To the Lug Nuts!

Addison let out a slow breath, taking in the fresh air around here. Vacation was coming to a close, and a faster pacer than she would have liked. Getting to the cottage these days was uneasy, and any time spent was considered to be a blessing.

On her morning walks, she never encountered anyone, not that she went particularly early, or anything. Often it would be nine, or ten a.m., and depending on the day, she would go for a light jog, or a long walk; today she opted for the walk, having gone for a light jog the previous two days.

Today seemed like any other day. The road was long and abandoned, typically only a car or two passing by, waving as they sped to their destination. But today was not like every other day.

Having reached her desired location, she turned around, changing the song for the walk back to her cottage. Though some lively, fun songs would be most appropriate for the activity to which she was doing, she often found herself deep into thought, with songs that reflected her mood.

Around her, the wind seemed to be disappearing, the hot sun beginning to beat down on her bare skin. This gave her hope, that today would bring sunshine and no wind; the perfect day on the river.

As she walked she noted a few cars, but nothing out of the ordinary, until she took a whiff of something strange. It smelled like burning rubber, or something of the sorts. Not having smelled it on the way, she was curious as to what would cause such a smell so quickly. Looking up the road further, she seemed to find her answer.

Barreling towards her at a fast speed was a very bright, neon green jeep. She didn't know much about cars, but she knew enough to know something was amiss. The front driver's side wheel seemed to be sticking out further than the rest of them, and the scent she had wondered about only moments previous seemed to stem from the vehicle.

Before she even had the chance to blink, the jeep had stopped in the middle of the road, its driver getting out, slamming the door in frustration. She looked at her wheel, letting out an exasperated sigh, before picking up her cellphone, presumably calling for help.

As someone who was shy, the young girl walked right past the woman in distress, feeling that if she truly needed the help, she would have asked; or that her help was on the other side of the phone line. Her conscious seemed to get the better of her though, as she took note of a lug nut in the middle of the road. Picking it up, she turned down her music and removed her headphones, the piece of metal in her hands. She made her way close to the girl, who was just finishing up a conversation with whomever was on the other side.

"Now I'm really late for work" the woman laughed, as Addison handed the lug nut over to her.

"Well, at the very least I would say you have a pretty valid excuse" she laughed, trying to ease the tension she felt in the air. She could only imagine how she would feel if the shoe was on the other foot. "I wanted to offer to help, but honestly I have no idea about cars and tires" she added, trying to make her walking by previously not seem like such a terrible thing to do.

"That's okay, my boyfriend is on the way" she informed her, the stress seeming to slowly disappear from her face. "Thankfully he's bringing more of these" she pointed to the nuts in her hand. There were only three there, which led Addison to the assumption that there were two more unaccounted for.

"Are there more of those? Do you think they'd be further up the road?" Addison asked, trying to help out as best she could.

"They probably are. They're all over the road" the woman scoffed. "But my boyfriend is bringing more, so this should be enough" she repeated, and Addison nodded.

"Alright, well, good" Addison replied, about to walk off again before something stopped her. "What do you think happened?" she asked, pointing to her jeep. "To your tire" she added for clarification.

"Honestly, I have no idea" she frowned. "But now I'm going to be very, very late" she was beginning to feel panicked. Addison assumed her occupation; she was wearing a lifeguard sweater. She knew from past experience, that there was a beach only six or seven minutes down the road. She was almost to her destination before she decided it better to stop the car.

"I'm glad you stopped, though" Addison couldn't help but say. "I can't help but think your tire was about to fall off" she said, inspecting the damage further.

"I think you're right" the woman commented, feeling silly for continuing to drive as long as she did before stopping. But, as they say, when you're late, there are a lot of things you are willing to overlook. "And I have no idea why that would happen" she shrugged, but Addison suspected something much more sinister.

"Do you think somebody messed with your tires?" Addison couldn't help but ask. She wasn't sure why she continued to engage in conversation with a total stranger, but it felt right.

"Messed with how?..." she asked, though she was afraid of hearing the answer.

"I mean, what are the odds all five of the lug nuts came off?" Addison wondered aloud, tapping her finger on her chin. "What if someone loosened them?"

"What if someone was trying to kill me?" she asked in mock worry. "Have you heard of the serial killer who stalks girl's vehicles, just waiting for the change to sabotage?" she couldn't help but laugh as the ridiculous words left her mouth.

Both women laughed, dismissing the claim. They continued to chat until her boyfriend came, and long after he arrived. It was obvious she was going to be hours late to work if she didn't get her car on the road; but that seemed like a no go.

"It's just not looking like a quick fix" her boyfriend told her, and she sighed, closing her eyes.

"Hey, my cottage is just up the road. I can walk there, grab my car and drop you off at work, if you want" Addison offered the complete stranger.

"Are you sure?" she asked, a little unsure. She too, was having a hard time understanding why a complete stranger would go so far out of their way to help her.

"Positive" Addison replied, beginning to head back to her cottage at a slow running pace, only increasing once she rounded the corner, out of sight from the mystery woman and her boyfriend.

It seemed like in no time at all she was able to run back, grab her keys, briefly explaining to her family what she was up to, and getting back to the scene, where she noted a few cars that had stopped to also offer their assistance; the Maritimes were truly an amazing place.

"That was quick" the woman commented, though in her heart she was grateful. She was already incredibly late, not that it was going to matter much. Sure, the sun was bright, but the wind also blew, the cold August air all the more evident. Under the circumstances, the beach to which she was to lifeguard wouldn't be busy.

The drive was short, but the conversation never lulled. It was strange, how each of them felt connected from the incident with her tire.

"I can't thank you enough" the woman, who had finally introduced herself as Anna sighed with relief, the blue Hyundai Veloster parked in the sandy parking lot.

"It's no problem, really" Addison insisted. "It was great meeting, and chatting with you" she added, unsure why that detail was necessary. Anna didn't even have to say it, Addison already knew she felt the same.

***

Six Months Later

"I'd like to give a toast, to the new bride and groom" Anna finally got the attention of the crowd around her. "First, I'd just like to say, you look beautiful, and I'm so happy to be a part of your special day" she commented, waiting for the 'ahhs' and 'oohhs' from the crowd to settle before continuing.

"And to think, if it weren't for a few loose nuts, we never would have become friends, or never would have even met" she laughed at the memory, which finally became something she laughed about, as opposed to something that pissed her off. "This one goes out to the lug nuts; thanks for creating such an amazing friendship, that I'll always treasure" she raised her glass and the crowd, though confused, raised their glasses too.

"To the lug nuts!" she repeated, taking a sip from her glass.