Alan had been cycling for a few hours already on this mid July morning. He was an avid cyclist and while only picking up the sport well into his forties, at 56 he was now comfortable with rides of over 50 miles. He even occasionally ventured out for century rides. It was his escape. He had the job he always wanted, but it was stressful, and he loved his family but with two kids in college he was feeling the pressure of maintaining his income over the next few years.
These rides helped him leave that world behind as he let his mind wander on the bike. Wearing "the kit," his cycling shorts and jersey were tight fitting and didn't leave too much to the imagination. Good thing all those hours in the gym and cycling paid off as his 5' 6" body didn't look half bad. Yes, there was the stubborn dad belly that showed a little but he had an athletic frame highlighted by his broad chest and muscular legs. His brown eyes were dark and his graying black hair complimented his olive complexion.
As the late morning turned into early afternoon, he started to feel the heat of the sun on his exposed limbs. He loved that feeling and the smells of the ride. The scents from the various vegetation he would pass; everything from the fruits and vegetables on the farms along the ride, to the burning pavement and sometimes, not so pleasant animal scents. They all blended together for him and were part of the joy he felt on the bike. But, he stayed focused and would occasionally look down at his GPS to check his miles and pace, then he reminded himself about his posture and breathing. The ride was going well and the day was turning out perfect. He was good about checking the weather forecasts and planning his rides for early in the day, making sure to avoid rainy or windy days. But the weather was unpredictable and he would soon find out that today was no different.
Just past the halfway mark Alan felt the heavy cloud cover move over the sun. The slightly cooler air felt great against his sweaty body. The first heavy, thick drop of rain hit Alan square on his back, followed by another, and another. A light mist or sprinkles would not have been too bad, but this was a downpour. He was immediately soaked and started to actually feel cold.
Next came the flat.
He knew it as soon as it happened. The sound of the bike's rear rim hitting the edge of the deep pothole, combined with the explosion of air leaving the back tire.
"Fuck!", was the first word that left his mouth, as he looked around the rural road realizing how far he was from home and how quiet his surroundings were. He found a flat grassy area off the side of the two lane, yellow striped road and pulled over. The downpour was suddenly even more intense, his clothes started to weigh noticeably heavier. He took his helmet off, and as he knelt down on the grassy shoulder his knees sank quickly into the muddy grass.
Regardless, Alan started the work to replace the inner tube. Flipping the bike over, he then pulled the spare tube from his saddlebag. His hands were greasy within minutes and the heavy rain was making matters worse. He soon realized that his hands were too slippery to maneuver around the rim so he quietly sat back and leaned against the boulder wall outlining the vast property behind him. Alan soon forgot about his greasy hands and muddy knees as the wet grass met his cushioned shorts and further dampened his already wet ass.
Leafing through his saddle bag, Alan found his phone only to realize that there was no connection. He used his forearm to wipe his brow even though the effort seemed futile. Although somewhat impossible to fathom, the rain seemed coming down harder by the minute. Alan had been in precarious situations before, but there always seemed to be a way out. There were either businesses around, that he could walk to, or he could use his phone to call his family. Today, however, he knew there were no stores within miles and his family was away for the weekend. Despair was starting to sink in.
"Fuck me!" We're the only words Alan could think of. Slightly louder this time, they emanated from his lips and seemed to echo through the rain. Whether it was pent up frustration or a little bit of nerves or a combination of both he wasn't sure, but it was the expression that seemed to be the most appropriate for the situation.
"Hello, are you ok?" The sound of the soft voice which immediately met Alan's ears seemed to echo back through the wet air. Uncertain whether it was his imagination, or reality, Alan pushed himself up and turned his head to look back over the short boulder wall he was leaning against. She was not a figment of his imagination, although at this point in the day, Alan reminded himself that an hallucination would not be out of the question.
Caroline walked out into the angry weather after hearing the expletives emanating from the street in front of her quaint home. Her faded gray rain coat draped softly over her strawberry blonde hair was held in place by her two pale hands clenching tightly onto the fabric above her shoulders. It was hard to see her green eyes as she was squinting to protect them from the hard rain and although the raincoat helped, her blue sun dress, which was spotted with yellow daisies provided no defense to the heavy rain drops. Her bare legs were quickly soaked and she could feel the rain drops pepper her body through the soft cotton dress. At 5'4" her small frame looked almost as if it may get blown away in a strong wind.
Caroline had just moved into the two bedroom ranch after her mother passed away last winter. At 45 years old, feeling the grind of city living start to take its toll, Caroline decided now would be a good time to take her artistic talents to the country. Painting and drawing were her passions and since she couldn't bring herself to part with the last memory of her childhood. Selling the house after her mother's death was too much for her. She was, afterall, an only child and while she had some fleeting love interests over the years, Caroline became comfortable with her single life. She was also a loving and curious soul. Hence the reason she found herself soaking wet on her lawn calling out to a stranger on the street in front of her house. Caroline never shied away from danger or an opportunity to help someone.
"I thought I heard you yelling, is everything ok?" She repeated, raising her voice slightly to make sure the man by the street could hear her.
Feeling more embarrassed than wet or frustrated at this point, Alan stood up, humbly and replied, "Yeah, uh, well I got a flat, and everything is too wet to try and fix it, I don't really have anyone to call, do you know how far the nearest garage, or bike shop is?" He was rambling. "Bike shop?" he asked himself and continued, "how would she know where a bike shop is, you ass?"
Pretty women had this effect on Alan and seeing Caroline stand there soaking wet bare foot in that cute sundress was no exception. Alan always had a wandering eye, and at times during his 27 year marriage had been less than faithful. His marriage was more of a platonic partnership at this point and both he and his wife barely liked each other let alone were in love. He knew staying together wasn't the perfect answer, and being a dishonest cheat was not anything he'd ever imagined for himself. The divorce was finally in the works, even though breaking up the family was worse when he considered the impact on his kids and her family.
