his body. He hadn't tried to touch her or make lewd comments to her. He even saved her from that trucker in Twin Falls that still sent ripples of fear through her. Maybe he was just offering out of the goodness of his heart. Could there really be someone out here that truly just wanted to help her? Against her better judgment, Venus let her guard down with Reggie, just a little.
“Would your wife mind?” Venus asked timidly.
Reggie laughed. “I'm sure she'll be happy for the help,” I'm sure she'll kill me, he was thinking. He felt a sense of peace fill him as he realized she was going to come home with him. She would be safe...for now.
2
Reggie’s home was a nice sized ranch, a perfect house in the suburbs of the desert. Getting a side glance at the house as Reggie turned into the driveway, Venus saw they had a nice pool, beautiful landscaping...a perfect home...a perfect life. She was starting to get butterflies in the pit of her stomach. She had to brace herself for what his family's reaction to her would be. His wife would no doubt be really angry. Venus negotiated with herself that if she was too upset, she would leave right away. He parked the cab on the empty side of the two car driveway and jumped out. Venus' hand froze on the door handle. I can do this, she chanted to herself. She blew out a breath and jumped out of the cab too. When Venus raised her eyes to the house, she saw Reggie's wife at the door a smile frozen on her face that was melting quickly into a frown. Reggie motioned Venus closer and she complied with uncertainty. Reggie saw the look of panic and regret on Venus' face and knew she was seconds from bolting.
Reggie's wife was a petite and attractive woman, had short cropped auburn hair and golden brown eyes. Reggie and her had been high school sweethearts and married as soon as they graduated. When Reggie had landed this job as a trucker, she was torn between sweet relief of a steady and well-accommodating income and anxiousness when he was away for days at a time. She trusted her husband implicitly and was in love with him as deeply as when they were kids. Yet, when she saw the beautiful girl hop out of the cab, her stomach twisted in knots of fear, jealousy, and anger. She felt that she was scowling and tried to force her face into a look of open curiosity. She held open the screen door and waited for Reggie and his guest.
Reggie knew Sheila was pissed. Her warm spirit always shone through on her face. It was what drew him to her back in high school. Now, she was all but unapproachable. This was a mistake, he groaned inwardly. He embraced her tight since he hadn't seen her in almost a week and brushed his lips across her forehead. She pulled back and peered over his shoulder.
“Who do we have here?” Sheila asked trying to keep the scorn from touching her tone.
Reggie cleared his throat and stepped aside so that Sheila had to gaze more closely upon a girl that was quite possibly the most perfectly formed creature she'd ever seen.
“This is Venus. She's headed to California. Venus, my wife Sheila.”
Venus took a step forward and extended her hand shyly. “Pleasure to meet you Sheila. Reggie talked non-stop about you.”
The look in Venus' eyes was playful and laughing and Sheila registered it immediately and allowed herself to drop her guards slightly. She accepted Venus' hand in her own and for some unknown reason, Sheila knew she had nothing to fear from this little one.
“Please come on inside,” she said stepping aside and letting the two in.
Reggie bent his head and kissed Sheila again lightly on the lips.
“Thank you babe,” he said softly so Venus would not hear.
Sheila nodded far away in her own thoughts and pushed him ahead of her. Sheila knew when she touched the girl that in many ways they were kindred spirits. She could feel her pain, her tortured soul, those awful memories. Sheila didn't know details but she could just sense it. Of course,
“Would your wife mind?” Venus asked timidly.
Reggie laughed. “I'm sure she'll be happy for the help,” I'm sure she'll kill me, he was thinking. He felt a sense of peace fill him as he realized she was going to come home with him. She would be safe...for now.
2
Reggie’s home was a nice sized ranch, a perfect house in the suburbs of the desert. Getting a side glance at the house as Reggie turned into the driveway, Venus saw they had a nice pool, beautiful landscaping...a perfect home...a perfect life. She was starting to get butterflies in the pit of her stomach. She had to brace herself for what his family's reaction to her would be. His wife would no doubt be really angry. Venus negotiated with herself that if she was too upset, she would leave right away. He parked the cab on the empty side of the two car driveway and jumped out. Venus' hand froze on the door handle. I can do this, she chanted to herself. She blew out a breath and jumped out of the cab too. When Venus raised her eyes to the house, she saw Reggie's wife at the door a smile frozen on her face that was melting quickly into a frown. Reggie motioned Venus closer and she complied with uncertainty. Reggie saw the look of panic and regret on Venus' face and knew she was seconds from bolting.
Reggie's wife was a petite and attractive woman, had short cropped auburn hair and golden brown eyes. Reggie and her had been high school sweethearts and married as soon as they graduated. When Reggie had landed this job as a trucker, she was torn between sweet relief of a steady and well-accommodating income and anxiousness when he was away for days at a time. She trusted her husband implicitly and was in love with him as deeply as when they were kids. Yet, when she saw the beautiful girl hop out of the cab, her stomach twisted in knots of fear, jealousy, and anger. She felt that she was scowling and tried to force her face into a look of open curiosity. She held open the screen door and waited for Reggie and his guest.
Reggie knew Sheila was pissed. Her warm spirit always shone through on her face. It was what drew him to her back in high school. Now, she was all but unapproachable. This was a mistake, he groaned inwardly. He embraced her tight since he hadn't seen her in almost a week and brushed his lips across her forehead. She pulled back and peered over his shoulder.
“Who do we have here?” Sheila asked trying to keep the scorn from touching her tone.
Reggie cleared his throat and stepped aside so that Sheila had to gaze more closely upon a girl that was quite possibly the most perfectly formed creature she'd ever seen.
“This is Venus. She's headed to California. Venus, my wife Sheila.”
Venus took a step forward and extended her hand shyly. “Pleasure to meet you Sheila. Reggie talked non-stop about you.”
The look in Venus' eyes was playful and laughing and Sheila registered it immediately and allowed herself to drop her guards slightly. She accepted Venus' hand in her own and for some unknown reason, Sheila knew she had nothing to fear from this little one.
“Please come on inside,” she said stepping aside and letting the two in.
Reggie bent his head and kissed Sheila again lightly on the lips.
“Thank you babe,” he said softly so Venus would not hear.
Sheila nodded far away in her own thoughts and pushed him ahead of her. Sheila knew when she touched the girl that in many ways they were kindred spirits. She could feel her pain, her tortured soul, those awful memories. Sheila didn't know details but she could just sense it. Of course,
Similar Books
Edsel
Loren D. Estleman
Kissing the Gunner's Daughter
Ruth Rendell
Kasadya (Hellhound Awakened)
Karen Swart
The Art of Adapting
Cassandra Dunn
In the Balance
Harry Turtledove
Beyond Tuesday Morning
Karen Kingsbury
02 Morning at Jalna
Mazo de La Roche
The Wonder
J. D. Beresford