Only then could Rick begin to believe his life had value, that hed been allowed to live for a reason. Thats when he got squeaky cleaneven going off pain meds. Thats when he set up the foundation, moved to San Francisco, and started his company. Thats when hed begun to live, for the first time.
Rick knew the fear that was trying to strangle him at that very moment wasnt real. It was only another creation of a negative mind, and he would not let it run him.
Lets do it, he said, taking a step toward the Harley.
Are you sure? Josie asked.
Hell, no, Rick said. Lets go before I chicken out.
Des Moines was only 158 miles behind him, and Bennett hadnt planned to stop in Lincoln, Nebraska. It was only mid-morningtoo early for lunch and a couple hundred miles before he would need a fill-up. But the Skylark was acting funny, lurching a bit when he pressed the gas. So he pulled off at the first truck stop/diner complex he saw, appreciating the serendipity of the situation as the neon words MECHANIC ON DUTY flashed against the dreary sky.
The mechanic was a friendly, middle-aged man missing most of his teeth, who informed Bennett that the Buicks fuel pump had seen better days. He told him it would take at least $500paid in advanceand a couple hours to fix. Bennett promptly paid in cash, and the mans eyes widened. The bean soup is the only thing worth ordering up at the diner, the mechanic told him by way of appreciation.
Bennett walked the hundred or so yards between the garage and the sprawling roadside restaurant and convenience shop. On the way through the main double doors, he witnessed what no longer even startled himan unfolding human drama of the most sordid kind. A young couple were insulting each other. She kicked him in the shin. He called her a ho, and left her standing on the sidewalk. He drove off in his car with her screaming after him, informing him he aint shit. Just another day in America.
Bennett went inside and leisurely reviewed the scant offerings on the magazine rack, and selected the most recent issue of /Fortune./ He paid for his purchase and took a window seat in the restaurant. He ordered a cup of coffee, but passed on the highly recommended bean soup.
A thud on the window caused him to look up from a rather tedious article on the newest struggles of credit consortiums. The shin-kicker had just slammed her forehead against the glass. Her eyes were clenched shut, her mouth was open, and her shoulders shook. Bennett didnt hear any sound, so he decided the glass was either soundproof or she was in the midst of a silent scream.
He flipped the magazine page, appreciating the sleekness of the latest Mercedes sedan. The glass shook with a pounding.
Bennett looked up and sighed. The girl on the sidewalk was banging her clenched fists on the window, and everyone in the place could hear her wailing now. He saw the hostess tell the manager to call the police.
Bennett rose from his booth. Shes with me, he told the management. Give me just a moment to calm her down. I assure you the police arent necessary.
By the time he reached the sidewalk, the girl had fallen to her knees and had redirected her fists into the concrete. He touched her shoulder.
Young lady, stand up.
She shook her head wildly. The colorful beads woven into her hair clicked together like a wind chime in a storm.
Stand up now, Bennett said, more forcefully. He put his hand under the arm of her jacket. If you dont get a hold of yourself the management is going to call the police. I recommend you do what you can to avoid that.
The girl looked up at him, disdain twisting her mouth. I dont need nobodys sympathy.
Bennett glanced around, noting the crowd that had begun to gather.
Pardon my candor, but I think a hysterical black girl abandoned at a truck stop in the middle of Nebraska might want to take advantage of any offer of assistance.
Her lip curled. How do you know Im abandoned?
I watched him leave, Bennett whispered. Please, come inside where we can finish this conversation.
The girl then turned her head and saw the audience, now several truckers deep. She jumped to her feet and wiped her face with her palms, suddenly in agreement with Bennett. She picked up her backpack and swung it over her shoulder.
Im not what you think I am, she said in an angry whisper, walking past Bennett as he held the door for her. When Bennett motioned toward his booth, she sat, but not before shaking her head with contempt and giving him a warning. Dont ever touch me again, she hissed. Once Bennett had taken his seat, she leaned across the booth and said, I am a strong and proud woman and I dont want nobodys damn charity. This is my problem and I will come up with my own damn solution.
Bennett smiled. Understood. In the meantime, would you care for something to eat? I hear the bean soup is excellent.
Um, you can go faster if you want, Josie said loudly, peering over Ricks shoulder to the speedometer, watching the needle hover between the numbers ten and twenty.
Nope. This is good, Rick shouted, his body still rigid as a board in her arms.
Josie hung on, enjoying her bumpy crawl down one of the hundreds of dirt lanes crisscrossing through the vineyards. What section are we in right now? she asked.
Its still the chardonnay. Were getting ready to go into the redswe have a cabernet and a merlot past the split-rail fence.
The dog pack raced by them, kicking up the dust. The motorcycle continued to chug along. Josie sighed and turned her head so she could rest her cheek on Ricks strong back. She squeezed him tight, and let herself smile.
I love you, she whispered, not nearly loud enough for him to hear. I love you, Rick Rousseau.
Josies smile widened. She was riding on the back of a Harley through her boyfriends vineyards! Okay, there wasnt enough wind to blow back her hair, but it was still a picture-perfect moment. How was it possible that in less than a month her entire world had been transformed? That night on the Celestial Pet sidewalk seemed like it belonged to some other woman entirely. She supposed it hadthe woman back then was the prelist Josie Sheehan. But the girl with her thighs wrapped around a thousand pounds of steel and leather was the postlist Josie Sheehanthe girl whod placed her order with the universe and was now a thoroughly satisfied customer.
She made a mental note to review that infamous list when she got back to the city, because she felt certain Rick hadnt failed to measure up in any category. /A funny, respectful, generous, intelligent, deep-thinking man who is passionate about his work?/ Check. /Loves dogs?/ Check. /Spiritual? Enjoys nature?/ Oh, yes. /Overcome obstacles in his life?/ Puh-lease! /And the imaginative, passionate, sensual man shed always dreamed of?
The mad kissing skills? The eyes that revealed his soul? The go-all-night-ability?/ Yes, yes, yes, and yes! /Well endowed?/ Ha! In his pants /and/ his nonprofit!
Everything okay back there? Rick yelled.
Josie laughed. If the weekend had taught her anything, it was that she could love a man who met all her requirements, yet was terribly, irretrievably flawed. Funny how that worked out.
Perfect! she shouted back.
CHAPTER 16
The girl hadnt said much for the last two hours. Not that additional conversation was necessary once theyd established the ground rules for the trip: if he tried to touch her or disrespect her in any way, shed kick his ass to the Pacific Ocean.
Bennett had always been a fan of straight talk.
He dared a glance her way and found her sleeping, her right cheek pressed up against the window glass. He pegged her for about twenty, maybe slightly older. She was dressed like any other young kid hed seen on the roadjeans and a tight T-shirt layered over an even tighter T-shirt. Her denim jacket was clean. Her high-top sneakers looked new.