them. My favorites, though, were the ones she was in. Her smile had been so bright.
My gaze landed on a photo of the two of us. It was taken right before she moved away roughly nine years ago. I smiled at the memory of growing up with her. She had been the best person to have come into my life. Every moment I’d been able to spend with her had been the highlights of high school. I wish I’d told her how much she meant to me back then because maybe whatever is haunting her now, to keep that bright smile off her face, wouldn't have happened.
Behind me, Rae started to stir. She opened her eyes just enough to see me, gave me a small, sleepy smile, and then closed them again. “Hey, Ranger,” she said sleepily, a tiny smile still on her face.
“Hey, Sunshine.” I crossed the room and sat on the floor next to the couch near where her head was. I noticed that she held her breath as I scooted closer to her, but she didn’t move away, and after a moment, she started breathing normally again.
“How long was I out for?”
I couldn’t help but smile at the sleepy sound in her voice. “About three hours. Do you feel better?”
She nodded. “Thank you for putting the cameras up and letting me rest. I'm so sorry I didn't help, though.”
“Hey, don't apologize. I wanted you to sleep.” I reached up and brushed a hair out of her face. She sat up suddenly, her face turning a shade of pink. She didn’t look at me right away. Did I catch her off guard, or did I startle her this time? “Rae, I’m sor—”
She cut me off. “I need to get my phone to pay you for the cameras, and so you can show me how they work.” She shifted the blanket off her lap and swung her feet off the couch, each movement displaying the nervous energy coursing through her.
“First, you're not paying me for anything.” I laughed when she looked like she was about to try and argue with me. She lay back down with a look I knew all too well. She knew if she argued with me that I would win, so she gave up and gave me a goofy, fake, frustrated look. It was good to see that was something that had not changed.
One of her hands was resting by the pillow, and I took a chance and reached up to hold it gently. It was a risky move, but I had a feeling someone had hurt her, and I wanted her to feel safe with me. I hoped with the small things I did that she would soon see that if she hadn’t already. She didn’t flinch or pull away. Inwardly, I cheered.
“Rae, don't argue with me on this. I wanted to do this for you. Your parents, too. Also, if you're okay with it, I'll monitor it for the next couple of days while I finish my rotation at work. Once I verify that everything works properly, I will add it to your phone.”
Rae nodded and I gave her hand a gentle squeeze, then released it so I could stand up.
“I should probably go, though, so I can get sleep for my shift tomorrow. Are you sure you don't want to stay with me for a bit? I could even sleep here, on your couch, if that would help you feel safe.”
Rae sat up again. “I really appreciate that, but I don't want to be a burden, so I'll stay here. I have the cameras now, so at least we may be able to see who it is if they come back tonight.”
I nodded and sighed, trying to think of what to say so she knew I cared, but at the same time avoiding scaring her away or making her uncomfortable.
“Caleb, are you—are you mad at me? Did I say something wrong?” When I turned to look at her, she stood slumped over as if defeated with tears in her eyes.
“Oh my gosh, no.” I took her shaking hands in mine. “I'm sorry I made you think that. I just wish you wouldn't think of yourself as a burden. I was trying to think of a way to tell you that.”
Rae looked at the ground, and I saw a single tear fall.
“Woah, hey, this—this is not my Sunshine. This is not the girl I lo— knew back in high school. Come here.” I led her across the room to the wall of photos. “See this smile? I've not seen it since you came back to town, and I'm curious, who took it from you? Who hurt you, Rae?”
She stared at the photo for what felt like an eternity. “Just...life” The tears in her eyes were gone when she looked away from the photo and to me instead.
“Okay. When you're ready to tell me, I'm here. No judgment, no pressure. But one thing I know for sure—” I hesitated but nudged her chin up so I knew she was locked in. I gently brushed my fingers under her chin while looking into her beautiful green eyes. “I'm determined to get my girl back.” Much to my surprise, she did not move away.
