The Incredible Ryan Rescue, Part 3
Driving into
Alabama in the setting sun is a mixed blessing, to be sure. Long long expanses
of highway, leading us into the inky night, punctuated by hills with no highway
lighting.
After a very
long expanse of quiet between Tammy and me, we turned down highway 21 and were
confronted by "detour" signs. Not only that, but the (so far)
trustworthy (although quirky) Garmin, decided the Alabama landscape, at night,
with a detour, was too much for it's abilities.
After
several lap-backs, and "should we turn there", we found ourselves in
front of a "Gas-n-Go" (we thought really we should just
"go"). At this point, Ryan's brother (who had been informed that
Tammy was coming in for the funeral) called.
Tammy
pointed to the phone and mouthed "He sounds like he's been drinking".
At that moment, I confess I was envious of the anonymous stranger on the phone.
However,
going into the shopette , a very kind woman behind the counter gave us
excellent directions to get back on track. As soon as we were on SR 77 (which
we learned later was "our friend " in getting anywhere) the silent
and lost Garmin picked up just as though it had never skipped a beat and then
we found our Days Inn . This hotel, we had been informed, was the "best
hotel in Lincoln".
It was an
"ok" hotel. My theory is that the only OTHER hotel rents out rooms by
the hour. (clears throat).
After we
settled in a bit, Tammy decided to take a drive to the trailer park where Ryan
was being held hostage. Her report was that it was too dark to see anything.
The next
morning, Tammy (bless her) went out to get some medicine for me and stopped at
a shop-n-go near by the trailer park, where she though Ryan might go for coffee
in the morning.
We later
learned she missed him by only moments.
Another call
from Ryan's brother prompted us to make arrangements to go to the funeral home
that morning. They were trying to gather half of the money for the funeral and
interment.
We elected
to take one more run over to the trailer park to see if we could talk with
Ryan.
Not seeing his
vehicle in the driveway, we pulled out and were turning around and messing with
the Garmin when Tammy saw "someone" on the front stoop.
We pulled in
again to the driveway and honked the horn.
Yes, it was Ryan.
The look of
shock on his face was priceless. Tammy got out of the car and he said
"What in the hell are you doin' here?'
I was
getting out of the car when it happened. It was as if time and all the motion
in the world just stopped.
The two of
them embraced in a way that would have made Rodan stop and stare.
Tammy was
trying to communicate with Ryan in between deep and desperate kisses.
Tammy
gripped his face and said "I need you to hear me and I don't have much
time, because I don't want Janice to come out and kill me". She told Ryan
that if he was in a situation where he thought he was "stuck" and
couldn't get out, that he had "other options". If he wanted to come
to Florida, he could. If he wanted to come to Florida and not live with her,
she would help him.
I felt like
a voyer, watching them in this tender expression of love and compassion.
After a few
moments I moved around the car and said something like "Aren't you glad to
see ME?" . Ryan said "yes" he was glad to see me and gave me a
big ol' bear hug.
His eyes
were clear, so he was sober. He was drinking in the presence of Tammy like a
man who had been parched in the dessert (for three months and two weeks).
Tammy told
Ryan where we were staying and we headed off to find the Funeral Home.
I would love
to say we ALL rode off into the sunset, and Ryan's kin were understanding , bidding
him fond fare-wells.
But for us
the drama was just beginning.
