Ch 15

Stacy didn't even think she just flipped open her cell phone dialing a number.

"Hey Stacy, you ok?" Mark answered right away.

"No, can you pull over somewhere and wait for me to catch up?"

"I can turn around," Mark's normally strong tone broke with concern as he listened to her softly crying.

"No, don't do that I'm on the road I'll find you," she slowed the car slightly as she went through house lined streets on the way to the highway.

"What happened?" Mark asked pulling his truck into a restaurant parking lot.

"I think my marriage is over," she whispered barely loud enough for him to hear. Mark was at a lost of words for a moment. He leaned back in the seat feeling a battle raging inside of him about what to say.

"Stacy, let me come get you. You shouldn't be driving upset."

"Mark, I can drive don't worry," she said through her tears. "Where are you?"

"I pulled over at Golden Dawn diner. Do you know where that is?"

"Yes, I'll be there in about 20 minutes. I better concentrate on my driving. I'll see you soon," she hung up as another round of sobs came on.

Mark got out of his truck sitting on his tailgate to wait for her to arrive. He couldn't help worrying watching headlights approaching hoping to see her soon.

"What the hell am I going to say? I don't want her going back to Adam but are my reasons right or am I being selfish thinking of what I want not what is best for her," he deeply sighed letting his thoughts consume him about wishing Stacy was with him instead of Adam. He started to realize more and more there would be no words coming out of his mouth encouraging Stacy to try to work things out with Adam.

It didn't take Stacy long to find Mark. She pulled her black mustang next to his truck. He slowly walked over when she didn't get out right away. He found her staring into space with tears streaming down her face. He opened the door gently pulling her out.

She looked up at him with her tear filled eyes making his heart ache with every tear that ran down her cheek.

"It's going to be ok darling," he wrapped her tightly in his arms. She molded into him burying her face in his chest.

"We should keep going. I don't know if Adam is coming after me or not but I don't want to find out," she broke away from him looking around at the road. Suddenly she stared at Mark.

"What do you see him coming?"

"No, I just realized I didn't ask if I could come with you to Philly. I just invited myself I'm so sorry," she said making him look at her disbelief.

"Stacy, you don't have to ask you know you're welcome to come with me. We can talk on the ride about what happened," he reached out caressing her cheek wiping her tears away.

"Thank you Mark," she sniffled.

"We have to do something with your car. We can't leave it here," Mark said keeping a tight hold on her.

"A friend of mine lives on the way. I'll give her a call we can leave it there," she rustled in her pocket taking out her cell phone. She took Mark by surprise when she stayed close to him making the call and confirming it was fine to leave the car there.

"Let's go drop it off then you can tell me everything," he kissed her forehead as she nodded in agreement slowly breaking away from him and getting back in her car. He returned to his truck still feeling troubled as he followed and waited while she parked the car in front of the house. He leaned over opening the door for her as she approached.

"Stacy, are you sure about going to Philly with me?"

"Yes, it's about the only thing I'm sure of right now," she softly said shutting the door and buckling up for the trip.

"Ok, you can hide out and not go to the shows so Adam has no idea where you are," Mark looked over at her as she nodded yes.

"He'll never think to look for me with you and if my parents want to know where I am I'll make up an excuse," she rubbed her puffy eyes feeling a headache coming on. "I should call ahead and make a reservation. What hotel are you staying at?"

"You can stay with me in my room unless that makes you uncomfortable."

"I'm comfortable with you," she slightly smiled. "I just don't want to be a pain."

"You're not, I like having someone to travel with," he grinned feeling very happy traveling with her. He was dreading being away from her now fate had sent her with him on the road. "So what happened?"

"Adam came home shortly after you left. I confronted him about going to my Dad's but not coming to see me. He made up excuses about that but what really pissed me off is he wouldn't let me look in his bag. Of course, he thought I was just being bitchy because I'm already pregnant," she rolled her eyes.

"Could you be?" Mark asked then immediately bit his tongue realizing that wasn't right to be asking at that time.

"No, I'm on the pill and haven't been intimate with Adam in awhile. We haven't seen one another that much lately," her eyes brimmed with tears as she thought about how the last few months had been strained between her and Adam thanks to his travel schedule and when he was home he was always busy planning his next career move. "I should have seen this coming."

"Stacy, sometimes the heart doesn't let us see the truth," he reached out grabbing her hand giving it a comforting squeeze.

"I've been blind for too long. I really want to know what is in that bag."

"It's got to be pretty bad if he didn't want you to see it," Mark kept stealing glances at her as he drove.

"I gave him a chance to save our marriage and he didn't take it. Now I have to decide what to do," she deeply sighed looking down at her wedding ring.

"You have to time for that. Just try to calm down," he softly spoke caressing her hand.

"Easier said then done," she swallowed hard feeling the weight of her world crashing down around her.

"I'll help you through it no matter what you decide. I'm here for you Stacy even if you just need a shoulder to cry on," Mark said making her look at him. She didn't say a word just undid her seatbelt moving next to him. She belted up leaning against him. He lifted his arm wrapping it around her letting her bury her face against his chest. "It's going to be ok darling," he stroked her hair holding her close. He held her for the whole ride hoping she wouldn't go back to Adam.