Home Again

Chapter 15

Melanie sat alone in her room watching the snow under the pole light. I wonder if the twins see it. They love snow. The room was so quiet, she held the small cell phone in her hands. Should I call Brad? Would he answer? Does he truly hate me? Did he really mean the things he said? Was she right in making her threats against him and not listening to what he had to say? The cell phone almost made her jump out of her skin. "Hello,"

"Mom,"

"Hey baby"

"Can you come get us?"

"Why?"

"I can't stand it here, I don't want to be here, I want to come home."

"Give your dad a chance, sweetie."

"I tried to, but I just can't, not right now. Mom, I want you. I can't spend another minute in this house mommy." He paced a little. "I'd rather walk than spend another minute here with this man."

"Benjamin, it's snowing," She tried to reason with him.

"I don't care"

"Okay baby I’ll be there in a few minutes. get your things together."

"I love you mommy"

"I love you too."

Melanie left a note for Faith on her bed and made her way to Bradley's house. Wonder what Brad did to him? I thought for sure the children would love him. The road was already white; she could barely make out where the sides of the road were and the fact it was dark wasn't helping. The snowflakes were freezing on the window almost as fast as the small SUV could wipe them off. Thank God for heated seats, she thought.

There were vehicles all over the road, small cars and big trucks, most parked on the sides and some across both lanes where they had spun out, until she made the last turn toward the ranch. Now she was by herself. There was no one else dumb enough to be on the road. She thought, “Only three miles now thank you Lord,” she spoke out loud.

She was worried sick at this point that they might all be stuck there. Would Brad even let her in or make her walk the four extra miles to Dena's place? She could see nothing; everything was white and black. The car began to slide, and her heart began to race. She could barely hold onto the wheel, as she spun out of control. There was a small incline on the left of her and a ditch in the open fields on the other side. The fear creeped up her neck and through her heart. She closed her eyes and thanked God that everything had come out in the open before she was going to die. Her babies and Brad were all she could think of. “Please God” she prayed and gripped the steering wheel a little tighter. “Don't let Ben think it was his fault and please don't let Brad feel bad for anything. Lord please bless Elizabeth and let her be good to them and let Gi know I love her.” The car spun in circles and she was powerless to stop it. She held the steering wheel so tight that her knuckles were white, almost as white as her complexion that was twisted with terror. She couldn’t tell if she were spinning left or right. Where would she land? Would anyone be able to find her? “Please God just let my babies be OK?” Her heart was beating so fast and hard she couldn’t hear anything but it. She blocked her face and braced for a collision. She lost her breath in the endless twirling and heard a horrifying squeal of metal and a crunch of glass as she was jerked by the impact. She felt the whole car collide with what she faintly thought might be a tree and felt a searing pain in her right leg, then everything went black...

Christmas eve nine years ago

"At least the truck is warm" Brad slid closer to her, putting his arms around her.

"It’s just to bad the back doesn't have heated seats." She smiled. "Did you try your phone?"

"Yeah the storm must have knocked out the signal. It keeps saying emergency calls only."

"So, what now, it must be pretty bad when your four-wheel drive gets stuck. and it's too cold to walk five miles."

"It is, but don't worry Dena will send someone after us if were not at the house by eight and she can't reach me. Last year a something like this happened to her and we started that rule anytime we'd leave the house." He Grinned like the cat who ate the canary.

"What?" She asked

"Well, it’s only six we have two hours."

"Two hours" She twirled a small piece of hair around one finger.

"Can you think of anything more romantic than being stranded in a snowstorm?" He leaned into kiss her.

"Well maybe..."

"Mel"

"yeah"

"SHHH" He pressed his lips to her hers and nibbled until she moaned. He continued to feast on her lips as he moved one hand down to her jacket unzipping it. He slipped both hands inside around her waist as she shimmied out of the coat. She took a play from him and begun to undo the buttons on his coat too. His hands found the bottom of her blouse and lifted straight over her head effortlessly looking into her soft blue eyes that were struck with passion.

"Bradley, should we really be doing this?"

"I love you Melanie but if you want to stop I will" He pretended to twist his imaginary mustache, "but I don't want to."

She bit her lip driving him even more insane. To his surprise she smiled and began working the belt around his waist.

He hooted and lifted her chin to meet his kiss that was more heated than it had been before.

Before She had even realized it, they were skin to skin. Melanie on was her back beneath him with her head threw back in ecstasy as he tasted her breast. "Brad" she murmured almost inaudible as he moved down her past her stomach with small kisses to her most intimate area. She didn't even try to stop him from parting her legs even though she was scared to death. He flecked his tongue against her making her cry out in pleasure. She ran her hands through his hair as he pleasured her. He took gratification every time she wriggled and reached up to tease one plump breast. It didn't take long and she was already covered in sweat. She was inaudibly pleading for what she wasn't sure, she was a virgin after all but even for all her fear; Brad had awakened a need inside her that evaporated all thoughts but him. Her center throbbed with passion, her heart was racing, and She was rasping his name. He bent to kiss her lips one more time before he raised above her and positioned himself between her legs ready to take her. He couldn’t take it any longer his self, but he was also nervous, God don't let me hurt her, he thought. He inserted his tip and she raised to meet him. The on slew of feelings that rushed him wanted him to increase and go deeper, but he kissed her instead remembering this was her first time, she vibrated beneath him stroking his back and begging. “You okay?” He asked touching her cheek softly.

“MMM… Yea” She shallowly whispered trying to rock her hips in that ancient way.

"Melanie, are you sure okay?" He stopped.

"Yes... don't... stop!" She wrapped her legs tighter around him pulling his shaft deeper, she had seen the size of him and had been certain that he would not fit but was thrilled when he did. She was hit with the need to feel him devil deeper inside her. Every thrust of his hardness lifted her higher and higher still. She met every thrust groaning.

He smiled and finally plunged deeper; He nuzzled her neck "I’m all in"

She giggled and kissed him thrusting her hips forcing him to continue.

Before too long they were back in sync again and they cried out together in one gigantic climax. They laid together entangled Melanie listening to his heartbeat...

Present

Faith walked the floor back and forth. "Faith please?" Richard exalted.

"I’m worried Richard she left over an hour ago. Look at it out there even the police are having trouble, traffic piled up everywhere, countless accidents one of them could be Melanie." she sobbed.

"I am worried too but there isn't anything we can do."

“yes, I can, I am going to keep calling every number until the jackass answers.”

“Did you ever think that maybe she is there with him. Hell, Faith they could be busy if ya know what I mean Darlin’”

“Well if she is, she can answer the damn phone and let me know she is safe. Richard, I have a terrible feeling.” Faith dialed number after number until finally Brad answered.

"Brad? Thank God, This is Faith Melanie’s friend, has Melanie made it there yet? She hasn't? Oh my God something terrible has happened I just know it...

"What do you mean made it here yet" Brad sat up putting his feet on the floor.

"I had a note left for me in my room that said Ben had called asking her to come pick him up at your house. That was left at least an hour ago."

"That is impossible Ben is not here. Dena took them home with her."

"What why"

“What matters is that Melanie was on her way here and if something bad did happen I have to find her..." Brad was already downstairs grabbed his keys and out the door. The wind was blowing hard and the temperature had to be at least fifteen degrees. The snow was above the tires on his truck, "This is gonna be good" He said to himself, "Don't worry Mel I’m coming" He cranked the engine.

He drove slow through the twist and turns The snow was so thick falling that he couldn't see anything but white, he let his window down so he could see out it but it was still like staring into an abyss of swirling glitter. What If I never find her? What if she wrecked? Her eyes kept flashing in his mind; Her vibrant tear ridden eyes. His words rang out in the silence like a demonic screech. “Back stabbin’…”He cringed, “Gold diggin’…” He began to tear up, “Whore...” He sobbed with tears running down his face instantly stinging from the cold. How could he have ever treated her like that? It should be him out here lost and alone in the freezing cold not her. Melanie didn't deserve this. “Don't stop bel... Rang out bringing him from his thoughts and flipping open his phone, “Hello?"

"Where are you?" Dena's worried voice sounded.

"Out looking for Melanie where else would I be?" He snapped

"I was going to tell you she was supposed to be on her way, the kids spilled the beans when she wasn't answering her cell phone."

"Spilled what beans?"

"They called begging to be picked up and telling her they were with you so she would have to face you. They wanted you two to be together."

"Well, we will see about that if she survives. I have been driving for at least an hour."

"An hour, well Ben called her around two hours ago. She's had more than enough time to have been there."

"I need to concentrate sis if I’m gonna find her." He croaked running out of Hope. He snapped the phone shut.

After his parent’s funeral when he was at his lowest point He could hear her voice like an angel reminding him again, "There are three things you have that can never be taken from you, three things that you should never run out of you know." He recalled Melanie sweet voice as vivid as if she'd been sitting beside him. "Hope, in the fact everything will work out the way they should and Faith in everything will be in your favor." He could see her smile, "and the knowledge"

"Knowledge?" he remembered asking her as she played with her hair then she crawled on to his lap and took his hat off his head.

"And the knowledge that I will always love you" She kissed him thoroughly, pulling back to look into his lustful eyes. "Always and forever Mr. Singleton"

A tear fell down his cheek and fear set up in his heart as a shimmer of light brought him back to the road in front him drawing his attention to the tree line on his right. He slammed on his breaks, which left him spinning and grasping for control, but eventually brought him to a stop. He wasn't thinking, he wasn't feeling, he was praying "Dear lord God, if your listening please don't let her be dead. God let her live. If you must take someone, take me, please God take me." He said these things aloud as the terror grasped at his stomach, he slid down the small incline to reach the driver-side door. He saw her head on the steering wheel and tried to jerk the door open, but the car was locked up tight. He could see glass everywhere. She wasn't moving, she appeared to be lifeless. Please Mel, he thought. His heart pounded and his stomach dropped. He could see blood on her neck. He picked up a large snow- and ice-covered tree branch off the ground and begged the masses for Melanie to keep her face covered. With a small prayer and a clink of glass, he reached in unlocked the door. He quickly opened it and set her back gently. He looked her over and she looked banged up, "Melanie" He stroked her hair out of her face, "Melanie honey can you hear me?" She was cold as ice.

"MMM" She moaned, “I’m cold papa.” She mouthed.

"Melanie Baby, can you open your eyes and look at me?" Her light blue eyes sparkled but they were cloudy.

"Brad…” She rasped, “Is that you?"

"Yeah baby, it's me I’m here. Can you move?"

"I thiii-nk soooo" She reached up for him. "Ow owowoweee." She lowered her arm back down. "My arm"

"OK, I’m gonna lift you out OK?" He whispered a thank you to heaven.

He leaned in and positioned her as best he could. she moved some herself and he lifted her into his arms then to her feet. " Ouwwwee” she clung to him “My leg”

HE knelt beside her to get a better look “Oh lord” He said looking at her swollen ankle.

“What is it?” She asked

“You have a broken or really bad sprung ankle. Probably from the impact where you were holding the break peddle.” He raised back up “Just lean on me.”

“Thank you Bradley" She shivered.

"Come on" He gave her a nudge supporting her body as he climbed the small embankment toward the road. As they made the road Melanie stopped moving, "What’s wrong?"

"I’m so co-old... I can't... I’m just so tired I need to s-siit." She lowered almost to the ground, but he caught her.

"Oh No!! you don't" He lifted her up into his arms and packed her the rest of the way. She rested her head on his shoulder. He could feel her shivering and he held her closer still. He opened the door and slid her into the warm cab. He buckled her seat belt for her, took off his coat and laid it over her with a shiver as the wind wrapped around him. He eased the door shut. As he rounded the front of the truck, he mouthed a thank you to Jesus for her safety. Now he just hoped that he would forgive him...