Roman’s SUV. “Hot damn! That’s the best news I’ve had all year!” he called out.
“Baby! Baby, look at this,” Riley said as he walked through the house. A second later Maia’s face could be seen beside Riley’s. Maia glanced at the screen and shrieked. “Oh, my God! You’re coming home! I’m so excited! Congratulations!” Maia said excitedly.
Talie laughed lightly. “Thank you,” she said.
“I can’t wait until I can meet you properly. And Roman, I’m so happy for you! Roman’s been so heartbroken and worried about you. I miss seeing his smile. I’m so glad you’re coming home with him,” Maia said.
Riley chuckled. “Look at him, baby. He ain’t stopped smiling since I answered the phone.”
“Of course not. He’s got his mate at his side,” Maia said.
“Ya’ll drive safe now. We aren’t going to say anything to Darcie until you get here to do it yourself. We don’t want her anxious jumping at the sound of every car that pulls in at the diner until you get here,” Riley said.
“Thank you for thinking of her,” Talie said.
“Ain’t a problem. Ya’ll are family,” Riley said. “Ya’ll be safe, take your time! We’re good here.”
“We will,” Roman said.
“Bye,” Talie said quickly before the call ended.
Roman ended the call and dropped his phone in the cup holder between them. “So, to the hotel to check out, and if you don’t mind I’ll change out of this uncomfortable suit, then we’ll be on our way,” Roman said.
“Sounds good,” Talie answered.
He put the vehicle in gear and backed out of the parking space, then drove away, leaving the nightmare Talie had lived behind her.
Neither noticed the short, rotund man with the comb over standing in the distance watching them. He copied down their license plate number, then kept himself hidden between the cars the next row over as they drove away.
~~~
Roman smiled as he watched Talie enjoying her hamburger and fries. She sat beside him, her eyes wide and bright as she took in all the countryside as they drove from Ohio toward Missouri. She pointed out interesting things she saw and listened while he told her about his friends.
Finishing her burger and putting the wrapper back in the bag and closing it up tightly, she wiped her fingers on a paper napkin, then crossed her hands in her lap. “So, I heard Riley mention a diner. Do you live near a diner?”
“Yeah, right across the road, actually. It’s next door to Riley’s house. He owns the diner, and Richie runs it, and his wife and his mother work there along with some part time high-schoolers that help out from time to time. There’s a gas station out front and a small convenience store attached to it as well, and we have a local guy that works the pumps. When our construction jobs are slow, we help out wherever needed. Other times we’ll go help out Travis at his tree farm if he’s got planting or something going on,” Roman explained.
“And Riley owns the construction company, too?” Talie asked.
“He does.”
Talie was quiet for a moment, and Roman could see the wheels turning in her head.
“What are you thinking?” he asked.
“Do you think that I might be able to get a job in one of his businesses?” she asked.
Roman smiled. “I’m sure if you want to work, he’d be happy to have you. But you don’t have to,” Roman said.
“I have to earn a living,” Talie answered.
“Talie, honey, I already told you I’ll take care of you. If you want to work, at whatever you want to work at, that’s fine. But if you want to be a stay at home mom and just take care of Darcie, that’s fine, too. Even if you just want to take some time and readjust to being able to do what you want when and where you want, you can do that. There’s no rules, no time restraints,” Roman said.
He could feel Talie looking at him as he drove so he glanced her way quickly before looking back at the road.
“You really mean that,” she said.
“Of course, I do. Didn’t you listen when I took my vows? I promised to always take care of you, and I always will.”
Talie nodded.
“Darcie goes to school everyday, and most of the time I drop her off and pick her up, but sometimes Maia does because Cristie goes to the same school. You could even volunteer at the school if you wanted. They’re really nice people.”
Talie relaxed back into her seat and smiled as