Page 5 of The Hitchhikers

“Should we ask them for a ride?” Jenny said.

“I don’t know… Tom asks a lot of questions.”

“I think they’re nice.” Jenny flexed her toes, trying to stretch the knotted muscles in her calves. Simon and she had been in constant motion for days. First, taking the aluminum skiff down the coast in the pitch-dark and tying up in a hidden bay whenthe sun rose. The next night, they’d boated up the river, but the rapids had stopped them. They’d abandoned the skiff at the dock and slept on the campsite beach. They planned on continuing by road, but when they tried to walk to town and find a gas station, where they’d hoped to catch a ride with a long-haul trucker, someone who could get them to the next province, Jenny’s feet had hurt too much.

“Did you notice that everything they have is new?” Simon said.

“Maybe they’re rich.”

“They probably have cash with them.”

She realized what he was thinking. “No.”

“We’re going to have to do something for money.”

“Not that.” They were good people. She could tell right away. Tom spoke in an upbeat, encouraging gym teacher voice, and Alice was pretty with her hazel eyes, brown curly hair, and dimpled cheeks. It was sad that they didn’t have kids. Alice seemed like she’d be a good mom. Not like her own. Jenny rolled onto her side so that Simon wouldn’t feel her tears.

Simon turned over too, his hand cupping her stomach, his thumb rubbing soothingly. He was excited about the baby, thinking of names, and talking about how they could live on a farm, or he’d get a job on a fishing boat in Nova Scotia. She’d make jewelry to sell in shops.

“I promised that I’d take care of you,” he said.

“I don’t want anyone else to get hurt.”

“Okay. We’ll just ask them for a ride.” Simon kissed the crook of her neck. “Whatever makes you happy, babe. I’d do anything for you.”

It was scary sometimes, in a way she didn’t quite understand, his willingness and loyalty, his fierce protectiveness of her. She wasn’t always sure she deserved it. But he did. He’d saved her, and she’d never forget that. She owed him everything.

They were woken by the hushed voices of Alice and Tom as they moved around, the smoky smell of campfire. When Simon and Jenny emerged from the tent, Alice greeted them with a pot of coffee. She looked ready for the day, with her curly hair in a low ponytail, tied with a white silk scarf. She was dressed in blue pin-striped shorts, and a sleeveless, white-collared shirt. Tom was more casual in a purple University of Washington tank top and gold athletic shorts.

Jenny and Simon used the washrooms, then sat for breakfast. Jenny took forkfuls of pancakes, savoring each maple-syrupy mouthful. Alice didn’t seem to be eating much, but Tom was halfway through his stack. He paused to take a sip of his coffee, steam drifting into his face.

“So, are you hitting the road this morning too?” he said.

Simon set down the syrup he’d been pouring, taking a moment to wipe his sticky fingers. “Hope so. Any chance we could get a ride?”

“Where do you want to go?”

“If you could get us to the next town, we’d be grateful.”

Tom got his map, unfolded it on the table, and narrowed his eyes as he peered down at it, humming to himself. “That’d be Lytton.” He checked the scale, spread his fingers between the two cities. “Looks like it’s about seventy miles, give or take. That work?”

“Yeah, perfect.”

Jenny nodded. She didn’t know anything about Lytton, but it didn’t matter.

“We’d be glad for the company,” Tom said. “Right, honey?”

Alice looked startled, her cheeks flushing, and Jenny wondered if maybe she wasn’t glad about it at all, but she said, “More the merrier,” and added another pancake to his plate.

After breakfast, Tom and Simon packed up camp, while Jenny helped Alice wash dishes inside the RV. Alice had wanted Jenny to relax again, but Jenny had insisted that it was only fair. She glanced at Alice, who was drying the plates so fast it was like she was waxing a car.

“Yousureyou’re okay with giving us a ride?”

“Of course.” Alice smiled but it seemed more polite than genuine. Was she angry that they were interrupting their trip?

“We do appreciate it.” Jenny dropped her hand to her belly and caught Alice shooting a glance at her. “The baby’s moving. Feels like flutters.”

“That’s wonderful.” Alice turned away. “I’m going to secure the bathroom.”