I kicked the back tire twice. It was already deflated. Seriously, how could I have a flat tire? I stared at the rubber as it formed a pancake on the shoulder of the road.

I pulled out my phone to call roadside assistance. There was no way I was driving another inch on that thing.

“Hi. Yes, this is Kaitlyn Sinclaire. The trailer I rented from your company has a flat tire. Can you send someone to change it?”

“Where are you, ma’am? And I need your rental ID number.”

“There was a detour and I was rerouted.” I sighed “Let me check my phone. It looks like I’m on state road 101.” There were no mile markers or exits. Only swamps and sugar cane. I unfolded the rental slip from my pocket and read the numbers in the right-hand corner to her.

“Ok, I see your reservation in our system. It will be at least an hour before we can dispatch someone in your direction.” Her voice was crisp, not at all the comforting tone I needed right now.

I cringed. “An hour? Isn’t there someone closer than that?”

“No, ma’am.” The operator was losing her patience with me. “He’ll be there as soon as he can.”

Before I could ask anything else, she hung up.

My entire life was in the back of this truck. The bedroom set I bought when Mary Ellen and I moved into our first apartment. Boxes of books that I couldn’t seem to part with and their bookcase. Suitcases of clothes.

I flipped on the radio. Who does this? Who packs up her entire life and drives halfway across the country by herself?

I did.

Because I felt as if I needed to prove something. I don’t know if I was trying to prove to my brother or to myself, that my life with Cole was something I could handle. I wanted it. Needed it. I could do this.

Despite the age difference. Despite his two-year old son. I was completely committed to us.

Moving to Texas proved that to everyone.

I thought about calling Cole to tell him about the flat tire, but if I told him where I was, he would get in his truck and start driving. No matter how many times I tried to convince him I had help on the way, he would drive straight to me. That’s what Cole does. That’s why I fell in love with him.

I jumped when I heard my phone ring.

I picked it up. “Hey, Sasha.”

“When are you getting here?”

I laughed. She might be as excited as Cole and I were, possibly more. “I’m getting there.”

“I still don’t know why you didn’t let Cole drive with you. He was dying to make the trip with you.”

“I know. I know. But we couldn’t put Grayson in a car seat for four days. This made more sense.” I wasn’t going to feel guilty about it. “It’s just something I needed to do. I’ll be there tonight.” Although, at the rate this roadside assistance was going, I’d be lucky if the guy showed up by nightfall.

“I can’t wait for you to get here. I still can’t believe you are actually moving.”

I shook my head. “Me either.” I looked at the trailer behind me. “There’s no turning back now. The truck is loaded and I’m in Louisiana. I’m almost there.”

My shoulders were starting to cramp from the driving and my left foot kept falling asleep. Cole was my grand prize at the end of this journey, but it would be so amazing if he came along with a hot shower.

“Call when you get to the bridge, ok?”

“I will.”

I’d give just about anything to be there now. I had at least nine hours of driving ahead of me. I might never make it to Cole.

“Thanks for calling. I’ll check in with you later.” I smiled as I saw the yellow caution lights flash in my mirror. I had to get this show on the road.

I hung up the phone, tucked it into my back pocket, and hopped out of the truck.

“You run into trouble?” A lanky man with grease-stained jeans and a wad of tobacco in his jaw strolled toward the tire.

“I did. Do you think you can get the tire changed for me?”

He lifted a ball cap from his head and scratched what little bit of hair he had. “Nobody told me nothin’ about a tire. I got a call you needed a tow.”

“That’s not possible. I specifically told the woman on the phone the trailer tire was flat.” I wanted to call her back and lay into her, but I had bigger problems. This was the help they sent, and now that he was standing four feet away, I wasn’t sure he would be able to do much of anything.

He spat from the side of his mouth, sending brown bits of tobacco into the grass and gravel. I tried not to stare, but this couldn’t be happening. I had to get to South Padre. I had to start my life with Cole. This man was one more thing standing in my way.

“Don’t know what to tell ya. I don’t got a tire. I’ll roll back up to town, pick you up one, and I’ll be back.” He looked at his watch. “Gimme an hour.”

“An hour? You’re going to leave me here for another hour? I’ve been sitting here two hours already.”

“You can ride with me.” He pointed to the cab. “Sally there’ll move over for ya.” In the front seat was a long-haired golden retriever. I liked dogs, but I wasn’t about to let one I didn’t know sit in my lap.

I weighed my options. I could stay with the truck, keep an eye on my life’s possessions, and get harassed by every man who drove past; or I could ride with Frank the tow truck driver with Sally on my lap into a town I’d never heard of, and leave everything I own in this world on the side of a Louisiana back road.

Frank stepped toward his truck. “You comin’?”

“No. I think I’ll stay with the truck.”

“Suit yourself.” He opened the door. “Be back real soon.”

“Ok. Thank you.” I tried to smile, but knew I didn’t have much faith in Frank. He didn’t seem like a take-charge kind of guy.

I climbed into the truck, locked the doors, and turned on the radio. I don’t know how much time passed before I saw Frank’s truck pull up again. He waved as he pulled behind the trailer.

“Got you a tire.” He beamed as he stepped out of the truck.

“Good. I was starting to worry about you, Frank.”

He walked to the back of his truck and retrieved a tire, slung it to the ground, and began rolling it toward me.

“This was the only one we had left in that trailer size.” He pointed to the flat. “Why don’t you scoot, and let me git this on here?”

I hopped from the ledge and watched as he began the process. Sally must have seen this a hundred times. She pulled her head in from the window and folded herself in the front seat.

After twenty minutes, Frank had finished and stepped back to admire his work. “That oughtta do ya.” He smiled widely, and I noticed he had several teeth missing.

“Thank you. I really appreciate the help.”

“Sure thing.” He tipped his hat and walked to the truck. “Be careful out there.”

“I will.” I almost jogged to the driver side. I was ready to get the last part of the trip underway. Nine hours and I would be in Cole’s arms.