Prologue
Kevin picked up the phone, which was ringing for the millionth time that morning. Did nobody understand the meaning of "day off"?
"What? Frack, I already told you the barbeque's at five!"
"Geez, Kevy! Catch you at a bad time?" The familiar voice asked, laughing.
"Ker-Bear?"
"Yeah, it's me." Kara shuffled her feet at the payphone, trying to avoid eye contact with the truck driver glaring at her."Um... Kev?"
"Yeah?"
"You know how you always said I could call you and come stay with you if I needed, no questions asked?" Now she was scaring him. His baby cousin never asked for help. Never.
"Yeah- what's going on???"
"No questions, Kev. You promised." He let out an exasperated sigh.
"Fine. When can I get you at the airport?"
"Never. I'm driving." Man, he'd thought Nick was good at making him worry.
"No you're not. You aren't driving all the way down here from Minneapolis by yourself in the middle of winter. Are you nuts?" She bit her lip as the tears started to come.
"Can I stay there or not?"
"Of course you can, babe. I"ll send you a ticket right now." She took a deep breath, knowing her next words were liable to send him over the edge.
"Kev, I'm already over halfway there."
"What!!! Where are you? I'll come and drive the rest of the way down with you." Yep. Full freak mode had been achieved, and it was about to get worse.
"Kev, I'll be fine." She glanced over at the truck driver, who was beginning to steam from the ears. "Look, I've gotta run. I'll see you in about five hours."
"What?! Kara, where are you?"
"Gotta go, Kev. Say hi to Bri for me, okay?"
"Kara? Kara?" He was greeted by the dial tone. "Shit!" The phone rang again, and he picked it up frantically. "Dammit Kara, don't scare me like that!"
"Kara? What's going on with Kara?" Brian's concerned voice asked him. "What's wrong?"
"Bri, you're not gonna believe this..."