“You didn’t need to clear your place,” the woman remarks.
“I don’t mind. You didn’t need to serve me. I’ve texted Landon to let him know I’m here.”
They look at me, and I can’t help but worry they just said this was his place and actually they’re going to kill me and leave me for the wild animals.
I haven’t had any response from Landon, so I return to the living room, open my computer, and begin to work. Surely, he’ll be back any minute.
I hardly notice that it’s getting dark until the woman turns a light on. “You’re going to ruin your eyes, sitting here in the dark.”
I smile at her. “Thank you.” I sigh. “I reserved a room a little while ago at the Holiday Inn in Lewiston. Do you think your husband would mind driving me there tonight?”
She nods.
“Thank you.”
I hear them talking in the kitchen, but I can’t make out what they’re saying. The man appears, lifts my suitcase like it weighs nothing, and takes it out to the back of his truck.
The drive is nearly an hour into Lewiston.
“I’m sorry,” I tell him. “The location service on my phone said Lewiston was the closest town. I didn’t mean to make you go out of your way.”
“It is the closest town,” he replies.
I look out the window, and my tears fall. How did this go so colossally wrong?
When my driver pulls into the hotel, I thank him and go inside to check in. My room isn’t fancy, but it’s clean, and the people at the front desk have told me where I can eat. However, there isn’t any car rental place in town. If I need a car, I’ll need to take a shuttle into Butte on the other side of the Rockies. I guess they don’t get many visitors here. I still haven’t heard anything from Landon.
Me: I’ve left Magnolia Homestead. You can go back now.
I cry, feeling ridiculous and angry all at once. Why tell me to come and then hide? Why didn’t he at least talk to me? I email Jim and Mason, letting them know where I am in case I’m robbed or murdered in this crazy town, and I cry myself to sleep.
I toss and turn all night, but that’s not much of a surprise. I miss swimming. The hotel has a cute little pool, but it’s not made for swimming laps. I keep waiting for my cell phone to ring or at least alert me I have a text.
Nothing.
When I finally give up and get out of bed, I wipe the crusted tears from my eyes. My head is pounding from lack of food. I didn’t have any dinner last night.
I walk next door to McDonald’s, order an Egg McMuffin meal, and return to my room to eat. I still have a lot of work to get done, so I use the desk in my room to make some coding progress. Thankfully, I don’t need the internet to code. I occasionally look at my phone and check the time, hoping maybe Landon called and it didn’t ring, or I missed a notification.
When it begins to get dark out, I realize I’m hungry again. I look at the takeout menus and decide to try the diner across the street.
I navigate the somewhat busy street, and all I see are giant trucks and a bunch of cowboys. What am I doing here?
I sit in a booth that faces the hotel in case Landon drives in. I know it’s silly, but I don’t want to miss him.
“Welcome,” a waitress greets me. “You’re not from around here.”
Her nametag says Darlene.
“No, is it that obvious?”
“Pretty much. What brings you to Lewiston?”
“I was going to meet a friend, but it looks like he’s stood me up.”
“I’d say it’s time for a new friend.” She smiles and seems friendly. Right now, I need a friend.
“I think you’re probably right.”
I order a cheeseburger and fries. When it arrives, I devour it. I knew I was hungry, but I would swear this is the best cheeseburger and fresh-cut fries I’ve ever had.
Darlene gives me my check and, on top, places a paper bag. “This is a piece of apple pie for later.”
“Thank you. I may need the sugar to keep working.”
I wave as I open the door. It was nice to talk to a human being.
I walk back to my hotel room and cry myself to sleep again. Everything two months ago was incredibly right, and now I don’t know the bottom from the top. What did I do?
Morning comes early, and still, I’m waiting. I reach out to Claire, but she doesn’t take my call, so I leave her a message.
“Claire, I found Landon out at his ranch in Montana. I told him I was coming, but then he stood me up. I’ll be working from here for a few days, hoping to connect with him, and then I’ll fly back to San Francisco. Call if you need me.”
I spend the day much like I did yesterday, except I order the fried chicken dinner on Monday evening. It’s not as good as what I had out at the Magnolia Homestead, but it’s still tasty.
It’s clear Landon doesn’t want to see me. I look at commercial flights back to San Francisco, and there’s one that connects through Salt Lake, but it’s full until Friday afternoon. I guess that’s as good as I can do. I book myself a ticket home and
