Page 19 of The Road Sometimes Taken

Me: All good over there? Send me an update when you can.

It’s early, I know that, but emails are usually flooding my phone by 6:00am every day. I’m not waiting for her to reply; I said I was going to try and relax so I will. This is why I’m here wearing slacks, a T-shirt, and a baseball cap on a Saturday in June. Relaxed Manuel activated.

She tries to grab her bags, but I look at her and order, “Don’t, I’ll be back to get those. You, my darlin’, worry about yourself.”

“I can take my own bags, Manny.”

“Just because you can doesn’t mean you should, sunshine. Just come on, let’s get this into that vibrant bus of yours.”

“Fine,” Cara huffs before walking toward her bus. She slides the door open for me, allowing me to set our suitcases in.

“Well thank you, my lady,” I say, adding a bow and winking at her.

She rolls her eyes and says, “You’re so annoying, let’s go.”

Cara waits for me to get the rest of the bags, locking the door of the house behind me. I think she’s following me out but when I turn around, I find her with her forehead against the door, eyes closed. The breeze is blowing gently, taking her hair with it, and making the moment seem serene. Holy. I feel bad even witnessing it, especially when she brings her hand up to the door, her palm flat against it as she whispers, “Thanks for the memories.”

She turns around with her eyes still closed and lets out a soft sigh before snapping her eyes open and finding my gaze on her. “Have you never said thank you to a place that saw yougrow? Because this—” she points at her place “—was more than a place to live,” she heaves, and that’s when I realize she thinks I might be judging her.

“I’ve never been in the same place for more than a couple of years. That was just beautiful,” I admit, and Cara softens, lowering her shoulders and relaxing her brows. “The only thing that has seen me grow, grows with me,” I wink at her, trying to lighten the mood. She scoffs and walks toward the bus.

I get in the driver seat, putting the keys in the ignition and cranking the motor up after I shut the door next to me. I’m still not over the realization that this is what I’m going to be driving around for the next three weeks. Cara’s fidgeting in her seat, clearly uncomfortable about something and I can bet money is because we’re about to go on this trip and she’s not the one controlling it all. Yes, she has the itinerary—but I’m the one behind the wheel and this, after all, is her baby.

I place my hand over her bouncy leg and ask softly, “So where are we going first?” I want her to let her know even though I’m driving, it’s her call. She’s the one in control.

“After Colleen’s? Matthiessen State Park,” she replies, and I add the coordinates to my phone.

“We’re only two hours away from there; are you sure this is the first stop you want to make?” I ask, pulling out of the parking lot. She has her journal from last night open in her lap, with a list of things to do on each stop carefully drafted across the pages.

“Yep, this is one of my favorite places and I want to start our trip there. Now, Manny,” Cara adds, pulling her phone from her bag and connecting it to the stereo. “Any particular song you’d like to add to the playlist?” She smiles at me and wiggles her eyebrows, and I do the only thing that I can in this moment—laugh. I have to laugh so I don’t keep thinking about this adorable woman sitting next to me; how we’re about tospend three weeks together, without anyone else, and I’m not sure if I’ll make it without trying to kiss her or touch her.Yo nada más que me jodí?6.

1 Que maldito desastre:What a fucking disaster

2 Keloke: Commonly used in the Dominican as a what’s up or hello

3 Manin: slang for brother or bro

4 Here just reading emails and trying to figure out how I’m supposed to split this time with work and Cara.

5 That shit’s gonna go bad without me

6 Yo nada más que me jodí: I’m so fucked.

8

JUMPING DEER

MILES ON IT, MARSHMELLO FT. KANE BROWN

Cara

Stop 1:Matthiessen State Park

For the pasthour we’ve been on the way to the park to see the waterfalls, riding in comfortable quiet. Taylor Swift dominates the playlist with a sprinkle of other pop songs and some Wisin & Yandel that I know Manny likes. I’m not fluent in Spanish but I know some words here and there and understand even more than that. My family spent manysummers with the Zabanas growing up and I picked up on a phrase of two.

Their music was constantly played by Manny and Gus, so I was hoping he’d like the addition. And I was right. Every time one of their songs comes up, Manny sings like he’s in center stage. He shouts and pretends his fist is a microphone. He dances to the beat—as much as he can, anyway— and smiles the entire time. Pride rises in my chest as I realize I still know him well enough to choose music to put him in a better mood. Pink van and Cara one, Manny and hisI won’t drive the Power Puff buszero.

“Oh, look! Jumping deer!” I shout, mimicking the yellow sign with my hands near my chest and pretending I’m jumping, and Manny twitches, gripping the steering wheel harder.

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