Opposite Sides of the Tracks ⭐

This Train is Life

***ONE MONTH LATER***

"I need you to come with me. Wilford is needing to see you." Mason said and my heart sank. I thought for sure something happened to Curtis.

"Is Curtis...?" I asked.

"He's fine. You wont even be seeing Curtis when you see Wilford." Mason said and I groaned. I looked back at Colt.

"Come on you and the twins have to go to Tanya." I said.

"Actually Wilford would like the kids to come." Mason said and I groaned. I got the twins put in the stroller and we headed out to see Wilford. As we walked down the train something felt off and I wasn't sure what was going on.

"Mason..." I said and she looked at me as we walked. "Is he...?" I questioned not being able to finish and she hung her head. I sighed.

We were silent until we reached a door to a room I had never been in before. Mason put in the code and we walked in. Once we walked in a saw huge living quarters.

"Esme...?" I heard a weak voice call out and I kept the kids with me and walked into a bedroom and saw Wilford laying on a bed. He looked sickly and not good at all. He saw me and the kids and he tried to give a smile.

"Wilford..." I said and he nodded.

"I'm dying Esme...I think you can see that. I had to see you and the kids one last time. The future of this train." He said and I sighed. Colt looked at me.

"Mom?" He asked quietly and in beckoned me with his finger to come down to his level. He whispered something in my ear. I stood back up and looked at Wilford.

"He was wondering if he could give you a hug?" I asked. Wilford looked shocked but nodded. Colt let go of my hand and walked over to the bed. He climbed up on it and hugged Wilford.

"I'm sorry your sick." Colt said and I smiled at this kids compassion.

"Thank you Colt. You take good care of your mom and your siblings okay. You guys are the future of this train." Wilford said and I clenched my jaw.

"My mom says we might be able to get off the train someday." Colt said and Wilford snapped his head to look at me angrily. He didn't want to say anything in front of the kids.

"Maybe...someday or maybe never." Wilford said all while glaring at me.

"Mason!" I yelled and she came rushing in.

"Take my kids from the room, please. I need to talk to Wilford before he dies." I said. She took the stroller and I looked at Colt.

"Watch the twins okay." I said and he nodded. Once they were done and the door was shut I looked back at Wilford.

"You are feeding him a whole load of bullshit Esme!" Wilford said pissed off and I shook my head.

"I don't think so. I have seen the outside in the window car, I have seen things. I don't think we will be on this train forever. You have refused to see it because you want to keep us all trapped on this damn train!" I said pissed off.

"Of course I do we are safe! You will stay on this train, your children will stay on this train and their children will stay on this train! This train is forever, this train is life!" Wilford said raising his voice and then started coughing.

"I will get us off this train eventually, my children will have a life outside this train. Everyone will. I am grateful to you for making this train and I'm grateful for everything that has happened since I got on. Even being treated like shit in the back. The minute you die, I change so much on this train and the first act I make is changing rules and laws. We have plenty of room for everyone up front. No more back of the train, front of the train shit!" I said, Wilford was getting redder with every work I said.

"You are going to ruin everything I have built and spent time on!" Wilford said.

"And you're going to be dead so it doesn't fucking matter! You tried to ruin my life by making me tell you about everything going on with me and Curtis but your pushing made us stronger, yours pushing made us our twins and your pushing are giving Curtis and I a bright future." I said. He glared at me but then softened his expression and smiled.

"You really love Curtis and he really loves you. Too bad him running the train will ruin it all." Wilford said and I looked at him oddly.

"What are you talking about?" I asked confused.

"Running this train cost me everything. Did you ever wonder if I ever had a family?" Wilford asked. I had never thought of it. I just shook my head. "Well I did, I had a wife and a son. They were my pride and joy before the cold snap. When I was building the train and everyone was calling me crazy my wife, never faulted me and never lost faith in me. When it came time to get on the train I got on with my wife and son. She understood I would have to run the train, she understood, my son understood, he also understood he was the future of this train. That was until running the train, taking care of the train and its people became more important and I didn't care about my family anymore. My wife moved on with my son, she got a new man on the train and forgot all about me. I didn't even care when they did, all that mattered was the train and soon that will happen with Curtis. We will move you to your new living quarters but he won't care about you anymore. I hope you had a great first year of marriage because now, it's all over." Wilford said. I just looked at him and shook my head.

"That was the choice you made because you were a selfish man. Curtis is not selfish. He is kind, compassionate, caring and most of all he loves him family. He loves us and love will always win out with Curtis." I said. Wilford laughed and then started coughing again. I just watched him cough.

"You think you can change everything?" Wilford asked.

"I can try." I said and he just looked at me.

"Good luck trying Mrs. Everett." Wilford said. I watched him take his final breaths and then walked out of the room. As I left the room I looked at Mason.

"He's gone." I said and she half nodded but walked into the room. I walked over to Colt and the twins.

"Time to go." I said.

"We going to see dad?" Colt asked and I shook my head.

"No, we are going home." I said and Colt hung his head. We left and went back to our place. I sat with Colt and to keep his mind busy I went back to playing boardgames with him.

Soon the door was opening and we saw Curtis standing there. Colt ran over to him and jumped in his arms and I rushed over. Once he put Colt down he pulled me into a passionate kiss causing me to moan.

"Wilford died." I said when we broke apart.

"I know, that's why I'm here. It's time to be the train masters wife Mrs. Everett." Curtis said and I sighed. I placed my hand on his cheek.

"Please don't forget about us no matter what happens with the train." I said. Wilford's words had been weighing on my mind. Curtis just looked in my eyes.

"Never. I have some changes coming to make sure that doesn't happen." Curtis said and I smiled.

"I love you." I said.

"I love you. Now let's get packed." Curtis said.