Chapter 13: When Silence Feels Like Yesterday
1594 Words
October came quietly.
The mornings are cooler now. The air smelled of falling leaves rather than humidity. Their maple tree out front was starting to turn golden, and each morning the chickens scratched through fresh leaves like they were trying to find treasure.
Life had become beautifully routine.
Craig began bringing her coffee most mornings before work.
Becca worked the morning shift at the bakery.
Their kids kept them busy with homework, sports, and random laughter.
The chickens are laying three or four eggs a day now.
Normal.
Perfect.
Safe.
Well…she thought it was.
Friday Afternoon
Craig leaned back against the counter at the bakery, drinking coffee while Becca boxed up cinnamon rolls.
“I’ll see you around six?”
She smiled.
“Dinner will be ready at six-thirty.”
“I’ll be there.” He grabbed his coffee from the counter and checked his watch.
“I have one last service call out by Plant City.”
“Everything alright?” She asked, concerned.
“It’ll only take a minute.” He winked.
“Don’t let Nugget boss you around while I’m gone.”
“No promises.” He laughed.
“I’ll text you when I’m on my way back.” He stood up.
“You always do.” She kissed him goodbye.
“I know.”
He reached over, grabbed a loose curl behind her ear, and walked out the door.
Becca stood in her spot watching him through the front window until his truck was out of sight.
6:00 p.m.
The lasagna was ready for the oven.
Garlic bread was set on the counter.
The youngest was unfolding napkins.
The oldest had just finished homework at the dining room table.
And Nugget had stepped outside to collect eggs.
Becca glanced at her phone.
No text.
She smiled at herself.
He’s probably driving.
6:30 p.m.
Her phone beeped twice, but nothing from Craig.
She looked out the window. Sweltering storm clouds were gathering above Plant City.
She checked the weather.
No storms.
Checked the local news channel for accidents.
She set her phone back down.
Girl, don’t be ridiculous.
7:00 p.m.
She jumped as her phone vibrated loudly on the counter.
It was Craig.
His truck battery died.
Some guy helped him jumpstart his truck but lost his phone somewhere in the cab.
Craig still loved her. They would eat.
Her chest tightened.
Don’t be stupid. You have no reason to worry.
7:30 p.m.
That stupid, nagging voice crept back inside her head.
Not loudly.
Just softly.
“You’re overreacting.”
“It’s fine.” She willed her heart to beat slowly.
“You know he would never…”
“What if he doesn’t come?”
“Don’t be silly.”
Why was she so upset? He always came home to her.
She hated how her heart seemed to react before her mind even processed what was happening.
Sarah Calls
Her phone buzzed.
Sarah texted her.
Becca debated if she should answer. She knew exactly what Sarah would say.
But she did it anyway.
“Hey.”
“You sound crazy.”
“I’m fine.” Her heart began racing again.
“Lie.”
Becca chuckled breathlessly.
“He’s not here.” Sarah’s heart went out to her friend immediately.
“Where is he?”
“In Plant City.” She let out a heavy sigh.
“What time did he say he’d be home?”
“He said six.” She hated herself.
“He’s over an hour late.” Sarah could hear the panic in her voice.
Sarah gently prodded.
“Has he ever just not come home before?”
“No.” Wide awake now, panic attacked her body.
“Has he been in situations where he didn’t come home when he said he would?”
“He got stuck in traffic once helping a lady on the side of the road.” Her voice rose a little with anxiety.
“Did he ever do this?” Sarah asked softly.
Becca shook her head no. Part of her knew that Craig loved her. But her heart refused to listen.
Sarah went on.
“He’s fine.” Silence fell over the conversation.
“You love him. You know that, don’t you?” Sarah didn’t wait for a response.
“What’s more probable?”
“He got held up at work…”
“OR”
“He forgot about dinner.”
“OR”
“He lost his phone.”
Anger flooded through her veins. Why was Sarah making this so easy?
“OR”
He didn’t come home.
Sarah waited.
“What’s the least likely reason that he won’t come home?”
Her heart began beating painfully in her chest.
Becca closed her eyes.
“…”
“He doesn’t love you.”
Sarah hung up before she heard her reply.
8:00 p.m.
Craig finally knocked on the front door.
Before Becca could say anything, their youngest child ran to the door screaming.
“Daddy!”
He opened the door looking worse for wear.
His shirt was stained with grease.
His hands were dirty.
And he said the first words he said all evening.
“I’m sorry.” His mouth felt dry. He apologized again.
“What happened?” Her heart melted, but she needed answers.
“My truck battery died.” He began explaining.
He pulled out his phone.
“It died too.” So much for that.
“I stopped at this gas station to borrow a charger somebody had hooked up to their truck.”
He paused. He knew how silly he must’ve looked by now.
“But by the time I borrowed it, the battery was dead in theirs too.”
“It barely turned on, so I could call roadside assistance.” Craig rubbed his eyes.
“I hate worrying you like this.” He sighed.
The children circled him, asking question after question.
“What happened?”
“Did you have to push it?”
“Did anyone help you?”
“How long were you stuck?”
He patiently answered each question. Then he gently looked back up at his wife.
She remained quiet.
Too quiet.
Outside
Craig found her sitting on the porch steps after his children ran inside to tell her where Dad had been.
It was peaceful outside.
The porch light shone dimly onto the lawn.
The chickens were quiet in their coop for the night.
He joined her on the bottom step.
“I’m sorry I made you worried.”
She nodded and stayed silent.
“I feel like I should’ve found a way to call you.”
“I know.”
Silence.
“I got scared, babe.”
He looked down at his feet.
Finally, she whispered,
“I knew you’d leave me.”
Craig lifted his head to look at her.
“No!” He pulled her close.
“No, I would never do that to you.” His hands covered hers.
Inside
Back inside, Becca sat with her kids as Craig explained everything that happened.
She missed most of it.
“What did Dad say?”
They all turned to her.
He stayed by her side the entire time.
“The truck battery died.”
“Oh.” Boring.
“So?” Her youngest looked up at her with confused eyes.
“His phone died too.”
“WHAT?” Her oldest yelled from the table.
“It’s fine, guys.” She reassured them both.
Craig walked back outside to sit with her in silence.
The Truth About Healing
He reached into his pocket and pulled out his truck keys.
Placing them into her trembling hands.
“What are you doing, Dad?” Her voice was small.
He smiled at her.
“I got a portable battery last month.”
“What?”
He smiled ear to ear.
“I forgot it at home today.”
She frowned at him.
“Oh…”
“I want you to have these.” He began again.
“Why, Dad?”
He looked into her eyes tenderly.
“Every time you see them…” He paused for a second, making sure she was listening.
“I never want you to forget that I always come home to you.”
Her eyes began to tear up.
“Craig…”
“I can’t promise you that truck batteries won’t die.”
He smiled sadly at his wife.
“But what I can promise you…”
He took her hands in his.
“I will always come home to you.”
The Difference Between Then and Now
Words were not needed.
They sat in comfortable silence for minutes.
Listening to the crickets and a cool breeze brush against the oak tree.
She finally looked up at him.
“You know what?”
“Hey.” He responded with a small smile.
“I realized something tonight.”
“What’s that?”
“I was scared because of old hurt.”
Craig gently nodded his head.
“What we went through this afternoon…”
She looked towards the coop.
Was nothing compared to what happened years ago.
“But that doesn’t mean I should be scared.”
She nestled her head on his chest.
Of you not coming home.”
Craig embraced his wife tightly.
For the first time tonight, her breathing regulated.
Slow.
Steady.
Safe.
Smiling
“I forgot something.” She whispered.
“What?”
“You came home to me.” She slowly sat up.
Craig kissed the top of her head.
“I always come home to you.”
- Writer
