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“Just finalising details for the trip.”
“Trip?” I question. Who the hell has time to go on a trip?
“Yeah, sounds better than a suicide mission to find my wife and drag her back from the fires of hell, kicking and screaming till she forgives me.”
“Ah, trip.” I smile. “Yeah, that does sound less intimidating and more achievable.”
“When are you leaving?”
“Couple of days.”
Nodding, I say, “Catch ya later.”
He taps the top of the cab as he walks away, and Skye lets out a big whoosh of breath, panting, “Shit, that was so scary.”
“Calm down, love, you'll make yourself ill. We've got a long day, and I can't have you on edge for all of it, okay? Think of Bean.”
Smiling down, she rubs at her round, neat stomach, and I reach over and put my hand on it. “It's gonna be okay. Just relax.”
She nods, and we set off again. Pulling up at the clinic. We head in.
An hour later, we’re heading back to the truck. As Skye climbs in, I grab the supplies out and hand them to her, adjusting pillows and blankets around her to make her comfortable and handing her all the drinks and snacks to stash in the footwell. We've got a good three to four-hour drive ahead of us. Steel was right when he said Ray would head north and stay along the coast. I feel bad for not telling him, but I can't risk losing or scaring her off. I need her to know she can trust me, and until I see her for myself, I’m keeping my lips sealed.
Pulling up at the diner, we’re half an hour early, and I lost Skye a good two hours ago; she’s been so tired that I think the steady motion of the truck lulled her to sleep. I'm just about to lean over and wake her as a hooded figure comes to stand in front of the truck. Shit, it’s Ray. She shakes her head and lifts her finger to her lips. I slowly take the handle and open the door, shutting it with the softest click I can. Before rounding the truck, I don’t slow. I don't stop in front of her. I just scoop her into my arms and hug her. She feels so tiny. I feel her body shake against mine, and although no sound comes from her, I can tell she’s sobbing. As the tears roll down my cheeks, I do the only thing I can at that moment and hold her tighter.
When we pull away, I look into her red puffy eyes. “Fuck, you look like shit.”
“Missed you too, Brother.” She half smiles, not a real one, more of a placating one.
I cup her face, and she closes her eyes. I run my thumb down the angry red scar through her eye.
“It looks worse than it is.”
“How are you?”
“Straight in with the tough questions, huh?”
“Ray?” She doesn't even look like herself right now, and she’s certainly not acting like herself. She’s barely a person at this moment in time. I can feel the darkness, the emptiness staring back from her eyes, their sparkle gone, her light gone. She’s almost a shell right now. I don't know if she’s gonna come back from whatever this is, but I pull her in for another hug as I can't bear to not feel her in my arms. At least if she’s in my arms, I know where she is, I know she’s safe, and no one can hurt her. The minute she steps away, I will lose that feeling.
“Ray!” The scream comes as the truck door flies open, and Skye comes running at us. Ray turns as she runs into her, wrapping her arms around her and sobbing into her chest. I take a step forward and hold them both as tight as I can.
“Shit, kiddo, you cooking a lineman in there?”
We all share a laugh, and all I wanna do is bottle this moment and save it forever. The only thing is I know it’s gotta end. I can't for the life of me bring myself to let them go.
This moment right here is what I need to fight for, getting us all back together. Once Skye’s sobs steady, we all take a step back. “Come on, we should go inside.” Stepping through the doors, Ray checks the place over and chooses a booth in the corner near the restroom, like she hasn't already surveilled the place and has fifteen escape routes planned and a gun taped under the table.
We place our order, and Ray smiles across at Skye. “So, how's married life treating you both?”
“Oh my god, Ray, it's the best; he cooks shirtless, like all the time, and it's the best thing, and then there's the sex. I did all the things—”
“Woah, maybe I should go to the bathroom while you girls talk about… stuff!”
“Oh sure, sorry.” Skye blushes, and it's the sweetest thing ever. I know with all her issues, Ray had been helping Skye out in that department, and I know I’ve thanked god on more than one occasion for the “things” she learnt, but fuck, I don’t want to hear them talk about it.
I lean in and kiss her on the cheek. I slide the envelopes across the table to Ray before smiling at them both and leaving. I give them a good few minutes before returning.
When I get back, the food has just arrived, and we eat in almost silence. Ray picks at hers, which is worrying. It's not like her. She’s still so slim. She’s put some weight back on, but she’s not back to herself and clearly not interested in food, which is a big red flag on its own. Ray not interested in food is a thought I never thought I’d think.
