Promises To Keep. Shirley Hailstock

it’s more than that. You and I are women. The whole dynamic changes with a man. We can’t stay in the same hotel room, so that means more expenses. I’m not familiar with his habits, his likes and dislikes in food, his pet peeves. You and I had agreed to eat simple, healthy food and to exercise everyday so we wouldn’t get run-down or develop any health problems. I rarely even talk to Parker other than sharing a polite conversation at a party.” She’d always cut short or avoided conversation with him altogether. And then there was the matter of Marshall and Parker.

      “Then you two can spend the time getting to know each other.” Lydia put her hand up when McKenna began to speak. “He’s already agreed to spend part of his sabbatical on the road with you, so don’t mess this up. You don’t leave for two days. You’ll have time to get used to the idea.”

      “What idea?”

      McKenna turned to find Parker Fordum in the doorway, holding a bouquet of flowers in a glass vase. She stiffened at his unexpected presence, then forced herself to relax. While she and Parker were like oil and water, he and Lydia had been friends since their college days. McKenna usually tried to be at the other end of the room whenever they were at the same event. She couldn’t imagine spending weeks on the road with him. Alone.

      “The idea of traveling a long distance with you,” Lydia responded truthfully.

      McKenna wanted to glare at Lydia, but she transferred her attention to Parker and said, “I was a little surprised when Lydia told me you agreed to stand in for her on our trip.”

      “She’s very persuasive.” His voice was almost a drawl, yet McKenna knew he’d spent his entire life in and around Chicago.

      So he didn’t want to go, she thought. McKenna took a step forward, coming up against the bed. “She tells me you’re on sabbatical. I bet you’re trying to finish a book. I wouldn’t dream of taking you away from that. I know how proud you are of the books you write. And you probably have a deadline to meet. I can complete my trip alone. That was my plan from the very beginning.”

      “The book’s done,” he said. It sounded like a dismissal. “I have some editing to do. I can do that in the car when I’m not driving.”

      “And there’s safety in numbers,” Lydia chirped. “Since I can’t go, McKenna, I’d feel so much better if I knew you were safe with Parker.”

      Safe with Parker, she thought. How could she be anything else. He was the epitome of boring. Yet McKenna felt trapped. She couldn’t say what she really felt—that she’d rather spend the weeks having the hairs pulled out of her legs one by one than sitting in a car with Parker clicking away on a laptop as she chauffeured him from Chicago to Los Angeles. This was supposed to be a fun trip. It was her adventure. She didn’t want it spoiled.

      “I have my credit cards in case of an emergency. I’ll be careful. Nothing will happen.”

      “That’s not exactly true,” Parker said.

      McKenna clamped her back teeth together to keep from shouting at him.

      “Other than the car breaking down, there are hundreds of things that can happen to a woman traveling alone.”

      McKenna groaned. “Not that eighteenth-century damsel in distress story? You’re not my knight in shining armor.”

      “No, but I’m all you’ve got.” His voice was stronger than McKenna had ever heard it. She stared at him as if he’d grown horns.

      After a long moment, she glanced at Lydia. Her friend looked tired and McKenna felt guilty that the argument was contributing to her condition.

      “Lydia, I have to go now. I’ll be back later.” The implication was she’d return when Parker was not in residence. Then she turned to Parker. “Can I see you outside?”

      “McKenna,” Lydia said, stopping her. “I’m so sorry.”

      “Oh, Lydia, you don’t need to apologize. And if you want, I can postpone the trip,” she told her, feeling true compassion for her friend.

      “No. You’ve got your heart set on it. You’re excited when you talk about it. Parker will be good company. You’ll see.” With that she gave a little wink.

      Outside the door, McKenna turned to Parker. “I know Lydia’s convinced you that I need a companion, but I assure you I don’t.”

      “I was being truthful when I said there were a hundred things that could happen to you,” Parker said.

      “Those things can happen even if you’re with me. So since the consequences are the same no matter the circumstance, I’d just as soon go alone.”

      “Have it your way. Just don’t tell Lydia.”

      “Thanks, Parker.” McKenna smiled. She couldn’t believe her luck. She expected a heated argument, but he was being extremely reasonable. McKenna almost put her hand on his arm and squeezed it as a way of confirming her thank-you, but stopped herself before she did so. “Good luck with the book.”

      She walked away, her step a little lighter. McKenna didn’t look back. She knew Parker was staring after her. Despite the way she felt about him, he made her conscious of her body. She was wearing jeans and a shirt, but she felt as if he could see right through her clothes.

      The impulse to strut invaded her brain. She could give him a real image to keep when she was gone. Forcing herself to walk normally, her entire body was hot by the time she turned the corner leading to the elevator. She dropped her shoulders and took a deep breath.

      “Thank God, I’m going alone,” she said out loud.

      She was disappointed that Lydia wouldn’t be with her. Having a companion along had its advantages, but the idea of the open road and the freedom of doing whatever she pleased without anyone to censure her or question her decisions was exhilarating.

      By the time McKenna reached her car, an idea was forming in her mind. All the arrangements were made for her mail, her bills, her house. She was practically packed. Since she would be traveling alone, why wait two days? She could begin her trip in the morning. The weather forecast was good for the next few days. All she needed to do was go to the bank and she’d be ready.

      Her spirits rose in anticipation. Negotiating Chicago’s traffic didn’t even bother her today. By this time tomorrow, she’d be on some less traveled road and having the time of her life.

      This was going to happen, she sang silently, drumming her fingers on the steering wheel as she made her way home. This was really going to happen. The open road, a vintage car and freedom. The old McKenna was out and the new McKenna Wellington was driving to Los Angeles, ready for whatever adventure awaited her.