2012-6-6 (Today's short story)

            Untitled by Troy Jones.

             Smoke curled up from the cigarette in his fingers. It quiet light the only thing illuminating his face. She watched from across the road. The sign of the petrol station flickering with age and disrepair. Its walls covered in flaking paint and dirty glass.

            His hand slowly reached up pulling the stick to his lips allowing another intake of the smoke. His chest expanded as he took it into is lungs and released into a hacking cough. She pushed the door of the car open. Looking both ways along the deserted road she hurried to his side.

            "Are you okay?"

            The old man turned to her. His weathered hand reaching to grasps hers, “Is that you darlin?"

            "Yeah it's me Pa. Are you okay? You should quite. You know what the doctors said the last time you were there."

            He turned away and back to the door behind. Pulling out keys from his pocket he locked the gas stations door.

            "Doctor's? What do they know? They don't know my life or me. These things are the only things keeping me going." It was an old argument one the two had, had many times before, "Anyway what are you doing here?"

            "It's late and there is a storm on its way. Grandma asked me to pick you up, saves you having to walk in the rain."

            "I would of been fine. A little water ain't hurt nobody."

            "That may be true" Taking his arm and leading him to her pickup "But neither did a car ride"

            "Your Grandmother worries to much, but in 58 years of marriage I have learnt not to anger the women. Lead on young one."

            She walked him the car and helped him inside allowing him enough time for a final puff before he stamped the smoke out. Safely seated inside they pulled out just as the first few drops of rain started to thump on the car. With a purr of the engine they headed south down the road.

            Silence stretched out in front. Familiar and comfortable. The thuds on the roof adding a steady beat to the silent hum of the engine. She griped the leather on the steering wheel. Twin pools of light showing the framed picture the night allowed to illuminate.

            His voice wafted over to her, a gentle blanket in the cold night "So how are things with you?"

            "School is good. We got exams coming up so I thought I would do a quick visit now before I get locked away for the next month with study."

            "A small break then. That’s nice. What about this fella I heard about, did he come down with you?"

            "Dave? No he and I broke up. It's just me now."

            "From the sounds of things he was never right for you. Being a lawyer. Scum is what they all are and they spend much to much time away from home."

            A quiet sob entered her voice "He was a good man. I couldn't fault him for that."

            He turned to stare at his Granddaughter "But there is more to this isn't there? What did he do to you?"

            She laughed at the gruff tone his voice had taken. She could just imagine the two squaring off in a fight against each other. "He didn't do anything wrong Pa. It wasn't him"

            She felt his eyes leave her as he turned to stare back out the window. She turned her focus back to the road, the rain was getting harder now and she needed to really concentrate, but images of the last few months kept creeping in. Her and Dave hardly seeing each other. Texts and emails being the only real for of communication. Her friends birthday party. Having too many beers. Waking up next to a stranger in her bed. The guilt of her actions. The fear of Dave finding out. Then finding out she was pregnant.

            She had come back to her childhood home. Were everything had been safe and easy to decide what she wanted to do.

            It took her a while to register the hand on hers. To feel the callouses and strength ebbing through the fingers gripping hers on the wheel and realise that she was being spoken to. Slowly she pulled over to the side of the road.

            His voice was soft and soothing. One she had heard a hundred times before when he was trying to clam one of their animals down. "It’s okay, you'll be okay. It's all fine." The repetition on the words blended in with the hum and she wiped the unknown tears away from her eyes. When the engine cut off the thunder of the rain on the roof was the only sound until she spoke again. While they sat she poured out the entire story awaiting her grandfathers roar of disapproval. Instead he unbuckled his belt and reached across to hug her. She buried her face in his shoulder and cried the tears she had been holding back for weeks now.

            Finally when it was all over, the tears all gone she started the car and carried on. The only words her Pa had told her is that they would sit together as a family and talk again when they got home. The road the rest of they way in silence. It was until she pulled into the driveway did she notice that the rain had stopped and the first star had decided to peak out from the clouds and shine.