Page 65 of Caleb's Salvation
I watched Doogie land the plane, and when he slowed to a stop, I went out to greet him.
The door opened, and he didn’t bother with the step ladder. “S’up, Cal?”
“Know you just got back, but I need to get to Nome. You got enough fuel to make a round trip?”
“Yep,” he said with a slow nod. “Hop in.”
I threw the duffel I’d packed into the back seat of the plane. I’d managed to avoid everyone, leaving as early as I did. As part of the note I’d left Angel I told him to come pick up the truck from the runway when he got a chance.
The snow had already fallen, the winds had subsided. It was fucking balls-of-ice cold, but that wouldn’t stop Doogie from flying. I pulled the door to the Cessna closed, latched the lock and settled in for the flight.
“Where’re you going, Cal?” Doogie asked.
“Told you, Nome.”
“Nah, I mean, where’re you going?”
“Away,” I said.
It’s what I’d said when Sarah’s parents had asked me the same thing seven years ago. I told them I was leaving, knowing I might never see them again. They hadn’t objected or fought me. They understood. We shared our loss together.
Doogie didn’t say anything after that.
And I closed my eyes and tried not to think about what a fucking coward I was. I didn’t succeed.
* * *
Bud’s
That night
Vivienne
“What do you mean he’s gone?” I asked, my stomach dropping to the floor.
I was working since Eve and Zeke had Sam. Even though it was beyond cold, enough of the guys had ventured out to make the tips worth my efforts. I’d already been told if you let the cold stop you in Alaska, then you’ll be stopped most of the time.
Shelby had grabbed my hand and brought me to a table where Jackson and Eli were sitting with horribly stoic expressions on their faces.
That’s when Eli had delivered the news.
Cal’s gone.
“He left a note,” Eli continued. “Said he couldn’t stay. Not much more than that other than some instructions for me.” Eli’s hands were open like he couldn’t believe it.
“Did he leave me a note?” Because I deserved a note, damn it!
Eli shook his head.
He met me, and he ran. He kissed me, and he ran. He had sex with me, and he ran. Always running. Always away from me.
“Guess he ran out of places to hide from me,” I muttered.
Shelby grabbed my hand again. “Oh, honey, I’m so sorry. He’s just messed up in the head. You know why. But he’ll be back, you’ll see.”
I pulled my hand from her grasp and stood. I smoothed out my ponytail over my shoulder and lifted my chin. Mom had left. Dave had run. Pop had kicked me out. Now Caleb was running, too.
I’d never know what I did to the people in my life that made them so damn afraid of me they couldn’t bear to have me in their world.
