Guy picked up the phone and tapped in the numbers without even looking. It was like his fingers remembered the exact combination. She'd had the same phone number for five years, he could dial it with his eyes closed. There wasn't any small thing about her, he'd forgotten.
The phone rang twice. She'd let it ring three times, then answer it, she always did. Ignoring the first ring to not look like she'd been waiting by the phone and letting the second go, in case the person on the other end wanted to hang up. Sure enough, on the third chime, she picked up.
"Heh-?" She coughed to clear her throat. "Hello, Conway residence."
"Connie?" Guy knew he hadn't spoken to her in a while, but her voice couldn't had changed that much.
"Guy?"
"Yeah, it's me." He replied laying back on his sofa. "Are you okay, you don't sound like yourself?"
She sniffled slightly on the other end and swallowed. "I'm okay. Why are you calling?"
"That's not important right now, Cons are you crying?"
"Of course not, don't be silly. Why would I be crying? Now, what do you want?"
Guy lick his lips nervously, his mouth suddenly dry. What did he want? Why had he called her? He knew there was a reason when he picked up the phone. Who would've thought hearing her voice after so long would still do that to him?
The man on the line was just about to ask one last time, if his ex was sure she was alright, when he got his answer from an angel. A sweet voice could be heard in the background asking. "Mommy, why are you crying? Are you still mad at, Daddy? If he said he sorry, would you be happy again?"
Guy's little girl. Her voice so sweet and innocent, not meaning to hurt anyone, it gutted him. She called Charlie, Daddy. The bruised blonde, clenched his eyes tightly closed and swallowed, trying to ignore the words that brought such pain.
"Cons, did, he hurt you?"
She banged on the flimsy, aluminum screen door, the sound waking everyone in the house. Guy open the heavier, wooden door, on the inside of the house to see, her standing there, shivering and wet. His heart automatically wrenched. She looked so small, smaller then usual. And sad, which is something he'd rarely ever seen her. Connie didn't let herself get down, she thought it was a sign of weakness. And weak was something she wasn't.
Guy stood there, in the doorway, looking at her quizzically. It seemed like forever before she opened the screen door and collapsed into his arms. He held her wet body tightly, rubbing her back, wondering what on earth had bought this on. He stepped back into the house, leading her into the family room, before settling on the couch and pulling her into his lap.
"What happened, Cons?" Guy stroked her hair. "Are you okay?"
The young girl gulped, burying her head in his shoulder, unable to get the words out. She continued to tremble with cold, breath jagged.
"Connie, Baby, what is it?"
"I was walking back from the rink, and it started raining. One of Taylor's friends was driving by. He pulled over and offered me a ride, so I got in. Dylan drove a little ways, before he started…" Her voice trailed off and she pulled herself tighter to her boyfriend.
"Cons, did, he hurt you?"
Connie shook her head, her voice muffled but Guy's shoulder. "He was touching me, he said, gas or ass to get a ride, and since I didn't have any money, I had to give him something else. I laughed, I thought he was kidding, until he went for the snap on my jeans. I got out of the car, and I started running without thinking. Somehow I just wound up here."
"You're safe, Baby. It's alright, I'll never let anyone hurt you. I love you. And you're safe." Guy kept repeating the last the phrase to her soothingly, rocking her gently. It was his promise.
Years later, hearing the sadness in her voice, still broke him. The women he loved for so many years, who he continued to love to this day, was hurting. Nothing tugged at his heart more, or made him feel more useless.
After having the question phrased that way, Connie had no choice but to answer. The more she spoke, the more choked up she became. Her life was falling apart, just the day before she had the perfect family.
Guy felt horrible, he'd called to scold her about taking away his daughter, he hadn't known, what she was going through. In a strange place, pregnant and alone. He couldn't feel lower, if he tried.
He calmed her as best he could, knowing all the right things to say and how to say them. In all their years together he'd learned how to play her emotions, and also, how to change them. And the time apart hadn't changed that. When you love someone that deeply, for that long, you always share a bond.
After an hour on the phone, it was decided Guy would fly up and stay with the for a few days. To both spend time with his little girl, and keep Connie company until she felt comfortable in her new home. She'd always feared being alone, and being alone in a strange country wasn't going to be any easier. But Guy would help her, he'd always be there, when she needed him, no matter how messy their break up had been, he had always, and would always love her.