Something, Page 2

call her. Is she around?"

  "Ma'am, someone's pulling your foot," the guy said. "David and her been divorced a long time. She ain't never come here."

  "Oh, I’m sorry to hear that," she said.

  "Met her on the rebound, is what I hear. She wanted to travel all the time and he got him a job that he could move around in. Then his mom got sick and he come back home to help out and they fought till they separated."

  Her heart fluttered with joy, there was no wife. She had a chance. "Is David there?"

  "He's out on a call. The weather’s causing all kinds of trouble. I thought this was another emergency call. I was going to close. I have to get home, but I can't leave till he comes back. Dave's going to close the station tonight."

  "I'll call back," she said and hung up.

  Tears of joy streamed down her face. But there wasn't time for tears now. She powdered, perfumed, put on her prettiest dress then stopped. The dress was all wrong. She grabbed another dress. Too formal. Another was too tight. Another dress made her look too old. A different one made her look like she was trying too hard to look young. She had one that would be great for summer, but not for now. She didn't have time for this.

  She grabbed jeans and a blue blouse. He used to like blue. She drove back to the station, her car sliding all over the road.

  The snow storm had gotten worse. The windshield wipers barely kept up with the falling snow. Her tires spun on the icy pavement. Other cars had pulled off the road. Her car almost got stuck a few times. “Oh God no,” she kept saying everytime it nearly stopped.

  Cars had stopped on the snowy road, stopping all traffic. It didn't look like she was going to make it. Her tires spun on the ice, she didn’t have traction. But she was not going to let anything stop her; if her car stopped she would walk. She drove around the stopped cars as people turned and looked at her.

  The lights outside the station were off and her heart nearly stopped. She was too late. It had taken her so long to get here she feared she had blown it, but then she noticed the lights inside were still lit and David's truck was on the side out of the wind.

  She was so happy she wanted to cry.

  She drove to the glass door, the tires skidded on the pavement and she nearly went through the door. With her heart racing she beeped her horn.

  He had been sitting on a chair in front of a work bench and looked up. He hurried to open the door.

  "Something the matter?"

  Butterflies danced in her stomach. She told herself, you're a grown woman, act like one.

  "Can you look at something?" she said, her breath coming out in a white fog.

  "Sure, drive it inside."

  With her hand shaking on the steering wheel she drove into the repair bay and he closed the big door.

  He started turning on the inside lights, but she said, "No, please don't turn them on."

  He gave her a look like what the heck was going on here. She almost turned around and left, but she had come this far.

  She turned the radio on loud. Bing Crosby was singing, "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas."

  As she walked over to him her knees were shaking.

  "May I have this dance?" she said.

  He looked at her as if she was crazy. Her heart started to sink and she had this feeling that she had just made a big fool of herself.

  Somehow she found the courage to say, "Me, Joanne."

  His jaw fell open; he blinked and looked closely at her. For a moment she was afraid he wouldn't remember or worse, his memories would not be fond. Then she saw he recognized her and remembered. And a smile filled his face. His sensitive green eyes were glad.

  "Joanne?" he said. "I thought that was you, but I wasn't sure. Your last name is different. I was sitting here thinking about it. I'd heard you moved away. I'd thought . . . I don't know what I--"

  She smiled. "Dance now, talk later."

  He reached in the car and turned off her radio and her heart stopped. OH NO! He must have a girlfriend. Then he went to the work bench and turned the tape player back on. George Harrison's "Something" filled the garage and he grinned that old heartwarming smile.

  He walked over to her, bowed and said, "M'lady."

  They danced with the wind howling outside. A few car headlights swept across the snow covered glass. It was cold in that gas station, but they hardly noticed. He was so handsome; the years had aged him like a fine wine.

  "Oh Joanne," he whispered. "I missed you so."

  She couldn't speak. She was so happy she was crying. She put her head on his shoulder as tears flowed down her face.

  *****

  About the Author

  Ted Stetson lives in Oregon with his wife and son. He was born in Brooklyn, attended Seton Hall and Hostra. Graduated from the University of St. Thomas.

  Romance Stories by Ted Stetson

  Something

  Softly

  Summer Wind

  Someday

  Sexy Sadie

  Lean On Me

  The Time Closet

  Unforgetable

  Someone

  You Again

  The Wrong Stop

  Books by Ted Stetson

  Something: the Book

  The Wrong Stop, part two

  New Christmas Carol Stories (anthology)

  Science Fiction Stories

  God of Tomorrow

  A Liquid Sky

  The Lost Ship

  Thief

  Fantasy Stories

  The Great Man

  The Magic Pen

  Mysterio the Great

  Fathers and Sons

  Way Out

  Other Books

  Night Beasts

  Zombies in New York

  Find Out More

  https://www.tedstetson.com

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