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The news was rather depressing. I figured if there was anything alarming, I would get an alert on my phone for weather or Amber Alerts. Anything else, Mom would call and fill me in.
“Maybe it’s not such a good idea for you to come.”
“Of course, I’m coming. I’m going to rent a car and drive,” I said, firm in my statement.
The video went wonky and came back with him mid-sentence. “Don’t worry about the cost,” before the screen froze completely and I accidently said, “Dad,” as the picture of his widened eyes were in pause mode as he looked off in the distance.
I composed myself and said his name, Christian, several times before the call ended. I tried calling him back without video several times, but the signal was gone.
All I could imagine was that my grandmother had died, and I wasn’t there.
My pent-up anxiety and frustration spilled over and the floodgates opened. I didn’t care anymore if Grant was talking about me like I was nothing. I tore through the doors and demanded, “I need to get to New York, and now.”
Grant’s father was the first to speak. “Honey, it’s just not possible now. This blizzard makes it impossible to fly, and even if it wasn’t here, it’s headed north.”
“I understand,” I said, even though I didn’t quite understand. We were in the mountains. Shouldn’t they be used to this kind of weather? No matter, I didn’t have time for a debate. “I just need a car and I’ll drive there.”
“There won’t be a car rental place open for miles. You’ll need to get to a bigger city,” Grant interjected.
“Whatever. Christian said money isn’t an issue.”
I wasn’t one hundred percent he’d meant that with the broken conversation, but I was going with it. My grandmother meant the world to me. Although I was grateful to have had that short video chat, I had to be there.
For a moment, nothing but the sound of the battering storm covered the silence, until a buzzing noise caught my focus. Grant lifted the phone and read something on the display.
After he did, he glanced up. “I’ll get you to New York.”
Both his father and I spoke at the same time. “What?” I asked in disbelief. “Son,” his father said. That one word conveyed all his disapproval.
Grant lifted his free hand and we stopped any further protest.
“Have you ever driven in this kind of weather?” I shook my head. “We’re in the Allegany Mountains and we aren’t used to weather like this. The roads are steep and hilly out of Maryland. The four-plus hour drive will probably be doubled no matter what.”
The possibility of being in a car with him that long caused me to shiver. “I can’t put you out like that.”
“You’re in luck. As it turns out, I need to be in New York too.”
Grant’s father gave him the oddest look that his son ignored.
“But first, we need to get you proper gear,” Grant finished. When I gave him my own perplexed expression, he added, “If for any reason we get stuck and we have to get out of the car, you won’t survive in that flimsy jacket.” He spoke to his father. “Can you get Chelsea to open the shop? Then we’ll eat at the diner before heading out.”
Mr. Arrogant turned into Mr. Bossy Pants. He didn’t wait for me to give a response. He just walked toward the room where the tiny bed was.
“Don’t worry. If he says he’ll take you, he will,” his father said.
It wasn’t as if I didn’t believe him. It was more I wasn’t sure I’d survive the trip. Four hours if we were lucky, he’d implied. Giving myself a pep talk, I asked,what could possibly happen?
10
Grant
She hadn’t thanked me.Though I hadn’t given her much time to do so. I’d been prepared to drive her to the city to get her rental car, washing my hands of her, until that text came through along with a string of emails.
Skyland Airlines wanted to push up my start date. There was a rash of illnesses that caused them to be short on pilots. My presence was requested in New York in two days to co-pilot a sold-out flight to Dubai.
I got my go bag from the back room Dad kept for sleeping when needed. I always kept a bag ready in case I had to make an unexpected flight. It had clothes and toiletries for a few days.
“Boy, what do you think you’re doing?”
