Runaway by Delaney Knight (i read book .TXT) 📕

Clay looked into the eyes of his daughter and sobbed.

“She looks like her.” Colette cried. Clay just nodded, watching his daughter’s blue eyes stare at him in wonder. The quiet of the room weighed down his chest. Colette’s parents came in and congratulated the two, as did Clay’s mother and a few friends. The conversations that passed that day were an inky blur, and the only clear moment was his daughter’s eyes.

After everyone had left, Colette handed the child to Clay.

“What should we name her?” She asked. The baby wrapped her tiny pruned finger around Clay’s worn one and grinned.

“She looks like Marcie.” Colette glanced over at the two.

“We can’t do that to Beth. You know we can’t.”

 “I was just saying.” The only sound was the fizzling thermostat from the corner.

“What are we going to do, Clay?” Colette’s eyes began to swell. 

“I don’t know.”

“I won’t force you to pretend that you love me, because I know you don’t. I just need you to be here for me and that baby, okay?” Clay dipped his head acceptingly.

“I would never leave you alone to fend for yourself. I grew up without a father most of my life, and I wouldn’t wish it on anybody, especially not my own child.” Colette smoothed the sheets beside her in motion to sit down. He did as she asked, and together they watched their baby sleep.

They had decided to name the baby Maggie, as that was Colette’s sister’s name. Neither Clay nor Colette had seen or heard from Beth since Maggie’s birth.

The knock barely reached Clay’s ears, but it did. Excusing himself, he went to answer it before recognizing the old car that was parked outside. Footsteps paced the doorstep, then pounded back down the steps. Clay opened the door.

“Hi Beth.” Beth turned to face him shamefully, as he had just caught her letting her fear get the best of her. 

“Hello, Clay.” The words hung lower than the August heat. He stepped out of the way of the door, as if to offer her in, but she refused.

Beth turned to leave but then stopped herself.

“She’s six now?” The air around them was quiet.

“Yes.”

“May I come in?”

Beth wrung her hands anxiously as she looked from Clay to Colette, who had just appeared in the doorway.. They welcomed her graciously and offered her a seat at the table. Maggie peered from the living room curiously.

“Maggie, will you please come in here? There’s someone we want you to meet.” The girl stepped forward. Clay watched his daughter approach his first love shyly.

“Who are you?” Maggie asked.

“I’m Beth. I’m a…friend of your parents.” Maggie smiled, and Beth began to cry.

“She does look like her,” Beth said shakily. Clay sat by and watched. Maggie sat down beside Beth and held her hand.

“Don’t cry, it’s okay!” The girl pleaded. Beth smiled, tears cascading down her cheeks, and just watched at the child that should’ve been hers. 

After a while they all settled in the living room, the adults with coffee and Maggie with some hot chocolate. Beth explained how she had gone to college for a while, and was now working at a small company a few towns away, and Clay explained how the town had changed in the six years she had been gone. Colette talked about her new job an0d Beth pretended to be interested as she watched Colette hold Clay’s hand. Clay remained quiet throughout the majority of the conversation.

“Well, I better get going, it’s late.” Beth sighed as she rose from her seat. Maggie hugged her leg.

“Come back soon, okay?” Beth looked to Colette for permission.

“You know, Beth is pretty busy, but I think we’d all love her to stop by.” There was clear sincerity in Colette’s voice. 

“I’ll walk you to your car,” Clay offered. Colette’s jealousy gleamed in her eyes; however she stayed in the living room with Maggie.

“She’s beautiful.” Beth swallowed her pride as they approached the car. Clay watched her calmly. “I’m happy, you know.” She announced.

“I hope so. I really do.”

“I’m with Max again. He’s changed a lot, for the better.” Clay nodded unconvincingly. Beth folded her arms defiantly, as she had a thousand times before; she did not give him the satisfaction of an argument. “I missed you.”

“I missed you too. Still do.” Beth buried her face in his chest, sniffling a little.  

“I have to go. I need to leave. I can’t do this.” Untwining herself from Clay, she opened the car door and dropped onto the seat, her eyes filling with tears. Clay leaned against the frame.

“Why do you always do this Beth? Stop running from your problems!” Clay hissed. Beth stared at him for a long while, taking in what was probably the last time she’d ever see him. 

“These aren’t my problems anymore Clay. You’re the one running from your problems.” Her tone of voice was painfully relaxed. A shiver ran up Clay’s “I want you to make sure that little girl is happy. She deserves it more than anybody.” With that she tugged the car door closed, slowly letting the engine sputter to life. Beth backed out of the driveway and bumbled down the street slowly. She did not look back. Clay stood there for some time, letting the occasional breeze soothe his mind while her words lingered like smoke in the cold. Colette called for him and asked him if he was all right and he said yes, even though he wasn’t quite sure anymore.

“Daddy, come inside!” Maggie hollered from the window. Clay obeyed, bowing graciously back into his bubble of tainted denial.

Publication Date: 03-27-2013

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