The Road Home to You

A breeze ruffled my hair and I caught a slight whiff of coffee and-- what was that? Horses? Slowly, I stretched my arms out in front of me with linked fingers and opened my eyes. I checked my watch. What? I’d slept for over an hour? I glanced around quickly. This guy should be here soon. My eye caught the movement of someone beside me. I glanced at the stranger quickly, then did a double take as he stood up. Whoa. He was tall, mid-twenties. Around 6’2”, slim, but well-built, with an oval shaped face set with high cheekbones and a strong jawline that looked like it was covered in a few days of dark stubble. He had dark blue eyes, fringed with long, sooty black eyelashes that would make any women jealous. He wore faded blue jeans and dirty runners, a navy blue hoodie with the letters U.C.D est. 1854 stamped on the front and a dusty navy ball cap. The dark curls that escaped his hat, curled invitingly at the nape of his neck and temples. I swallowed under his own intense scrutiny and noticed he held two large paper cups of coffee. My word. Was this Jamie? Tilting my head to the side, I asked, “Can I help you?” The coffee bearing stranger dropped his eyes and ducked his head with a soft chuckle. He shifted from one foot to another, before raising his eyes to meet mine. “Well, I be thinking that if you’re Anna Gallagher, I’m the one to be helping you. I’m Jamie O’Neill.” He smiled, showing off pearly white, straight teeth. “Yeah, I’m Anna.” I eyed him, remembering my encounter with the last Irish guy. I rose from my seat. “You must be the ‘Jamie-boy’, my aunt referred to.” I smiled as his laughter rang out. “That would be me.” He shook his head, smile still in place. “Aw Aunt Katie, bless her.” I nodded. “Yeah, she’s something else. Thanks for the lift by the way. I really appreciate it.” “Oh, not at t’all!” His Irish brogue was thick and to be honest, a bit confusing. “Oh, this is for you.” He handed me one of the paper cups in his hands. “I figured you’d be needing it, right enough. Tis just a flat white, hope that’s all right with you.” I puckered my lips, puzzled as I looked at the cup now in my hands. I tried to translate, ‘flat white’ in my mind. Nevertheless, I was touched by his thoughtfulness. “Thanks. I was just thinking how I could use a coffee.” I glanced up at him again and saw the side of his mouth tilt in a smile as he looked at me curiously. We both stood there awkwardly before he reached for my suitcase handle. “Right! Let me take this for you, I’m parked just outside if you’re ready to go.” I looked at the coffee cup in my hand, “Actually, I’ll just use the restroom really quickly if that’s ok.” I handed my coffee back to him. “Can you hold this?” I lifted my eyebrows, waiting for him to take the cup. He grinned. “Sure. I’ll wait here for you.” “Thanks.” I completed my business quickly, before pausing to glance at my reflection. My hair was a mess. Ugh. Well, that’s attractive. I tried to pull my wayward, light brown hair into a neat ponytail, but gave up with a sigh. It would not be tamed. It wasn’t as if I was trying to impress anyone anyway. I straightened my green knit infinity scarf around my neck as Jamie’s face flashed to mind. He was pretty cute, but I had no room for complications of the male persuasion right now. Leaving the restrooms, I headed back to where Jamie was still waiting. With quiet thanks, I reclaimed my coffee and followed him outside. I stepped to the curb and watched as Jamie easily hefted my suitcase into the trunk of a red hatchback. “Doors unlocked,” he called. “Thanks!” I automatically opened the right side door and saw the steering wheel. Shaking my head, I quickly shut the door again, looking over my shoulder to see if Jamie had noticed. He had. He was standing behind me, a playful grin on his face, keys dangling from the ends of his fingertips. “Care to drive?” “No thanks!” I said, before scooting back to the passenger side door. I chuckled as I dropped into the seat and buckled my seat belt. “You’d think after living in Zambia, I’d be used to driving on the left side if the road.” He shrugged and grinned. “Don’t worry about it, I imagine I’d have difficulty adjusting as well.” I nodded, peeking at him again from out of the corner of my eye. I took a deep breath and let it out. The smell of horses I had noticed earlier was obviously from Jamie. Maybe he lived on a farm. The smell brought back happy memories of days of riding as a child with dad and my brother. A pang of loneliness for the simplicity and uncomplicated innocence of youth pierced me. “So Africa, yeah?” he asked, pulling me out of my reverie. “How was that?” He was watched the road, merging away from the curb into traffic. I struggled, not really knowing how to respond. My feelings on the outcome of my trip were still a tender topic. I nodded my head in the midst of a shrug and replied, “What can I say? It was a life-altering experience, something I’ll never forget.” “No doubt.” He replied. “So why Africa?” I studied his profile. Curious chap, aren’t you? “School. I’m in my fourth year of nursing. One of the professors I have is a Christian and has family connections with a mission station in rural Zambia. She offered the opportunity for certain students, to complete their practical hours there.” “Now when you say certain students, what do you mean?” he asked. “Umm.” How do I answer this without sounding completely arrogant? “It was offered to a handful of students who maintained a higher grade point average over the year.” Jamie raised his eyebrows. “Wow, good for you! So how many of you went?” “Five.” Please, please, please don’t ask where the other four are. “Where are the others?” Ugh. “You guys didn’t travel together?” Jamie was very nice, but he had entered into my “no go zone”. “They’re still there.” I pretended to watch the passing scenery outside my window, hoping he’d let the subject drop. I didn’t feel like talking about Zambia right now. Thankfully, he caught the hint, and we passed the next few minutes in silence. The traffic was crazy. I had done my fair share of driving in rural Zambia, where they also drove on the left, but it was nothing like this. Roundabout after roundabout. One roundabout, in particular, had three lanes winding away in a circle so large I couldn’t see the other side. There were two traffic lights, one before you entered, and one, half way through. “Man,” I said as we waited at the red light. “That’s intense.” “What? The roundabout?” Jamie looked at me. “Yeah.” I nodded. “I’m glad you know what you’re doing!” Jamie grinned, as he kept his eyes glued to the traffic light. “Don’t they have roundabouts in Canada then?” “Not like this one.” Jamie gave an incredulous, “Huh,” as the light changed from red to yellow, to green and took off.