From East to West

“I did it! I left her!” Jacob’s knuckles whitened on the steering wheel as he stared through the windshield. The empty blackness was cut only by the short yellow reflective lines that marked the center of the road.

“What!” Kevin’s voice crackled through the car speaker, “ What happened?”

“I told you, ever since Baby Jay was born, Ellen just isn’t interested in me anymore. She’s always ‘too tired’ or ‘too busy’ for anything. I even tried to order takeout last night. I thought we could cuddle on the couch and watch a movie together after the baby was in bed. But before I was done popping the popcorn, she was out, snoring and drooling. She didn’t even leave room for me to sit down. And it’s not like I don’t try to help out whenever I’m home, but she always yells at me that I’m ‘doing everything wrong.’ We can’t even go out to dinner without her trying to rush back home to the baby.”

“And I told you that happens sometimes right after babies are born. He's only 3 months old. Maybe you should try family counseling. Have you even talked to her about it?”

“Why should I have to try anything? She’s the one neglecting me. There’s no point, anyway. Right now, I'm headed over to Vicky's. That girl is drop-dead gorgeous, and she actually pays attention to me. She makes me feel like a man, like I used to. I haven’t felt that way in a while. You know she’s been dropping hints ever since she started working for us at the shop. I could tell by the way she would lean in a little too close whenever she brought me my coffee. Well, she’s invited me over to her place a few times. Tonight, I’m taking her up on it.”

“I'm telling you, that girl’s bad news. The only reason she's paying any attention to you at all is because she wants your money. I’ve seen the type at my dad’s firm growing up. It’s women like her that ripped my parents apart. They can sniff out marital problems like a bloodhound, and they know exactly when to attack. We never should have hired her in the first place. I told you I had a bad feeling about her from the start. Can’t you see she's just trying to take advantage of you?”

“Look, I’m not your dad, okay. And if I’d wanted a lecture, I'd have called my mother. Why are you always defending her? You can never just be on my side. You’re supposed to be my best friend, not Ellen’s.”

“Of course, I’m your best friend. I have been since Mrs. Miller’s class in third grade. And I am on your side. I just don't want you doing something you're going to regret. Besides, I’ve always been the one to call you out on your BS. That’s why I’m your best friend.”

“You know what? Forget it. I don't know why I even called you. I'll talk to you later.” The speaker clicked as Jacob ended the call.

His face burned against the air conditioning, and his jaw began to ache. The tension on his neck threatened a migraine. Kevin always thinks he knows everything.

He looked up at the rear-view mirror that indicated the temperature was 73° and he was headed East. Then he glimpsed the baby’s car seat. He studied the black and white, checked pattern of the fabric and the barnyard animals that hung above it. The image of his baby boy crept into his mind; wisps of soft brown hair, dark blue eyes, and little dimples that formed on his cheeks when he ate, just like his mother. The road blended into the darkness as his mind began to drift. The initial excitement was gone, and he could feel his stomach tighten. Hot tears stung his eyes, and the tension in his neck spread to his shoulders. Maybe Kevin’s right. What if I do regret this? I guess I could have tried a little harder.

A blaring horn broke through Jacob’s thoughts. Two bright lights shone directly in front of him. He yanked the steering wheel to the right as a large semi clipped the back of his bumper. The car skidded back into the right lane, fishtailed, and slid down an embankment before coming to a rest in a ditch at the bottom.

Jacob sat there, mouth agape. His breaths came in short, hard bursts. His mind filled with the image of his wife and son, clad in black, tears streaming as they watched a heavy pine box being lowered into the ground.

After a few seconds, his vision cleared, and he got out of his car to check the damage. There was just a tiny scrape on his bumper.

The semi skidded to a stop a bit up the road. An old man in a red trucker hat jumped out and ran over to Jacob. “Are you okay, buddy?”

“Yeah,” Jacob’s voice shook, as he ran an unsteady hand through his hair. “No real damage to me or the car. You?”

The old man stepped back on his heel and removed his hat, wiping his brow with his forearm. “I'm gonna be just fine. You gotta be more careful. That could’a been real bad. God must really be watching over you.”

“I know, I’m sorry. I’ve just got a lot on my mind, but I promise I'll pay better attention from now on.”

The driver nodded slowly, knowingly, “Whatever it is, God’s gonna get you through it. You gotta be patient.” He looked back toward the empty road. “There's no damage. I don't think we gotta worry about insurance. Do you think you can get your car back on the road? ” Jacob nodded in agreement. “Okay, you go on home and hug your family and tell ‘em you love ‘em. That's what I'm gonna do. Take care of yourself, and God bless you.”

Jacob watched the old man as he walked back to his truck and climbed in. After a few seconds, it roared to life, and then he was gone. Slowly, Jacob got back into his car, steadily pulled it up the embankment, and back onto the road. He looked up at his rear-view mirror. 72°, West.