Jen lost everything during the divorce. She was on the road in her old car which is in terrible condition. Her husband David told her that he can’t have children, and later a woman showed up with her pregnant belly, David’s unborn child.
While she was thinking about that, the engine stopped. She got no charge in her phone too, and she was all alone in the middle of nowhere.
Few hours later, she saw a car approaching. A man in his forties was driving the truck. He stepped out and checked Jen’s car. “For how long are you driving this crap?”
“I know it’s a wreck, but it’s all I’ve got. Can you help me or not?”
“I’ll tow it to the city, come along.”
At the car, the man told Jen that the nearest station is closed and that she can stay in his house which is near.
“I guess that’s my only option,” Jen said. Then the man told his name, “Pretty much. Name’s Clay, by the way.”
******
When they were at Clay’s house, Jen saw light coming from inside. When Clay’s daughter Lily heard her father’s car engine, she opened the door. Clay introduced Jen to Lily.
The house was silent and cold, emotionally. Jen felt that she was not welcome in there. They dined together. Clay told them that a storm was coming. Lily mocked her father that he is saying it for days. Clay explained that he saw it on TV.
Lily was throwing disapproving looks and Clay was simply barking with each word. They were nervous and Lily couldn’t stop her mouth.
“Mom’s barely been gone a few months, and now you’re bringing some stranger into the house?”
Jen knew she had to leave the table. She thanked for the food and went to the guest room Clay arranged for her.
When the morning came, Jen found Lily in the room, holding Jen’s bag. She was holding a jewelry. “It’s my mom’s. You stole it!”
Then Clay came as he asked what was going in there. “She was confused. Maybe sleepwalking, and we thought we’d have a little fun. Right, Lily?”
As Clay went back to his bed, Lily and Jen were alone. She apologized from Jen. Lily explained that since her mother passed away, her father changed a lot.
Lily told Jen that her father brought her into their home intentionally. She told her that he could’ve repaired it hours ago. “He didn’t want to let you go. That’s why he brought you here.”
On the next morning, Clay told Jen that the repair shop was ready and that they can go. As Lily winked at Jen, she told her father that why don’t he let Jen stay a little longer.
“You know, just until the car’s fixed. I’m bored, and she’s good company. It’s nice having someone else around.”
Then turned to Jen and asked that wasn’t she going to a place. Jen explained to them that she lost everything in her divorce and that she was just travelling around without an aim.
“Well, I suppose you can stay a bit. Lily doesn’t usually warm up to people, so that’s something.”
Lily grinned.
******
Months passed and Jen felt like she became a family member. Clay was working at the repair shop and he returned to his old self, where he was laughing and talking instead of barking.
One day, while they were eating outside, Clayton asked Jen to stay with them. Forever. A year later, they were holding Lily’s little brother.
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