For you, Lucy. (On Hold)

Chapter 2. The Beginning

"Yes, I'm curious about Skydiving." Said Robbie, the phone receiver pressed firmly to his ear.
The woman on the other end sounded young and adventurous.
"How much would it cost?" Asked Robbie and the woman stated a figure that he could easily pay.
"When can the earliest booking be done?" He asked.
"We're quite free Mr.Albert. Very few people come to us at this time of the year. When would you like to visit us?" She said.
He looked at his calender. It was the 7th of October today. It would take him a day to go out to the town where they conducted the skydiving. He calculated the number of days he would drive and then camp, in his head and then, cleared his throat.
"Will the 12th of this month be fine?"
"Sure, Mr.Albert! We look forward to seeing you then." She replied.
He said a goodbye and was about to place the receiver back when she yelled, Oh wait.
"Yes?"
" I'm sorry but do you have any heart problems or any chronic diseases that we should know of?" She asked.
Robbie gritted his teeth and arthritis came to his mind.
"No, not at all." He lied and smiled into the receiver. He couldn't risk not doing this.
"Well then, That'll be all! Have a nice day, Mr. Albert!" She said gaily.
"You too, Miss..." He couldn't remember her name.
She sensed this and came to his aid by saying goodbye. Robbie heard a click.
Curse these damp old age problems.
                              ~~~
Robbie whistled as he packed whatever camping supplies he could lay his hands on. Years of camping as a boy, told him to not be stingy with supplies, but not to pack unnecessary items either. That would just be dead weight. He didn't need that.

He bustled around his house, occasionally smiling to himself, occasionally muttering over his unexpected decision when his joints began to hurt. But no matter what, he wasn't going to back out. This was for Lucy and in a way, for himself, as it was yet another way he would feel closer to her. Clothes, edibles, toiletries and medicines were carefully packed. It was the first time he was going on a trip in about 17 years. He almost felt like he had forgotten how to prepare for a journey. At last, he placed a diary in his backpack. He would write about their trip everyday. He always thought of it as their trip and not his alone, he was doing it for her and with her in his mind after all.

Bags ready, he picked up the photo frame holding Lucy's picture and placed it in the passenger seat. He thought for a second and then pulled the seat belt over the frame. Just to be safe. He rechecked all his luggage and finally satisfied, he sat behind the wheel. He let out a long, hopeful sigh and lifted his foot off the break pedal.
                             ~~~
                           
Robbie checked his watch. It was 6:00 PM. He'd been driving for 4 hours since his last stop. He wanted to continue but he really needed to use the restroom. He looked around for signs that said a rest stop was nearby. Ten minutes later he was rewarded and he thankfully pulled over to what seemed like a deserted rest stop. He got down and walked over to the Men's. There was no one in sight, which was and wasn't, unusual at the same time. Washing his hands he walked out, eager to be on the road again. He wanted to drive for at least another hour, before it got completely dark. He began to walk back to his car but a sound stopped him. A soft sound. Sounded like a sob. He thought he must've been dreaming till he heard the sound again. It was clearer this time. The owner of the sound, sounded like a young lady, desperate and scared because of something. He walked over to the place he thought the sound was coming from, the vending machine. He peeked around to see a girl, in her late teens, sitting on the floor, her hands covering her face, her shoulders heaving with silent crying. Robbie cleared his throat and she looked up, a lock of her black hair falling over her bloodshot eyes.
"Is something wrong...miss?" He asked and the girl looked embarrassed, but relieved.
"I...I um.." she seemed reluctant to tell him the problem.
"Are you lost, kid?" Robbie asked.
"Not really..." she replied.
"Not really?" He asked, not knowing what to do or say.
She took a deep breath.
"I...kinda ran away." She said.
Robbie stared at her. What he was supposed to do now?
"Can I help you in any way?" He asked.
"I don't know. What can you do?" She asked back.
"...Drop you home?"
Her eyes widened and then narrowed.
"I ran away from home in the first place. I don't want to go back."
"Should I hand you over to the police then?" He was beginning to run out of solutions.
"They'll just send me back home."
"Well, you can come with me and we'll decide what's to be done on the way." Said Robbie.
"On the way to where exactly?" She asked and fear became evident in her eyes.
"I'm going on a road trip, kid. There's gonna be lots of police stations and railway stations and things of the sort on my way. I can drop you anywhere you want to, as long as it isn't too far." He said and she looked up to meet his eyes.
"Okay." She said.