Stubborn Love

Chapter 4

Ennis' POV

Uncomfortable and awkward were the only two words that I could think of to describe the conversation I just had with Jack's wife, Lureen. She sounded exactly the way Jack spoke of her. If I didn't want to get off the phone so bad, I would've asked what happened. I'll find out when I get there. The problem was I have no idea how long I'll be staying. I went home to start packing. The trip was only 15 hours and 32 minutes, but Jack drove it more times that he wanted to for me. I packed some clothes and toiletries, and I figured that was all I really needed. I put extra money in my wallet for emergencies only. Before I left, I wrote a note on a piece of paper, saying:
"Gone to Texas on short notice. If it's important, leave it in the mailbox. Be back whenever."
I taped it to the front door of my trailer, even though I knew it would fly away with the mind, but I didn't have enough time to make phone calls. This was too important. Jack was too important. Whenever I opened my suitcase, the first postcard that Jack sent me was resting on my neatly folded clothes, to remind me how much Jack and I loved each other. The picture of the mountain was beautiful. It brought back so many memories and I longed to revisit it; I couldn't alone. I surprised myself that I made the trip in over 16 hours without any sleep. I stopped more than once to refill on gas and grab a bite to eat, but other than that, sleep was the last thing on mind...or it was. Besides Jack, I wanted nothing more than to collapse on a bed somewhere and catch up on my sleep. When I reached the nearest rest center, I asked the lady at the front desk for a telephone book. Of course, she only had one. I was completely clueless on which hospital to call. Then I wondered, was this all some trick by Lureen? Was she pullin' my leg about Jack being in the hospital? I know this wouldn't be Jack's odd idea of a joke. Instead of wasting my quarters, i returned the telephone book to the lady at the front desk, and asked where the nearest hospital was. She wrote down the directions for me, and I left, praying that this would lead me to Jack.