Chapter One

She gasped. The knock at the door was loud and intrusive. Deborah dried her dish water hands on her warn black jeans. As she headed towards the front of the house, she passed by Parker’s room and quickly glanced inside. Her eight-year-old seemed undisturbed by the noise. She quietly closed his door to assure he stayed that way. The second rap on the door hurried her step. She quickly pulled the door open and the cold night air hit her face hard. But it was already frozen. She stared into the piercing blue eyes of Travis Myers. It wasn’t until he spoke that her focus shifted to the smirk that was famous around the small town of Willsonville.
“Well I knew you would be surprised, but I wasn’t expecting awe struck.” He ran his long fingers through his shaggy blonde hair. “Although, it a response I am getting use to.” He moved his well formed body towards her, and ran the back of his fingers along her slim arm. She couldn’t speak or move, although she desperately wanted to.
“After all these years, I still give you goose bumps.” he gloated huskily. Every nerve in her body was raw and she felt as if she may vomit. Her knees began to buckle and she finally moved her small frame backward a couple of inches.
She took in his full form. The well fitted jeans, the shirt that was too tight, the snakeskin boots with matching belt. All of it was obviously new. And of course the thick gold chain baring the “TMT” emblem, hanging around his neck, just as it had since Jr. high school.
“Well aren’t you going to invite me in?” Again he flashed his signature grin.
“
You’re back.” She whispered in disbelief, although she had thought of this moment a million times.
“That’s right Debbie baby, the home town here returns.” He brushed past her and into the small living room. She spun around on one heal slowly, grasping the door behind her for support.
“When?” Deborah barely managed.
“Just this morning. I surprised my parents for the 30th anniversary.” No wonder she hadn’t heard of his return, she wasn’t the only one who wasn’t expecting him.
Travis sauntered over to the quaint fireplace and took a photo of her son off the mantel. “I heard.” he remarked with a sigh.
Again she froze, her blood running cold. “What?”
“That you got knocked up right after I left. It sure didn’t take you long to replace me.” He turned to face her, his look stern.
“Replace you?” Deborah’s voice cracked. She spoke barely above a whisper, but it seemed much louder in her small, still house.
“Yeah. And with a drunken one night stand. Hell, you sure rocked this town!” He laughed too loudly and placed the frame on the coffee table. “I’m surprised that there wasn’t a headline that read “Missionary Mary’s Daughter Turns Town Slut!” printed on the front page of the town paper.” Again he shook with laughter.
But his joke wasn’t far from how the town had responded to learning that she had gone on a drinking binge and ended up pregnant. The whispers were more like side walk broadcasts. The most common comment was “Like father, like daughter.” despite the fact that her father had been gone for several years. After some time, the gossip stopped, but not before it drove her mother to an early grave.
At ten she lost her father to another woman, at eighteen her innocence on a riverbank, and at nineteen her mother to shame and heartbreak. Small towns like Willsonville thrived on juicy gossip from stories like these. Unfortunately, her family had produced more than its share of carnage for the feeding frenzy.
Travis’ voice jerked her back into the present, “So where is the little tike?” His eyes shifted to the doorway across the room. She bit her lip and after a slight hesitation instinct took over.
“At a friends house.” She lied.
“Damn, I wanted to meet the little sport.” Travis pretended to pout.
Deborah prayed that Parker wouldn’t wake at the unfamiliar sound of a man’s voice in the house. “Well he isn’t here.” Deborah stated flatly, trying to hide her fear. But she knew he was aware of it. After all, that is why he brought it up.
“Just as well,” he shrugged, “I wanted to catch up, and talk about old times.” He moved closer to her, taking the room in three long strides. She stood glued to the open door.
“Actually, I was just headed out.” Again she lied. It had become easier over the years. Deborah didn’t want him in the house. She had worked hard to build a safe world around son and self, and Travis’ mere presence threatened that.
“Oh really? Well then I’ll give you a ride.”
“That isn’t necessary.” she blurted out. Deborah had no doubt it was clear that she wanted him to leave.
“No, really,” he placed his hand on her slender cheek, “I insist.” She shivered as he twirled a lock of her dark blonde hair around his index finger. “I wanted to talk to you about Parker’s daddy.” His eyes danced in anticipation of her reaction.
She thought of her sweet little boy in the room next door. He was sleeping soundly, safe in some beautiful dream, unaware of the threat that had just been made. She had never left him unsupervised before.
“Okay, just let me get my things.” She tried to sound casual.
“Great!” Travis gloated as he strutted out unto the front porch.
In a trance, Deborah reached into the closet, past the purse that carried her wallet, and above the top shelf. She balanced on her toes to reach the purse stuffed into the small space behind a loose panel in the wall. She grabbed her black leather jacket, and shut the closet door. Retrieving her keys from the hook next to the front door, she looked over her shoulder towards her child’s room. Deborah listened for a moment and envisioned his sleeping form. “You are my life and I love you Parker.” she whispered. Then she turned and closed the door behind her.
- posted by Cindy @ 7:54 PM |