Chapter four: Never Alone
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Back in Alana's POV
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Days turned into weeks as weeks turned into months. Mort and I grew closer to each other and he even broke my virginity, with much persuasion. We also never spoke to each other about Kevin's death again. But I could still see the mental image burned into my mind every time I walked by the spot where his dead body lay. I admit to this day it continues to send chills down my spine. I've taken a few trips into town since then (the first time to shop for clothes, wearing one of Mort's shirts) but not as often as I would like. Every time I see people I'm afraid someone will find out or they will know we're hiding something by living alone at Tashmore Lake. So for the past few months I've tried keeping myself busy by reading Mort's books. I'll have to say it did help pass time. Mort and I had our usual routine everyday: I got up, cooked breakfast and we ate together, usually talking to one another about a dream someone had or of a new idea Mort had thought of. After he had finished, he gave me a kiss and walked upstairs to begin his writing again as I cleaned up. Our days were spent no differently than that. At least that was the way it was until today.
I awoke and rolled over on my left side, expecting to see Mort. He wasn't there. I leaned up on my elbow and rubbed my eyes, looking around the room. "Mort?" I called out.
"Down here honey!" he yelled from downstairs. I smiled. He had just recently started calling me "honey" and I liked how it felt. I stood up and walked downstairs, yawning. Sniffing the air I realized that Mort was making pancakes, and I started to feel like kicking myself. I finally reached the bottom of the stairs and he was facing the stove, just now flipping a pancake. I pouted a little and walked up behind him, wrapping my arms around his waist and leaning my head against his back.
"I'm sorry I didn't wake up sooner." I apologized and he shrugged slightly.
"No, its okay. I just got up earlier than normal. I figure, since you're always doing all sorts of stuff for me...its about time I do something for you." he said, before turning around and kissing me gently. I smiled at him, remembering just how sweet he really can be. "Now sit down and I'll serve you. I'm probably not as great of a cook as you, but at least they're edible." He smiled as I sat down and he set a plate in front of me. "Enjoy." he said then began to walk up the stairs.
"Well aren't you going to stay and eat with me?" I said, watching him. He continued to smile at me then shook his head.
"Sorry honey but I just got a great idea for that novel I'm writing. Give me a minute to go write it down then I'll be back." he said before quickly walking up the short flight of stairs. I smiled lightly and began to eat the warm, maple smelling pancakes. I finished and stood up, taking my empty plate to the sink, set it down and turned to make my way up the staircase, realizing that I was still wearing my pajamas. After I had reached the top I looked over to Mort, who was frantically typing away, then walked into our room. I opened the closet to decide on something to wear when I heard the faint sound of rain hitting the roof. I looked out the nearby window and smiled. I always enjoyed the rain, and today was no different. I quickly got dressed and walked to the window, leaning my palms on the sill. Just then, I heard a hard knocking on our front door. I walked out of the room and toward the door, but Mort had beat me to it. Once he opened the door, I wished I had gotten there first.
"Hello there Mr. Rainey. If you don't mind will you please step outside for a moment?" I heard the sheriff say. Mort nodded casually, a faint look of confusion crossing his face. I ran quickly down the steps, reaching the door just a moment too late. As I stepped outside the cabin I saw three police officers trying to handcuff Mort and my eyes widened. I practically jumped down the steps after them.
"Sir, please you can't do this. Mort has done nothing wrong...damn it! Are you listening to me?!?!" I screamed as they began shoving Mort into the car. His eyes kept meeting mine, in a desperate plea to get him out of there and into my arms. I began to feel warm tears coming to my eyes as Mort tried to brake free of the policemen's grasp. "Sheriff please! You don't understand I'm pregnant with his child! He needs to be here..." that was finally when I cracked. Uncontrollable tears began falling down my face as I watched them shut the door on Mort. He began shoving himself against the door, in an attempt to break out. I then ran toward the police car, pressing my hands against it, tears still streaming down my cheeks and mouthed the words 'I love you' to him as he shut his eyes, trying not to cry.
"I love you too Alana! I promise I'll find a way to get out of here! I will be there during your entire pregnancy I promise you that." he yelled back at me through the glass as the car began to pull out of the driveway and toward the main road. As a reaction I began running after it, not wanting Mort to leave me alone...not after we've been together so long. But of course the car was much faster than I was and my vision was blurred from the tears. Finally, a fell to my knees in the mud as the police car disappeared from view. It was then that I realized it was raining, my clothes and hair were soaked and I figured the best thing to do now was to go inside. I, personally, couldn't care if I got sick but I had to think for two now. I slowly got up and began to walk into the house when I heard my cell phone ring. I half-ran inside, wiping the tears away from my face and picked up the phone.
"Hello?" I said in the calmest voice I could, although from what I heard it wasn't calm at all.
"Hello...Alana?" the woman's voice on the other end said back to me. My eyes widened, as I instantly recognized the voice.
"Jamie?! Is that you?" I could feel tears coming to my eyes again. Jamie was my younger sister of two years and I hadn't seen her since I got together with Kevin...and that was over three years ago. I heard a faint laugh from the other end as she answered.
"Yes Alana, its me. I know its been so long but I haven't been able to stand not talking to you anymore. Dad still thinks we shouldn't talk to you after you left home with Kevin, but I just moved out about two weeks ago and I decided I can make my own decision about this. How have you been?" by the tone of her voice I could tell she was getting ready to shed a few tears herself. I nodded, wiping my eyes once again, as I remembered that night three years ago. I had just met Kevin at a local club and fell instantly in love with him. He admitted he felt the same for me and we decided to move in together. When I went home to tell my family, they all thought I was crazy and said that if I was going to go through with it, then I would have to fend for myself. Of course, I was angry and I agreed to leave as my family never spoke to me again until now. About a week after I moved out I knew it had to be the biggest mistake of my life.
"I've got so much to tell you, and a lot of it you probably won't believe. Its probably better if we talk about it one on one. Do you have a place to stay?"
"No, unfortunately I don't." she paused for a moment, as if thinking about something. "But after I get a job I should be able to find somewhere--"
"No need. You can come stay where I'm living. Its an old cabin by Tashmore Lake, just take the first exit you see right before you get into town. I'll wait on the porch for you and you're welcome to stay here as long as possible." I smiled, happy that I was going to see how much my sister grew up in three years.
"Alright. Thanks a lot Alana. I'll be there shortly and you can tell me everything. You know I'll understand no matter what could have happened. Oh and I got a new car, its a Focus so watch out for it. I'll see you in a bit. Bye." Jamie finally said before hanging up. I laughed slightly at her comment about believing me.
"I really hope that you will understand. So much stuff has happened that sometimes I can't even believe it myself." I said to no one in particular, shutting off my phone and making my way to the door. Stepping outside into the cold and rainy day I began to stare down the road, looking out for my sister's Ford Focus.
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Mort's POV
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"Get inside and keep your damn mouth shut." the police officer said, shoving me inside a small jail cell. I glared at him as he shut the metal door, then sat down on the hard slab of cement they call a cot. I covered my face with my hands, remembering Alana's tear-stained face as she had frantically tried to set me free. After I remembered that, I began to think about what she had said:
"I'm pregnant with his child"
I didn't think much about it then, but I had plenty of time to reflect on it now. I was going to be a father...someone I've always wanted to be, even when I was with Amy. But because of what happened, she was not able to fulfill my wish...and Alana was.
"A father..." I whispered, still trying to make myself believe it was true. Part of me wanted to smile but then I thought of Alana, at our cabin, by herself. "I left Alana alone, and....I'm also alone." I sighed as I ran a hand through my hair.
"Oh no Mister Rainey. You are never alone." my eyes widened as I hears Shooter's all to familiar voice. "You'll never be left alone because I...will always be here."
A/N: So how did I do with the fourth chapter? As Shooter said, Mort would never be alone...hence the name of the story! I know its not as long as my other's but I have to apologize. I had a month and a half writer's block and just got an idea the day before yesterday. Plus I have bits and pieces of the fifth chapter in mind but not the whole thing. Oh and on the 28th of May I'll be moving and most likely won't have a computer. But I'll keep writing on paper if you keep checking on my story! Thanks for all the great reviews and keep them coming!
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Back in Alana's POV
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Days turned into weeks as weeks turned into months. Mort and I grew closer to each other and he even broke my virginity, with much persuasion. We also never spoke to each other about Kevin's death again. But I could still see the mental image burned into my mind every time I walked by the spot where his dead body lay. I admit to this day it continues to send chills down my spine. I've taken a few trips into town since then (the first time to shop for clothes, wearing one of Mort's shirts) but not as often as I would like. Every time I see people I'm afraid someone will find out or they will know we're hiding something by living alone at Tashmore Lake. So for the past few months I've tried keeping myself busy by reading Mort's books. I'll have to say it did help pass time. Mort and I had our usual routine everyday: I got up, cooked breakfast and we ate together, usually talking to one another about a dream someone had or of a new idea Mort had thought of. After he had finished, he gave me a kiss and walked upstairs to begin his writing again as I cleaned up. Our days were spent no differently than that. At least that was the way it was until today.
I awoke and rolled over on my left side, expecting to see Mort. He wasn't there. I leaned up on my elbow and rubbed my eyes, looking around the room. "Mort?" I called out.
"Down here honey!" he yelled from downstairs. I smiled. He had just recently started calling me "honey" and I liked how it felt. I stood up and walked downstairs, yawning. Sniffing the air I realized that Mort was making pancakes, and I started to feel like kicking myself. I finally reached the bottom of the stairs and he was facing the stove, just now flipping a pancake. I pouted a little and walked up behind him, wrapping my arms around his waist and leaning my head against his back.
"I'm sorry I didn't wake up sooner." I apologized and he shrugged slightly.
"No, its okay. I just got up earlier than normal. I figure, since you're always doing all sorts of stuff for me...its about time I do something for you." he said, before turning around and kissing me gently. I smiled at him, remembering just how sweet he really can be. "Now sit down and I'll serve you. I'm probably not as great of a cook as you, but at least they're edible." He smiled as I sat down and he set a plate in front of me. "Enjoy." he said then began to walk up the stairs.
"Well aren't you going to stay and eat with me?" I said, watching him. He continued to smile at me then shook his head.
"Sorry honey but I just got a great idea for that novel I'm writing. Give me a minute to go write it down then I'll be back." he said before quickly walking up the short flight of stairs. I smiled lightly and began to eat the warm, maple smelling pancakes. I finished and stood up, taking my empty plate to the sink, set it down and turned to make my way up the staircase, realizing that I was still wearing my pajamas. After I had reached the top I looked over to Mort, who was frantically typing away, then walked into our room. I opened the closet to decide on something to wear when I heard the faint sound of rain hitting the roof. I looked out the nearby window and smiled. I always enjoyed the rain, and today was no different. I quickly got dressed and walked to the window, leaning my palms on the sill. Just then, I heard a hard knocking on our front door. I walked out of the room and toward the door, but Mort had beat me to it. Once he opened the door, I wished I had gotten there first.
"Hello there Mr. Rainey. If you don't mind will you please step outside for a moment?" I heard the sheriff say. Mort nodded casually, a faint look of confusion crossing his face. I ran quickly down the steps, reaching the door just a moment too late. As I stepped outside the cabin I saw three police officers trying to handcuff Mort and my eyes widened. I practically jumped down the steps after them.
"Sir, please you can't do this. Mort has done nothing wrong...damn it! Are you listening to me?!?!" I screamed as they began shoving Mort into the car. His eyes kept meeting mine, in a desperate plea to get him out of there and into my arms. I began to feel warm tears coming to my eyes as Mort tried to brake free of the policemen's grasp. "Sheriff please! You don't understand I'm pregnant with his child! He needs to be here..." that was finally when I cracked. Uncontrollable tears began falling down my face as I watched them shut the door on Mort. He began shoving himself against the door, in an attempt to break out. I then ran toward the police car, pressing my hands against it, tears still streaming down my cheeks and mouthed the words 'I love you' to him as he shut his eyes, trying not to cry.
"I love you too Alana! I promise I'll find a way to get out of here! I will be there during your entire pregnancy I promise you that." he yelled back at me through the glass as the car began to pull out of the driveway and toward the main road. As a reaction I began running after it, not wanting Mort to leave me alone...not after we've been together so long. But of course the car was much faster than I was and my vision was blurred from the tears. Finally, a fell to my knees in the mud as the police car disappeared from view. It was then that I realized it was raining, my clothes and hair were soaked and I figured the best thing to do now was to go inside. I, personally, couldn't care if I got sick but I had to think for two now. I slowly got up and began to walk into the house when I heard my cell phone ring. I half-ran inside, wiping the tears away from my face and picked up the phone.
"Hello?" I said in the calmest voice I could, although from what I heard it wasn't calm at all.
"Hello...Alana?" the woman's voice on the other end said back to me. My eyes widened, as I instantly recognized the voice.
"Jamie?! Is that you?" I could feel tears coming to my eyes again. Jamie was my younger sister of two years and I hadn't seen her since I got together with Kevin...and that was over three years ago. I heard a faint laugh from the other end as she answered.
"Yes Alana, its me. I know its been so long but I haven't been able to stand not talking to you anymore. Dad still thinks we shouldn't talk to you after you left home with Kevin, but I just moved out about two weeks ago and I decided I can make my own decision about this. How have you been?" by the tone of her voice I could tell she was getting ready to shed a few tears herself. I nodded, wiping my eyes once again, as I remembered that night three years ago. I had just met Kevin at a local club and fell instantly in love with him. He admitted he felt the same for me and we decided to move in together. When I went home to tell my family, they all thought I was crazy and said that if I was going to go through with it, then I would have to fend for myself. Of course, I was angry and I agreed to leave as my family never spoke to me again until now. About a week after I moved out I knew it had to be the biggest mistake of my life.
"I've got so much to tell you, and a lot of it you probably won't believe. Its probably better if we talk about it one on one. Do you have a place to stay?"
"No, unfortunately I don't." she paused for a moment, as if thinking about something. "But after I get a job I should be able to find somewhere--"
"No need. You can come stay where I'm living. Its an old cabin by Tashmore Lake, just take the first exit you see right before you get into town. I'll wait on the porch for you and you're welcome to stay here as long as possible." I smiled, happy that I was going to see how much my sister grew up in three years.
"Alright. Thanks a lot Alana. I'll be there shortly and you can tell me everything. You know I'll understand no matter what could have happened. Oh and I got a new car, its a Focus so watch out for it. I'll see you in a bit. Bye." Jamie finally said before hanging up. I laughed slightly at her comment about believing me.
"I really hope that you will understand. So much stuff has happened that sometimes I can't even believe it myself." I said to no one in particular, shutting off my phone and making my way to the door. Stepping outside into the cold and rainy day I began to stare down the road, looking out for my sister's Ford Focus.
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Mort's POV
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"Get inside and keep your damn mouth shut." the police officer said, shoving me inside a small jail cell. I glared at him as he shut the metal door, then sat down on the hard slab of cement they call a cot. I covered my face with my hands, remembering Alana's tear-stained face as she had frantically tried to set me free. After I remembered that, I began to think about what she had said:
"I'm pregnant with his child"
I didn't think much about it then, but I had plenty of time to reflect on it now. I was going to be a father...someone I've always wanted to be, even when I was with Amy. But because of what happened, she was not able to fulfill my wish...and Alana was.
"A father..." I whispered, still trying to make myself believe it was true. Part of me wanted to smile but then I thought of Alana, at our cabin, by herself. "I left Alana alone, and....I'm also alone." I sighed as I ran a hand through my hair.
"Oh no Mister Rainey. You are never alone." my eyes widened as I hears Shooter's all to familiar voice. "You'll never be left alone because I...will always be here."
A/N: So how did I do with the fourth chapter? As Shooter said, Mort would never be alone...hence the name of the story! I know its not as long as my other's but I have to apologize. I had a month and a half writer's block and just got an idea the day before yesterday. Plus I have bits and pieces of the fifth chapter in mind but not the whole thing. Oh and on the 28th of May I'll be moving and most likely won't have a computer. But I'll keep writing on paper if you keep checking on my story! Thanks for all the great reviews and keep them coming!