Operation Date Escape

worried sick about you.”
    She felt terrible that she’d had everyone so worried, but she’d done what she had to do at the time. “It’s helped a lot actually.”
    “So when are you coming home?”
    “Maybe in a day or so.”
    “You can’t stay away forever.”
    “I know.”
    “So are you going to tell me where you are or do I have to hire a private investigator to hunt you down?”
    She hesitated, not wanting to put Nanci in the middle. If she told Joe then he might tell Cole. “I don’t want anyone else knowing where I am.”
    “Your mother included?”
    “Especially her,” she replied. “She’s part of the reason I’m in this situation.”
    “Tell you what ,” her friend said, “I’m off tomorrow. How about I meet you wherever it is you are and we spend a little time helping you to sort things out tonight?”
    “I don’t want you dropping everything to come babysit me.”
    “You’d do the same for me. And I won’t tell anyone where I’m going,” she promised, her tone one of genuine concern. She supposed Nanci had a right to be concerned, considering how her best friend had taken off without a word to anyone and hadn’t called for days.
    “Okay, ” she finally relented. “But it’s a little bit of a drive up here.”
    “Where is here?”
    “Kelley’s Island.” She and her mother and Nanci usually went there every fall when the leaves were changing to tour the wineries. It was the first place she thought of when she’d driven out of town.
    “ I should’ve known. I’ll throw a few things in a suitcase and be there in a few hours.”
    Kelsie gave her the name of the bed and breakfast she was staying at before hanging up. Then she poured herself a glass of the wine she’d picked up on the island and walked out onto the balcony.
    The view of Lake Erie from the spacious Victorian Suite was beautiful. She’d been lucky to even find a room available at that time of year, but someone had cancelled last minute and she was at the right place at the right time. It was costing her an arm and a leg to stay there, but it was money well spent. The tiny town’s relaxed atmosphere helped to soothe her frazzled nerves.
    She took a sip of her wine, certain she had made the right decision in telling Nanci where she was. Her best friend was never short on advice and that’s exactly what she needed right now.
    * * *
    A knock at the door had Kelsie racing towards it. Nanci had called from the parking lot to say she had arrived and get the room number. She threw open the door, her eyes filling up with tears again. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
    Nanci dropped her overnight bag onto the floor by her feet and held out her arms. “Give me a hug before I’m tempted to strangle you for what you’ve put me through.”
    Kelsie hugged her friend and then stepped back to smile at her friend. “How was the drive?”
    “Long, but worth it. At least, I can see with my own eyes how you’re doing. And I’m going to start by telling you how bad you look.”
    “Thanks.” Always the honest one.
    “I’m serious , Kels. Football players wouldn’t have to paint black stripes under their eyes if they had your dark circles.”
    “ They’re not that bad,” she argued as she turned to eye her reflection in the gold filigreed mirror hanging on the wall a few feet away.
    “Have you slept at all since you’ve been here?”
    “A little.”
    “Not enough.” Nanci picked up her bag and carried it into the room, setting it on the floor by the bed. “You are getting some sleep tonight, even if I have to ply you with wine until you pass out.”
    “Speaking of wine, can I pour you a glass? You can probably use it after that drive.”
    “Just give me the bottle,” he friend said with a grin.
    “And waste the opportunity to use the gorgeous antique wine glasses that came with this very expensive room? Not a chance.” K elsie walked over to the mini-bar and poured Nanci a glass of the semi-sweet red wine she’d picked up at the winery the night before. Then she refilled her own glass.
    “ You know,” Nanci said as she scanned the room, “if you’re going to pick somewhere to wallow in misery, you might as well choose a place like this to do it in.”
    “I wasn’t...” she started to argue then stopped. There had been a good amount of wallowing going on since she’d arrived. “Thanks for the sympathy,” she said, handing Nanci her glass of wine.
    “You’ll get that later. First, I