Chapter 9 Part II
Tuesday, August 31st, 2:35:30 pm
"We're going to Flagstaff" she answered plainly.
Jack glanced at her in the passenger seat. She had angled her body against the window and was playing with her hair, examining the ends. Flagstaff was the last thing he had expected to come out of her mouth. "What?" was all he could think to say.
"You thought I'd say Mexico right?" She said shifting in the seat.
Jack smiled a little, "I did have this image of the two of us on a beach in Baja. It'd be like the island, only with running water and more cerveza."
Kate giggled, they were both so relieved that they had made it through the escape relatively unscathed. And no one had gotten seriously hurt, thanks to Jack. Up to this point, she hadn't let herself think beyond the task of getting away. But now that they were here, now that he was sitting next to her, and she was wearing actual clothes, and the air conditioning was blowing her hair out in small waves, she could finally breath.
She looked at him looking at her. "Nah, they'd expect that. They've probably already notified border patrol. My friend Beth lives in Flag, well, technically she's my sister's friend Beth, she'll let us stay until I can figure something out."
"Beth who likes driveshaft?" Jack asked.
Kate looked at him, "I thought you weren't listening that day!"
He cocked his head to the side and kept his eyes on the road, "I was listening." He shifted the car into the right lane and got off the highway. "Guess we should go North then."
He was wearing sunglasses and a blue baseball cap that looked about 20 years old. She was sure he thought it was a good disguise and she didn't have the heart to tell him that the police wouldn't know what he looked like for at least a few hours anyway.
"Oh hey, I almost forgot," he said and reached behind him into a target bag. He rummaged for a bit, then handed her a package of elastic hair bands.
She sighed and closed her eyes. "Oh thank god!" she said and immediately slipped one onto her wrist and used another to gather her hair into a quick, messy bun.
Tuesday, August 31st, 4:47 pm
"Jack?" she said, and he glanced over at her. "I need to call Beth, and were about half way there. No cell phones." She said as she saw him reach into his pocket. "Were gonna need to pull off somewhere."
"Okay, next rest stop I'll get off. I could defiantly use a bathroom."
"No, rest stops are too empty, we need someplace crowded, where we can blend in. Stop in Phoenix." She sounded sure of herself.
"What if someone recognizes you?" He asked.
"No one will recognize me." She answered, and took the blue baseball cap from his head.
Tuesday, August 31st, 5:18 pm
Her hair fell in two narrow braids below his baseball cap and there was a backpack slung across her shoulders. Jack followed her into the largest mall he had seen in his life. His heart raced, this had to be a bad idea.
She stopped and turned around, waiting for him to catch up. When he reached her she took his hand. "Relax," she said, her voice low. "The people that look at us at all probably think I'm just a student."
"Uh huh." He nodded. He was still wearing his sunglasses. "What are you doing with me then, I'm way too old to be a student."
"You're my professor, you always have office hours at the mall." She answered dryly.
He cracked a smile. "What if someone recognizes me, from the crash?"
"Just keep the sunglasses on. Seriously Jack. This is fine. No one is paying any attention. Its all just Moms and kids, shopping for back to school clothes. They got their own shit to worry about." As she said it, Jack glanced at a mother and son passing them. Both looked miserable, their arms laden with bags. The boy shot angry looks at his mother, upset with her for some nameless adolescent reason. She ignored him and pressed on to their next destination. Jack sighed and relented. Kate had done this before after all.
They reached a pay phone and she dug in her pockets for change. She shook her head a little when she realized they were brand new. "Got any quarters, Professor Shepard?"
He rolled his eyes and handed her the change from his pocket.
She dialed the number and then looked at him. "Why don't you get us some coffee?" she asked, trying to be nonchalant.
He walked to a coffee kiosk a few yards away, allowing her the privacy she wanted. He was able to keep her in his line of sight as he stood in line. She smiled as she spoke, but her hand wiped tears away from her eyes on more than one occasion.
As he walked back to her carrying the two cups, she hung up the phone. "She says its fine." She told him. "But we have to wait until her ex-husband picks up her kids. He'll be there later tonight, she didn't know when."
Jack nodded, "What do we do for the next couple hours. And we are not staying here, I don't care how sure you are that no one will recognize us."
Tuesday, August 31st, 5:30 pm
The theater was dark and cool. The movie was just stating as they walked in and found seats.
Kate took off Jack's hat and leaned back into the cushy seats. She leaned over and whispered "Do you know how long its been since I've seen a movie?"
"Probably about as long as its been since I've seen one." He answered.
"SHHHHH" a couple behind them made it clear that they didn't appreciate the talking. They looked at each other in the dark. Kate covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
The movie was terrible and Kate shook her leg the entire time, unable to keep still. Jack put his hand on her leg to stop her from shaking it, but when she stopped, he didn't move his hand away.
"I guess we haven't been missing much." Kate whispered again. The man behind them sighed heavily and shifted in his seat.
They had to leave before the end to avoid the mass exodus of moviegoers, and Kate seemed disappointed despite the film's inability to hold her attention while they were actually watching it. "I hate not knowing how it ends." She murmured as they headed to the car.
"Don't worry, I'm sure he got the girl" He said, laughing at her. "Your turn." he said, tossing her the car keys.
Tuesday, August 31st, 8:32 pm
"Jack," she said, pushing on his shoulder. "Jack, wake up, you gotta help me stay awake."
He inhaled through his nose and stretched his arms in front of him. "I'm awake, want me to drive?"
"No, I'm good, just talk to me, okay?"
"MMMkay, what do you want to talk about?" He asked sleepily.
She thought for a moment. "Why did you want to become a doctor?" she asked.
He groaned, "Ask me something else."
"Okay, but only because you helped me escape from prison."
He laughed, "I'll tell you why, its just too much for right now, okay?"
Kate nodded, "Favorite love song?"
"Don't have one." He answered.
"C'mon Jack, everyone has a favorite love song. What did you dance to at your wedding?"
"I really don't want to answer that one." He answered smiling.
"And you say I'm closed off." She said.
"It was something by Shania Twain I think, Sarah picked it. Wait, how did you know I was married, I never told you that."
"Lucky guess. Sarah, huh?" Was her only response.
"Okay, what did you dance to at your wedding?" He asked her.
"There was no dancing at my wedding." She answered "I got married in a courthouse. And how did you know I was married?"
"Sawyer told me."
Kate raised her eyebrows. "You two sure got close."
Jack ignored the comment. "If you had danced, what song."
"Van Morrison, Crazy Love" she answered with out hesitation.
Jack nodded his approval, "I always liked that guy. Okay, I thought of one. Maybe I'm Amazed.
"Ohhh," Kate replied, "Good song! Back when Paul McCartney was cool."
"Paul McCartney will always be cool." Jack answered.
Tuesday, August 31st, 10:03 pm
Kate felt around for the key under the mat and quietly opened the door. The room was dark but Kate was familiar with the layout. Kate felt around for a table she knew was there and flipped on a lamp. Below the lamp was a note. She read it then handed it to Jack.
Hey Doll! Welcome home. The kiddies are with their Dad til School starts on the 12th, so you two are welcome to stay till then. Katie, I'm so glad you're here, Lizzie sends her love. Jack, if you're good enough for Kate, then you're good enough for me, I look forward to meeting you tomorrow! I work early in the am, so I won't wake you guys up, the futon is all made up. Much Love, Beth
"You'll love her." Kate said as she dropped her few worldly possessions by the futon and crawled in. "Hit the light, will ya?"
Jack turned out the light, then he got into bed next to her. Despite his utter exhaustion after the events of the day, he was acutely aware of the her lying right next to him.