I woke up disoriented.  With my neck stiff and the seatbelt gouged into the soft flesh above my shoulder. Craning my neck slowly back into a normal position I'm suddenly acutely aware I'm no longer in motion. The truck is off and sitting in the driveway of a small ranch style house with yellow siding and colorful flowers  spattered across the front. Maddie squirmed on my lap, waking to the movement of my body.   I was disoriented, staring at Maddie while slowly remembering what had happened.

The cabin, Kyle's dad, and the terrible horrible spreading stain blotting out the beauty of Kyle's smile.  I squeezed Maddie tighter. I didn't even know if he was alive or dead. Is that the kind of person I was now?

The driver, Tom. Yes. His name was Tom, was outside the truck talking to an older woman in petal pushers and a floral tee who was intently staring at me through the windshield.

I grab the handle of the truck and pull open the heavy truck door ready to bolt in any direction. The last thing I had imagined climbing into that truck was waking up in a driveway in suberbia. But I hadn't imagined anything, it was desperation, it was running to save Maddie. To save myself --running away from Mr. Cayle, from Kyle. From the Kyle who mouthed the word "Run". The Kyle who thought of me even bleeding.

"Morning".

Tom's voice high and peppy rang ripped me away from the memory of last night as he grabbed a hold of the woman's arm who had made a move to rush my way when I opened the door.

I didn't want to be obvious and just take off running. My brain kept yelling 'be smart' despite my heart thumping like it was already making the sprint I so desperately wanted to start.

"Good morning. Thanks so much for the ride. We'll be fine from here."

I jump out of the truck with Maddie in my arms and immediately drop to my knees. My feet!  I'd forgotten my feet. I look down to see the damage of running through the forest barefoot. The look of them shocked me. Purple and swollen and covered in cuts and bruises. Somehow with so much going on I'd forgotten anything at all was wrong. Obviously my feet hadn't. Jumping on them with my weight and the baby was not the smartest move.

The woman rushed forward and I clutch Maddie harder only resulting in making her cry. The woman stops just inches from me and holds up her arms in a surrender pose.

"I'm sorry. I wasn't coming for your baby. Let me help you into the house. My name is June. Tom is my husband. He called last night and told me about you two and we thought maybe you could use a place to heal up and rest for a day or two?"

She ends it like a question and immediately I want to decline. I think of Kyle. The last person I'd let into this crazy world of genes and baby maps and bad guys. I don't want to be responsible for letting anyone else in this mess.

"If you could just let me...."

I have no answer. Let me what?  Maddie needs food and I hadn't grabbed the diaper bag. She is probably soaked and miserable. I hadn't grabbed my wallet, I have no money, no phone, and feet that weren't in any shape to carry me, much less a baby. I knew where I was going, but that was all I had.

I feel myself starting to panic. I am the worst guardian anyone could ever have. I literally had nothing to offer this baby. I can't even provide for her basic needs.  How did I think I was going to be able to make it? 

I slump down in defeat and nod at the couple. It's all I can do. My body is defeated and my mind agrees. I had lost this fight.

June put her hands on my shoulder and Tom takes the other side of me and together they help me limp into the house.  The inside was warm and clean and smelled like the lemon laced wood cleaner that mom used to use on the furniture on Saturday mornings. The walls are lined with pictures of families and kids large gap toothed smiles.

They help me get to a chair in the kitchen. Bright and colorful with a small patio door overlooking a large grassy tree lined backyard. Struggling to hold in a wave of emotion I kissed the top of Maddie's head as I sway my body  back and forth to comfort us both.  June pours coffee as she spouts directions to Tom.

"Formula. Baby food. Diapers. Socks and shoes for the misses here. I'm guessing size 7 is that right?"

At a loss for words I nod.

"And a blanket. You know the kind I mean. And don't forget a toy. Something bright. Oh. And a pack of pacifiers. Does she take a pacifier?"

She grabs a memo pad and writes the list out shoving it in Toms hand. Without a word he folds it in half and places it in his pocket grabbing the keys and disappearing out the door.

She sits a cup of coffee in front of me, pours another one for herself and sits down across from me.

"You don't have to say a word. I don't care what you're running from. An ex, the law, parents, a girlfriend, a boyfriend, hell, whatever it is, it's  your own business. But you gotta stop for a minute and rest. Get some supplies and make a plan. We won't tell people you're here. We won't ask questions. Deal?"

Only one thing crosses my mind.

"Why?"

"Because the world is a crappy place and  sometimes we do what we have to in order to survive. But Tom and I, the good Lord willing do what we can to make things better as much as we're able. That's who we are."

Then the tears come. Large wet drops at somehow ending up with the one couple out to save the world 'as much as they're able'.

She places her hand on the table, palm out and I placed mine in it. It's soft and warm.

"There's just one thing I'll ask, and after that- we let it ride. Tell me you didn't steal that baby."

I look at Maddie and almost burst out laughing. Of all the things she could have asked, demanded, tried to pry out of me.

Without a moment of hesitation  I look June straight in her dark brown eyes framed with lines from laughter and stress and all that life delivers, and answered.

"No June. This baby is all mine."

With that, she leans back in her chair and sips the rest of her coffee.

It only takes a few minutes until her eyes wander back my way.

"We have 13 grandchildren. Of course, they don't live here. Tom moved us out here two years ago for a better job run. The youngest  is 11 now. Her name is Holly.  Sweet as pie and smarter than a whip. Her moms gonna fly her out here this summer. Assuming the worlds still standing."

I turn Maddie to face June and lift my arms.

"You want to hold her?  My arms are about to fall off and I really could stand to use the bathroom."

Her smile is the possibly the widest one I've ever seen. Before I can even finish lifting Maddie above the table June rushes over and scoops her up into her arms cooing in a sing song voice and patting her soggy bottom while rocking.

I hobble into the bathroom, black and white tile and fancy bars of soap that probably smell like paradise. I lean against the door and slink to the floor. Kyle is somewhere bleeding or dead and I'm in a bathroom floor. I'm bleeding out to, only I don't have a red stain... to let anyone know.

####################
No money, no phone. She's not in the best place right now. But somehow, sometimes, Karma can really be awesome.
Its not that hard to believe that a trucker would stop to pick up someone and go the extra mile. Despite mostly being portrayed as serial killers & weirdos truckers in real life seem have amazing hero stories from their lives. I know three of them personally and all of them are stand up people. However- I don't advocate getting in a truck with a stranger. You never know..and it's dangerous.