“I don’t even know at this point.” He sounded so defeated.
It made me want to pull him back to my chest and hold him until we were both whole again. But there were more pressing matters.
Like not freezing to death in this icebox.
“What’s the plan?”
“Well, I have an emergency kit in the trunk with a flashlight and all sorts of other stuff. Plus, our bags are back there. The seat folds down if I can get this lever to work.” He pulled on a latch buried in the crevice of the seat, and the seat tilted, revealing a dark trunk.
Everything was backward since the car was upside down. He had to push the seat up, and of course it wouldn’t stay. I offered to hold it, because no way was I crawling into that small, pitch-black space.
Greg leaned in, tossing bags out. After more than one landed on my toes, I stretched to one side and only used my fingers to keep the seat propped up. With a triumphant noise, he emerged, the emergency bag in hand. Thankfully, the flashlight was a crank one and not battery operated. Once he’d wound it up, he pulled his gloves on and stuffed a bottle of water into his pocket.
Then he turned again to me. “I’ll be as quick as I can, okay, Jellybean?”
I pressed my lips together, trying to keep a lid on my emotions, but I couldn’t help throwing my arms around him once more. I squeezed him tightly, and he held me, one gloved hand smoothing my tangled hair.
He touched a kiss to my forehead. “Goodb—”
I clamped a hand over his mouth. “Don’t you dare say that to me,” I said furiously. I blinked several times before I could speak again. “See you soon.” I watched him fight a smile behind my fingers, one that spread across his face as soon as I removed my hand.
“See you soon.”
We’d agreed that I’d stay in the back seat since the snow would have to go somewhere, and some of it would end up in the car. He’d get out, find the cabin, and come back for me. I watched him shove the passenger door, his muscles hidden under his winter layers, but I knew he was straining. The door slowly opened wider and wider, some snow spilling in like we knew it would.
Time was of the essence now. The cold had seeped into the car, sucking out the heat. Greg would be completely exposed to the elements, and the snow was still coming down. He offered me a reassuring wave before he disappeared completely, shutting the door behind him.
The car already seemed smaller. I sat down hard, pulling my knees to my chest and wrapping my arms around them. I kept glancing at the windows, but they were in solid white. Nothing but walls in every direction, no light, no sky, no moon, no—
I cut off my train of thought, knowing it would get me nowhere fast. Greg’s cabin. I’d think about that. Would it be big and spacious? I laughed because knowing Greg, it would be a one room hut, built out of Lincoln logs with a fireplace you had to cook over, minimalist all the way. And neat as a pin.
How long would we be stranded there? If we even made it to the cabin. No. When we made it to the cabin, I’d have to talk to him, tell him I’d overheard his stories about me. My chest ached once more, hoping this wasn’t how we were going to end things.
I glanced around the car. Was the light growing dimmer? I wondered how long he’d been gone. Why hadn’t I checked my phone when Greg left? I pulled it out now, surprised to see it was one-thirty-five a.m., officially over an hour into the New Year. What a way to begin.
My breathing started coming in shorter, quick breaths, and my eyes darted from window to window. I couldn’t focus on anything but the walls and the solid white behind the panes of glass.
Still hugging my knees, I started rocking back and forth. What else can I do? Count. That’s right, one technique my therapist had suggested was counting. One Mississippi. Two Mississippi.
Two hundred of those miserable moments later, and I hated the state. Why Mississippi anyway? And where is Greg? I was going to die here, a Rhonda-sicle, frozen and alone in an upside-down Town Car with dirty pictures from Kevin on my phone. I wouldn’t even live to exact my revenge on that sleazy scumbag.
Just then the door on my right opened, and more snow tumbled in. A bright light shone in my face, making me hold up my hand as I squinted.
“Sorry that took so long,” Greg said, his cheery voice making me tremble as I wrapped my mind around his presence. “Hand me a bag, will you, Jellybean?”
He came back. He found the cabin. My relief at his appearance overwhelmed me, and I dissolved into a tearful puddle, burying my head in my knees.
“Oh, shit, Rhonda.” His voice drew closer as he continued murmuring, “Rhonda, hon, I’m sorry. I’m here, it’s okay.” His arms came around me, encompassing me, knees and all.
Together we rocked. My tears froze on my cheeks, and I started shaking.
“Jellybean, you need to get warm.” He picked me up, maneuvering me out of the car. His big boots crunched in the knee-high snow as he marched through the dark, the flashlight’s narrow beam lighting our way. Wood reverberated beneath his feet when he connected with the cabin’s porch, and he set me down in front of the door. “Go on in, you just gotta punch in the code. It’s your birthday, month and day. I’ll grab our bags.”
Wait, what? Why would his code be my birthday? I stood stunned for a second before common sense sunk in, and I punched in ten-eighteen. The keypad beeped, the deadbolt opened, and I walked in. An LED lantern sat on the dining room table, lighting the spacious room with high ceilings. A stairway sat beyond, leading to a second floor. But I found my way to the plush couch, plopped myself on it and promptly passed out from sheer exhaustion.
* * * *
I knew I was dreaming. It was one of the recurring nightmares I’d had since being locked in that closet. The dream always took place with me trapped in the trunk of a car, banging on the lid as water rose steadily. Like someone had pushed the car into a lake with me in it.