Simon stood at the
counter of the car rental agency and felt as though he signed his life away. A
sleepless night had found him regretting the agreement to return to Fern Lake
for the funeral. He’d left so much unfinished when he’d walked away like a
spoiled brat. Couldn’t change the past was a given.
He leaned toward
the clerk. If the man didn’t stop the sales pitch soon, the anger bubbling
toward the surface would erupt in an angry tirade.
“I don’t want a
SUV. I’m not going on a road trip. Just
a regular car. The one I called about.” He slapped his card on the Formica
counter surface.
The clerk smiled.
“What about a luxury sedan? We have one equipped with every gadget you could
want.”
Simon’s jaw
clenched. “A mid-sized sedan. The one I ordered last evening.” He groaned. Why
had he agreed to go back for the funeral of a man who had treated him like
dirt?
“When was the last
time you drove in the city?”
Since most of the
drive would be on an interstate, Simon felt a burn of anger. The question was
useless. “Last month. Car provided by my employer.” Former but he wasn’t about
to mention that to a stranger. He wished he’d had his badge to slap on the
counter.
The man ran the
license and swiped the credit card. “Driving record is clean. Card is good.
When will you return the car?”
“Thursday evening
or Friday morning.”
The man slid a set
of keys across the counter. “The gray sedan out front. Just sign and the ride
is yours.”
Simon glanced over
the terms and signed. He grabbed his luggage and strode outside. After loading
his bag, suit and sports coat, he got behind the wheel and eased into city
traffic.
Before long he hit
the interstate and aimed the car for Fern
Lake. Each time the
odometer registered another ten miles the knot in his gut tightened. He
couldn’t decide if he moved forward or back. Maybe neither. He tried not to
think about his reason for leaving town the day after he’d graduated second in
his class. He’d given up a college scholarship and signed up for a tour in the
marines. He’d aced those tests and spent a miserable tour in the service.
Dashing into situations without thinking seemed in his nature.
A memory tickled.
A female he’d dated had nailed him completely. Her face was blurred but her
words were clear. “You’re an Aries.”
“So.”
“Means you charge
into situations sword in hand.”
She’d been right.
She’s also mentioned his lack of tolerance for assholes and that he didn’t like
having a boss. That was why he had no job to keep him from visiting a place he
wanted to avoid.
