"And also. If she was rescuing a puppy, wouldn't she answer my calls?"

"You got a point there."

Alan didn't say anything. Aaron could sense that his friend wanted him to volunteer to call Imogen again.

"Yeah but I can call her. I'll do it now. How about that?"

"Thanks, Aaron."

Aaron hung up and didn't call right away. He took a deep breath and then went over to look out the window. It was raining in 

New York

. He wished he had a cup of tea in his hands. Wished he was at 

Imogen Howe

's cafe back at home. Maybe he'd visit again. That was a fun winter break.

After imagining this for a minute he finally gave Imogen's phone a ring.

---

When Aaron's number appeared on her screen her instinct was to answer. Something stopped her though. This thought that Aaron wasn't calling on his own accord. That maybe they were working together and this was a favor.

'working together'. favor. what the hell was this? was she imagining a conspiracy. Also why would they need to conspire. Maybe this stunt was causing too much a disruption.

She wasn't ready to call it quits yet though. She wanted to keep driving west. She probably wouldn't make it to the west coast. That would take a few days. But she imagined making it all the way there. She would reach out to Jack then. He lived out there.