“Not far from the Alberta border, a place called Lloydminster.”
Through the windshield she saw the sign for the convenience store chain. She fumbled with the latch to open her door and disappeared into the store as quickly as she had woken up. Hallam waited in the vehicle for her to return. When she finally did, she had two coffees in hand and was gingerly holding a bag with her pinky. She handed him one of the cups of coffee, then adjusted the awkwardly held bag grabbing it with her whole hand.
“Breakfast of champion travellers. Hope you like blueberry muffins.”
“As long as I have cream and sugar for my coffee, it doesn’t matter what I have to eat.”
“I’ll remember that for next time then.”
She handed him the bag containing the coffee additives and his muffin. As they ate and drank their coffee the radio now played the classic Take it to the Limit by the Eagles.
“It’s like they know or something.”
Hallam choked on his muffin as he chuckled at Sam’s comment.
“Know what?”
Sam playfully slapped at his arm.
When breakfast was done Sam filled the tank and took over the driver’s position shooing Hallam to slide over. Gripping the steering wheel firmly she exhaled and made their way back on to the blacktop leading out of town. Hallam folded the map and put it in the glove compartment.
“You ever put your gloves in there?”
Now with a destination in mind Hallam typed a few words into his phone. In no time a woman with a British accent started chirping out directions. The accented voice indicated they would reach their destination in about thirty-two hours
“Only suggestions. Unless you’re in a hurry to get there. Otherwise, the road is ours.”
With his statement barely finished Lloydminster fast became a distant memory in the rear-view. Sam drove and Hallam slept. As she drove Sam took notice of her current emotional state of being. She recalled how twenty hours earlier she thought she had killed her father, nearly run over someone, who now was sitting beside her sharing life. She had not been looking for a romantic interest, and Hallam never gave any inclination he was either, yet here they were together, alone.
Sam had driven beyond the three hour limit so Hallam could sleep. Now she needed to stretch her legs and take care of some personal business. A sign welcoming them to Jasper came and went. If she weren’t acutely aware it was 2020, she would have thought they had come to a ghost town. Finding a Tim Horton’s, she pulled in and parked. The speed bumps jarred Hallam awake.
“I gotta,”
He didn’t let her finish.
“Me too.”
They both hoped to hell Timmy’s had open doors and useable facilities. Much to their mutual joy and eventual satisfaction relief was swift. Hallam was the first one to finish and took the liberty of ordering for them. He would not be ordering blueberry muffins. Hallam waited for Sam in the car.
He handed her a coffee as she settled in.
“What else did you get me?”
“I got something off-menu.”
She looked at him puzzlingly.
“I didn’t know Timmy’s did that. I know Subway does”
Hallam realized the more Sam spoke, the more he liked her.
Sam was now aware how much they were alike after all.
He handed Sam a bag.
“Here, have some brain food.”
“Are you saying I’m dumb?”
“Not at all. I’m just trying to make sure all your smarticles remain in tact and functioning at their highest capacity. You never know when they might come in handy.”
“Nice come back, Smarticass. You’re not the only one who can make up words”
“See the brain food is working already!”
They ate in relative silence except for the radio which now played the 4 Non Blondes’ classic What’s Up . Sam and Hallam smiled simultaneously at the radio and then at each other.
They took their time leaving Jasper, taking in everything they could as they meandered through the barren streets. On the outskirts of Jasper Hallam pulled the car over to the shoulder of the road.
“Get out for a minute”
He instructed her to sit on the roof of the car . He framed her in the phone’s camera and snapped a few photos. He changed the angle of the phone and snapped a few more. As soon as she realized his intentions the parade of poses began. Hopping off the car Sam popped the trunk open and began to search through her belongings. Hallam walked toward the rear of the vehicle where Sam was. She had a feeling he might and without looking up directed him not to come any closer. The seriousness in her voice reminded Hallam he did not know this woman well. A slight panic rose within him as he wondered what she might be fishing for.
He watched as her hand reached for the top of the trunk. There was something in her hand. He could only see a few inches, but it looked shiny and metallic. Sam firmly slammed the trunk shut. Suddenly Sam started laughing uncontrollably. She had seen the look of fear, or was it shock upon his face.
“Did you think it was a gun or something? It’s a selfie stick. I keep the gun under the front seat of the car. It does me no good in the trunk if I’m accosted.”
Hallam smiled trying to mask his nervousness. Just who was this woman. He did not know.
After taking what would have amounted to a few rolls of film worth of pictures they packed up and moved on. Inspired by Hallam’s idea to take pictures Sam began to chronicle their trip. Most of the pictures taken were of Hallam. Occasionally she would sneak in a few shots of the two of them under the pretense of taking a picture out of the passenger window. Hallam let her use his phone for pictures as well.
“It’s about three and a half hours to Prince George. That’ll put it close to 2pm. We can stop for lunch somewhere and freshen up if possible.”
“ First you think I’m dumb, then you think I’m some sort of psycho murderer, and now you’re saying I stink. Well, I never”
“Not even once?”
The ride to Prince George was scenic but uneventful. They found an out of the way greasy spoon mom & pop shop and enjoyed their meal. They were back on the road an hour and a half later.
“We’ll see what’s open in New Hazelton in about six hours.”
Sam punched the gas peddle a little harder.
“Or sooner”
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