Page 87 of Road Trip to Forever
Theo clearly isn’t all that talkative. He and and Jack could have a competition to see who could say the least amount of words. Our conversation ends, neither side having anything else to add.
“If you have any other free time while you’re down here, please come back,” Bridget says. She and Lola exchange a brief hug, then she looks at me. “Let me know if there’s anything else I can help with.”
“Thanks, Bridget.”
“My pleasure.” She waves goodbye and tugs Theo by his elbow toward the front of the store. His shoulders relax as they walk away and he slips an arm around her waist.
“He didn’t like my joke about how handy it is to work in a hardware store,” I say. “Bummer.”
“You didn’t nail it, did you?” Lola answers.
“Nope. Came up a yardstick or two short.”
“Stop.” She giggles and shakes her head. “Your jokes are abysmal.”
“You’re laughing, aren’t you?”
“Only out of pity.”
“You’re a good friend, Lola.”
“I can’t believe we just met my favorite author. How long have you been planning this?”
“Since the day after you found out about the show. Bridget did most of the work. She ordered the extra books so they’d be ready when we got down here. Made sure the signing started at seven-thirty instead of seven so we wouldn’t be late.”
“So many secrets. This kicks laser tag’s ass.”
“Nah. They’re both pretty awesome.”
“Imagine laser tag in a bookstore,” she says, plopping down in her wrought iron chair and taking another bite of pie. “Nowthathas some marketing potential.”
Thirty minutes later, we’re outside in the sticky humid air. The sky has turned dark, and a gentle breeze kicks up Lola’s hair and blows it across her face. A canvas tote bag with the signed books rests on my right shoulder, and Lola’s cheek rests on my left.
“Are you hungry?” I ask. “For dinner, not for a second round of pies. I’m cutting you off.”
“No. I’m stuffed.”
I open the door of the Jeep and help her inside. I set the bag on her lap and slide into the driver’s seat. “You look tired.”
“I’m just happy.” Lola smiles at me, exhaustion on the brink of delirium. Heavy eyes, the droop of her head against the leather seat, and a content sigh. The moon is bright tonight, shining on her face and making her almost glow. “You know that happiness where it feels like you’re going to burst? Your cheeks hurt from smiling so much and you want to sleep for ten hours, but you also want to stay awake because you don’t want the best day ever to end? That’s how I feel right now.”
“So it was a good surprise then,” I say, turning the key in the ignition.
“Patrick.” She yawns and closes her eyes, her smile staying in place. “It was the best surprise.”
* * *
Lola fallsasleep on the drive to the AirBnB.
Her legs are up near her chest. Her arms are around her shins, and her head lolls to the side, blonde hair curtaining half her face. There’s dried drool just below the left corner of her mouth, and at a red light, I lean over and wipe it away.
Beautiful, I think when I park us in front of the house.
Beautiful,I think as I lift her into my arms and kick the passenger door closed with my foot.
Beautiful, I think as she nestles in my hold and lets out a content sigh. She mumbles something about pie, then something else about squirrels, and I smile.
I can’t help but smile when I look at her.
