Cabin Fever Ch. 02

"So," Randy began in a tentative tone. "You and Chase. Snowbound in the Baker cabin for almost forty-eight hours."

She stared out the window at the passing scenery. "Is there a question in there?"

"I saw the way the two of you looked at each other in the hospital."

"And how was that?"

"Like two people who know each other, in the biblical sense of the word."

Ginny started to deny it, then closed her mouth. Years ago she'd made the decision never to lie to her son, no matter what. She couldn't lie to him now. He deserved to know the truth, even if it broke the bond between him and Chase, or between him and her.

He sighed. She knew he was uncomfortable with the idea, but there was nothing within her power to change the fact that it had happened.

"Grandma Rogers is on her way with Aunt Judy," Randy said in an even tone. He wasn't upset. He wasn't happy but he wasn't upset.

"Why?"

"Because they want to see you. Grandma tried to come yesterday but Dad wouldn't let her. Me and Dad had a big fight about it, too. He was being such an asshole about the whole thing."

Ginny said nothing. She didn't want to come between Randy and his father. Still, she did want Randy to understand where she stood and that it had nothing to do with John's recent actions.

"I'll probably be going back to Denver with Grandma," she said at last. "I made a decision while I was up there. I've lived too many years not being who I really am, not allowing myself to feel and experience life in an authentic way. I can't go back to pretending I'm satisfied with the status quo when I'm not."

Randy glanced at her. "Well, that's a relief. I don't know why you put up with it as long as you did."

She gazed back at him. "You aren't upset?"

"I'm your son, Mom. I want you to be happy…whatever that means. And you need to be with someone who puts your happiness above everything else."

They had pulled into the driveway. Now Randy turned off his ignition. John's truck was parked in the open garage. He must have come home early from work.

Suddenly Randy's cell phone blasted a hard rock ringtone and he quickly retrieved it from his hip.

"It's Chase," he said before answering it, having recognized Chase's ringtone. "Yo, bro," he said into the tiny phone. Ginny looked out the window.

A hand touched her arm. "Here, he wants you," Randy said. He made a funny face at her, as though to say "What gives?" before getting out of the car.

Ginny held the phone in her hand. Her heart was pounding in her chest. She put the phone to her ear and listened for a moment. The other end was silent.