Page 28
Story: Road Trip with Her Bodyguard
“Good. Then I’m gonna do something positive too, right now.”
“Who are you calling?” Dane asks.
“Gerald’s home office voicemail,” Ron snorts, taking the phone out to the back porch while griping about how small the buttons are.
Dane shakes his head. “Wow. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him use a cell phone. Ever.”
For the next few minutes, we are treated to a lengthy rant through the window. In between some colorful curses I’ve never heard before, I manage to make out a few fragments.
“Nice girl like that, and you scare her to pieces? I don’t know what happened that made you so wrong in the head…”
“…she’s now under the protection of me and my son. You or any of your idiot minions come within a hundred miles of us and I’ll kick your ass so far up…”
“…I know about all the skeletons in your closet, buddy. So when it comes time for these two to get hitched, if Jorie invites you, you are going to be on your best behavior and I will be watching you like a hawk.”
Dane sets the table while I cook. Ron’s tirade finally finishes, then there’s nothing but silence. Just as I’m bringing the plates over, he comes back inside, quietly handing the phone to Dane.
All the bluster has vanished as Ron rests a hand gently on my shoulder. “Welcome to the family, Jorie. That man will not be using you or bossing you around ever again.”
“Thank you. You have no idea how much I appreciate it.”
“Me too. Thanks, Dad.” We all sink into our seats, and Dane chuckles. “Not quite the bodyguard job I was expecting, but this has been one helluva ride.”
He holds out his hand to me, and I clasp his on the table.
Ron rolls his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. I’m leaving as soon as I fuel up, don’t worry. You crazy kids can have the place all to yourselves for about two weeks, then I’m coming back to fish for a few days.”
“That’s fine.” Dane’s thumb moves gently across my hand. “We’ll be moving Jorie into my place by then.”
“Good. Let me know what I can do to help.”
“Thanks,” Dane nods. “I can ask the demo team for extra hands if we need them, too.”
“I really don’t have that much stuff,” I stammer.
“Yeah, but we’ll need a dresser for you, some nicer furniture… Mine is getting a little tired-looking, and it’s mostly boring gray. It’ll be fun to make the place nicer.”
Every time I think my heart can’t grow any fuller, it expands a bit more.
Just last month, I was turning down diamond jewelry that Mom told me to wear and a new car that Dad wanted me to drive around, especially to his office.
Yet right this second is the first time I’ve ever felt truly rich.
Rich with a real home. Rich with a wonderful man. And rich with love, safety, and endless possibilities.
EPILOGUE
DANE
* Four Years Later *
Nobody was surprised when we eloped two years ago.
Jorie has resumed an email relationship with her mother, but she has never expressed any interest in speaking with her father.
She keeps up with some of her friends through video calls, and occasional short trips. Most of them have moved on, though. We’ve been making new friends when we drive through part of Route 14 every spring and fall, taking a week to see a big stretch of the country. Other than any view of my beautiful wife, the vista out the front windshield is always one of my favorites.
Plus, Jorie met some very nice people through her massage training program. She truly is talented and was hired straight out of school.
“Who are you calling?” Dane asks.
“Gerald’s home office voicemail,” Ron snorts, taking the phone out to the back porch while griping about how small the buttons are.
Dane shakes his head. “Wow. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him use a cell phone. Ever.”
For the next few minutes, we are treated to a lengthy rant through the window. In between some colorful curses I’ve never heard before, I manage to make out a few fragments.
“Nice girl like that, and you scare her to pieces? I don’t know what happened that made you so wrong in the head…”
“…she’s now under the protection of me and my son. You or any of your idiot minions come within a hundred miles of us and I’ll kick your ass so far up…”
“…I know about all the skeletons in your closet, buddy. So when it comes time for these two to get hitched, if Jorie invites you, you are going to be on your best behavior and I will be watching you like a hawk.”
Dane sets the table while I cook. Ron’s tirade finally finishes, then there’s nothing but silence. Just as I’m bringing the plates over, he comes back inside, quietly handing the phone to Dane.
All the bluster has vanished as Ron rests a hand gently on my shoulder. “Welcome to the family, Jorie. That man will not be using you or bossing you around ever again.”
“Thank you. You have no idea how much I appreciate it.”
“Me too. Thanks, Dad.” We all sink into our seats, and Dane chuckles. “Not quite the bodyguard job I was expecting, but this has been one helluva ride.”
He holds out his hand to me, and I clasp his on the table.
Ron rolls his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. I’m leaving as soon as I fuel up, don’t worry. You crazy kids can have the place all to yourselves for about two weeks, then I’m coming back to fish for a few days.”
“That’s fine.” Dane’s thumb moves gently across my hand. “We’ll be moving Jorie into my place by then.”
“Good. Let me know what I can do to help.”
“Thanks,” Dane nods. “I can ask the demo team for extra hands if we need them, too.”
“I really don’t have that much stuff,” I stammer.
“Yeah, but we’ll need a dresser for you, some nicer furniture… Mine is getting a little tired-looking, and it’s mostly boring gray. It’ll be fun to make the place nicer.”
Every time I think my heart can’t grow any fuller, it expands a bit more.
Just last month, I was turning down diamond jewelry that Mom told me to wear and a new car that Dad wanted me to drive around, especially to his office.
Yet right this second is the first time I’ve ever felt truly rich.
Rich with a real home. Rich with a wonderful man. And rich with love, safety, and endless possibilities.
EPILOGUE
DANE
* Four Years Later *
Nobody was surprised when we eloped two years ago.
Jorie has resumed an email relationship with her mother, but she has never expressed any interest in speaking with her father.
She keeps up with some of her friends through video calls, and occasional short trips. Most of them have moved on, though. We’ve been making new friends when we drive through part of Route 14 every spring and fall, taking a week to see a big stretch of the country. Other than any view of my beautiful wife, the vista out the front windshield is always one of my favorites.
Plus, Jorie met some very nice people through her massage training program. She truly is talented and was hired straight out of school.