Christmas Behind Bars #simplychristmascontest

Chapter 5- I'll be Home for Christmas...or Not

     "I promise, Laura, I'll be there." Dr. Daniels spoke into the phone while he packed a few shirts into his rolling suitcase. "I'm packing right now; I wouldn't miss your Christmas play for all the tea in China."

"You don't even like tea, ya big goof," Laura's giggled reply brought a smile to his lips. "When does your plane land? I'll be waiting with an embarrassing sign at the gate."

"You will do no such thing," his voice grew stern. "I'm taking a late flight to save a few bucks. I won't land until one in the morning. I'll take an Uber to the house and be there when you wake up tomorrow." Mention of the Uber reminded him to order one to take him to the airport in twenty minutes.

"Alright," she groaned. He could picture her rolling her eyes and glowering like a typical teenager.

"I've got to go, Laura," he zipped up his luggage and headed for the door. "I can't wait to see you."

"Same here! See you in the morning, and don't forget my present!"

"You know I won't," he set the suitcase back on the bed and unzipped it once more. "Bye!" Rushing to the closet, he threw the door open and rifled through a mountain of clean but unfolded laundry and found the small, neatly wrapped package bearing his sister's name. Once it was secured in his luggage, he headed for the front door to wait on his ride.

***

"Today's the day, Hank," Darcy poked her fingers through the kennel door and scratched him behind the ear. He let out a contented sigh, and she smiled. In half an hour, she would begin her trip to Grandma Trudy's house...alone. If she could do Thanksgiving over, she would never have told such a terrible lie, now she would pay the consequences for her actions and be forced to suffer the shame she deserved. "I wish I could run away and take you with me," Hank looked up at her as if he understood and thought it a terrific plan.

"You know," she continued stroking his ears absently, "I asked my landlord if I could adopt you. He's a stodgy, old man, but I thought he might have a little Christmas spirit and make an exception to his strict, 'no pets' policy. He said no." Tears burned behind her eyes and she did her best to sniff them back though one managed to slip down her cheek. "I'll be praying some nice family will see how sweet you are and give you a home for Christmas. You deserve a little love." Hank licked her fingers through the partition.

Her phone beeped and she noticed a notification from Uber. Someone needed a ride in twenty minutes, and she was the only driver within ten miles. "Duty calls, Buddy." She gave him one final loving scratch and stood to her feet. "I hope you have a Merry Christmas." He whined as she stepped out the door, and she prayed things would change for both herself and Hank.

As she drove through the darkness to the address of her awaiting passenger, she thought back on the safety God granted her despite her reckless behavior. After fleeing her assailant in the Kmart parking lot, she met with eight other prospective boyfriends. While six of them were harmless though ill-suited for her purposes, two turned out to be convicted criminals. She shuddered to think of the danger she put herself in just to keep up her ruse.

Pulling up to an apartment building, she waited as a tall, broad-shouldered man walked down the steps and toward her Jeep. Upon seeing a rolling suitcase in his hand, she climbed out of the vehicle to help him load his luggage in the back.

"Darcy?" A familiar voice brought an involuntary smile to her lips.

"That's my name, don't wear it out." She grinned up at the familiar face.

"I didn't know you drove for Uber," he lifted his suitcase into the back of the Jeep, and she slammed the door shut firmly.

"I'm trying to better myself...you know...move out of the refrigerator box you assume I live in," she giggled at his obvious embarrassment.