The Country Duet(56)

“Are you okay?” I race forward and kneel down, offering help.

Her scent hits me first, then her piecing blue eyes peer up at me.

“Hunter.” My name falls gracefully from her lips.

My exhausted body hums to life with her near presence. I find myself lifting her up and holding on to her until she’s able to stand on her own.

“Are you okay, Teale?”

“Yeah.” She swipes her bangs from her eyes. “Distracted.”

Without thinking, I guide her over to my truck and lift her up in it. The dome light gives off just enough light to see her knee.

“Good one, Jeff Gordon.” I cringe once her nickname slips. “Let me get this gravel out.”

Several different pieces of gravel are embedded in her kneecap. I use a bottle of water to run over knee to clean it up.

“Don’t have a Band-Aid, but should be good enough to get you home.”

When I straighten up, I notice Teale is staring at me with tears streaming down her face. The rest of her facial features are bare and blank.

“You probably have a lot of Band-Aids at home since you have a young daughter.”

She nods her head, offering no further explanation. My hand moves until my palm is cupping her cheek. My thumb runs small circles along her familiar, delicate skin. Teale’s tears fall faster down her face. Neither of us says a word, not knowing where to begin. Our minds, hearts, and souls haven’t forgotten each other, but the complication is too thick to start to muddle through.

It’s the ringing of her cell phone that finally breaks our eye contact. I refuse to look down at it in her lap, only to see a picture of her husband’s face on it.

“Hello.” She brings her phone to her ear in a shaky matter.

Then the silence cuts through the air, only with a male’s muted voice streaming from the other end.

“I’m on my way home. Is she asleep?”

More silence and the man’s voice. I take a step back, growing sick to my stomach, and it’s not the pain from my side I’ve been experiencing.

“I’ll be home in a bit. Bye.”

I take another step backward.

“No.” Teale grabs my forearm, tugging me back to her.

Our chests collide, her legs spread wide, letting me settle in with her arms lacing around my neck. I’ve never felt so much emotion in one simple hug. I want to let go and run, and stay here forever, all in the same moment.

“I’m sorry, Hunter. So sorry,” she whispers into my ear. “I wanted to tell you, but couldn’t.”

I open my mouth to speak, but nothing comes out. This is the goodbye we never had. It's the last few moments to hold each other and grieve the loss we are both experiencing.

“Did you ever truly love me?” I whisper through the hurt tearing me apart.

“I still love you, Hunter, but…”

I pull back, not letting her finish that sentence. I can’t hear it. There’s no way I’d be able to process it and not fall to my knees surrendering. I nod my head and then hold my hand out to Teale. She’s hesitant, but finally hops down, not taking my hand. She keeps her head hung and walks to her shitty, little car. I don’t move until she’s safely in it and drives off.

What a prick! He can wear a fancy suit, but lets her drive that piece of shit death trap. He must be a real piece of work there. I hop in the truck and open the glove box. The black box is nestled in there, even though it’s a different truck. The diamond still shines as bright as the day I bought it.





Chapter 8


Hunter


“Beneath the stains of time the feeling disappears, you are someone else I am still right here.”


-Johnny Cash


I didn’t know if they still made such a thing, but thank God they do. I bought Dave the simplest flip phone the store had. I didn’t go to the one on Main Street and also didn’t ask to talk to the manager of the joint.

“Dave.” I nod, entering his room.

Dave’s rocking in a chair in the corner of his room, staring out the window with a blank stare.

“You okay?” I ask, nearing him.

It’s then I smell it, then moments later spot it. Dave had shit himself, and more than likely doesn’t even know it. The gown exposes some of the sores on the sides of his legs. He’s been in here a week, and he’s still in severe pain and depressed. His bottom is raw from not being able to control himself.

“I’m tired, Hunter. The pain is too much. I want to go home.”

“Have the doctors been in to see you today?”

“No.”

“I brought you that phone.”

“About damn time.” He turns to look at me.

Even though I bust ass to see him every single night, I haven’t had the chance to stop at the store until today. If I’m honest, I haven’t been looking forward to teaching Dave how to use the damn cell phone. I have it all charged and my number programmed in it.

“Let me grab a nurse and get you to the bed, then I’ll show you how to use it.”

“I don’t need no damn help.” Dave struggles to get up.

I ignore him and grab a nurse’s attention in the hallway. He’s been getting more stubborn about doing things on his own. It’s his pride. Dave doesn’t like having me see him in this state, and I get that. I always step out in the hall until he’s ready.