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“Poison,” someone hollers, and I look up as my sister backs up more.
“I have to go.” She turns and walks away from me.
EIGHT
SCOUT
“Are you sure you want to do this?” My uncle leans heavily on his desk. My leg is bouncing up and down. I’ve been ignoring Thad’s calls. I know he wants the truth. I can’t give him all of it, but I can do this.
“Yes.” I sigh deeply as I stand up. I’m still sore from the attack from a couple of weekends ago. I know that I shouldn’t do it, but when I get back, I’m going to go for a ride. First, I need to get this taken care of. I need to tell my truth.
As I move out of the office, my mother stands from her seat. She and I have spent hours talking about this over the last few weeks. By tomorrow Thad will be served with the paternity paperwork. I’ve also included a proposed visitation schedule. I’m going to do what’s right by my daughter, regardless of what they made me agree to years ago.
By the time we get back to Ptarmigan Falls, I’m a basket case. I need a ride more than I need a shot of whiskey. I move past everyone milling around to the back of the shop and open the garage. I want something fast and nonrecognizable, so I move to the Fat Bob and gear up. I already have on a pair of riding jeans with extra padding for protection. I carefully hang my cut on a hook and grab my leather jacket. I don’t want to be recognized. I just want to be me for a few moments. River and Rivet find me by the time I reach for my full-face helmet.
“He came by. I told him you were at an appointment.”
“That prospect Poison was talking to him. She might’ve said something. Want me to question her?” Rivet barks.
I slowly shake my head. I don’t want that. If she said something, it’s okay. It’s too late to fix this situation. It’s too late to take it all back. She can’t be made to choose between me and her own brother in this.
“No. First of all, she doesn’t know anything to tell, and second, she can’t make that choice. I don’t want her to.”
Rivet shakes her head, but I see the small smile on River’s lips.
“Rivet, she was too young to know. She saw me though, so that’s all she needs to tell him if he asks.” I nod at them both before I throw my leg over the body of the bike. I sat down the girls in my inner circle and told them all the truth.
“Are you sure you’re up to this?” Rivet asks. She showed up on the Monday after the attack and has been helping me. She is concerned just like everyone else.
“I’m okay. I’ll take it easy.” I hit the switch and the machine comes to life. I don’t take it easy as I speed out of the area and head for the one place where I feel better lately. Our spot.
I knock on the door, afraid to be here, but I need to tell him. He said he’d make it right. I know he’s supposed to leave on Monday for MEPS. The door opens and Cheryl stands there.
“Yes?” she asks like she doesn’t know who I am.
“I need to talk to Thad.” I shuffle from foot to foot. I’m scared, but I don’t look down. Something deep inside me says to keep my eye on her. I watch as her lips pinch slightly, and she starts to smile.
“Thad doesn’t want to see you. He’s with the real love of his life.” At that moment I look over her shoulder and see Monica walking up.
“Mom, Thad wants a sandwich, can I make you one too?” Her voice is so high pitched, I bet the dogs in Delta Junction heard her.
“We-We didn’t break up.” I can’t help the catch in my voice. “It’s important.” I trust him. There has to be something else going on here, but it doesn’t feel like it. It feels real. I pinch myself and look around. Thad’s truck is sitting in the driveway. He’s here.
“He told me he dropped you because you wouldn’t make a good officer’s wife,” Monica says, and I remember the slight disagreement we had about me being a proper military wife. But we didn’t break up. He said we’d work on it.
“No, we didn’t.” My chin lifts, and I’m ready to swear on a stack of bibles.
“Thad told me he was only with you to see if you’d put out. He didn’t want to be with you forever. Jeez, you’re so gullible.” She laughs and my heart stops in my chest. When we first started seeing each other, there was a rumor that was why he was with me.
“My son will never marry a girl from Ptarmigan Falls. The only reason we agreed to his marriage to Monica is because of the family she comes from.”
At that moment Monica holds out her left hand. Sitting on her ring finger is not only a beautiful engagement ring but the one that he tried to give me, and I told him I wasn’t ready.
I am now.
It didn’t take him long to move on. He said he’d wait forever. I’m still in high school.
“That can’t be.” I can’t stop the movement as my hand goes to my lower stomach to protect my unborn baby. Thad’s unborn baby.
