She turned toward me, and I’ll never forget the look on her face. Rain had plastered her hair flat against her skull, and her eyes were swollen and wild with fear.
“My husband,” she choked out, barely audible. “He dropped us off. He took my wallet.
My heart pounded.
“What do you mean he dropped you off? Out here?”
“Please.” Her voice cracked. “Please, I just need help.
My baby girl… she’s so cold.”
I didn’t hesitate. “Get in.”
She stood there for half a second, like she couldn’t believe someone had actually stopped, and then she yanked open the back door and climbed in with the child. The smell of rain and wet fabric immediately filled the car.
The little girl whimpered, her lips trembling, and I cranked the heat up as high as it would go.
Then I grabbed the pack of tissues from my console and passed it back to her. “Here.”
I glanced at her in the rearview mirror.
“How long were you out there?”
“I don’t know. Maybe an hour? Longer?” She pressed her face into the girl’s damp hair.
“Cars just kept going. Like we were invisible.”
“What kind of man leaves his wife and child on the highway?” I couldn’t keep the anger out of my voice. “What kind of heartless monster does that?”
The mother’s shoulders started shaking.
“The kind who doesn’t care if we live or die.”
I told her my name, and that I was just grateful I’d seen them before the storm got any worse.
We drove in silence after that, with only the rhythmic thump of the wipers filling the space between us. I kept glancing in the rearview mirror at Amelia, whose small face was pale and exhausted.
When I saw a gas station glowing up ahead, I pulled off the highway. “Wait here,” I said.
“I’ll be right back.”Continue reading…
