“We could recline the seats,” Madison suggested, seeming more willing to run for it.
“Grab your pillow.” Jazz fought her way to the end of the makeshift bed and felt around for her shoes.
“I’m ready,” Madison said. “Should we tell Dad we’re going?”
“I don’t think he’ll hear you if you try,” Jazz said as Collin began to snore louder.
“What time is it, anyway?” Madison asked.
Jazz pushed the button on her watch and groaned. “It’s a little after twelve.” She thought about spending at least six hours in the van with the windows rolled up. It would be stifling.
Jazz felt around on the floor until she found the jeans Collin had been wearing. Locating the pocket, she retrieved the keys and pushed the Unlock button. “Go get in the van, Madison.”
The zipper pull clicked as the teeth separated, allowing Madison to squeeze through and run to the van.
Using her hands to feel in front of her for wet spots, Jazz crept to Collin’s side. She shook his shoulder and whispered, “I tried. I can’t do this. Madison and I will be back in the morning.” She waited to see if he responded.
He didn’t. She pushed the button on her watch next to his face to see if he responded to the light. He rolled away from her.
At the doorway she whispered, “Bye, boys. Enjoy the night.”
* * *
Collin woke from the best sleep he’d had in a long time. The diffused light coming from outside the tent made him wish he could wake this way every morning. His stomach growled. He’d be making scrambled eggs, toast, and coffee over an open fire. Just a few minutes more, he thought as he sank back into sleep.
He dreamed of living on a mountain with Jazz by his side. They had a log cabin, no electricity or water. They were a mountain couple, not needing more than each other to survive. Jazz whispered something—did she say she loved him? He felt her touch his face.
“Daddy, wake up.” Tim poked him in the ear with a finger. “I’m hungry.”
“Me, too,” Joey said. “Where’s Madison and Jazz?”
The dream popped from Collin’s mind, but the aftereffects stuck to his memory like gum in his hair. He pushed Tim’s hand away from his head. “Maybe they’re outside.”
“It’s raining, and the van is gone. Did they go to get us breakfast?” Joey asked. “I wish they would have taken us with them. I’m cold.”
Collin raised himself up on his arm and looked over to where Jazz should have been sleeping. Her pillow was gone, and so was Madison’s. Little rivers of water ran down the side of the tent next to Joey’s bed. The corner of his sleeping bag had sucked the water like an absorbent paper towel, spreading it across the bottom of the bag. No wonder he was cold. Collin scratched his head. Where did Jazz go?
“Well, boys, let’s get dressed and make a fire. I’m sure they will be back soon.”
Tim and Joey bumped into each other as they tried to pull on shorts and socks.
“Where’s my shoes?” Tim yelled, flipping his brother’s T-shirt into a puddle on the tent floor.
“Where did you leave them?” Collin asked while tying his sneakers.
Joey grabbed his shirt and smacked Tim on the head. “We left them in the van, remember?”
“Oh, yeah.”
Collin sighed. The weather report had been warm and sunny all weekend. This trip was not turning out like he’d planned. “Stay in the tent until I get a fire going, and then you can sit there until Jazz and Madison get back.” And it better be soon, he thought.
The cold rain soaked through the back of his shirt while he huddled under a tree. No food, no matches, and no cell phone. They were all in the back of the van. He had left everything locked safely inside, away from the morning dew. Jazz had taken everything with her. His earlier dream of living like a mountain family seemed more torturous than idyllic.
Poking his head through the tent door, he saw two uncomfortable boys huddled together. “I have bad news, boys. We’re not going to have breakfast or heat until Mom and Madison return.”
“Are they bringing doughnuts?” Tim asked.
“When are they coming back? I’m hungry,” Joey said.
“I don’t know. Want to play cards while we wait?” Collin stepped inside and rummaged through his duffel bag. “I’m sure I have some in here.”
Tim peered over his shoulder. “Do you have any candy in there?”
“I don’t think so, Tim Bear, but I do feel something.” He pulled out an unopened chocolate-peanut-butter-with-cranberries energy bar. “What do you say, guys? We’ll split it three ways.”
Tim wrinkled his nose. “No thanks.”
“Me neither. How old is that? You should check the expiration date,” Joey said.
“It’s been in there a long time. It’s probably older than you.” Collin tossed the bar back to the bottom of the bag. “We’ll leave it until we’re almost unable to move from hunger.” As the first wafts of breakfast smells from the other campsites entered their tent, he added, “And that might not be as long as we think.”
Chapter Seventeen
Pipes knocked in the wall behind Jazz’s bed as the occupant in the next room turned on the shower. Jazz awakened with a leisurely stretch and flung off the heavy comforter. It felt early, but the line of bright sunlight sliding through the curtains let her know it wasn’t. She climbed out of the comfortable bed. In the bed next to her, the only thing visible was a strand of Madison’s blonde hair. She gently shook Madison’s shoulder. “Wake up. It’s late.”
Madison groaned and rolled away from Jazz. “Just a few more minutes?”
“No, we can’t. I planned for us to be back before the boys woke, but it’s almost ten.” Jazz walked to the bathroom. “As soon as I’m out, you’re in, all right? So don’t go back into a deep sleep, Madison Girl.” Not receiving any indication that Madison had heard her, Jazz flipped on the television. She surfed the channels until she found cartoon robots. She had discovered how much Madison hated cartoons and hoped the screeching voices would wake her. She smiled when Madison popped up from the bed.
“I hate that show.”
“I know.” Jazz grinned. “Call your dad on his cell phone and tell him we’re leaving soon. I don’t know where my phone went.”
When Jazz came back from washing her face, Madison had dressed in her jeans and T-shirt. “Is Collin mad?”
“Beats me. My phone is dead.” Madison pushed past Jazz. Just as she entered the bathroom, she called out, “Besides, didn’t he put his phone in the van with the food to keep it safe?”
Jazz felt the blood rush from her head to her feet. “I didn’t see him do that. Hurry, Madison, we have to get back.”
She gathered the pillows they had brought along, collected the books they had been reading, and had the keys in her hand when Madison came strutting out the bathroom door, hands full of tiny bottles.
“I’m taking these. They’ll be cool to take when I go to a sleepover. Can we stop in the lobby downstairs and get breakfast?” Madison asked.
“I don’t think we better. I imagine there are going to be some very hungry males waiting for us.” Her foot tapped as she waited for Madison to tie her shoes.
“Then we’d better bring them food so they don’t have to cook,” Madison said. “They can stuff their mouths and won’t be able to yell at us.”
“Good idea. We’ll stop for doughnuts. Now let’s get going.” Jazz guided Madison out the door. “I’ve got all our stuff, and I used the video checkout system. All we have to do is find the best doughnut shop in the universe.”
* * *
At the campsite, Collin attempted to make a fire using matches and dry kindling from a neighboring camper. He was worried. Their neighbors had offered the use of their cell phone, but when he tried calling Jazz, she didn’t pick up, and Madison’s phone went straight to voice mail. He didn’t want to call his friends and admit his crazy wife had taken his daughter and left him and the boys. They
had to return soon. Madison probably insisted on stopping for some important hair item, he tried to reassure himself. He would continue to treat this as a fun challenge for his sons.
“Now remember, boys, when Mom and Madison get back, you have to pretend you’re really hungry.” Collin paced in front of the two sitting on the concrete table. “We’ll tell them later about how we found neighbors to give us food.”
“It was fun begging for food.” Tim grinned. “I’m going to try that when we get home.”
“No, you’re not. I told you this was an exception.” Collin frowned and stopped in front of his son. With his finger under Tim’s chin, he tilted the boy’s head. “Right? No begging at home.”
“Okay. But it was fun.” Tim’s lower lip trembled. “Is Mom coming soon?”
“I’m sure she’ll be here in a few minutes.” Collin looked up as he heard a car coming slowly down the blacktopped street. He scowled. “That better be them.”
It wasn’t. The glum faces of his sons looked at him for reassurance, if not answers. He needed to turn this back into an adventure, fast. “Let’s go for a hike, men. There’s a little store down the road. Who wants a candy bar?” He was thankful Jazz had not taken his wallet along with her.
“Me! Me!” the boys yelled. Tim and Joey slid off the picnic table, big toothy grins splashed across their faces as they followed their dad.
* * *
Jazz pushed the accelerator harder. “I can’t believe it took us so long to get these doughnuts. Hand me my cup?”
Madison reached across the van and held out the coffee. “Careful, it’s hot.”
The tire fell into a pothole. Jazz bumped the cup with her hand, and the hot liquid spilled onto her lap. “Ouch!” She glanced down at her leg.
“Watch out!” Madison cried.
Jazz looked up to see the van shooting straight at a pine tree. She didn’t have time to react, and the front of the van struck the trunk. Both air bags shot from the dashboard with a loud bang. For a second the world turned white and silent. Then a hiss began as her bag deflated into her lap.
Stunned, Jazz gasped. “Madison, tell me you’re okay.” She reached across the seat and touched Madison’s face. “No blood or cuts.”
“I’m okay. Are you?”
Jazz grimaced. “I think so.” As a mother, she still wasn’t doing well. Twice now she had failed. Losing Tim and now involving Madison in an accident. What if the third thing killed one of the kids? Be quiet, she told the voice in her head. You’re just saying that because you’re a writer and you always wonder “what if?” It doesn’t mean it will happen.
Jazz wrinkled her nose. “Stinks in here.” She opened the van door and stepped out. Seeing the front of the van mashed by the tree, she said, “I’m toast. Collin is going to kill me.”
Madison came around the other side of the van, wiping dust from her face.
“We’re miles from town, but not too far from the campground. Think you can walk about a mile?”
“Do I have a choice?” Madison said.
Jazz held back the smile of relief at Madison’s sarcastic tone. At least she knew Madison was normal. “No, not really. We could wait and see if someone comes along, but it’s almost lunchtime.”
“Dad is going to be so mad.” Madison zipped her jacket. “How are you going to explain this?”
“I don’t know. The truth, I guess.” Collin would be mad. Her rating as a wife had to be around a zero. First jail and now this.
“How are we going to get back home?” Madison asked.
The road stretched far into the distance. “Let’s just walk. Maybe some answers will miraculously come to me.” Jazz reached into the car, grabbed her purse and keys, and locked the van.
Madison fell into step next to her. “Did you hit your head hard?”
“I don’t remember; I don’t think so, why?”
“You have blood,” Madison said, “on the side of your face.”
Jazz raised her hand and touched the spot. Sticky. “Is it bleeding a lot?”
“No, some of it’s dried already. I was wondering since you hit your head again if you’re Jazz or Mom?”
Madison’s hopeful face peered at her. “It doesn’t work that way in real life.” Jazz wished she knew what answer Madison wanted to hear, but she only had one to give. “I’m still Jazz.”
“Okay, then.” Madison turned away, and Jazz couldn’t read her expression. The flat tone in her voice gave no indication.
What seemed like hours passed by before Jazz saw the little hut where the park attendant kept wait for new arrivals. Her feet hurt. Her ears buzzed from listening to Madison’s relentless litany of how her life couldn’t get any worse. Her only hope right now consisted of a ride from the front of the park to their campsite. Beyond that, she didn’t care anymore.
She should have cared.
She should have been praying, Jazz realized as she saw Collin pacing the campground. The ranger pulled into the small gravel driveway next to the tent.
“Thank you for the ride,” she said as she and Madison climbed out of the golf cart.
“No problem,” the ranger said as he turned off the engine.
Collin walked over. “What happened?” He grabbed Jazz into an embrace and inspected her face.
“She’s still Jazz, Dad.” Madison pushed past him. “By the way, I’m okay too.”
Collin released Jazz and reached out to snag Madison by the arm. He pulled her close. “I’m glad you’re safe, too, pumpkin.” He gave her a quick kiss on the forehead and let her go.
“The van hit a tree,” Jazz said. “The airbags came out, and we walked back to the park. We had doughnuts for you and the boys. They’re still in the van, though.”
“Excuse me,” the ranger interrupted. “Is there someone I can call for you?”
“I have a phone. Did you bring it with you, Jazz?”
“No.” She sighed and leaned against the side of the golf cart. “It’s still in the van.”
Collin frowned. “Everything is in the van, Jazz, including the boy’s shoes.”
“Sir, your wife thinks the car is about a mile from the park entrance. I can give you a ride in my car, and we’ll pick up the kids’ shoes and your phone.”
“Thanks. I can call someone for help then, along with the insurance agent.” Collin hopped into the golf cart.
* * *
Collin finished packing the last of the camping equipment into the rental van. He looked up to see Jazz watching him. As soon as she noticed his gaze, she dropped her stare. He thought if it were possible, she would curl up on the ground and cover herself with a blanket in an effort to be invisible.
He didn’t know what to say to her. He had handled everything wrong in his marriage. At least he felt that way after reading some of Louisa’s journals. He knew Jazz was fragile, and he couldn’t express the anger he felt.
He slammed the back door of the van. “Everyone in?” he asked Jazz as a way to start the conversation.
“Yes,” came the quiet response.
“Let’s go, then.” He held out his hand as an offering of forgiveness. She hesitated, then took it. He gave it a gentle squeeze. “It will be okay.”
She smiled a half smile at him. “It will be more work for you. I’m sorry.”
“I know.”
“I feel bad the camping adventure turned out all wrong.”
“It’s a trip we won’t forget though, will we?” Collin leaned over and kissed her forehead. She didn’t back away from him this time. Instead, she tipped her head and brushed his lips with hers. His heart pounded. This kiss made the problems of the weekend seem small. Could it be possible she was beginning to accept him as her husband?
Chapter Eighteen
Settling back into his leather office chair, Collin held one of Louisa’s stories in his lap. His tuna sandwich remained untouched as he munched barbeque chips. As he continued reading, he felt he had made the right decision to build Jazz an office. When t
hey’d returned from the memory-making camping trip, he’d checked out the work that had been done while they were gone. The transformation from workshop to office was well on its way. The walls were painted a nice butter yellow, and the plush, sandy-colored carpet had replaced the workshop atmosphere.
At the end of the chapter, he set the pages aside and took a bite of his sandwich. Glancing at the clock on his desk, he decided he had enough time to read a few pages of Louisa’s journal. Not that he wanted to. Almost every page drew blood with the sharp words of disappointment in their marriage. He discovered Louisa thought taking out the trash was equal to hugs and kisses. One day he had driven the soccer car pool, and she had written three pages on how wonderful it had been to have time alone to write.
He picked up the journal and then set it back down. He couldn’t do it. He didn’t want to read about his old life. Now he had Jazz to love. His heart quickened as he realized what he had never admitted. Could it be possible Jazz was easier to love than Louisa? He wanted to know everything about Jazz: Why did she stare off into space and then jump when he touched her arm? Why did she dissect movies when she watched them? That’s it. He would learn all her secrets.
After a few moments he decided to take her away for a romantic getaway—no kids, no tents, and if it rained, it wouldn’t matter. He pulled out his BlackBerry and opened the calendar to check when he could leave. He couldn’t go on Friday, but if they left after lunch this Saturday, he wouldn’t have to be back until court Monday afternoon. He had heard his secretary talking about a quaint little town not too far away—R-something? He grasped the phone on his desk and asked his secretary to come in.
* * *
Hail crashed against the window, waking Jazz. The lightning flashed repeatedly. She pulled the blanket over her head to block the irritating light. Inside, a headache kept time with the rolling thunder.
She flung back the covers and fumbled for the bedside light. The switch clicked in her hand. Nothing. The clock next to the light no longer gave off its familiar eerie green glow. The air stilled, and for a second, the house seemed to have no life. The ceiling fan no longer turned; the vents didn’t send out air. Just stillness, then thunder, louder than before. She clutched her head between her hands in an attempt to stop the pain. The ibuprofen was downstairs in the kitchen.
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