This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to ANYONE is completely coincidental. Anyone who engages in any "activity" is well over the age of 18.
Author's Note: Authors love hearing from their readers and I'm no exception. Thank you to everyone who has hung on through Dave & Amy's story. Buckle. Up.
Amy -- Moving Forward
Part I
We arrived back at Amy's house a little while later after stopping and picking up some fast food. While Amy went inside, I went to the Jeep and pulled out my laptop and a bag that I kept packed for emergencies. It contained toiletries, clothing for a couple of days, and pajamas. Keeping this bag was a habit my mom got me into in case I ever had car trouble or had to stay somewhere overnight. I kept it up well into adulthood. When I went inside the house, I tripped over several boxes.
"We've been busy," Sophie said, proudly.
"I can see that," I agreed, "is this a whole bedroom?"
"Yes," Sophie said, "it is almost all of Clare's clothes and most of Chris's." Sophie pointed to my bag and asked, "why the jump bag?"
"Amy asked me to stay the night. After the shit with Christopher, I can't blame her."
"Well, I have to work tomorrow," Sophie protested, "I can't stay."
"Go home. Take the Jeep," I said, "I'll come home with Amy in a few days."
Sophie looked at me with surprise, "you're going to let me drive the Jeep?"
"Yeah. Oh, check to see if Clare is going with you or staying. I suspect she'll go with you."
Amy came downstairs followed by Clare. When Clare saw me, she ran over to me and hugged me tightly.
"Mom told me what Mr. Clive said," Clare whispered, 'I'm so sorry, Uncle Dave. I can't imagine how anyone would do this to children."
"Thank you, Clare," I said and returned the hug.
In that moment, Clare looked so much more mature than sixteen and at the same time so much younger. I knew she'd never let her teenage pride show it but she needed me as much as Chris did. It was a tremendous responsibility that I hoped at my age I was still up for.
Clare let go of me and grabbed a box. "Is the Jeep unlocked? I want to get it loaded and go."
"Uncle Dave is staying here tonight, Clare," Amy said, "Do you want to go with Sophie or stay here?"
"I don't want to stay, Mom. I'm sorry. I don't want to ever come back here after this afternoon."
We spent a half hour packing the Jeep and saying our goodbyes and good nights. I handed Sophie my keys and gave her a very tired smile.
"You're really letting me drive the Jeep, Daddy?"
"Yes, why wouldn't I?"
"You never even let Mom drive the Jeep."
My tired smile turned sad. "Just get you and Clare home, okay?"
"Okay, Daddy," Sophie said and got in the Jeep.
Clare came down the walk and headed for the passenger door. I intercepted her about halfway down.
"You okay, kiddo," I asked.
"Yeah. At least I'll be okay when I can forget today. I hurt but Sophie says I'm okay."
"Thanks for having my back, today."
"No, thank you for having ours, Uncle Dave."
Clare opened the passenger door and I stopped her one more time. "Has he hit you before?"
Clare looked at me very somberly. "No. Never Chris or I," Clare said.
"Your mom?"
"Yeah, once or twice. When he was drinking," Clare admitted, "I thought you were going to kill him."
"If I had known...I may have."
Clare looked at me closely. She looked me right in my eyes. She could see that I was telling the truth and I think it made her sad to think about it.
"I'm glad you didn't," she said, "I've gotten used to you being around." She gave me a peck on the cheek and jumped in the Jeep. Amy and I waved good bye to them and went back inside.
Part II
I asked Amy where Chris was. I owed him an explanation about getting into a fist fight with his dad after I told him violence was a last resort. I *wanted* to beat the shit out of Christopher. I wanted that fight. I looked forward to it. It wasn't my best moment.
"I put him to bed when we got back from Sully's," Amy said, "but I doubt we've seen the last of him tonight."
I nodded. There were nights that I could still remember the girls, Rose in particular, coming to Grace and me for comfort late at night. Memories of nightmares, and bad thunderstorms, and numerous other excuses to be with us.
"No worries," I said, "everyone needs their mom and dad now and then."
Amy took my hand and gazed at me.
"Do you really think of yourself as his dad, already?"
"I do. He needs a dad. And I think I need him, too," I said to her.
Amy and I climbed the stairs to go to bed. The whole way she held my hand gently pulling me along. It had been more than a full day for all of us and we were tired. Between that and knowing we'd have company soon in the form of an eight year old, we decided to forego any fooling around and I donned my pajamas from my bag and she wore a nightgown that went down to her knees.
We climbed under the top sheet and she snuggled into my shoulder with a content sigh.
"Thank you, David," she said.
"For?"
"For everything. For being here, for understanding, for not walking out on me that night in the motel, and for being so good with my babies and loving them, too. Oh, and for not killing Christopher even though you wanted to."
"If I had known he ever laid a hand on you I would have broken his fucking neck; J.R. be damned."
"I know you would have and that's why I didn't tell you."
"Does Bill know," I asked.
"No," she replied emphatically, "and you can never tell him."
I grunted non-committedly. Christopher should be a non-issue, now.
"Dave," Amy began, "do you think we would have...you know...do you think your grandfather would have been right about us if we grew up together?"
"I don't know," I said, honestly, 'I'm sure you wouldn't have been able to stand me. And Dean and Cal would have spoiled you rotten and probably turned you against me."