Re-Cap From the End of Book 2
As calm as I could, hiding how close to breaking I was, I told him, “Look Squirt, I need to get some gas for the van and some sugary energy for my own tank before we get back on the interstate. You want anything?”
“Gummy worms? Please?” He asked hopefully.
“All right. I’ll even get you a blue Slushie, a small one. But … no more questions for a bit okay? I’m still pulling the plan together in my head.”
“Sure Aunt Gus!”
I hated lying to him, it always cut me so deep, but I needed him to stop asking questions too. Little kids are so oblivious about stuff. I on the other hand was shaking bad and trying to hide it. I was still almost painfully angry … but fear was in there too. So was despair and a lot of other things.
I pulled in and all the pumps were busy, so I took a parking space and told him to stay put, that I was going to get his worms first. As I was about to get out Benny says, “Hey look! Lev is still here!”
I turned and looked and sure enough, the man who was supposed to have been gone yesterday was sitting in roughly the same place he had been the last time I saw him.”
I locked Benny in the van and walked over. “Lev? Didn’t your ride show up?”
Obviously not in a good mood he snapped, “Does it look like it? What are you doing here? I don’t need pity.”
He looked tired and stressed but being I was in the same condition I let it pass. “Getting gas and trying not to feel sorry for myself … or let Benny know how freaked out I am at how upside down my plans have gone.”
He stopped feeling sorry for himself just that fast and gave me a good look. “Aw hell, you look like crap. What happened?” he asked while he scooted over so I could take a seat on the bench beside him.
“Gee. Thanks. And to answer your question, my world caved in. Or at least the part of it that I thought was under control. Need a lift some place?”
“Is Benny okay?”
I blinked. Then sighed. Someone got it. I wasn’t completely alone in this universe. “Yeah. And … thanks for asking. You’re the only one that has.”
“Which way are you going?”
“I have absolutely no freaking clue,” I told him in complete honesty.
He looked at me again. “Aside from the fact that since you are crazy enough to offer and I’m crazy enough to accept, are you okay to drive?”
“Yeah. As long as it is out of here. Memories are crowding and … and I need to find someplace that I can think without little boys with big ears figuring out enough that Aunt Gus is going to take a high dive off the pedestal she has been sitting on.”
“Nah. At least on that part. As for the place to think. Come with me to Alaska.”
I hope to the Creator that I am doing the right thing. Lev and I have a deal. Then again, I thought I was working on a deal with Rick. And for sure I thought I had a deal with Uncle Daniel. Not to be a drama llama, but if this “deal” falls through with Lev I think I’m off men for the rest of my life no matter how stupid and melodramatic that may sound.
Lev is actually going out of his way to prove himself. Maybe too far. I’m not sure what to make of it, or I’m not ready to consider what he’s willing to make of all of this. He even offered to sleep outside in a tent. The guy is nuts. He would have roasted, and I need him tip top to spell me on this lunatic road trip we are on. I am not putting Benny at risk.
On the other hand, he seems to be thinking of Benny for a lot of things. It is really bizarre how he sits down and goes over the route to make sure it isn’t all about him or us, that there are things for Benny to do as well. And he seems to get a kick out of it himself. I mean I know I do but sometimes I feel like a Den Mother, even more than when all of us were on the Florida Assignment.
As calm as I could, hiding how close to breaking I was, I told him, “Look Squirt, I need to get some gas for the van and some sugary energy for my own tank before we get back on the interstate. You want anything?”
“Gummy worms? Please?” He asked hopefully.
“All right. I’ll even get you a blue Slushie, a small one. But … no more questions for a bit okay? I’m still pulling the plan together in my head.”
“Sure Aunt Gus!”
I hated lying to him, it always cut me so deep, but I needed him to stop asking questions too. Little kids are so oblivious about stuff. I on the other hand was shaking bad and trying to hide it. I was still almost painfully angry … but fear was in there too. So was despair and a lot of other things.
I pulled in and all the pumps were busy, so I took a parking space and told him to stay put, that I was going to get his worms first. As I was about to get out Benny says, “Hey look! Lev is still here!”
I turned and looked and sure enough, the man who was supposed to have been gone yesterday was sitting in roughly the same place he had been the last time I saw him.”
I locked Benny in the van and walked over. “Lev? Didn’t your ride show up?”
Obviously not in a good mood he snapped, “Does it look like it? What are you doing here? I don’t need pity.”
He looked tired and stressed but being I was in the same condition I let it pass. “Getting gas and trying not to feel sorry for myself … or let Benny know how freaked out I am at how upside down my plans have gone.”
He stopped feeling sorry for himself just that fast and gave me a good look. “Aw hell, you look like crap. What happened?” he asked while he scooted over so I could take a seat on the bench beside him.
“Gee. Thanks. And to answer your question, my world caved in. Or at least the part of it that I thought was under control. Need a lift some place?”
“Is Benny okay?”
I blinked. Then sighed. Someone got it. I wasn’t completely alone in this universe. “Yeah. And … thanks for asking. You’re the only one that has.”
“Which way are you going?”
“I have absolutely no freaking clue,” I told him in complete honesty.
He looked at me again. “Aside from the fact that since you are crazy enough to offer and I’m crazy enough to accept, are you okay to drive?”
“Yeah. As long as it is out of here. Memories are crowding and … and I need to find someplace that I can think without little boys with big ears figuring out enough that Aunt Gus is going to take a high dive off the pedestal she has been sitting on.”
“Nah. At least on that part. As for the place to think. Come with me to Alaska.”
How To Get There From Here
I hope to the Creator that I am doing the right thing. Lev and I have a deal. Then again, I thought I was working on a deal with Rick. And for sure I thought I had a deal with Uncle Daniel. Not to be a drama llama, but if this “deal” falls through with Lev I think I’m off men for the rest of my life no matter how stupid and melodramatic that may sound.
Lev is actually going out of his way to prove himself. Maybe too far. I’m not sure what to make of it, or I’m not ready to consider what he’s willing to make of all of this. He even offered to sleep outside in a tent. The guy is nuts. He would have roasted, and I need him tip top to spell me on this lunatic road trip we are on. I am not putting Benny at risk.
On the other hand, he seems to be thinking of Benny for a lot of things. It is really bizarre how he sits down and goes over the route to make sure it isn’t all about him or us, that there are things for Benny to do as well. And he seems to get a kick out of it himself. I mean I know I do but sometimes I feel like a Den Mother, even more than when all of us were on the Florida Assignment.