Accidents Happen

"I quit! I'm tired of fighting this!" Clay ended the call and slid his phone into his shirt pocket, sighing agitatedly. He pulled the shifter into drive and headed to the next stop.

The store seemed quiet, with a few associates getting their departments ready to open as he guided his delivery cart towards the back of the store. His cell phone rang again; he glanced at it, then answered, "I told you, I'm tired of this; it's been three years, and you can't even get a judge to hear the case."

"Listen Clay, this time is different, we have a court date in two weeks, the Judge subpoenaed the defendants, this is going to work!"

"Look, counselor, I appreciate everything you've done for me, but I have to work, and I can't afford to take a day off. Besides, it will end the same way."

"You don't have too, its set for a week from Tuesday, your off then, right?"

"Yea, I guess…but.... look, I have to work I'll talk to you later." He tucked the phone back into his pocket and continued towards the back of the store. As he neared the service area, he recognized the woman behind the counter and smiled, "Hi don't I know you?"

"Yes, she retorted flippantly, you're Clay Hudson; I remember you from college." Then turned her back to him, writing on a clipboard.

"Your Melissa right…Mellissa….Weaver?"

"I was," she replied curtly, "It's Camron now." Keeping her back to him.

"Oh, you're married; I should have guessed."

She turned around. "Do you need me to sign for those packages, or is there something else you need?"

Clay shook his head, confused, "I'm sorry; did I say something to upset you? Why all the hostility?"

"I know all about you; I'm not one of your cheer leaders that swooned for you."

"That was a long time ago," he replied regretfully, "I'm not the same person I was then."

"Yea whatever, do you remember Keri Davis?"

"Of course, she was a….oh because she was a cheerleader, you think…."

"She was my best friend, and you hurt her terribly. As I said, I know you; I know everything about you!"

"Keri Davis...." he shook his head and thought back on her fondly. "Its been a long time. How is she?"

"She's happily married to a doctor," she pursed her lips, much better than a delivery boy."

He shook his head, "What did I do to you to make you hate me so much…."

"She loved you, and you cast her aside for the next one that would jump in bed with you. I know your type; you're like all the rest; you use women and then move on!"

"Well, I guess you don't know everything do you!"

"Yea, I'm sure your story is different, whatever makes you sound good to the reporters or your fans!'

He sighed heavily, "Not that it's any of your concern, I asked her to marry me, and her father forbade it. He didn't want her to marry an athlete. He was afraid I'd blow my knee out, and she'd be stuck taking care of me. She wasn't the only one hurt…." he sighed, "I guess he was right. But, If she were your best friend, I think she would have told you."

Melissa looked at him for a moment, "She didn't say anything; all I knew was she was hurt and left school; she went up north. I guess I blamed you for it."

"Then you don't know everything, do you?" he shook his head and glanced down at her hand. "I guess I know why you're divorced."

"I didn't say I was divorced!"

"You said your name was Camron, and no ring so you're either separated or divorced."

She scoffed and shook her head disdainfully. "You seem to have it all down, don't you? I didn't know athletes were given clairvoyance when they signed a six-million-dollar contract."

"Contracts have clauses; you only get paid if you can play. I've been in court for three years now trying to get a portion of what that idiot took from me."

"Yes, I know all about your injury. My father and brother were big fans; all they talked about for two weeks after the game, was what a great quarterback you were; how unfair your injury was. Accidents happen…. then it's all forgotten history, and you have to find a way to live through it."

"Yea, well.... You can eject someone from the game, but it wont repair the damages done. It ended my career, and he called it an accident."

She breathed heavily, "Whatever, it didn't change the outcome for either of us, did it?"

"So…. there was an accident?"

"Yes, it was an accident, no insurance and now I have twice the responsibilities on my shoulders, so I really don't need to hear about your problems."

"So, you're a single mother?"

"I didn't say that."

"You said twice the responsibilities, so I just assumed…."

"It's not your concern…."

"Look Melissa, it seems we started off on the wrong foot. I'm really sorry about everything, is it possible we can start again?"

She turned to face him and sighed heavily; "I'm sorry too, I guess I'm a little bitter, it seems it hasn't been easy for either of us."

"Maybe we can start out by having coffee together?"

"I can't, I have a child to take care of, and I can't afford a sitter for him."

Clay smiled, "you have a son?"

"Yes, I have a son, a son that wants to know why his father isn't coming home, and a million more questions I have to answer."

"It was a car accident?"

"Yes… car accident when he was returning home from another woman, the woman he was having an affair with. Now do you know everything you wanted to know?"

"No," he smiled warmly. "But I can understand why you're bitter..... Not all men are like that, and I won't say I know how much he hurt you. But I'm betting there's more to you than that. So, you have a son; how old is he?"

She smiled for the first time since they began their conversation; "Tyler is 6."

"Tyler, that's a nice name. I bet he's a great kid, and maybe one day I could meet him."

"I don't know; it's only been two years since his father died. He's been through a lot, and I have to be very protective of him. Bringing other men around could be setting him up to be hurt again; he'd get attached, and they'd leave. I won't put him through that."

"I can see that, but you can't stop living... Listen, Mellissa, maybe we can have dinner together, the three of us." he smiled again. You could let Tyler pick the restaurant?"

"I don't know....He knows who you are, and he'd probably love to meet, but...."

"I'm not gonna ask you for your number; I will let you decide. You think about it, and if you want, ask tyler where he'd like to eat, and let me know when and where; we can meet there."

Mellisa sighed heavily, "It's been a long time since we've been out.... I'll think about it, but.... you will probably be eating pizza."

"I love pizza," he grinned and handed her a card with his phone number. "Call me and let me know what Tyler says."

She smiled and nodded, "Ok, I will ask him tonight." Then she signed his receiving pad; "I'll talk to you soon."

Clay smiled, "I look forward to it," He glanced at her as he backed his cart out, then turned and headed for his next delivery.

Mellissa sighed, watching him leave and favoring his left leg. she shook her head and smiled, whispering to herself, "Tyler won't believe this..."