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Meanwhile, Peggy had made it home and began packing her bag. She felt a sense of completion as she folded up a few shirts and shorts. How would she tell Hank she was leaving and even harder, how would she tell Bobby? What would she say? I'm leaving with Mr. Gribble because I love him? No that sounded idiotic and ludicrous and she couldn't say that. Okay, I know, she thought. I'll write Hank a letter and let him do the dirty work of telling Bobby. It's not like she wouldn't see Bobby again after all. She was just going to Mexico for a bit to get away with her lover. Call it a vacation.

She placed her suitcase by the door and sat down at the dining room table with a piece of paper and a pen. What was she supposed to write? She had never done something like this before and it was making her feel as though choosing Dale over her family was the wrong decision since no words would come to her. Peggy had spent her life doing the things required of her, but never getting a reward in return. Technically, when it came to being on the line, Hank was a wonderful provider with strong moral fibers and although Peggy loved her husband, she felt as though she was no longer in love with him. He gave her nothing to look forward to besides a cold conversation about propane. Her eyes searched the blank page in front of her, the pen meeting the whiteness with hard dark marks. Every word that she placed on the sheet of paper detailed each and every thing that was wrong with their relationship and why it wouldn't work out. Peggy felt a tingle in her fingers and legs as she finished writing and began folding the sheet into a perfect fit for the envelope. She placed the letter on top of Hank's pillow and looked around at her home. The house she had called home for twenty years, was going to be in the rear view mirror of the bug-a-bego in just a short time, she thought as she touched an old family photo. Oh Hank, whatever happened to us? Whatever happened to that young couple we once were? How did we get to this point? She eyed the house before meeting Dale at the edge of the driveway and mentally waving goodbye to the content rambler on Rainey Street. All she needed was Dale, an open highway, and Mexico. Mexican dreams were in her future.

Hank adjusted his glasses and glanced over at Kate who was wiping her eyes.

"Are you alright?" He asked gently. She looked up at him and sniffled.

"I'm fine. It's just… I have never had someone to stand up for me like that. I usually do a pretty good job, but," She sighed heavily and seemed to relax a bit more. "He has never hit me before either." Her hand rubbed her cheek and swollen lip, sending a grimace to the same pouted lips that Hank dreamed of kissing night after night.

"Tell me what happened," Hank added, catching her eye with his own. Kate smiled softly.

"You know little boys, Mr. Hill. They can't control their tempers," She rested her hand on the door and pushed a thick strand of hair behind her tiny ear.

"Well, beg your pardon, Kate, but when I was a little boy, I certainly knew never to hit a girl!" He felt angry again and she shrunk at the sound of his raised voice.

"You're different. You were raised a gentlemen. Evan… He wasn't raised at all. His mother was a crack addicted hooker who is spending a 25 year sentence in a prison somewhere in Florida for grand theft auto and kidnapping," She looked at Hank. "But I'm not making excuses for him. You're right he shouldn't have hit me." Hank still felt no sympathy for this little ingrate. "We were arguing about the things that have happened in the past and the money that he owed me for the phone bills when we lived together and his temper got the best of him…" Her weak voice trailed off.

"Well, you should have told me. I could have helped you," Hank said, turning to look at her.

"Yes, maybe I should have," she looked out the window again.

The two turned into the drive way and got out of the truck.

"Come on in and let me get you something to put on that eye," Hank said as he watched her stop mid-lawn and admire the dark clouded sky above. Raindrops began to fall around her and she ran into the kitchen. The house was silent and dark. The only sound was the falling rain on the roof and softly tapping on the window panes. She stood at the glass door, staring silently at the wind blowing the tree branches and more tears began to fall down her pale face. Of course, Hank wasn't an expert or even good at soothing pain for others, but her eyes were too precious to be shedding tears. The need to comfort her overwhelmed him and he pulled her into his arms. She melted to him like warm caramel and wrapped her arms around him tightly. He stroked her hair and patted her back softly, feeling her tiny bones beneath her skin. She felt so fragile and feeble.

"Thank you," She whispered. Hank looked down at the tiny girl he had grown to care for deeply and tilted her beautiful face up to him and rubbed her cheek.

"Let's get you cleaned up," Hank said with a small smile, wiping a few tears away. "You're too pretty to be crying." She chuckled between sobs and followed him to the den. Hank ran hot water on a rag and pulled a bottle of peroxide from under the sink in the guest bathroom and she would most certainly need an ice pack to put on her eye and maybe even some aspirin for the headache that would present itself later on.

Rain poured down on the Bug-a-bego as they neared San Antonio where they planned to have dinner. Peggy felt a bit guilty as she looked at her watch. She wondered if Hank had found the letter yet and if so how was he reacting to the news. He would probably never even notice she was gone if she didn't leave the note, she thought to herself. She peered over at Dale behind her glasses and felt a bit of relief when she realized that she had never been a selfish person. Peggy deserved this love, this relationship, this attention. She argued with herself over and over again before they pulled into a nice quiet little Mexican restaurant with a beautiful fountain in the front. She sighed and looked around at the surroundings.

"What's going on in that beautiful head?" Dale asked, rubbing her shoulder. Peggy smiled and groaned.

"Have I made a mistake? I mean Hank is a good man. He's a wonderful father and provider and I just feel like it might be a mistake," She allowed her head to drop into her hands.

"You think our love is a mistake?" Dale looked hurt. Peggy immediately regretted saying what she had said.

"No, no, no Dale! I didn't mean that our love was a mistake. I just meant that… Oh god, I don't know what I meant! I'm so confused and just I'm running around in circles in my mind," She patted him on the back.

"Peggy, you know for months now I've been keeping something a secret. It's been bothering me more than you'll ever know. Can I trust you?"He asked her.

Peggy looked at him with wide eyes and took his hand tightly in hers. She noticed his own eyes were welling with tears.

"Joseph is not my paternal son," Peggy and the whole block already knew that, but she acted surprised.

"What do you mean, Dale, of course he is!"

"Oh come on, Peg. He's handsome, he's tall, he's got a dark complexion, he's athletic, I mean I could go on for days and days about all the things he is and all the things I'm not," Dale said as he took a long drag of a cigarette. "John Redcorn is his father. All those years that Nancy was seeing him for her so called headaches… I didn't realize she was sleeping with him," He wiped his eyes and sat with his eyes downcast. Peggy felt a pang in her chest and sympathy washed over her.

"Oh Dale, I'm so sorry, but think about it, who raised him? Who changed his diapers? Who bathed him and fed him for all those years? Who went to his school events and watched all of his football games?" She asked. Dale looked at her and sighed.

"I did," he answered flatly.

"You are his father. John Redcorn was just merely the sperm donor," Peggy added quickly. Dale sat quietly and took another puff of his cigarette.

"You know, you're right, but it doesn't change the fact that Nancy lied to me all those years and it doesn't change the fact that I was stupid enough to believe her and remain loyal to her," Dale flicked the cigarette out the window and took Peggy's hand.

"Is that the real reason why you wanted to get away?" asked Peggy who kissed Dale's hand softly.

"That's part of the reason. But the other part is really you. I love you and it would kill me if you said our love was a mistake. Please don't lie to me though because I can't take another lifetime of lies and secrets. Tell me now what you want. Before we cross into Mexico, " He sighed loudly. Dale rubbed her face lovingly and kissed her on the lips.

"Dale. I only want you. Now let's celebrate over dinner."

When Hank entered the den again, Kate was laying down.

"I got you an icepack and some aspirin if you get a headache," Hank sat down at the edge of the pull out mattress.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"Now come here and let me clean that lip up before it gets infected," She sat up and pulled her hair into a long pony tail at the base of her neck, a few loose strands still dangling around her face. He poured a dab of peroxide on the towel and began to clean her swollen lip. He watched Kate frown as the medicine cleansed the wound.

"Does it look bad?" She asked as she raised her hand to touch it, the attempt only being thwarted by Hank's hand.

"Don't touch it. It looks like a busted lip," He answered her. Hank couldn't help himself as he marveled at her shear, unending beauty. Even with a bruised face and busted lip, her grace and elegance came through and pierced Hank's very soul. Her make-up was smeared, leaving little trails of blackness around her eyes, but that didn't matter. Hank would gladly spend a lifetime wiping those rivers of make up from her face if necessary. Her lips were swollen and busted, but he didn't care, all he wanted to do was kiss those lips and take away the pain. She was looking at him, her eyes like deep oceans pulling him into the abyss that was behind them. Her lashes were fluttering slowly and sleepily as he ran a finger over her soft mouth. I love you. Just say it, he thought. It was never that easy though. Once again, they sat only a breaths distance from one another and although the want was there in Hank to close the space and meet her lips, he couldn't find the will to do it. To jeopardize the trust that had been built again. She was speaking to him and looking in his eyes again and that was all he needed to get by if he couldn't love her. His fingers touched her hair and she sighed happily. "You should lay down. Put the ice pack on,"

"Mom, Dad, I'm home," Bobby said from the door. Hank stood up quickly. "Anybody home?" Hank looked at Kate who had laid down and pulled the blankets around her.

"I'm here," Hank answered as he exited the den. He met an eager and excited looking Bobby at the living room.

"Dad, you will never believe this! I brought all my C's to A's!" He danced happily around the living room. Hank looked at his interim report and grinned widely. "Thanks to Kate, I'm going to be able to get into Texas A&M!"

"Well, way to go Bobby! I'm proud of you, son!"

"I can't wait to tell mom! Is she home?" He asked as he high fived his dad. "And where's Kate, I have to thank her!"

"Well, Kate wasn't feeling well so she went to bed and I haven't seen your mother since about 2:30. I'm sure she'll be home soon," Hank said as he took out his wallet. "Son, I just want you to know that I am prouder of you than I have ever been. Here's forty dollars, go and get yourself something nice. And maybe some time this week, we'll go out to a fancy dinner to celebrate," Bobby smiled at Hank and shook his hand.

"Thanks dad, that sounds good. If you see mom around, don't tell her how good I'm doing. I want to tell her!" He said with excitement rumbling in his voice.

"Well, alright son!"

Hank decided he'd shower up and relax for a little while before dealing with Peggy later on. He knew that she was with Dale all day and the idea that she was making love to him and Hank was only dreaming of making love to Kate made him feel saddened, saddened because his marriage was destroyed and saddened because he loved Kate but couldn't tell her. Peggy was obviously having different luck with Dale. Hank wondered if they loved one another or if it was strictly a sexual fling, but then again did it really matter? He entered his bedroom, his eyes immediately falling on a small white envelope resting on his pillow. He grasped the envelope and eyed it cautiously. Inside was a letter. He pulled it free and unfolded it slowly, adjusting his glasses.

Dear Hank,

This letter I am writing to you is one of sadness. I am leaving Arlen for Mexico. I have found love in the strangest place. Our love was not strong enough to hold me any longer and years of loneliness have driven me into the arms of your friend, Dale Gribble who I have fallen deeply and irrevocably in love with. I know this is so much to understand at one time, but it was the only way I could tell you. I am so sorry if I have hurt you in any way and I can understand if you never wish to speak to me again, but your silence and coldness can be blamed for my infidelity. Whatever happened to us? What happened to the man I married? The man who would make love to me in the middle of the day at his 30 minute lunch break, the man who would spend hours telling me what he dreamed of, the loving, caring husband I once had. Where did he go? I love you, Hank. You are the father of my child and hold a special place in my heart, but Dale holds the rest. Please tell Bobby, I am sorry that I couldn't be there to see his interim. Try to explain this gently to him so he'll understand even though I know you won't be able to.

Love,

Peggy

His eyes gazed over the words repeatedly until he had nearly memorized the whole letter, before he crumpled it in his hand and threw it to the floor. A sudden wave of guilt washed over him because normal men would be angry and sad at this discovery. Hank was almost joyous at this news. What an overwhelmingly free feeling he had. He laid his head down on his pillow and groaned loudly. How would he tell Bobby? What would be the easiest way to break this bad news to him? Hank yawned and looked at the time on the clock beside the bed. 6:00 pm. Okay, 5 minute nap. He closed his eyes tightly and turned to his side, falling into a deep dreamless sleep, his last thought residing on sapphire eyes and long dark hair.