Page 5 of Take My Heart
Just past the Illinois border as I cross into Wisconsin, the gas light turns on. I pull off at the next exit and go to a truck stop. All 16 gas pumps are taken. I notice a car pulling away and race to take its spot. The place is busy for a Saturday in the middle of January. This is more like summer vacation season.
When I get out of the car, I notice people staring at me in my wedding dress.
‘Hey!’ a guy yells.
I look over and see a middle-aged guy in a brown parka smiling at me from the next row of pumps.
‘You a runaway bride?’ he asks.
‘It’s a costume,’ I say, not wanting to tell him what happened.
‘For what? It’s not Halloween, is it?’ He laughs.
A woman walks up to him, holding a bag of chips and a bottle of soda. She glances at me, then back at the guy. ‘Leave her alone,’ I hear her say in a hushed tone. ‘She probably has mental issues.’
Mental issues?She thinks I’m crazy? Because I’m wearing a wedding dress?
The gas pump clicks off and I put it back in the holder. I open the trunk of the car, unzip my suitcase, and take out the yoga pants and sweatshirt I wore to the church this morning. As I walk to the gas station, I see people watching me, some of them laughing.
Let them make fun of me. I don’t care. I’ve been humiliated enough today that it doesn’t even matter anymore.
Going to the bathroom, I find it’s closed for maintenance.
‘Great,’ I mutter to myself. I head to the register to pay. ‘Pump seven,’ I say to the cashier. I grab a candy bar from the rack. ‘And I’ll take this.’
The guy points to my dress. ‘What’s that about?’
‘Nothing.’ I take out some cash. I don’t have my credit card because I didn’t bring my wallet to the church. I didn’t bring cash either but Cam always keeps some in the glove compartment for emergencies. ‘What’s the total?’
The guy tells me and I hand him the cash. I only have a few twenties. What am I going to do for money? And where am Igoing? I should probably give this more thought before I start driving again, but I need to keep moving. I want to get as far away from Chicago as possible.
‘You heading north?’ the cashier asks, giving me my change.
‘Yeah.’ I stuff the change in my pocket.
‘There’s a bad storm coming that way. That’s why everyone’s filling up their tank. You might want to turn around unless you got a car that can handle the snow.’
‘I’ll be fine.’ I hurry out of there and notice the dark clouds and gray sky. It does look like it could snow, but I’ve driven in snow before.
Back at the car, I toss my clothes in the trunk. I’ll have to find another place to change, maybe the next rest stop.
When I’m back on the road, a thought hits me of where I could go. My grandparents have a cabin up north that they don’t use anymore. I went there a lot as a kid. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s a place to stay and they keep a key under the welcome mat. It’s the perfect place to get away for a few days. Quiet. Secluded. And no cell phone service.
My phone rings. I pick it up and see it’s my mom calling. I should probably answer it or she’ll have the cops out looking for me.
‘Mom, I’m fine,’ I answer.
‘Kate, you need to come home. I know you’re upset, but we can work this out.’
‘There’s nothing to work out and I’m not coming home. I’m on my way to Grandpa’s cabin. I’m going to stay there for a few days.’
‘The cabin? That’s a six-hour drive and a storm’s coming.Turn around and get back here. You can stay with your father and me tonight. You’ll get some rest and by tomorrow, you’ll realize this was all just a case of cold feet.’
‘It’s not cold feet. I don’t love Cam. I’m not sure I ever did. And honestly, I don’t think he loves me either.’
‘Oh, Kate, of course he does. He wouldn’t ask you to marry him if he didn’t.’
‘Mom, he doesn’t even know me, not the real me.’
