I hesitate, waiting, praying he doesn’t wake up because if he comes after me, I don’t think I’ll go, but at the same time hoping he does so I can stay.
“Did you forget something inside?”
How do I answer that?
“I didn’t forget anything, I’m just leaving something behind.”
The driver seems to understand my words. “I see. Do you need a few minutes?”
I shake my head. “No, if I don’t go now…”
He gives me a sad smile and I get in.
My eyes don’t move from that window. “Please wake up. Tell me to stay,” I whisper.
There’s no movement in the house and then the driver gets in the car. My heart is breaking and I think about how upset he’ll be that I left like this. I wonder if he’ll understand that if I didn’t, I’d still be wrapped in his arms. The car begins to move and the tears continue to fall as I drive away, leaving my heart in the house on Destiny Lane.
* * *
“So you’re through security?” Chastity asks as I’m wandering through the airport.
“I just got through.”
“Are you okay?”
My daughter, always worried about me. “Not really.”
She sighs. “I didn’t think so. Everly told me about what her dad had planned with the house.”
Everly told her? Well, that’s new. “You and Everly talk?”
“I guess we kind of became friends when we plotted to take you and Derek down.”
“Evilness has bonded you?”
Whatever the reason is, I’m glad they have left the mean girl act behind.
“I guess. She sent me a text that maybe we should find a way to bring you back together this time.”
I’m glad they’re both okay with us dating now. Too bad it didn’t happen before this job offer. “At least when Derek brings you down, we don’t have to worry about someone killing the other in the car.”
Chastity laughs. “Are you at all excited?”
“To see you? Yes. I already miss you.” I say the words and my chest tightens. “I’ve never really been away from you.”
“Then why are you going?”
There’s a beep on my phone and I don’t have to look to know who it is. Derek has realized I’m gone and is calling.
“I’m going because this is an opportunity I will never get again and you want out of that town.”
She goes quiet and the beeping starts back up again. I can’t answer. I have to stay strong, and if I hear his voice, I’ll break. “You know, I always have wanted to, but now I don’t.”
I stop moving. “What?”
“I thought about it last night when Grandma asked about seeing my father. I never realized it before but living here was hard because I never knew if I would see him or if I wanted to see him or if seeing him would matter. Now that I have, it’s not so hard. He’s really an idiot.”
“Yeah, he really is.”
“But all I ever heard about was how great he was. Everyone here makes him out to be this great guy and I didn’t understand why you hated him so much. It’s been hard. And then Everly came and made my life hell, so I wanted out. But, Mom…” She pauses and my heart races. “I don’t think I want to go anymore.”
I don’t want to go either, but I wanted for just once, to be worth something more. I was finally being told “yes” instead of “no.”
“Why are you telling me this now?” I ask with a groan.
“Because if you want to stay, I wouldn’t hate it. I would have Mrs. Stinkers and her babies. I can still work with Dr. Derek at the clinic.”
I find a chair and slump down in it. This isn’t the conversation I expected to have with her. I thought she’d tell me how excited she is and how ready she is to meet me. Now she’s talking about staying there and her cat and friends. Right when I think I have it all figured out I’m made aware that I know jack shit.
“Chas…”
“I’m just saying…”
She’s just killing me, that’s all.
“We will begin the boarding process for flight 445 to West Palm Beach, Florida, in about twenty minutes. Please make your way to gate A-2.”
I sigh. “I have to go, Chas. I love you.”
“I love you too, Mom. Make good choices.” She ends the call before I can say anything else.
I look down at the phone, seeing the missed calls from Derek. He has to be so mad or hurt. I know that I would be if he did that to me, and now I hate myself for doing it to him.
A text flashes.
Derek: I don’t know why you left like that but know that I love you.
Me: I love you. I’m sorry, please know that last night was perfect. You’re perfect. I just couldn’t go if I had to say the words.
I put the phone away and head to the store by the gate. In the back I grab a drink and a little girl comes over and smiles.
“Destiny!” I hear a woman yell.
I look down at the girl and she turns to the name.
“Destiny, get back here. Oh, God, you scared me!” Her mother yells with that frantic sound to her voice. “I thought I lost you. Don’t ever leave me like that, okay?”
My heart pounds as the name strikes me. Someone I love is on Destiny Lane. Someone I left.
Jesus. I need to get a grip.
The woman takes the little girl in her arms and walks off, kissing the side of her head as she goes.
I head out of the store, no longer thirsty, and walk toward the gate. There’s a store with a few toys in the window. I stop short when I see the creepy doll.
I quickly take my phone out to take a picture to send to Derek and stop. I have to stop doing this. It was my choice to leave and here I am, seeing all these things
