The train rocked as it flew down the tracks. Renee rested her head on the window and watched as the landscape rushed past. She wrung her hands together, finding herself nervous. She didn't know why she was so nervous, but she suspected it had something to do with the man picking her up.
Grady had called her about a month ago telling her about the trip he and his friends were planning. He had invited her to go with them if she could get off work and had agreed to go to the lake house with them. HE had offered to pick her up from the train station, and she agreed. She had been out of town for a while and was returning around the time of the trip. They thought it easier to just have her take a train to Tennessee.
Grady stood at the train station and watched the large locomotive roll into the station. He rubbed his sweaty hands on his khaki slacks and watched as people got off the train. He was looking for Renee, hoping he was at the right landing. She was coming right? Grady didn't know why he was so worried, because when he caught a glimpse of her smiling as she climbed off the train, all his fears went away.
He watched her look around until her gaze fell on him. Grady waved at her as he started walking over. Renee grinned brightly and ran over to him. Grady picked her up in a hug and spun her around before putting her on the ground and kissing her. She smiled and kissed him back. It was good to see him again.
"How was your trip?" He had asked her. She smiled up at him.
"It was fine." She answered. "Vermont is beautiful this time of year."* Grady snorted at her.
"Yeah, so is Tennessee." HE commented.
"Why do you think I'm here?" She asked and looked up at him, mischief shining in her eyes. "You didn't think I sat on a train for ages just to see you, do you?" She teased. Grady laughed to himself and picked up her suitcase.
"Let's get to the cabin." HE told her. "Jack's probably pitching a fit."
"What would she be upset about?" Renee asked, concerned.
"Who knows with that one." Grady laughed. "She's a crazy broad, she'll find something to be pissed about."
"Is Norman there?" Renee asked, excited to see her brother again.
"Yeah, we picked him up before we drove here." Grady told her, then grinned as they walked out of the train station. "He still aint happy we been seeing each other." Renee laughed.
"I'm not surprised." She told him. "Mother almost had a heart attack when I told her."
"I'm not that bad." Grady teased, knowing full well he was. "Besides, I'll make an honest woman of ya." He stated and smacked her ass. Renee blushed and yelped, whipping around to face Grady.
"Grady!" She shouted and smacked his arm as he laughed. "You thug!" She accused with a smile. He just laughed harder and stepped out of the way, evading her swatting hands.
"Don't hit me, I'll leave you here." He told her with a grin still on his face. Renee huffed and crossed her arms.
"Grady Travis, you are a scoundrel." She scolded and tried to fight the smile creeping on her face. Grady just shrugged and kept walking.
"You knew what you were getting yourself into, doll." He told her with a shrug. He couldn't wipe the stupid grin off his face, and quite frankly, neither could Renee. She had missed his teasing, she had missed him.
They had spent a lot of time together, them living in the same town made it easy, much to Norman's dismay. Grady loaded her trunk into the car and opened the door for her. He climbed in as well and they drove off to the lake house. Renee leaned against him, smiling softly to herself.
Dolores and Jack sat on the small lawn chairs, Jack holding the small baby. Little Judy slept soundly in her arms as the two women spoke. Norman was being drowned by Gordo as Boyd and Don sat on the dock, drinking beers.
"So she's not a good sleeper?" Jack asked.
"Not at night." Dolores told her. "She'll sleep through a hurricane during the day, but if you sneeze at night, she screams your ear off." Jack laughed at that and pressed her nose to Judy's.
"Are you a little monster?" SHe asked in a baby voice. "Yes you are, yes you are." She cooed. Dolores smiled and shook her head. "What time was Renee's train getting in?" Dolores looked at her watch.
"ABout an hour ago." She told her. "THey should be here by now, or at the very least in a few minutes."
"Maybe the train was late." Jack suggested and Dolores shrugged.
"How have you been, Jack?" She asked. Jack just shrugged and Dolores noticed she wouldn't look her in the eyes. "Jack? What's been going on?" Dolores asked. "I know we haven't spoken too much, but I want to help, if you'll let me." She said and put a hand on jack's knee. Jack smiled sadly and looked up at her, tears starting to well.
"I don't think you can." She admitted in a whisper.
"Let me try." DOlores almost begged. "You are a friend, and you are a close friend of Boyd, and a close friend of all the others. Jack, we are worried about you. Let us help."
"I'm just, I'm just stuck, Dolores." She admitted, her shoulder sagging. Jack sniffed. "Some days, I'm fine, I don't even think about what's happened. Then there are some days... It's like I haven't even come home." Dolores looked at her. "And then there are days where I can't help but sit there waiting for them to barge through the door again and drag me away."
"Jack, it's not something you're going to forget, but maybe you can put it behind you." She suggested as she gave Jack's knee a squeeze. Jack put a hand on hers and smiled, silently thanking her for listening.
"I don't know how." She told dolores. "I'm stuck, Dolores. I'm so afraid of doing anything. WHat if they take me away again?" Dolores looked at her small friend with sympathy and grabbed her hand.
"THen I believe you will do what you always do, Jack." Dolores told her and Jack looked at her in the eyes, confused. "You fight, you fight your hardest until you come back to us."
"I'm so tired of fighting." Jack admitted quietly and Dolores gave her hand a squeeze.
"Then if they come back for you, let us fight for you." SHe suggested. "God knows you've done enough fighting for all of them." SHe teased, gettign a grin out of Jack. THe two sat in silence for a small while before DOlores spoke again. "SO, when are you and Don going to think about children?"
"I can't have children." JAck told her.
"THere is always adoption." Dolores told her and Jack shrugged.
"I haven't even tried to talk to him about it." Jack admitted with a nervous laugh. "What if he doesn't want any?" Dolores looked at her, unconvinced.
"Jack, ever since we've gotten here, Don's spent more time with the baby than you have." She told her. Jack laughed. It was true, ever since they had arrived, Don had been holding the baby, bouncing her, making faces, everything. It was actually really cute.
"I guess I'll have to start talking to him about it." Jack answered with a nervous smile.
"You'll have to ask who about what?" GRady asked from the doorway. Jack turned and smiled up at him.
"Mind your own business, Coon-ass." Jack told him. "Where's Renee?" GRady pointed a thumb behind him. "SHe's unpacking, should be out in a minute."
"How are you two doing, Grady?" Jack asked as she patted the seat next to her, encouraging him to sit down. He shrugged and sat.
"Not bad. Haven't seen her much lately." He told Jack. "SHe was outta town for a while."
"You gonna mary her?" Jack asked with a sly grin. GRady met her mischievous look.
"Already looking for the ring."