Page 22 of Without a Doubt

We leave and head to my hometown. When we get on the interstate, Eva asks, “Are we going back to your uncle's?”

“No; we're going to my hometown.”

“Oh.” For some reason, she seems unsure to me.

“Are you an outdoorsy person at all?”

She shrugs. “Not a fan of bugs and critters, but I like being outside. I don't mind getting dirty, obviously, or I would have asked to do something other than whatever it is we're doing. Can I at least ask how dirty I'll get?”

“You'll need a shower afterwards, and I'm going to have to lay towels over the seats.”

“For some reason, that makes me excited because it sounds fun.”

I laugh. “It is.” After a few minutes, I add, “Since I haven't been home in so long, my mom will probably try to talk us into staying for dinner. She'll add the incentive of washing our dirty clothes for us, too.” I don't know if Eva will want to stay, so depending on her answer will depend on if we'll actually stay or not.

“Okay. I don't mind if that's what you're fishing for.”

Looks like we'll be having dinner with my parents. I chuckle. “I was fishing,” I admit.

“Do you want to stay and have dinner with them?” Her voice lowers to a whisper. “P.S. that's how you ask a direct question instead of fishing.” Her grin is ridiculous and it makes me laugh again.

“Honestly? I don't know. It'll be nice to see my family though, so we'll probably stay. It'll make them happy.”

“Do you do a lot of things for people because it'll make them happy, even if it's not what you really want?”

My first thought is of Kelly and our situation. I agreed because it was what she wanted. We argued for days about it before I finally agreed, only doing so to make her happy.

“Sometimes,” I finally answer.

After a moment, Eva says, “Maybe you should do more to make yourself happy.”

There's not much for me to say to that. We fall into another stretch of silence. Eva once again controls the radio, turning it every time a song she doesn't like comes on. She taps her fingers on her legs to the beat, and she sings, but she's barely audible. The two hours home seem to fly by. To get to my parents' house, I have to drive past Kelly's house. No cars are in the driveway though.

“Here we are,” I say, pulling into the driveway. Instead of parking, I drive around to the back where I'll need to hook the trailer up to my truck. “Let's see my parents first.” We get out o

f the truck and I lead her into the house through the back door. “Knock, knock,” I say loudly as we enter.

“Emerson?” Mom calls back. “I didn't know you were coming!” The excitement is clear as she enters the den where we are. She rushes over to give me a hug.

“I thought I'd surprise y'all.”

Her hug is crushing, and I can finally breathe when she lets go, turning to Eva. There's a gleam in her eye and a grin on her face. It's all because she thinks I've come to surprise her with a new girlfriend, which isn't exactly the case. “And just who might this be?”

“This is Eva. Eva, this is my mom.”

Mom hugs her and says, “It's nice to meet you, Eva.”

“Nice to meet you, too, Mrs. Montgomery.”

“Well, let's go sit and catch up.” Mom starts to turn towards the couch, but my words stop her.

“Actually, Mom, I'm taking Eva down to Calico Beach for the day, and I came for the four-wheelers.”

Mom frowns. “Well, okay. They should be where you left them. Are you at least staying for dinner when you come back? I'll even wash your clothes for you. You're not going to want to take them back to school like that.”

I quickly grin at Eva, to see her smiling as well, because I was right about my mom. “Yeah, we'll stay for dinner.”

“Wonderful! Eva, you can hang out with me while he gets the four-wheelers ready. Your father is out there tinkering, so he can help you.”

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