Everything was loaded in the car, Hoyt was buried, and now it was time for goodbyes. Stephanie had grown to love these people like family, even Hoyt.
"You take good care of my boy now ya' hear?" Luda Mae said hands on Stephanie's shoulders.
"Yes ma'am. I'll keep him safe, I promise." She replied. "I'll miss you mama."
"I'll see you soon sweet heart." The older woman pulled Stephanie into a tight hug.
"Thank you for fixing my car uncle Monty. I'm going to miss you," Stephanie said upon being released from Luda Mae's death grip.
"You just stay safe. Make sure Tommy behaves himself." He said. She knew that was his way of saying goodbye and not to expect anything more. She gave him a nice nod before getting in the car.
"Now Thomas you behave. Stephanie will look out for you. I want you to treat her right and one day maybe even marry her you understand?" Thomas nodded. "Good. Now give your Mama a hug." Thomas obliged and bent down to hug his mother.
The couple drove off in the car waving goodbye to their family. Thomas had never left home before and was nervous.
"Now lets see... we need to get on the a road two streets up and then it should be a pretty straight shot." Stephanie thought aloud glancing at the map Thomas was holding. Thomas just sat there staring out the front window. "You okay?" she asked giving him a glance.
He just kept staring out the window silently. Stephanie could tell something was wrong, this wasn't his usual silence. This was different.
"You know I still remember the first time I was away from home for a while. I was 6 years old and was going to cheerleading camp for a week. I was only 15 minutes away from home but to me it felt like 1000 miles. I remember I cried so much the first day when I had to say goodbye. But eventually I made some friends there who I still talk to today. They made me feel so much better about leaving home. I know its hard right now but we'll get through this..." she said and took his hand in hers interlocking their fingers. "Together."
Thomas looked at her now and looked at her hand in his. It made me blush and even though he was wearing his mask he still tried to cover his face. Stephanie chuckled at this.
"You're adorable Thomas," she said before turning her attention back to the road. The drive was mainly silent save for Stephanie reading the map aloud or singing along to the radio.
The drive would be a long one but it was worth it if it meant keeping Thomas safe and with her. Stephanie had never cared for another like she did for Thomas. When he looked at her and smiled it made her heart melt into a puddle on the floor. Or when he would just listen to her talk for hours it made her stomach fill with butterflies. She loved him, she truly loved this murderous, chainsaw-wielding man.