Page 100 of Leaving the Station

She’s right, especially because I don’t even know if Oakley wants to see me. But I need to talk to her. I need to let her know that, even if she’s going back to the Church, these past few days meant something to me and always will.

And yeah, maybe I need to know if they meant something to her too.

Virginia gathers her bathrobe and stands, but I don’t follow her to the sleeper car. I need to prepare what I’m going to say to Oakley, and what we can do with forty-five minutes in Leavenworth.

I’m struck with the thought that Oakley would know what to do. That she’d be able to plan all of this without a hitch.

Hopefully I can do the same, since I’m doing it for her.

Eighteen

Thursday, 7 a.m., 20 Minutes outside of Leavenworth, WA

I’ve spent the past hour doing research, and I know enough now to know that we can’t waste our time trying to run to the town on foot—if Oakley agrees to go with me, that is. I’ve already called a cab to take us from the train station into the town proper, which feels very old-fashioned, but maybe that’s part of what will make it a true grand gesture, because that’s what this is.

Oakley’s a hopeless romantic, and even if those feelings aren’t directed toward me, she deserves something cinematic.

Now there’s only one thing left to do, and it’s the scariest part: I have to actuallytalkto her.

I’ve walked the path to Oakley’s sleeper car a dozen times during this trip, but I’ve never felt this mix of nausea and excitement. My heart is beating out of my chest as I stand in front of her door.

After a minute, I knock.

“It’s fine,” Oakley shouts from inside. “I can close the beds myself, but thank you.”

“It’s me,” I say.

She doesn’t respond for a beat, and I’m worried she never will.

Until the door opens, and there’s Oakley. She looks rough, like she hasn’t slept at all. Her hair isn’t quite as shiny as it usually is, and her pajamas are rumpled. Despite all that, she’s ridiculously cute.

“What?” she asks, voice hostile.

I swallow the bile rising in my throat. “I just wanted you to know that we’re going to have a surprise forty-five-minute stop in Leavenworth.”

“Are you a psychic now?”

“Yes. I can see the future and it looks fucking bleak.” It might be my imagination, but I’m pretty sure she smirks. “Can you come with me?” It’s not the speech I had prepared, but right now it has to be enough.

“I’d rather not,” she says. “I’m just trying to make it off this train.”

“I’m not expecting anything,” I say quickly, and for the first time, it’s true. “But I have something I want to show you. Please?” I take a deep breath and say, softly, “After everything you showed me?”

She sighs. “Give me five minutes.”

I wait in the observation car for Oakley, pacing back and forth. The train is already slowing down in preparation for its arrival at Leavenworth.

Virginia’s in the observation car too, preparing for her star turn as “sick woman on train.” I glance over at her, and she gives me a reassuring thumbs-up.

Oakley comes out a few minutes later, wearing a knee-length wool coat that’s open to reveal a long pale blue, satin spaghetti-strap dress with a black turtleneck underneath. She has on pink lipstick that perfectly complements her skin tone, and a thin rose-gold headband she’s placed gently onto her freshly brushed hair.

“Hi,” she says, and I can only stare. The dress hugs every part of her body so perfectly.

“Hi,” I say back. “You look beautiful.”

She doesn’t reply; she must know it’s true.

“All right, folks, we’re almost at Icicle Station in Leavenworth. If Leavenworth’s your final destination, please have your personal belongings packed and ready, as we’re only stopping to let passengers on and off.”