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My heart sank. She really was having a rough time. “Well, perhaps I’ll try and call then,” I said. “Merry Christmas, Fred.”
“Talk to you soon, and have a safe trip out to LA,” Fred said. “Make sure you don’t forget about us out here in Willow Valley.”
I smiled. “That would be impossible.”
When I hung up the phone, I thought back to our conversation. I felt that Fred had wanted to tell me something more about the situation, but then perhaps he didn’t. I mulled around my quiet apartment for the rest of the night. I decided to get to bed early. It was only eight-thirty. I lay on my back, thinking back to the conversation I’d had with Fred earlier, a nagging feeling in my gut.
I grabbed my phone and looked up Brooke’s number. Fuck it, I thought to myself as I stared at the screen. I hit the green call button and waited until it rang. Only she didn’t answer, and her voice-mail didn’t come on. I hung up and called back, only to receive the same result.
* * *
December 26th
Everything had been picked up by the movers and was already on its way. I’d decided to drive instead of fly. I figured I had a couple of weeks before I had to start, and this way I would get to see numerous locations along the way.
I’d stopped for gas before leaving the bed and breakfast I’d decided to stay in for the night and checked my GPS. Luck would have it, there was a lot of construction this way and I’d need to reroute my trip. I studied the map and asked for the shortest distance to get to the next major city and hit start. It started rattling off directions at me faster than I could catch them, and I threw my phone on the console.
I pulled out of the parking spot and began following the course it had picked, left and right, down this side road and that one, until I felt a funny thud. I slowed on the gravel road I was on and slowly pulled my car over to the side of the road, cutting the engine. I climbed out and walked around the car, finally spotting the problem. The driver’s side rear tire was flat. I ran my hand through my hair and looked around. I had no idea where I was or how far I was from a service station and the scenery looked the same in both directions. The last place I’d filled up for gas was the last service station I’d seen, and I had no clue how far it was from me now.
I went around to the driver’s side and popped the trunk. I had to have my spare. I lifted the floor and noticed that my spare was gone. I’d remembered removing it not that long ago and putting it in storage in the basement of my condo building because I needed extra space in my trunk to bring something home. That spare still sat in the basement of my building. I kicked at the gravel, hating myself for thinking this was a good idea.
When I’d calmed down enough, I looked at my GPS long enough to find the closest intersection, then called my roadside assistance. Within minutes, they had patched me through to an operator and were sending a tow truck.
With the car safely loaded onto the flatbed, I climbed into the front of the truck with the driver. He pulled away and drove slowly down the road, allowing me to take in the vast landscape. He made a turn, and I had to blink twice as I read the words on the sign we’d just past. Willow Valley Retirement Residence.
“I’m taking you to the nearest garage I know out this way. They probably won’t have the tire in stock you need, but there is a cute little inn out here that I am sure will have room. It’s a quaint little town. Has everything you’ll need until they get you up and running again.”
“Thanks, I um…I know it…” I said, swallowing hard.
I looked out the window as he drove through town. First, we passed the tree lot on the left-hand side of the road, now empty, a few trees still standing there. Then the park. It was daylight now, but kids skated on the pond, some tobogganing down the hill. I thought back to the first night I’d kissed Brooke by the gazebo and smiled to myself. Then I glanced up and saw The Crispy Biscuit. I’d hoped to catch a glimpse of Brooke, but all the lights were off inside. She must be closed today as well, I thought to myself.
“I’ll take you over to the inn, then take your car to the garage. It’s not far from the inn.”
“Thanks,” I muttered, looking over my shoulder in the direction of the small diner.
* * *
Two hours later, I’d had an estimated date for when I’d be back on the road. It wasn’t as quick as I needed. It was going to take almost two weeks to get the tire, which would make me late for work.
“There’s no faster way to get them?” I asked. “I have to be in LA.”
“No, no. With the holidays and now New Year’s, the distributors aren’t shipping. The good news is that they have the tires in stock in the warehouse, but the bad news is they have no drivers until the third of January.”
I still had a five-day drive at best to make it out to LA. “Okay, thanks,” I mumbled. With my head hung low, I made my way out of the garage and into the parking lot. A gust of wind kicked up, and I pulled my jacket up around my neck. These dress jackets weren’t made for this type of weather, I thought to myself. I reached into my pocket and grabbed my phone. I’d have to contact my new boss and let him know I was basically stranded here until after the new year. I quickly hit dial and waited while the phone rang.
“Hello.”
“Hey, Lance, it’s Tristan.”
“Tristan, good to hear from you. Listen, there has been a change of plans. I need you here by the thirtieth.”
I closed my eyes. That was in three days. There was no way I could make it. “Ah, Lance, about that…”
“No worries, I’ve ordered everything for the menu. I just need a chef to prepare it. Marc came down with the flu.”
I didn’t say anything. I just listened to Lance breathing on the other end, waiting for my response.
“I don’t want you to panic. I know you don’t know the menu. I promise after this, you can design whatever it is you want going forward, but for now, we have to go off the old menu.”
