Chapter 88

Doug smiled as he spread out on the seat. It was a damn nice car. He let his arm hang out on the door and tapped his fingers to the music. "Got to love matchbox twenty right?" he said as he turned it up a little. He had never really listened to the words of the song but he liked it now. "Come on and lay it down, I've always been with you, Here and now, Give all that's within you. Be my savior, And I'll be your downfall" he smiled looking at the. "That's kind of fitting huh?" he said trying to joke. After he said it he realized it wasn't too funny. He was never good at small talk anyway. "Kind of feel like bonnie and Clyde...running away. Hopefully we both won't be shot but i like the fast car part." Doug looked the other way into the trees. Spring was starting to come and everything looked so pretty. "I wish you could see Seattle in the spring...out on the water, it's almost as good as Boston...I still think we should go sometime." Doug knew that would probably only be a dream. They were destined to get into another fight, another misunderstanding driving them further apart. But it was nice to dream about.

"Running away I can deal with, but I really don't want to get shot, so I am going to pass on that one Clyde." She said joking back with him, "I like Boston in the spring." She said not taking her eyes off the road, "I've been there once or twice. Seattle, can't say, never been there. You and I will have to go sometime. It sounds like you miss Seattle almost as much as I miss Philly. But sad to say it's not home anymore. It never will be, too many bad memories are there." She slowed down and pulled off onto a little side road. "Don't you give away my secret hiding spot here ace." She said as she stopped the car and climbed out. She walked over a few feet and leaned against a tree, looking out over a lake. "Sorry," She didn't look back to see if he was going to stay in the car or join her, "I was starting to get sick and didn't want to throw while driving. It's so peaceful here, so serene. It's easy to forget about the rest of the world. The traumas, all the bad things that you have to deal with when you spend 12 or 24 hours in an ER. Life almost stands still when you are surrounded by beauty like this. Here you can be alone taking it all in; no one can see you or hear you." She slid down the tree to her knees as she felt her stomach letting go of what was left in it. "I don't think I can do this."

Doug got out of the car when he saw her drop to her knees. He felt awful that she was so sick. He didn't say anything; he just scooted by the tree and sat behind her. He put his arms around her chest and held onto her so that she would know she wasn't alone. After a few minutes he rested his head on her shoulder and looked out at the water. She was right, it did look beautiful.

She smiled once again now that her stomach wasn't protesting. "Come on, as much as I love being here in this place. I had better take that car back to the lot before I change my mind." She slipped out of his hold and stood up looking at it, "I really do like it though, oh well. That's life now isn't it?" She tried to joke with him, "so what are you think I should get one of those new vipers, maybe a 911, oh how about a miata?"

Doug sighed as he stood up. 'So much for trying to be a nice guy' he thought. "Well...maybe a Maxima or something. Hell you could always get a Jeep...not a wrangler but something a little bigger." he said with a wink walking past her to the car. "Toyota Avalon I hear is really safe, and it looks pretty nice."

She locked the door to the car on him, knowing full well that he couldn't jump over it to get in. Before she crossed over to where he was standing. "I need to say something before we go again, and don't you roll your eyes and think that this is some kind of serious conversation cause it's not going to be." She took his hands into hers, "I know that we can't go back to that place where we were before, but you don't know how much it means to me to know that I have someone to rub my back while I am throwing up, to know that I am not in this alone like I thought I was. I might not be good at saying thank you, or I'm sorry, when I need to but I'll try." With that she let go of his hands unlocking the door once again. She slid across the back of the car into the driver's seat.

Doug stood there for a second not sure on what to do. He almost hated the fact that she still could read him so well. After taking a breath Doug opened the car and sat down. He let his arm hang out the door again and looked out past the trees waiting for Anna to go. He didn't want things to have to be this hard for them, but it was. He didn't know what it meant...maybe that they were meant to be friends and nothing more. After awhile the silence became uncomfortable. He didn't want her to think that he was upset with her. "Why is there one room in your apartment that isn't painted?" Doug asked turning his head to look at her. It wasn't much, but it would at least start some conversation.

Anna about lost it in hysterical laughter, "because..." She was laughing hard now, "I dumped the paint can on Max's head. I never got around to getting another one."

Seeing her laugh made Doug smile too. "I would have loved to have seen that." he said with a grin. "You know I'll paint it for you...it's the least I could do." Doug didn't want to suggest the idea of a baby room right now but that was what he was thinking. Maybe he could surprise her or something.

"Sure, I'd be willing to let you paint it for me." She pulled back out onto the highway. "Granted that apartment's not much, the neighborhood's pretty safe, and it's close to the hospital which is nice. It's secure and I need someplace that is right now." She was enjoying spending time with him. She just wished she knew how to fix what had gone wrong between them, find a way for them to start over again, get it right. There was this awkwardness between them, he was so easy to read, she was sure that he knew that she could almost read his mind when she wanted too, "if...mind you I haven't made up my mind yet, but if I decide to have the baby and keep him or her, who's last name are we going to give is it baby del Amico or baby Ross?" She was trying to get a feel for how he would really feel if she made the decision to keep the baby; his confession last night had torn her up on what to do. Before last night she was so sure that keeping the baby was the right decision, but it wasn't her decision to make alone. It was his life too that this was going to impact as much as hers. She would be responsible for one life and he would have three. Was it fair for her to ask him to take on another child? She had more questions than she had answers.

Doug looked over at her with an awkward smile. "Gee i uhm, I don't know. I mean we're not married so...probably Del Amico don't you think?" Doug really wanted a son to carry on his name but didn't see it happening in the future. "What would you want?" the question got him fidgeting again. He knew she was trying to get something out of him he just hadn't figured out what it was yet.

"You are asking the woman who named her dog puppy, her fish, swim and a cat meow to name a baby." She smiled. "Do you really want me to name our child?"

"Well it's just the last name Anna...you might want to start thinking about it since it seems like you've made up your mind." he said rubbing his face. 'Wow, that came out wrong' he thought to himself. Doug reached into his pocket and pulled out his pain meds. He shoved a few in his mouth and looked out of the car again. At least the weather was nice, ad the wind felt good. Looking at the scenery was a good excuse for not talking...for him at least. It seemed like everything he tried to say came out wrong these days...even his song choice's seemed to suck.

She let it slide; she had a pretty good idea of how he felt about that choice. She reached down to change the CD. Matchbox 20 was starting to get on her nerves now. She turned it up as the familiar country music filled the car as she started to sing along with the song, "we'll I've got friends in low places where the whiskey drowns and the beer chases your blues away, and I'll be okay, we'll I am not big on social graces that I'll slip on down the oasis so I got friends in low places."

Doug sighed. His attitude outburst didn't seem to bother her as much as he thought. He was glad when he could see the exit ramp in the distance. "So do you know how to get to this place or are we driving around?" Doug said shifting in his seat. "I know how you don't like to ask for directions. I mean really...who gets lost in small town Kentucky?" he joked, letting a smile slide onto his face.

"I know how to get around Chicago thank you." She said trying to not laugh at herself as she exited and turned right, "and I did ask for directions, three times at the airport and in Georgetown and at the gas station. You are not going to let me live that one down are you?"

Doug smiled again. "Ahh one day maybe...i don't know though. I might just mug you now and boost this car from you tonight. You'd be stuck on the side of the road but I'd call AAA for ya." he said looking around. "Hey we're down by the baseball field. I can't believe the season is starting soon. It's been a fast winter."

"Yeah it does start soon. I could probably score us some nice seats for a ballgame." She said smiling and laughed, "Gimpy I would like to see you try and jack my car."

Doug's mouth dropped open. "Gimpy? Ouch...I'm stung, hurt really. If you weren't driving now id show you how gimpy I am." he joked giving her a quick poke. "Just don't start laughing and throw up on me..." he said sticking out his tongue at her. It felt good to play around again.

Anna pulled the car into the dealership. And as she put it into park threw off her seatbelt she was smiling and laughing, "You are gimpy, and you couldn't show me anything. And it would serve you so right if I did throw up on you." She poked him back trying to find someplace that would break him into laughter. "I'm trained in professional kickboxing buddy; I'd lay you flatter than a pancake."

"Hey come on don't..." he laughed as he tried to bat her hands away. He was lucky she hadn't found his one really ticklish spot yet. "I already got my ass kicked last night...i don't think my ego could take much more...besides you'll never find out the spot to get me at." only carol knew that. the place below his ear around his neck or right above his belt were the only two places that someone could touch him and he'd loose it laughing. Carol had found out on accident. Doug could only guess where Anna's spots were. He knew he had found the one behind her knee, but that was too hard for him to get to...he'd get her back later though.

She backed off. "Yeah you're right." She said as she got out of the car. She started to walk away, "come on I want to get a new car." She kept walking, "Hey Craig," She called, "I need a new car." She stopped and watched as he walked towards her, "hey there Anna, one of my guys said you were in and walked off with a black bmw... had to laugh telling him you'd be back for a red one." Anna shook her head, "nah not a red one this time. I need something," She looked at Doug, "bigger with 4 doors and a non convertible." He looked at Anna kind of funny. "In all the time I've known you Anna I never known you not to have something built for speed. We've got some SUV's in if you'd like to look at them. How you feel about an X3?" Anna looked at him for a minute, "what's under the hood Craig?"

"The standard is 3.0i 3.0L I-6 225HP engine, 6-speed manual transmission with overdrive, 4-wheel anti-lock brakes, side door mounted airbags, tube 1st and 2nd row overhead airbags, airbag occupancy sensor, automatic, 17" alloy wheels, cruise control, ABS and driveline traction control, and an all-wheel drive. Does that sound like something you'd want Anna?" He said to her. Anna turned to Doug, "well what do you think?

Doug shrugged his shoulders. He was lost somewhere in the middle. He tried his best to sound well informed though. "And SUV would be good. Sounds top of the line. I guess you can afford more than i can so i say...lets check it out."

Anna just shrugged her shoulders as she followed Craig over to the SUV's it was a light grey with four doors. She stood back looking at it, "I don't know about this Doug. It's uh big."

Doug took a good look at it. "Well...yeah ok you're right. But you can drive my jeep just fine and it's a stick. At least this one's automatic." Doug walked around and his mouth dropped at the price. He had to buy his car used. He had never actually had a new car but was glad that Anna could afford one for herself. "Wow" he said out loud. He almost felt a little jealous, it seemed like Anna had a good grasp on her financial life. He looked behind him at the other cars in the lot. There were several he could recommend, but they were all the kind that he liked. Jeeps, trucks...guy cars. He motioned for Anna to come over to the other side. He made a face and whispered to her. "What do you think? We could look around some more."

Anna looked down at the ground. "I don't know. It is kind of cute, nice, and sporty." Anna glanced up at the sticker on the car, "I brought you along so that I didn't end up in another one of those." She said pointing to a hot little red convertible. "So I guess what I am saying is, do you think that this is something that I could drive that you wouldn't worry about me in?"

Doug smiled at her. "Baby, the way you drive...I'll always worry about you." he joked nudging her in the arm. "But... yeah this is nice. Spacious...roomy even." he said joking. "Seriously though, if you like it i like it. Its got power...everything, its brand new, and it did well in the crash tests so that takes some worry away. I think you could handle it too, it's not too much bigger than my jeep." he tilted his head down in her direction. Damn why couldn't he read her reactions. "So..."

She smiled at him, "then it's mine. Crack jokes about my driving, you my dear as still alive." She looked at him once more, "what do you say I sign the papers buy this little baby and I want a hot dog. I am starving."

Doug touched his stomach. "Yeah I'm pretty hungry too. I could go for some good old vendor food." he walked on the other side of the car where the salesman was. "So do i have to harass this guy about the price or does my kickboxing, GI Anna have it under control?"

She smiled, "GI Anna," She smacked his arm, "come on Craig, let's go crunch numbers and you might have yourself a sale." Anna disappeared with the salesman for a few minutes and haggled on the car. When she emerged again she had a set of keys in her hands and a smile on her face. "I got him to come down about 3 grand on it. Come on baby let's take my new car and find some food please."

Doug smacked his hands together. "Come on baby!" he said to mimic her. "Way to go champ." he said in his best 'baseball coach' voice as he opened the door for her. Doug jumped in the other side and looked around the car with a big, silly smile on his face. He was really happy for her. "I like new cars...i rarely get to be in them so it's a big deal for Me." he said waiting for her to start the car. "Come on now...I'm dying to hear that engine!"

Anna smiled at him and laughed. "Yeah," She said as she turned the key. She pulled the CD out of her purse that she had in the other car, and set them on the dash. As she pulled her seat belt on around her. "I can't believe I am driving an SUV." She said as she pulled out of the lot. She negotiated into traffic looking for food, "baby let me know if you see a place we can get street dogs please before I die of hunger."

"There are always places to get hot dogs in Chicago...why don't you head over to the baseball field. There has to be some there." Doug said looking around. The only problem with downtown was the amount of creepy looking people around as the sun went down. "Make sure you watch these pot holes. They always over inflate tires on new cars so you don't want to hit one."

"Okay," She said, as she hit one. "You mean like that one." As she felt the car bounce and the oh to familiar sound of a tire going flat.

Doug dropped his head and tried not to laugh. "I think i cursed us..." he said shaking his head."Pull over. Let me take a look." the car came to a stop and Doug hopped out. Sure enough Anna had blown the tire, but the rim was still ok. He walked around to her side. "Its ok...just hand me the kit and I'll change it."

Anna laid her head down on the steering wheel. "I can't, because I don't have one." She was waiting for him to strangle her now. "I have to call triple a baby. I've never changed a spare tire in my life."

Doug couldn't believe it. "You don't have a kit? I can't jack up the car without...wait. You're telling me you know all this crap about engines and parts and you can't even change a tire?" he stood and thought about it for a second. "HAHAHA." Doug doubled over laughing. "That's...ahhhh that's classic. Hahaha" couldn't help it. Here he was feeling bad that Anna knew all about the insides and she couldn't do something basic. He wiped the tears from his eyes and leaned against the car. "Ahhh hem... well you better call them soon. It's getting dark"

Anna rolled up the window. He was laughing at her. As she dialed the phone, told them where she was at and what she needed. She got out of the car, "they'll be here in about hour." She said looking at him. "I can't believe you are laughing at me because I can't change a tire. So what if I can tear apart a catalytic converter and put it back together, I know the difference between a V6 and a V8. Oh no," she was smiling as she poked him, "Anna can't change a tire, she get's lost in Kentucky..." She was shaking her head now. "I'm hungry."

Doug stood up and rolled his eyes. "Hey don't poke the bear sweetheart. Besides I'm hungry too. Why don't you lock your tank up and we'll go find something." Doug looked across the street and waited for a gap in traffic before he took Anna's hand and jogged to the other side. His back tingled a little but his meds and kicked in so he was feeling pretty good. He pulled his sunglasses out of his pocket and slipped them on. The sun was setting and it was really bright. Doug walked next to her looking around the busy street corners. Everyone was getting out of work and the sidewalks seemed to be packed. Doug casually reached down and grabbed her hand. He didn't say anything, but pretended like it was no big deal...although it was for him. "Hey i think i see one." he said pointing a block down the road.

"Yeah." She said as electricity shot up her spine when he took her hand. He wasn't acting like it was anything so she just kept her mouth shut and enjoyed it. She had a feeling that this would end soon, but for now she was going to just enjoy the attention. As she walked with him down the crowded street.

Doug let out a deep breath as they finally reached the vendor. He let go of her hand to pull out his wallet. He pulled down his sunglasses to the bridge of his nose so he could see her over the top of them. "Ok my dear...what'll it be."

She smiled, as her tummy growled, "saukraut and pickles with cheese."

Doug made a face. "Ahh...good thing I'm not kissing you after that." he joked turning to the vendor. "Well you heard that one. And ill have one with just catsup and uhm two cokes." he handed the man some money and handed Anna her hot dog. "Well..." he said looking around for a place to sit."You want to just head back to the car and 'cop a squat'?"

She shyly smiled at him, "yeah that sounds like a plan." She was having a good time being there with him. Even if she had blown the tire on her brand new car. "It sounded good I can't help it."

Doug just shook his head as he made his way back to the car. By the time they got there the streets were almost silent. It was strange how people went home so fast. Doug wanted to enjoy the sunset so he slid back on the hood of her car being careful not to scratch it. He looked out at the water and the setting sun and patted the spot next to him so she would sit down too. He let his feet dangle as he took a bite of his hot dog. "Can you believe that view?" he asked looking out at the water. "If nothing else goes right today, this right here is enough for me." Doug pretended he was talking about the view and not sitting there with Anna...but in his heart, he meant both.

She looked at the water, the sun setting and out of the corner of her eye the man sitting next to her. "Yeah baby I know what you mean." She didn't know what to make of this, her head was spinning. He was being so sweet almost as if nothing had happened between them, but things had, is this the way that he would hang with his best friend, or had he simply forgotten that they were no longer lovers. Did he still love her and want to be lovers again. Ahh she was driving herself to drink thinking in circles.