Chapter 10
Luke
I walked over to shake Jim’s hand. He seems like a nice old man, and I’m kind of interested in his history. How he came to own an inn in the middle of nowhere, and why he seems so much older than his wife.
But I’m having trouble concentrating on any of that, because I’m standing closer to Allison than I ever have, and...she’s smaller than she seems. Maybe because her personality is so big and sunny, and she’s so friendly and outgoing. But she just seems tiny and delicate as I stand next to her, and it makes me want to put my arm around her and protect her. I have never had this temptation with anyone before in my life. I’m struggling with how foreign it feels and knowing that is definitely not something I can act on.
We end up walking in the kitchen, Allison to bring a pitcher of water back, and I grab the crockpot.
“I feel like these folks have a story, and I’m kind of hoping that we get to hear it at supper. I hope that’s okay with you.” Allison speaks, and she brings my thoughts back to the present. I was really hoping I could talk more to Allison. I want to know what her plans are, for the holiday, for the new year, for anything. I want to know if I can be a part of them. If we have enough things in common that we could potentially be together.
I have always been more attracted to women with substance. I’ve never been a partier, and my serious dedication to my businesses means that I haven’t dated a whole lot. I don’t even know if dating is what I want. It seems so...empty. And meaningless. But that seems to be what our society does, and I’ve never really questioned it. But I’d rather just spend time with her. If that means dating, then so be it.
“I’m interested in their story too. I am not really a human-interest person, but... I see this inn, and it has so much potential, because it’s around so many things that tourists would be attracted to, and it could be so profitable. But instead, it’s just wasting away. I guess I’d like to know if it was ever profitable in the past.”
“Maybe we’ll find that out. I can make sure I ask about it,” Allison says as she holds the pitcher of water and waits for me to unplug the crockpot and grab it by the handles.
Miss Judy has already carried the scooper in, and Allison pushes the door and holds it for me while I walk through.
We set our things down, and Miss Judy asks me to put food on everyone’s plate while Allison fills the glasses up. Miss Judy helps Jim get settled in his seat. As I finish and sit down, she says to me, “Would you say the blessing, please?”
I was raised as a Christian, but I admit it’s been a while since I’ve spent much time with the Lord. I certainly am not comfortable praying out loud in front of people, and I normally don’t have a problem saying no. It’s something I’ve learned that successful people often have to do. You have to say no to the lesser things so you can say yes to the better things. But praying seems to be one of the better things, although I think it’s more the look in Allison’s eyes as she looks at me with a type of expectancy on her face that I do not want to disappoint.
So I nod and say, “Yes,” and then I bow my head. Before I say anything out loud, I say a short prayer of my own.
Lord, I haven’t talked to You too much lately, but I’d really appreciate it if You can manage to help me say this prayer and not sound stupid.
“Let’s pray,” I say, and then I take a breath. “Lord, thank you for this food, thank you for the hands that prepared it, thank you for Judy and Jim and for the room they had for us. It’s a much nicer room than the stable Your son was born in all those years ago. Help us to appreciate what we have, and thank you for the safety in getting here. I ask this in Jesus’s name. Amen.”
I lift my head, and I know I shouldn’t, but my eyes immediately go to Allison, as though to gauge her reaction over what I just did. I was talking to the Lord and not trying to impress anyone. I know that much at least. Part of the reason that I lost interest in church was because it seemed like there were so many people in church who were there to put on a big show. I didn’t want to be that kind of person. They are a real turnoff to me.
Still, Allison’s opinion is important to me, and I want to know that I did well.
She’s smiling as she lifts her head, and her eyes go to mine, almost as though they’re pulled to me as much as mine are pulled to her. A look passes between us, and I’m not sure what it means, but it makes me feel good. Like we’re on the same page, and not that I passed some kind of test exactly, but my question of whether or not there is enough between us for us to have a relationship seems to be settled. I think the answer is yes.
We start to eat, and Allison says, “Luke and I were talking about the history of the inn and wondering about it. We were hoping you could tell us how long you’ve had it and your story surrounding it.”
“We can do better than that. We’ve got all the newspaper clippings from years gone by. It was quite a place at one time. Jim did it all.”