Page 69 of Not Just Gal Pals

I jolted awake a little later. Someone was touching my shoulder.

“Sorry, ma'am, but your ticket was for Sapphire Springs, and we’ve just passed it.”

Disorientated, it took me a few seconds to process what had happened. When it did, my stomach lurched into my chest. I’d fallen asleep and missed my stop.

“Oh no!”

The ticket collector looked at me sympathetically and glanced at her watch. “We’ll be arriving in Milford Falls in a few minutes. The next train back to Sapphire Springs will be in about an hour.”

Shit. I’d miss most of the fundraiser if I waited for the next train.

Mom. Maybe Mom could pick me up. I called her, and to my relief, she agreed.

While I was waiting for the train to arrive in Milford Falls, I quickly did the math. It was nearly 6:30 p.m. It should take less than fifteen minutes to get back to Sapphire Springs, so I should still get there before the fundraiser started…just. I might not have time to talk to Blake, but at least I’d be there to support her.

As soon as the train pulled up at the station, I rushed out and ran to the parking lot where I’d agreed to meet Mom. While I was waiting, I let Walter out of his crate so he could stretch his legs. Ten minutes later, Mom’s pickup truck pulled up. I threw my luggage and the crate into the backseat, and then jumped into the front seat with Walter.

Mom looked at me. “Hi, honey. So, are you going to tell me what’s going on? Not that I’m not thrilled you’re back so soon, but…”

I ignored Mom’s question, giving her a hug and asking her another question, which effectively gave her the answer she wanted. “Great to see you too, Mom. Can you drop me off at the fundraiser?”

“Ah, I see.” Mom grinned. She started the engine before I’d even had a chance to shut the door. I’d almost pulled it shut when the truck jerked backward before proceeding speedily out of the parking lot toward Sapphire Springs.

I clutched the side of the door. “Mom, come on. You’re not driving me to see Blake because I’m having a medical emergency. I know the fundraiser is starting soon, but you can slow down. At this rate, I’ll vomit on her as soon as I get out of the car. And that’s not the look I’m going for. As you may have guessed, I’m trying to win her back, not revolt her.”

Mom rolled her eyes and sighed. “Okay, okay,” she said, reducing her speed.

Ten minutes later, we arrived back in Sapphire Springs, heading toward the school. I’d only been away from Sapphire Springs for twenty-four hours, but driving up Main Street, lit by the old-fashioned cast-iron lamp posts, passing the familiar, gorgeous old red brick buildings, the American flags, Builders Arms, Novel Gossip, Olivia’s flower shop, it felt like it had been much longer. Warmth radiated through my body.

I was home.

With that pleasant thought, I pulled down the sun visor to check how I looked in the mirror. Good lord.

My hair was falling out of the sad ponytail I’d been wearing for twenty-four hours, my eyes were bleary with dark bags underneath them, and my face looked wan.

I searched in my backpack for my brush and found the serum and moisturizer I’d bought at the airport. I lathered them both on my face, hoping they would rejuvenate as promised, and started brushing my hair. Mom turned off Main Street and drove down the dark side street toward the school.

I was just putting my brush back in my bag when a sudden impact flung my body to the left, smashing into the side of the door. I grabbed Walter, holding him as our bodies bounced in strange directions. My stomach clenched as I tried to process what was happening.

And then everything stopped moving with a sickening jolt. What the…?

The car was on a strange tilt.

We must have veered off the road. Fear constricted my throat as I looked over at Mom. Thankfully, she was still in one piece, muttering about icy roads.

“Are you okay?” we asked each other in unison, both nodding in response. Thank god. I quickly examined Walter, who, to my relief, also appeared unscathed.

With some difficulty, we struggled out of the truck and surveyed the damage. The truck itself didn’t look damaged, but it did look...stuck. Very stuck. In a ditch.

“Shit.” It was 6:52 p.m. I tried calculating how long it would take to jog the rest of the way, putting my Turkey Trot training to good use, but I couldn’t in good conscience abandon Mom.

I shivered, drawing Walter, who was in my arms, closer to me. It was still snowing lightly, and the temperature had dropped now the sun was down.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted car headlights approaching. A small, red sporty-looking coupe slowed, pulling off the road next to us. Please, please be someone we know.

“Jenny? Sue?” Tom Harrison, the very same mechanic who had been on that panel with Blake and me what felt like months ago, hopped out.

“Hi, Tom. We, uh, had a little incident,” Mom said sheepishly.