Free Jaq With a Q (Kismet) by Jettie Woodruff

arrive just in time, an hour or so ahead of him. Knowing the same scenery would do little for my wandering mind, I spent it trying to answer why question after why question. Unfortunately, I came up empty.
    Although my problem solving fell short, my trip went well, right up until just after ten in the morning that is. Panic set in at an alarming rate, a rapid amount of adrenaline pumping through my veins as soon as I saw her name. Jaq didn’t call me. I called Jaq. Jaq had never dialed my number. Ever. Something had to be wrong.
    “Jaq?”
    “It’s after ten. You already went to break. You didn’t call me. Why didn’t you call me, Ollie?”
    A deep breath to relax and chill my jumpy nerves came before my words. “You scared the hell out of me. I thought something was wrong.”
    “There is. Why didn’t you call me?”
    “We talked about this last night. How did you sleep?”
    “Stop asking me that. You know I don’t sleep. Where are you?”
    “I’m going to spend the weekend with my brother. You know this.”
    “But I told you I didn’t like it. It’s a bad idea. I don’t like this. What if something bad happens? You’re far, far away now.”
    “Stop doing that. You’re causing unneeded drama, all for nothing. I’ll be home Sunday afternoon. Besides, you’re not even going to notice I’m gone. It’ll be like any other night, and I’ll call you just like I always do. Same time, same place.”
    “But you didn’t call and you’re not in the same place.”
    “Stop. Did you eat breakfast yet? I stopped at this little place my dad used to insist on going to when we were kids. The place looked just like it did back then, and I’m pretty sure the gravy and biscuits got a whole lot better. Maybe we’ll go there some time.”
    The hesitation assured me that she at least let the thought sink in for a second. “I ate soup.”
    A smile crossed my lips and my nerves eased. “For breakfast? Soup?”
    “Is that wrong?”
    I contemplated her approval seeking question briefly before answering. “Sometimes I like cheese and crackers for breakfast.”
    Without seeing it, I knew that made her smile, but then her sad words made me reconsider. “I thought something happened to you.”
    “Hey, I’m here, aren’t I? It’s just a trip, Jaq, and I’m sorry about not calling right at ten. I was planning on calling as soon as I stopped for gas. Why don’t you walk across the road to the store today? I’ll have Wallace help you. He’ll make sure you get there and back. It’ll do you good to get some air.”
    “Why are you saying that? Why do you want me to go out there? You’re not coming back, are you? You’re just setting me up like Mrs. Bacon did. It’s not going to work. I won’t go out there. I’ll starve first.”
    “I don’t doubt that. Calm down. It was just a suggestion. Did I not make a promise to you? Have I not told you time and time again that I wasn’t going anywhere? That I’m right here? I’m not going anywhere, Jaq. I’m right here.”
    “I’m sorry, I’m not being very good. I—just. Sometimes—I. It feels—.”
    “I get it. Don’t worry about it. We’ll get there together.”
    “You don’t get it, Ollie. Nobody does. We’re not going to get anywhere together because I don’t want to. I don’t want this, and you’re not going to fix me. You’re not. You should just do it and get it over with. You’re wasting my time and yours.”
    I sidestepped the ending comment, but I wasn’t sure why. Maybe I wanted to get her mind off of it. Or…Mine. “You can’t stay locked up in that apartment forever. I’m not going to let you do that and we have a deal.”
    “Well, that’s all I can give you. I’ll probably never agree to leave here with you. You know that, right? I can’t. I’m probably never going out there again. I don’t want to.”
    “It’s fine. We’ll figure it out.”
    To get rid of the sad voice, I did what I always did, the only thing that seemed to