I make a quick trip through the drive thru and then call my mom. She doesn’t answer, probably because it’s four in the morning, but I leave her a voicemail message telling her about Aunt Donna. Then I take a sip of my iced coffee which is just as good as the picture made it look, and I call Ethan.
“Baby,” he answers. The one word, spoken in a raspy sleepy voice, makes my heart warm. “Are you okay?”
“I’m perfect,” I say, unable to hide my smile now that I’m talking to him again. I guess the cell phone towers are finally calming down and letting calls go through again.
I tell him that I’m back on the road but that I have to pick up my aunt first. He tells me which route to take, and I don’t think I’ll have trouble remembering it. All we have to do once I pick up my aunt is take a right on a county road and ride it straight to I-45 and then it’s a straight shot to De Sota. Ethan tells me that the interstate is still open on both sides of the road, all lanes going north. So we’ll be able to make it to our destination in no time. He also tells me what he’s seen on the news, about how the storm just touched down on the coast as a category five.
I try not to think about the damage being caused right now. I just need to focus on getting back safely. Ethan and I both agree that his parents probably won’t mind if I bring my aunt. If we don’t have enough beds, I’ll just sleep on the floor. I’m pretty sure their nice hotel suite won’t have spiders the size of my head crawling around. Ethan talks to me the whole time I’m driving down to the Kountry Korner store. It feels like a part of my soul has been put back into place, and I’m energized with hope and happiness again.
These last twenty four hours sucked, but they’re almost over. The sun will be up in an hour, and we’ll be so close to the hotel, it won’t take long at all to get there. Ethan says he’ll leave soon and meet me at the hotel. He doesn’t say much about his night, but that’s probably because I spend the whole time talking about what a nightmare mine was.
“I can’t wait to see you,” I say.
“You have no idea how badly I want to see you,” Ethan says. “I’m going to wrap my arms around you and never let go.”
“I’m not sure they’ll want me attending my college classes with you holding onto me.” I’m trying to be playful, but the mention of college sends a stinging ache through my chest. Just because we’re dealing with this stupid storm doesn’t mean all my real life problems have gone away. If anything, they’ve only been made worse. This week was supposed to be my last fun time with Ethan. Now it’s all ruined, and he’s probably going to be pushed even further from me once I go to college.
He chuckles, seemingly unaware of how much my own comment hurt me. “Drive safe, okay? I’ll head out soon. As soon as we get to the hotel, we’re hitting the hot tub. Just you and me.”
I swallow down my pain. “Sounds good. I love you.”
“I love you too, baby,” he says, and it doesn’t sound like anything’s wrong. I hold onto that hope as I find the sign for Kountry Korner and pull into the parking lot. It’s a combination gas station and diner, and there’s already some people eating inside. I don’t have to look hard to find my aunt.
She’s the tall woman wearing a long patchwork skirt and a black tank top that shows off her tanned skin. She has two tattered suitcases beside her, and she waves excitedly as I get out of my car. She looks pretty much exactly how I remember her. Her skin is weathered from years of being in the sun, making her look older than she is. She’s thin and tall, and has a smile that fills her whole face like Julia Roberts.
“Hey, darlin’,” she says, wrapping me in a hug that smells faintly of coffee and body odor. I can’t complain because I’m pretty sure I smell the same way.
I’m starting to think that this little detour will be okay. Aunt Donna seems fine, and even though we’ve never been alone together before, I think having someone to talk to in the car ride will be better than being all by myself. Plus, I’m an adult now. There’s nothing to be worried about.
“Are you ready to go?” I ask.
“Yep,” she says. “I spent my last five bucks on breakfast and coffee. There’s nothing left for me here.”
I take her suitcases and carry them toward my car.
“Wait a second,” Aunt Donna says. Then she turns to the side and calls out, “Roscoe! Come meet Ella!”
I lift an eyebrow. She hadn’t said she was with anyone, and the sudden thought of bringing some strange man in my car does not sit well with me.
But then a large dog lumbers toward us, his tail wagging and his mouth hanging open in a big smile. He walks right up to me and licks my hand.
“This is Roscoe?” I ask.
Aunt Donna nods and pats him on the head. The dog is huge, probably two hundred pounds and all shaggy white fur. “I hope it’s okay that he comes along, too? He’s my best friend. I can’t live without him.”
I stare into my car’s backseat which barely has enough room for Aunt Donna’s two suitcases. My trunk is full of my stuff, and the front seats aren’t made to accompany a gigantic bear of a dog.
“Sure,” I say, wondering if pets are allowed at the Poe’s swanky hotel.
It’s not like things could possibly get any more complicated.
