Page 59 of Chasing Sunsets

Zack shrugged. “I tried.”

“It was my fault for saying something in the first place.” Jude hung his head. “I wish I didn’t feel like the biggest fool. I’m not eager for my friends and the guys at work to rail on me about this when the show airs.”

“For what it’s worth, I don’t think you’re a fool.”

Jude looked up, and a sad smile came to his lips. “I never thought she’d lie to me. Ever. I’d been duped by other girls I’d dated. They each had their own agenda and some only wanted a man to take care of them. Maxine was different.”

“Different because she knew more about life than other girls and learned to fend for herself. She had to be strong. Hell, she put herself through college.”

“True,” Jude replied.

The women rose from their chairs.

Zack slapped Jude’s back after they were on their feet. “I hope whatever happens is the best for you both.”

“Thank you.”

Their hotel was close to the plaza. Drained from the day, Zack and Sadie ate before checking into their rooms. After dinner, he walked her to her suite and handed over her backpack. She looked into his eyes. “Maxine told me how sweet you were to her at the zoo.”

For him and Sadie, not revealing anything about their situation had been the right thing to do. He’d have lost his shit if someone came at Sadie the way they’d dogged Maxine today.

“You have such a good heart, Zack. Don’t think I’ve forgotten that.” She leaned forward and kissed his cheek.

As she went inside and shut the door, Maxine’s words about a divorce ran through his mind.I want to work it out. As long as he hasn’t filed, I’m hopeful.

Zack felt the same way.

“Yeah, I’m free, free fallin`!” ~ Tom Petty

Chapter Seventeen

Zack sat in the frontpassenger seat next to Sadie. They started the morning driving into the blaring sun as it rose, their route straight east for a while until they turned and continued south-easterly. The drive, thankfully not as long as yesterday, proved just as tedious until the landscape began to change as they neared Big Bend National Park.Chasing Sunsetsigns marked the way once they turned onto the scenic tour road.

“Since I won’t get another chance, I must tell you,” Truman said from the back seat, “you two don’t seem to hate each other. I’m not sure what happened to cause you guys to separate, and by now I know better than to ask, but you both seem like really nice people. I hope whatever happened you’ll be able to work through it.”

Sadie kept her eyes on the road. “Thank you.”

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