In Need of a Tow Ch. 06

Date: 06.12.2008

Keywords: Need, 06, of, a, Tow, In, Ch.,

Pages:
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"Author's note: This is the shortest chapter in the story. There isn't any sex in this chapter. It picks up where chapter five left off, right after the wedding of Brian and Katherine. Thanks for reading!"

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We waited a few days before leaving for our honeymoon in Hawaii. Brian had to make sure his shifts at Freeman's were covered. We spent two weeks in Hawaii, only leaving the room a few times to do a bit of sight-seeing or take a dip in the hotel pool. Ron planned the most extravagant honeymoon for us. We started our trip with a visit to the northeast coast of the main island. It was quite wet and rained often.

As we shared a slow, passionate kiss outside our hotel in the gently falling rain Brian said, "Dad probably made reservations here knowing we wouldn't be leaving the hotel room much anyway," and laughed.

After our visit to the main island, we visited Lanai, one of the smaller islands. We stayed a few days at the Four Seasons resort which was quite a large place, but we didn't see many visitors there.

A week into our trip, we visited the tropical island paradise of Oahu. The scenery wasn't quite as breathtaking as we'd imagined because of all the buildings, but we did manage to get to do some sight-seeing in downtown Honolulu, visiting some of the historic buildings there.

The last leg of our honeymoon was spent on the island of Kauai. When we arrived, we were informed that this island was one of the rainiest, but during our stay, the weather cooperated quite nicely.

After a day of sight-seeing, we spent the rest of the evening on the beach, swimming and splashing around. Brian set up our new video camera near our beach chairs and left it recording for a bit while we romped and splashed in the water just off shore. He took me by the hand and led me back to our beach chairs, pulling me in close, kissing me deeply, a kiss that was so electrifying, it felt as if my feet weren't even touching the ground.

As Brian broke our kiss, he looked into the camera with his arms around me and shouted for the whole world to hear, "I love this woman!" He kissed me again.

We hugged then I turned toward the the camera and whispered seductively, "I love this man!" My whispering always gets Brian going. I nibbled on his ear while we hugged.

He turned off the camera while we sat down in our chairs enjoying the view of another spectacular sunset. After everyone had left the beach, Brian leaned in, kissed me and whispered in my ear, "I want you so much, right now, right here on this beach."

I got out of my beach chair, took our towels and laid them out on the sand. I took his hand and together we sat side by side on the towels then I leaned in and kissed him, my fingers entwined through his hair. As I laid back on the towels, Brian moved with me, neither of us breaking our kiss. We made love slowly beneath the blankent of stars in the night sky, feeling a gentle breeze blow across us from the water.

Our honeymoon was amazing and the first thing Brian did after we arrived home was call his dad to thank him and Rose. Exhausted from all the travelling, we both needed the rest. We decided to leave the unpacking for morning and cuddled in our bed, falling sound asleep in each other's arms.

Brian had taken the following Monday after our return off work to stay home and help me unpack and visit with Adam, giving him all the souvenirs we had gotten for him. Tuesday, when Brian returned to work, his boss at Freeman's had told him that the county was looking for a new tow truck driver and asked him if he'd be interested. Brian took the job without hesitation, knowing it was more money and a more secure job with great benefits and perks. One perk was Brian being on call and getting paid for that time, regarless if he was called out for a run or not. It allowed him to be home more often and spend more quality time with Adam and me.

About a month had passed since Brian got his new job and I realized I was long overdue for my yearly physical. I made an appointment one morning and Brian dropped me off before he went to work.

"I'm workin' late t'night, sweetheart. I'll call when I'm on my way home. Love you," he told me, pulling into a parking spot in front of the doctor's office.

"Love you too, baby" I replied as I leaned in for a quick kiss as I attempted to get out of the car. As always, our kisses are never quick, this kiss lingered for several minutes before I mouthed, "You're gonna be late for work," while our lips were still engaged in that kiss. Brian agreed and he eventually broke our kiss and wished me well for my appointment, holding my hand as I got out of the car, reluctant to let me leave. "Brian, you've gotta get to work," I said, pulling away from him and blowing him a kiss before I closed the door.

The doctor went over the results of my physical and gave me a clean bill of health, as I knew he would. I called Annie to come pick me up. We drove back to my house and chatted with the radio playing quietly in the background. I told her I was feeling tired and wanted to take a quick nap when we got back to my house but I couldn't because I had work to do. She told me she'd stay to help if I wanted. As we continued chatting, we heard a news bulletin break in over the music. Annie reached out and turned up the volume.

"Dallas County Road Commision reports a fatal accident on northbound Interstate 635, just north of Lake June Road. Details are sketchy at this point. All we know is that it was a multi vehicle accident and the interstate will be closed indefinitely for police investigation. Vehicles involved were a tow truck for Dallas County, a loaded semi truck and several cars," the voice on the radio said. "As more information is available, we'll bring it to you live," he finished. "Now back to the music."

My heart sank. I immediately grabbed my cell phone and dialed Brian. One ring. Two rings. Three rings. Four. "Hi, this is Brian. You know what to do," Brian's voice said on his voice mail.

"Brian! Call me as soon as you get this! I need to know you're all right. I just heard about an accident on the freeway. Please call me!" I said frantically. My hands shook as I closed my cell phone. I called Brian's work and they told me he was out on a run. Annie tried to calm me down as she drove, assuring me that it wasn't Brian, even though she herself wasn't so sure.

We pulled into the driveway, I ran into the house, and immediately turned on the news. It was 12:10pm so the noon news had already started. I sat and waited to hear anything more about the accident. Annie sat next to me, both of us glued to the screen. She got up to call Gordon, then sat back down next to me, holding my hand as l trembled uncontrollably, watching the screen and listening intently.

"We've got more reports coming in about that horrendous multi vehicle accident that closed Interstate 635," the reporter said. "According to witnesses, the semi travelling in the center lane had to swerve to avoid a collision with a vehicle that appeared to be out of control. The semi missed that vehicle but sideswiped a Dallas County tow truck in the process, causing it to lose control and spin several times, hitting and being hit by oncoming vehicles until it came to rest in the far left lane. The driver of the semi was uninjured, but the driver of the tow truck and several other motorists were pronounced dead at the scene. Police have not released the names of the victims at this time, pending notification of their families. Stay tuned to this station for more on this breaking story. Back to you in the studio," he concluded.

We watched as the cameras showed the wreckage. The semi was jackknifed in the center lane and was totally surrounded by smashed vehicles and a few rollovers. The cameras panned toward the tow truck and it was totally demolished. You could see where the rescuers had to use the jaws-of-life to get to the driver. It was a horrifying scene.

After the story aired, Annie and I just sat there staring blankly at the TV. I had to know if it was Brian! I called his dispatcher again. "This is Brian Anterra's wife again. Is he back yet?" I asked, frantically.

There was a disturbingly long pause on the other end of the line. "Are you there?" I asked.

"Yes, I'm still here," he said. "You heard about that accident on the interstate?" he added.

"Yes. I need to know if that was Brian driving the tow truck!" I said, my voice rose, filled with fear and anxiety.

Another painfully long pause. "Yes ma'am," he said quietly.

I dropped the phone and fell into Annie's arms, sobbing hysterically. "Brian! No, no, no, this can't be happening! Brian, nnnoooooooo!" I sobbed into her shoulder.

My life was over. I've lost Brian forever. Annie leaned over, picked up the phone and dialed Gordon, telling him to call Ron. She helped me to my feet and walked me to the bedroom where I just fell to the bed, still sobbing uncontrollably. I cried myself to sleep and woke during the night, not realizing where I was. I reached behind me and felt the empty spot next to me. The images of that horrible accident raced through my mind and I began to cry again.

"Brian!" I cried into my pillow. "Why did you leave me? What will I ever do without you?"

Ron and Rose flew out to Texas the day after Brian died and they, along with Annie and Gordon, helped pack up Brian's personal effects. I was of no help in any of this and all I could do is stare out the window in disbelief. Ron had suggested donating Brian's clothes to the local Salvation Army, I just nodded in agreement. As Rose pulled his clothes out of the closet and placed them on the bed to remove the hangers, I saw the shirt Brian wore the night he proposed.

I jumped out of my chair and shouted, "No one is taking this shirt!"

I returned to my chair, knees pulled to my chest with that shirt clenched tightly in my hands, the collar just brushing my nose. I inhaled deeply, still smelling Brian's scent faintly on the shirt, even though it had been laundered.