Rural Route 8 Part 2

by E. Raye Turonek

Genres: African American Urban

Synopsis

With the dust settling on tragic events that took place just months prior in Clarkston, the residents of the small yuppie town press forward, carrying on their mundane lives, as if the puzzling string of murders hadn’t taken place. Still, there is one person unable to go back to the way things were. How can she? Evelyn Todd has woken up not knowing her true identity or how she wound up in that hospital bed with wires attached to every extremity of her body as if she were some sort of lab experiment.

What she is convinced of is her love for Colin Ravish—no matter how much her family and friends regale her with stories of her loving marriage to her doting husband, Erick. Over time, Evelyn’s obsession with the part-time paramedic only grows stronger, threatening the beautiful union she’d built up until the night she was attacked and her memory washed away.

Erick refuses to give up on the love of his life and mother of his children. How far is he willing to go to pull his wife back from the brink of disaster? That depends on how far Evelyn is willing to go to win the object of her affections.

In this tantalizing thriller of lust, jealousy, envy, murder, and mayhem you’ll see that nothing stands in the way of unrequited love. Not even spouses . . .

Release date: November 29, 2022

Publisher: Urban Books

Print pages: 288

Sample

The time on the stove read 3:31 a.m. It was time for Evelyn to head to work.

“Honey, I made you a cup of coffee!” Erick called out as he twisted the cap down on her thermos.

Evelyn crept up behind him, ran her hand up, then down his back again before wrapping her arms around his abdomen. The embrace was one they shared every morning. Evelyn loved her doting husband, and he loved her just as much in return. He turned to her, and his hazel eyes bored into her soul. She pushed his shoulder-length blond hair back behind his ears as he leaned in to taste her lips. Evelyn rubbed her hands down the sides of his face, then tugged on his beard a little as she planted three tender kisses upon his thin strawberry lips. As her tongue moved down his neck, her right hand moved to his genitals and fondled him through his boxer briefs.

“Oh, you want more, huh?” His eyes lit up with excitement.

Evelyn glanced over at the time displayed on the stove, giving his proposition a second thought. It was already 3:33 a.m. Evelyn was scheduled to clock in at 0400 hours. Opening up the post office before the first of several mail trucks pulled in to unload mail was her first duty every morning.

“How about we postpone this until I get home?” she replied.

“Then I want you naked as soon as you come in the door, ’cause Daddy’s gonna take you to pound town.”

Evelyn blushed and giggled at her husband’s admission. After over a decade of marriage, he still had the ability to make her burn with intense desire and feel bashful at the same time.

“You know I have to take my nap before I run errands and the kids get out of school.”

“It’s okay. Daddy’s gonna put you to sleep and take care of dinner.”

“Ohh . . . Daddy, I like that.” Evelyn smooched the side of his neck.

“You sure you don’t want me to bend you over right now?”

“All right. All right. Let me stop, before I’m late for work.” Evelyn backed off.

Erick reached over and grabbed her thermos off the granite countertop. “Here. Don’t forget your coffee.” He handed it over to her.

“Thank you, baby.”

“You’re welcome, my love.” He followed his wife through the mudroom, then out into their garage, where her SUV was parked next to his Harley. Erick opened her driver’s side door and allowed his wife to climb into her Yukon before shutting it behind her. “Now, lock it.” He made a downward motion with his finger.

Evelyn pressed the door lock, then gave her husband a thumbs-up. “I’ll call you on my lunch break,” she said, loud enough that he could hear through the raised window, as she pushed the button atop her sun visor to lift the garage door.

After getting a thumbs-up in return from Erick, she started the engine, then turned on the radio. A compilation of classical melodies would be her music choice for her ride to work, as it was on many occasions. The drive to work was a time to clear her mind of any confusion before she’d have to worry about a mass of mail, followed by kids, T-ball practice, gymnastics, chores, and a multitude of other priorities. She pulled out of the garage and onto the street, then made her way through the dark to the two-lane highway she traveled for twenty miles to make it to the Clarkston post office. The rural area where she and her family resided had an abundance of cornfields and cow pastures among acres of open land. Evelyn held her breath as she passed by the pet cemetery on the left and the town’s traditional cemetery for people directly across the street. She was superstitious like that. Her belief was that if you neglected to hold your breath when passing by a graveyard, an evil spirit or someone who’d recently passed on would have the opportunity to inhabit your body. No matter how absurd the notion, no one could convince Evelyn otherwise.

She glanced over at the time displayed on the dashboard. It was 3:45 a.m., and she was about seven minutes away from her destination. Evelyn appreciated her job and took her duties seriously, so getting there on time was of great importance to her. Her route to the Clarkston post office was an easy one to drive. She would only ever see a few cars on the road during those wee hours of the morning, which made the trip much more pleasant than the one she took during the lunch hour rush, when she made her way home. After she crossed over Interstate 75, Evelyn relaxed, knowing that the Clarkston post office was only a couple of miles ahead. She turned up the volume on the radio. Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata,” one of her favorites, blared from the car speakers.

As Evelyn turned off the road in front of the post office, her headlamps illuminated the thick chain that blocked the entrance to the parking lot. She came to a stop, shifted the gear into park, let her car window down, then hopped out to unlatch the chain. Once that was done, she got behind the wheel and drove through the parking lot, past mail trucks on both sides, to make it to the dimly lit employee parking in back. An American flag strung to a pole flapped overhead in a gentle breeze from the west. She parked the Yukon, got out once more, then pulled at a cord tied to a belt loop on her shorts. Her keys were attached to one end. Evelyn kept the building’s keys strapped to a belt loop to avoid losing them. She often worried that they’d one day slip from her grasp, then fall through a space in the sewer grate in the employee parking area. Paranoia, much of the time unwarranted, pushed her to take extra precautions.

After getting the metal gate in front of the post office’s back door unlocked, Evelyn slid one side of the gate back as far as it could go, then turned and did the same to the other side. As she headed back to her vehicle in the dim light to retrieve her thermos and her purse, she thought she saw movement in her peripheral vision. She squinted in an effort to sharpen her vision and saw what appeared to be a masked assailant, dressed in all black, running full speed in her direction. Evelyn’s eyes bulged from a mixture of shock and disbelief at what was taking place. A jolt of panic surged through her, spurring her to move fast. She reached her vehicle and prayed that by the time she was able to get in, her assailant wouldn’t already have her in his grasp. Acting fast, she opened the car door just as the assailant reached her. The open door separating them gave Evelyn the time she needed to dart off between the mail trucks.

“Oh my God . . . Oh my God,” she uttered, her voice barely audible. The last thing she wanted to do was alert her attacker as to her whereabouts. I can’t believe this is happening to me. What the fuck am I going to do? she asked herself. Evelyn hadn’t noticed a weapon in the assailant’s hand when he’d rushed toward her. Maybe this person was just trying to scare her, she hoped. Evelyn told herself to calm down. It’s only a person. One that bleeds, just like me, she assured herself. Dim lighting in the parking area allowed her to see the assailant’s shadow moving across the asphalt as he approached. Evelyn climbed under an LLV, lay flat on the pavement, and stared at the assailant’s feet as he was about to pass by. But black combat boots stopped right in front of her. Suddenly, he turned, then rushed back to Evelyn’s vehicle. He hopped into the driver’s seat, somehow started the Yukon, then shifted the gear into drive and sped deeper into the parking lot.

Evelyn scooched along the pavement until she was able to stand. She ducked and weaved through the trucks, using them for cover, as she tried to pinpoint her attacker’s location. She thought about running out into the open but abandoned the idea, assuming he was faster than she was. She looked down at her wristwatch. It was 3:58 a.m. All I have to do is wait a couple more minutes. The semi carrying today’s mail will be pulling up soon, she thought, clinging tight to hope.

That’s when a gloved hand reached out of the darkness and gained a strong grip on the back of her neck. Another hand pressed down on the joint between her neck and left shoulder, bringing her to her knees.

“Ahhh! Get the fuck off me!” Evelyn yelled as she forced her body forward and to the ground before quickly rolling onto her back. The swift kick she delivered to her assailant’s groin took his breath away and at the same time confirmed that she had guessed right as to his gender. The heel of her shoe stabbed his scrotum not once, but two more times before she crawled backward, then hopped up to run out into the open while he attempted to catch his breath.

The truck driver who was pulling into the lot at that very moment neglected to see her, but he felt a bump when Evelyn’s body slammed against the grill of his semi.

“Oh my God.” The driver’s boot collided with the brake pedal. By the time he jumped down out of the cab, her assailant had already crept off into the darkness to nurse his wounds.

Within five minutes of the call, police and paramedics were on the scene. Two paramedics loaded an unconscious Evelyn into the back of the ambulance. Colin, the more experienced of the two paramedics, rode in back with Evelyn. Blood streamed from an open wound on her forehead, painting her face crimson. Colin soaked it up with gauze as it seeped down into her eyes. Evelyn’s lids sprang open once she got a whiff of the ammonia inhalant he waved under her nose. She came to in a panic, as if she was still battling her attacker. She slapped, scratched, even clawed at Colin, attempting to fight him off.

“Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. Calm down.”

She didn’t let up, and her arm badge flew onto the floor amid the commotion.

“Please, calm down. I’m not going to hurt you. I promise.” Colin could tell she was frightened and confused.

Unable to keep fighting, Evelyn stopped moving, then slipped from consciousness.

Ten minutes later, the gurney carrying her body burst through double doors at the local hospital’s emergency room.

“Try to stay with me, ma’am. Please, stay with me,” the paramedic said calmly, trying to keep Evelyn awake. She’d been slipping in and out of consciousness since he’d waved the ammonia inhalant under her nostrils. “You’re gonna be okay.”

“Don’t . . . Don’t leave me,” she whispered, staring into his big, deep brown eyes.

“I’m right here. Everything is going to be okay.”

A vision of Colin remained in the dazed mail clerk’s mind before she fainted yet again.

“We’ll take it from here,” a doctor announced as he took control at the head of the gurney and the rest of his medical team moved in along its sides. “We’ve got an injury to the frontal lobe. Patient has been suffering multiple bouts of syncope.”

Colin watched as the gurney plowed through a second set of double doors, then completely disappeared from view. He turned and headed back outside.

Once he got back to the ambulance, he went to close the back doors and noticed Evelyn’s postal badge on the floor of the vehicle. He picked it up and tapped it on the palm of his hand, contemplating his next move. I should take this back inside to her, he thought. I wouldn’t mind checking on her later, though. It’s not as if she’ll need it for work tomorrow. I’ll bring it to her in a couple of days. Colin shut the ambulance doors, ready to end his shift for the day.

Days had passed. Erick had been by Evelyn’s side for three days now, waiting for her to open her big brown eyes. On the fourth morning he sat at Evelyn’s bedside, clutching her limp hand. Rays from the rising sun peeked in through the vertical blinds that covered her hospital room window. Bandages covered her head wound, and gauze had been taped over bruises on her face. Seventy-two hours had gone by since she was last conscious. A team of medical staff huddled in a corner of the room, discussing Evelyn’s recent CAT scan. Her husband’s belief that she would awaken remained resolute, despite the pessimistic attitude of the surgeon who’d closed the wound at the front of her skull.

Erick whispered to her, “Wake up, my love. It’s time to wake up now. I can’t do this without you. I need you. The kids need you. You’ve gotta fight this thing. You’re stronger than this, baby. Please, just wake up. Just open your eyes for me.”

Evelyn didn’t move a muscle. A tube that plumbed the depths of her esophagus at one end and protruded from her mouth at the other looked more painful than helpful. Until yesterday it had weakened Erick at his very core to see her in such a feeble state. The fact that there was nothing he could do to help her had made him feel useless. He was her protector. At least, he fancied himself that. But his will to be strong had crumbled, and his wanting had turned to wishing, but only for a day or two. On the third day of Evelyn’s hospitalization, Erick had gone to the hospital’s chapel and, on his knees, had prayed for God to restore her to health. He’d vowed that no hell would be worse than losing his companion for life. In that chapel, his faith had triumphed over his will, and he had determined that God would return Evelyn to him.

Later that day Colin peeked into Evelyn’s hospital room. It was nearly empty, the doctors having all dispersed. He pushed through the door and approached the bed, a small bouquet of yellow lilies attached to a teddy bear in his hand. Colin had hung the postal arm badge Evelyn had dropped in the ambulance around the teddy bear’s neck.

“I know you don’t know me, but I just wanted to check on you, make sure you made it,” he told Evelyn as she lay still in bed, her eyes closed. “I, uh . . . I also wanted to bring this back to you.” He sat the gift atop the white blanket covering her legs. “You dropped it in the ambulance. You probably can’t even hear me, can you? I had an aunt who was in a coma once. She swore up and down she could hear the family when they came to visit. My mom didn’t believe her. She would always say, ‘Aunt Raye sure could weave a tale.’” Colin placed his hand atop hers. “Well . . . whether you can or can’t hear me, I’m sorry this happened to you, and I hope you wake up soon.”

Just as he was about to turn and walk away, Evelyn’s hand clutched Colin’s. She opened her eyes, and he looked directly into her wild, wide-eyed stare. It was her first time really seeing him.

“You’re awake,” he whispered softly.

“What’s going on here?” Erick asked as he rushed into the room. He had peeked in on Evelyn, and the sight of their clasped hands had taken him completely by surprise.

Evelyn loosened her grip, and Colin pulled his hand away.

“Who are you?” Erick’s brows wrinkled with concern as he approached.

“Hi. I’m Colin.” He extended his hand for a proper greeting.

Erick accepted. “I’m Erick, Evelyn’s husband. Is there something I can help you with, Colin?”

“I’m one of the paramedics that brought your wife here. She dropped her work badge on the floor of the ambulance. I figured I’d return it and look in on her to see how she was doing.”

Erick’s face relaxed as his worries eased. “Thank you. That was very thoughtful of you. And thank you for getting my wife here so quickly. She could have died if it weren’t for you,” he responded, closing the gap between himself and Evelyn. By then her eyes had closed again. Erick hadn’t even noticed that she’d regained consciousness.

“You’re welcome. That’s what I’m here for. It’s actually just a part-time gig. I don’t know how long I’m going to keep doing it. I’ve seen some pretty horrible things over the past year. I’m just glad she made it. Some aren’t so lucky.”

“I’m glad she made it too. I don’t know what I’d do without her. The kids miss their mother more than ever. Hopefully, she’ll be coming home soon.”

“I’ll say a prayer for you guys,” Colin said. “I should be going. My wife is probably wondering where I am.”

“Thanks again for stopping by.”

“No problem. Take care.” Colin exited the room.

One week later . . .

Her hands trembled as Erick guided her across the threshold into their chateau-style log cabin home. It had been built from the ground up. Everything they’d envisioned together as a couple, they had poured into the design of this house. Those had been happier times. Back when Evelyn had remembered the love she and her husband shared.

“You’re shaking.” Erick ran his hands down the sides of her vibrating arms as they stood in the foyer. “What’s wrong, baby? Are you cold?” He stared fixedly at his weary wife.

“I’m sorry. I just can’t remember.” Her eyes toggled left, then right, taking in the scenery. “Everything is so beautiful.”

“Of course it’s beautiful. You decorated it yourself,” he responded emphatically.

Her eyes widened with disbelief. “I did all of this?” Evelyn couldn’t understand where she’d gotten the talent to do such a thing. Nothing her gaze settled on resonated with her—not even the truffle-colored drapes or the Egyptian valances that matched.

Erick released his grip, allowing her to step forward from the foyer into their great room. A crystal chandelier attached to the vaulted ceiling sparkled like new diamonds.

“How can we afford all of this? I’m just a postal worker,” Evelyn said as she stared at the chandelier.

“Lucky for you, your husband has his own construction company.”

“I see,” she remarked in a hushed tone. Evelyn moved to the fireplace, where family photos were lined up neatly in their frames. Unable to recognize anyone in the pictures, she turned to him. “Who are these children? Are they all mine?”

“They are all ours, my love. All three of them.”

“They look so happy.”

“They are happy. And once they find out you’re home, they’ll be even happier.” Erick was ecstatic to finally have his wife back, but he was also secretly nervous about how she’d adjust to the children. It wasn’t their fault their mother had lost her memory. Nonetheless, they’d have to bear the brunt of the tragic event that had taken place.

“I’m a good mother,” she proclaimed, although subconsciously she questioned whether this was true. How could she really be a good mother if she couldn’t even remember giving birth to the children? Just that fast, the moment became more stressful than she could handle. Weariness washed over Evelyn, and she said, “I need to sit down. I just can’t.” She allowed herself to flop down on the plush leather sofa.

“Baby, are you okay?” Erick rushed to her side.

“This is just a lot to take in at once, I think. Maybe I should lie down.”

“Okay. Let’s get you into bed.”

The doctors had assured Erick that his wife was able to return home and she would fully regain her strength, yet it seemed that coming home would prove more difficult for Evelyn than they’d anticipated. Erick wouldn’t dare complain. He was determined to make it work. Having his family whole again was all he’d dreamed of over the past several weeks. The doting husband helped his wife up from the sofa, then led her down the hall and into their bedroom. Their bedroom was spacious, as were the walk-in closet and the en suite bathroom.

Mentally exhausted, Evelyn stretched out on the bed and rested her head atop the black satin pillow, wondering where she’d go from here. Her children would be home soon and would expect to find the doting mother they’d become accustomed to. What would she say to them? How would she explain the fact that they were indeed strangers to her? The skin between her eyebrows wrinkled as she furrowed her brow. Erick noticed the worry splayed across his wife’s face.

“Everything’s gonna be fine, baby. I promise. Just get some sleep. A nap is probably just what you need. I’ll take care of the kids. They’ll be getting off the bus in a few hours. If you’re feeling up to it, maybe they can visit with you?”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“Don’t worry. They know exactly what to say. You’re their mother,” Erick replied, intent on dissolving her concerns. He hoped that seeing the children would spark her memory.

Evelyn brandished a fleeting smile, masking the remaining uneasiness she felt and at the same time squelching her husband’s.

“If you need anything, I’ll be in the kitchen, getting something ready to eat for the kids,” he announced before leaving the bedroom.

The moment he was gone, Evelyn shut her eyes, and images of Colin flooded her mind. He was the one. Every part of her body told her so, from the warmth she felt in her belly to the dampness she felt between her legs at the very notion of him laying hands on her skin. Evelyn wanted him. She wanted Colin’s lips pressed against hers, their tongues intertwined and, even more so, their bodies interlocked. In that moment finding the object of her intense desires was all that mattered, not the husband and children she’d yet to remember having.

Colin traveled a path through the woods on his ten-acre property. In the distance, he could see the greenhouse, where his wife, Jocelyn, was busy tending to their plants. She had a passion for all things natural: fruits, vegetables, even cannabis. All of these had their place in the enormous structure. Colin had used every cent of the money he’d made as a part-time paramedic to purchase the structure. It was the best birthday present he’d ever given the love of his life.

A five-hundred-yard hike brought him to the glass doors of their greenhouse. “How’s it coming?” he called as he open the doors and stepped inside.

“I think we’re gonna need some help.” Jocelyn pulled gardening gloves from her hands. This crop has turned out much better than I thought it would. Check it out.” She moved her nose in clo. . .