It doesn’t take me long to reach the hostel and when I get there, Zach is standing outside with his foot resting against the wall. Tyler sometimes stands like that. Thoughts of Tyler cause me to stop short and focus on a leaf that is mindlessly swirling on the ground. Everything reminds me of Tyler and I know that’s the way it should be, but each moment is painful. I don’t want to live like that.
“Good morning,” Zach says, breaking my reverie. “Did you bring me one?”
“What?” I look at him, confused, and see that he’s pointing to my cup of coffee. It dawns on me that I should’ve grabbed him one or at least texted and ask if he’d like something to drink. “Oh, um… I thought with you being in the service you didn’t drink coffee.” I’m not exactly quick on my feet, but at least it’s something.
Zach laughs and takes the cup from my hand, taking sip. His face scrunches and pushes the cup back into my hands. “I think I’m thankful you didn’t bring me a cup. What is that shit?”
“It’s my coffee.” I laugh and take a sip, not minding the sugar loaded warm breakfast.
“No,” he says shaking his head. “That’s warm Red Bull on crack. You’re in Paris. You’re supposed to drink espresso and Frappuccino’s.”
“Zach, I think you mean I’m supposed to drink the coffee black because in Paris, coffee is like a fine art. Come on, we have a train to catch.” I bump his shoulder as I pass by him, heading toward the station.
The train station is busy, but not overly crowded. Zach beats me to the counter and buys our tickets. I try to give him the money, but he’s ignoring me, pretending like he can’t hear me even though he’s smiling. I give up and decide to show him on the large map where we’re going today. I point to Vouzeron and drag my finger back to Paris. I don’t know what’s there, but I’ve put it on my list of towns to check out.
The public address system announces the train for Chantilly and people rush to the platform.
“Is that our train?” he asks.
“No, it’s going in the wrong direction.” I show Zach on the map. As soon as my finger points to Chantilly, he grabs my hand and pulls me toward the platform. Before I can ask what’s going on, we’re on the train, sitting side by side and laughing.
“What’s going on?”
He looks around the train with a smile spread across his face. Today his hat is on backwards, but his overall appearance is still the same as yesterday.
“One of the guys at the hostel told me about Chantilly and said that girls really dig it. He said that there’s mansions, flowers and some other girly shit so I thought we’d check it out.”
“We’re in France,” I remind him. “There are
mansions everywhere. I believe each town has at least one.”
“There’s also the song. My mom loved that song.”
“Loved?” I question.
“She died about ten years ago, cancer. Chantilly is on my list and I’d like to see it with you.”
How can I say no? I can’t, which is why I sit back in my seat and squeeze his hand. I should let go, but it feels good to hold his hand.
Tyler
Taking Jeremiah with me to Austin was a mistake. He’s like a kid in a candy store, except the adult version. Rivers Crossing is small and definitely behind the times. You won’t find a shopping mall, strip mall, chain restaurants or nudie bars. What you do find is good, wholesome cooking, friendly people and land so vast that you can see for miles. In Rivers Crossing, the people are gracious, humble and your best friends within five minutes, unlike the bigger cities. I’m biased, I know.
As I drive around, going from block to block looking for an address that doesn’t seem to exist, all I see are food carts and lines of people. Even with my stomach growling it’s not enough for me to stop, although I’m half-tempted to because the smells of what’s sure to be delicious foods are killing me.
As luck would have it, I’m lost. Aunt Sue worked the phones and the general store like a pro on how to get a passport. When she told me that it’d take six weeks I wanted to kick my ass for waiting so long. It’d be well into two months that Savannah has been gone by the time I could get a little book that allows me to fly over the ocean. But Della told me that you could pay a little extra and get one quicker so that’s why I’m in Austin.
What Della didn’t tell me was I needed a picture and the lady at the courthouse wasn’t too forthcoming with how to find someone who took instant pictures for my application. Hence me being lost in what I’m gathering ain’t a great part of town. Jeremiah thinks it’s great, though, as he hangs his head out the window yelling yee-haw at people on the street. Right now he’s waggling his tongue at the aforementioned nudie bar, which is apparently where he wants to have lunch. I don’t know if I should go to the bar or leave Jeremiah there. One decision is surely going to get me in hot water while the other gives me the time I need to get my stuff done. This could be a moment that we look back on in ten years or so and laugh. Depends on if I get the girl or not.
With my pictures, birth certificate, application and checks in hand I stand in line and wait. Who knew getting an emergency passport would be so popular? I didn’t, but I also never planned on leaving the country. Savannah’s worth it though. I know she’s too young to make a commitment like getting married, but just having her here is worth the trip to France. I can’t see my life without her in it, even if she’s just a neighbor. Thing is, I’m not sure Rivers Crossing is for her and I don’t know if the city is for me. My momma said part of being in love is compromise, finding a happy medium for the both of us. I don’t know what that would be considering our worlds are vastly different.
Maybe I shouldn’t be going after her. I’ve just about cleaned out my savings to buy a ticket. What if she rejects me? Or has already moved on with some beret wearing French dude? I look down at the paperwork in my hand and sigh. Am I wasting my time?
“You tell her you’re coming yet?”
“No,” I say with a frown. “Aunt Sue has her address, and she thought it would be ‘knight in shining armor’ of me to just show up with roses in my hand.”
“What if she doesn’t need to be saved?”