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JANAE HAD BEEN DRIVING through no man’s land for over four hours. Now snow decided that falling during the last thirty minutes of her drive would be the thing to do. Guess it could have been worse, she was almost there at least. Michigan’s first city, Sault Ste. Marie here I come! She wanted to be excited but honestly on this first day of January she felt just as she had yesterday—uninspired. But that was okay, the entire reason for this trip was to rectify that. When the phone rang she started not to take it but saw it was her cousin, figuring why not since she had her hands-free set on. It wasn’t like there was much to look at beside the trees anyway.
“Hey Shella, what’s up? I can’t talk long I’m driving, and it just started to snow.”
“Hey cus! I won’t keep you. I’m in line waiting to get on my cruise ship...in Spain!”
“Wait, what?” Janae laughed, thinking Shella was playing. Besides herself Shella was the least spontaneous person she knew.
“You heard me. That’s why I’m calling so someone will know where I’m at. I emailed you the details. I’ll be gone for six weeks.”
“Are you crazy?”
“No more crazy than you, going up into “no black-people land” by yourself for two months. In the middle of winter Janae...for two months.”
“But...that’s,” Janae sputtered. “That’s for work. Plus, I didn’t leave the country. And you hate cruises! I thought you said you’d never get on one of those “diseased tin cans” as you call them.”
“Well, I changed my mind. Look I didn’t call to argue, just to let someone know I haven’t been kidnapped and cut into little pieces.”
“You mean not yet. Let me guess you want me to tell the rest of the family?”
“Nope, not their business, plus I know you are about to be buried with work. I just want you to stop them if they send the cops to break down my door. I dropped post cards off to my mama and daddy this morning. They should get them in a week or so.”
“Okay fine. Text me if there’s an emergency as I don’t plan to check my email but once a week. When you said you didn’t plan to do anything for your birthday you really just meant with the family, huh?”
“Something like that. I just wanted to do something different, you know? Anyway, this line is finally moving. I love you! Hope you get everything you want accomplished.”
“Love you too! Have fun, be safe and what the hell go with the flow! Happy early birthday!”
“Thanks! Gotta go, bye.”
Hearing the dial tone Janae clicked off stunned. Shella was taking an international trip by herself. When had she even gotten a passport? Furthermore Shella had one point, in that her escapade was no weirder than Janae’s. Guess everyone was trying new things for the New Year.
Janae didn’t have much more time to think about it since the snow became heavier and dusk was creeping in. She knew she should have started out earlier, at this rate if she got in the house before sunset she would be lucky. Thankfully, her mid-sized SUV was able to manage the rest of the snow-filled drive. So that she ended up parking in front of the gorgeous two-story cabin around 4:45 p.m.
Struggling back into her coat, Janae zipped up then finally got out the car. Wasting no time heading to the back to get her bags. She had tried to pack light, considering. So she had one big case filled with clothes and miscellaneous daily things she would need. And a second medium suitcase filled with a few books she couldn’t do without for referencing, her laptop, several notepads and a few more clothes. Quickly she went to the door and used the code Jonathan had given her, instead of the key that was buried in her purse. Dragging the two bags into the foyer, she immediately turned around and went back out.
Cold temps and insulated bags had allowed her to bring three bags of groceries from home. This should last her nearly two weeks if she didn’t overeat from boredom. Which should not be a problem since she’d be working. Praying her inner threats would pay off, Janae placed the bags on the floor before locking the door.
Stomping the snow off her boots before pulling them off, she was excited to explore! Plus the groceries would keep for a few more minutes. Slowly walking forward, she bypassed the kitchen unzipping her coat as she looked at the living room. This place was nice! She had seen the pictures online of course and knew it was modern and fairly upscale, still seeing it was believing. It made her self-imposed exile seem more bearable.
Everything was neat and tidy just as Jonathan promised, well except for one cup sitting on the large living room table, in the middle of the even larger sectional. All of which was in front of a gorgeous ash-stone fireplace. Other than that, not one thing seemed out of place. Heading up the stairs, Janae was interested in picking out a bedroom. She had gone back and forth between choosing one of the three larger rooms upstairs or the slightly smaller one on the main floor.
Crazy as it sounded, she worried about being on the lower floor in case of an intruder. She felt like being upstairs would give her more time to hear them and prepare to defend herself, on the other hand downstairs had access to the exits. Each room had a theme too, so she had decided to wait and take a look at each when she arrived. Not that it mattered about the décor, she should only be in there to sleep. She was here to focus, so help her God! If she kept reminding herself, maybe it would stick.
If memory served, the room to the right of the landing had dark navy and grays, which she had loved against the wood grain of the cabin. And it was the only room with a king size bed, not that she needed it. Easing the cracked door wider Janae peeked inside, happy to see it was just like the pictures. Well except for one thing—there was a half covered bare-chested man in the bed.