“All right, fine,” I finally agree.
“Good. Now get up and go. I think I saw her go back to your cabin.”
“Okay, I’m going. Damn.”
I step off the dock and take a deep breath, feeling a sense of nervousness wash over me. An uneasiness looms over me as I trek back to the cabin. Everyone has dispersed from the campfire, and all that remains are soft embers glowing in the wood. Walking along the dirt path, I feel the cool night air brush against my skin. The full moon casts a delicate and ethereal glow across the campsite. The scents of pine and wood smoke fill the air.
I try to shake off the nervousness, but it lingers. The last time I walked alone in the dark in this direction, I was practically attacked. I want to sprint to the cabin at full speed just to feel safe, but I’m not entirely ready to see Valentina’s face. She must hate me already. As I make my way back to our cabin, I hear the distant hooting of an owl. A few fireflies make their presence known by some bushes. Finally, the cabin draws near. I pause for a moment to take in the view. The cabin is cozy and inviting, a warm glow emanating from its windows. A soft lantern lights the porch, and I can picture Valentina inside, relaxing while reading a book. If tonight hadn’t happened, I would smile and crawl into her space, resting my head on her shoulder and pretending to read. I’d slowly fall into a deep sleep, and she’d keep me safe and warm in her arms until the early morning. This thought alone excites me into hastily walking up the steps and opening the door.
“Isa!” Valentina shouts, her eyes wide.
“Oh my God.” I can’t believe what I’m seeing.
Chapter Seventeen
I close my eyes for a moment, hoping that I’m dreaming. Maybe I’ll wake up, and this won’t be happening. But when I open them again, my fear is confirmed.
Silvana is cupping Valentina’s face, their lips clearly still tingling from the kiss I just interrupted. Now, Valentina looks at me in complete shock, and Silvana just smirks.
“What the hell is going on here?” I ask, my voice trembling, a raw mix of hurt and confusion leaking through. Valentina quickly pushes Silvana away.
“Isa, please, let me explain,” Valentina stammers. “I promise it’s not what it looks like.”
I shake my head, trying to hold back tears. “Save it. Really.”
I grab my bag and run out of the cabin, tears streaming down my face. I don’t know where I’m running to, but I need to get the hell out of here. I rush toward the dock, but it seems too easy. She’ll know I’m there, and I’ll have nowhere to hide. I turn around and head for the kitchen but stop promptly. I’d be trapped in there, too, if she found me, forced to listen to her words. I wish I could run into my father’s arms. He’d lift me and take me away with him to wherever his soul lives now. We could spend all of our time together. He’d save me from ever feeling hurt again. I’d never have to let someone get this close, only to feel like this.
While my mind races at thoughts of being rescued by my father, I find myself subconsciously standing right in front of my rusty old car, Miss Piggy. Of course. He gave me this car. It’s a part of him too. Maybe he led me here. I look up at the night sky. Tears continue streaming down my face. I don’t know what I’m hoping to find when I look up. A giant cloud of my father forming to convince me to be the king of Pride Rock? A few stars twinkle extra brightly, which I take as a sign that he’s watching me. Helping me.
I fumble with the keys, my hands shaking with anger and frustration. I have to shimmy the keys rapidly just to unlock the car. At some point, I’ll have to Thelma and Louise it with this car and just get rid of it—sans me in it, of course. Finally, I get the door open. The creaking of the hinges echoes loudly in the darkness of the campsite. Miss Piggy is old, and it’s almost always a challenge to start her up. I insert the key into the ignition and turn it, but the engine only sputters a few times before giving up. I take a deep breath and try again, this time pumping the gas pedal, but it only makes the car backfire loudly. I wince at the sound, knowing that it could alert other guests at the camp, or worse. It could alert Valentina where I am.
My heart sinks as I try again and again, each time met with the same disappointing result. I slam my hands on the steering wheel in frustration and scream, tears streaming down my face. I can’t believe what I have just witnessed, and now my car is failing me too. I lay my head on the steering wheel, letting my tears fall onto my thighs. Maybe I can hide inside the car and she won’t find me. I could hide in the trunk. I did that once when Maria and I were trying to sneak into a drive-in theater without paying for an extra ticket or snacks. I know exactly how to get out if I need to. I can even pop the brake light out slightly for some oxygen without drawing any attention to my car. I could hide in here for the next couple of days, skip the wedding, show up at the last minute to secure the investment, and then leave. I won’t ever have to see any of them again.
I won’t have to feel this terrible again. I’m tired of pretending, of lying about my life and my business. I’m exhausted from trying to keep everything from falling apart, only to end up here, heartbroken and alone. The thought of just disappearing, even for a little while, feels like the escape I need. Maybe I’ll finally be free from the stress of saving a failing restaurant, from the lies, from all of it.
But I can’t. I need to get the fuck out of here. I sit up and wipe the tears from my eyes.
“Come on, Piggy. You can do it. I know you can!” I yell at my car as I put the key back in the ignition.
Come on, Dad. Help me out here.
I press down on the gas and turn the key. It sputters, and sputters, and sputters, but I persist. Finally, after what seems like an eternity, the engine coughs to life. My relief is palpable, and I quickly put the car into gear and slowly maneuver my way out of the crowded parking lot, trying not to bump into any of the expensive Lexus or Mercedes cars around me. Seeing my rusty old tank next to these pristine vehicles is almost comical. How could anyone believe I’m not just some poor Jersey girl trying to keep her dad’s restaurant afloat and failing miserably? Maybe they all know and have been taking pity on me. Treating me like Cinderella. Giving me a week of feeling as if I belong before I go back to turning into a pumpkin. I drive out of the campsite parking lot. Miss Piggy sputters and kicks forward, making my heart race with every jolt.
“Isa!” I hear a faint shout.
I look through my rearview and see Valentina standing outside near the parking lot as I drive away. The tears begin to collect again, but I shake them off. I step on the gas slightly, trying to accelerate Miss Piggy, but I’m only met with some extra sputters and kicks. Maybe I expect too much from her. She’s an old gal, after all. Probably not the ideal getaway car after a breakup.
Through the rearview, I see Valentina’s silhouette in the distance, just standing still, watching me leave. It somehow makes my heart break even more. As I approach the gate, it begins to open automatically. I’m so close to returning to my regular life in which I don’t fall in love, don’t get hurt, and just keep trying to save a sinking ship. Miss Piggy sputters again and then suddenly shuts down. My heart drops as I realize I’m stuck. I try to start the car again, but she refuses to turn over.
I hear Valentina calling my name. I glance at the rearview mirror and see her running toward me. I can’t see her right now. I need to get out of here. I try Miss Piggy again, tears blurring my vision.
“Isa, wait. Please!”
I jump at the sound of Valentina trying to open the passenger side door.
“Jesus, Val!”
“I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to scare you. I panicked. Please, just talk to me.”
