Pedal to the Metal

Chapter 5

Meg

“Mommy!” a little voice shouted and my heart warmed up as soon as I walked in the door. His little four-year-old body heaved into mine as he leaped into my arms!

“Beckett Man! I missed you.” I said into his hair, still soft as silk. I inhaled his child-like scent and my momma bear instinct calmed down after being away from him for 24 hours.

“Where's your stuff?” I said, looking around for his bag. His dad had promised he would be packed by the time I got here but judging by the pajamas still on his body and the food covering his face I highly doubted it.

I hoisted him onto my hips and made my way to the kitchen and found it was empty. I looked at the clock on the stove and saw it was 9AM right when I said I would be there. I stayed up late editing last night, so I wouldn't have to spend my day today doing it and Daniel promised he would be ready.

I huffed a breath and made my way through the house. I checked room by room and started to get more nervous by the second when I didn't find anyone. If no one was here, who was watching my son?

I went upstairs and checked Beckett's room and the guest room, and finally the master. Laying in the bed was my ex with his latest flame. I don't remember her name but I couldn't bring myself to care. He was passed out and snoring loud enough that I was surprised I didn't hear it downstairs.

I backed out slowly and went to Beckett's room and grabbed his backpack and put his clothes and toothbrush inside.

“Let's clean that face. Did you get into chocolate?” I asked and he nodded with a big smile on his face.

“I made chocolate milk!” he said and now that I took a closer look the kitchen was a mess. There was spilled milk over the countertops and chocolate syrup all over the fridge handle and my child's face.

I grabbed a rag and wet it down and knelt to his level. He blew his cheeks out like a puffer fish and I squished his cheeks while blowing raspberries on the other. His giggles floated in the air. I wasn't purposely being loud, but I wasn't going to try to quiet him down either. In reality, I was hoping the noise would wake Daniel up. I wasn't going to just leave with him, not knowing where Beckett was. I'm not that cruel.

“There, all clean. Go sit on the sofa while we wait for your dad to wake up.”

Beckett nodded and trotted off to the living room and cut on his cartoons while I grabbed a rag and started cleaning up his mess. I knew from my own marriage to Daniel that he hated messes and most of the time the blame was thrown on me. I didn't want to risk him thinking Beckett did it maliciously, so out of habit, I wiped up the milk, cleaned the fridge and was in the process of putting some dishes in the dishwasher when I heard footsteps hitting the stairs.

Daniel appeared wearing low slung gray sweatpants and I had to admit he still looked amazing. I turned away quickly and cut the sink off and closed the dishwasher and made my way to the living room.

“What the heck are y'all doing being so loud.” he said while rubbing the sleep from his eyes. The woman he was with came down in a silky nightgown and robe wrapped around her body. She looked young, but I didn't pay her any mind.

I had wanted to keep Beckett away from the string of women he kept but I knew it would be impossible, so I bit my tongue. He may not find stability here, but he would when he was with me. That was what mattered.

“Grab your bag, Becks. Mommy has a few errands to run.” I said, and he nodded and went to collect his things.

“Why are you here so early?” he asked and I shook my head.

“It's almost 10 now. I got here an hour ago as I said I would. You were asleep.” I said and gestured to the woman eyeing me suspiciously. Don't worry, honey. I don't want your man. I had him and wasn't impressed.

His jaw twitched like he was ready to make a comeback but held his tongue. Thank god. I wasn't ready to get into it again with him and didn't want to have to do it again. That was the point of the divorce.

“I didn't want to just leave while you were asleep and take him without you knowing. I wasn't going to open that can of worms.” I said, and it was apparently the wrong thing to say.

“Can of worms? What the f**k, Meg. Here we go again with your bullshit.” I backed away and held my hands up to try to placate him. This was his game.

“I didn't mean anything by it. I was just trying to be nice and not have you worry about Beckett being gone when you woke up. We agreed on 9 and I was here at 9. You were asleep with her. I'm sorry if that was the wrong decision. Won't happen again.” I promised and started to walk to the hallway.

“Beckett, say bye to Daddy.” he did and gave him a hug. He looked awkwardly at the woman and she was just as uncomfortable. She didn't look a day over 25, but I wasn't judging. As long as it wasn't a day he was trying to blow up my phone, it was a win for me.

“We're not done talking, Meg.” he growled, but I ignored him. I knew that engaging him in this was only going to spur him on. No matter how much I wanted to defend myself or retort, I just didn't have it in me.

I made for the door and grabbed my purse and keys. Beckett ran outside and started jumping around the yard. I admired his energy and his carefree spirit for a moment before I heard footsteps behind me.

“Thank you for watching him. It means a lot.” I said and didn't wait for a response.

“Alright, speedster. Hop in the car.”

We had only made it about a mile down the road before Beckett started his usual routine of a million and one questions.

“Did you see any cool race car drivers, mom?”

“Did you get to sit in the cars?”

“Did you bring me any pictures?”

“Did you bring me an autograph?”

“Mom, mom, mom, MOM...”

“Well, if you gave me a moment to breathe, I'd answer your first question, silly goose.” I offered and he slid back in his seat practically vibrating with anticipation. His eyes met mine in the rearview and I smiled.

“Yes, I took tons of pictures for your wall at home. No, I didn't get to sit in the car. Only drivers. I did get to touch the cars though! And I got an Autograph from Dale Earnhardt Jr.”

His eyes went round and his mouth formed a little ‘o’ shape. It was adorable.

“Oh...my...god... Charlie is going to be so jealous.” he whispered. He and Charlie were inseparable from their preschool class and were always battling it out on who had the coolest parents, or who had the fastest light up shoes. Trivial things that I wished were all I had to worry about. Instead, the list of bills I needed to pay, the groceries I needed to buy, and the oil change that was due were all floating through my mind. I made good money but I was a planner to a T. Nothing slipped past me and everything had a place on my budget. I refused to let myself be stuck in the position I was in when I was married.

“I'm sorry ma’am. Your card has been declined.” the cashier whispered. The line was growing longer behind me and I could hear the aggravated whispers at the fact that I was taking so long. I was just trying to buy fruits, juice and milk. I knew the funds were in the account.

“Please, try again.” I begged, and she held a look of pity on her face but swiped my card as requested. “I'm sorry. It's still coming up as it has declined.”

“Look lady, if you can't afford your groceries, get a job or go the f**k home. You're wasting everyone's time.” a man from behind me growled and I flinched. Some people had looks of pity, some had looks of anger, some had impatience written over their bodies. But a few people around me had a knowing look. I've been there look’ and didn't look at me with pity or sorrow or anger. Just looked at me like I was a tired mom who was trying.

I grabbed Beckett's hand and rushed from the store. I wasn't allowed to have a job. Daniel said my focus should be on the house, our son, and being a good wife. That was my job.

I buckled him into his carseat and quickly pulled up my banking info. I had the funds. It proved so right here. This just meant one thing. Daniel shut off my cards. We had fought this morning. Well, I wouldn't call it a fight rather than me making a mistake in his eyes. The laundry hadn't been switched over the night before and he had to search for a new or clean one. Why he didn't bother to look in the closet was beyond me, but maybe it wasn't about the shirt. It was the principle. Laundry was my job. It was why I wasn't allowed to work.

A Ding chimed and I looked at my dashboard to see my gas light had turned on and I started to cry. My shoulders shook softly and the cries were silent so that Beckett couldn't hear me.

There was a knock on the window and I jolted. There was a woman close to my age wearing a soft smile. I rolled down the window. She had a few bags in her hands and I looked from them to her unsure what was going on.

“I know it's none of my business, but I just knew I needed to help. I've been where you are. Money is tight some months and some months it's good. I was in your shoes not too long ago and I finally clawed my way out of the hole I was in… I wanted to pay it forward. I threw in a pack of M&M’s if that's okay.” she said and the tears poured faster. My head leaned back against the seat as I was full on ugly crying right now.

I smiled and got out and hugged her. I didn't even ask if it was okay but she dropped the bags and wrapped her arms around me. She shushed me and held me tightly, reading how much I needed this.

“Would you like to grab a coffee with me? Sometime?” she asked and I pulled back. “My name is Victoria, Victoria Tyler, by the way.”

“Meg. Meg Portland. I'd like that. I can't, I can't thank you enough for this.” I said gesturing to the groceries.

She waved a hand as if to say don't sweat it. “This is my good deed for the day. And I seem to have made a friend out of it. Just promise me, that when you can, you'll pay it forward to someone who needs it too.”

I shook myself from my memories and my first encounter with my new best friend. That moment had been a core memory for me. It was so embarrassing to be left there without money or a way to get gas all because my Ex had been mad at me for laundry. I refused to allow myself to be in that position again.

“Mommy, can we get Mcdonalds?” I heard from the back seat and I chuckled.

“I guess so.”