A Snapshot of Dixie

20: Dead or Alive

DIXIE

"Hi, Sweetheart. I'm boarding the plane back to Alabama. Sorry, I couldn't say goodbye in person, but I wanted to tell you how proud I am of you for chasing your dreams. I have no doubts that we won't be seeing your photos in every magazine very soon. I love you, Dixie Mae."

Blowing my breath from reading my mother's message, I toss my phone in my purse and lean back in the seat.

Scrubbing my hands over my face, I attempt to control the billions of thoughts racing through my mind, but it's useless. I've never been able to handle when things get out of control very well and this is undoubtedly one of those overpowering moments. Learning that my mother, the Queen of honesty, has been privately meeting with Walker James was the icing on the cake of lies, she's been feeding me the last four days. What the hell is she thinking?

Then there's hearing that Tucker has been hiding a secret of his own and lied about what happened that dreadful night. Cripes, I feel like my head will combust from the mind-blowing flow of information it's received this evening.

Rubbing my temples, I try to release some tension and think back to when Tucker showed up at my house in tears because his father had fled. Replaying our conversation word for word to see if there was something I missed, I acknowledge how hard it was to think straight because my heart was breaking seeing the boy I loved in so much pain.

Tucker climbed in through my window around midnight, wreaking like whiskey. He blurted out the words "He's gone, Dixie. My dad's gone," and I spent the next several hours with him wrapped in my arms. Not many words were said because nothing I could say would heal the hole I knew had already been carved out of his chest. At that moment, all I knew was he needed me. He needed me to hug him, comfort him and show him that no matter what, I would always be there.

Tucker has never openly told me about what happened between his parents, but I knew something was wrong when he started sneaking into my room. At first, it was once, but then it started to become almost nightly. He wouldn't wake me, just kiss my cheek and make a bed on the floor and fall asleep. The one time I asked him about it he said: I just want to wake up every morning and see the sunshine fill your eyes for the day. There's nothing more beautiful than that simple joy, Dixie Cup. After that sweet explanation, all the previous thoughts melted from my mind like the sappy puddle he turned me into whenever he spoke.

Smiling from the beautiful saved memory, my heart flutters, knowing that things are right once again between Tucker and me. We have that once-in-a-lifetime love that no matter how many times you try to throw it away, it always comes back like a boomerang. The path back may be unexpected and bumpy, but the return is always right where it should be.

Hearing the truck door open startles me as I glance over and see Tucker hopping inside. Trying to read the expression on his face as he closes the door and puts the key in the ignition, he peeks over at me and reaches for my hand.

"That was one of the craziest things I've ever done, but it felt damn good. Thank you for being here for me, Dixie. No one has ever stayed long enough, but I always knew you were never the leavin' kind." Tucker sweetly kisses my hand and throws me his irresistible smile.

"I'm proud of you for doing that, Tucker. I'm sure it wasn't easy. Did you get any answers as to why he was with my mother?" I ask as Tucker whips a u-turn to head back toward the police station.

"I didn't exactly give him a chance to explain anything. It was surreal being next to him, so I blurted out what was on my mind and left the joint. Since I'll be going to jail for the unseeable future after this, I'm glad I got that all off my chest."