Page 19 of Irons

“I don’t want to get you in trouble. You’re the most special person in the world and being my friend isn’t good for you.” His voice sounded really hoarse.

That made me sob. “You wouldn’t do that, Travis. You couldn’t ever make me do things I don’t want to do. Being with me won’t ever hurt me.”

He started crying. “I’m scared.”

I nodded. “Me too, but everything will be okay. You just have to promise you’ll come home. My dad will let you live with us. I know he will.”

He shut his beautiful blue eyes, and a tear fell before he opened them again. “I’m in a lot of trouble. I hurt someone, Wrenly. She’s really hurt bad because of me. I don’t ever want that to be you. They’re coming to take me away tomorrow and I’ll be gone for a long time. You have to promise me that you’ll be good and win every race and game you play. Can you do that for me?”

I reached next to his bed and got a tissue, then wiped my nose then threw the tissue away before I pulled out one for him. I dabbed his tears away. “I promise I will, but please come back. Please don’t forget about me.”

“I won’t ever forget about you, I don’t think I could if I tried, Wrenly.”

I leaned my head in and pressed my lips against his as I sobbed. “I’m always going to love you.” I whispered against his lips.

Present Day

I reached to my nightstand and pulled out a tissue. My dad and I stayed all night with him. The only time I left was when my dad made me so they could talk to the attorney my dad hired.

I never cried as hard as I did when they took him away in handcuffs the next day. It took me a long time to accept that he really did have to go away for a long time. I was so depressed and for weeks I didn’t even want to go to school. Dad wouldn’t take me to see Travis because he didn’t want to see me. That hurt and the one time I tried, he declined my visit. I never saw him again after that day.

I had to shake off the emotions I was feeling. I went to my bathroom and got a quick drink of water then ran some cold water over my face. I was supposed to be doing something else, so I walked back over to my bed and looked at the photo of Matt’s wife. I remembered the face but really nothing else.

My dad was on a shift and Heather was at work. Jacob was at school, so when the doorbell rang I was a bit surprised. I made my way downstairs and looked through the small window next to the door and it was a Federal Express driver. I opened the door, and the man was holding a white cardboard envelope.

“Wrenly Carlson?”

I nodded. “Yes?”

“I have a package, but this one requires identification and a signature.”

That wasn’t uncommon for the FBI. “Sure, I’ll be right back.” I shut the door and locked it before getting my wallet and pulling out my ID. I took a peek outside again before I opened the door and showed him my license. He then had me sign something and he tore the slip off the envelope and handed it to me. “There you go. Have a nice day, Miss Carlson.”

“Thank you.”

He went to turn, and I was about to look down at the envelope when someone else came into view. He was walking through the front yard toward me.

“Matt?” I felt the panic starting. Flashes of the first time I heard the heartbeat, my first ultra sound, then him holding our tiny baby about sent me into an anxiety attack.

He stopped in front of me with his hands in his front pockets. “It’s great to see you again, Wrenly.”

I was confused. “Why are you here, Matt?”

He looked off to the side then at me. “I’d like to talk.”

“We really don’t have anything to talk about.” I went to shut the door, but he stopped it with his hand.

“You may not, but I do.”

It was so painful to look at him. His eyes were practically pleading with me. I stepped outside and shut the door behind me. “I don’t have long. My family will be home soon, and we have dinner plans.”

He nodded then looked up at the sky before looking at me. “I feel like you should know a few things.”

“I know I hurt you and I’m sorry, Matt. We’ve both moved on with our lives and there really isn’t anything left to say.”

“I wanted you to know that I prayed for you every single day since I last saw you. Your dad said you joined the Marines, and I have to admit, that was scary.” He looked down at his feet. “I have a son now.”

That made me angry. “So, you came over here to remind me of my failure as a mother?”

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