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CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
“Ifeel like I’m wearinga full body diaper,” Alice complained as she shimmied around in her giant black snowsuit.
Marge gave her a tap on the shoulder, and the material crinkled beneath her touch. “Well, I plan on driving like the wind, so you may get scared and piss yourself. Consider them doing double duty.”
“Great,” Alice mumbled.
“You really don’t have to do this,” I said as I zipped up my suit over my purse filled with credit cards and travel documents strapped to my chest, just like the other Widows had done. “I will completely understand if anyone wants to stay back.”
Alice sighed then shook her head. “No. I’m doing this. Where you go, I go. Let’s hurry up and get this over with so I can get out of this stupid suit.”
“I just called and checked. The airport is still open,” Johanna said as she walked into the candlelit room. The power had gone out fifteen minutes earlier. “They are clearing the runways fast enough that they should be able to get you out tonight. Of course, there is a chance you’ll get grounded.”
“It’s a chance we have to take,” I answered quickly. “I’d rather be at the airport and ready to go then here and miss a flight.”
“The trail is impossible to miss,” Olavi said as he handed Marge her helmet. “I wish I could go with you, but I need to stay here and get the generators going. Johanna doesn’t know how to operate them, and if they go out while I’m gone, we’re in a lot of trouble. The pipes can freeze fast in this weather.”
“We’ll be fine,” Marge said. “Just stay on the trail, and we’ll pop out right to the edge of the city. Right?”
He nodded. “Exactly. Just leave the snowmobiles and helmets there at the edge of the woods, and we’ll come pick them up after the storm. You’ll need to keep your snowsuits on to protect you from the weather while you hike the last quarter mile or so to the town. Hide the snowmobile keys nearby and take a photo so I know where they are. Once you’ve finished the hike to the city, you can call for a cab to get you the last few miles to the airport.”
“Will cabs even be running in this?” Alice asked.
Olavi nodded. “It’s these back roads that don’t get touched until after the storms, but the plows constantly loop around the city so people can get around the big towns. Just get to the city, and the roads should be clear enough to get you to the airport.”
“Roger that,” Marge said.
“And you’re sure we won’t get lost?” Doris asked, concern threaded in her voice. “I don’t want to get stuck out in this blizzard.”
Olavi shook his head. “The snowmobile trail has been cut through the woods. It’s impossible to miss. Just don’t drive off into the trees, and you can’t get lost.” He paused. “Maybe I should go with you.”
“Olavi,” Johanna said softly. “You can’t go until you at least get the main generators going. I have no idea how to work them.”
“We don’t have time to wait,” I said. “I appreciate the offer, but if you’re sure the trail is unmissable, then we’ll leave now so we don’t miss that flight. The next one isn’t until tomorrow night. That’s too long.”
“You can’t miss the trails,” he confirmed. “And I’m going to give you a two-way radio in case you get into trouble. If you get stuck or lost, stay where you are and contact me. I can come and get you as soon as I get the generators going and everything secured. But if all goes well, you shouldn’t have any trouble. Just make sure you radio when you get to the town, so I know that you’re safe and the location of the snowmobiles after you leave them. If I don’t hear from you within ninety minutes, I’ll take a snowmobile and come search for you.”
“Thank you, Olavi. Johanna. Thank you so much. I can’t tell you how much it means to me you helping us like this. You have our credit card numbers, so please charge us for our snowmobile suits we won’t be able to return and anything we don’t get back and the cost of shipping our stuff. Or a sizeable fee for being such a huge pain in your butts.” I leaned forward and pulled them both into a hug, my huge snowsuit making it difficult to raise my arms around Olavi’s massive frame.
They squeezed me back, then Johanna said, “Just get home to your girl. We’ll make sure to send all your stuff out as soon as the storm clears. It will get back to you safe and sound.”
With one last goodbye, the Widows and I left the lodge and stepped out into the blizzard. The wind whipped against our snowsuits but the chill didn’t penetrate.
“These suits are awesome! I’m toasty as hell in here!” Marge said as she walked up to the first snowmobile.
“I look ridiculous, but I am warm,” Alice said.
“Okay, how are we doing this?” I asked.
“Two per snowmobile. I’ll drive with Alice, you drive with Doris.” Marge paused and gave me a look. “And Dorisdoesn’t drive.Comprende?”
“Comprende,” I answered, and I meant it. This wasn’t the time for taking risks with Doris’s ability to control anything requiring steering.
“Then let’s roll out, soldiers!” Marge waved her hand in the air, then jumped onto her snowmobile.
