“When we’re done eating, we better move on,” Jess suggested, setting the table with plates, cloth napkins and silverware. “I can smell that ham for blocks.”
Mannie nodded. “Well, I’m pretty wired. I could drive for a while. BeeGee? You want to stay?” He cleared away the maps, folding them neatly.
“I dunno.” BeeGee came over and sat down at the table. “Guess, I’ll go on for a bit, ’til I decide what to do next. Randy’s always been there. Don’t really want to be alone.”
Something relaxed in Mannie. He understood not wanting to be alone. There was power in numbers. Three’s company. And he didn’t feel good about leaving BeeGee.
Mannie stepped out onto the porch and turned the gas off on the grill. He wheeled it inside as he heard dogs barking nearby.
Jess wasn’t kidding about the ham. By the time it was inside, a pack of dogs circled the yard. One of the dogs, a Shepherd mix, stared brazenly in through the front glass door.
The ham was juicy. He sliced off the burned outer skin and then big slabs fell to his fork. He laid the ham on their plates next to the green beans, olives and fruit cocktail. It wasn’t the worst Thanksgiving meal he’d ever had.
Jess said a short blessing.
Mannie closed his eyes and held his tongue.
BeeGee said, “Amen.”
They ate with gusto. No one spoke.
The dogs scratched at the door.
Finishing off the last bits of fruit, Mannie said, “Thanks, Jess. That was a great idea.”
“Thanks, I...” Jess looked up from her plate; her eyes grew large. “Uh oh.”
Mannie spun to the front door. The dogs whimpered and howled. But a larger shadow crossed the glass. A wild-eyed dog-man stared in. “Shit.” The pack of dogs was larger than before.
Mannie didn’t want to face another rabid attack. He raced to the door and flipped the deadbolt in place. “Okay. Let’s throw the food out the front windows and then get out the back door.” He took a butcher knife and hacked more of the ham into large hunks. The center was still frozen.
“BeeGee, get the back door open and see if it’s clear.” He handed the plate of ham to Jess. “Hand ‘em to me when I get the window open.”
“Only one dog, back here,” BeeGee called.
“He’ll come around front, I think.” Mannie jerked the window aside and shoved the screen out. He tossed the ham past the furthest dog to attract the starved and vacant-eyed creatures. Jess followed suit. The dogs and the dog-man mobbed toward it.
“It’s headed around front,” BeeGee yelled. “I’m going.”
Mannie pushed Jess toward the back door. “Run.”
Jess tore toward the back of the restaurant with Mannie close behind. Mannie hopped in Rubi and cranked her up. They spun past the pack as they fought for their meals.
About 15 minutes later they turned onto US 491, BeeGee muttered something and Mannie thought he saw her cross herself in the rear view mirror.
“You okay, BeeGee?”
“Fine.” She nodded. “Say your prayers.”
“Why?”
“This highway used to be Route 666. It’s the real Highway to Hell, The Devil’s Road. Weird things happen.”
Mannie smirked and Jess stifled a giggle.
“Laugh if you want. There’s skinwalkers, dead girls, haunted semis.”
“Well,” Mannie said, watching BeeGee in the rear view mirror, “there probably are a lot of dead folks hereabouts, but I don’t expect to see them.”
“If you’re lucky,” BeeGee said and her focus returned to her phone.
Night darkened fully and with no city lights around the stars came out by the thousands. Mannie drove in silence, they were all lost in their own thoughts. The snow started to fall as he pulled the Jeep in at a motel in Dove Creek, Colorado. He had put as many miles behind them as he could for the day.
23
ON THE WAY BACK FROM the pool area, Zach let Nev lead him by the hand. He watched her towel-wrapped slight curves, walking in front of him, thankful she was in front and perhaps not noticing her effect on him.
“Which room do you want?” Zach asked.
Nev glanced back at him with a grin. She shrugged. “I don’t know. Yours?”
Zach had a thousand things he wanted to say. His brain spun through them and nothing at all would come out. “Uh. Shouldn’t we tell Lizzie where we’ll be?”
“Why? She’ll be fine. Or she can find us.” Nev pulled him inside and shoved the door closed. “Now shut up and kiss me.” Her smile dared him like it always had.
Zach grinned and leaned in. She did not laugh or move away when their lips met. The soft warmth of her lips pushed back against his. Her arms were strong; she’d rubbed his shoulders to try to get him to relax in the hot tub. She wrapped them around him, her hands slipping inside his towel, grabbing his buttocks. Oh, my. Then she fell backward, pulling him onto the bed as the towels fell. He kissed down her neck to the spot he’d tickled under her collarbone. The smell of chlorine reminded him of her quick disrobing and her lithe form slipping into the hot tub’s bubbles.
He knelt in front of her; her body arched as his lips went lower. He knew she wanted him as much as he wanted her, but then he remembered the mess he and Lizzie had made. Nev’s hands held his head to her chest. He could hear her heart pounding. I don’t want to mess this up. His hold on her relaxed and his breath shuddered out. He wanted her, but he could wait. “Nev,” he said, his soft voice hoarse, “Maybe we should just snuggle.”
Her hands relaxed. “Yes,” she said and exhaled. “Okay.”
Zach climbed onto the bed, pulling the sheet over her in the light of the nightlight. She made room, nestling herself under his arm and laying her head on his chest. Her fingers found his, intertwining, squeezing her gentle answer. There would be time for them to make a decision they both might not regret.
Lizzie woke with a calm pleasant feeling she didn’t recognize permeating her awareness. Saj’s feet were on her stomach and he was pushed out at a right angle. His feet moved, pressing on her bladder. She extricated herself from the sheets. Spike and Charley were tangled in covers and no longer snuggled. As Lizzie padded to the bathroom a smile crept to her lips. How many more hitchhikers am I going to pick up on the way?
It was earlier than she was used to being up, so she stripped off her clothes and jumped in the shower. She realized it had been nearly two days since she’d had clean clothes. With clean clothes and her teeth brushed she felt brand new. She wandered next door, but stopped herself before she knocked on the door to Nev’s room. I’ll let her sleep.
Lizzie went back and repacked Saj’s diaper bag. Sometime soon they’d either have to do laundry or get more clothes. Whichever was less work. If Nev helped, the shopping would be easier.
She sat down with her notebook and a pen and wrote herself a long diary entry. Partway through, a Creedence Clearwater Revival song insinuated itself into her head and their words turned into her lyrics.
Cuz we’re a travelin’ band with our parts to play
The music is fine when it all goes our way
But the road it is long and the voices are strange
That keep telling us all keep your eyes on the road
Keep your eyes on the road
Whichever way you’re going
Keep your eyes on the road
Without you it’s still flowing
If you wanna come along, then you can join us
If you wanna wave us past, you don’t need to know us
If you wanna little love, come and ride beside us
But keep telling us to keep our eyes on the road.
Her brain heard music. Damn. She wished she had a guitar or a bass. She sang the words over and over trying to nail it down. Maybe today they could stop at a music store. It had been a long time since her muse had sung a pleasant song to her. Saj stirred and Lizzie again thought about getting Nev or Zach up, but she could handle it.
A few mi
nutes later there was a soft knock on the door. She opened it to Nev and Zach, both looking fresh and clean. And happy.
“We need to get a guitar today,” she whispered, inviting them in, “or a bass. I started a new song.”
“Cool,” Zach said. “Let’s get both? Acoustic maybe? We’ve got room.”
“As long as we don’t pick up any more strays,” Lizzie said.
Nev smiled and hugged her. Lizzie stiffened as if her calm would go away if she shared it. “What’s this for?” she asked, then she softened into the hug and held onto Nev.
“I always wanted to reach Charley.” Her eyes strayed to the still sleeping boy. “But he wouldn’t let me in. Now he’s with us. It feels good.”
“Yeah.” Lizzie nodded, letting go, the warm calm still infusing everything.
“I’ll check for music stores on our way this morning,” Nev offered. “There’s got to be places in Vancouver.”
“The boys” started waking up as the “adults” voices got louder with the excitement and joy. Zach went off in search of continental breakfast; Nev and Lizzie pulled gear together. They were fed and on the road by nine o’clock.
Online, Nev located River City and Sound, a music store nearly on the way. Somebody had broken in before them, but Zach found a Martin Traveler guitar and a Kelly Travel bass. Lizzie carried the bass to the car and worked on translating the sounds in her head onto the fretboard.
Lizzie switched sides to behind Zach so she could turn in her seat and finger the bass without danger of hitting Saj. The bass’s hum pulled Saj’s attention like a magnet. Whenever she plucked a string his eyes grew and his hands went back and forth on his car seat like he was playing the bongos.
Everything stopped when Zach drove them across the Columbia on I-205. Mount Hood was impressive etched against the sky and the river was wide broken up by islands covered with greenery. To the west, Lizzie could see the airport tower south of the mighty Columbia.
Spike and Charley played some game in the back. She could hear Charley giggling and Spike doing his snorting guffaw from time to time. When her fingers ached and she’d written down the basic notes, she stuck her head over the back seat to check on them. Charley was feeding Spike bits of bacon left over from breakfast. “Whatcha doing, Charley?”
“Teaching Spike to talk.” He said it as if she must have been stupid to not realize it.
“But you’re not talking,” Lizzie said. “Just laughing.”
“Watch.” Charley tapped the tips of his fingers and thumbs together and then scraped the fingers of his right hand in a circle on his chest. Spike made similar motions and Charley handed him a bacon bit that Spike swallowed. Charley touched his flat palm to his chin and pushed it toward Spike.
“Thank you,” Lizzie said. “I know that one.”
Spike copied him.
“My brother was mostly deaf. Too many ear infections. So I learned sign language. To talk to him.” Charley paused, his lip pursed for a second then beamed. “Used up all the leftovers, but he can do it.”
From the front seat Zach laughed. “Awesome. Can you teach him to say, ‘I need to go to the bathroom?’”
“I’ll work on it,” Charley said. “But I’ll need more food.”
“That’ll make sure he has to go!” Zach said. “Win-win.”
“How do you say good job?” Lizzie asked.
Charley demonstrated: flat hand down into other flat hand and then double fists together.
“Like, thank you with a twist.” Lizzie practiced.
Charley grinned proudly and told Spike, “Good job,” with the signs.
Lizzie said, “Good job to both of you,” and added the signs herself.
They both signed “good job” and “thanks” back to her.
“Charley, I think it will help Spike if you say it out loud, too.” She turned back around in her seat. “Zach? Think we can stop for something to give Spike in bites?”
The rest of the drive Zach stopped at each rest stop and Charley patiently asked Spike in words and signs if he had to go to the bathroom. God, I hope this works.
Spike ate bags of chips and crackers, fruit snacks and cheese sticks, jerky and nuts.
At each stop, Lizzie worked on her new song.
Zach tried to play the chords on the guitar that she suggested, but his fingers were out of shape and the tips soon ached. He promised to play a little every day until they came back. Nev kissed his fingertips when he complained.
Nev danced with Saj, who stood on the ground and bounced. His hands alternated, flapping up and down like he was drumming. His whole face lit up. It was almost as much fun for Zach to watch Nev trying to copy him.
The afternoon culminated with success. Spike said yes, he had to go to the bathroom. They stopped and he did. They all cheered. Lizzie gave Spike a big hug.
Lizzie sidled up to Zach afterward and whispered, “You need to give him a shower.”
Great. My favorite. He nodded, his jaw clenched. Something in Lizzie’s tone set him off. She was pissed. He could tell. What the hell had he done this time? Did she think he and Nev had sex last night? Even if nothing really happened? A heavy sigh escaped his throat. “Somebody else needs to drive for a while. Lizzie?”
“Okay. Sure.”
Nev started to get in the back.
“No,” Zach said, surprised and instantly regretting the tone in his voice. He softened it. “Nev. You can sit in front. I’m going to sit back here and try to sleep.” His hand brushed her hair as she turned away. Damn it. Now he’d probably pissed Nev off, too.
Lizzie had a way of making everything into some big drama. And he couldn’t really explain to Nev. He could blame it on cleaning up after Spike, but it wasn’t the whole truth. What if Lizzie and Nev talked? Okay. Next chance, I’m coming clean. No bad stuff between me and Nev. He tried to rest and sleep, but nothing came except more worries. He played the conversation over and over in his head. He could take his chances, but if it came out later? Then it would be really over. She couldn’t blame him for being honest, right? He could hear Lizzie’s voice. Don’t be naive, Zach. Of course, Nev could and probably would be pissed even if he was honest. Still better than this.
He slept. When the car stopped, he came awake.
“Break time,” Lizzie announced. She opened her door and jumped out, heading for the mini-mart at a jog.
“We need to talk,” Nev said, getting out of the Tank and slamming the door behind her.
“Shit.” Zach turned around. Charley and Spike were staring at him. “What? You heard Lizzie. Break. Everybody out.” He shoved his door open and flipped the seat forward. Nev was striding away back down the street toward a rock formation. He didn’t know where he was, but he knew he was in trouble. Had Lizzie said something while he was asleep?
He paced, keeping his eyes on Charley and Spike and listening for Saj until Lizzie came out. “I’m going to go talk to Nev.”
Lizzie nodded.
Zach jogged in the direction Nev had gone.
“Thanks for not leaving the kids alone,” Lizzie called after him.
He found a park with an outdoor pool and a skate park in the distance. The slim girl he sought, sat with her head down on a picnic table under a kite-shaped white shade. He slowed to a walk as he got close. He wanted to put his hands on her shoulders and rub the tension away, but he had no idea how she would react. He went around the other side and sat down. “Hey.”
“Hey,” Nev answered, not looking up.
“Let’s talk.”
“Go ahead, Zach.”
He sat, his brain reeling through words he wanted to say and a lot that he didn’t. He grabbed some and spit them out. “Lizzie and I slept together.”
He didn’t see any response from Nev. He felt all wound up, a ball of fear. He had to explain.
“Before I called you. When we thought we were like the only people left.”
Nev raised her head up and looked at him, staring into his eyes.
Zach met her gaze. “It was weird. We’re both pretending it didn’t happen.”
“And doing a pretty shitty job of that,” Nev said.
“Yeah.” Zach’s heart beat fast. He wanted to hold her. Promise her… Promise her almost anything. Instead, he agreed. “I’m sorry.”
“Me, too.” Nev got up and walked toward the skate park.
“Can I come with you?”
“Only if you want to,” Nev said, her voice soft.
He slid out from the picnic table and ran to catch up. Her hand dangled at her side. When they reached the trees, he grasped it gently.
She didn’t pull away. “Is that why you didn’t sleep with me last night?”
Zach walked along, thinking, feeling her hand holding his. “I didn’t want to fuck it up.”
“Good plan.” Nev glanced over at him, tears in her eyes, but a bit of glow and a half smile. “What’re you going to do about Lizzie?”
“I don’t know. Talk to her, I guess.”
“Good idea.”
Behind them, the Tank pulled up near the slides and swings. Lizzie was calling to the boys, “Park. It’s a park.”
“Spike, let’s play Hide and Seek,” Charley hollered.
Nev and Zach walked away from the skate park and into the lightly wooded area.
“I’ll get stuff out for lunch,” Lizzie called after them. Nev waved and Zach copied her.
“Talk to her. We’ve hardly been on the road and it’s already unbearable.”
“It’s not a picnic for me,” Zach said. “But, yeah. I get it. Lizzie will be fine. I’m worried about you. And me. Us.”
Nev turned to him, her lip twitched and the tears fell. She leaned toward him, her hand slid behind his head and tugged his face down toward her. Their lips met. “That’s why I need you to talk to her.”
Zach wrapped his arms around her and held her tight, letting their lips rest together, touching. Then she buried her face in his chest and squeezed him back.
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