Under the Grit

I'll Be

The carnival lights seemed dimmer now, the rides slowing, and the hum of laughter and chatter beginning to fade as families and groups of friends trickled toward the exits. The warm glow of the evening was giving way to the cool, quiet promise of night, and the group began to gather near the fairground gates, their energy mellowing as the outing came to an end.

Evangeline walked with Arthur, still letting him hold her hand, the simple touch grounding her in a way she couldn't explain. Her fingers rested lightly in his, but every step made her more aware of the weight of everything she was carrying-her conversation with him, the memory of Ben, and the reality of what awaited her when she got home.

As they reached the others, Sean was animatedly recounting his failed attempts at winning Karen a stuffed animal, much to her amusement. Tilly and Mary-Beth were deep in conversation with Kieran, their laughter rising above the chatter. Abigail leaned against John, their quiet affection a comforting contrast to the chaos of the fair.

Arthur glanced at her as the group began to say their goodbyes. "You need a ride home?" he asked, his voice low but steady. "I don't mind."

Evangeline hesitated, her lips parting as she considered his offer. She could feel the gentle press of his hand against hers, a subtle reassurance that he was willing to help, no strings attached. Finally, she nodded. "Yeah... yeah, I think I do."

Arthur smiled faintly, his grip tightening slightly as if to say I've got you. "Alright. Let's head to the truck."

As they started walking toward the parking lot, Evangeline glanced at the ground, her thoughts swirling. The words felt heavy on her tongue, but she knew she had to say them. "Ben's supposed to be at the house tonight," she said quietly, her voice almost lost in the breeze. "He's... packing his stuff."

Arthur's steps faltered for just a moment before he recovered, his blue eyes flicking toward her. "You sure you wanna be there for that?"

"I don't," she admitted, her voice shaky. "That's why I'm here. Tilly said I should get out for a bit, and I didn't want to be there when he... when he took the last of his things."

Arthur nodded slowly, his jaw tightening as if he was holding back a flood of thoughts. "You don't gotta explain," he said after a moment. "I get it."

Evangeline's chest tightened at his words, the quiet understanding in his tone wrapping around her like a blanket. They reached his truck, and Arthur opened the passenger door for her, his hand brushing her arm lightly as she climbed in.

As he settled into the driver's seat and started the engine, Evangeline leaned back, the hum of the truck's motor filling the silence. She turned her head slightly, watching Arthur as he adjusted the rearview mirror and pulled out of the lot. The glow of the carnival lights faded behind them, replaced by the soft, dim luminescence of streetlights.

As the truck rolled along the quiet streets, Evangeline turned her gaze toward Arthur, her fingers idly tracing the stitching of her jeans. The silence between them was comfortable, but the thought of going back to the house and facing the finality of Ben's absence weighed heavily on her.

"Arthur," she said softly, breaking the stillness. "Can we... wait a little bit before going back to my place? I just-" She hesitated, her voice faltering. "I'm not ready to go back yet."

He glanced at her, his brow furrowing slightly, but there was no hesitation in his answer. "Yeah, of course. Whatever you need."

Evangeline nodded, a small rush of gratitude easing the tension in her chest. Arthur's steady presence made it easier to breathe, even in the midst of her swirling emotions.