Dad hitched a ride on a motorcycle to go to the nearest auto-parts store. We were told to get out of the room by noon, or we’d have to pay for another night. Dad said once he bought a new set of points, it’d be an easy fix and we’d be out of here.
I settled in a booth with plastic seats at a coffee shop down the street from the hotel. The waitress was getting tired of refilling my cup of coffee, but it was so cold outside. Drinking hot coffee comforted me, made me feel like I was home in my mom’s kitchen.
Tommy slid into the seat across from me.
“Hi,” I said, watching the cars go down the road in front of the coffee shop.
“You want to drink in every coffee shop in this town?”
“What?”
“You know, like every country in Epcot?”
I smiled. “Disney seems a long time ago.”
“Yeah. It’s funny, isn’t it?” Then he shrugged. “Although not really.”
“No, not really,” I said.
Our hands were close on the table. But he didn’t reach for me, and I was really glad he didn’t.
“Annie, I know this is a bad time to ask you this, but have you thought more about the situation with Mark?”
“Tommy, don’t,” I said, shaking my head a little and looking away. “Please.”
“I didn’t mean to upset you,” he said. “I shouldn’t have asked.”
“It’s not that. I just don’t want to think about anything else that will make me sad.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I did what I said I wouldn’t. It’s just that you’ve been so distant since the … accident, and I already miss you. I can’t believe I miss you and you’re right in front of me. And I can’t believe I didn’t know you a few days ago, and now … I …” He looked tired and sad.
All I could do was nod. I wanted to say something to make him feel better, but I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t even know what I felt.
Tommy ordered some buttermilk pancakes, and I watched him eat them. They looked good, but I had no appetite.
Dad went by on the bike, behind some guy he’d never met before today. Life was strange, I thought. Life with Dad was particularly interesting.
Tommy stood up and grabbed the check. I put my hand on his arm. “Give me a minute with my dad, okay?”
Dad had already popped the hood when I got to the car. The guy on the bike was gone. Dad started talking as soon as he saw me. “Annie, it won’t take me long to do this.” He was talking fast and moving fast. He seemed nervous.
“Dad.”
He looked at me. “I’m—”
“Dad. I know you’re trying to fix the car.”
“Well, yeah,” he said. “I know you want to get home, Annie.”
“I got upset because I want to go to the memorial service.”
“What service?” he asked.
“They’re having a service at JSC for the astronauts. Lea told me about it this morning. She’s going to ask her parents if I can come.”
“It’s not today, is it?” he asked, looking slightly worried.
“Not today. I don’t know when it is. Lea didn’t know yet.”
“We’ll be back tonight, Annie.”
“I’m sorry, Dad, that I got so mad.”
“Aw, Annie, it’s okay.”
“Can I get you a Coke?”
His head came up, his eyes wide in surprise. “Sure. Sure.”
“Okay.” I smiled. “Or do you want a Dr Pepper? I know you drink Dr Pepper.”
“Yeah,” he said, “that’d be great.” He ducked his head back under the hood. “Go on, then. I’ve got to fix a car.”