A Reason To Stay (19 page)

“Drive, Ben.” Her arms were still shaking. He rolled the window up as the rain began pelting the windows. With closed eyes, Elise breathed in the dusty smell the rain brought with it. Soon the earth would be cleansed from the storm. Soon Elise would, too.

Shifting down through the downpour, Ben squinted to see out the front windshield. The wipers were beating back and forth on the fastest setting. The water had begun pooling in the low areas, forcing Ben to tap his breaks.

Water flooded onto the windshield. Curtains of rain poured over her as she sat in the time capsule of Ben’s truck. Her mother, yet again, managing to ruin her day, her life. It was a renewal rain for her troubled past. It drowned out all its lies and problems. After it was over, Elise could leave Kentucky and start fresh. But how could she leave Ben? Like her, he was a victim of Lyla Newton. Their once perfect love was destroyed by the woman who refused to let anyone else be happy.

After driving slowly and hydroplaning once or twice, they finally pulled down the long drive to Ben’s house. The dark clouds forced an early end to the evening. The pole lights had turned on, and the farm hands had taken in the horses. They parked at the house and waited in the car for a break in the downpour. Without much of a thought, Elise flung open her door and ran toward the field beside his house. In an instant, she was soaked. Her linen blouse adhered to her skin. Drops of rain dripped from her eyelashes. A distant thunder crashed. She kept running. The water and wet ground saturated her slip-on shoes, making it feel like she was running with sponges attached to her feet. Finally, she stopped and looked toward the sky. The rain was pouring too heavily, forcing her to close her eyes like a drunken sailor. Ben ran up behind her.

“Elise, are you crazy? You’re getting soaked. Come into the house.” Water dripped off his lips and rolled off the brim of his hat.

Elise’s trance from the storm was broken and she turned to him, her eyes falling to his wet lips. She heard nothing he said, only the chant from the devil inside her head, calling her attention to the eligible man that stood before her. The one who had never left her mind...or her heart.

Ben was crouching down and holding his arm around her, trying to urge her inside. She grabbed him by the neck and pressed him with a kiss that took their breath away. His hat fell to the ground as he pulled her closer. Pent-up years of passion was released as she aggressively kissed down his neck. His hands navigated down her back and the coating rain forced them to explore each other without seeing. Thunder grumbled angrily in the distance.

She pulled at his shirt and moved back to his parted lips, where he waited for her to continue exploring. He touched her breast and she purred inside. As he pulled her by the hand, they ran toward the house. They kicked their shoes off in the living room, never breaking their hold on one another. The obstacle of the stairs proved no match for their ability to float on top of them, making their way to Ben’s bedroom.

They stood in front of his bed, stopping for a brief moment from the frantic ravishing of one another. Ben’s gaze held her hypnotized as he pulled off her sticky wet blouse, sliding it over her head. Her hair hung in thick wet ropes, dangling dripping water over his floor. He took his time to look at her body. She reached behind her, unclasping her bra. His breath caught. His look and the cold temperature of the room made chill-bumps on her skin.

Ben unzipped his pants and kicked them off while she unbuttoned his shirt. He laid her down on the bed and undid her pants. The stubborn denim made it hard for her to shimmy them off. She kicked relentlessly, pushing them down with her feet, before they fell on the floor with a thud.

For the next two hours, they made love. Ben explored every inch of her. Elise recalled how perfect he was as a lover. She smiled as he kissed the small of her back before rolling over to her back to enjoy him all over again.

After they had exhausted themselves, they listened to the quietness of the after storm. The rage of the thunder, like their lovemaking, was now settled into perfect stillness. Lightning bugs pressed against the windows, illuminating only tiny fractions of the room. Otherwise, it was pitch black. The moon stayed hidden behind the thick, dark clouds. The worn, damp sheet draped across Elise, and Ben had laid his head on her stomach.

“God, I’ve missed you.”

Elise closed her eyes tightly, absorbing all that the moment brought her. Only she knew how lonely she had been for him for all those stolen years. He took her hand and played with her fingers, kissing each of them.

“Elise, are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. I’m just thinking.”

“What are you thinking about?” He turned over to his stomach and stared at her silhouette.

“How crazy today was. How I had no idea when I woke up this morning this is where I’d be at the end of it.”

“I’m not crazy about what happened to you today, but I’m sure glad this is where it ended.”

He kissed her arm and she closed her eyes again.

“Are you hungry,” he asked.

“I’m starving. What do you have?” She stacked a couple pillows and pulled herself up on them.

“I have anything you want.” He got out of bed and felt for the wall.

Ben turned the hall light on and Elise shielded her eyes. “Just bring me anything. Crackers and cheese would even be fine. Oh, and can you bring my bag. I’d better call Melanie and tell her I’ll be home in a little bit.”

Ben’s posture lost conformity. “You’re not leaving, are you? Can’t you stay with me?”

She would stay the rest of her life if she could. One night with him could fix anything that was wrong with her. It wasn’t right, though. Not now. There were too many unsettled things and people in her life. On the other hand, what were a few more hours? What could she do in the night at Melanie’s, except stay awake longing to be with Ben?

“Just bring me my bag. I’ll see what she’s doing. She’s probably wondering where I’m at. And if she’s talked to Mom, she should at least hear my side of the story.” She pulled the sheet up under her arms.

He stood in the hall, naked. Looking at him was something she would never tire of. He stepped inside and pulled a pair of boxer shorts from the drawer. He snapped them on his waist and went downstairs.

The sound of the crickets chirped through the walls of the house. Steam settled on the windows from the temperature change outside. His room felt like home to her. He came back, holding her pocketbook and a bag of chips with two drinks.

“I was out of crackers. I’m sorry, but I can go back and find something else. Would you like some popcorn or maybe cereal? I’ve got your favorite, with marshmallows.” He smiled.

“I can get dressed and go down. I think I’m actually hungrier than I thought. Maybe something like a fried egg or something more filling.” She opened the sheet to get out of bed and looked at him. “Do you have something dry I can wear?”

“Do you have to get dressed? You’re already wearing my favorite thing on you.” He smiled with pleasure.

“Ben, hurry, I’m hungry.”

His closet was full of button down shirts of every color and design. All the latest fashions for the cowboy of Kentucky. He pulled a brown striped one off the hanger and tossed it to Elise. She buttoned it up and pulled her underwear from the floor and slipped into them. The phone in her bag was still buzzing. She pulled it out and looked at the number with a concentrative look.

“Who is it?” Ben asked.

“It’s my secretary, Janine. What time is it, anyway?”

The digital clock on his bed stand read six thirty. What did Janine want? She never called when Elise was out of town. It was three thirty back in California. Curiosity forced her to answer.

“Hello.”

“Miss Newton, thank goodness you finally answered. I’ve been calling for hours.” Her voice was rushed and exhausted.

“Janine, calm down. What’s the matter?” Elise put her hand to her mouth, waiting to hear what seemed to be rattling the very calm secretary she had left a few days ago. Maybe the printer was out of paper.

“Miss Newton, I’m so sorry to call. It’s just that when the hospital called this morning and couldn’t get a hold of you, I didn’t know what to do.”

“Janine, what are you talking about? Why is the hospital calling me?” The image of Darren slammed into her thoughts. Oh, Lord. What happened?

“It was a woman. She was trying to get a hold of you to tell you there was an accident with Dr. Masterson. He was in surgery. I didn’t know your mother’s phone number. It’s not in your personnel file. I’ve been a nervous wreck all day, Miss Newton.” Her words stumbled into each other as they fell through the telephone connection.

Ben stared at Elise who was now trembling with shock. Emptiness echoed in her stomach. God was punishing Darren for her sin of cheating. The horrible day that ended better than it started was now gone. She had to get to Darren. He had no one else.

“Okay, Janine. You did well. I know about it now and I’m coming home. Did she tell you anything else? Why is he in surgery?”

“All she said was that you needed to be found and he was being operated on.” Her words blew around like snow flurries in Elise’s mind, putting a white haze on all her rational thoughts.

“Thank you, Janine. I’ve got to go, but I’ll be in contact with you tomorrow.”

Ben stood in the doorway, waiting for Elise to finish. She clicked the phone off and grabbed her wet clothes from the floor, stuffing them into the crux of her arm and shaking her head left and right.

“What’s wrong, Elise?” He rushed over, touching her busied arm.

“Darren’s been in an accident. Why in the hell didn’t I check my phone earlier? I’ve got to get back home.”

Ben watched her as she talked cursively to herself. There were no words he could have said. Nothing that could ease her guilt or expel her worry for Darren. Their reunion was overturned by fate.

The phone wasn’t cooperating with her commands as she banged on the number pad. “All I want is the freaking number for Tennessee International,” she screamed at the device.

“I’ll take you, if you want.”

“I have to take Mom’s car back to Melanie. She can take me, I hope. Maybe, if you don’t mind, you could stay with the kids while she drives me.”

“Why won’t you let me take you?” He bent over and picked up the wad of clothes that was slipping from her grasp.

“All I’ve done is ask things of you today. I can’t ask you anymore. Especially for this.” She began walking down the stairs punching out more numbers on her phone.

“I want to take you, Elise. If you need me, I can even go back with you.”

The words hung like a bad odor in the air. She stopped dead in her tracks and turned around. “Ben, you can’t go back with me.”

“You’re obviously upset. And after everything else that’s happened today, I think you need someone to be with you.”

“I’m going to the hospital to see Darren. I’m sure as hell not ready to answer the question of who
you
are.” The words slipped past the sugar coating room in her brain. The truth stung both of them.

“Who am I, Elise?” He stood three steps up from where she was.

“I can’t do this now, Ben. I can’t.” Her wet clothes were seeping through the dry shirt of Ben’s she was wearing.

She shoved the phone in her bag and pounded her feet into her wet shoes. One had flung all the way over by the sofa. The memory for the reason of its trajectory humbled her curtness. Ben slowly moved down the stairs.

“I’m just a little shaken, I guess. Don’t bother watching the kids. I’ll work it out. I’ve just got to go now.” She was wise not to look directly into his eyes. She had gotten stuck there once before.

The evening of complete passion had turned into a sea of insecurity in a matter of a three-minute phone call. How did she leave things with him? There was no need to promise what she didn’t know or was unsure of. It wasn’t her style, anyway. But just a few minutes ago, she would have slipped a ring on her left hand for him. What now?

“I’ll call you when I get back. I’m sorry for everything.”

He nodded, but hadn’t moved an inch in her direction. She’d re-opened the wounds, probably leaving him with the image of her running. Again. Running from, running to. Google Elise Newton, there was probably an icon of winged feet in the block for her picture. When would she ever stop?

She opened the creaky door and disappeared into the fresh evening. Crisp air brushed her thighs, reminding her she was half dressed in only Ben’s shirt. The car lights bumped off the fence posts as she sped down the road. The airline reservation’s desk finally answered and she managed to book the flight back home. It departed in an hour and a half. There was no time to waste getting her bags packed and leaving. She hoped Melanie was ready for a road trip. Thoughts of Ben’s empty eyes would have to wait till later.

“Hello, Melanie?”

“Elise, what is going on? Mom said you went to her house and you had a fight.”

The car hydroplaned as anger welled up inside her. “I don’t have time to talk about Mom and her sad life right now, Melanie. Darren’s been in an accident and I have to get back home. Can you drive me to the airport?”

“I’ll have to take the kids, but we can manage. Is he all right?” Thankfully, she diverted from her inquisition of their mother and focused on the help Elise needed at the moment.

“I don’t know. I haven’t called the hospital yet. I’m just trying to make the flight. I’ll be there in about five minutes. Can you pack my bag? Just throw everything in the suitcase. I’ve got to make the eight fifteen flight.”

“I’ll start right now. Be careful, the roads are really wet.”

Elise got to Melanie’s house and dragged her bags out the front door. She pulled a pair of jeans out of one of the cases and put them on. There was no time to dig for a bra. The shirt she had on was baggy and she had her wet one wadded up and tucked in her pocketbook. It might get some looks at baggage claims, but she didn’t care.

They hurried the kids to the car and quickly sped out of the town of Bowling Green. She scribbled a note and tucked it in the glove box of Ben’s truck. Melanie was still driving it until hers got fixed. She hoped he’d find it after Melanie switched cars with him.

The hour trip seemed to take five hours to get there.
Finding Nemo
was playing for the kids in the back seat, and Melanie didn’t ask Elise any more questions. She must have sensed how nervous her sister seemed. Elise rested her head on the cold window, her forehead leaving a skin mark on the glass. Thoughts of both Ben and Darren plagued her stress levels, soaring them to new heights.