Page 2 of Pink and Country

By April Simmons, lost but not found.

Before my brain caught up, I opened a new browser tab. Procrastination, right? I typed “kitten pictures” and hit search. The image of a tiny black kitten yawning in the big hand of a firefighter with a gorgeous soot-covered face caught my eyes. Too damn hot. At least my hormones weren’t dead. Good to know.

I rolled my shoulders forward, buried my face in the crook of my elbow, and let out a heavy sigh. Gone were the days where I impressed myself with my dedication. A series of yawns escaped my mouth, making my eyes watery. I took a sip of my hot beverage, absent-mindedly watching Bernice grooming herself.

“Hey, girl, can you do that later? I need some encouragement here; don’t you see I’m struggling?” Our eyes met for half a second before Bernice went back to licking her paws. “Never mind. I’ve seen beauty queens more enthusiastic than you. You won’t be mentioned in my acknowledgments section this time. Shame on you.” My words didn’t rattle her. Not even a little.

My phone chimed, and the sound startled me. Perfect. As if I needed more distraction. I clicked open the text message my best friend, Saunders, just sent me as if she read my mind and knew I required some much-needed guidance. Or a kick in the butt. Such a seer. Take this, Bernice.

Wait, why was she up at this early hour? Saunders should be wrapped in her boyfriend’s hairy arms at six in the morning. Not texting me. Reed would not like it.

Hey Bubble Head, call me when you get this. Love you xx

No way I’d wait another hour to find out what Saunders wanted. My sleepiness vanished as I punched in my best friend’s number.

She answered after the first ring. Seemed like I wasn’t the only one feeling impatient this morning.

“Okay, I hope you’re ready for this, because I have great news for you. I’ve got your next adventure. Something to change your mind and give you that kick in the butt you desperately need.”

Yeah, Saunders knew me too well.

My heart raced at the thought she’d send me bungee jumping or swimming with sharks. “Do I really want to know?”

“Oh, April, just trust me. When did I fail you?”

I inhaled, bracing myself for whatever she had to propose to me.

“One of my clients rented a two-bedroom luxury cabin in Green Mountain for the month. He can’t go because his wife got sick, and she needs to stay in the city. Anyway, I thought you could use it. Fresh air. Great for inspiration. And, oh, yes, it’s rent-free. Since he canceled last minute, he couldn’t get a refund. Anyway, what do you think?”

“You’re serious? You want me to move to the country for an entire month? They probably don’t even know what wi-fi is?”

“You’re being ridiculous, girl. It’s a five-star cabin, not a shack. Anyway, don’t be a party-pooper. Imagine writing your new book without being distracted. You know I’m a genius in disguise, right?”

“Don’t flatter yourself. Genius isn’t your middle name, Saund. Your super ideas don’t always turn out so great.”

“Anyway, it’s not like we live in New York. We’re in Ginger Creek, Georgia, April. Most people would consider it a small town.”

“Except here we have malls. We have more than just one main street, and there are no deer living in people’s backyard. You know what I mean.” I pinched the bridge of my nose, thinking. “What about Bernice? I know you won’t watch her; you hate this litter box thing.”

“I already checked with the renting company, and they said you can bring her along. So, you’re going? You don’t have any good excuse to avoid this opportunity. I’ll give you one hour to think about it. If you leave tomorrow morning, you’ll be there by sunset.”

“Fine, give me an hour.” We hung up, and I dropped my forehead on the table. Did I just get set up? Saunders was right, though. I had no good excuse for refusing her offer. Damn it. I hated when she was right.

My phone pinged as a new text message came in. Two words.

Saunders: Start packing.

I gritted my teeth. She’d never let it go. And telling her I feared bears wouldn’t cut it. Saunders ran a vacation and retreat agency for rich folks. She booked vacation spots according to their needs in luxury locations only they could afford, where they’d unwind and have a good time without too much distraction. Over-organized—the opposite from me—Saunders had vacation packages ready for all types of clients. Exotic destinations, mountain retreats, boathouse rentals, treehouses, or desert and jungle getaways.

And now she was offering me a cabin. For a month. By myself. Was I still dreaming?

I worked my jaw back and forth, making a pros-and-cons list in my head, weighing my options through the chaos that was my brain.

Could a change of air boost my creativity and engage my brain productively? Yes. No. Probably.

Plus side? No distraction. No noisy neighbors. A definite pro.

Would I feel lonely all by myself for an entire month? Sure. Not so much. Maybe a little.