I threw in my favorite overalls and loaded my car. I wasn't sure when I'd ever see this place again.

I thought about whether I should say goodbye to Barbie as I drove home, but I decided against it. I was going to slip out as quietly as I could. I smiled to myself as I drove back to visions of me showing up at Bobby's motel door, my suitcase by my side. How he would embrace me and we would cry tears of joy. How I would tell him I was sorry I ever doubted us. And that I was sure. I would bet everything on us.

I had stopped at a diner by the lake to eat supper when a sharp and sudden hunger demanded to be addressed. It was nice being anonymous. I listened to music from the mini jukebox at the table while I scarfed down a shake and burger. I felt unburdened, like someone released from captivity.

The rest of the ride home only made me more anxious to pack my bags and get to Bobby. I thought about stopping by his way first, but then figured it would save time and an extra trip to call him once I got home and have him pick me up. I'd be leaving the car Rory bought me behind. Bobby's truck was way more fun.

Summer construction slowed me down so that I pulled up to my driveway at about eight-thirty. Once I pulled in, something struck me as odd. I could see from the front windows that the light in the kitchen was on. I was certain I hadn't left any lights on when I left, but then again I was in a daze so I shrugged it off. If Rory was home, his car would be in the driveway.

I unlocked the front door, and instantly heard frantic footsteps in the kitchen.

“Rory? Rory? Is that you?” I asked as I flicked on a lamp in the living room. The off-white carpet had a trail of soiled footsteps leading into the kitchen. I tiptoed towards the sounds, when Rory popped his head out. A trail of blood flowed down his temple and his shirt and pants had tears in them. He was covered in mud and soaking wet, his hands covered in red scrapes.

The pieces of broken dishes were still on the table where I had left them.

“Where have you been?” he asked in a drunken panic.

“I was—Rory, what happened? I thought you were in Illinois?”

“Turn off the light!” he demanded.

“Why?”

“Just do it!”

I remained still.

Rory let over to the lamp and shut it off. He reeked of liquor and pond water.

“I need you to take me to my car,” he ordered.

“For what? What happened? Did you crash it? You're bleeding. We should go to the hospital. You might need stitches.”

“No, no hospital,” he protested.

“You're plastered, Rory. I'm sure neither the car or you is in condition for a trip.”

“Lilly, I don't have time for this. You need to drive me to my car.”

“I'm not going anywhere with you until you explain to me what is going on.”

“Goddammit, just do what I ask!” he snapped.

I crossed my arms and shook my head in disgust. “No. Really. I am done. I can't do this anymore. The lying. The bickering. You take care of yourself. I have had it!”

“You're not going anywhere with that car,” he sneered.

“Here, take it,” I said, throwing the keys at him, letting my anger get in the way of common sense. “But I'm still leaving.”

“How? You gonna walk to the bus? That's miles from here.”

“Just go look for your car. I don't even want to know . . .” Rory had come home drunk before, but this—this state he was in—was a new low.

“Lilly, I don't need this shit right now.”

“I don't care what you need!” I yelled.

The phone began to ring. We both looked at it suspiciously.

“Don't answer it,” Rory ordered, trying not to raise his voice.

I snatched the phone up, clearing my throat before answering. “Lightly residence.”

“Lilly? It's Peggy.” Peggy was Barbie's next door neighbor. She and I weren't close, so I was clueless as to what she would want at this time of night.

“Hi Peggy,” I responded, keeping my eyes on an unsettled Rory, pacing across the kitchen.

She sighed. “I just wanted to check and see if you heard the news. I tried calling earlier but it seems no one was home.”

“The news?” I asked. “No, I was . . . gone all day.”

“Barbie's been in a terrible accident.”

As if this day could be any worse.

“What?” I asked, forgetting all my troubles in an instant. “Is she going to be okay?”

Peggy responded somberly. “They found her car in the river. It had driven off the road. She was underwater. She's in a coma. It's not looking good.”

“Oh my god,” I gasped as my knees weakened. I lowered myself into the chair behind me for support. “What about Stan? Was he with her?”

“No, he was out of town this week. And, I suppose I shouldn't say this . . .” Gossip always lurked in these parts if one wanted a glimpse. Especially from someone like Peggy, who was married to a deputy in the police department which made her privy to the rare crimes in our area.

“What?”

“Well, the Chesterfields’ boys came up on it, and there are whispers they saw a man crawl out of the car and run . . .” The rest of her words blurred into a hodgepodge of sounds as my attention focused on the man in front of me. The person I had known almost my entire life who had become a stranger. The mud. The cuts and bruises. His missing car.

“Lilly? Lilly? Are you there?” Peggy asked.

“Uh, yes. I'm sorry, this is all such a shock,” I mumbled.

“I know. It's a tragedy. Such a shame. Well, I wanted to let you know . . . you two are so close.” Yeah, so close, apparently closer than I ever thought.

I slid the phone back on the hook as rage and sadness poured out of me in burning hot tears. “What did you do, Rory?” I growled.

“Who was that?” he asked, stepping back from me even though he was ten feet away.

“You know what that was about!” I sobbed as I pointed at the phone. “Barbie? Barbie? You son of a bitch!” I shouted.

“Who was that? Do they know it was me?”

“No . . .” I paused when I realized why he was demanding I take him to his car. “I can’t believe you. You’re planning to lie about this?”

“Lilly, you have to be quiet. Just stay calm. We can fix this.”

“We?” I laughed mockingly. “There is no 'we.' You did this. You made this mess. Now you need to clean it up!” I commanded through gritted teeth.

“You are my wife. For better or for worse.”

“I don't want anything from you. I just never want to deal with you again.”

“You're not divorcing me.”

“I want my keys back.”

“I can't let you leave. The police are probably out there asking questions.”

“I don't want any part of this. I just want my keys.”

“I told you, you aren't taking the car.”

“Dammit, Rory, just let me go!” I pleaded desperately. “Go talk to the police. I am sure they'll understand it was an accident.”

“Oh, I am sure they will,” he rejoined sarcastically. “Where are you gonna go, Lil? What are you going to do by yourself out there? It's you and me, Lilly.”

“You and me? You mean you and Barbie. How long, Rory? I can't believe I didn't see it. How many of those business trips were real?”

“It was the last time. We're moving. I was just saying goodbye. Telling her it was over,” he slurred.

“Oh, well seeing the condition you're in, that was a helluva goodbye.”

“Can’t you just have my back for once, Lilly?”

I sat at home and put my dreams to the side for him. I cleaned this house. I cooked every meal. I pressed his clothes. I became his accessory. And yet, he had the nerve to say I never had his back. That was all I had from him.

“She's in a coma, Rory. She might not make it. This is really bad.”