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“You’re what?!”
“I got a late start, and I’m from North Carolina. We never get anything like this. We tried walking, but a whiteout convinced me that walking was out of the question. It’s too cold and too windy. We half froze walking forty yards.”
“Stay in your car and keep your phone on.”
“You’re going to send someone? That would be so great.”
“I’m not sending someone. I’m coming for you.”
“No, Codrin, no, you can’t get out in this storm. Send the police or something. I tried calling them, but the emergency lines are busy.”
“Stay in your car. Share your location and I’ll use GPS to find you. It might take a while but don’t try to walk home. Got that?”
“Got it.”
“Good. Your daughter is with you?”
“She is.”
“Keep her warm.”
The connection was severed. I looked at my phone, checking the battery. It was half full, but that was hardly enough. So I shared my location with Codrin.
“Who was that?” Emily asked.
“A man I work with. He’s going to try and help.”
“It’s awfully cold.”
“It is. Pull your legs up underneath you. We’ll stay warm. I promise.”
I looked out the windows, but I could see nothing. The snow was building, making the inside darker than ever. I hoped that the snow would provide some insulation, like an igloo. As soon as I had that thought, I wondered if air could get into the car. I would hate to pass out from lack of oxygen. How was I supposed to check that? I tried to determine the direction of the wind. Then, I might be able to crack a window. Why didn’t I know how to survive being trapped in a snowstorm?
Because I lived in the South.
I cracked a window, and it proved to be the right one. Yes, the car got a little colder, but no snow sneaked in.
Every few minutes, I checked my phone, which did nothing more than drain a little more energy from the battery. I didn’t try to talk to Emily, which allowed her to sleep. I waited, hoping Codrin would find me, but I didn’t give him much chance. I would have to stay alive and awake till morning. After the storm had passed, Emily and I could get our bearings and find a place to stay safe.
Morning.
Could we last till morning? I thought we probably could, but we might not come out whole. Frostbite was a vicious thing that I had only heard about. I liked my toes. I liked Emily’s toes and fingers. I would hate for either of us to lose them.
The wind keened around the car, the cracked window. Emily slept. I prayed. I wasn’t much for prayer, but I figured every little bit would help. I checked my phone.
Nothing.
I wished I could see. The snow had turned the car into a cave…or a dungeon. There was no way out, not yet. I considered turning on the car and running the heater for as long as it would work. That might help a little. I would do that if the inside got much colder. To hell with the battery. Living was the only thing that mattered now. The rest was icing on the cake. Emily moaned.
“What is it?”
“My feet hurt.”
“Put them in my lap.”
Emily turned and put her feet where I could pull off her boots. Then, I massaged her feet and toes, trying to stimulate circulation.
“Are we going to die?” she asked.
