Page 1 of Dance in the Light
ONE
NEED A TOW?
CINDY HALE
I passed the sign that I’d been dreading on the road back to Glendale Falls. Ten miles to go, and about ten minutes away from officially letting my mother down.
I made the sign of the cross on myself—forehead, heart, shoulder to shoulder, then kissed my fingertips. My family had never been regular church-going people, but when thinking of my mother in Heaven, it felt reverent.
“I’m sorry, Mom. I tried to stay away, really. But I’m letting you down.” Speaking to her wasn’t anything new. My older sister Marcie had taught me how as a way to alleviate anxiety. Which worked most of the time.
I slowed the car down fifteen miles below the speed limit, prolonging the inevitable. Memories of mom splayed in front of me down the highway, moving pictures in slow motion of her so vibrant, so young.
It was fitting she passed when she did; the idea of growing old didn’t suit her. The way she’d danced with us in the yard, calling us hergang of girls. Her long flowing blonde hair in loose wavesbounced as she pranced with a smile so big and entrancing, and a laugh to match. Her hair grew almost past her waistline the year before?—
I never enjoyed thinking or talking about the year she passed away. The C-word was a monster and wasn’t something I cared to give any credence to.
Now Dad joined her in Heaven. He’d been sick for a while, according to my sisters. I wasn’t sure how to feel about his death yet. Paying my respects was good enough for now—reverent. Otherwise I would never be on this road, headed back to the town I swore I’d never step foot in again.
Mom made me promise not to turn out like her.“Don’t settle. Spread your wings and fly like a bird to the big city. You’re meant for bigger things, but if you stay here you’ll be nothing, like me.”
She never had a chance to spread her wings and fly, raising 5 daughters and being the wife of a dairy farmer. Everything I’d accomplished, getting a degree in architecture, working for a big firm in New York City, leaving Glendale Falls and never looking back, was all for the vow I made to her.
Getting fired from the big firm this week was not. But I saved the discussion about my ex-boss with Mom for later when I visited her grave.
A small creature suddenly crossed the road in front of me, sending my heartbeat skyrocketing. I swerved and missed it, but overshot and headed toward a tree. My body stiffened, but my foot must have been on the gas pedal instead of the brakes. I braced for the impact.
Somehow I must have turned the wheel enough to only sideswipe the passenger side, or else a guardian angel watched over me. The car came to a halt in the tall grass about twenty feet off the road.
Daring not to move until I caught my breath, I stayed strapped in my driver’s seat for a minute. I turned the car over, but nothing happened.
“No, don’t do this.” I turned on the ignition again. Nothing.
“Freaking great. Good thing I have Triple A. We’ll see how long it takes a tow truck to get here on a Friday evening out in the middle of Nowhereville.” I didn’t know why I was talking aloud to myself, except being back in this small town wasn’t suiting my psyche well.
With the sun setting, it was doubtful I’d get service soon, but I dialed the number, anyway. At the first ring, a honk from the road took my attention. A tow truck appeared, backing up to me. What luck? I hung up the call.
I got out and stood by the car, still keeping my phone in my hand. Living in New York City had made me vigilant for my safety, and skeptical of people in general.
The tow truck driver got out and walked toward me. With the low sun at his back, I couldn’t tell much about the man at first.
“Well, well. If it isn’t Cindy Hale. Nice of you to grace us with your presence after all these years.” He knew me right away.
I didn’t need light to know him from his voice. “Ryan Lee? What are you doing driving a tow truck?” My heart started racing, which it shouldn’t. We’d left things amicably years ago.
“It’s called working for a living. You didn’t think I could be the star quarterback from high school the rest of my life, did you?”
“No. No, of course not.”
His denims and a tight white t-shirt and his full, kissable lips finally came into view as he stepped closer. “Of course, if you stayed in touch with your old friends, you’d be up on all the latest gossip. Like where I work, and how I spend my time. But I suppose you never cared about any of us, anyway. All you cared about was leaving and never coming back.”
Freaking great. Another thing to talk to Mom about. Here was Ryan Lee, my best-friend—or was it ex now?—and another reason I avoided Glendale Falls. I’d hoped to get in town under cover of darkness, attend dad’s funeral, attend my older sister Marcie’s baby shower, and leave before Ryan even knew I was there.
Here he was, rescuing me instead. Unavoidably standing in front of me, waiting for me to say something. And all I could think of to say was?—
“Been skinny-dipping at the pond lately?” Jeez. I rolled my eyes at myself.
He snorted. “Not in the middle of spring. Besides, I don’t have time for shit like that anymore,Cynthia. Now, if you’ll please stand back so I can get you the hell out of this mess and into town, that’d be about the best thing you can do for me right now.”
