Page 56 of Revival
"I need to report an incident. I need an officer to come to the R.V. park where I am staying."
"First off, what's your name, and tell me what happened."
"My name is Andrea Raffield. Last night, I blacked out on Fremont Street, and when I woke up this morning, my R.V. was torn apart, and all my electronics are missing."
"What it sounds like to me, ma'am, is you got drunk and lost your things. I can have an officer sent out in about seven hours."
"Seriously? Seven hours."
"This is Vegas, and we have higher priority crime than a lost phone."
"I'm sure you do." Pissed off, I slam the phone back on the receiver. It's been a long time since I've been able to do that, and it feels just as rewarding as I remember. I pick up the handset and slam it back down again for good measure. My kids have no idea what they’re missing. Can’t do that with a cell phone.
As I clean up the mess in the R.V., I question my decisions. Maybe my mom was right. Maybe trying to discover who I am in on a solo road trip is a crazy ass idea that's never going to work. Whenever I try to do something on my own, it quickly goes to hell in a handbasket. Maybe I should go back to my safe little bubble in Sonoma.
In the ransacking of my purse, my revival list landed on the bench seat. Unfolding the paper, I once again stare down at my list, then I cross two more items off.
Andrea's Revival List
1. Play Blackjack in Vegas
2. Skinny dip in the ocean
3. Get a tattoo
4. Adopt a dog
5. Have a one-night stand
6. Eat at a Waffle House
7. Visit a U.S. Landmark
8. Take a picture with Winona Ryder's Hollywood Star
9. World's largest rubber duck
10. Go to a festival
Half the list is complete. I could quit now, and no one would look down on me.
No,Iwould look down on myself. I've never quit anything in my life. Even though this adventure is not going as planned, I'm not giving up. If I wouldn't allow my kids to give up, why should I be allowed to?
First up, I need a new phone. It was time for an upgrade anyway.
By late afternoon, I've replaced my computer and I’m waiting for my new phone to boot up with all my backup information. As soon as the restart finishes, my phone begins alerting me to a slew of missed calls and notifications. I've missed several calls from Daniel, Lindsay, and Mason.
Desperate to know why he left me without so much as a goodbye, I start scrolling through the fifteen texts from Daniel, each getting more frantic and worried.
I call Daniel back first.
He answers almost immediately. "Oh my god, Andrea. Finally. I have been worried fucking sick about you. Where are you?"
"Hey. Why are you worried? I'm a big girl. I understand the regrettable morning after sneak out."
"Wait, what? I don't regret a damn thing."
"But you left me…” I pause, rubbing my hand over my forehead. “You didn’t even say goodbye.”