18. The Decision #2
As long as I can continue acting, it’ll all be okay. She couldn’t imagine losing the prestige and wealth that filled a hole deep inside of her. Coaching starts now for Kinley. And as for Jenkins, I will just keep him happy and healthy.
“Order 452!”
“That’s us, children! Shall we?” She gave them a warm smile as the three stood to leave. In their short time at the table, they had managed to shred several paper napkins and haphazardly scrawled with crayons on the scraps. She did her best to ignore the destruction.
It’s going to be an adjustment getting used to their behavior, she thought as she led them to their parked car.
Kinley nestled into the front seat of the car, and Jenkins swung open the back door and climbed into the middle seat.
He fastened his seatbelt and held out his hands for the outstretched sandwich from Darla.
Kinley turned the dial of the radio until a song with a fast-paced beat filled the cab.
Darla handed her the turkey sandwich and pulled out of the parking spot.
It didn’t take them long until they were on the open road.
Kinley ate her sandwich and sang along to the songs, her mouth half full of food. Her long black hair spun wildly around her face as the wind became her dance partner in the cab of the car. The sun flickered in a rhythm as they passed by rows and rows of tall firs.
Darla watched amazed as the shadows crossed Kinley’s face, and she used a pretend microphone from the passenger seat. The light created a kaleidoscope effect, and Darla felt warmth spread inside her as she watched the young girl be a carefree teen for perhaps the first time in her life.
Jenkins sat quietly in the back, only slightly nodding his head along to the beat. Even though Kinley would play a big role in helping Darla continue to have the life she desires, she felt a kinship towards Jenkins.
They both can serve a purpose; I can help them have a better life.
Even though Kinley will eventually come into my old body, no physical harm will come to her.
And Jenkins, even though he is quiet and keeps to himself, I can’t help but feel like he knows more about the world around him than he lets on.
Kinley reached over and turned the radio down. Darla, lost in thought, missed that Kinley asked a question.
“How old are you?” Kinley asked, holding the wild hair against the side of her head.
“Oh, fifty-six, why?” Darla was caught off guard by the question.
“Wow, I would never have guessed that! You look like you are in your thirties. I hope I grow up to be as pretty as you.”
“You are quite pretty yourself Kinley. Don’t sell yourself short just yet.”
“Have you ever been married?” Kinley brushed some hair from her face as Darla’s hands gripped the steering wheel hard.
I need her to trust me. I need her to trust me. She reminded herself as she contemplated how to answer this question. Darla had never married. But she had been married before. Always better to look ahead, remember?
“I haven’t been married, and before you ask, no I don’t have any kids.”
“Oh.” Kinley slumped back.
“Why the sour face?” Darla glanced over at Kinley, curious at the reaction she received.
“Just thought you would be a good mom.” Kinley shrugged as she leaned back forward and turned the knob bringing the music back to full volume.
Lizzie, did you think I was a good mom? Darla’s stomach knotted up. Despite Kinley’s immature behavior, she recognized that she was an incredibly sweet child. I’ll give her a good life up until the switch, she thought, searching for a justification for robbing the young girl of her future.
Darla contemplated finding someone else to switch with, allowing Kinley to live her life fully, to marry if she wanted, to have kids.
None of that would be possible with Darla’s plan to take her youth and beauty as her own.
Maybe she could wait until Kinley was older before the switch.
Darla could wait until she was on her deathbed again.
She had done it before. Darla remembered back to Jane, and how what she thought were her final moments had turned out to be the beginning of her future.
Darla turned the radio down. “Kinley, where do you see yourself in ten years?”
“I always assumed I would work at the diner,” she finally replied.
“Okay, but now that you don’t have to, what do you really want for yourself?”
“Hmmm, I dunno. Now that we are heading to Hollywood, it would be fun to look fancy and be on the big screen. I don’t know if I would be any good, but it does look fun!”
“I want to help people!” Jenkins piped up from the back, his small voice squeaked the words out.
“What else? What kind of house would you want to live in?”
“Oh, there was this one movie I saw that had a big white house and a wraparound porch with a swing on it. And it had a fountain in the front yard. There were so many rooms, but I wouldn’t want to clean them all by myself, so I guess I would want kids to help me out with the chores.” Kinley laughed.
“I just want a house where I have my own room.” Jenkins giggled as Kinley undid her seatbelt to reach back and tickle her brother.
“Oh yes, I definitely don’t want to smell your stinky socks.” The cab filled with the symphony of their laughter, and Darla felt a strange peace fall over her.
Maybe this is something I can really do well. I could be what they need to have better lives.
“Wait until you see my house. It is two stories and has a pool in the backyard. And of course, you would each have your own room and bathroom.”
New squeals erupted and Darla relaxed, enjoying herself as the conversation progressed. Viewing Kinley as an innocent child made her realize that there was no way she could take away her hopes and dreams. She would have to find someone else, even if it meant more work to get access to the money.
Darla chuckled to herself, contemplating that maybe she could even ask Kinley for help on the next switch when she was older and could be trusted with the secret about her gift.
“Oh, I love this song!” Kinley blared the music to a punishing volume and the speakers gave a squeak of resistance before both ladies were happily singing along to the lyrics, off key but on beat. Jenkins even bounced along, eyes sparkled as he watched the show in the front seat.
Darla felt a new sense of peace and hope about their futures. This was going to be a new kind of legacy, one born of friendship and kinship. Maybe Kinley could grow to care for her in return.
She watched from the driver’s seat as Kinley belted out the chorus into her fake microphone, lost in the moment so much that she missed seeing the red light on this stretch of the highway. More importantly, she missed seeing the oncoming truck until it collided into her side of the car.