slight dusting that blew away as she walked. No problem driving. This stuff was powdery.
Still, she pulled out too quickly, making the car fishtail at the bottom of the drive. Her poor Californian car was not used to its new big bad snow tires.
She turned on the radio to keep her company. A country-western station blared new country. She wasn’t sure who. Kenny, Tracy, Chesney, Heaney. Something or other. They all sounded alike, but it was either this or the oldies station. She’d heard “I Will Survive” too many times this week.
April realized she’d never told Mitch about J.B. She’d have explaining to do when the news broke tomorrow. She’d blame him and his Three B’s—bath, Baileys, back rub. He’d managed to obliterate her thinking mind within minutes of her stepping in the door. Perhaps a repeat performance would be required to remind him.
She passed only one car on the country road where Mitch lived and soon was at the turn to the major highway through town. She turned on her blinker, feeling silly as there was no one around to see it.
She did obey laws even when no cops were about. She’d been known to pay the bridge toll at the Delaware Water Gap even when the wooden arm was stuck in the upright position.
She’d always had a good relationship with the police before she moved back to Aldenville and met Officer Yost. They’d gotten off to a bad start her first day on her new job, and they hadn’t recovered. Perhaps by obeying all the traffic rules, even when he was probably home, snug as a bug in his bed, she might win some karmic brownie points.
It was good that the roads were clear and empty. She was feeling so relaxed, her reaction times would be way off. Right now she wouldn’t be able to sense danger. Whatever hormones Mitch had sent rushing through her body were making her feel like her skeleton had turned gelatinous. She smiled and glanced at the mirror, ducking away as she saw her reflection. She looked like an idiot, grinning at herself.
She couldn’t help it. Being with Mitch, even for only a few hours at night, made her happy. Very happy.
A stop sign, with snow atop it like icing on a cake, loomed in front of her. She came to a complete stop. She was alone in the intersection.
She pulled out her phone. Mitch wouldn’t get any real sleep until he knew she was home safe. She punched the message and sent it to his phone. “Home safe.” A little white lie. He’d be able to get some serious rest now.
He took good care of her. The least she could do was return the favor.
She pulled onto the roadway. The terrain was so flat and empty that she could see the lights of the truckers on Interstate 80 just a mile or so to the east, driving on their parallel track. Maybe heading to the early morning markets in New York. Traffic moved swiftly. She enjoyed the feeling of company despite the fact that the cars and trucks were a mile away.
It felt good to have Mitch in her life. Had anyone ever cared about her the way Mitch did? By the end of their relationship, she and her ex, Ken, had led separate lives. He wouldn’t have cared that she was driving alone late at night on a deserted road.
She’d thought she wouldn’t like having someone to account to. But she’d been wrong. She liked calling Mitch when she woke up, during her lunch break and when she got home from work. They exchanged texts and IMs several times during the day. She thought she’d get sick of all the contact, but she never tired of opening her phone to see the smiling face he sent her or finding him online and getting a cheery “Hey!” from him.
She should have been to the Turkey Hill by now, and then the traffic signal. But she didn’t see the bright lights. The road curved, and she realized she’d made a wrong turn. Nothing looked familiar. In the snow, landmarks were no longer recognizable. She must have turned off Mitch’s road too early.
The hairs on April’s arm tingled. She took in a breath and leaned
Still, she pulled out too quickly, making the car fishtail at the bottom of the drive. Her poor Californian car was not used to its new big bad snow tires.
She turned on the radio to keep her company. A country-western station blared new country. She wasn’t sure who. Kenny, Tracy, Chesney, Heaney. Something or other. They all sounded alike, but it was either this or the oldies station. She’d heard “I Will Survive” too many times this week.
April realized she’d never told Mitch about J.B. She’d have explaining to do when the news broke tomorrow. She’d blame him and his Three B’s—bath, Baileys, back rub. He’d managed to obliterate her thinking mind within minutes of her stepping in the door. Perhaps a repeat performance would be required to remind him.
She passed only one car on the country road where Mitch lived and soon was at the turn to the major highway through town. She turned on her blinker, feeling silly as there was no one around to see it.
She did obey laws even when no cops were about. She’d been known to pay the bridge toll at the Delaware Water Gap even when the wooden arm was stuck in the upright position.
She’d always had a good relationship with the police before she moved back to Aldenville and met Officer Yost. They’d gotten off to a bad start her first day on her new job, and they hadn’t recovered. Perhaps by obeying all the traffic rules, even when he was probably home, snug as a bug in his bed, she might win some karmic brownie points.
It was good that the roads were clear and empty. She was feeling so relaxed, her reaction times would be way off. Right now she wouldn’t be able to sense danger. Whatever hormones Mitch had sent rushing through her body were making her feel like her skeleton had turned gelatinous. She smiled and glanced at the mirror, ducking away as she saw her reflection. She looked like an idiot, grinning at herself.
She couldn’t help it. Being with Mitch, even for only a few hours at night, made her happy. Very happy.
A stop sign, with snow atop it like icing on a cake, loomed in front of her. She came to a complete stop. She was alone in the intersection.
She pulled out her phone. Mitch wouldn’t get any real sleep until he knew she was home safe. She punched the message and sent it to his phone. “Home safe.” A little white lie. He’d be able to get some serious rest now.
He took good care of her. The least she could do was return the favor.
She pulled onto the roadway. The terrain was so flat and empty that she could see the lights of the truckers on Interstate 80 just a mile or so to the east, driving on their parallel track. Maybe heading to the early morning markets in New York. Traffic moved swiftly. She enjoyed the feeling of company despite the fact that the cars and trucks were a mile away.
It felt good to have Mitch in her life. Had anyone ever cared about her the way Mitch did? By the end of their relationship, she and her ex, Ken, had led separate lives. He wouldn’t have cared that she was driving alone late at night on a deserted road.
She’d thought she wouldn’t like having someone to account to. But she’d been wrong. She liked calling Mitch when she woke up, during her lunch break and when she got home from work. They exchanged texts and IMs several times during the day. She thought she’d get sick of all the contact, but she never tired of opening her phone to see the smiling face he sent her or finding him online and getting a cheery “Hey!” from him.
She should have been to the Turkey Hill by now, and then the traffic signal. But she didn’t see the bright lights. The road curved, and she realized she’d made a wrong turn. Nothing looked familiar. In the snow, landmarks were no longer recognizable. She must have turned off Mitch’s road too early.
The hairs on April’s arm tingled. She took in a breath and leaned
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