in, Luke had reached a decision of his own.
“Look, Kelli, I know that this will all sound kind of bizarre, but it’s the best I can do on short notice.” He grinned. “I want to help you. And I think I know a way to do that.”
“That’s decent of you, Luke.” I laid a grateful hand on his arm. “But you aren’t the one in trouble—”
“No, you are. And you’re my friend. Let me help you.”
“Just like you help those stray animals? You’ve got such a soft heart.”
“Most people would say I’ve got a soft head!” He laughed with his characteristic self-reproach, then added a serious, “I like you, Kelli. I like you a lot. I have since I started this route. And, just for the record, you aren’t a stray, just a mite lost.”
“Thanks, Luke, I truly appreciate your concern. Still, though, I don’t know what you could do to help me through this predicament. I don’t know how anyone could.”
“You need time to think, plan your immediate and long-term future. And, you need a quiet, safe place in which to do it. With your mom and dad so angry, your boyfriend so uncaring, you won’t find the space you need here.”
I couldn’t dispute Luke’s logic. The constant upheaval in my personal life kept me dizzy and in an uproar. It wasn’t good for me, and I shuddered to think of what all this rigamarole was doing to the tiny, innocent fetus swimming around inside me.
But I didn’t know what Luke planned to do about it. He took a short, steadying breath, then gazed deep into my eyes.
“Finish this haul with me, Kelli. If all goes well—which it should—we can make the round trip from here to Michigan, unload, reload, and be back in two weeks. That should give you plenty enough time to truly know what you want to do about the baby.”
“Oh, I don’t know, Luke!” If he’d suggested that we sprout wings and fly to the moon, I couldn’t have been more stunned. I blurted out the first thing that came to mind. “I’ve never been out of Indiana before!”
“Good, then you can have a pleasant vacation, to boot.”
“I hardly think that after the mess I’ve created, I deserve a vacation. Besides, you run on a fixed timetable, Luke. Between my morning sickness and frequent bathroom stops, I’ll just slow you down.”
“No, you won’t. At any rate, I’m ahead of schedule this trip.”
“Oh, I don’t know—”
“Listen, Kell. The cab of a big rig like mine is comfortable, roomy, and infinitely quiet. You’ll find lots of time to think. And I promise,” he symbolically crossed his heart, “that you will be absolutely safe. I’ll be with you every second. And though we’ll be side by side in the truck, I won’t infringe upon your privacy. There’s a little bunk in the back where you can nap anytime. You’ll see, it’ll be great.”
“But I have no money—”
“You won’t need any.”
“I’ve got to eat.”
“Ah,” he said. “How much can a little thing like you eat?”
I gave him a skeptical smirk, then nodded toward my empty plate. Not only had I scraped it clean, but I’d wolfed Luke’s bacon and toast, as well. “Since I’ve been pregnant, I’ve developed a hollow leg! And I have to fill it up at least three times a day.”
“Well,” he shrugged, grimacing comically, “I’ll start a tab that you can pay after everything is straightened out.”
Despite the turmoil that raged within my soul, a few pertinent things did stand out. I had a tough choice to make, and I didn’t want to bungle it with a pressured, snap decision. A decision that, no matter what course I selected, would haunt me forever—mold the rest of my life. I’d already made one major error, and I couldn’t afford a second, perhaps more traumatic, one. Nevertheless, to run off with a virtual stranger. . . .
“We hardly know each other, Luke. We’re merely a couple of ships passing in the night.”
“That’s not true, Kelli.” Luke appeared somewhat taken aback, hurt even, by my feelings. “During the past six months, I’ve made this Michigan run a dozen times. I’m so predictable and methodical that I always stop at the same truck plazas along the way. Each place is loaded with colorful characters and friendly waitresses. I see them so often that they become like family. But this place is my favorite—homelike. Why? Because of a sweet girl named Kelli.”
“Why, Luke!” I patted his reddened cheek. Luke rolled his eyes, embarrassed.
“Solo truck driving is a lonely profession. I could use some company. Come on, Kelli. What have you got to lose?”
“My parents will kill me . . . I’ll miss two weeks of school,” I said, defeated. “Of course, my reputation is already in tatters.”
“Hey, now.” Luke stiffened, his expression stern and foreboding. “None of that ‘let’s beat up on Kelli’ routine. Everybody stumbles, everybody falls facedown sometimes. But that doesn’t make them bad people. It just makes them human. You’ve had some rotten breaks, some lousy luck. Now, it’s time to lick your wounds and plot your next line of action. The separation from your folks might give them a necessary period of adjustment, too. Come with me, Kelli; let me help you help yourself.”
Not unlike my earlier bout of morning sickness, my body was a whirlwind of thoughts and feelings. But I felt Luke’s outstretched hand too welcoming and sincere to refuse. Although his reason for rescuing me remained a mystery, I didn’t push him. I just accepted.
“Okay, Luke. What time do you want to blow this pop stand?”
“That’s my girl!” He winked at my giddy joke. “We’ll leave as soon as possible.”
“Half an hour?” I suggested.
“Great! I’ll have the truck all warmed up and ready to roll.” He smiled.
I stood, prepared to leave, when Luke clutched my hand, his eyes full of concern. “Kelli, maybe I should go with you, you know, speak to your parents. They’ll be worried—”
“They’ll be at work and won’t even miss me until after six o’clock tonight. I’ll leave a note for them.”
“Still, Kelli, you really should—”
“It’ll be okay. Now, Luke, you’ve got to trust me!”
Feeling like some kind of common criminal, I trumped up a lie to tell my boss, then scurried home to pack a bag. I was glad no one was there. I didn’t want to face them in person.
The letter I left was cryptic and brief. I merely assured them that I was with a dependable friend and would return in a few days. I grabbed my vitamins and iron pills, and hurried back to meet Luke.
Surprisingly, once we hit the highway and crossed the state line, I felt as though a thousand-pound weight had been lifted from
