AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He wanted to show me he would just drive off into the sunset with me. Just long enough for me to know I’m the only one he’ll keep. She seemed fine, just like P.T. said she would be, so maybe she’s made of stronger stuff than I am. But after that night it was clear she had nowhere else to go.
We got her back over the border and P.T. gave her a bunch of money. But I always wondered about her.
We came back to my Aunt May’s and P.T. made sure the mortgage got paid and we had nothing to worry about as far as money went. So when Chloe turned up out of the blue after so long and still looking like she could use a break, we offered her a room and I got her my old job at the diner.
She’s tolerating it, but over the work P.T. has her doing around the place, it’s no surprise she’s always waitressing instead of toting hay bales and seed.
It’s only for a while anyway. Chloe and one of the trucker’s sons have hit it off big time and there’s already rumors about a proposal. I guess we just wanted to help her after the worst she went through. Kinda give her back a sense of some kind of normal life.
“I’ll run you over,” P.T. sighs, but not because he doesn’t want to give her a ride.
“It’s Phil now, by the way…” He groans with dramatic effect. Flashing Chloe his ‘new’ and permanent identity. “I’ll come too,” I squeak making P.T. shoot me a stern look.
“You're darn right you're coming with me.” He says, creasing a smile and making Chloe pretend she's going to vomit. “You guys…Ugh!” She groans but I can see the same look in her man’s eyes whenever they're together. P.T. being older doesn't make it any different. Not to me anyhow.
P.T. holds the front door open for both of us and I slap his butt on my way through, putting a hand over my belly, “Soon we’ll be picking baby names, so you'd better get used to it, fella.” I caution him. Wondering if he knows. Promising myself I’ll tell him when we're alone.
Missing my chance by the time we get to the truck stop. Signage fixed and security cameras everywhere. After what went down, Floyd wasted no time in bringing the out-of-the-way ‘Fuckstop’ into the 21st century. And strangely enough, it worked. The place has never been busier. Today more than usual though. And once I spy P.T. trying to hide his maniac grin, once Chloe tries not to laugh…
I know the two of them are up to something.
Something I would never have agreed to unless they'd kept it a secret. “C’mon…” P.T. says, taking my hand and guiding me towards the new and improved diner I still can’t believe is the old place.
Chloe makes straight for the kitchen, running late. And P.T. takes me over to the exact spot where he grabbed me in the dark not so long ago, even though it feels like a lifetime since.
I don't try to hide my confusion, wondering if he’s hit his head on a beam in the barn or something. But he takes my hand in his, giving me the same electric charge I get whenever he touches me.
His eyes locked on mine, it’s like the moment we first touched all over again. And it’s only once he can see the effect that he has, he drops onto one knee, holding the same hand. Kissing it gently and ignoring every pair of staring eyes as he fishes in his jeans pocket for something.
“This is the spot.” He says, looking up at me for a change, “This is the exact spot I found the love of my life… so this is right where I wanna ask her to be mine again. But forever…My wife-” He says, choking with emotion and opening the tiny velvet box.
My eyes mist up and I feel like I’m gonna faint but it's the most beautiful thing anyone’s ever done for me. And from a man like P.T., it proves more than a ring or any words ever could to me.
“I’m pregnant…” is the first thing out of my mouth. His hanging open when I quickly add, “Yes…”
Of course, the answer’s yes. Lord knows I've screamed it in his ear every night long enough. But today it's the yes that really means the most. And with a baby in my belly to boot, I’ve got my man, the house, and the white picket fence.
But most of all, I've got a family. My family.
Us.
EXTENDED EPILOGUE
P.T.
One Year Later
‘…In other news, a police investigation into the abduction of several young women has uncovered something unexpected…’
“Honey!?” I try to call out, catching the sound of the news from the living room. The large pin of a diaper clenched between my teeth. My finger holding down all my folds in what should be the perfect triangle. If your kid is a rhomboid shape.
“Honey? It’s on… It’s on the news right now!” I say as loud as I can, determined to get this right. My fingertips like red braille. Peppered with every effort I've made so far to learn how to do up a diaper right, now we don’t use the disposable ones anymore.
I know. Country living, huh? Next thing y’know I’ll be smoking a corncob pipe and saying ‘yeah’ a lot.
The thud of Petra’s feet on the stairs lets me know she heard. Baby Penelope looking over at me from her high chair with the look of someone who has no faith in me as diaper monitor. She even shakes her head before I try again.
“Ouch! Dammit!” I shout, sticking my finger in my mouth. Petra pumping the volume on the TV to drown me out.
