Page 263 of Labor of Love

It won't go unpunished and my father's punishments were always harsh, but the shame my mother will force me to endure may be even harsher. My freedom used to rest in the hands of a man who chose to go behind my back on our wedding day, and if I go home now, I will remain in my parent's invisible chains. They would suffocate me more and more each day I remained under their roof.

I can't go back.

2

PARKER

Ipull into the last available parking spot of the second pet shop for the day. The last one left me disappointed when their bunny cage lacked the one thing it’s supposed to carry. I was in desperate search for a last-minute anniversary gift for my boyfriend of two years and I had the perfect idea, I just needed to walk into the right pet shop.

A bell rings when I walk through the front door. The clerk behind the register perks up, smiling, overly excited to see me as if I’m his first customer of the day. I nod in his direction with a friendly smile of my own and it widens when my eyes land on a small, beautiful brown rabbit pacing back and forth in its cage.

“That one is new, I think. I’ve never seen him before and I'm guessing he came in on the day I wasn’t here. Almost made an escape last night too.”

My brows raise in interest. “Are you saying he somehow was able to get out of this secured wire cage that’s not even on the ground?”

“It wasn’t secure enough, apparently. Someone may have forgotten to latch it shut when they left last night. Luckily, I decided to come by to take care of a few things. Otherwise, who knows what could have happened to the little fella.” The oldergentleman stares at the rabbit with sympathetic eyes and the bunny pays neither of us any attention, nibbling at a piece of fruit in his bowl.

“I’ll take him,” I say a little too enthusiastically.

The man’s eyes brighten. “Great. Gift for someone?”

“Yup, an anniversary present for my boyfriend. He’s always wanted a pet rabbit, but we could never have one at our old place. Now that we are nearly moved into our new home, I think it’s the perfect time to surprise him with one.”

“I think you are making a great choice.” He lifts the rabbit out of the cage, holding him up for me to pet. “This one here appears to be a Palomino rabbit in his young adult years.”

“Sounds perfect to me.” I scratch him between the ears while he remains in the clerk’s hands and then follow him to the register. “Do you have a box I can keep him in or maybe even sell cages here?”

He nods, turning around and pointing to the back of the store. “You will find everything you need for your new pet on the back wall. I’ll get a box for him so you have something to carry him home in.”

I nod gratefully, walking toward the items lining the back wall. I stop when I reach a few shelves stocked with rabbit food, bedding, water bottles, and cages. I grab everything I need, balancing it all the best I can in both of my hands, and then place them on top of the box that holds the large cage.

“Do you need help getting everything to your car?” the man asks, ringing up the items.

I look at everything he places in the bags and then back at the box that holds a restless rabbit inside. “That would be excellent. Thank you.”

“Sure. It will be my pleasure. It’s always nice getting the first customer of the day, and it’s even nicer when they give one of our animals a home.”

I lead him to my car with the cage and a bag full of bunny necessities. He trails behind me, holding the box carrying Eric’s new pet.

When I open the car, he sets the box with the super active animal in the passenger seat, buckling the seat belt around him as I slide in the driver’s side. “Hey, little one. I'm Parker. There's no need to be frightened,” I say as if he can understand me. “Let’s go to our new home, shall we? Eric is going to love you and I’m sure you’ll love him just as much.”

I give the clerk my goodbyes, thanking him once more and he tells me to come back again. I tell him I will and mean it — I’m sure we’ll need more supplies.

The store is a bit out of my way, but the guy was really kind. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn't have found the perfect gift for my boyfriend. Hopefully we can also have the perfect day. I have many more plans for Eric. Another will be surprising him at home early.

I pull into my driveway and smile when Eric’s car is in the driveway. I move faster toward the front door once the bunny is in my hands, waving at the neighbor on the way inside. The house is quiet, and Eric is nowhere in sight. I continue to search for him while setting his surprise on the counter.

"Eric, I'm home."

No one answers back and the loud rustling noise has me making a beeline for our bedroom, wondering if Eric has his headphones on again and can't hear me. He's shoving clothes into a large suitcase when I push the door open, talking in hushed tones to someone on the phone. "I'm sure I'll figure it out. I'll leave before he gets home and find the best way to tell him tomorrow. First, I need some time to think, and I can't do it in this house. You will tell her tomorrow, won't you? I can't stay hidden away forever."

He continues chatting away on the phone, not noticing me standing in the doorway. He doesn't even bother to look up when I clear my throat loudly. I dig my nails into the door trim, scratching against the smooth wood. Eric finally glances up and his eyes widen in panic. His phone drops from his hand and he continues to stare at me in stunned silence.

"What's going on? Who was on the phone and where are you going?" My heart pounds in my chest, and the butterflies from before are replaced with twisting knots. "Are you going to answer me?"

Eric’s face pales and his eyes sink with sorrow. "I'm sorry, Parker. I can't do this anymore. I've tried but I can't continue living a lie, no matter how much I hate hurting you."

"What are you talking about?" I ask, as the walls feel like they are closing around me.

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