The Kidnapper's Wife

34. After

"I'm Sean," the guy sitting next to me says, "And this is Paul."

"Nice to meet you." The second I said I would come out, I regretted it. What was I thinking, agreeing to a night on the town with two strangers. Hadn't I learned anything from the incident at my bachelorette party?

Before my thoughts could delve deeper into unpleasant memories, I shook my head slightly, finishing off the piece of pizza I'd ordered.

I heard the guy furthest from me, Paul, curse, and then turn to Sean. "I forgot my id dude. I must have left it in my backpack after we used it to get through security."

"Damn. Better go get it." Sean turned to me, "We gotta stop by our room before we go, Paul forgot his id."

If I knew anything it was that I wasn't setting foot anywhere near their room.

"That actually works out well because I need to stop by mine, I want to grab my chapstick. I can just meet you at whatever bar you want to start at."

"Sure sounds good," Sean turns to Paul, "Where are we starting man?"

"I wanna go to ACME, their rooftop is the best." Paul pronounces.

"Sounds good," I speak before Sean so he realizes I can hear Paul just fine. I slap a twenty down on the table, "I'll meet you guys there in like 30 minutes?"

"Sounds great!" Sean smiles, "Don't bail on us!"

I laugh, "Of course not!"

But of course, when I get outside the restaurant, all I want is to do just that. The night is perfect though, the sun setting over the river down Broadway, and just like when I agreed to go out, I find I can't resist the temptation to avoid my cooped up hotel room and another silent night alone. So instead of turning back towards the hotel, I wander down Broadway toward ACME, people watching the tourists, all dressed up in their best country costumes, trying not to let my eyes linger on the bachelorettes. Suddenly, I'm aware of a vibration in my pocket, and I step off to a side street to answer my phone.

"Hello?" I didn't stop to check who was calling.

"Jade!" my mother's voice sounds relieved, "Where are you?!"

"I...I'm on a trip." I say carefully.

"A trip? To where? Why didn't you tell me you were leaving? I've been worried sick!"

"I just needed to get away," I don't feel like explaining to her the real reason I'm in Nashville. "I needed a break."

"A break from what? Your TV?"

I pause at the harsh comment, and my mother seems to realize what she's said. "I'm sorry Jade, I just, I went by the house earlier and you weren't there, and when I let myself in Ruby was gone and so was your car and I figured maybe you just went out but I came back later to check and you still weren't back so I thought maybe..." she trails off, not sharing what exactly her worst fear was when it came to me these days.

"I'm fine mom. I'm in Nashville."

"Nashville?" she sounds incredulous. "Why?"

"I told you, I just needed to get away. I'll be back in a few days don't worry." I pause, and decide to add a little truth to the mix, "This trip has been really good for me mom. It's so nice to be out where no one knows me. I feel almost...normal."

My mother's voice relaxes a bit on her reply, "Well, I suppose maybe some time away would do you well. But please be careful Jade. And check in so we know you're alright."

"Sure mom." I'm growing tired of the conversation, "I should go. I'm meeting some friends in a bar and I don't want to be late."

"Friends?" my mom sounds thrilled at the prospect.