Chapter 3
Allison
I thought when I got to the inn I would be home free. I’d have a nice warm room, could relax in a hot bubble bath perhaps, or, probably more realistically, snuggle underneath the blankets and read one of the multiple books on my e-reader app on my phone.
I never considered the idea that the inn might be out of rooms. Where are all the other customers at? There was only one car in the parking lot, if one didn’t count the old dinosaur that was parked slightly behind the inn and which I assumed was the innkeeper’s vehicle.
“What do you mean you only have one room with a working shower? Unless there are people staying here who are parked off in the woods somewhere, we’re the only two customers here.”
“I know. You’re right. We are in the middle of a renovation, but business has been slow, and we just haven’t had the money to finish it.” The lady seems worried, and I feel bad for her. The man ahead of me doesn’t seem very nice. I noticed he said “no” several times, without a “thank you” tacked onto it, and he seems a little impatient.
He’s wearing the kind of clothes that I would expect to see if I went to the city. Men around here typically wear boots and jeans, but he’s got some kind of pants on that hug his ankles and make his feet look extra long in the shiny shoes that he’s wearing.
A businessman by the looks of his clothes, but I could be wrong. I don’t like to judge people by their outfits, since dress isn’t what it used to be.
“Are you willing to take a room that doesn’t have a working shower?” the lady says, looking at the man standing there. I know he was there first, and he should get the room with the shower.
But I don’t really have a choice about staying, and he does. I saw his car in the parking lot. So unless it died right there, he could get in and conceivably drive away. Although, I’m sure he wouldn’t want to in this weather.
Being that my car is in a ditch, there’s no way I’m going to be driving anywhere. And I’m not going to call a tow for it, since I refuse to ask anyone else to be out driving in this weather. I will wait until the roads are clear before I call.
The man in front of me shifts from one foot to the other. It’s obvious that he’s uncomfortable. I want to ease his discomfort, but at the same time, I really, really want a hot shower. I am stuck with whatever I get.
He turns around and looks at me. “Are you okay not having a hot shower?”
I lift a shoulder. “You’re first. The choice is up to you. Don’t let me influence your decision. It’s your choice,” I add, wishing that I could try to guilt him into giving me the room with the shower, but then I would feel bad that he didn’t have one.
“I could take the room, and you could use my shower?” he says, but even as he says that, the lady at the desk is shaking her head.
“I... I guess I should have been more clear. We only have one room that’s inhabitable. The shower is just one small part.”
I can see the man grinding his teeth, and I feel bad for him.
“I would offer to leave, and I still can, I suppose, but I’ll be sleeping in my car. Since, when I tried to make the turn, I ended up spinning the entire way around and my car is now in the ditch.”
There, I didn’t really want to admit that I had done that. After all, being that I’m a native Pennsylvanian, it’s expected that I should be able to drive in the snow. And I thought I could.
“I’m not used to driving in this weather, and I barely made it in. I could tell the road was getting really slick.”
“It’s coming down too fast and causing icy conditions since they were unable to get the roads treated. We weren’t expecting the lake-effect snow to track this way.” The lady helpfully offers her opinion as the stranger in front of me continues to stare at me.
He’s got on some kind of stylish hat, and he’s got a short beard, which makes him look more like a mountain man than his clothes would say. I find myself looking deep into his swirling brown eyes, and I forget for a moment that we’re in a silent tug-of-war about who gets the room and who has to go on down the road or, in my case, sleep in their car.
“I’m sorry. Is there any way you can still drive your car?” he says, obviously not wanting to give up the room.
“I don’t think so. I mean, once it’s out of the ditch I’m sure I can drive it, since I wasn’t going fast and it didn’t get banged up at all. It was still running when it stopped, but there’s no way I can drive it out of the ditch. It’s going to need a tow. And I didn’t want to call anyone during the storm. Not when I really don’t need to be anywhere, and I don’t want anyone to endanger their life just to get my car out for my convenience.”