Note*** this is a tiny little interlude off the main story. I didn't want to stick it in the main line because I'm jumping around a little bit here, but once the idea was there I thought it'd be unfair if I didn't show you what *I* know happened between Terry and Arlene.
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Terry stroked Arlene's hair gently. "You can't stay here, baby, you gotta go with the kids."
"I'm not leavin' you here! I will not!" She half shrieked.
"Now Arlene..."
"Don't you 'now Arlene' me, God damn it! No! I jus' found you, I just found a decent man, the last one left in this bull shit, hick town. I am not leavin' you here to get 'et! I wont!" She was crying. He hated it when she cried.
"Arlene, who all'll look after the kids?"
"Their teacher can watch them, I'm stayin' here with you!" She said unreasonably.
Terry sighed, he'd really hoped he wouldn't have to do this... he'd hoped she'd listen, that she'd see reason but it didn't look like that was going to happen any time here.
"If you stay here you might well kill our baby!" He said sternly. Arlene's eyes widened in horror and her hand flew to her mouth. "You gotta go baby... you don't got no choice."
"You can't leave me Terry... please. Please, dear God please, don't leave me..." She sobbed against his shoulder and he gathered her up gently against his chest. "I love you..."
"I love you too, baby girl. I'll be careful, I promise. I ain't never had nothin' to come back to before..." He kissed her, his fingers tangling in her hair and Arlene clung to him desperately. "Kiss the kid's for me," he whispered against her hair, and just like that he was gone, crouching in the back of Sam Merlott's Ute as it accelerated away up the street.
Arlene stood on the driveway crying for along time before she turned and hurried back into the house. "Kid's! Pack a bag each, quick! We're goin' on a little vacation!" she called with as much fake excitement as she could manage.
He would be fine. He would come back. In two days time he'd kiss the kid's and touch her face and say somethin' stupid and everything would be OK. It would. It had to be.
