Jon kept one eye on the road and the other on the radio as he flipped the stations. He'd left his battered old phone in the bottom of his tool bag and was too tired to go dig it out. It was in the back seat of his truck, besides, sitting on Yasala's empty booster seat.
It was after sunset, his headlights brightening the winding road, the surrounding trees, and once, a deer's eyeshine. After a time, the road led onto a busier thoroughfare, and he sped up, settling into a cruising speed. His mind was wandering to what he'd make for dinner after picking Yasala up from the babysitter, and whether he had it in him to go over her schoolwork with her that evening.
That was when he spotted the SUV stopped on the side of the road, and the woman sitting on the hitch, apparently waiting. It didn't even occur to the man to pass by, and after turning on his blinker, he slid into the shoulder, coming to a stop a little ahead of the stopped car.
She'd see him coming that way, and he wouldn't be in the way of any tow trucks. Getting out, he cupped his hands around his mouth and called out to her while there were no cars coming to blow away his voice. “All good?” he asked, starting down the road toward her car.
It was after sunset, his headlights brightening the winding road, the surrounding trees, and once, a deer's eyeshine. After a time, the road led onto a busier thoroughfare, and he sped up, settling into a cruising speed. His mind was wandering to what he'd make for dinner after picking Yasala up from the babysitter, and whether he had it in him to go over her schoolwork with her that evening.
That was when he spotted the SUV stopped on the side of the road, and the woman sitting on the hitch, apparently waiting. It didn't even occur to the man to pass by, and after turning on his blinker, he slid into the shoulder, coming to a stop a little ahead of the stopped car.
She'd see him coming that way, and he wouldn't be in the way of any tow trucks. Getting out, he cupped his hands around his mouth and called out to her while there were no cars coming to blow away his voice. “All good?” he asked, starting down the road toward her car.