As I was returning home from a trip, my car started making weird noises and the transmission began to jerk. I pulled off the interstate at the next exit and followed the sign to Randallville, three miles.
It turned out to be a small town with a post office, a grocery store, a bar, a hardware store, and a gas station. Over the bay doors of the gas station was a welcomed sign; "Jerry's Auto Repairs."
I spoke with Jerry, who was the owner and explained what the car had been doing on the interstate. He assured me that it should be nothing serious and he could check it out and have the car ready in two to three hours.
"You can wait at the house, there, up the hill. Audrey will take your payment and I'll call when your car is ready," he said.
I walked up the gentle slope behind the garage to the small house at the top of the hill. It was an old wood framed house, recently painted white with black trim around the windows. I knew the paint was recent because there were paint cans sitting on the porch with paint brushes lying nearby.
I knocked and entered when I heard a female voice, "It's open, come on in."
There was a desk just inside the door, which evidently functioned as the office. The rest of the room was a living room, with a sofa, chairs, a television and a bookshelf.
The woman came out from behind the desk and shook my hand. Soft, delicate fingers, light grip, almost sensual. She was tall, looking directly at me with her soft green eyes. Her hair was in a sloppy ponytail, strands hanging haphazardly into her face. A face that showed a sadness, a loneliness that comes from frustration and perhaps endless wanting.
Her smile was kind and genuine as she spoke. "Jerry will call when your car is ready. Just have a seat anywhere and make yourself comfortable."
I took a seat on the overstuffed sofa, worn but comfortable. She followed and sat next to me, closer than a stranger would.
I'm Audrey; what's your name?"
"Will. Nice to meet you, Audrey."
"Where are you from?" she asked.
"Tampa."
"You're still a ways from home, then."
"Yeah, I might spend the night somewhere if I can get the car fixed."
"You could stay here; I live her by myself, so I have room."
"What about Jerry?"
"Jerry lives with his wife in Clanton. I just do the books for his garage."
"That's kind of you to offer but I don't think that would be very appropriate."
"Why not? I'm not afraid of you. In fact, I find you quite attractive."
"Thank you, but I wouldn't feel comfortable."
"Are you married?" she asked.
"No."
"Then why you wouldn't want to spend the night with a strange woman?"
"Well, it's not that, but it could lead to something we don't want."