December 24th 7:35 a.m.

Johnathan Ashur Shawnever POV

The jukebox on the other side of the diner starts up with the Merle Haggard tune "I'm a Lonesome Fugitive". A stunning looking sixteen-year-old girl with dyed-black hair and a piercing or three, is leaning seductively over the jukebox, swaying gently to the music.

The headband doubling as her mini-skirt reveals her knock-out figure in a way that really doesn't leave much up to the imagination. She's a billboard of rebellion.

''It's disgusting.'' the girl's mother, Sandra Anderson said.

''You're right. It is disgusting.'' Howard says.

Watching the scintillating action from a booth across the diner is conservatively dressed suburban couple. Sandra and Howard Anderson. They're fish out of water here.

''Really, how can she go out in public wearing that?'' Mrs. Anderson asks.

''I don't know. Why don't we just ask her?'' Mr. Anderson says.

''Howard, don't. You'll embarrass me.'' Mrs. Anderson says.

''Audrey, honey? Your mother was wondering if you got dressed this morning with the specific intention of showing your ass off to the entire world?'' Mr. Anderson asks.

Audrey turns around to her dad and I have to hide a smirk as I no longer have any teen kids. All adults, the baby born when the eldest was ten.

''Yeah, that's cuz I woke up hoping to get double teamed by a couple of pot smoking truckers in the bathroom of some desert shithole.'' there's silence before ''Good thing we stopped here.'' Audrey says And with that she turns back to the jukebox.

Percy watches the exchange discreetly from behind the counter, loving it. Howard turns back to his wife with a rigid smile and boy am I glad that only Percy sees my body shaking with silent laughter.

''I feel satisfied with that answer. I really do.'' Mr. Anderson says.

Sandra buries her face in her hands.

''I'm being punished for something, I know it.'' Mrs. Anderson says.

Across the diner, Audrey goes back to swaying dreamily to the music, which is suddenly overtaken by bass bumpin' hip hop.

I hear a horn honk and see my son Richard and I see how he got here despite his camper being broken down. A truck is towing his camp.

In short, his wife made sure to bring her truck but I see that its wheels were damaged and we're all stranded still.

''Honey don't you dare jump and slowly slide out of the truck.'' I hear Richard say and to my shock I see why. Eliza is seven months pregnant. First Richie Jr, then twins what next, triplets?

Hope comes from the bathroom and I get out of the booth so Hope can sit down. I see her messing with the ring we gave her five years ago as a present. It has her name, Hope on it then her birthday, 11-3-94 and her birthstone, mine, and Mandy's.

A topaz for Hope, an emerald for me on the right, and a pearl for Mandy. Engraved on the inside is Forever Our Daughter.

Kyle Williams POV

The noontime sun bakes the strip of highway slicing through this barren country. A black Cadillac Escalade blazes a path. Heavy beats thunder from within.

The stereo in this rig could shake mountains. I pass a weathered road sign: ENTERING PARADISE FALLS, NEXT SERVICES 50 MILES. My expression says this is not good news.

I grab my cell phone off the passenger seat. No signal. Fantastic.

''Shit...'' I say.

I spot a truck stop diner just up the road ahead and head there. I pull off the highway and roll to a stop at the lonely row of old gas pumps.

I get out and survey the scenery with dismay. I see this is a place time forgot. I sea mechanic's bay is attached to the diner. Grease stains and rusty car parts litter the ground. Behind the place is the Silverstream trailer Jeep lives in.

The only things here that looks fairly new is the UHAUL truck parked in front of the garage with its hood up, two campers, and a Ford F-150 truck.

I grab a crumpled hand drawn map from the front seat and flatten it out on the roof of the car. I spin it around. Which way is north?

''Darren, your directions suck, man.'' I say to myself.

I hear a Camaro suddenly and I see that it either needs gas or something. And I will learn that it was on empty, meaning that he was lucky to get this far.

''I'm gonna need some gas.'' the dude who I will get to know is named Evan Downey is actually holding his anger in as he was on his way to visit his parents.

I check my cell phone again. Again, no chance of a signal way out here. So, I shuffle around to the side of the diner in search of a pay phone.

While Evan goes into the Diner and orders food as he is hungry and then he'll go to gas up his car to go to his family.

The good news is that I find a pay phone. The bad news is that it's been broken for ten years. Leaning next to the broken phone, however, is a very pregnant woman wearing a shabby, faded waitress uniform stretched tight around her very pregnant belly.

Adding to her perfect mother-to-be look is that cigarette dangling from her lips. The plastic name tag pinned to her chest says CHARLIE.

''Hey...'' I say.

She eyes me, looking mildly intrigued, and takes a drag.

''You know that shit right there ain't good for the baby.'' I say.

She lets out a long slow exhale.

''Guess I should think `bout quittin' then.'' Charlie says.

''Now hold on, girl, let me bum one before you do.'' I say.

''You can buy a whole pack inside.'' she says.

''Tell ya what. You let me have one of yours, and I'll give you two from the new pack you're gonna sell me.'' I say.

She looks like she's considering it and then pulls out a cigarette. She lights it off the end of hers then hands it to me. I take a drag and pull out my crumpled map.

Hope POV

The baby's kicking up a storm and I feel that I might give birth earlier than expected but I hope not as I want Corbin here with me when I do give birth.

I just want to be able to hold Corbin's hand as I deliver our child ad I fear that won't happen.