The Truck Driver

Welcome to the Family

As weeks passed, Tank settled into a new rhythm. He was working local hauls, mostly around Georgia, with a few trips to nearby states. He enjoyed the routine, but there was one thing that had changed: Kayla was now a part of it. She stayed at his house when he was on the road, or sometimes she tagged along on shorter trips.

Tank felt a sense of pride and protectiveness over her, wanting her to have a space where she could simply unwind and relax. He never pressured her to figure out what she wanted to do with her time. He understood the toll everything had taken on her and wanted to give her the time to find peace, however long it took.

Kayla took it upon herself to organize Tank's home, clean up, and generally make it a welcoming place for when he returned. She spent her days taking long baths, reading, and doing anything that helped her feel grounded again. She was still hesitant about meeting Tank's family, especially his overprotective mother, Sherri, and his two sisters who were just as protective. But Tank had crafted a story for them, one in which they'd met in Atlanta and had been casually getting to know each other for a few months. The lie made Kayla feel safer, but it also made her nervous, knowing that the day would come when his family would eventually meet her.

Tank made sure to visit his mama and pops regularly, especially since he'd been staying closer to home. He always stopped by for lunch or a quick visit to check in. It was on these visits that Sherri began to notice subtle changes in her son. Tank wasn't his usual self, the one who always had an excuse to leave and never stayed in one place for too long. His home wasn't messy like it used to be; he seemed settled. He took the time to stop by, and when he did, he had a calm demeanor. His life was quieter now, and though she didn't know why, Sherri couldn't ignore the changes.

She noticed it, and so did his sisters, Tanya and Tamera. They were always hovering, keeping tabs on him, making sure everything was okay. They didn't have the full picture, though. They didn't know about Kayla living with him, nor did they know that their baby brother had someone he was protecting in his own way. The three women—well-intentioned as they were—didn't know the whole truth. But that didn't stop them from questioning him. Tank could feel the weight of their stares, the unasked questions they sometimes threw his way, but he didn't let it get to him.

He had a good thing with Kayla. A protective thing, a careful thing. She was beginning to heal, and he was going to do whatever it took to make sure nothing from her past would harm her again.

But one evening, when Tank returned home after a long haul, he found himself sitting across from his mother at her kitchen table, a cup of coffee in his hands. She was quiet for a long time before she finally asked, "Tank, are ya sure everything's okay? You've been actin' different lately. Ya stayin' closer to home, ya been visiting here more often... What's goin' on, son?"

Tank didn't flinch. He had expected this moment, knew it was only a matter of time. But the way his mother's eyes searched his, full of concern, made him pause. He wanted to tell her everything, wanted her to know how he felt about Kayla, how he was protecting her—but he couldn't risk it. Not yet.

Instead, he took a deep breath, and with a soft smile, said, "I'm just...in a good place, Mama. Things are good. That's all."

Sherri didn't look convinced, but she let it go for the moment. Still, Tank knew the questions would keep coming. His family was protective, but they cared about him more than anything.

As he sat in the kitchen, the weight of their curiosity on him, Tank's thoughts drifted to Kayla. She was in his living room, probably curled up with a book or a movie, completely unaware of the storm brewing in his family's curiosity. He smiled at the thought of her being his peaceful anchor through it all.