Page 114 of Pain in the Axe
I waited on hold while she called. For several minutes, the line was quiet, but when she clicked back over and said “policeare on their way,” her voice sounded less shaky. “I have to end this.”
My chest swelled with pride for her. “If anyone can do it, you can. And you’re not alone.”
We stayed on the phone until I could hear the sirens in the background. Relief flooded my veins. “Okay,” I told her. “Go talk to the police. I’ll be there soon.”
Guilt tore through me as I navigated the winding mountain road. I’d come back to Maine to strengthen my relationship with her, to support her the way she deserved. And I’d gotten so distracted with Gus and the Hebert Timber and the baby. My stomach lurched as I thought about what could have happened tonight. And I vowed I would never let anything like this happen again.
Along with the guilt, bile rose in my throat, and then my stomach was twisting painfully. Shit. The sun was almost fully set, and it would be dark soon. This wasn’t an ideal time to pull over onto a country road, but I had no other choice as my festival food threatened to make a reappearance.
Slowing, I pulled onto the shoulder. There wasn’t much of one—this road was cut right through the forest—but it was my only option. The second the SUV came to a stop, I threw it in park and jumped out of my car to retch.
This was a new low. I was puking and flailing and scared, and people I loved were in danger.
Celine needed me, yet I was stuck here, heaving my guts up. The police were there, and she was in good hands. I knew that, but that didn’t ease my fears.
I’d had a plan, God dammit.
I was ruthlessly organized and executed each task with precision.
How had everything gone off the rails so spectacularly?
Holding tight to the bumper, I bent at the waist and threw up again. It was a pleasant reminder that I was not as invincible as I thought I was.
Finally feeling as though I could get in the car and continue to Celine’s, I pulled myself upright. Only when I did, my stomach bottomed out.
Holy Shit.
Ten feet away from me, standing in the middle of the road, was a moose. A big one.
My entire body trembled. This was bad. Very bad.
It was a bull with a huge rack of antlers, though he seemed more curious than aggressive.
Slowly, I inched around to the front of the car.
Was he watching me?
He didn’t move from his spot in the road, so I kept scooting, not taking my attention off him, holding on to the car until I reached the passenger side door. Heart racing, I jumped in, slammed the door, and hit the locks.
When I peeked up at him, the damn moose was still staring at me.
That’s when I lost it. Kicking, screaming, and crying.
“What the fuck?” I yelled. I needed to go, dammit.
I rolled down the window. It was probably a terrible idea, but I wasn’t exactly in my right mind. “Why is everything such a goddamn mess?” I shouted into the night. “Why can’t I get anything right? All I do is vomit and worry and panic about everything.”
I punched my steering wheel once, then again. Fuck, why couldn’t I get it together? What was wrong with me?
My sister needed me, yet here I was, being held hostage by a fucking moose.
“Everything is shit,” I screamed at him.
He was unmoved by my breakdown.Asshole.
The tears fell unchecked as I slumped back against the seat. Control felt so far out of reach. I didn’t have time for a roadside nervous breakdown. Celine needed me. But this asshole moose was still in the goddamn way, judging me.
What the hell was I supposed to do now? Rage and disappointment and defeat swirling, I grabbed my phone and dialed Gus.
