“To bed? You mean… we’re sleeping here?”
He chuckled. “Nah. They just let any old body traipse in here and help themselves to the fire and linens. Yeah, Ladybug, we’re sleeping here. It’s too late in the day now. Besides, I don’t like walking about in the rain if I don’t have to.”
“…Ladybug?” Something about the way he said that struck a chord deep inside me.
“Or… would you prefer I call you Pooh?”
I looked to him then, frantically searching his sparkling blue eyes.
“But… how did you… Who… Who are you?”
He didn’t answer me, only held my questioning gaze, smiling softly.
The burning in my eyes was simultaneous with the sudden painful recognition.
“…Drella? Drella Walker? Is it really you? But… how? How can you be here?”
He scooted closer and wrapped his arm around my shoulders. “You have no idea how happy it makes me… to know you still remember me. After all these years… I feared you had long since forgotten about me, Ladybug.”
“Forgotten about you?” I felt the hot tears spilling down from my unblinking eyes. “How could I ever forget about you, Drella? The only guy who ever made my breath hitch… the only one I never wanted to forget, never wanted to lose.”
“Shhh, now.” He wiped my wet cheeks. “No tears. Okay?”
“How can you say, no tears? I’ve done nothing but cry… every single time you crossed my mind these last twenty-three years. You left me, Drella. The same day of our long-awaited, very first date… you left me… you died.”
“Well now, I didn’t do it on purpose, Pooh. You had to know that. I would never have left you. Given the choice, we would have been married that summer. While our graduation caps were still floating through the air, I would have slipped a ring on this lovely little finger.”
If it was all just a dream, I didn’t want to ever wake up. This man sitting beside me now was the love of my life. No man had ever turned my head like Drella had.
I’ll never forget the day we first met…
It was my senior year of college. Mom and Dad had sent me a credit card for emergency expenses. You know, the regular just in case the car breaks down type of thing. When they received the bill… well, let’s just say, there were no car parts stores at the local mall. Needless to say, I got a quick phone call from my dad explaining how I needed to get a job and learn some responsibility. So, I did. I was a fulltime student and now a part-time attendant at the local Shell gas station near campus. That’s when I met Drella.
I will never forget the first time he walked in. He had filled his truck up with gas and came in to pay with his mother’s credit card. Now, I didn’t know that at the time, mind you. And being a rather new employee, the rules were still fresh in my mind. This was back before card-slides and instant authorization. We had to place the credit card on a little metal thing, lay a carbon receipt form on top of it, and then manually shove a little press to one end and back again. This gave you lots of time with the card, physically checking it out.
I was nervous because my boss was standing over my shoulder. He was a good guy, but who wants to mess up in front of their boss? When the carbon copied name showed up on the paper, I finally looked up to the boy who had handed it to me. He didn’t look anything like a Betty to me. His blue eyes were just sparkling, and that wavy blond hair made my stomach do a little flip.
I just kept staring at him, unsure what to do. Then, he smiled. Sweet heavens it was glorious, a smile that reached all the way up to his breathtaking eyes. I melted. So instead of asking him about the name, I simply slid him the receipt to sign. While his head was bowed, I wiped my chin, checking for the drool I knew had to be there.
I was still staring at him when he passed the receipt and ink pen back to my side of the counter. I didn’t move… until he smiled again, jarring me back to reality and causing an epic explosion of butterflies to go to war inside my tummy.
I looked down at the receipt, completely frazzled.
“It’s my mom’s card.”
I glanced back to the totally gorgeous young man standing patiently in front of me.
“That’s her name on the card and my signature at the bottom. I’m an authorized user.”
I just kept staring… like a total dork. I was watching his lips move, listening to his warm Southern accent.
“You headed back to school, D?” my boss said, shaking me back to reality yet again.
“Yes, sir,” he answered, but his gaze stayed locked with mine.
Still, I just stood there… melting.
I don’t know what I was expecting to happen. In truth, my mind had completely disengaged.
He leaned toward me just a little. “You can call her, if you want.”
I heard the little perforated dots on the receipt popping apart before I even realized I was tearing it.
“N-no. Th-that won’t be necessary,” I half stuttered, handing him the card and his paper copy of this magical—for me—transaction. “Th-thank you, and have a good day.”
“And come back soon,” my boss added.
“Yes… please,” I said, instantly feeling the fire rise up across my face.
The handsome young man didn’t respond. He just stood there, the redness of his cheeks now matching my own. I don’t know how long we stayed like that. It felt like an eternity and a single heartbeat, both at the same time. When I heard the bell chime from the other register my boss was now working, I jumped a little. The boy smiled again.
Oh dear lord… why does he have to keep doing that?
He tapped the card on the counter, breaking the spell. “I sure will.” He smiled again. “See ya next week, Doug.”
I watched him get in his truck and drive off before I ever finished the transaction. I looked down at the black signature.
Drella Walker.
I couldn’t help but smile as I closed the cash drawer. When I turned around, I almost bumped into my boss.
“Umm hmm.”
“What?”
“Don’t you what me, little girl. I saw the way you two were making eyes at each other. I almost asked you if you needed a little time alone.”
“Pfft. Now you’re just being ridiculous.”
“Am I? So the whole giggling and blushing and drooling… I just imagined all that, huh?”
“Well if you heard me giggling, then it must have been your imagination.”
“I reckon I know what I heard, and I heard you giggle. In fact, I believe that’s the first time I ever have.”
I only rolled my eyes and went back to work while he kept teasing me.
I lived on campus during my college career, but I normally went back home to Big Ridge every Friday after class. Then I had to be back in Harrogate midday on Sundays to go to work.
That next Sunday afternoon I looked up when the door chimed to see that same gorgeous young man coming up to the register, all smiles.
I was ready this time. I didn’t bat a lash at the lady’s name on the credit card. And when I slid the receipt over for him to sign, I said Drella Walker, before I even realized what I was doing.
He froze, pen pressed against the paper but not moving. Again, we just stared at each other. After several long heartbeats, he signed his name without even looking down. I tore off his copy and handed it back without ever breaking eye contact.
“What’s your name?”
I heard his question, yeah, but for the life of me… my mouth wouldn’t work. He waited a couple of seconds then flashed that gorgeous smile of his.
“Maybe I’ll find out next week,” he said, before turning to go. “See ya then, Ladybug.”
I watched him leave—butterflies coming all the way up in my throat, my heart racing so loudly it was drumming in my ears.
“Why didn’t you tell him?”
I heard my boss’s deep voice right behind me, but I was too busy watching the man of my dreams walk across the parking lot.
&n
bsp; “Tell him what?” I absently mumbled.
“Snap out of it, Blondie. That boy stood right there and asked you for your name.”
“He did?” I still wasn’t really paying attention.
“He’s leaving.”
I finally turned around and looked at Doug, my eyes growing wide with panic.
“He’s almost at his truck. If you’re gonna do it, you’d better hurry.”
I was around that counter and out the door before I even knew what I was going to do, going to say.
“Hey,” I yelled, louder than I meant to.
When Drella turned around and saw me standing there on the sidewalk, his heavenly eyes went wide for a split second. Then he smiled, and I melted again.
Oh crap. Oh crap. Oh crap.
He headed back towards me, but my feet were frozen in place.
“Hey, yourself.” He reached out and barely tugged on the knot I had tied around my waist. “Nice apron.”
“Th-thanks.”
He chuckled. “What did you want to tell me, Ladybug?”
I didn’t answer. I couldn’t speak.
“Well, that’s alright. I’m perfectly happy just standing here looking at you.” He smiled again. “I didn’t realize just how short you are.” He winked. “I like that.”
I smiled then, and released the breath I didn’t even realize I’d been holding. “Yeah, I guess it’s kinda hard to tell—with me looking down at you from the register. I like it, too.”
“What?” He chuckled. “Being short?”
I blushed.
He smiled again. “I think you are perfect-sized.”
You are, too. I thought it, but I didn’t say it.
“Is that all you wanted to say?”
I didn’t answer.
“It shocked me when you remembered my name.”
I blushed. “Of course I remembered your name.”
“Why’s that?”
I bit my bottom lip. “Because I wanted to.”
“I’d love to be able to say the same thing, Ladybug. Yours is a name I don’t ever wanna forget.”
I swallowed hard. “It’s Jem… with a J.”
He smiled and I swear I nearly swooned.
“Isn’t Jim normally spelled with a J?”
I blushed again. “Umm… No. It’s spelled with a G.”
He cocked one blond eyebrow and sort of tilted his head to the side.
“Jem… like in Gemstone—rubies, sapphires. Ya know?”
Drella smiled again.
Oh dear lord… I wish he’d never stop doing that.
“I see. It’s Jem, J-E-M.” He chuckled. “Maybe next time you should say Jem with an E, seeing as how Jim with an I is pretty normal.”
“Yeah, if you’re a dude.”
Drella leaned closer. “And if there’s one thing you’re not, Ladybug, it’s a dude.”
Two men walked by us and on into the store. The ringing of the door chime brought me back to my senses.
“Oh, I better get back to work,” I said quickly, then ran back inside.
“Later then, Ladybug,” he called out.
I was still giggling when I got to the register.
“I never thought I’d see the day,” Doug said when the place had quieted back down.
“What day?”
“The day you’d act like a giddy little school girl over some boy.”
“What are you talking about? I am a school girl.”
“Only for a few more months.”
I didn’t say anything. I just pulled the overhead rack down and started filling up the cigarette bins with new packs. Doug kept eyeing me, but I pretended not to notice.
“What about Baron?”
I froze while ripping open a new carton of Salem regulars.
“Crap,” I mumbled, closing my eyes and wincing.
“Crap is right. Did you forget you had a boyfriend?”
“Yeah. I sorta did.”
Doug laughed then. “Man, it hit you hard, didn’t it? The whole two years you’ve been here, I’ve never seen you bat those pretty lashes at a guy. I don’t even think you act like that with Baron.”
“That’s because I don’t bat my lashes.”
“No, you didn’t used to bat them. That’s all changed now, Ladybug.”
That same night while I was cleaning up the hotdog machine and putting on fresh coffee, the door chimed and a frazzled-looking lady came inside. She had on sweats and a t-shirt, best I can recall. No makeup, and I believe her hair was wet.
“Who’s Jem?”
My stomach dropped. I was immediately nauseous.
What in the world— Who in the— “I… I am.”
She came stomping towards me. Doug stepped out from behind the counter. I wanted to take a step back, but I was frozen in place.
“You’re Jem?”
“Y-yes, Ma’am. How can I help you?”
“I was sent up here to find the pretty little Ladybug named Jem who had stolen my son’s heart. Drella has called me four times since he got back to school. He’s not gonna let me sleep until I at least try to get your full name and number.”
Needless to say, I was in shock. “Oh… It’s—”
“Here.” Doug handed me a deli order book and a pen. “Just write it down for the poor lady.”
“Oh… Okay.”
“Thanks,” she said, turning to Doug. “Kids—they’ll drive you crazy. But I’d do anything for him.” She turned back to me as I handed her the paper. “But this is a first. I’ve never seen him act like this over a girl before.” She smiled. “It’s nice to meet you. Take care with my boy’s heart.”
I only nodded my head. She sort of hmpfted and gave me a half smile before turning to go. Once she was out the door, my knees turned to jelly. I slowly slid into one of the nearby booths.
“And just in the nick of time, too,” Doug said, looking out the window. “I do believe today has been your lucky day. Better hope you didn’t just use it all up.”
I looked over at him, not understanding what in the world he was talking about… until the door chimed again.
“Hey, Jem. What’s for dinner?”
My eyes went wide when Baron and two of his buddies came in, plopping down at the same booth I was currently using—trying to catch my breath.
“Break’s over. Time to head to the kitchen.” Doug took the ticket book out of my hand as I stood. “I’ll take their order. You… go pull yourself together.” He whispered that last part as I walked by him.
From that day on, I spent hours on the phone with Drella. He called me at work, called me at home, and called me in the dorms. My cheeks ached from all the constant smiling. He lived in Harrogate but drove to Knoxville to go to the University of Tennessee. I lived closer to Knoxville but drove to Harrogate to go to LMU. We were the same age, both graduating at the same time, but our paths had never crossed.
Even though Harrogate was a small town, I would never have met Drella unless I hadn’t gone shopping on my parent’s emergency credit card. Fate led us together, and I’d never been happier in my life.
Yes… shopping can be a good thing. An incredibly good thing.
Sundays became my Drella Days. He’d be there waiting for me when I got to work. I couldn’t come back to Harrogate any sooner, but I flew up there the minute church was over.
His mesmerizing smile was always there to greet me. And, I giggled… Every. Single. Time.
Doug was always super nice about it. As long as the store was clean and the shelves were stocked, I could stand by Drella’s truck and visit with him. If a customer pulled up, back inside I went. My handsome new friend was as patient as he needed to be, and stayed as long as he possibly could.
He was teasing me one day—playing with my hair and tickling me every chance he got—when a big rig pulled in and one of my cousins jumped out.
“Hey, Pooh, why don’t you quit playing footsie and get in there and make me a peanut butter and bologna sandwich?”
<
br /> I laughed before heading for the front door. Drella grabbed my wrist and pulled me back to him.
“Who’s that?”
I glanced toward the tall, rather handsome man as the door chimed.
“Who? Him?”
“Yeah, him.”
I chuckled. “Why? You jealous?”
“Yes.” He pulled me close against him then. “Who is it?”
“That’s just my first cousin, Ernie. This is his route. He runs a load up to Corbin and back, every day.”
“Oh.” He blushed. “Are all your cousins that big and good-looking?”
“Nope… Some are even bigger and prettier.”
“Pffts.” He gently yanked on my ponytail. “Why does he call you Pooh?”
“Most of my family does—the ones that knew me when I was little.” I shrugged. “Because I used to drag this old Pooh Bear around with me everywhere I went.”
“Is that so?” He chuckled and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. “Better get to work, Pooh.”
The next Sunday, Drella showed up with a fuzzy new Pooh Bear. I cried. I still have it to this day.
Things went on like that between us for weeks—talking on the phone, spending as much time on Sundays as we could—but it wasn’t enough. The time finally came when we couldn’t stand it anymore. We had to have our first date.
So, Drella decided to stay in Knoxville that next weekend, since that’s where we would have to go out and eat anyway. I drove home that Friday after class, and nearly drove my mom crazy gushing about my perfect guy.
She woke me up early Saturday morning—something she didn’t normally do. I remember waking up, smiling like a Cheshire cat.
“It’s date day,” I sang.
“I’ve made some coffee. Come on in the kitchen.”
I followed Mom, already rattling on about the evening while still rubbing morning from my eyes.
“I wonder where we’ll go. Oh my gosh, I have no idea what to wear. Should I do heels, or something easier to dance in? Maybe he doesn’t want to go dancing. Maybe he’ll want to catch a movie instead. I don’t know. He won’t tell me.” I giggled. “It’s a secret.”
Mom was already at the table when I plopped down and took my first steaming sip.
“I was listening to the news,” she said.
The Journey Page 3