The Fallen Girls 💍

Chapter Seven: The American Dream

The fear didn't set in until Izzy was standing in line for a ticket at the train station. This was it. Once she bought the ticket there was no turning back.

At the counter, she hesitated. The plump man in front of her pushed up his round glasses with a finger. "Can I help you, Miss?"

"Ahem—yes—yes, you can." Her eyes shifted to the train pulling off behind them, the faces of passengers on board a blur in the window. Was there someone on board that train traveling to a strange, new place alone?

"Ah—Miss? There're quite a few people waiting behind you." The man raised his dark brows, his head tilting. "Are you traveling alone?"

"Yes," said Izzy quickly. "I'm meeting a friend in California, near Hollywood."

The man flipped through his registration book. "That would be the Sante Fe. That's a long ways for a young woman to be traveling by herself."

Izzy shifted uncomfortably. "What time does it arrive?"

The man cleared his throat, frowning. "You're in luck. That train only leaves out of here two days a week, and today is one of them. It leaves at four this afternoon."

Four? She hadn't had time to think her plan through. She'd acted purely on emotions up until then. Her father would be looking for her when he found the letter. It was possible he might come to the train station to find her.

"Is there another train arriving sooner that goes that way?" Izzy asked.

The man chewed on his pencil. "Are you in a hurry, Miss?" He chuckled. "Running away from the law or something?" He leaned forward, his face taking on a serious expression. "Or—your husband?"

Izzy took a step back. "No—I'm just running late. I should have left yesterday."

The man studied her. "The Sante Fe's the fastest route. All other trains out of here go to Chicago first. You'll need to check the bulletin board in Chicago to find the next train to Los Angeles. The next train to Chicago leaves in half an hour."

Izzy smiled, hoping he wouldn't ask her any more questions. "I'll buy a ticket for that one."

She fished in her purse for her money and handed it to him. The man's hand lingered on hers as he took it. "Be careful out there, young lady. Not every city is as safe as Grand Rapids."

"I will," she said quickly, taking the ticket.

She reached down and grabbed her suitcase, quickly moving along to the platform. With a shaky sigh, she crumpled onto the bench. The man at the ticket window hadn't been too far off—she was running away and she felt like a criminal for lying to her father.

She spent the next thirty minutes restlessly turning over in her mind all of the possible effects her leaving would have on her family. Would her mother hate her for leaving right after she had the baby? Would her leaving overcast the happiness they felt for the new baby? It would definitely be hard on Maria. Knowing her, she'd blame herself, thinking there was more she should have done.

By the time the train rolled in, she ended up sick to her stomach, writhing in guilt.

She clutched the ticket in her hand as she waited in line to board. The wind picked up, blowing her hair every which way and the clouds moved in to cover the sun. She shivered, it was as if the sudden change of weather was a premonition of things to come.

The excitement she'd started off with had all but disappeared when she settled into a seat inside the chair car. It was happening—she was traveling clear across America, by herself.