Path of Secrets

CHAPTER TWO-3

BY THE TIME THEY REACHED Ogden, Utah, Lizzie and Donny were past ready for a break. They stopped to refuel the truck, then scouted out a place to have lunch. By mutual agreement they lingered over dessert, taking as much time as possible to relax before reluctantly climbing back into the cab.

“These seats,” Donny began, and grimaced. “Can you imagine if we had to drive this thing all the way to Virginia?”

“I know, right?” she quipped as she tried to adjust the driver’s seat so she could reach the pedals more comfortably. “The good news is, we just have to get to Pantego in this damn thing, and we can unload it and then turn it in. The seats in the SUV are like heaven compared to these.”

She frowned, then growled. “Is that as far forward as it goes?”

“I think so,” he confirmed. “Sorry. Want me to keep driving?”

“No, that’s not fair to you,” she pointed out. “We said we’d take turns, and that’s what we’re gonna do. Even if it means I need to strap blocks to my feet like that little kid in the Indiana Jones movie.”

He snickered. “That’d be quite a look.”

“Whatever works,” she said, beginning to chuckle. “I’ve been the same height since eighth grade. Trust me, I’ve learned a few workarounds. Maybe I won’t need blocks. Grab my body pillow out of the SUV, will you? I have an idea.”

Three minutes later Lizzie was smiling. Wedging the pillow behind her lower back and hips had moved her just far enough forward that she could safely operate the truck but still wear her seat belt.

“Much better,” she proclaimed. “Let’s roll.”

“Hang on a second, I have an idea of my own. Can’t believe we didn’t think of this before,” he said, and returned to the passenger seat moments later with a grin.

Donny placed a second pillow on the passenger seat, then sat down. “So much better. Now we can go.”

The next several miles passed in a comfortable silence.

“Hey, I had a question,” Donny said suddenly.

“Whatcha got?” Lizzie said as she checked her side mirror before changing lanes.

“Well, I know it’s kind of an out-of-the-blue topic,” he began, and she threw him a puzzled look.

“What is?”

“Kids.”

“What about them?”

“Have you ever thought about having kids?”

“You mean, like, my kids? As in, be a mom?”

Did he seriously just ask me how I feel about kids?

“Well... yeah.”

Yep, that’s pretty out-of-the-blue, all right....

“Um...,” she fell silent for a moment as she searched for the right words. “To be honest, I kinda figured that ship had sailed without me. My main focus has always been the job, you know? And I’m already thirty-six, so....,” she glanced over at him, concerned. “Why do you ask? Do you want kids?”

Donny sighed. “Yes, and no. I mean, do I think it would be cool to be a dad? Yeah, I do. But I turn forty-four next month, Lizzie. If I had a kid now, I’d be in my sixties when he or she graduated high school. I don’t know how to feel about that.”

She arched an eyebrow. “That’s not unheard of, Donny. Lots of people have kids later in life.”

“I know...I guess I just wanted to know how you felt about it.”

“Huh. Something to talk about in more depth, for sure. For me, it’s not a simple answer. There’s a lot of moving pieces there. I mean, for starters, I can’t be a field agent and be pregnant, Donny.”

“True,” he agreed. “And like I told you before, I would never ask you to give up your career. I know it’s your calling.”

“Have you ever thought about channeling that ‘dad vibe’ into working with kids somehow? Coach a team or volunteer at the local youth center? Things like that?”

“I hadn’t thought about any of those before,” he confessed.

They both lapsed into an awkward silence.

Donny gazed out the passenger window as he considered her suggestions.

She’s got a point. I never even considered any alternatives, he acknowledged. But that’s not where my focus should be right this minute. What I really should be asking myself right now is– how dumb am I to bring up such a serious topic? What was I thinking? We’re in the process of moving her across country so she can take the next big step in her career, and I bring up children? Already? We just said ‘I love you’ for the first time two days ago! What is wrong with me?

Meanwhile, Lizzie replayed the entire conversation on a repeating loop in her head as she drove.

I don’t know what to do here... what if he decides he really wants children of his own? That’s right up there with marriage! Next-level, deep commitment type stuff. Am I comfortable with that? Am I even ready for all that? she asked herself as they continued south toward Green River and their next overnight stop.

***

* * * *

JOE RETURNED TO TRISH’S house in the early afternoon, his eyes haunted and weary.

“I’m not sure how much longer I want to do this,” he confided as he dug into the sandwich that she’d made for him. “I enjoy mentoring Pete and helping him get to where he wants to be, Trish. But I’m just not sure how many more murder cases or notifications to next of kin I can take.”

“Rough one, huh,” she said softly, and he nodded.

“Really rough,” he murmured.

“Have you thought about your options, Joe? You don’t have to completely retire if you don’t want to.”

“Yeah, I thought about that,” Joe replied, and squeezed her hand. “If I just retired from the force without anything to move on to, you and I both know I’d be bored within two weeks.”

“Yep,” she agreed. “You’re so driven that you’d never be able to sit still for very long. But you’ve also got a lot of really valuable experience, honey. You’d be an excellent private investigator. Did you ever think about something like that?”

“That hadn’t occurred to me, but it’s not a bad idea at all! I could probably get the licensing easily enough. And that way I could still work some cases with Nathan too, if I wanted.”

“Exactly. Think it over. Whatever you choose to do, you’ve got my full support. Now,” Trish leaned closer, “I have an idea for our wedding I want to run by you.”

“And that is?”

“Keeping it simple. You and me and the Justice of the Peace, followed by a week-long tropical getaway,” she said. “I’ve already experienced the big formal wedding thing once. It was stressful, gaudy, and expensive, and I have no desire to go through all that again, do you?”

He grinned. “At fifty-two? Not really.”

“Then it’s settled,” Trish announced, and smiled. “We just need to get the license, book a date on the Justice’s court schedule, and decide where we want to travel afterward. So,” she continued, opening the laptop she’d brought to the table, “would you rather do an all-inclusive resort somewhere, or a cruise?”

***