“The benefit was amazing. It was beautiful and raised so much money for Shannon’s Crusade. Thank you for covering my classroom for me on Friday so that I could join the rest of my family. Not something I would want to do every day. But it was great to get away, even better to be back home. There were so many people snapping pictures everywhere you turned it was unreal.”
“I can only imagine. Your kids were perfect angels like always. They missed you but will be glad to have you back today. Have a great day Miss Blake.” She smiles and walks away.
“Oh I forgot the main reason I stopped by. There are a bunch of new guidelines coming down from the higher ups and we need someone to go to Omaha to the conference they’re holding to explain them.”
“More guideline changes huh? Didn’t we just get a slew of them at the beginning of the school year? It should be informative for whomever you send I’m sure. I look forward to getting the packet once they’re back.”
“Actually I would like you to go Audrey. You’re so good at understanding and explaining these dumb changes that we would benefit most by having you there.”
“Ok well, let me know when it is and I’ll pencil it in.”
“Um, you need to leave in the morning.”
“The morning? I just got back from New York. I haven’t even unpacked yet.”
“I’m sorry this is such short notice but we just found out on Friday about the conference and actually the one in Omaha is the last one. We won’t have another chance at one if you don’t go tomorrow. I’ve already registered you and taken care of the rental car and hotel. You’re all set.”
“Great. I guess I’m off to Omaha for a few days. How long is the conference?”
“It’s only on Wednesday. You fly up tomorrow and fly home on Thursday.”
“Ok well I guess I’ll see you Friday. I assume you’ve found a sub for my classroom?”
“Yes, it’s all set. If you would prefer to go home today and get ready to leave I would be more than happy to cover your class today myself. I’ll leave that up to you.”
“I think leaving after lunch would be best. I have so much to get done before I leave again for another couple of days. Goodness nothing like short notice.”
“Like I said, I’m very sorry about that. It really couldn’t be helped.”
“I’ll see you after lunch then. Thank you.”
“I’ll send you an email of the itinerary and other details. Thanks again Audrey. I knew I could count on you.”
“Of course.” I smile as big as I can while my insides are churning. I really don’t want to go on another trip let alone this soon. Goodness, this better be a good conference.
*************
“Hi, my name is Audrey Blake and I’m here to pick up my rental car. It should be ready to go.”
“Ah yes, Audrey Blake from Colvin School District in Colvin, Oklahoma am I correct?”
“Yes sir that’s correct.”
“Could I see your driver’s license please? Ah thank you Miss Blake. Your car is in row 8 space C. Here are your keys and thank you for renting with us. Have a great trip.”
“Thank you.” I take the keys from the gentleman and walk towards the rows of cars. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and finally row 8. Seriously? They start with Z on this end? And he said C? Ugh!
After finally getting to the rental car and being able to sit down, I successfully follow the GPS lady’s instructions and am headed down the right road towards my hotel. There sure is a lot more traffic here than I’m used to. This is crazy!
Seems like I’ve been driving for an hour when I feel the car stutter and slow down. I look at the speedometer and it shows the speed is gradually lowering and lowering. I don’t see any lights on the dash either and that makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. I don’t know anything about cars or how they run. I just start it and put it in drive. I’m smart enough to know I need to pull over and get out of this gnarly traffic. I turn on my right blinker and slowly ease out of each lane and come to a stop along the shoulder.
I sit in the car and feel the vibrations of the cars that zoom by beside me. This cannot be happening. Weren’t rental cars supposed to be reliable? But I suppose on the school’s budget they went with the cheapest route meaning less reliable. Wonderful.
I try to start the car again but it just won’t go. What am I supposed to do now? I fish my cell phone out of my purse and ask it to find the nearest cab company’s phone number.
“Alex’s Cabs 217-555-3333. Would you like me to dial this number for you?” I hear the phone reply.
“Yes.” And it’s ringing. “Yes, I need a cab. My rental car broke down alongside the highway leading from the airport to downtown Omaha. I’m really not sure where I am, but I see a sign for the Downtown Historical Museum. Does that help? Oh wonderful. It’s a small black car. Thank you again.” Fifteen minutes? I was hoping for five. Sitting alongside this road is kinda creepy so I dial Karlie’s number hoping Aiden doesn’t answer. He would throw a fit to know I’m stranded in a strange place like this.
“Aud where are you? I went by the ranch earlier but your Mom said you were out of town again? Where on Earth did you run off to?”
“Hey Karlie, I’m in Omaha, Nebraska right now for a conference tomorrow. I’ll be home on Thursday. Well that is if I’m not murdered alongside this darn highway. My rental car broke down and the cab company said it would be like fifteen minutes before anyone could get here. So I sit.”
“Alone? Oh my goodness Audrey that sounds so creepy! I’ll tell Aiden to call a garage near there and hopefully someone can get the car towed for you. We’ll also make sure you get a new rental by morning. Don’t worry we’ll take care of you.”
“That’s not why I called you. I can take care of it myself. I’m going to get to the hotel and then call a tow company. Once they have it at the shop I’ll call the rental place and see what they say. No big deal, I believe the conference is in the same hotel I’m staying in. Won’t need a car until the drive back to the airport on Thursday.”
“Ok well if you need us to do anything you let us know.”
“Don’t worry about me, I’m an adult remember? Well looks like the cab is here early. Gotta go. Love you. See you Thursday.”
“Bye be safe!” I hear her say as I hit end and throw my phone back in the purse.
“Hi you’re here sooner than expected. That’s great news since it’s kinda creepy sitting here alone. I need to go to the Grant Hotel. Thank you.” I climb in the cab as the cabbie gets my luggage from the rental car trunk. Once we start towards downtown I rest my head on the back of the seat and close my eyes. Next thing I know the cabbie is banging on the window. I must have fallen asleep. I am a little tired from the trip. I just smile and hand the gentleman his fare and a tip. “Thank you Ned.”
4
“Maysen your pager’s going off again!”
“Carter why don’t you get off your butt and go take the tow? I did the last three!”
“Dude, I’m the one moving to Tulsa with you remember. Least you could do is let me live the last little bit of Omaha nightlife before we leave.” He smiles and continues to get ready for another night out and another different woman.
I just shake my head and put on my Rod’s Towing hat and head for the door. Climbing into the tow truck and I realize that I won’t miss this at all. Won’t miss the late night calls and having to go work my butt off and then go to work in the morning too. I’m dead tired and no one seems to care.
Pulling off the highway and turning around to reach the rental car that I was instructed to pick up, I see no one’s in it. They must have called a cab and went to the hotel. Smart people, that’s for sure. No one around makes these calls go much faster.
*************
I took the rental car to the garage and when I get into the passenger seat to get the information out of the glove box, I see an envelope with a school district logo on it and ITINERARY written in the middle. Whomever this belo
ngs to must need it back and when I open the envelope I find a receipt for a hotel room inside. The Grant Hotel. At least I know where I can call to get the envelope to the owner. I pull out my cell phone and dial the hotel number listed on the receipt.
“Yes, I’m looking for a guest you have tonight that’s there from a school district. Oh you’re full of teachers and administrators? Oh my. Well, she rented a car and it broke down outside of town. Yes, she left her itinerary inside the car. Yes, it had all kinds of paperwork inside. No, the name I see is Joanna Simms. Do you have anyone by that name? Great. Could you connect me to her room? Thank you so much.” I wait for the envelope owner to answer and when she does I’m surprised she sounds so young. I had envisioned a cranky old teacher not a young one.
“Yes, ma’am I’m from Rod’s Towing and I’m the one who towed your rental car. I found an envelope inside that had a bunch of paperwork I thought you might need. If you’d like I could bring it by the hotel on my way home.”
“Oh no, no need for that. Are you far from the hotel? I could just walk there before dinner. Would that be ok?”
“Sure ma’am. If you would prefer to pick it up that’s fine. We’re actually right around the corner from the Grant so it shouldn’t be too hard for you to find us. Rod’s Garage. Ok see you in a few.”
“Thank you again sir.” And she disconnects the line. Why did I offer to wait for her? It’s a Tuesday night and I would like to be home packing instead of waiting around for some cranky teacher to retrieve her paperwork. But while I wait I’ll finish up a job from earlier today. Might as well get something done while I wait right?
*************
I waited for almost two hours and no one came to get an envelope. I got tired of waiting and went home. I guess it wasn’t that important after all. Oh well, not my loss.
Driving into work this morning and I can’t help but be a little cranky after last night’s events. I waited and no one else cared to show up. I took the tow and no one else cared to show up to help. I really won’t miss this place. Or the people. I get to work on the next work order hanging in my bay and before I know it it’s almost lunch time. My stomach is growling so I take a break and head for the vending machine. I walk inside the break room and sit down to munch on my chips. Just as I get the bag opened and one chip in my mouth I hear Carter calling my name. I growl a little and head for the garage floor again.
“What the hell do you want man? I was just sitting down to have a bite to eat!” I say very annoyed with my friend.
“Dude, some teacher is here to get an envelope. She said she talked to someone who towed the car last night. Since you were the one to do it I thought you might want to talk to her. She’s over there by the counter. And she’s HOT dude!” I shake my head knowing he would think anyone with female organs was hot. I turn and walk towards the front of the office. I enter the room and about fall flat on my face when I see her standing there.
Audrey. Oh my heavens how in the world can this be her? Here? In Omaha and at Rod’s?
“Audrey? Is that you?” I say as I walk towards her. Carter was right, she was HOT. But I already knew that because she’s what I see every night when I close my eyes.
“Maysen? Oh my goodness what are you doing here?”
“I work here. What are you doing here?”
“You towed my rental car and I fell asleep before I could come get the envelope last night. I’m very sorry I didn’t make it. I hope you didn’t wait long.”
“Oh no, I didn’t stay but a few minutes. What are you doing in Omaha?”
“I’m here for the teacher’s conference at the Grant. We’re on a lunch break right now so I thought it would be a good time to come get the envelope. I thought you lived in Tulsa?”
“No, I’ve lived here in Omaha for about six years now. I can’t believe you’re here. How long will you be in Omaha?”
“I leave tomorrow. I can’t believe I ran into you. How’s your mom?”
“She’s good. Getting out of the hospital next week actually.”
“She’s been in there this whole time? Is she well again?”
“Yes, she’s been battling pneumonia and her COPD has been making that difficult to do. As soon as they get it about cleared up she gets it again. This time they hope she’s on the mend and can go home.”
“That’s awful. I pray she does stay well this time.”
“Thank you. Here’s the envelope from the car.”
“Oh thank you. I need the paperwork for the conference. They told me I could bring it back once I was able to get it from you. Well, not you but from the garage. I didn’t know it was you. Are you the one who called me last night?”
“Yes, but I think we were both too tired to realize who we were talking to.”
“I never even dreamed it was you.”
“Me neither. Would you like to go to dinner with me tonight? I’m done around six and can come pick you up around seven. That is if you don’t have anyone here with you.”
“No, I’m here alone. I would love that Maysen. I really would.”
“Ok I will see you tonight at seven.”
“It’s a date. Well, maybe not a date, anyway I’ll see you then.” She blushes and smiles trying to hide her uneasiness.
I smile and touch her arm, “It’s a date Audrey. See you then.”
I watch her walk out the door and back around the corner towards her hotel. I am so smitten and unaware of my surroundings that I don’t hear Carter and Rod come up behind me.
“That is one gorgeous ass if I have ever seen one! Shoooeeey!” I hear Rod say and it makes my blood run hot.
“How dare you talk about her like that you sleaze. Don’t you have any respect for women at all?” And I stomp off afraid to hear the comeback and even more afraid of what I would reply with next.
“Dude, what was that all about? You got kinda protective of someone you don’t even know. You know that’s how Rod is. Why the attitude?”
“I do know her Carter. That was Audrey!”
“The mystery chick from Tulsa? What the heck is she doing here in Omaha? How did she find you?”
“I towed her rental car last night. She left an envelope in it. I didn’t have a clue it was her until I walked in the front room and she was standing there. She didn’t know I lived here either.”
“Dude, did you get her number this time? This is totally fate telling you something!”
“No Carter I didn’t get her number.”
“You are a lost cause!”
“But I did ask her to dinner. I pick her up at 7.” I smile and have a little pep in my step now knowing I’ll see her again in a couple of hours.
“That is awesome man!! Do I get to go too so I can check her out?”
“Hell no Carter! She’s only here until tomorrow and I don’t want to share her you idiot!”
“You go man! Get the girl! Maybe then you’ll quit pouting all the time.” He slaps me on the back and walks back to his bay and gets back to work. Which is something I should do too so that I can get out of here sooner rather than later. I can’t wait to see Audrey again. This is unbelievable that she’s here in Omaha. She looks more beautiful than I remember from the hospital. I didn’t think that was possible.
5
“Leah, Karlie I have never been this nervous about a dinner before in my life! I can’t believe he’s here in Omaha! No wonder you never found him online because you looked in the wrong city, heck the wrong state!”
“Just calm down Aud, Karlie and I are here. Well, not there but here and we’ll talk you through this. It’s just dinner right? If it goes well do you think you’ll bring him back to your room? Do you think you’ll extend your trip?”
“Leah I have no idea what to expect. We are going to dinner that is all I know. I can’t extend my trip. I have a classroom full of second graders that I haven’t seen much since last week. I have lesson plans and tests to grade. I’m so far behind it’s ridiculous.”
“Y
ou’re making excuses Audrey. Leah and I think you should extend. It will be one more day of school. Then you could have three more days with “Grease Boy” to know if it’s what you thought it was back in Tulsa.”
“His name is Maysen by the way. And I really can’t jump that far ahead without even knowing if we’ll hit it off like we did then. It could have been the emotions from the baby and his mom.”
“If you say so. You did get the dress I sent to your room didn’t you?”
“Yes Karlie I did. You two are terrible. It’s red and short and tight!”
“That’s perfect. You’ll knock his socks off and he won’t know what hit him. He may kidnap you and never let you leave his bed!”
“Leah! You’re supposed to be the sensible one here. You’re turning more into Karlie every day!”
“Just enjoy the evening Aud. You may or may not see this man again. But word to the wise, if you like him, GET HIS NUMBER!” I hear them chime in at the same time.
“Yes mothers. I will talk to you tonight. And if not tonight then tomorrow in the morning.” I smile knowing they just screamed when I hung up because they have no idea what’s going to happen tonight either. Could I really bring him to my room and sleep with him? I’ve never done anything even close to that before. I’m not sure I would have the gumption to even offer.
I look at myself in the mirror and can’t believe who I see. This is a hot woman that looks ready to knock someone dead with one look. Goodness this sure isn’t who I’m used to seeing. I would prefer sweats and a tank top to this halter dress that’s so tight I’m not sure I can sit down in it.
Karlie and Leah thought of everything. There are even stilettos in silver and a silver clutch. How in the world did they get all of this found and delivered in a few hours? They’re superwomen I guess.
I look one more time in the mirror and figure it’s the best I can do. I just pray he likes it and doesn’t think I look like a hooker. Oh goodness he won’t think I’m a hooker will he? Karlie and Leah I’m going to wring your necks when I get home. He better like this or your husbands are going to be widowers at young ages! I smile knowing my brothers would have heart attacks if they saw me right now. They would kill their wives too if they knew they had arranged the outfit. Smiling and trying to swallow the doubt and fear, I open my room door and head for the elevator. Floor 4, 3, 2, 1, Open. Deep breath.
Third Time's a Charm- Book 3 of the Colvin Series Page 2