***

Scott slid a sweaty palm down the leg of his jeans. His heart was racing. Pausing in the hallway, he grinned and mentally reviewed what he was prepared to do tonight. He felt so lucky. After meeting Meghan and, then, persuading her to go out with him, the next few years were easy; he worked on a film crew and she faithfully followed him wherever he went. Tonight they had a special evening planned. Meghan had left a few hours ago to spend a little time with some friends she made while he was filming in Alaska. He told her he’d pick her up outside the hotel, but she wasn’t waiting outside yet, so he decided to go inside and get her. He didn’t want to wait all night to take the diamond out of his right pocket and place it on her left hand. He heard voices inside the room and didn’t want to interrupt, so he paused before knocking on the half-open door.

“So you’re really going to travel all the way across the country with him again?”

Although the first voice he heard was foreign, the sweet, familiar voice that answered made his swiftly beating heart stop.

“Well, of course. I’ve traveled everywhere he’s wanted me to go for the past four and a half years. Why stop now?”

“Because you have him eating out of the palm of your hand. If you told him you wanted to stay behind this time, you know he’d let you do whatever you want.”

Meghan sighed loudly, “What good would it do me to stay here?”

Scott inched closer to the door. His mind raced as he tried to determine if Meghan really wanted him to go on to the next filming location without her. He listened, afraid to breath - as if they might hear him from inside.

The initial voice spoke up again, a much more exasperated tone this time, “For one, you’d finally be able to get around a little without having to sneak out of his place all the time. And, besides, unless you want to be with him forever, you have to break away sooner or later.”

Scott strained to hear Meghan’s response over the sound of the blood rushing through his head. What did she mean, ‘get around a little’? And, when did Meghan ever need to sneak out of his place? He was beginning to feel dizzy when he heard Meghan’s voice again.

She spoke confidently, “Are you kidding me? Break away? No way will I ever ‘break away.’ He’s an amazing cinematographer with a permanent spot on a major film crew. Not to mention how good he looks! And, in a few years he’ll be making six digits and I’ll be living in an LA mansion, flirting with celebrities, and sleeping my way through Hollywood.”

A chorus of giggles erupted from the room. Scott leaned against the wall for support and tried to digest what he had just heard. Could she really be staying with him only because she wanted to be rich and famous someday? He thought she loved him. Realizing he’d be caught if he stayed there, Scott turned to leave. He needed a place to think for a few minutes. Once he was back downstairs, he turned and walked all the way to the end of the hallway where he stopped to knock on a familiar door.

Ty’s friendly smile greeted him, “Hey, man, what’s up?” He patted Scott’s shoulder and was about to ask him if he was ready for his big night when he saw the pale expression on his friend’s face. “What’s wrong?”

Scott stepped past Ty and sat down on a chair just inside the door. Wringing his hands in his lap, he looked up and began to speak quietly, “I just, um, I just overheard Meghan telling a couple of the girls that she’s staying with me because in a few years I’ll be making a lot more money and she’ll have a mansion in LA.” He paused, looked toward the window, and continued, “She also assumes that when I’m gone she’ll be able to … now how did she say it? She’ll be able to ‘sleep her way through Hollywood’.”

“No. I’m sure she didn’t mean anything like that! Are you sure?”

Scott got up and walked to the window. Being on the first floor, there wasn’t much of a view, but at least it was better than looking into Ty’s concerned expression and coming to terms with the fact that Meghan wasn’t who he thought she was.

He spoke confidently, “I’m sure. There was no hesitation in her voice. She was speaking from her heart and telling it exactly like she sees it. She is using me. That’s it. There was no remorse in her voice. It was also completely void of love. Why didn’t I see this myself? How did she fool me for so long?”


“I don’t know. Maybe there’s more to it. Talk to her. Don’t assume she’s been lying to you all along.”


Scott looked carefully at Ty. “Have you ever been in love? I mean REALLY in love?”

“No,” Ty shook his head. He didn’t know how to help. “I’m sorry.”

“Yeah, well, don’t let it keep you up. I guess we’ll talk -”

A knock at the door stopped him mid-sentence.

Ty got up to answer it, “Hi, Meghan. What’s up?” He avoided making eye contact, and turned to walk back inside quickly.

“Hi, Ty. Nothing new.” She looked at Scott by the window and skipped over to him, “I’m just looking for this guy. He’s supposed to be taking me out tonight.” She smiled, but it faded quickly as she noticed no one else was smiling at her. “What’s wrong?”

Ty spoke up quickly, “I was just having a bad day, that’s all. Scott stopped in to talk a while before your date. Sorry if I kept him too long.”

Meghan’s smile returned, “Oh, no problem! I got carried away with the girls, too.” She looped her fingers inside Scott’s and pulled herself up to kiss him on the cheek before turning to leave. “I’ll let you boys finish up and I’ll meet you outside.” She pointed a flirtatious finger at Scott as she turned the corner out the door.

Scott waited until Meghan was out of the room and threw his hands in the air, “It’s as if nothing is going on. She acted totally normal just now.” He looked at Ty, “Didn’t she?” He didn’t wait for an answer before continuing. His voice became louder as his breathing increased with his despair, “Is it just me? Has this been going on so long that she can say the types of things I just overheard, then turn around and act as if nothing is wrong between us?”

Ty motioned toward the door Meghan just skipped through and shook his head. “I don’t know, but, you’re right, she was completely normal - her typical happy, smiling, electric self.”

“What do I do now?” Scott looked to Ty for advice.

Ty’s mind raced. He would never have guessed Meghan was unfaithful, yet from the small amount of information he just received, was it even possible that there was another possibility? Should he try to convince Scott that he could have misunderstood her comments, or try to help prepare him for the terrible realization that Meghan was not who they all thought she was? Unable to decide and offer any satisfactory suggestions, Ty ran his hands through his black hair and questioned Scott, “What do you want to do?”

Scott looked incapable of answering and Ty continued, “I mean, you can’t go back in time; so do you want to confront her, or walk away, or try to ignore what you heard?”

“I want to forget what I heard. I want to pretend she didn’t say those things. But I can’t.”


Scott reached into his pocket. With a shaking hand, he held out a small square box toward Ty. “Will you keep this down here tonight?”

Ty nodded as he took the box, but raised a questioning eyebrow at Scott.

Scott responded quietly to the unspoken question, “I love her more than anything and I want to give her a chance to explain herself. On the other hand, I don’t want to get carried away tonight and make any mistakes. If I don’t have this, I can’t do something I’ll regret in the morning.”


“Okay, no problem.” Ty took the ring and decided he was happy he’d never been in love. It seemed like one big uncertainty that he wasn’t willing to experience yet. “Just don’t forget to come back and pick it up again.”

Scott grinned, “If I forget to pick it up, I give you permission to sell it.”

He walked past Ty and out the door. Meghan was waiting patiently on a bench in the lobby. She jumped up to greet him. He cringed at her embrace.

“What’s wrong? You seem tense.” Without waiting for his reply, she continued - a seductive gleam brightening her eyes, “I can help you relax if you’d rather not go for dinner.”

Taking a deep breath, Scott smiled and gently slid her arm off his neck. “No. I’m hungry. I’ll relax later.”

Stunned at his indifference to her advance, Meghan smiled gently and relaxed back on her feet again before speaking. “If talking to Ty upsets you so much, why do you always make yourself available whenever he needs to talk?”

Angered by her lack of concern, and wondering if it had always been there, unnoticed by himself, Scott answered dryly, “Ty is a great guy who has been through a lot this past year. When he needs to talk, I’m going to be there to listen.” Feeling sick to his stomach, Scott continued, “And, it’s not talking to Ty that upset me. I had a rough afternoon, myself.”

“Oh, okay. Well, if you need to talk, I’m here.” She looked closely at Scott trying to make eye contact, but he avoided her stare.

Scott stifled a laugh and continued walking toward Meghan’s car. “Are you going to drive tonight or should I?”

She eyed him suspiciously, “You can drive.” Pausing outside the car, she looked across at him as she tossed him the keys, “Are you sure you don’t want to talk about whatever is bothering you? You seem really worked up.”

Scott answered with a mild hint of sarcasm in his voice, “We’ll talk later. Can we just enjoy a nice dinner first?”

Meghan nodded and sat down inside the car. She buckled and smiled at Scott when she caught him staring at her. It was obvious he was completely in love with her. He was blind to her lies and cover-ups. When she said she was hanging out with friends, he never questioned her or showed any skepticism. He always wanted to know where she was and who she was with, which was becoming a bit annoying, however, but he never doubted what she told him. So, she really couldn’t complain. Making up believable lies was sometimes difficult, but not impossible. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw the lust in his eyes. She loved how it felt to be wanted - by Scott or any of the other men she had enjoyed over the past few years. And, she had to admit, Scott was very good looking. His blond hair always had an uncombed appearance - no matter what he did to try to tame it. Being from Southern Florida, his permanently tanned skin hadn’t faded in the colder weather of Alaska. All this, supported by a strong, but not excessively muscular frame, and Scott was her perfect man.

Blushing, Scott looked away quickly. She caught the expression in his eyes already, though. There would be no going back. He knew how tonight would end. Any other evening and he’d be hoping for it. But, tonight, he wanted to find a way to take her home and just go to sleep. She sat up straight in the passenger seat and adjusted her skirt. He’d swear she pulled it up higher on her leg and left even more of her soft skin exposed. Her hair was pulled back off her shoulder and he imagined kissing her neck and the smell of her perfume. She wore his favorite tonight, no doubt expecting something major to happen. He only hoped she wasn’t disappointed. One last glance at her and he started the car and pulled out of the lot.

After a brief drive, they arrived at the restaurant a few minutes later. He handed the keys to Meghan before getting quietly out of the car and proceeding toward the restaurant. She practically had to run around the car to catch up with him, a bit angered that he didn’t wait for her.

“You are still too quiet. I want to talk now. What’s bothering you?” Meghan’s request was so sincere. Scott almost forgot what had upset him earlier. He considered telling her, but quickly decided against it.

“Not now. Just enjoy dinner. We’ll talk about my day later.” He smiled unconvincingly and continued toward the door.

She noticed he didn’t reach for her hand, so she walked up next to him and confidently took his.

It was a quiet dinner. Scott kept running the earlier conversation he’d overheard through his head, trying to determine if he had a reason to be upset. He fought with the internal conflict raging through him. He wanted to confront her tonight and know exactly where he stood, but one look into her blue eyes and he lost the resolve that was building. Maybe he should just try to forget what he heard. Meghan wondered what had upset Scott so much, never considering that it was her.

As dessert arrived, however, Meghan couldn’t take the silence any longer, “Okay, I’ve waited all night, thinking you would begin to cheer up eventually, but you haven’t. Tell me what’s going on with you today.”

The impatience in her voice pushed him over the edge. “Are you sure you want to know?”

“Yes.” It was clear she had no idea what she was about to hear.

Scott took a deep breath and began quietly, “Why, exactly do you follow me all over the US?”

Meghan was taken aback by his tone. She stuttered as she began to answer, “I … well … I don’t know. What does it matter why I follow you all over? I thought you enjoyed that I go with you!”

“I do enjoy it. But, why do you do it? For me? Just because you think I like it?”

“No. I do it because I want to. I want to be with you.”

“Do you love me?”

Meghan gasped at his subtle accusation, “Of course I do! How could you even suggest that I don’t love you?”

“Maybe I have reasons to believe you don’t love me as much as I love you.”

Meghan looked down at her uneaten dessert. She had barely scraped the whipped cream off the top of her brownie sundae and hadn’t yet touched the brownie itself. What made him doubt her? She needed to convince him again that she loved him.

Meghan placed her napkin on the table and stood. She reached out for Scott’s hand, “Let’s go.”

“Why? You didn’t finish your dessert yet.” Scott’s voice held a pained sarcasm.

“I think we need to talk. You sound like you need a bit of convincing.”

To his surprise, Meghan no longer seem put off by his question. Instead, she appeared to be motivated to convince him he was wrong to question her. For a brief moment, Scott wondered himself if he was wrong to doubt her.

***

Meghan took Scott’s hand once they were outside the restaurant. She led him toward the car and gently caressed his arm as she gave him back the keys and climbed inside. Once seated, she turned toward him and began speaking immediately. Wanton desire was evident in her seductive voice, “Scotty, tell me what in the world would ever make you doubt me?” She pulled herself up next to him in the car and he felt his heartbeat intensify.

Scott spoke clearly, afraid of being misunderstood, “I never doubted you - until today.” He tried to continue, but couldn’t find the words. Besides the familiar smell of Meghan so close and the warmth of her breath against his neck as she leaned in even closer, pulling herself onto his lap, he couldn’t even remember what he was trying to say.

“If I’ve done something to make you doubt me, then I guess I have my work cut out for me tonight.” Her tongue began tracing the side of Scott’s neck, but he didn’t allow her the time it would take to get to his mouth. Scott grabbed the back of Meghan’s head and pulled her face upward to begin kissing her. Losing control of his resolve, he gave in to his desires and stopped only to offer the suggestion that they get back to his RV immediately.

Meghan nodded, traced the outline of his lips with a finger, and lowered herself back into her own seat on the passenger side of the car. Positioning herself sideways against the door, she couldn’t take her eyes off Scott. He was selfless, loving, and passionate; he was everything a woman could possibly want in a man. Except that in return for all his love and undivided attention, he expected a loyal, faithful, devoted woman. And Meghan had no desire to be faithful or loyal. Up to this point, however, Scott didn’t appear to be aware of her deceitful ways. Tonight Meghan began to wonder if she had somehow been caught. She would need to prove to Scott that whatever he thought he uncovered about her, he was wrong.

Scott considered stopping at Ty’s room before going home, but when he looked at Meghan to mention it, he knew he’d never last that long. They parked the car and she hopped out, ran around to meet him, and reached for his hand to pull him along inside.

“Now what can I do for you tonight?” Her voice hinted that she already knew the answer to the question, but asked it just to see him blush.

Scott pulled her close and reached his hands around under her shirt. She instantly assisted him and pulled it off quickly. Her skirt found it’s way to the floor simultaneously as she kicked off her black heels and allowed herself to be lowered onto the couch in one fluid motion. This time it was Scott searching her neck for signs of her surrendering mouth and she gave in to him readily. As she traced the muscles along his bare back with her hands, and felt the pleasure he was capable of, Meghan acknowledged that he was well worth the minor inconvenience of hiding her infidelities.

Scott couldn’t help but give in to all that his body needed. He wanted her and she was eager to prove that she wanted him as well. How could this wonderful woman possibly be hiding something so terrible from him? Letting go of his reservations about any deception, Scott gave in to her completely and allowed himself to be taken by Meghan without further question.

***

She was gone in the morning when Scott woke. It wasn’t unusual, however. Meghan loved her morning run even in the frigid cold of Alaska. Scott got up and started breakfast for both of them; placing his famous egg casserole in the oven, he wrote a quick note, and left to visit Ty.

The quiet knock at the door didn’t surprise Ty, he knew Scott would be back in the morning.

Ty opened the door unsure of what news Scott might be sharing, “Hey, how are you?”

“Good. How ‘bout you?”

“I’m doing well. How did your evening go?” Ty looked at Scott hesitantly, hoping that the smile on his friend’s face wouldn’t fade.

Scott stuttered, “It was, um, very nice.” He couldn’t hide the shy smirk that gave away much more than he would normally divulge.

Ty smiled in understanding. “I see. So, you’re back for something?”

Scott nodded, still trying unsuccessfully to hide the smirk. He straightened a little before turning back to face Ty. “Do you think it’s possible that she didn’t mean the things I heard her say last night?”

Ty didn’t want to give false hope, but he couldn’t help it; he hadn’t expected the question and was caught off guard. “Yeah. I’m sure she could have just been trying to sound tough around everyone.” He paused to consider his next words before continuing, “So I guess you didn’t ask her about it?”

Scott became embarrassed to admit that he couldn’t resist Meghan’s advances long enough to confront her. “I tried.” He found himself looking out the window again. “I couldn’t. As soon as I brought it up, I felt foolish. I mean, I’ve never doubted her before, and she didn’t even flinch when I mentioned doubting her. You’d think if I’d called her out on something legitimate, she would have gotten defensive, or upset, or something. But she didn’t. If I didn’t know better, I’d think she felt offended that I’d even consider that I shouldn’t trust her.”

“Well then. There you have it.” Ty patted Scott on the shoulder and handed him the small black box. “Go back home. I’m sure she’s waiting for you.”

Scott smiled. “Yeah.” He paused at the door and turned back, “Hey, thanks, Ty. I’ll let you know how it goes.” Holding up the box he turned to go. All he could think about was returning to his RV and getting back to re-planning the perfect proposal.

Turning the corner into the RV lot, Scott’s attention was caught by movement down one of the rows. He backed up and stopped immediately. The blood rushed from his head and he felt as if someone had punched him in the stomach. Bent over at the waist, gasping for air that would never cure his ailment; he would have screamed but there was no air in his lungs to produce a sound. Before being seen, he pulled himself across the path between RVs and paused. His eyes must be playing tricks on him. There was no way Meghan was kissing anyone else. Not after the night they just had. Not after all he had just convinced himself of. There was no way he just saw the woman he was planning to marry tangled in another man’s embrace. And yet, he knew it was her.

He suddenly became aware that she’d return to his RV sweaty and out of breath in just minutes; feeling wonderfully rejuvenated after her brisk morning run. The run she never wanted him to join her on. The run she convinced him would tire him too much before the intensity of the day he’d have ahead of him. The run he’d stopped asking to go along on.

He managed to drag himself back to his RV and sat, stoically waiting for Meghan to return. As he expected, she burst through the door within five minutes, a large smile on her face. A smile that faded, replaced with great concern.

“Scotty, what’s wrong? Are you okay?”

He looked up at her but didn’t rise from his seat. “Please don’t call me Scotty.”

She paused. He knew something. How much did he know? What did he know? Regaining her composure, she proceeded with confidence, “Please tell me what’s going on.”

“Sit down and tell me where you go when you say you’re going for a run.”

“It depends on where we are. Since we got to Alaska, I run up to the park and try to stay on the track up there. You know, the one we walked to the first night we were here.” Her voice cracked and she wondered how convincing she was.

“Do your runs always end with passionate kisses from other men?”

She tried to look stunned but couldn’t pull it off. Collapsing on the table, Meghan began sobbing into her folded arms. She looked up, her eyes full of tears, “I’m so sorry, Scotty. I never meant to hurt you. You know I love you.”

“I asked you not to call me Scotty. And, no, I'm not so sure anymore that you love me.” His hands were shaking and he felt as though he was about to pass out.

Meghan got up and approached Scott, she looked down at him and moved his arms from the table, making room to sit on his lap. He pushed her away, too hurt to return her gaze.

Standing up, he considered his options. Looking into her eyes for the first time, he spoke softly, “I was planning to propose to you today. I can’t believe you almost had me believing you really loved me. Have you ever been faithful?”

Meghan looked down at the floor. She nodded.

“For what? A day? A month?” His voice grew louder as anger replaced his hurt and betrayal, “Tell me, Meghan, how long were you faithful to me?”

“I don’t know. I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you.”

“No. I’m sure you only wanted to mislead me enough to have your way with me while keeping me completely in the dark all along. I’m quite sure you never meant to be discovered and hurt me!” He got up from the table and walked a few short steps to the bedroom. Closing the door quietly, he sat on the edge of the bed, his elbows resting on his knees, and his head dropping into his hands.

Meghan knocked quietly, but didn’t wait for an answer. It almost hurt to see him so upset. More than that, however, she couldn’t believe he was considering marriage. She never knew he was so in love with her. She sat next to him on the bed. He pulled away but she held on to his arm and gently forced him to turn back and face her.

“Please talk to me. Forgive me.” She paused to stare more deeply into his eyes. “I’m sorry.”

He wanted so badly to believe she was sorry. “Can you be faithful?”

They both knew the answer. He hoped she could lie well enough that it at least felt truthful to him.

She couldn’t get the words out. Instead, she pushed herself into Scott and began kissing him. His strong arms wrapping around her back and neck convinced Meghan that he wanted to believe her.

Meghan was careful for a few days. She even took Scott on one of her runs. By the end of the next week, Scott had all but forgotten the pain of seeing her in another man’s embrace.

***

Before leaving the set Friday night, Scott caught up with Ty to stop him and ask for advice. “Ty. Hey, Ty! Do you have a minute?”

Ty turned when he heard Scott’s voice. “Hi. Yeah, of course. What’s up?”

“I need your honest opinion.”

Ty smiled. He knew what was coming next. “Do you really think I can help you make such an important decision?”

“No. I realize you can’t help me make the decision. But, I guess what I want to know is - if I go through with this tonight and it ends badly - either today or in ten years, do you promise not to say ‘I told you so’?”

Ty chuckled, “I promise.”

Ty’s response was followed by an awkward silence that Scott understood. Ty would never say ‘I told you so’ but he would also never agree that what Scott was planing to do tonight was a good idea.

“Look, Scott, I know I’ve never been in love before, so giving advice this important is way out of my comfort zone.” He paused and took a deep breath, “However, I hate to see you like this. You know I’ll be there for you - no matter what happens tonight or ten years form now. I just wish you hadn’t been put in this situation.”

“Yeah. Thanks. Well, wish me luck.”

“Good luck.”

Scott smiled and turned to head back to his RV. He knew he’d go through with it tonight. He needed to prove to Meghan how much he loved her and that he was willing to forgive her mistakes.

When he walked inside, Meghan was standing at the stove making supper. He walked up behind her and reached around her waist, kissing her neck.

“Hey, Megs. How was your day?”

Meghan turned to face him, smiling ear to ear. The fact that he was back to calling her Megs meant he had really forgiven her. “I had a wonderful day, thanks for asking.” She reached her arms up around his neck and began kissing him.

Scott reached around her to turn to stove off before pulling her around the counter to the table. She smiled at him questioningly.

Still smiling, Meghan quietly asked, “What’s up?”

“Nothing. I just wanted to talk to you a bit before supper.”

Scott pulled out a chair for Meghan and sat down in the seat across from her. He reached out for her hands and held them tenderly as he looked into her eyes. “You know how much I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Meghan.” He dropped down on one knee in front of her and pulled out the ring, “Will you marry me?”

Meghan gasped as she realized what was happening. She didn’t know what to say. She wasn’t planning to marry him. Not yet. She thought there was time to explain that to him. “Oh Scott! I … I can’t marry you … not now.”

He fell to floor in shock. “What do you mean ‘not now’?”

“Scott, I’m so sorry. I can’t.”

She got up and left quickly. Scott watched her, unable to open his mouth and call her back, as she turned and ran out the door.

He spent the next few hours sitting there - a crumpled, defeated soul with no desire to get up. As evening loomed, he picked up his phone to call Meghan. She still had not returned and he was getting worried.

To his short-lived relief, she answered after a few rings.

“Hello.”

“Hi, Meghan. Where are you, I was getting worried.”

“I’m with a friend. I’ll be back in the morning.”

He was about to beg her to come home to him so they could talk when he heard another voice in the background. It was muffled, but he was certain that it was a man telling her to hang up.

“Who are you with? Meghan, where are you?”

“Don’t worry about where I am, okay? I’m a big girl and I’m just fine. I’ll be back in the morning.”

She hung up the phone and Scott didn’t have the energy to call her back.

Just as she promised, Meghan was walking in the door by seven the next morning. She was shocked to see Scott sitting on the couch; his exhausted, blood-shot eyes staring back at her coldly.

“Where were you last night?”

“I told you, I was with a friend.”

He reached out for her, trying to stop her from walking past him. Grabbing for her arm, he noticed faint marks and bruises above her elbow. Trying to stay focussed, he pressed for more information, “Was he the same friend I saw you with the other morning?”

She stared at him, shocked that he would be so bold as to accuse her of going back to him, and, yet, impressed that he knew so much.

“Maybe.”

“Why?”

“Why not?” Meghan didn’t want him to answer her question, so she continued quickly, “You shouldn’t keep asking questions that you know you don’t really want the answers to.”

Scott realized something in that moment; Meghan didn’t feel remorse at hurting him. She didn’t care that he was dying inside. She didn’t, nor would she ever, love him. He looked into her blank, rested eyes and said the only thing he could. “I want you to leave now.”

She laughed, “Are you serious? And go where?”

“Wherever you want. Just leave now.” He pulled the ring out of his pocket and turned it over in his hand. “Take this with you. I don’t need it any more.”

“I don’t want your ring.” Her answer was angry and the tone of her voice pained him.

“It was never my ring. I bought it for you.” He grimaced as he continued his offer, “Maybe you can sell it and use the money for a down payment on your LA mansion.”

The shock on her face was enough. He turned and left her standing there, “You know what? I’ll go for a few hours. Please don’t be here when I get back.”

***

It had been almost a week without Meghan when Scott’s phone rang one evening. Hers was the last voice he expected to hear.

“Scott, don’t hang up. Please.”

He didn’t hang up, but he couldn’t find the voice to answer her, either. He had missed her so much.

“I’m with a friend I met while we were here. She’s been kind enough to help me out for a little. Can we get together to talk?”

He still couldn’t find his voice. Every emotion spilled out silently and every thought rushed through his mind. When Meghan left, she had gone directly to another of the camera men - Chris. Chris loved to brag daily to Scott and remind him about how he shouldn’t have been so pushy. Why wasn’t she with Chris any more? Or, was she lying again?

“Please?”


He couldn’t stand the pain in her voice. Her pleading was intolerable.

“Yeah. How about the coffee shop on Main St.?”

A brief silence was broken by her soft voice, “I was hoping to just come to your RV … now ... if that’s okay?”

He dropped his head into his free hand. “Yeah, okay. I’m here.” He hung up the phone, not sure if he was doing the right thing. But, he needed to see her again, that much he was sure of.

Meghan walked up to his door minutes later. She brushed her hair out of her eyes, knowing it wouldn’t change the way she looked enough to stop his reaction. She was right.

Scott opened his door when she knocked. Gasping at the sight of her bruised face and black eye, he pulled her inside, certain she had been in a horrible accident. He held her close not wanting to let go.

“What happened?”

“I’m not sure. I went to Chris’ after, well, you know. And, he was so welcoming. But, then I realized how much I missed you and when I told him, he got mad at me and tried to stop me from leaving. I was scared so I went to stay with one of the girls I met recently. I don’t even know why I came here now.”

“Please, stay. I’m sorry I got upset. We can work this out. I should never have made you leave the other night.”

“I don’t know. I just needed a safe place to stay for now.”

Scott tilted her face up to look at her. The same blue eyes he loved so much were now full of fear and uncertainty. “I’m not asking you to marry me again. Just give me another chance. I’ll take care of you. You don’t have to worry.” He leaned down to kiss her, but she pulled away.

“I’ll think about it.”

They didn’t talk much that night. Scott held her and wished he could persuade her to stay. She didn’t want to talk about it. In the morning she was gone again.

For the next two days, Scott didn’t go to work; he didn’t even leave his RV. He kept waiting for her to call. No one seemed to know where she was. Finally the morning of the third day, he got the phone call he had been waiting for. The local hospital was calling to tell him Meghan had been admitted yesterday morning. She was in serious condition with broken ribs, a punctured lung, and other minor injuries. She was asking to see him. He was the only person she gave them a phone number to call. He thanked them for calling and hung up the phone.

He placed his phone in silent mode so he wouldn’t feel the need to run and answer it every time the hospital called over the next few days. He had made up his mind. He was not going to see her.

A week and a half later, Scott drove his RV out of Alaska headed for a small town in Vermont he had never even heard of. For the first time in almost five years, Meghan’s small red car wasn’t being towed behind it. She never really loved him. She just needed to feel safe and secure.

Impressum

Texte: Copyright 2012 Heather M. Borger No part of this manuscript may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means - electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise - without written permission of the author.
Bildmaterialien: Heather M. Borger
Tag der Veröffentlichung: 30.05.2012

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