Romance At A Rest Stop

Jim was driving out of the desert and through the pass. Actually, driving over the pass would be more accurate. It was a hell of a climb. It was snowing hard. It was the damnedest snowstorm he had ever seen. It was not the blizzard that made it so exceptional; it was the frigging fog. This combination of fog and snow was not something he could remember seeing on the east coast. It had to be a western phenomenon. Staying on the road was almost impossible. He crested the hill and was now feeling his way down the steep slope. The highway had four lanes. He was straddling the line marking the two lanes on his side of the road. Brief glimpses of that line were all that told him where the road was.
 
The line disappeared in the snow. He almost crashed into a rest stop sign that promised gas, food and lodging. He then fishtailed down the off ramp and spun out at the bottom of it. When he stopped spinning he found himself off the road and pointed in the wrong direction. He released his clutch. This caused the wheels spin. He put the car in neutral and got out of it. He was in a drainage ditch. A Goddamn drainage ditch! No matter how hard he tried, he could not get enough traction to drive out of the ditch. “What now?” he asked himself. He pulled out his cell phone. He had not paid the bill and his phone was out of service. Few people were foolish enough to be out in this storm. He could be there all night before anyone found him. “Gas, Food & Lodging” the sign had said. The establishments referenced by such signs are usually close enough to provide drivers with easy access to and from the main highway. With that thought in mind, he started hiking.
 
What a hell of a mess! He had been lured to California by a high paying job that evaporated when the sub-prime loan market crashed. Well, he was still capable of swinging a hammer or doing some plumbing. He had heard there were some construction jobs in the desert where land was still inexpensive. So he went there to check out the opportunities. It was too no avail. He was now down to his last thousand dollars. It would not have taken long for him to burn through that if he had not moved out of the apartment in West Wood. He had to find employment soon or he would be out of money and sleeping in his car.  Even the dive of a motel where he had spent the last few nights was better than that.

The falling snow pelted and numbed his face as he walked. He slogged along for a mile and half before he saw the lights through the drifting patches of fog. He high stepped his way through deepening snow for another half mile before he reached the source of those lights. The gas station there had closed for the night. Next to it was a hotel with a neon sign that was now missing the O in hotel. It was an old, two story building with fifty rooms. The lower floor featured a beer and wine bar along with a restaurant. He was shaking from the cold as he entered the restaurant. Thawing out and getting something to eat were his first concerns. The car could wait. It was not like it was going to go anywhere.

There were only five people seated at tables, and no one greeted him when he entered. A young lady finally approached him. She pointed at the nearest table. “Sit here,” she said.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Cold out there, huh?”

“Let’s just say I’m experiencing an embarrassing stiffness without the enlargement that normally causes it.”

This comment elicited a blank stare, which was soon followed by an exclamatory rising of the eyebrows and then laughter.

“You laugh, but if you see me walking to the men’s room, please remind me not to shake out any residual moister. Shaking it could be disastrous!”

She was absolutely roaring with laughter. She leaned against the table to steady herself until the spasms ceased. “Coffee?” she asked.

“Please.”

She returned with the coffee. “The special is chile con carne.”

“Is it hot enough to thaw me out before the coffee wends its way through my system?”

She was laughing again. “Most people say it burns the other side, but it should thaw you out quickly enough to save your imperiled manhood.”

“Oh, thank God! Then that’s what I’ll have.”

“Coming right up.” She now realized that what she just said could be taken as a pun, and that thought made her start laughing again. She walked behind the counter and said something through the opening to the kitchen. The laughter of another female now added to the merriment.

A few minutes later a lady emerged from the kitchen carrying a large bowl. She was a shapely brunet and very attractive. He guessed that she was in her early thirties, which made her close to his own age. She set the bowl of chile con carne on the table in front of him.

“You’re a naughty boy,” she said. “You really shouldn’t implant such images in a young lady’s mind.”

“Sorry. I guess my sense of propriety wound up in the same ditch as my car.”

“Any damage?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t called anyone to tow it out yet.”

“I’ll get you the number of the towing service.” She walked out of the room and returned with a business card. “Here,” she said as she handed him the card. “The pay phone is next to the rest rooms.”

“This must be one of the few places that still has a pay phone, and it’s a good thing because my cell is dead.”

“It’s an old place, and that phone is one of the few things that still works the way it should.”

“Sounds like you need a handyman.”

“Can’t afford one.”

“At this point, I’d work for room and board.”

“I’ll have to think about that. Why don’t you call the tow truck?”

Jim had just enough change in his pocket to make the call. “Roadside Towing. This is Fred.” The man who answered was less than enthusiastic.

“Hello Fred. I’m stuck in a ditch near the off ramp. It’s just a few miles from the Stanfield Hotel.”

“The car must be off the road then.”

“Yes.”

“Are you calling from the hotel?”

“Yes.”

“If I were you, I’d just get a room there. The snow is really deep. I know I don’t want to drive in it.”

“Well, I want to get the car out of there before a snow plow hits it.”

“No problem, I drive the snow plow. I’ll have one of my men dig it out and tow it in the morning.”

“Won’t you need my keys?”

“He’ll pick you up at the hotel.”

“You’re sure my car will be okay there?”

“Positive.”

“Okay.” He hung up the phone and walked back to the table. The attractive woman was still sitting there. “It looks like you’ll have all night to think about it.”

The last of the people in the dining room were now leaving.

“Oh?”

“He doesn’t want to go out in this storm. So it looks like I’ll need a room.”

She laughed. “I can’t say that I blame him, and we have plenty of empty rooms.”

May, the waitress, now approached the table. “Excuse me Bernie, but I’d like to close up and get out of here before the snow gets too deep.”

“It’s too deep now. Go ahead and close up, but take a room for the night.”

“All right.” She started to walk away.

“Oh, May! Please refresh this gentleman’s coffee and bring a cup for me.” She then turned her attention back to Jim. “You’re probably thinking that Bernie is an odd name for a woman. It’s actually Bernice, Bernice Stanfield.”

“I’m Jim Lansdale.”

“Nice to meet you Jim. What I’m afraid of is that you’ll get a job offer and walk away right in the middle of a project.”
 
May brought the coffee and then started cleaning the place.

“I can see where you’re coming from. Why don’t I pay for the room tonight and put down a three hundred dollar deposit as insurance against that?”

“Three hundred doesn’t cover much. Can you make it four?”

“Four it is.”

She smiled. “It’s a deal. But don’t worry about working tomorrow. Get your car back and settle in first.”

“Thank you.” She showed him to his room.

He was awakened by a knock at the door very early in the morning. He put on his trousers and a shirt before answering. The girl standing there was not one he had seen before.

“Sorry to bother you but Miss Bernie said Mr. Fred called. The tow truck driver will be here to pick you up in fifteen minutes.”

“Thank you.” Jim hurried to finish dressing. He was hoping he could grab a quick cup of coffee before he had to leave. He was a bit disappointed to find the tow truck driver waiting for him. Fred had already plowed the road, and it was a quick ride to his car. Fortunately the car was undamaged. He put the price of being towed out of ditch on his credit card, and he drove back to the hotel. A change of clothes, and a shower were setting his world right again. What the low pressure in the shower told him was that the old galvanized pipes were pretty clogged with corrosion. He walked down to the dining room for breakfast. The same five diners that were there last night were there this morning. They were contentedly eating the food in front of them. He took a table near the kitchen.

May approached the table and set a cup of coffee in front of him. She had an impish smile on her face. “How’s the water spout?”

“Pliable and functional.”

She arched her left eyebrow. “Good, we wouldn’t it dysfunctional.” They both laughed. “Have you had a chance to look at the menu?”

“Yes, and I’ll have the Denver Omelet.”

She turned and took the order to Bernie. It was Bernie who brought him the food. May refreshed his coffee and poured a cup for Bernie.

“I see you were able to drive your car here,” Bernie observed.

“I was lucky there was no damage.”

May giggled. “There’s no damage to his water spout either.” She turned and walked to the other tables to refill the cups of the people dining there.

“I could be wrong, but I think she was flirting with me.”

“It’s your fault for making those suggestive comments when you first arrived here.”

“I’m too old for her.”

“She’s much too young for you.”

“I don’t care for the ‘much’ part, but I’m afraid you’re right. I wouldn’t want to be that age again.”

“Neither would I. So what are you going to do with the rest of your day?”

“I thought I’d take an inventory of what needs to be done, unless you have a list.”

“Most of the rooms could use some fresh paint.”

“You might want to hold off on that until you replace the pipes going to the bathrooms.”

“Trying to get that done without disrupting business is difficult right now. My husband could only get as far as replacing the pipes under the building and the ones running to the kitchen before we needed the income too much for him to continue.”

“Your husband sounds handy. I’m guessing he’s busy with second job right now.”

“He was handy. He was killed in the first Gulf war. I still can’t figure out how he got run over by one of our own tanks.”

“It must have been a terrible shock to you.”

“It was, but at least he didn’t leave me destitute. This place doesn’t bring in much, but the fact that it’s paid for really helps.”

“I’m impressed that you were able to pay off the mortgage.”

“There was no mortgage. He inherited it from his grandparents, and I inherited it from him.”

“Why didn’t they leave it to his parents?”

She laughed. “Kid syndrome. They grew up here and couldn’t wait to leave the place behind. But what about you? How did you learn about plumbing and such?”

“My father was a general contractor, and I paid my way through college by working in construction during the summers.”

“What was your major?”
 
“I have an MBA and a general contractor’s license. I’m also a stock broker.”

“Quite a diverse resume.”

“The product of a misspent youth. I couldn’t decide on what I wanted to do. I think that was partially what caused my divorce. That and the fact that I caught her cheating on me.”

“That must have been very painful.”

“It’s what made me move to California, but I’m over it now. I can’t say that I blame her much. I was too busy chasing the dollar to give her the time she needed.”

“What did you do here?”

“I was a project manager for a large developer before the market crashed.”

“Ouch! Well, you could do taxes and things like that on the side if your classes included accounting.”

“That’s not a bad idea. I could also help people manage their investments, such as they are today.”

“I’ll put out the word about you.”

“Thank you, but I think we should concentrate on your needs for now.”

“That’s what I want hear. My need right now is to get back to work.”

The rumbling of snow plows invaded the quiet building. Someone was plowing out the parking lot, and Fred was plowing the road. The snow was really coming down. After the man finished plowing the parking lot he came inside.

“Okay, May. You can get your car out now.”

“Thank you, Don.” She looked over at Bernie.

“Get out while you can,” Bernie said. “Flo can handle it form here.” May smiled and ran out to her car.

“Fred said people are already getting stuck on the freeway,” Don said. “He expects the CHP to close it soon. They’ll funnel the ones that are stuck down to here.”

“Then we’d better get those other rooms clean.”

“I’ll wait on tables during lunch so Flo can concentrate on the rooms,” Jim said.

Jim did not have any experience as a waiter, but the only people who showed up for lunch were the five who were staying at the hotel. He did not have any trouble keeping track of such few orders. Flo had finished the rooms by the time the dining room cleared. She then set about cleaning the dining room. Bernie turned on the radio to catch the latest weather forecast. The broadcaster said that Cal Trans was struggling to keep up with the snowfall and the Highway Patrol was now escorting people through the pass. He also said the blizzard should last through tomorrow. Jim picked up a shovel and started clearing the walk and steps to the hotel. Fred turned off the road and made quick run through the parking lot with his plow.

“Thanks Fred.”

“Be prepared. The Highway Patrol will be closing the pass soon!”

At two o’clock twelve cars entered the parking lot. They were the last ones to enter the pass as the Highway Patrol was preparing to close it. It quickly became apparent that it was too dangerous for those drivers to continue through the pass. The choices offered to them were very limited. They could stay at the hotel or sit in the pass all night. They were in a surprisingly good mood considering their options. During the evening meal Jim served as the bar tender and the bus boy.

The next day broke bright and clear. May showed up early. “How’d it go, yesterday?” she asked Jim.

“No problem.”

“Good. We’re going to have a large brunch crowd.”

“How do you know?”

“It’s easy. People have been cooped up in their houses for two days. After the roads are plowed and they dig out, they’re going to want a change of scene and a place to relax for a few hours.”

She was right. The parking lot began to fill with cars at ten o’clock. The restaurant did a brisk business until one o’clock. That was when Cal Trans finally finished clearing the snow from all the lanes of the freeway. The Highway Patrol then opened the pass to traffic. The hotel and restaurant quickly emptied upon receipt of this news. Even the local residents headed for home. It seemed odd to find the restaurant empty at that time of day, but it was understandable under the circumstances. Flo and May started cleaning up after the diners. Bernie decided to take a break. She took two sandwiches into the bar.

“The lunch rush ended early today,” she said. “Pour yourself a glass of wine or beer if you want. I’ll take a glass of Riesling.” She sat at a nearby table. Jim poured the Riesling and a glass of beer for himself. He then joined her for lunch.

“You’re a good worker. You did okay today.”

“Thank you. I’m afraid I wasn’t completely honest with you about my past, though.”

“Oh?”

“I didn’t lie; I just gave you the resume version. The truth is that I was more than a project manager. I had experience in negotiating large loans when I was back east, and that is a large part of what I did here. We were developing miles of land and selling hundreds of new houses. This gave us some leverage with the bank. We increased that leverage by steering prospective home buyers to that bank. I was even able to negotiate the commission they paid to us for bringing in those loans. I guess the bank made up for the commission by having its appraisers greatly inflated the value of the houses. I know the developer usually sets the price, but the bank kept waving the comps in our faces. And I have to admit that we were greedy enough to increase our prices accordingly.”
 
It was his honesty about the greed that impressed her. It made her think she could trust him. “I’m guessing that many of the loans were sub-prime.”

“Yes, and we were wiped out when the house of cards fell. We were sitting on homes we couldn’t sell and property we couldn’t pay for. Some of the securities my boss and I personally invested in also involved derivatives that crashed. Fortunately for me, my ex-wife still has a good job and is not putting a lot of pressure on me to keep up the child support payments.”

“But you were making them when you could?”

“Absolutely. Kip and Jill are important to me. I want to provide for them.”

“So you have two kids. You’re lucky. I’m afraid time is running out for me.”

“That shouldn’t be a problem. I’m surprised some man hasn’t swept you up already.”

“I’m afraid my choices are rather limited here. Which brings up another topic. You’re new blood and at least some of the available ladies are bound to come here to check you out.”

Jim laughed. “Is that a bad thing?”

“I suppose it depends on which side of the table you’re sitting.”

“Right now, I’m sitting on the side with the great view.”

She looked back at him with a big smile. She correctly interpreted his statement as a compliment. “I guess we should get back to work,” she said, after a long pause.

Jim worked closely with Bernie over the next few weeks. He set about changing washers in some of the fixtures. He also replaced some of the fixtures and sinks in the bathrooms, and he painted several of the rooms. He did those things during the day. At night he worked as the bar tender, and he filled in as a bus boy when needed. He also convinced Bernie to let him make wine cocktails with the inexpensive, boxed wines. This increased the profit Bernie made per glass, and it increased the volume of the wine they sold. The flirtation and her trust in him increased daily. One night they wound up in bed together.
 
The next morning May watched them interact with each other. It did not take long for her to guess what had happened. She waited until she was alone with Bernie in the restaurant before she asked. “So how was he?”

“What?”

“You did it, didn’t you?”

Bernie blushed. She turned away from May and starting walking toward the kitchen with a hip swinging gait that said it all.

“That good, huh?”

“I’ll never tell!”

Jim and Bernie eventually dropped all pretenses, and he moved into her room. By this time he was helping her balance the books. He also offered some sound advice on how to increase her profits. It was not until July that he proposed to her. It was in the morning, and they were showering together.
 
“Our finances are very tight,” he said, “but I think we could get married and start that family if you want.”

“Was that a proposal?”

“A pre-proposal.  I’m still trying to figure out how I’m going to buy the ring.”

“Well, don’t let something as silly as a ring stop you.”

He placed a hand on each of her shoulders and looked directly into her the eyes. “Will you marry me?”

“Yes. And if you need a salve for your ego, you can use whatever money you have to buy my old rings from me.”

“That’s a hell of a recycling, don’t you think?”

“Things can be recycled, people can’t. What we share is fresh and new.”

“And wonderful,” he agreed.

They held the wedding at the hotel in August. He found some work outside of the hotel, but it was only for a few days per week. He sent a large part of that money to his ex-wife. Bernie was very understanding about that. Her understanding was important given their struggle to make ends meet. It was not an easy life, but they had each other. There would soon be a baby as well. Having the baby might seem foolish, but they both knew that the hard times would actually strengthen their bond if they remained optimistic and supported each other. They were looking to the future. They were convinced that things would get better as the economy improved.

First published in macsbackporch.foxtail-farms.com on May 19, 2010