Storm(40)

Storm rolls his eyes, and I smack his arm and make a face at him.

“Well, at least you’re okay. How’s your car?”

“It’s kind of smashed up. It’s at the garage here, but he needs a few days to fix it.”

“All right. So how are you getting home?”

“You have to come get me. I’ll tell you where I am. I was nowhere near the Falls Inn. The GPS got me lost.”

“Evelyn, I can’t come get you. I was called to go to a sales meeting. I had to go out of town. I’m in South Carolina. I flew in last night and I won’t be home until tomorrow night.”

“Are you kidding? How am I supposed to get home?”

“Can you call Amy?”

“Amy isn’t going to want to drive up here to get me, you know that. Her car doesn’t even have four-wheel drive and the roads are still kind of snowy and icy up here.”

“Well, get a cab. It will cost a fortune, but you don’t have a choice.”

“Is Halo okay? You just left him? Did you feed him?” I start to panic realizing he has left my poor cat alone.

I hear him sigh on the other end. “He’s fine, Evelyn. I gave him a ton of food and water before I left. He hid upstairs the entire weekend.”

“Well, did he eat at all?” I know elderly cats can’t go very long without eating without starting to have liver or kidney problems. Especially, a cat his age.

“I think so, I don’t fucking know. I didn’t count the food.”

I feel tears well up in my eyes. If Halo is sick, I will never forgive myself.

“Okay, Evelyn, I gotta go type up this presentation for this meeting. Send me a text or call me when you’re home, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“All right, I will. I love you.”

“Love you, too.” He hangs up and I stare out the window. I won’t cry in front of Storm. I won’t cry in front of Storm.

“Hey? You okay?” His voice is laced with concern, void of his usual sarcasm. I wipe at my eyes and shove my phone into my purse. “Yes, I’m fine. Is there a taxi service up here?”

“Fuck that. I’ll drive you home.”