by Leslie North
Rather than pay for movers and storage, they decided not to risk having any additional paper trail and sold off or gave away most of their possessions. Between garage sales and a couple barbeques where friends and family were invited to take whatever they wanted or needed, they managed to get rid of everything including both their vehicles, which were donated to the nonprofit as a final thank you. As Jared and Rita took one last look around the now empty house, they hugged each other tightly before heading out to the RV parked out front. In a private ceremony, they had married and had decided to spend their honeymoon driving cross-country and enjoy some of the sights before making a decision on where they wanted to live. Since they were starting a new life together, in more than one way, they wanted to take their time and find a place to live that they both loved.
Locking up the house, Jared handed the keys to his real estate agent as they walked her to her car. Whistling for Casey, they headed to the RV, which would be their new home for the foreseeable future. As Rita opened the door, Jared quickly scooped her up, kissing her on the nose. “Since this is our temporary new home, Mrs. Michaels, seems only fitting that we treat it as such.”
As Rita cupped the side of Jared’s face, her smile faltered, “But I won’t be Mrs. Michaels for long. So long as Tucker remains at large, the DA wants us to change our names.”
Stepping inside, Jared slowly set Rita down, “It doesn’t matter what our names are so long as it begins with Mister and Missus,” responded Jared as they kissed passionately. “And we certainly don’t have to rush the decision on our new names. At least until we decide where we want to live”
Rita hugged Jared tightly as Casey bumped up against them wanting in on the hugs. Together, they were leaving all the drama and toxicity of their lives behind in California and heading in a new direction. After everything they had been through, they both knew that they could withstand anything, so long as they did it together.