Barreling right in front of Darryl, not even being courteous enough to put on a signal or honk or anything, the irresponsible bastard had one of those soggy cigars hanging out of the corner of his crooked mouth. He couldn't help but notice the man's deep brown eyes were rolling around in his head like they were a pair of slots on a one-armed bandit. His shaking hands clutched the wheel as if he were going through some sort of metamorphous. Clearly, the man appeared to be out of sorts or having some attack.
"I don't think he knows what he is doing honey." Mia's alarmed face was clear in her gaping stare as she had never seen such a thing before.
"I know. I am going to see if I can honk or something if he'll pull over." Darryl had to do something and fast.
As if the man behind that swaying truck could answer his own question for him, he swiftly made a quick swerve off the road. The vehicle's jet black heavy wheels luckily got stopped in a patch of mud down below as it seemed stuck in limbo. Inches before one of those domineering pine trees the driver was hunched over the wheel in an unconscious state.
"Call 911 and tell them we have a man having an attack! He's driving a tractor trailer and we're at Pine Hills Drive right before the overpass. Tell them to hurry not sure what is going on!" Darryl hated yelling at his one and only true love but this was a matter of true life and death.
"Ok, got it!" Mia responded as she ran back to the car.
Running through the steep incline frantically hoping this man was not gone, Darryl recalled that same day when he was a senior in high school. His father on the last breaths of his life laid on the family's couch, his glazed eyes staring at the ceiling of their log cabin home that had been handed down from generation to generation to the eldest Crawford child. All anyone could do was sit there and wait. His mother, reciting her rosary in that hypnotic trance she did when in deep meditation, sat by her husband of twenty years' side. Unable to do a damn thing he had to watch his own father wither away to death. It would be different this time -- he would make a difference and he would save one person from death's door.
Gasping for breath, forgetting again how steep these hills were, especially when being away from them for so long, Darryl heard himself calling the driver in a panted gasp. Finally, what seemed an eternity had brought him to the driver's side. Judging from the man's bulky chest he was still breathing in a slow shallow movement. There was still time, Darryl thought frantically to himself, panting from the vigorous workout.
"Sir, are you ok? Sir, can you hear me?" Darryl shook the drivers' hanging arm, a gold watch clinging to his large wrist. With each tick tock, Darryl couldn't help but picture his own father's last living moments.
Looking back, he saw Mia was standing at the top of the hill, her denim shorts pulled up to the top of her lanky legs reminding him of some young high school girl about to go on a field trip. Her long sleek tawny hair pulled up in a ponytail, her riveting sable eyes gazing at her partner of five years in that perplexed look she often used when something was amiss. He couldn't help but wonder even in these dire circumstances how many times his sweet passionate lover used those same glaring looks on her innocent six-year olds when they were caught doing something mischievous.
"I called the police, Darryl. They said they should be here in about 10 minutes. Is he ok? You need me to do something?" Mia yelled.
"No. Stay where you are. This hill is a bit rough. I will be ok." Darryl responded not wanting to risk two people's lives.
The unidentified driver's eyes glazed over as he stared unconsciously into the sky above. Those rhythmic movements of his chest slowed down to a steady but barely noticeable heaving. The gurgling sound, that someone makes moments before death claims its victim, resonated from the man's throat. His lips, now a deep plum purple, gaped open revealing his yellow-tinged teeth. His eyes rolling back into the backs of his head clutching onto the steering wheel, the man, who probably had a family with children and grandchildren, gave up on whatever was ailing him. A short thirty seconds and the stranger opened his lips wider as a thick brown gooey substance trickled out. No more movement in his chest, the inevitable had become quite apparent.
Once again Darryl felt helpless and hopeless. It was his father's death being relived all over again. How could life be so fucking unfair? He wanted to do something, anything to bring this man back to a life of good health. As fate would have it, he was left looking at a corpse of someone he barely knew. It shouldn't have bothered him, but there was that steep stabbing pinch between his breast plates as he stood there, his legs feeling like rubber as if he were glued to the ground, forced to watch this revolting horror once again.
Blaring across the desolate winding highway their flashing scarlet lights beaming against a clear summer sky a parade of red and blue Ambulance and Police cars stampeded down the thoroughfare. One thing Darryl recalled all too well, that whenever there was any sort of emergency in Pocono Mountains, due to the smallness of the township and the close-knit relationship everyone had, the town's finest responded in such an efficient way it was one that he often thought should be shared with larger cities such as Philadelphia.
Mia's face, an image of emotions, today transformed into pure shock as she opened her mouth, just lost for words at the swiftness of the emergency response teams quick action. Putting up her hands waving the vehicles over to her so they could see the current situation and address the issue. Though it was obvious the man had a seizure or stroke or something dreadful occur, these small towns had officers that lambasted you for hours trying to pinpoint things on you even when it was obvious you had nothing to do with the entire situation. Hopefully, one of them would recognize him as a former local and cut loose the usual interrogation.
Hopping out of a white and blue Jeep, a man nearly as tall as some of the highest paying NBA players appeared. He had chiseled ivory white cheeks, piercing lagoon blue eyes, and a crop of fine auburn hair, almost looking like it was transparent upon his egg-shaped head. Grabbing his bluish black hat off the seat, Darryl's worst nightmares came true when he saw that lanky man's hobbling walk. It couldn't be, he thought, the person he was looking at. Last memories of this man were from a nursing home where the guy lay unable to walk or talk.
The closer he got the more Darryl realized his worst fears were being revealed before him. Shuffling along the pavement briefly talking to Mia his domineering glares staring at Darryl as if he were some sort of prey that needed to be wiped out. What could he possibly be saying to her? After all, it was an accident and the charges were dropped. That was probably not enough for Cory Hawkins, his once best friend and hunting partner.
Today seemed to be a day of reliving history for the twenty-five-years-old Darryl Crawford. Many of these memories were ones he had hoped were gone forever with no chances of coming back to haunt him. Starting to feel his idea of not coming back to the Pocono Mountains for so many years should have stayed that way for eternity. There were things here and secrets that occurred, which were best left in these burly mountains with the rough terrain.
The closer Cory came to him, the more his heart began to leap into the pit of his stomach. He heard the clamorous roar of his vessels pumping fervently sending a wave of sweat and apprehension through his skin. Clenching his fists already reliving one too many bad experiences, Darryl had no idea what he would say to the man he practically killed after a bad fight.
Cory treated his sisters like they were princesses but, in all reality, they were nothing more than whores something that went against all of Darryl's principles. He loved sex as much as the next guy on this planet but more than anything he loved a girl who was trustworthy, loyal and honest. This was something Cory's eldest sister Sally wasn't.
That terrible night in the back of his parents' home, only a month since his own father died, brought terrible consequences for Darryl. Both boys had drunk a lot and had no idea of the words they were saying and one thing led to another on that sultry July night when Cory had a bullet hit him clear in his chest. Luckil
y, it had missed his heart but had caused a good deal of permanent damage.
Cory's mother and Darryl's mother both friends since high school decided to end this amicably but the ongoing guilt that haunted Darryl for nearly ten years was one major reason he never returned here. Cory, only feet away, his twitching face gazing at his once best friend in the world had Darryl wonder if the now officer of the law would return the favor and shoot him square in the head. Chances of him getting in trouble were next to null. Darryl had heard that Cory had become a big thing in the Poconos and most worshiped him as if he were some god that had just landed out of the sky from heaven.
"Darryl fucking Crawford. Long time no see, my friend. How are you?" Cory, the man Darryl had injured with his father's rifle, acted like nothing happened.
Taken back Darryl wasn't sure if this was some sort of trick that maybe he threatened his sweet Mia, the love of his life, with dire consequences if she acted like there was trouble in paradise. Looking around he wondered if there was someone else he could possibly be talking to or maybe he had just fallen asleep and this was just a dream that one's twisted consciousness plays on someone when they feel guilty for something that could have been avoided.
"Aren't you going to talk, man?" Cory spoke again, this time, putting out his hand.
"Yeah, I am... I am doing..." Darryl lost for words felt a surge of anxiety swell through him. Something he wasn't accustomed to he totally felt out of control of the situation. It was a feeling that he really didn't like having.
"Man if you are still thinking about that -- I am so over it, bro. I have often thought about looking you up on Facebook. I miss you, buddy." Cory said putting out his hand and grabbing Darryl's.
"How could you forgive all that? The guilt and the shit that happened that night have been one of the reasons I never came back home."
"Dude, I am saved now. I am a member of the Pocono Brothers Mission for Christianity. One thing I learned since I joined the mission is that we need to turn our cheeks just as the Lord has. By the way, not to be too sinful, but your girl is quite the hottie. Praise Jesus." He grinned. Darryl couldn't help but notice poor Cory had a crooked look on his mouth, probably the result of the bullets impending impact on his motor skills.
"Well, I am glad you found some happiness. Also, I hope you didn't say anything to my girl up there about that incident, did you?" Darryl asked hoping that the hatchet on the shooting tragedy was buried for good.
"Of course not, bro. I told you I am over that. Hey, so what happened here?" Cory asked looking at the driver in the truck.
"Oh, this guy cut us off, was traveling crazy on the highway up there and drove down this cliff. I tried to see what I could do but he was pretty far gone when I got to him and I think he's... he's…"
"Dead?" Cory asked his eyes raised in question as if he suspected something along the lines of foul play occurred.
"Yes. He's dead. I am so sorry I came home. First I had a... forget it," Darryl said. He certainly didn't want to go on into his revelation of his father's vision along the hill and how he couldn't save this man and how he felt the same as he did at his own father's terrible death.
"It's ok, man. I know coming home has to be hard. Listen, I will write up the report. You guys go on. Hey, by the way, here’s my phone number. Don't be a stranger, please. How long you guys here for?" Pulling out a white card with Cory's name in bright gold letters and a picture of Jesus leading his sheep in the background, confirmed of his new religious lifestyle.
"We are here for the weekend. My girl teaches school so she has to be at work. You know how that goes." Darryl responded lying, knowing Mia took off.
"Well, if you guys have time before you go home that's my phone number. Maybe you can stop by and have a barbecue with me." Cory responded his speech showing signs of slowed dialect, another impact of that terrible night.
"Sure man. I will give you a call."
Darryl gave Cory a brief hug and started his long incline back up the hill. The army of paramedics and other emergency responders passed him by their empty stares not bothering him a bit. Once serving on the volunteer fire department out here Darryl remembered many times when he would just be focused on the current task not thinking twice about anyone.
"Is everything ok?" Mia asked.
"Unfortunately, he died. I am starting to think this was a bad idea for us to come here. I should have taken us on a cruise or a trip to the shore. Anywhere is better than here." Darryl said wishing he truly never came back home.
"That's crazy. We are here and we are going to have an awesome time. I won't hear such negative talk from you, Darryl Crawford. Besides, we love each other to the moon and back. Together we can beat anything that comes our way." Mia grabbed Darryl and kissed him on his cheek.
Mia was so full of hope even though she was diminutive and petite. She had more vigor in here than some of the best Olympians. It was the major reason Darryl loved her so much.
"You're right, baby. We can and we will." Kissing her again he began to feel his chest fill with a warm passion that could light up the entire world.
Chapter 3
Although Darryl appeared to feel better since talking about the dead truck driver, Mia sensed he was hiding something. It all became clearer when officer Cory Hawkins appeared on the scene. It was as if there were some mysterious history between the two. His facial gestures tightened up as if he saw something out of a scary movie. Mia wondered what secret could Darryl possibly be hiding.
If anything she had learned in the entire five years she had been with Darryl, was you never questioned his behavior. His life here in the Pocono Mountains obviously wasn't a happy one with losing his father at a young age, thereafter there were a lot of sad memories here that he had bottled up so well that he wasn't willing to share them with anyone.
She only wanted to be here for him whatever the trouble may be. Darryl was a good man, deep down he always did what was right. A hard worker and a honest man since the day she met him, there were just things that he didn't want her to know about mainly his life here.
"Ah, coming back to my hometown where I grew up as a kid -- the place of my youth -- it feels great," Darryl said smiling as he drove along the last stretch of road before the mountain park entrance.
"I am so glad you're feeling better, baby. This will be so exciting for both of us." Mia responded reassuringly hoping that whatever fear he was having would eventually go away.
Deep down Mia knew he came from good stock as her mother would sometimes say even though she preferred she dated someone of proper social stature. The eldest of three boys and self-sufficient and confident he was a man that was of his word and was the epitome of loyalty. Gorgeous, confident and honest -- three words she never thought she would find herself saying to describe one individual, let alone someone she was head over heels madly in love with. He obviously had a structured upbringing. Often, Darryl would even boost and give snippets of his secret, though happy, childhood and let her know in on things that were of a positive nature. However, such revelations were far and few in between, Mia realized, but they were small reassurances to her -- not that she needed any -- that he was really a good man with sound values.
"Looks like we’re here, honey. You excited?" Darryl grinned as he pointed to the stretch of never ending path that sprawled on both sides of their vehicle.
"Yes, I am. Let's do this."
Mia could still hear her mother’s chastising words as she let her know of her impending plans for this upcoming weekend. Speaking in that shaky yet firm voice still trying to dictate policy and procedure, after a series of life-threatening strokes, she adamantly didn't approve of any child of hers roughing it in the wilderness and seeing what nature had to offer. She was a Gambroni, a woman of social status, a family with money and one that was to be reckoned with.
Coming from a family of wealthy investors, Mia took routes in her life that did away years of her mother’s proper upbringing etiquette and social acce
ptances. You have disappointed me so much Mia, why can't you be like your sister Gracie, her mother would chastise relentlessly. There it went again -- Gracie, Miss Prim and Proper, with her goldilocks hair and trim body married to a well-known businessman worth over a billion dollars. What her mother didn't realize, Mia thought to herself as her eyes glazed over the impressive green landscape with the winding hills, was that she was her own woman and made her own decisions. Not everything in life fit into a perfect cookie cutter as her mother would like to believe resulting in error free results. Shaking her head, she couldn't believe that she was doing this herself as it went a little above her own comfort zone but in her entire time of being with Darryl, if anything, he has shown her how to explore the endless possibilities of adventure.
"You ok, baby?" Darryl said reaching out to her.
"Oh yeah. Just thinking of my silly mother. You know she didn't want me doing this. Then she goes on to compare me to Gracie miss perfect. I wish my mother would learn one day to accept me for who I am and that she would realize I am truly happy. Don't get me, wrong honey, I had a terrific upbringing with the finest things in life but what my mother expects of me is totally different than what I want and need in life. If that makes any sense."
Taming The Billionaire Page 65