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“Debbie Harry, that’s cute,” Connie says.
“Please change now. Don’t worry. I won’t peek,” I give a look over towards Mari.
“It looks like there’s a few thousand dollars in here!” Connie exclaims. “I can’t accept all this.”
“Consider it a favor. You owe me and Mari a favor in return if we ever need it. Deal?”
“Me and Mari,” Mari repeats softly with a smile.
“Thank you! It’s a deal,” Connie says.
“Where are we going?” Mari asks.
“Connie looks like she’s in good enough shape for—” Mari gives me a curious look as Connie finishes my sentence.
“The Appalachian Trail.”
13
MARIKA
My eyes open, and there are trees on either side of the road. It looks a lot like when we first drove onto the highway. I must have dozed off for a few minutes from all the excitement. Our destination must be close since Josef is pulling off at an exit.
“Thank you for helping us,” I say after we pull off the road into a small parking area. Josef turns the car around and backs into a spot next to a trailhead.
“Thank you both for helping me,” Connie says.
“No problem. But no time for long goodbyes either. Good luck, Connie,” Josef says without getting out of the car.
“I’m getting out to say goodbye,” I say.
“Fine,” Josef says and pulls out his cell phone.
“Good luck and stay safe,” I say after getting out and giving Connie a hug.
“Let’s go!” Josef says, annoying me a little. Connie nods at him in understanding.
Connie smiles at me as she loops her arms through the pink backpack straps and walks onto the trail. There’s a sign saying the Appalachian trail is 2,190 miles long and 912.9 miles from here to the trail’s ending point in Maine. Connie’s going to Connecticut. I’m not sure how far that is from here, but I figure it’s probably a few hundred miles. I get back in the car, hoping she’ll be alright.
“Texting someone, now?” I ask Josef.
“Just letting my friend know about the good deed I did for the day.”
“You told someone where we dropped Connie off?
“Quite the contrary. I did let him know she’s alright. He saw her at Siren Studio and seemed to like her. I also told him to put the word out that um, um, let’s just say the Siren won’t be looking for her anymore.”
“Your world is nuts.”
“Yeah, it is.”
“Where are we?” I ask. I’ve never been here. I don’t think I’ve ever been this far away from home.
“The town of Wind Gap. We’re still in Pennsylvania. You were sleeping for about forty minutes. ”
“Really?” I didn’t think I was out for that long.
“Yeah. You were talking in your sleep. Mostly saying my name. It was a little embarrassing, the way you were saying it, with Connie in the car.”
