"The Cut"

EPILOGUE

EPILOGUE

Chase downshifted as he cornered the familiar gated court, and punched in the passcode that was etched in his long-term memory. The wrought iron gates slowly swung open with a slight screeching sound. He sped up the hill toward the cul-de-sac. As he turned into the Pierce's driveway, Carson opened the front door. She tossed her loose blonde waves over her shoulder, and slid on her pink-tortoise Bebe sunglasses. 

She smiled as Chase waved; he placed the Charger in park. He turned down his radio, which was blaring Third Eye Blind, and slowly inched his tinted windows down. He gazed at her bulging belly, then smiled coyly when she caught him.

"Shut up." Carson spat, as she self-consciously tugged at her black Givenchy tee. She tossed her keys into her new Coach handbag. Then wriggled her way around to the passenger side of the vehicle as Chase reached across the seat to open the passenger door.

"I didn't say a word!" Chase laughed as she flopped into the seat beside him. He smiled his sexy, unforgettable smile.

"I know what you're thinking. I look ridiculous. And I feel like a freakin' elephant. I swear, I already have cankles forming!" she gestured toward her legs which were more curvaceous than ever. She rested one hand on her small bump after she buckled her seatbelt securely.

 Chase waited patiently. He raised his hand over her abdomen. "Can....can I touch it?" he stammered. He awaited her response.

 She rolled her eyes. "It's a baby, Chase, not a bomb! Go for it. Make a wish." she prompted.

He let out a nervous laugh. She guided his hand over her smooth belly, and he let it gently rest upon it for a moment. It felt strange to him. It was like touching a warm, tiny soccer ball. He relocated it toward her side while she smiled and humored him. He pressed down slightly harder.

 Then he felt it. 

Thump-thump. Thump-thump.

The sign of the tiny life that was steadily growing inside of her.

"Wow!" he said and removed his hand. He placed it on the stick shift as Carson shook her head.

"I know, right? It's crazy. When it moves, I feel this flipping sensation. Kinda like the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit! Remember that? It seems like a lifetime ago..." she trailed off for a moment as she reminisced.

"Remember? How could I forget?" he snickered. "You puked in in your Prada purse before the ride even stopped. Now THOSE were some fun times!" he snickered. She lowered her eyes and nodded.

 Chase became serious. He changed the tone in his voice. He touched her shoulder briefly.

"Kidding aside, how's it been going?" he gestured toward her huge house that was as neat as a pin. The grass was freshly-mowed and the hedges were trimmed to perfection.

She inhaled deeply before speaking. She bit her lower lip. "Okay, I guess. Better. Mom's been less of a pain in my ass. We went and saw Dad on Saturday." she said with a trace of sadness.

"How'd that go?" was all Chase could muster. He couldn't fathom how the last few months had been for Carson and her family. Carson's parents were both charged with second-degree murder, but the state of Florida had ordered separate sentencing periods in order for one parent to remain with their daughter. The town had been turned upside-down since the murder of Jared Fullman, and many changes in their small world had occurred.

Rachel Fullman and her infant son moved back home with her parents, who lived in a small town just north of Fairview. They kept a very low-key lifestyle for the protection of both. Initially, the media was relentless, but soon after the allegations and charges of Tim Lafoe's sexual harassment took Rachel out of the spotlight, she and her son were left to live a relatively ordinary life.