“What’s wrong?” Julie’s voice cracked.
Julie had her eyes fixed on the surroundings behind Jack, squinting at the terrain. Jack ran toward her, waving his hand and encouraging her to stand up.
“We have to leave now,” Jack said, as soon as he reached Julie.
Julie looked petrified and out of breath. Her nostrils kept flaring. She remained on the ground and made no attempt to move.
“There are people on the other side of the lake.”
“People?”
“A woman sunbathing,” Jack said. “We need to get to the other side before she leaves.”
“Sunbathing?”
“She’s tanning,” Jack responded. “We need to leave right away.”
“There’s no bear?”
Jack frowned, and looked up the hill. “I’m sorry, Julie.”
“I thought it was a bear, Jack.”
Julie wiped her tears with her jacket sleeve, her tears mixing with the bloodstains.
“We have to go,” Jack said, and focused on Julie’s sleeve. Then he glanced at her forehead, but said nothing more.
34 THE NOTE
I am a liar. (pause) I lied to you for almost as long as I knew you, but I only did it to protect you. I didn’t want him to ruin your life the way he ruined mine. That’s why I stayed away for so long, because I couldn’t lie to you anymore, Mamma. He was your friend, and he broke me when I was eight years old. He said it was the only way I could ever learn, and (say his name) made sure I’d swallowed every time. (pause) I had to lie to protect you, and I had to hide to protect myself. That’s why I ate so much, I didn’t want to be the victim. I can’t be the victim, Mamma. I don’t know how. (pause) I’d rather be the fat guy. (pause) I’m sorry for not being there, and I’m sorry you died alone. (pause) I hope you can forgive me.
35 THE CELL PHONE
Saturday afternoon
Jack looked enraged as he stared at Nancy’s remains, Julie still on his back.
“Why is she naked?” Jack mumbled.
There was a sound of dry heaves. Julie appeared to be gagging.
Jack looked over his shoulder. “Don’t throw up, Julie. You’ll just be worse off. Look the other way.”
“It’s the smell.” Julie clamped her nose.
Jack set Julie down by a distant rock, both of them staring at Nancy’s remains.
“Why is she naked?”
“Perhaps Kevin took her clothes,” Julie said. “We took Andrew’s clothes.”
“He didn’t have to take her bra.” Jack grimaced. “I mean, he could’ve at least turned her over.”
“I’m pretty sure she wasn’t wearing a bra,” Julie responded. “But you’re right. Kevin wouldn’t have left her like that. Perhaps she died naked.”
“Why would she take of her clothes?”
“People who suffer from hypothermia often take their clothes off. Just before they freeze to death, they actually feel warm,” Julie said. “Or, perhaps she was confused, and just took off her clothes, for some reason. Perhaps she was sunbathing.”
“I’ll have a look around, and see if I can find her clothes.” Jack walked a few steps, but then suddenly stopped. “I heard someone yell.”
Julie looked around. “I didn’t hear anything.”
“No, I meant before, when I screamed for help from the other side of the lake.”
Julie’s shoulders collapsed. “That was me. I heard you yell, so I yelled back.”
Jack took a deep breath, exhaled loudly, and looked a bit embarrassed.
He was only gone for a few minutes, then he returned with a purple cable knit sweater and a pair of white denim jeans. He sat down next to Julie, and handed her a cell phone.
“Where did you find this?”
“It was in her pants’ pocket.”
“She had a phone all along?”
“No, she said her phone was in her purse, which she left in the plane.”
“No, that was me, Jack. I told you that, remember?”
“I remember, but Nancy told me the same thing.”
“Then where did she get the…” Julie trailed off, and sighed. “Andrew must have startled her. Or perhaps, he hurt his head when he tripped, and she found him that way. Perhaps she took his phone to call for help.”
“Either way, it was an accident,” Jack said in a decisive tone. “Perhaps we can start a fire if we reflect the sun rays from the phone screen.”
After some deliberation, they decided to leave Nancy’s remains the way they found them. They kept walking southwest, and left the lake behind them. Just as the forest began to thin out, the sun started to descend. They settled down by a large pine tree next to a giant rock. However, every attempt to make a fire failed.
Jack suddenly rose to his feet and hurled the phone into a tree. Then, he raised his arms and folded his hands on top of his head, his massive biceps stretching the fabric of the black blazer.
“Are you all right, Jack?”
“I failed,” Jack mumbled.
“They make those screens to reflect as little sunlight as possible.”
Jack looked at Julie and frowned. “I wasn’t there for her.”
Julie bowed her head. “It’s not your fault, Jack.”
“I should have been there for her.”
“It’s not your fault, Jack.”
“I should’ve protected her,” Jack said. “She was too weak to make it on her own.”
Julie kept staring at Jack. “Did you two know each other?”
Jack gave Julie a sharp stare.
“Sorry,” Julie said and trained her eyes down. “You’re a good man, Jack.”
“I’m broken,” Jack said vaguely with a sad expression.
“You and me both. But not for long.”
Jack looked baffled. “What?”
“Not once we sue the airline.”
“Oh.” Jack nodded slightly, but then shook his head firmly. “Money won’t make a difference.”
“That’s just something rich people say,” Julie responded. “Money doesn’t make a difference if you have more than you need.”
“Time is all that matters.” Jack shrugged. “And when your time is up, then your life is over. Money won’t make a difference.”
“What are you talking about?” Julie said. “You’re starting to sound like an eccentric millionaire.”
“Wealth won’t make you happy, Julie.”
“Are you sure you’re not an eccentric millionaire? You kind of dress like one,” Julie said and looked Jack up and down.
Jack looked down at the suit he wore. “I never had much money, and I didn’t have much growing up.”
“And were you happy?” Julie quickly responded in a slightly sarcastic tone.
Jack shook his head. “No, I wasn’t.”
Evening
Once again, they’d used pine branches to protect themselves from the moist soil. Julie wore two sweaters, and one of them was purple. She curled up close to Jack, her hair band still on her wrist.
“I like your clothes,” Julie said. “I don’t think you look pretentious, or anything.”
“That’s okay.” Jack tone was as short as his response.
“You dress well for a truck driver,” Julie said. “I’m smiling by the way.”
“I’m not a truck driver, Julie. I just drove a truck when I was younger. That’s all,” Jack said. “I’m currently unemployed.”
“Is that why you wore a suit?” Julie asked enthusiastically. “Did you have a job interview in Anchorage?”
“No, I just wanted to look good. That’s all.”
“For a date?” Julie sounded overly cute and curious.
“No, I was…” Jack hesitated. “…to attend a funeral.”
“I’m so sorry, Jack. I didn’t mean to pry.”
“That’s okay. But I rather not talk about it.”