The Boy in the Woods (2014 Wattys Winner, Wattpad Version)

Chapter 54 - Don't Break the Heart That Loves You

"I'll go," she said, wiping her face, and Doug put the car in reverse.

While they rode back to town in silence, that moment in the cabin kept replaying in her mind, her slapping Marty so hard her hand hurt and screaming at him that he was a coward.  The guilt was unbearable, but she pushed the memory away while she tried to prepare herself for what might come. 

Would he shout at her?  Would he throw her out?  She'd deserve it if he did.  At least he'd know she didn't blame him for what he'd done, but it was small comfort.  And after it was over, she'd leave town and never come back just like she'd planned, she thought with despair. 

When Doug parked the car in front of Dwyer's Drug Store, Jess's hands began shaking and she felt sick to her stomach.

"Ready?" he asked, his face pale and grim, and she wondered if he felt sick to his stomach too.

"Yeah," she said, then took a deep breath and blew it out, trying to calm her nerves.

Doug held the door open for her, and she walked into the drug store on wobbly legs, searching for Marty.  He wasn't anywhere in sight, but she spotted Mr. Dwyer with his back to them straightening bottles of aspirin. 

"Can I help –?" he started as he turned around, and then froze with his eyes widening.

She felt Doug's hand slip into hers, and then he approached Mr. Dwyer, gently bringing her with him.  When they reached him, no one said anything while Mr. Dwyer gawked at Doug, then Doug cleared his throat.

"Mr. Dwyer, I –."

"You look just like him!" Mr. Dwyer choked out, and then let out a sob. 

When he pulled a handkerchief from his back pocket, Jess couldn't help turning to look at the picture of Mr. Dwyer's dead son.  With a shock of recognition, she realized he was right.  The resemblance had been there all along, but she'd never looked closely enough to notice it before.  They shared the same straight nose, the same square chin softened by slightly full lips, and even though the photo was in black and white, it was evident he had the same piercing blue eyes.

"I – I came here to apologize to you, sir," Doug said, getting Jess's attention.  When she turned back, she saw Marty, and a jolt went through her.  He was standing in the doorway to the back room, looking at the photo of Mr. Dwyer's son with his mouth open, appearing stunned.

"I came to apologize for everything my – my – dad – did," Doug finished, clearly stumbling with the word.

"Son, there's no need to apologize," Mr. Dwyer said.  "What was done, happened when you were a baby, and before you were even born.  You're not responsible for that." 

Marty's attention left the photo, and then he locked eyes with Jess.  Holding her breath, she waited for him to react, but he scowled and turned away, disappearing into the back room.  He hates me, she realized, tears pricking her eyes as the terrible pain and grief of losing him returned.

"That's – not entirely true, sir," Doug admitted guiltily.  "I'm afraid you may not know everything."

With her heart breaking, she knew it was time for her to apologize, and then it would be the end.  While Doug began haltingly explaining to Mr. Dwyer what had happened, she walked towards the back of the store.  Stepping through the doorway into the slightly darker back room, she stopped, seeing Marty standing with his back to her in front of a long table with shelves of bottles and jars on the wall above it.

"Marty, can I talk to you?" she asked quietly. 

"Did he come here to make a claim on the drug store?" he muttered bitterly without moving.