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  Mercy hadn’t wore her prosthesis at all that day so she must feel up to the challenge of a walk.

  “If you insist on leaving.”

  “I do.” Mercy rose from bed and used her crutches to go the bathroom. “I’m going to take a quick shower.”

  “I’ll help you.” Marc was on her tail and readied the shower. They stepped into the shower together and Marc soaped up a washcloth softly scrubbing her stunning body. Lathering up a handful of shampoo, Marc massaged it into her long hair. She leaned back washing the bubbles away and Marc watched as they sensuously ran down her body.

  She looked down between them feeling his eagerness against her.

  “You just had me,” she said taking his member in his hand. Marc groaned.

  “You turn me on twenty-four hours a day, I can’t help it.”

  Marc picked her up and she straddled him, he gripped her derriere and supported her as he pressed her against the shower wall. Marc dove inside of her and their shower was prolonged by yet another interlude.

  Finally out of the shower some time later, Marc and Mercy headed to Greenville. They pulled into the lot of the Moosehead Bar and Grill and walked in together. They were seated in a small booth against the wall across from the bar. A group of young men gawked at the pair of them. Mercy had worn a pair of shorts exposing her leg for all to see, something she didn’t do often, but Marc insisted. It was a hot humid night and she shouldn’t be ashamed. That’s what he told her.

  “They’re staring at me.” Mercy’s face flushed.

  “They’re staring at you because you’re beautiful.” Marc tried to ease her conscience.

  “No it’s because of my leg.”

  “Stop worrying about your leg, okay.” Marc held her hand across the table.

  “Can I get you folks something to drink?” An older portly waitress asked, pen in hand.

  “I’ll have a margarita please,” Mercy responded.

  “A rum and coke,” Marc requested.

  The older woman retreated back to the bar.

  “Peg leg,” a clearly drunk kid, no older than twenty-two, yelled across the room. “Yeah, I’m talking to you.” He looked over at Mercy.

  Marc’s blood boiled and he started to rise to his feet. Mercy grabbed his hands.

  “Please, don’t do anything.”

  Marc looked at the drunks who starred back laughing.

  “Please,” Mercy begged. “It’s not worth it.”

  Marc eased back into his seat red faced.

  “Ahoy matey!” the same drunk yelled, the group of them laughing.

  Marc was on his feet before Mercy could protest again. He grabbed the pock marked kid by the fabric of his shirt and shoved him into the bar forcefully.

  “Say one more thing, one more god damn comment about her.”

  The kid looked back at him with a shit eating grin. Marc was twice the size of him; he towered over him and his muscles rippled under his short sleeved shirt.

  “I’m not sayin’ anything that ain’t true.”

  Marc shoved him into the counter again. The man’s three friends circled around him.

  “You’re going to apologize to her.”

  The kid laughing exposing his disgustingly yellow teeth.

  “You and what army?”

  “I don’t need an army. Tempt me.” The entire restaurant was silent as the scene unfolded.

  One of the men grabbed Marc shoulder. With one arm Marc pushed him so hard he tumbled into a table falling on his ass.

  “Don’t,” Marc pointed a finger and warned the aggressor. The man, another kid no older than college age, wiped himself off and stood a few feet back.

  “Just apologize to her,” one his smart friends advised.

  “I’d listen to your friend,” Marc instructed him angrily.

  “Take it outside guys or I’m calling the cops,” the bartender warned.

  “Alright, alright,” the kid held up his hands, “I’m sorry.”

  “You’re going to tell her.”

  Marc yanked him back and guided him roughly to where Mercy watched with wide eyes from their booth.

  “Say it.” Marc held him by the scruff of his neck.

  “I’m sorry,” he said meekly.

  “Say it like you mean it.” Marc applied pressure.

  “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that to you.”

  “And you and your friends are going to leave.”

  “What?”

  “YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS ARE GOING TO LEAVE.”

  “Yes, ah, sir.”

  “Go.” Marc let go of him and pushed him in the direction of the door. His three scrawny followed behind him.

  Marc watched them leave and then sat back down at the table with Mercy. His adrenaline was still cranked on high. He wanted to throw a right hook at the punk kid, but going to jail wouldn’t accomplish anything.

  “You shouldn’t have done that,” Mercy said with tears in her eyes.

  “What I should have done is pounded that kid into the ground so he was no more than a stain.”

  “You can’t protect me from the world.”

  “I will when I’m with you.”

  Mercy looked out the window by their booth.

  “They were just stupid drunk kids.”

  She nodded her head, but kept her gaze fixed out the window.

  “Look at me.” Marc reached across the table and rest his hands atop of hers. Mercy turned her head, but didn’t meet his eyes. “Mercy, look at me.” Her teary eyes tore him apart. He now more than ever wanted to rip that kid from limb to limb.

  “Don’t ever let someone make feel bad about yourself.”

  “Easy for you to say. You’re gorgeous.”

  “And you’re fucking breathtaking. I’ve never met a woman more beautiful.”

  “Are you folks ready to order?” The waitress showed up at their side with their drinks.

  Mercy wiped her eyes.

  “I think we need a few more minutes,” Marc said.

  “Certainly, take your time.” The waitress walked away.

  “Why don’t we just have our drinks and head back to the cabin.” Mercy took a big sip off her margarita.

  “You wanted to enjoy a night out and that’s what we’re going to do. You’re not going to let those assholes ruin it for us. Alright.”

  Mercy nodded her head. Marc put his hand under her chin and lifted it.

  “Chin up beautiful.” Marc smiled at her. She broke into a small smile herself.

  “What would you like to have for dinner?”

  Mercy perused the menu.

  “Chicken alfredo.”

  Marc placed their orders and the waitress returned with their food twenty minutes later. They enjoyed a peaceful dinner together, but Marc could tell the earlier event had gotten to her.

  “You ready for that walk?”

  “Sure.”

  Marc paid the tab and they walked about the town’s main street down to the public docks hands intertwined.

  “Are you only with me because you feel guilty about the accident?” Mercy asked out of the blue.

  Marc took a moment to answer, shocked by the question.

  “No, not at all.” He stopped and pulled her so she stood facing him.

  “Why would you be interested in me?”

  “Because you’re an amazing woman.” Marc put his hands on the sides of her neck. “I’m drawn to you mind, body, and soul.”

  “I find it hard to believe anyone could be attracted to me.”

  Marc lowered his lips to hers.

  “I don’t see what’s missing. All I see is what you are. And what you are is beautiful. I’ll say it a million times until you realize that you are. You’re beautiful Mercy.”

  Mercy leaned her head into his chest and Marc held her protectively wanting to shield her from the world

  “Let’s go back to the cabin,” she said.

  Marc kissed her forehead and took her hand and they walked back to pu
b’s parking lot.

  *****

  Mercy

  Mercy lay in bed facing away from Marc. He was fast asleep and all she could think of were the words of the man in the bar. Peg leg. Ahoy matey. She knew Marc was right, they were stupid drunk kids, but she couldn’t let it go. Her self-esteem plummeted. That was why she wore jeans and sneakers, so people wouldn’t see. So she wouldn’t get the stares and comments.

  Restless, Mercy quietly crawled out of bed and hobbled with her crutches to the screened in deck. The moon was bright in the cold evening sky. Stars twinkled all around and the noise of loons calling filled the air. This was where she wanted to be. Away from it all. Away from judgment. Marc told her how beautiful she was, but in the back of her mind, she had a hard time believing anyone thought she was beautiful.

  “Couldn’t sleep?” Marc’s voice came from behind.

  “I’m sorry if I woke you up.”

  “You didn’t wake me up.” Marc took a seat beside her. “It’s still bothering you.”

  Mercy didn’t answer him.

  “Come here.” Marc patted his lap.

  “Go back to bed, no sense for you to be awake too.”

  “I won’t sleep knowing you’re upset. Sit with me.”

  Mercy took a deep breath, stood up, and positioned herself in his lap. Marc wrapped one hand around her back, the other around her waist. She eased her weight into his chest and got lost in the scent of his cologne. Rather than lecture her as she expected, Marc simply held her quietly. The movement of his breathing, his chest rising and falling, his heart beat thudding against his unclothed chest, all the prior calmed and soothed Mercy. She ran her hand up and down his rugged shoulder tracing his tattoos. All Mercy wanted at that moment in time was for him to hold her and never let her go.

  The last two days of their stay, Mercy and Marc never left the camp. The average couple would tire of one another being confined for such a long period of time alone together, but Mercy didn’t want to see their time end.

  “The car is all packed.” Marc came inside walking to Mercy’s side.

  “Thank you.”

  “Come down to the dock with me.” Marc extended his hand. Mercy grasped it and walked with him. They sat on the bench at the edge of the water and looked out at the lake one last time.

  “This week has gone by too quick,” Marc said.

  “It sure has.”

  “I don’t want to go back to reality. I don’t want to say goodbye.”

  “Me either.” Mercy leaned her head on Marc’s shoulder. “If our lives were different.”

  Marc kissed the top of her head affectionately.

  “If they were different,” he sighed and kissed her ear.

  After an hour of simply sitting together, Mercy tugged on his hand to leave. Marc followed her back to the Jeep and they departed.

  Darkness was just settling on Bellview when Marc and Mercy pulled into her yard. Marc brought her luggage into the house then packed his Porsche. Mercy stood in the doorway watching him. When he was done, he walked to her.

  “What time is your flight?”

  “Four p.m.”

  “I don’t have to go back to ‘work’ until tomorrow.”

  Mercy could tell he was waiting for an invite.

  “Stay,” she offered. Marc walked in with no hesitation.

  Marc kissed her slowly, passionately, as if they were already saying goodbye. She was glad she had one more night with him. One more night then she was off to her new start. Goodbye Marc, hello British Columbia. The thought left her with a void.

  Marc, familiar with where her bedroom was now, led her back to her king size bed. He tended to Mercy, helping her as he always did, then crawled into the bed atop of her. She loved the way he attended to her, helped without question or expectation.

  “I’m not going to sleep a wink tonight because I don’t want to miss a single moment with you.”

  Mercy’s heart fluttered, a normal occurrence around Marc.

  “I love you Mercy.” He starred deep into her eyes, into her soul, when he said this.

  Did she just hear that? Did he say the word LOVE?

  “What?” she asked shell shocked.

  “I love you,” he repeated softly.

  Mercy swallowed hard and her heart sped up as she starred back at his honest eyes.

  “I…” she tried to clear her throat.

  “You don’t have to say it back,” he smoothed her bangs back from her forehead and kissed her ever so gently.

  “But I love you too,” she managed to get the words out overcome by emotion.

  “I think we just made this a hell of a lot more complicated.” Marc crashed his mouth against hers.

  “Probably,” Mercy agreed between breathless kisses.

  “I’m going to make love to you until the sun comes up.”

  “Please,” Mercy enticed.

  “I’m going to kiss every square inch of you, taste you, breath you in, fuck you so long and hard you’ll never want to say goodbye.”

  “I already don’t.”

  Marc kiss was rough and needy. And that’s how Mercy felt. Needy. Needing him. Every part of him.

  They tossed and turned in the bed, bare of sheets. Marc repeated the word “love” repetitively and every time she heard it a little piece of Mercy’s heart broke knowing it was all over the following day. He fucked her gentle and slow, rough and hard, loving and tender. And by the time morning came Mercy was sore, but beyond satisfied. More satisfied and content than she’d ever felt in her life.

  Sunlight streamed through the window signaling the end of their time together. Mark held her tight in his grasp.

  “I know I need to go so you can get ready.”

  “And Ace will be waiting for your call.”

  “Take care of yourself out there.”

  “Don’t get yourself hurt.”

  “I try.” Marc nuzzled her.

  “Will I ever see you again?” Mercy asked her voice shaking.

  “We’d only be prolonging the inevitable. There’s just no way we could be together. I’d ruin your life. You deserve better than me.”

  “But I want you.” Mercy hated that she was falling apart because of a man. Not any man, Marc.

  “You don’t want me. You deserve an honest man, someone who will make you happy, not someone who will call you from jail.”

  “I want the man I know you can be.”

  Marc took her lips ending her protest.

  “I love you and because of that I have to let you go.”

  Tears streamed down Mercy’s eyes. Marc rose from the bed and clothed his remarkable body. Mercy watched wanting to remember everything about him. His tattoos, the way his muscles rippled when he moved. Once dressed he sat on the edge of the bed, wiped the tears from her face and held her neck.

  “Goodbye Mercy.” He kissed her one last time.

  “Goodbye Marc,” she said lowly.

  And with that Marc walked toward the door, taking one last look from her bedroom doorway, then left.

  Mercy heard his Porsche leave the driveway and she completely broke down. She should have never let it get that far. The night she went to the race she should have closed the door in his face, said goodbye and never looked back. Her heart wouldn’t hurt so much if she had. Now she was paying for her impetuousness.

  Mercy cried like a little girl who’d lost her doll until late morning arrived and she had no choice but to get ready. All she had to bring was clothing, so it wouldn’t take her that long to pack. Her father had made housing arrangements for her already. Mercy was packed and ready to go when Kent and Cora showed up to bring her to the airport.

  “Ready kiddo?” Kent asked as they stood in the airport lobby.

  “Yeah,” she answered monotone.

  “Is everything alright?”

  No.

  “Just nervous about the move,” she lied.

  “Kent, you shouldn’t be making her do this.” Cora crossed her arms
and gave Kent a stern glare.

  “Mom, I want to go.” Mercy put her hand on her mother’s forearm. “Really, I do.”

  “Call every night,” Cora said, nearly crying.

  “I will.”

  “We’ll have a conference call later this week to see how the transition is going,” Kent said.

  “Okay Daddy.”

  Mercy hugged Kent and Cora and made her way up the stairs to her terminal.

  What seemed like days later, Mercy was welcomed to the Quesnel, British Columbia, a small city of approximately 22,000 people in its metro area and where the plant was located.

  “Mercy?” a woman asked after she retrieved her luggage.

  “Yes.”

  “Hi, I’m Carrie Snow. I’m your assistant.”

  “Hi Carrie.” Mercy extended her hand.

  “Welcome to Quesnel.”

  “Thank you.”

  “I’ll help you with your bags.”

  Carrie was soft spoken and had an easy smile. Mercy followed Carrie with her rental car to a modest ranch house located on the edge of town and helped her with her luggage again.

  “I’ll pick you up around eight tomorrow and get you set up in your office, if that sounds alright.”

  “Perfect. Thank you Carrie.”

  “Have a good night ma’am.” Carrie closed the door. Mercy walked around her furnished abode. It was classy and homey at the same time. Much like her own home. Her father had done well.

  Mercy plopped down on the couch and dropped her head into her hands. If it was a new start, why was it all she could think of was the past? Of Marc.

  SURPRISE

  Marc

  Marc crossed the finish line in victory, as usual. Why people still raced him should be a mystery. His car was immediately surrounded by people when he pulled into a parking lot at the finish where a large crowd had gathered.

  “Take me baby!” a brunette yelled and flashed him as he slid the car in park.

  “He’s mine first! Marc you can have all this.” A red head pushed her heaving chest into the driver’s side window. Marc rolled his eyes. Just what he wanted. A two cent whore.

  Ace pulled the woman away from the door and opened it.

  “My man!” he held his hand up for Marc to bump it. Marc did so with no enthusiasm. “That’s what I’m talking about! You gave ‘em just enough hope before the finish then smoked ‘em!”