Page 31 of On the Rocks
Almost irrational with joy, I plop into an empty seat. Hugging myself as I fight the shuddering sobs welling in my throat. The woman next to me scoots away, grasping a tighter hand on her son. The young boy oblivious to my craziness. His focus remains on adjusting his blue and white water wings. Ready to swim. Free and safe. Just like me.
I check my pocket again. The crisp bills slide under my fingers. Six hundreds won’t get me far or last very long. But it’s enough to get me away from him. Which right now is all I need.
More than two hours pass as we wind through the city. Our trail is indiscriminate, stopping at luxurious resorts as well as run down motels, with people sprawled in lawn chairs settled between beer coolers in their parking lots, and every level of hotel quality in between. All of them perfect to me. Each one taking me farther and farther away from him.
A tremor jolts through me from the thought. I know he’s furious. Frantically searching for me. Planning what he’ll do if finds me. Which I will never let happen. I just have to keep moving and I’ll be fine.
10
Chapter Ten
I’m the last rider.
For ten minutes I’ve been the only passenger. The driver glancing at me in his rear view mirror after we’ve stopped at a bustling souvenir store, fish taco stand, and state park entrance and I didn't disembark. Each time the lines of confusion grow deeper on his tanned forehead.
He watches me again. “Last stop miss. This is the end of the route. Done for the day.”
I smile. Trying to act confident. Like this is exactly where I’m supposed to be. Exactly what I want. “Yes, thank you. I’m here.”
Wide eyes meet mine.Hereis a parking lot, with an explosion of sherbet metal. Rows of pink, orange, and green shuttles glistening in the dissolving sun.
He seems nice. Wears a thick gold band on his gnarled ring finger. Pictures of a small boy, with missing teeth wearing a blue cap and crookedly holding a gold diploma, taped to his sun visor. Old enough to be my grandfather. Wise enough to know I probably shouldn’t be left alone in this industrial park.
“You sure?”
No. “Yes, thank you. I’m going to…”
Where? I look around. Desolate warehouses and a boarded up factory surround us. No other people or cars, except the other drivers parking their streetcars and heading into the office right outside the chain link fence.
Wariness fills his expression as much as mine. Neither of us sure the crazy level of the other. Although I don’t know much, I have no doubt I totally win that competition. I better go before he gets in trouble. “Thanks! Have a good evening.”
The eye roll and deep sigh confirms he doesn’t buy the chipper tone I attempt. He points past the crumbling brick sign squatting in front of a long closed storage unit facility.
“There’s a library two blocks that way. They hold the town council meetings there on Sunday evenings and stay open until six pm. You could go there…” His voice softens with sympathy that burns my eyes with grateful tears. “…until you figure out where you need to be.”
Which may be never. “Great! That’s where I was heading anyway.”
He nods. Accepting the assertion we both know is a lie. Relieving some of his guilt that he’s at least set me on a less dangerous path than wandering alone. Not likely to encounter serial killers and rapists in a building full of responsible citizens. Unaware, though that damage has already been done.
I smile. He deserves to go home to his family knowing he did all he could do. I’m not his problem.
Hopping down, I force myself not to look back. Lest I run back too. Plead with him to take me home to his warm, safe house and eat lasagna and cookies and watch ballgames until I fall asleep on the sofa.
Maybe that was my old life but I’m not sure what happened to it or how to get it back. So I walk. Faster when I see the lighted building. A stone refuge amidst the dark office buildings towering on each side. I’ve got a little more than an hour to figure out where I go next.
Grateful to be in a place where wandering around isn’t odd or conspicuous. With a few magazines in my hand that I select from the stand near the entrance, I settle in a desolate back corner. Slink down in an overstuffed chair and close my eyes. Not trying too hard; just letting whatever thoughts that may exist come into my mind.
Cool air blows on my legs. A dull hum from the fluorescent lights. The scent of cotton candy perfume from the lady shelving books.
Cat Wire.
Nothing.
Michael Wire.
Nothing.
Vacation. Wedding. House.
