Two-Timers

17 x 2 = 34

Hanging from the rearview mirror was a long golden chain with a small emerald. She looked at it everytime the sunlight caught it and made it sparkle, but she tried not to make it the main focus of the trip. Her best friend was intent on keeping the giver of the necklace a mystery, but its value was evident in the prominent location it took in the 2006 Kia Spectra. Jane lifted her eyes to the scenery again.

"So, are you sure you know where you're going?" she asked as Abbie used her blinker to change lanes. She lifted a perfectly sculpted auburn eyebrow and quirked a smile.

"Of course I do," and her voice caused Jane to purse her lips in momentary doubt.

"I don't believe you," she said wryly and looked at the necklace again as the sun danced within its prisms. "Who gave you the necklace, Abbie?"

"Would you believe me if I said that it was something I purchased?" Abbie asked as she maneuvered the car back into the right lane. They had been driving for hours and the sun was sinking lower toward the horizon. Jane knew that soon enough the gem would be lost in the darkness of evening. Then, maybe, she could stop being so distracted by it. She couldn't place why it mattered so much.

"I guess I could believe just about anything you say," Jane admitted. "And, of course, you can keep your secrets."

Abbie laughed and turned up the music. They both began to sing along to Bon Jovi's Always and thought of younger days when life was simpler. This trip, impromptu as it was, was far from simple. In fact, Abbie's divorce was finalized two days before and Jane and she decided that heading out to the beach was the best way to heal and let go of all the pain they've been facing together. Jane's pain was in being single, still, despite meeting the man of her dreams years ago. She tried not to bemoan her lack of a love life when her friend's husband of twelve years had walked away without regret or hesitation. Some problems definitely take a higher place over others. Jane's loneliness was not worth debating.

"I voted for Florida," Jane said and smiled as Abbie glanced her way. "but, I'm glad you won and we're headed for California." Jane truly was and she kind of felt guilty about it. She had actually moped a little bit until Keith mentioned that he, too, was headed to California and Jane, being the good friend she was, offered to let him ride along with her and Abbie. Abbie didn't protest only because she knew how Jane felt about him, however, she did warn her friend to be very, very careful.

Keith was currently asleep in the backseat, his handsome features relaxed in repose, and Jane believed, honestly, that her fixation on the emerald was to prevent herself from fixating on Keith. They would be dropping him off at an address before heading to their beachfront hotel suite. They'd meet up again a week later to drive back to Arizona.

"Who gave you the necklace?" Jane asked again and Abbie was silent. In the car, the sultry voice of Michael Buble filled the silence and Jane was at a loss. There would be no answers.

June 17, 2018