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P.T. joins the real world and has an ‘aha’ moment before smiling wide. “Congratulations Chloe!” He calls down the phone from where he's sat, “…Took him long enough.” He mutters before returning to his work. Chloe keeps in touch when she can. She and Mark moved to the city when she was accepted into college. He owns his own trucking company now and it looks like the two of them can settle down and have the kind of life she deserves.
If she's any luckier, she might have it as good as I do.
She only stays on the line long enough to tell me before she’s called away by Mark. Eager to share the news with his own family. Leaving me to reminisce a little about how one night three years ago changed so many lives. And for the better for a change.
Our eldest, Penelope comes charging through into the kitchen. A cardboard carton she's hitched a pair of belts to over her body. Making beep-beep sounds before shifting up a gear, announcing that she's coming through. Telling the world for the third day in a row that she's gonna be a truck driver.
It makes P.T. look serious every time, but I have to remind him that she is only three. “…It’ll be a few more years before she’s old enough to drive anything but a carton,” I remind him. Making him smile to himself.
“I guess so… But I just-” He starts to say and I know what he means. Same way I wouldn't want Penelope waiting tables for peanuts, her dad here doesn't want her thinking all she can be is a ‘truck driver’.
“Remember last week? When she was an astronaut?” I ask, letting him know she has options other than trucking.
“And mermaid the week before that…” He recalls, “…Unicorn for a whole month after Christmas…”
It isn't long before he can laugh about it. The edge he used to get in his voice whenever someone said truck or truckers. He's better than he was about it but it's still a sore point for him some days and only because I know he misses it.
‘Farmer Phil now…’ He reminds himself occasionally. Slipping on his boots before going to work the land. And only ever really boasting about it when he does what he always does, make everything better. We’ve had bumper crops season after season since he took over the farm. Driving tractors and forklifts just isn't the same though. But tonight I’ve arranged something I think he’ll like.
Something I know I will, if he’s up for it.
* * *
The kids areat Floyd’s and his wife is only too happy to mind them all overnight. Something I only ever ask as a favor when it’s something special. Like properly thanking the man who saved my life and gave me a new one three years ago… three years ago tonight as a matter of fact.
P.T.’s suspicious, but catching the glint in my eye all day, he's played along perfectly. Not even throwing up a fuss when all the kids disappear. He even lets me burn dinner when I try and cook for him, eating every mouthful before it's that time.
“I uh- I kinda made something… Something for you. Out in the truck.” I tell him, suddenly nervous and edgy myself. Like I was that night.
“The truck?” P.T. frowns, but seeing me chew my lip with a mixture of hesitation and need, he still plays along, “Alright then…” He drawls. I tell him to give me a minute, disappearing out towards the barn and quickly changing before climbing up into the rig he's had under a dusty tarp for longer than I care to remember.
I give a blast from the horn, knowing it’ll be the one thing to bring him running and it does.
I don't know which undoes him more. The sight of his rig fully cleaned and looking like new, or me in my nowhere-near-fits-me-anymore waitress uniform I'm busting out of. Urging him with a needful look to come get me undressed before the buttons pop off all by themselves.
But he's already lifting me down, his mouth over mine as I hear the thin fabric tearing. My legs wrapping around his waist. His approval already prodding into me before he tosses me up into the cab, just like he did that night.
“I thought you'd forgotten…” he rumbles before climbing up.
“I’ll never forget,” I promise him, “I just wanted to do something… Special.” I confess, wondering if it's not all just a bit stupid after all.
But to P.T. it means the world. Remembering that night as if it was only last night. The night I gave myself to him like I will tonight. And every night after that.
“I knew you were the one, Petra… I just knew it.” He grins, beaming the widest smile before he pulls the cab door shut. Drawing the curtains and promising that he isn’t gonna stop for anything.
Not ever.
The End.
