Chapter 1: The Night She Ran
My fiancée came with me to visit my parents — she ran out screaming, "I can't believe it!" in the middle of the night, and my mom chased after her, yelling, "No!
Wait!"
My folks have lived in the same small Texas town most of their lives, and we're the kind of family that stays pretty darn close.
I live a ways out now, but I make the drive down whenever I can.
Claire and I have been together for three years, but somehow, she'd never met my parents in person.
They'd talked plenty over video calls and on the phone, though, and Mom already adored her.
Half the time, she'd call me just to ask how Claire was doing.
So when we got engaged, we figured it was high time to make the trip down together.
I was a little nervous about that first meeting, but I shouldn't have been.
Mom hugged Claire the second we stepped through the door, Dad welcomed her right in, and before long, everybody was talking and laughing like they'd known each other for years.
Friday went just fine.
We had dinner, sat around shooting the breeze for a while, then Claire and I headed upstairs to bed.
Lord only knows what time it was when I woke up and realized she wasn't beside me.
I figured she'd gone downstairs for some water until I heard voices below.
Claire and Mom were talking, quiet at first, then suddenly loud enough to get me moving.
Before I could make it downstairs, the front door flew open.
Claire ran outside barefoot, shouting, "I can't believe it!"
Mom tore out after her.
"No!
Wait!"
I followed them out just in time to see Claire jump into the car.
I hollered after her, but she backed out and took off without so much as glancing my way.
"What in God's name just happened?" I asked Mom.
She just stared after Claire's car, looking more shaken than I'd ever seen her.
Then she grabbed my arm.
"Son, there's something you need to know before you go after her."
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What did Claire's mom tell her in the middle of the night — and why did it make her run?
Comment **"NEXT"** if you want Part 2.
