Lift

Chapter Thirty- No Surprises

Winter's undead fingers crawled across Roy's hometown leaving the streets barren and pale. The farmland once in full bloom was now decrepit and drained of life. Snow dusted the sidewalk and icicles hung from the windows of empty shops, frozen in spikes sharp enough to probably shank a guy.

Sadness. This town was blanketed in a mourning iridescence that grew the farther Roy drove into the heart of his past. MacKenzie was always all smiles, and didn't seem to pay much attention to Roy's wan complexion and expressionless countenance until he suddenly slammed on the brakes.

"We're here," he said quietly.

MacKenzie gulped, her eyes downcast as she squeezed Roy's hand. "Hey. It's okay."

Roy's chest was tight. His heart broke as he studied the empty spot where Dahlia always parked her car. "She's not here," he spoke quietly, almost a whisper. And he wasn't sure if MacKenzie even heard him. She'd already taken his wheelchair out of the back of the car and impatiently opened the driver's side door.

"Come on, Roy! Introduce me to your friend."

She ran up to the porch as Roy followed behind her, and before she could knock on the door, it opened.

"WADE!" MacKenzie exclaimed.

Roy couldn't help but grin at her enthusiasm and Dade's puzzled expression. He put his arm around her waist.

"Dade," he corrected, nodding. "Come the fuck inside and stop freezing y'all's balls off."

Dade embraced Roy tightly, that same authentic bear hug he'd always receive from his best friend. Roy swallowed.

I need to keep it together.

"It's fantastic to see you too," Dade said. He offered his hand to MacKenzie. "Dade Madison. I've bailed your husband's drunk ass out of so many situations that you wouldn't believe."

"Yeah, well, so have I," she replied. "We should compare sometime, yeah? Where's your bathroom?"

"First door in the hallway."

MacKenzie kissed Roy on the forehead.

"We're...we're expecting," Roy said when he and Dade were alone.

"Like...a baby?"

"Like a baby, yeah."

"Oh, Wow. That's-that's fantastic, Roy."

"Listen, if us staying here is too weird for you-"

"Roy-" Dade began.

"I'm sorry," he said quietly.

"Don't be. Take a look at this."

Dade led Roy to the back porch and opened the French doors. In the field was a newly standing one story house made of stone with the lights on.

"Holy shit."

"We got....we got a lot of money now. Figured we'd knock the old cabin down and start something new. There's all this land..."

Roy had been so overwhelmed that he hadn't even noticed that more than half of Dade's things were missing from the kitchen and living room, save the kitchen table and couch.

"D-don't knock the house down," Roy said quickly. "I'll buy it off of you."

"What was that?"

"I'm not joking. I have the money. We're lookin' for a place anyway."

Roy felt MacKenzie's hands on his shoulders. "Babe? I'm gonna go get our suitcases. God, this place is practically empty."

"I took the lawsuit money," Roy said quietly after MacKenzie left again.

"Oh. Congratulations, I guess."

"Just...don't knock this place down." He almost sounded desperate.

Dade's expression softened. "I would gladly give you the deed to the house, Roy. There's no stairs here...unless you plan on taking off again. Then I'll be irritated."

"Not with a baby on the way," Roy smiled.

"Hey...I hear the library's hirin'."

"Don't you dare."

MacKenzie hurried in with her things and collapsed onto the sofa with a sigh.

"Welcome home," Dade said. "Your bride looks exhausted. We can talk more tomorrow." He embraced Roy again. "I'm so glad you're back."

Dade disappeared on the back porch and Roy grinned.

"Where did he..." MacKenzie began.

"Come here," Roy said, as she sat on his lap. "Y'see that out there? That's Dade's house. And this." Roy wheeled around and sink his teeth into the side of MacKenzie's neck, invoking a squeak. "This is our house."

"You've gotta be shitting me," MacKenzie scoffed, pulling away.

"No. I'm not." Roy shook his head.

"You're not, are you."

"Welcome home, Mrs. Walker," Roy said, holding MacKenzie's face in his hands.

Tears began to well up in her eyes. "This is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me."

Some of that spark, no matter how faint, it was there.