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He chuckles. “Don’t worry. I’m not ever going anywhere without you.” He seals the declaration with a kiss. And a whisper. “Trust me.”
I whisper back. “Forever, Ben.”
Epilogue
Ben
Five years later
“You can stop doing that.” She laughs at me.
“What?”
“Throwing me a worried look every mile. I promise I won’t ruin your upholstery.”
“Shush, I wasn’t thinking about my truck’s upholstery. I was admiring my wife. Do you need to stop before we get to town?”
“No, I can make it. I’ve only puked once today so I’m hopeful that this phase is on its way out.”
I look at her again, this stunning genius of a woman who, for some inexplicable reason, chose me.
“What’s the deal with Frankie? He didn’t want to drive up with us?”
Her brother is in his third year at ESU, where both Camden and I went to college. We don’t live too far from campus and we see him all the time. After playing ball for the university for all four years I accepted a job in their athletic department. Camden, meanwhile, became editor-in-chief of ESU’s weekly newspaper and went on to achieve her masters in record time. She teaches some undergrad journalism classes and also writes freelance articles for a number of publications around the country. Two years ago we tied the knot and two months ago we bought our first house.
The same week we discovered that we are going to be parents.
“Frankie is getting a ride into town with one of his friends this evening, which is good because my mom would have been disappointed if he missed Christmas Eve.”
When we’re still five miles away from Devil Valley, Camden says she wants to stop at the Cushings’ house first in case we lose track of time later. We’ve always stayed in close touch with them and visit whenever we return to Devil Valley, which is often. They lovingly refer to us as ‘the children’.
Diane and Dee are delighted to see us, as always. Dee had gastric bypass surgery last year and they have recently taken in two foster kids, both teenage boys who greet us shyly with their hands stuffed in their pockets. The boys smile with childlike surprise when Camden presents them both with prettily wrapped gifts. Diane serves us plates of cheese and crackers and asks about our jobs and our new house. They see Camden’s parents regularly but want to know how my mother is doing.
My mother’s life has taken a completely different direction. She’s written a memoir, started a new business as a life coach and moved to Black Mountain. I’m pleased to tell them she’s doing great. We won’t see her for Christmas since she’s currently enjoying a Caribbean cruise but these days she’s confident and successful and has no use for Dirtbag-type people. I’m proud of her.
Camden’s parents are expecting us so we can’t stay long. When we return to the truck I lean over and plant a quick kiss on my wife’s lips.
“I feel kind of guilty that we didn’t share the news.”
She smiles and flattens her palm to her belly. “We’ll tell them. After we tell our folks.”
I start the engine and switch on the heat. “We better get to it before your belly pops.”
“Already happening. Check me out in these new elastic waist pants.” She beams as she says this.
Her hand still rests on her belly and I cover it with mine. Among the gifts packed into the shopping bags in the backseat is a picture frame containing an image from last week’s ultrasound. We plan to give it to her parents on Christmas morning.
On the short drive over to Camden’s old neighborhood we talk about our other plans for the week we’ll be in town. Kent and Trina made us promise to visit Black Mountain and have dinner at their house. Kent just signed a contract to play pro hockey and in the spring we’ll be visiting Black Mountain again to attend his wedding to Trina. They broke up after high school but in time things worked out for them and now they’re back where they belong. With each other.
“Forecast says it might snow late tonight,” I point out, noting that the sky already looks pretty threatening.
“That’s perfect.” Camden plays with a strand of hair and smiles as she watches the familiar sights of Devil Valley roll by. We pass Devil Valley High and Imogen’s Diner and Dee’s Gas and Goods. I slow down when we approach the fateful street corner where the two of us used to wait for the bus to Black Mountain.
The corner is empty right now but my mind’s eye sees the view from outside the truck, when I stood in that space day after day in the presence of a girl who was destined to become my everything.
Camden’s thoughts are the same. I can tell by the way her smile grows and she looks at me in a way that always threatens to steal my breath.
“I love you,” I tell her because I can never say it enough.
