Running around the terminal, I start searching for a payphone. But when I find one, it’s out of service. I check the door of the ticket booth; I could use the phone inside, but the booth is locked.

I start doing star jumps to keep myself warm. Should I break the ticket booth window with a rock and turn on the heater? Or start walking? Find the highway, hitch a ride back with a truck? Didn’t Melody say it’s illegal for someone not to pick up a hitchhiker in winter?

There’s the sound of an engine. A van pulls into the parking area, skidding slightly as it swerves towards me.

I stop jumping and squeeze my arms across my chest as tightly as possible. If this isn’t Melody, I have nowhere to run or hide.

The headlights are blinding.

A car door opens and slams shut.

All I can see is a dark silhouette, and it’s coming towards me.

Fast.

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

‘Sky!’ someone yells.

I squint. I know that voice.

And then I’m enveloped in Melody’s strong hug.

‘You’re here.’ She pulls away to look at me. ‘I can’t believe you’re here. Thank goodness you’re okay.’ She squeezes me again so tightly it hurts. Then we hurry towards the van, she pulls open the sliding back door and I enter.

A campervan cocoon. Incense wafts and melodies flow from harps and flutes. Purple velvet fabric drapes the windows and covers the seat, which is long and soft, more like a sofa. The floor is hidden under a dozen pillows. Crystals hang overhead, and the walls are lined with yoga posters and quotes. One is from Bette Davis: When a man gives his opinion, he’s a man. When a woman gives her opinion, she’s a bitch.

‘I found her, oh my goodness, I found her,’ Melody says to the woman behind the wheel. I recognise her from her profile pic—straight ash-blonde hair down to her hips, tie-dye scarf and a wide friendly face clean of make-up. Autumn.

Melody sits me down next to her, not releasing me from her arms. ‘Are you all right?’ she asks, and I nod. I feel like I’m barely holding myself together and if I speak, my numbness will fade and I’ll crumble.

Autumn turns off the engine and squeezes between the two front seats towards us. ‘Poor little thing.’ She takes out a thick blanket from the cupboard and drapes it around my shoulders. She puts the kettle on, gets out three cups, scoops tea-leaves into a glass pot, and sits down on my other side.

Melody hugs me tight. ‘Thank goodness Paula found you and called me. If she hadn’t … Well, I just don’t know. Eli would never have forgiven me.’

‘Paula?’ I ask, completely puzzled. ‘How did she know where I was?’

‘She said Oliver worked it out.’