Page 11 of Savage

Seeing them together made me realize how much I’d missed having a dog around. Daisy was just a puppy, but I could already see the potential for a lifetime of love and companionship. I looked over to Mom and smiled as I told her, “Mom, she’s beautiful.”

As if on cue, my father entered the room just as Mom said, “She was your father’s idea.”

“I thought she might tempt you two into coming to see us more often.” A smile swept across his face as he walked over and wrapped his arms around me, hugging me tightly. “What can I say? I miss my daughter and only grandson.”

“Only grandson for now,” Joseph interjected. “That might change very soon.”

“What? Kate is pregnant?”

“Yeah, about six months along now.”

“Oh, Joseph!” I rushed over and gave him a hug. Joseph and Katie had been trying to conceive for years, and after several heartbreaking failed attempts, they’d all but stopped trying. Needless to say, I was shocked to hear that Katie was not only pregnant but six months along. “Congratulations! I had no idea!”

“Katie wanted to keep it kind of quiet until we knew the baby was okay.”

“And everything’s good?”

“So far so good.” Joseph couldn’t have looked more pleased as he said, “We had an ultrasound last week, and he looks perfect. His heartbeat is strong, and he has all his little fingers and toes.”

“Oh, Joe. That’s so good to hear. I know you both must be thrilled.”

“We really are. Even though it came as a surprise. I just took a big promotion at work, and Katie has two huge projects that she’ll be working on for the next year or so.” He looked over to Mom as he said, “Thankfully, we’ll have the best sitter in town.”

“Mom’s going to babysit for you?”

“That’s the plan.”

My throat tightened with an unwelcomed jealousy. I hadn’t wanted anyone in town to see that I was pregnant and tell Malcomb, so I left soon after we broke up. I took the scholarship and went off to college, but after one very long semester, I decided to move to Seattle where I would be closer to my folks.

I found an apartment near campus and started the summer session, thinking it would give me a jump on things. And it did. I was able to get settled and prepare for Dalton’s arrival, but I did that all alone.

Mom was there when he was born. Dad, too. But they were only able to stay for a week or so, and then, they had to get back to work. They came and visited as often as they could, but as time passed, those visits became less and less frequent. Dalton spent his days at the campus daycare, and when he got old enough, he started at the local preschool. While that was fine and he was well taken care of, it wasn’t Mom.

“That’s great... really, really great.” I let out a breath, trying my best to shake my mindset. When that didn’t work, I told him, “I ah, I need to get our things out of the car. I’ll be right back.”

“I’ll come and give you a hand.”

“No, that’s okay. I got it.”

With that, I stepped outside and started over to my car. I’d just opened the trunk when I heard the low rumble of a motorcycle off in the distance, and my heart stopped. I held my breath, trying to brace myself for what I might see when I turned and looked down the road.

But no one was there.

Soon, the rumble faded, but the tightness in my chest remained.

There was something about that familiar sound that had me stepping back in time,

And just like that, I found myself bombarded with memories of Malcomb.

The way he always held my hand when we were out.

The way his eyes darkened when he was about to kiss me.

But most of all, I loved the way he made me feel like I was the only person in the world who mattered. He would whisper my name, and that was all it took. The heartbreak started to creep back in, and there was nothing I could do to stop it.

I felt a tear trickle down my cheek, and it was enough to pull me back into reality. I was done crying, so I quickly wiped the tear away. Unfortunately, my mother caught me in the act. “Honey? Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m good.”

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