Although Kate knew she should’ve gone straight home, she also knew her father wouldn’t be home for another couple of hours. She had her cell on, so he could call and check on her if he wanted, but most of the time he didn’t, so Kate knew for the next two hours she was on her own and free to do exactly as she pleased, she decided to head over to the mall and check things out. Dannie wouldn’t be home from school for at least an hour, so Kate left a voicemail on her friend’s cell, “hey, it’s me. I’m going over to the mall for a few hours. See if your mom’ll bring you over once you get home. If not, I’ll come over after Dad gets home. Seeya!”
Now, she just had to hike the few miles to the mall and because she didn’t feel like walking, so she did what she’d done so many times in the past, turned around and stuck out her thumb. She’d never had any problems hitching a ride, most of the people in this town knew her and never hesitated to give her a lift. She saw the red convertible long before she heard it. It was coming up fast and Kate stepped closer to the road and extended her arm further out. The red car blazed past without even slowing down, Kate was disappointed and in frustration flipped the car off. She quickly put her middle finger back down when she saw the tail lights flash on as the car stopped. Kate worried that she might’ve ticked the driver off and watched in dread as the car shifted into reverse and moved back towards her.
“Where you heading?” the woman shouted at her, once the car was beside her.
Kate leaned over the side of the car, “into town.”
“Get in.”
Kate did as she was told and opened the door. She slid into the smooth leather seat with a sigh, “nice car.”
The woman nodded, “I know.”
After clutching and shifting back into gear the woman turned towards her, “where in town do you want to go?”
“The mall. It’s just outside of town. You know where it is?”
The woman nodded, “I know where town is, you may have to direct me to the mall.”
“You used to live in this town?”
“Yeh, about a hundred years ago. But things never change too much around here, do they?”
Kate agreed with her, “yeh, nothing really ever changes.”
“Except for a mall.”
“Yeh, except for a mall.”
They sat in silence for a few minutes and it was odd that Kate didn’t feel uncomfortable in that silence. She leaned into the seat and closed her eyes.
“You know I wouldn’t have guessed you for a mall rat.”
Kate turned her head to look at the woman, “I’m not. I hate the place. But there’s nothing else to do in this town. It’s so dead around here.”
The woman smiled, “I know just how you feel.”
“You do?”
“Yeh, remember I used to live here a hundred years ago? And like you said, not much changes.”
“True.” Kate took a moment to openly check the woman out. Her clothing spoke volumes; soft, leather trench, silk scarf tied around her long, auburn hair, oversize designer sunglasses, long smooth legs that led to towering stilettos. Even if the car hadn’t been a giveaway, the clothing would’ve been, the woman had money and lots of it, “looks like you’ve done pretty well though.”
“I have, I just had to get away from here.”
“I hearya. So, whaddya do?” Although Kate realized she was being nosy, she didn’t care, it wasn’t like she was going to see the woman again.
“That’s a long story, and we’re almost into town.”
“So, you passing through or you got family here?”
The woman kept her eyes forward, “I have family.”
“Cool, so you’ll be around?”
“Oh, I’ll definitely be around.”
Kate nodded, “cool.”
“Now which way to the mall?”
Kate pointed, “straight through town and down 121. The mall is about a quarter of mile from here.”
“On our way.”
***
After dropping her daughter off at the entrance of the mall, Meg felt pleased about how their first meeting, after eight years, had gone. She was impressed with the girl’s maturity and easy going nature. She wasn’t surprised by the wanderlust that coursed through her, she came by that naturally. Meg herself had always had the same urge to always be somewhere else; that there had to be someplace better than the place she was in.
And her tendency towards rebellion, well…that was all her father. Her father had been forever fighting authority, but that was what had attracted Meg to him. He'd never given a shit about what others thought of him, especially persons who thought they were in charge. He’d always been just who he was, good or bad. Meg smiled at how much she used to enjoy his bad side, much more so than his good. In fact, he’d been the one to encourage her to spread her wings and go after the life she’d wanted, “why settle, Meggie? There’s way bigger things out there waiting for you other than the life you’re living right now. This place is small p’taters and you my dear, are anything but small.”
Meg protested, “but what about this life?”
He’d traced the outline of her lips, “is this the one you want?”
Meg kissed his fingertip and had felt guilty admitting the truth, “no, it never has been.”
He tilted her chin up so that she could look him in the eye, “then fuck it. Get the hell outta Dodge. Go after what you want.”
She smiled seductively at him, “I did.”
He understood her meaning, “yes you did. But, I was easy, I was already in love with you.”
“What about Kate?”
“She has her father.”
Meg smiled, “that’s true." She touched his arm and gave a gentle squeeze to his bicep, "I’m going to miss you so much.”
“And me you.”
Meg’s eyes lit up as a thought came to her, “then come with me! We can both start something new away from here.”
He’d shaken his head, “no can do, my love. I like it here in Hicksville. It’s where I belong, it’s my home. I’m pretty sure I’ll curl up and die right there in Jamie’s bar on a Saturday night.”
“Flirting with the youngest thing that’ll speak to you.”
He’d winked at her, “most likely. You know me too well.”
“Indeed I do. I’ll come back for you.”
He smiled affectionately at her, “you do that, Meggie.”
But, that conversation had been over ten years ago and despite her promises to him, she’d hadn’t spoken or seen him since she’d left town. She knew the sound of his voice or the smile on his face would’ve made her change her mind and sway her from her goal. She also knew that she couldn’t be in this town without seeing him, and the eventual reunion with him was even more nerve-racking for her than seeing her daughter had been.
She was thankful Kate hadn’t realized who she was while she sat in her car with her. Meg had worried that the girl might’ve recognized her in some way, but she hadn’t. Then again, why should she? Kate had been a little girl when she left, by now she’d probably forgotten she’d had a mother at all. Meg knew that getting back on track with her daughter was going to be difficult, at first, but she felt confident that in the end, her daughter would accept her back into her life. After all, they were mother and daughter and because her child seemed so much like her, it was meant to be that they should be together. Kate wouldn’t be able to tell her no when she revealed herself to her and then informed her why she was back in town. The only confrontation that might prove difficult would be the one with her ex-husband. And she knew that battle would be an ugly one.
(c)djc 2008
