***
With one last look at the building that had been their home for the last two years, Shelly sighed wistfully as she shut the passenger door to her luxury sedan after making sure that her son was secured with his favorite things in the back seat. They had a long drive ahead of them and Shelly truly hoped they could complete it in a day.
The movers pulled the truck out from its temporary parking and Shelly knew that it was time to say goodbye to the only place she had ever lived. New York hadn’t been everything she had hoped as a wide-eyed teenager with her mom, but she had done the best that she could.
Slipping into the driver’s seat, Shelly gave one backward glance into the rearview mirror before pulling out into the early morning traffic.
“Alright, Abel. Are you ready for our drive?”
In typical adolescent form, Abel glanced up from his tablet and asked, “How long is it again? I’m already bored.”
“It’s a ten- or eleven-hour drive depending on how many times we stop. And how can you be bored? We just got in the car.”
“There isn’t any internet, so I can only play a few of the games on my tablet.”
Shelly rolled her eyes since her son’s complaint didn’t deserve a comment from her and pulled her eyes toward the road. She wasn’t overly thrilled for the long drive either, especially since she had only ever traveled to Carson on a private plane chartered by Cassidy and her team.
Shelly followed the movers out of the city, thankful that Cassidy and Harlan were allowing her to store their things in their garage until they could find a place to stay. Cassidy had mentioned during their call in the morning that she had found a place for Shelly to rent, and it would be ready for them after the weekend. The woman could move mountains if she tried, and Shelly made sure to tell her as much before ending their call.
Once the city was out of view, Shelly sped past the moving truck to begin their own journey. She wanted to make good time knowing that they were going to stop for lunch and dinner on the way.
They were only two hours into their trip when Abel decided he had had enough of slouching in the back seat and begged for a stop to stretch his legs. She knew the booster seat he was required to use wasn’t the most comfortable of things so she breathed a sigh of relief when they came upon a sign for an upcoming rest stop. She would never admit that she had needed to stretch her legs too.
“Alright, we’re just going to use the restroom then grab a few snacks from the vending machines. Do you remember the rules for leaving the bathroom alone?” Shelly had struggled with this part of being a single mom. Abel wanted to feel like a big kid and use the bathroom by himself, and she understood, but she was always wary of strangers.
She waited patiently for Abel to reply. “Do my business, talk to no one, wait for you.”
“And. . .” she prompted.
“Scream if I have to.”
“Good. I’ll meet you right here.” She gestured to a spot against the wall and watched as he sauntered into the men’s restroom, then she made her own way to the female restroom.
Luckily, they both exited at the same time and before long, they were making their way back to the car with arms full of junk food. Shelly usually made sure that they were eating well-balanced meals, but nothing made a road trip better than junk food.
Reds and oranges filled the sky as dusk fell around the ridges of the Smoky Mountains and Blue Ridge Mountains. This was her favorite part of the summer nights in the south. The sunsets here were some of the most beautiful she had ever witnessed and one of the things she was excited to witness on the long summer nights.
“Hey, we’re getting close, about an hour away.”
“Really?” her son asked excitedly as he pulled his gaze away from the movie he was watching and looked out the window.
“Yep.”
“Cool, will Aunt Cassidy be waiting for us when we get there?” Abel added. Cassidy had been in his life as long as her child could remember, and he lovingly referred to her as his aunt. She also happened to spoil Abel like crazy whenever she visited.
“She will. We’re staying with her and Harlan for the weekend.”
“Yes!” her son shouted, his fist flying through the air. “Maybe he can teach me to play the guitar and drums.”
“We can always ask. Just don’t forget your manners,” she reminded.
“Yes, ma’am.”
The excitement was palpable in the car. Not only because both of them were ready to stretch their legs, but they both loved the small town and the people that resided within its borders. There was something to be said for everyone knowing your business; it kept you safe. And safety was a priority in her life.
After another hour on the road, Shelly steered the car toward Carson's exit, smiling as the three-lane interstate gave way to single lane road lined with pine trees. Her heart thumped wildly in her chest as they traveled the remaining twenty-minute trek to the small town. Main Street's lights came into view as they crested a hill and Shelly felt her body immediately relax. She hadn’t felt a sense of peace like that since she held her sweet son in her arms for the first time.
Another ten minutes and a few turns onto barely noticeable dirt roads and Shelly turned the vehicle onto the recognizable driveway. She had seen pictures of the house Cassidy and Harlan had built on their land, but she hadn’t witnessed it in person. And what a house it was if her son’s gasp in the back seat was any indication.