Page 73 of The Hitchhikers
“What about us?” she said. “We need fresh clothes.”
“Fine. But make it quick.”
She found their beach bag and gathered a few changes of clothing for Tom and herself, then her toiletry bag and Tom’s shaving kit.
Simon slung his pack over his shoulder. “Let’s go.”
Jenny was still standing by the window when they entered the house. She looked relieved to see Simon. Alice wondered if she feared that Simon might leave her behind one day.
Simon ordered Alice into the master bedroom and told her to sit on the floor beside Tom, then quickly tied her up. Their bag of belongings was near her leg, but Simon hadn’t given Alice an opportunity to change. She desperately wanted out of these clothes.
Simon didn’t close the door when he left.
Alice waited until his footsteps had moved farther down the hall before speaking with Tom—she didn’t want to give Simon a reason to come back or separate them.
“Are you okay?” she whispered.
Tom grimaced. “He let me take a couple of Tylenol. Bottle is in my pocket.”
Alice had forgotten about the Tylenol Jenny bought at the drugstore. Had that really been just that morning? She was glad they wouldn’t have to ask Simon for more pills.
“I was so scared he was going to leave you in the RV.”
“I knew you wouldn’t let him.” He tried to smile, but his face was still strained. “Ruth and William caught me up to speed. They say Simon beat a man at the church?”
“It was horrible.” She blinked back tears. “I can’t get it out of my head.”
“I’m sorry,” Tom said. “I’m so sorry you had to deal with that. With all of this.” They held gazes for a moment, then she had to look away or she would burst into sobs.
“Simon’s really losing it,” she said. “Jenny wanted to leave, but he wouldn’t listen.”
“She’s having doubts?”
“Maybe, but she’s still going along with him.”
“She helped me,” Tom said. “When she came back into the RV, she gave me water and put frozen vegetables on my shoulder.”
So that was why Jenny had taken so long. She’d told Simon she was getting a drink. Maybe she wasn’t going along with Simon as much as Alice had thought.
The fridge opened and shut. Simon and Jenny were talking. Cigarette smoke drifted into the room. Tom was quiet beside her. She could feel the tension in his body. The wood floor was hard under her backside. She shifted but there was no way to get comfortable.
Simon said something, but Alice couldn’t hear if Jenny answered. Then the rattling of a screen door closing. He’d gone out to the back porch. To work on the truck?
Jenny’s softer footsteps left the kitchen, then faded. Alice guessed she was in the living room, keeping watch out the front windows. Alice rolled her head toward Tom.
“Should we call Jenny to the bedroom? To talk to her?”
“We can try.”
“Jenny?” Alice raised her voice, hopefully loud enough for Jenny to hear, but not so much that it would bring Simon. “Jenny? Are you there? I need to speak to you.”
Silence.
She strained her ears. Were those footsteps?
“Jenny!”
“What do you want?” Jenny was close. Maybe near the kitchen.
