by Leah Atwood
An abrupt nod was all the response Wyatt gave. Not even a final meeting of the eyes.
Her feet moved forward by a supernatural force. She didn’t want to leave. But she’d agreed. The divorce had been her idea. They’d married in a naïve state, hadn’t known what they were doing. Love hadn’t been enough to see them through.
Wyatt’s arm reached out to stop her.
She turned slowly, raising her eyes to him. Searching for a sign.
He leaned in. An intense gaze darkened his eyes. “I never imagined we’d end like this.”
Why then, she wanted to scream. Why hadn’t he fought to keep their marriage alive? “I should go now.”
His voice choked when he opened his mouth to speak again. “If you ever need anything, anything at all, call me.”
“I will.” Her heart shattered into unrepairable pieces with every breath she took.
His lips brushed against hers. One last kiss to see her through forever.
A cough on the other line brought her back to the present. “What do you need, Meg? Tell me and you know I’ll take care of it.”
She took a deep breath, drawing courage. “Come home.”
A moment of silence. “I’ll be there tomorrow.”
For the first time since hospice had arrived, she didn’t feel defeated. “You mean it?”
“It won’t be until late in the evening, but I’ll be there.”
“I rent a house a few streets down from my parents, but I’ll be staying with my dad a few days to help him through the funeral.”
“I’ll give you a call when I’m near.” His voice muffled as he called out to someone before returning to the conversation. “I have to get going. You gonna be okay?”
“I will be now.” Knowing he’d be there gave her strength to make it until tomorrow. She’d always felt unshakable with Wyatt, as though she could conquer the world with nothing more than him at her side.
“I’m sorry again about your mom. She was a good lady.”
“The best.” She lost the hard-fought battle for dry eyes after only a few minutes. “I’ll let you go. Sounds like you’re busy.”
“Call or text if you need anything before I get there.” His voiced dropped. “Thanks for calling me.”
She ended the call. His last four words echoed in her mind. Had she done the right thing, or had she set herself up for another round of heartache? She’d acted on impulse when she called him, desperate for the comfort she’d once found with him and aching for a way to recapture that in the wake of her mom’s death.
Seven years should have closed the gaping wounds left in the wake of their divorce, but the sound of his voice had sent her heart reeling again—just like it always had. Was she strong enough to draw comfort from his presence without losing her heart, only to have him leave again?
It’s a risk she had to take. She hadn’t thought her request through before asking, but she knew the score.
All that mattered was that he’d said yes and would be here. She’d deal with anything else that arose when it—or he—showed up.
The screen door slammed shut.
She glanced up and saw her younger sister, Kelly, staring at a potted fern. Red puffiness encircled her eyes.
Meg uncurled her legs and turned to sit forward. She patted the empty spot on the swing beside her. “Have a seat.”
Kelly broke her stare of the plant and shuffled to the swing, then lowered herself in slow motion. “It’s only been three weeks since we planted the fern. Mom was vibrant and healthy. I don’t understand.”
“I’m not sure we ever will. Maybe she had symptoms for a while but didn’t think they were serious. I don’t know.”
“Kyle’s mom called. She’s bringing over dinner in a half hour.”
“I don’t much feel like eating, but that’s nice of her.”
“That’s what I told Kyle.” Kelly wrapped herself in a hug. “He said she insisted it was the neighborly thing to do, especially after all the cooking Mama did after Kyle’s father died.”
“How are you and Kyle?”
“Better. All the arguing we’d been doing seems awfully petty now.”
A faint smiled worked on Meg’s lips. “Still engaged then?”
“Absolutely. We talked, though, and agreed to push the wedding back a few months.” Kelly wiped her eye. “June’s only a month away. I don’t think I’ll be ready to marry so soon after mom’s death.”
She wrapped an arm around her sister’s shoulder. “Whenever you’re ready, I’ll be right by your side.”
“Thanks.” Kelly offered a weak smile. “I should check on Daddy.”
“Wait a second.” Sitting upright, Meg locked her hands together. “I should tell you something.”
Lips twitching in a frown, Kelly closed her eyes. “If it’s bad, I don’t want to hear it. I can’t take any more.”
“It’s not. Not really.”
Kelly opened her eyes and tilted her head. “What’s up?”
“I called Wyatt.”
“What?” Kelly’s jaw dropped. “When?”
“Right before you came outside.” She rubbed her neck, a nervous tic she’d developed as a teen.
“And? What did you say?”
“I asked him to come.”
“Wow. Is he?”
“Yes.” Nerves prompted her to her feet. “Maybe I shouldn’t have called him.”
“When was the last time you talked to him?” Kelly’s gaze regarded her with fascination.
“Seven years ago. The day I moved out.”
Kelly emitted a low whoosh. “And he’s dropping everything to come see you?”
She nodded slowly. “So he says.”
“Wyatt wouldn’t have said he would, if he didn’t mean it.”
“Do you think I made a mistake?” Meg wrapped an arm around the white porch pillar.
“Divorcing him or asking him to come?”
Meg sputtered. “Asking him to come. There’s no sense second-guessing the divorce this many years later.”
“I don’t know, Megs. I really don’t.” Kelly took a deep breath. “Even now, I don’t understand why you wanted a divorce. I understand why you called him, but I’m afraid you’ll end up hurt.”
That makes two of us. “I have no illusions of anything other than seeing an old friend who’s always been there for me.”
The subtle nod from Kelly clearly expressed her doubt. “Wyatt isn’t just an old friend. He’s your ex-husband. The man you shared your life with for two years.”
Doubts assailed her from every direction. “I’m going to call him back and tell him not to worry about it.”
“Too late for that.” Kelly smirked. “If I were a betting woman, I’d be willing to wager a month’s salary he’d come even if you told him not to.”
“Do you know what’s sad?” She leaned her head against the column and stared at Mama’s car in the driveway. “Everything you’ve said is true, and I’m terrified to see him again. But I need him. I can’t imagine going to Mama’s funeral without him.”
Kelly came behind her and put an arm on her shoulder. “I understand. Kyle’s my rock. Without him, I don’t know what I’d do.”
“Speaking of…” She faced Kelly and pointed to Kyle walking down the street from his mom’s house. “Looks like Mrs. Martin sent her son in her place.”
The light in Kelly’s eyes surfaced. “Bless her.”
“I’ll check on Daddy. I’m sure you want some time alone with Kyle.”
“Thank you.” Kelly flicked a glance of appreciation her way before fleeing down the steps and meeting her fiancé halfway.
Meg watched their embrace—tender but awkward with a casserole dish in hand—then ventured into the house to allow the couple their privacy.
She found her dad sitting on the sofa, a framed picture in hand. She recognized it as the one from his and mom’s Alaskan cruise last summer. “Care for some company?”
Dad looked up. His once-vibrant go
lden eyes, which matched her own, were dulled by anguish. “Can’t promise I’ll be any good at it, but come on.”
The cushion sank under her weight. “She’s in a better place.”
How she used to hate those words when someone passed away. Only now that she’d become a Christian did she understand the comfort in them.
“She knew where she was going, that’s for sure.” He set the frame on the end table. “We almost didn’t take that cruise. I was worried about taking time off in the middle of a big project.”
“I didn’t know that.”
“I promised your mom I’d take her for our thirtieth anniversary, and I wasn’t going to break that vow.” His eyes lingered on the photo. “If I’d have known it would be our last trip together, I wouldn’t have questioned going.”
She curled up and leaned against him like she had many times as a child. “Will the pain ever go away?”
Her dad pulled her closer to him and kissed the top of her head. “I sure hope so, honey.”
Chapter Three
“You’re doing what?” Jared’s mouth hung wide open.
“I have to. Meg needs me.”
“Who drops everything to go see an ex-wife they haven’t seen in seven years?”
Wyatt rubbed his eyes. “First, to be dropping everything, I’d have to have something going on. Second, it’s complicated. I told her if she ever needed anything to call me, and she did. I can’t ignore that.”
“Yes, you can.” Jared shook his head. “This is crazy.”
“Her mother died for crying out loud.” He packed the suitcase he’d only unpacked last night. “Now’s not the time to split hairs and worry about what happened almost a decade ago.”
“It’s not easy losing a parent.” The shock in Jared’s tone lessened. “I tried to be there for my sister Cara when our father died, but I probably didn’t do the best job.”
“I might be making a big mistake, but all I know is I have to go.”
“How long will you be gone?”
“A week? Two at the most.” The zipper jammed, and he tugged it until it glided smoothly to close his suitcase. “I’m praying I get a call soon about a job. Money’s not a problem, but I need to do something, or I’ll go crazy.”
“Take all the time you need. Your stuff is safe here, and I’m sure your family will be glad to see you.”
“They don’t know I’m coming.” Wyatt cringed. “I should probably give my mom a head’s up.”
“You think?” Jared smirked. “You’re planning to stay with them, right?”
“Yes.”
“Will they mind you going home for Meg’s sake?”
“What is this, twenty questions?” He picked up an empty soda can from the night before and crumbled it to toss in the recycling bin on his way out.
“Just curious.” Jared shrugged. “It’s not every day you take a trip home, especially to see an ex-wife.”
“My parents were against us marrying in the first place because of our age, but they disagreed with the divorce more. They believe any marriage can be worked out.” He made a disgruntled face. “I just hope they don’t start pushing for a reunion.”
“They wouldn’t do that.”
“You don’t know my parents.” A growl vented his frustrations. “Every single time I go home on leave, they’ve made it a point to tell me either Meg is still single, or Meg’s dating someone, so I should talk to her before I lose my chance to make things right.”
Jared’s mouth formed an O. “Ouch.”
“Their hearts are in the right place, and that’s the only thing that keeps me sane.” He chuckled. “In a way, their determination has helped me avoid her. They’ve told me where she works, where she likes to eat, even where they’ve seen her shopping.”
“Your parents are a trip.”
“They are, but they’re good people. They’d give their last dime to help someone in need.” A wave of homesickness settled in his heart.
He hadn’t been home since before the last deployment, and he suddenly looked forward to seeing his parents and siblings, going home. Maybe he could find renewal in a return to his roots, to the place where he’d grown up in blissful ignorance of the outside world.
“I have to get to work. But have a safe trip. Give me a heads up when you’re coming back.”
“Will do.”
Jared left, and Wyatt gathered the rest of his belongings he’d need for a visit home, including a sweatshirt from the garage. Even in May, summer nights could be cool in Pennsylvania. He loaded his vehicle and locked up Jared’s house.
On his way out of town, he stopped to top off his tank and grab a cup of coffee. The largest cup available with the highest level of caffeine. Ten to twelve hours on the road loomed ahead of him, possibly more depending on traffic. Being a Friday, the likelihood increased for interstates at a standstill from an influx of travelers and accidents.
Barely an hour into the trip, he hit a traffic jam in Goldsboro due to roadwork. He tapped the steering wheel to the beat of the song blaring from his speakers. Twenty minutes later, he hadn’t moved but a hundred feet. Is there a detour? He played with his GPS, searching for a quicker way. One popped up, but it would be a gamble. Opting to stay put, he took a sip of coffee and resigned himself to sitting. Please don’t let this be a sign of the remainder of the trip.
Ten more minutes passed. Miraculously, the traffic picked up and moved at a normal speed. He made it to I-95 and stopped at a rest area to stretch his legs before hitting Northern Virginia. If any place were likely to test his patience while driving that’s where it would be. He slipped several dollar bills into a vending machine and pushed the button for an energy drink. What was it about driving that made him unreasonably tired?
He paused outside the restrooms to read a plaque on local history. Something nudged his leg, and he looked down to see a white German shepherd mix. “Hey there, big guy.”
Patting the dog’s head, he noticed the faint outline of the ribs and a lack of collar or any sign of identification. “I don’t have any food. Sorry. Sure looks like you could use some.”
A burly security guard approached. “That’s Oscar. The mutt’s been hanging around for months.”
“He doesn’t have a home?”
“Not that I’m aware of. He’s here night and day.” Officer Nichols—so his name badge said—scratched the dog’s ear. “The boss has been at me to call animal control, but I don’t have the heart. I’d take him home, but my wife’s allergic.”
Don’t even think about it. Stop your thought right now. “Can I take him?”
So much for his mental command.
Officer Nichols snapped his head up from looking at the dog, his eyes wide with surprise. “I don’t see why not.”
What are you thinking? Ignoring his screaming conscience, he stooped down and put himself eye level with the dog. “What do you think, Oscar? Want to take a ride with me?”
Oscar jumped up and threw his paws on Wyatt’s shoulders.
He chuckled. “I guess that’s my answer.”
“Take good care of him.” Officer Nichols gave the dog a final pat. “I’ve grown rather fond of the mutt.”
“I will.” He stood to his feet and tapped his thigh. “Come on, Oscar.”
The dog followed him to the car and jumped in as though they’d been together for years. He settled in the front seat, sitting on his haunches and staring out the window.
Wyatt set his drink in the cup holder and grabbed his phone. Snapped a picture of Oscar and sent it to Evan and Jared with the caption, “Look what I picked up.”
What he would do with a dog he didn’t know, but he couldn’t resist those big, round eyes the color of his favorite chocolate. Jared shouldn’t have a problem with a dog in his home. He’d mentioned wanting one on several occasions, but not until he got out and didn’t have to worry about deployments anymore.
His parents? Hmm. They didn’t even know he was heading home. He decided to bank
on them being so happy to see him, they wouldn’t object to the dog. Worst case scenario, he’d board him at the vet while he was there.
Oscar barked.
“Yeah, that’s not a good idea, is it?” He rubbed the dog’s chest. “Don’t worry. If anything, I’ll get us a hotel room, so you won’t be alone.”
A text came through. Jared’s comment—Good looking hitchhiker.
Evan’s came through a few seconds later—Nice dog, but what were you thinking?
Ha. Obviously, Wyatt hadn’t really asked himself either, or he would have realized the complete impracticality of taking in a stray dog. For all he knew, it was flea-ridden. The thought freaked him out, but not enough to regret the impromptu, informal adoption. However, as he backed out and drove north, he intermittently watched for any signs of infestation. Oscar never once scratched. That had to be a good sign.
He crossed into Pennsylvania and pulled into a large travel station to fill the tank and grab a bite to eat. After filling up, he moved to a parking spot and cracked the windows for Oscar’s comfort.
On his way to the coolers at the back of the store, his eyes caught sight of a pet section along an aisle. Surprised, he stopped to look. A brown nylon leash hung from a peg, and next to it, three pegs of collars—small, medium, and large. He grabbed the leash and matching collar, then looked for dog food. None to be found.
Oh well. I’ll stick with my original plan of a plain burger. He continued to the coolers and pulled out a bottle of water for the dog. He’d seen plastic containers by the rollers of hot dogs and bin of nachos. One of those should suffice for a bowl. He carried his merchandise to the register, dumped it on the counter, and paid. Then he went to the attached fast food restaurant and ordered a value meal for himself and two plain burgers for the dog.
Oscar sat in the driver’s seat when Wyatt returned to his vehicle.
He waved a hand. “Move it.”
A happy bark later, Oscar jumped to the passenger seat.
Scrounging in the bag, he found the collar. Oscar eagerly leaned his head forward as though he knew the band denoted ownership.
“Good boy.” Wyatt unwrapped a burger and broke it in half, offering a piece to the dog. “I guess it’s official. It’s you and me now.”
