2. Evelyn
CHAPTER 2
EVELYN
For over two days now, I've been on one bus or another. If it wasn't for the guy at the bus station back home taking pity on me and giving me his employee discount, I don't think I could have afforded the bus ticket. I raided some snacks from the diner before I left, and that's all I've had to eat since right now I have a whole five dollars and thirty-four cents to my name.
I don't feel bad about taking food from the diner. The owner is an asshole, so I didn’t even tell him I was leaving. Until the day I had to catch my bus, I was working. Not like he could blow up my phone, as I had to cancel the service. Then, in order to purchase this bus ticket, I sold the phone.
The ride hasn't been too bad. We have stopped in some really nice towns, and they have all been done up for Christmas. Actually, it's been like taking a bus ride through one Hallmark town after another.
If Mustang Mountain is half as pretty as the towns I've seen so far, I know I'm going to fall in love with it. The big question is, will I even like Scar? Will he even want a chubbier girl like me? I've learned men, at least back in my hometown of Willow Grove, Kentucky, don't like bigger women.
So, now with my parents gone and their mountain-high medical bill debt to pay off, this seemed like the best solution. Though still providing me with an opportunity for marriage and to eventually have children. Being a mom is all I wanted growing up. I want to be the kind of parent to my kids that my mom and dad were to me.
After a drunk driver hit my parents on their way home from a Christmas party last year, they hung on to life as best they could. But Mom passed away over the summer, and Dad followed her a few months later. He always said he couldn't live without her, which proved to be true. I can't imagine the kind of broken heart he had losing her, yet leaving me with everything the way he had was pretty shitty. But I’m working through it.
So, when a customer at the diner told me about the mail-order bride website, I checked it out. By day I was working as a teacher, which I loved, and at night and weekends at the local diner, which I hated. No matter how hard I worked, I still couldn't seem to get ahead.
One night, after a little tequila, I filled out my profile, and two days later I had a phone interview. The woman asked me my reasons for joining the site, how I felt about getting married for love, and my thoughts of being a “trad” wife. She had to explain that one. But it's basically a traditional wife that does the cooking and cleaning and takes care of the house and doesn’t work outside the home. After some discussion, she explained the process to me.
The next step was a background check, which came back clean. Then, once I was approved, I was only up on the website for three days before I matched with Scar. That was also the day I got the eviction notice on my place, so I took a leap of faith and here I am.
“I always love passing through Mustang Mountain. It’s such a sweet little town. Always has the best little festivals and events.” An old woman leans across the aisle to tell me.
I've learned she is from a small town called Silver Creek and makes this trip regularly to visit family. She takes the bus, so she doesn't have to stress about driving and can read and relax while enjoying the scenery. It’s been nice conversing with her. After she saw all I had was a small bag of chips,she shared her sandwich with me at lunch.
“Well, this is me. I hope you will look me up so I can repay your kindness and buy you lunch,” I tell her.
She just shakes her head, saying,“Enjoy your stay and pay it forward.”
As the bus comes to a stop, I look out my window and instantly I spot Scar. Not because he's one of only two people waiting, but because I've memorized his photo on the website, from every angle. Something about that picture drew me in, making my insides feel funny. When I saw the man in that photo, I wanted to know him. That's why I agreed to this.
When his eyes lock on mine, I freeze in place. It's like he can see right down to my soul. Only the sound of the bus door opening and the bus driver announcing the stop was Mustang Mountain pulled me from his gaze.
Standing, I gather my things before making my way to the front of the bus, my mind racing. I could sit back down and ride to the next town, Silver Creek, I think, and get a job there. Then buy another ticket elsewhere. Anywhere. I've always wanted to see the ocean. I could work at some seaside shop.
But my feet keep carrying me toward the front of the bus, and before I know it, I’m climbing down the stairs and stepping onto the parking lot. I look up and Scar's eyes are on me again. When his eyes meet mine, he begins making his way toward me.
“Evelyn.” He says as a statement, not a question, but I still nod my head.
“Scar,” I whisper.
He too nods, and reaches out, gently taking the bag slung over my shoulder and my backpack. Then together we follow the bus driver to get my other bag.
“Just one bag?” he asks when I grab the well-worn duffle.
“Yeah, I didn't bring much,” I say.
Scar frowns, but doesn't say anything.
“My truck is this way,” he says, turning to walk toward the station parking lot.
He doesn't look to see if I'm following him, so I hesitate for a moment. I turn to look back at the bus. If I ran back and got back on the bus, I'm sure the driver would let me…
“Evelyn?” Scar asks.
Turning back, I see he's stopped and is watching me.
“Sorry, I was just thinking,” I say, following him to his truck.
I guess I'm really doing this.