Page 86 of Unfulfilled Promises
Heel to toe, I count twenty-one steps straight out from the middle of the steps leading to nowhere. When I got to the correct point, I turned right and repeated the action, counting another eighteen steps. Finally, I turned to the left and, once again, put heel to toe as I counted out eleven steps.
The spot showed nothing special. No rocks, no mulch. Just a random open spot in a pristine yard. Pointing with my toe, I explained. “Put the shovel in right here to the end of the blade, push down and lift the plug up.”
Seth did as I asked, flipping the grass and dirt clod out of the hole. Kneeling, I began to dig with my fingers and after a few seconds of worry, thinking I got the location wrong, I felt something under my fingers. Scooping dirt from the hole, I tugged at the piece until a dirt covered zipper storage bag came out. Lifting it up, I saw there wasn’t any water inside and theblack book appeared to be intact. Seth offered me his hand and I stood, brushing the dirt from my knees.
“Is that it?” he asked, and I nodded.
“This is what I suffered for. This little fucking book almost cost me my life,” I explained and slowly brought my gaze up to his.
He smiled and reasoned, “But you won, darlin’. They’re all dead, every single one, and you’re here, about to collect your spoils. So, don’t be sad, baby. Be happy.” He leaned over and kissed my cheek, whispering, “You beat every one of them.”
“I really did,” I replied, and he smiled bigger.
“Let’s fill this in and get out of here before someone calls the cops,” Seth suggested.
We kicked the dirt clod back into the hole, stepping on it until it didn’t appear to be disturbed before we walked around the scarred earth to the car. He opened my door, and I got inside as he walked around and got into the driver’s side. The dirty bag sat on my lap, and I looked down at it as he cranked the car and pulled away from the last place where my life was peaceful.
Until Seth came into my life. He made the bad times easier, he made the good times better, and he made loving him easy. I didn’t know if I deserved someone as good as he was, but I wasn’t giving him up, so it didn’t matter.
I was his and he was mine, and that’s all that mattered.
“Are you going to open it?” he asked as he eyes the dirt covered baggies.
“Not until we get home. I don’t want to go through things more than once, and I know everyone’s going to have questions. I’d rather wait until we’re there.”
“Whatever you want, baby.” He winked at me and said, “I’m going to stop for gas, and we can wash our hands before we get on the road.”
My fingernails were caked with dirt, and I figured he was right. After gassing up, washing up, and getting coffee for the road, Seth turned us toward Atlanta. I wasn’t sure where we were going in the future, but I knew in my heart, he would be by my side, protecting me, until we took our last breaths.
The lull of the road, coupled with too many things running through my mind lately, led me to fall asleep next to Seth. I knew he would keep me safe, so I let my guard down and allowed sleep to pull me in. The next thing I knew, Seth was rubbing my shoulder.
“Regan, baby. Wake up. We’re back at Rhys’s.”
I sat up, confused and disoriented from the deep sleep and I rubbed my eyes as I looked around. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sleep the whole way home.”
“Baby, you needed the rest, so don’t apologize to me for taking what you need.”
That statement had me blushing and I turned to look at him with a smile. It took a moment, but his mind shifted to this morning when we finished each other in the shower and he leaned over, kissing me slowly but passionately.
He whispered, “Whatever you need, whenever you need it. I’m here for you, baby.”
I was about to say something when a knock on the glass sounded, startling me. I gasped and spun around to see Rhys and Hannah waiting on the driveway. Looking past them and up the stairs, I saw our family was still here, waiting for us to return.
Looking at Seth, I remarked, “I guess everyone’s eager to find out what we discovered.”
“Let’s go show them how fucking amazing you are, even though they already know.”
He pecked me on the lips, and I turned to grab the dirty baggies before opening the door. Stepping out, I looked up andeveryone then went back to Rhys and Hannah before I lifted the bag into the air.
When they started clapping and whistling, I chuckled and was pulled into a hug from Hannah. She released me, and I hugged Rhys as he whispered, “The results are back, but no one knows what they are. They wanted to stay for moral support, and I told them you’d be okay with it.”
“Then let’s get it over with,” I remarked as Seth joined me, taking my hand. He gave me a confused look, and I explained, “Results are back on the test.”
He kissed the back of my hand and said, “No matter what.”
“No matter what,” I returned.
It meant we would love each other, no matter what came at us or tried to come between us. No matter what attacked us or tried to betray us, we would still be side-by-side, so together, we walked up the stairs to our waiting family.
