The Secret Between Them by R.D. Haggins

Author:R.D. Haggins [Haggins, R.D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: selfpublishing.com
Published: 2024-04-09T00:00:00+00:00

The Taurus passed a small, deserted gas station and a gated junkyard. It slowed and turned into an isolated community of dumpy, run-down houses. On the corner of a narrow street, a trailer home had burned from the inside out, and on the next road, a stripped four-door sedan sat in the middle of a field.

Finally, Duffy turned onto a street where people seemed to reside. A large family walked in the middle of the street, parting as the Taurus approached. A man and three children stopped along the side, giving the car their full attention as it passed. A woman, carrying a toddler, stood on the other side. She peered curiously into the vehicle. Sage watched them from start to finish, flipping around in her seat to view them through the back window. They didn’t appear displaced or stranded, and they made no attempt to stop the car or gesture for help.

Eventually, Duffy slowed the Taurus and pulled into a driveway that stretched alongside a squatty, flat-roof house. He parked in the back, out of sight from the street.

“Where are we?” Sage asked, breaking their silence.

“Somewhere we won’t be disturbed.” Duffy turned off the engine and sat quietly behind the wheel.

“So, talk,” Sage said.

Duffy burst with laughter as if she had told the funniest joke in the world. After a moment, he caught his breath. “All I ever wanted was a chance to explain,” he said.

“Five years ago?” she asked. He nodded. “You didn’t look like you wanted to talk that night.”

Duffy scoffed. “I didn’t, did I?”

“No, you didn’t.”

“I have some time now. What about you?”

Sage told herself that she wouldn’t cry, even though sobs had gathered in her throat, weighing down her words. “You almost killed us today with your manic driving. Do you want to talk about that?”

“Almost doesn’t count, does it?”

“Duff, please say what you want to say. So, I can go home.”

“Let’s go inside.” Duffy nodded toward the house. “Eat some lunch. Relax a little bit, and just hash it out.”

Sage shook her head. “I have to go home. Besides, nothing we can say will change what happened in the past.”

“You’re right,” he said. “So, let’s talk about today. Let’s talk about tomorrow. I just want to talk to you. Can’t you understand that?”

“No, not really,” she said.

“I’d like to show you something I’ve worked on for months. Then, I’ll take you home. Alright? I promise. Let’s go inside.”

Sage sat up straight in the seat. “I’d rather talk out here.” Duffy fell back against his seat and rested on the headrest. “Duff, seriously,” she said. “Would you please stop this?”

“Stop what?”

“This. Whatever you’re doing?”

“I’m trying to connect with you.”

“You have constantly ignored me and refused to take me home.”

“Home? Where?” he said, opening his mouth in mock surprise. “Oh… you think you can run by the store, pick up some butter and cheese, and go home. You think he’ll welcome you with open arms after finding those empty bank accounts?” Duffy shook his head. “I don’t think so.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.