Country Mile

ENSURING THEY FLOURISH

Adam was asked to stay in his truck since he was knowingly Covid positive and only at the hospital as a ride for Anne, not to be treated himself. After half an hour, he decided to call and remind the girls to place the order for pizza before it got too late. He looked on the dash to grab his phone only to realize it wasn't there. Instead, Anne's phone sat in the passenger seat and she had taken his by mistake.

He shrugged and grabbed her's, knowing she had both girls' numbers in her contacts.

"Hey sunshine," he said when Genna picked up on the first ring.

"Dad?"

"Yeah, it's me. Anne grabbed my phone by accident so I'm usin' her's."

"Oh. How's Mama Bear?"

"No word yet, just wanted to call and remind y'all to order the food."

"We did, it should be here soon."

"Alrighty, well, I'll call when I get an update from her. Otherwise, text Anne's phone to reach me. Alright?"

"Okay, love yo-"

"BYE DADDY!" Delilah's voice cut in.

Adam chuckled, "Bye Delilah, love you girls."

The line went dead and he placed the phone on the middle console. He sifted through several radio stations, trying to find one that wasn't playing commercials when a text came through.

Assuming it was from Genna, Adam picked it up and read it. He quickly realized it wasn't from Genna, but he couldn't stop himself from reading further.

"Our hotel room's officially been re-booked for tomorrow through Monday. I'm using vacation time so there will be ZERO distractions. You better be Covid free because I can't wait to have your pretty little ass all to myself."

The words from the unknown number weren't quite registering. Adam shook his head and read it again.

And again.

And again.

A burning sensation fanned up his neck and hot tears pricked like needles at his eyes. His vision blurred and he felt like he was going to be sick.

There had to be a logical explanation, he reasoned. There was no way Anne was being unfaithful.

She wouldn't do that.

Would she?

He wasn't sure how long he sat there staring at the words on the screen before his own name with red heart emoji's on either side of it came up as an incoming call.

"Hello?" his voice was tight and gravelly, barely restraining his emotions.

"Hey babe, um.. I'm.. I'm all set. They're discharging me now. I'll meet you outside in—"

"Yeah," Adam clipped out and hit the end call button.

He took several deep breaths as it took everything in him not to throw the phone in his hand onto the concrete parking lot and leave her sorry cheating ass behind.

But it wasn't what it seemed, the angel on his shoulder insisted.

She wouldn't do that.

After several debilitating minutes, he managed to compose himself and pull the truck around to the side of the hospital. Anne was standing by the emergency room entrance with discharge papers clutched in one of her shaky hands.

His heart felt torn. Ripped right down the middle by the weight of one half heeding the text as a warning of impending pain, and the other half believing Anne's character spoke enough on its own to know the text was innocent.