“I love you, Daddy.”
15
Daniel
A three days later, at three thirty in the morning, we slid our keys in our locks, laughing.
The money’s hit my account and we’re just back here for a quick pit stop to gather our most important things and then we’re gone…for good.
I can’t believe I was hanging off her balcony just a few days ago, and before that I’d rushed out to buy an engagement ring, which was in my pocket even then. Imagine if I fell, it would have been the ultimate Romeo and Juliet moment, the ring in my pocket as I came for my women, yet she’d have never known.
But that’s why I knew that morning in the diner, she was my everything and I had to show her my commitment was real. Even though she told me it was too much, too big, I convinced her to keep it. I never buy myself anything so I had plenty of money saved up, plus the money I need to show up at the bank and confirm this morning, which is kind of strange considering it’s a government payment. I’m almost wondering if some cops are gonna be there to give me grief on the way out.
Who cares?
I’ve got my woman and she’s got my ring on her finger. And we’re going straight to the airport to disappear forever. We don’t owe anyone anything…other than each other of course to whom we owe everything.
Diana steps into her apartment and I do the same, thoughts of swimming naked in the creek, eating wild berries, sleeping under the stars and just generally being in love flood my mind.
Even the view from the top of the mountain, where we rode up to each day to get reception to see if the deposits hit, was breathtaking. As soon as the money was confirmed it was time to leave this vacation to start a new life. Together.
I start packing up some things and realize I’m super hungry for some reason. I move over to her apartment, watching her stuff her duffel bag with what little she has. The lack of a deadbolt on her door, and the fact that I see her stuffing pepper spray and a knife in her duffel bag make my stomach churn. No one should have to live like this, and my woman never will another day in her life.
“Whatcha doing, baby girl?”
She turns back to me, her thousand watt smile lighting up an otherwise dark room. “About to pack up my most treasured possessions, my Kindle and my copy of Cinderella. Both are pathways to my crazy imagination.”
“It’s what makes you, you, and for that I love it,” I say wrapping my arms around her and suddenly her stomach growls. “So I’m not the only one who’s hungry at an odd hour.”
“I guess skipping dinner to enjoy some physical activity, horizontal style, is catching up with me.”
I laugh. “You’re right. I was just thinking of making a run for the border myself.”
“We’re going to Mexico?” she asks, her head jerking back. “That’s the plan?”
She looks stunned, and I can’t tell if it’s in a good way or a bad way but either way that’s not it. “No, silly little girl…Taco Bell for the ‘fourth meal’ they’re always advertising.”
“Oh…that does sound good. Can you grab me two chalupas?”
“Only two? I was thinking you’re going to need a lot of energy.
”
“And why’s that,” she purrs, rubbing her hand against my chest.
“Bank doesn’t open until nine so after we eat we’ve got some time before I have to go down and show my ID and everything to claim that big hunk o’ money.”
“You’re a big hunk, you know that?”
“I’m your big hunk, baby doll.”
She comes up on her tiptoes for a kiss. “Ready to go?”
“I think I’m gonna catch a few minutes of shut eye if you don’t mind.”
“It’s better if you stay with me. You know I get anxious when you’re not by my side, especially after everything you’ve already been through in this little section of the concrete jungle we occupy.”
“True, but both of those incidents were outside my apartment, not in. And nobody knows where I live, except a couple people at the diner, so I’ll be fine.”