Heart || Drabble
The drive home seemed to take much longer than David ever recalled. It was the same scenic view of a winding, Maine waterside road that he’d driven thousands of times before. Trees blocked most of the sun’s rays from striking his eyes as he drove this time of day. But the more distance the truck put between himself and Storybrooke, the more David felt like he was making a mistake. His eyes met the the rear-view mirror to catch sight of the view behind him. Downtown Storybrooke had faded into the distance.
The lumber in the back of the truck and the red rope strapping it down took his attention away from the town. Eyes up front.
Was it a mistake going home? To the farm? His right hand moved from its grip on the steering wheel and scratched idly at his chest directly over his heart. Frowning, he held the steering wheel again and flicked the turn signal on. Turn left onto the long, dirt road up to the farm. Isolated. Lonely.
They were the same routine motions he always made on the drive home. There was nothing different about today’s drive. Except the errand run into town had been very different from routine. He’d never actually been robbed before, then promptly lied to about it, and given back most of what was stolen. Some thief.
The fair woman with short, dark hair, striking green eyes that looked at him so differently than anyone else ever did as if she really saw him, and a beautiful mouth that sarcastically called him charming just before catching him off guard and shoving him into a wall filled his vision. Not the farm up ahead as the truck bumbled over potholes in the dirt stretch of drive.
If he could go back, if he had expected the shove (and something told him he should have), he would have grabbed her slender wrist and held tight. Not let her run. Maybe found out what was wrong so he could help.
And then what? She was already terrified.
A tense sigh escaped his lips. He’d never scared a woman like that before. She’d been scared to death, shaking as she yelled at him.
His foot slammed on the brakes. The truck skidded in the mud, but faithful as always, stopped. Looking up at the farm again, he wondered what the hell he was doing there. He should have driven around town looking for her. Or at least tried.
She was afraid of you!
She was not. She’s my…
The thoughts faded. He didn’t know her at all. He’d gotten most of his money back. About 75% of it anyway. And he had enough daylight left to at least get some of the roof fixed. It was a start.
Then why did he so badly want to turn the truck around and speed back to town? He could. It had only been about half an hour since their encounter. It wasn’t too late...
Shaking his head, he released his foot from the brake and tapped the gas pedal. He’d spent too many hours in town and it was time to get back to work. Otherwise, he’d have to deal with Fiona again.