by Leah Atwood
“Thanks.” She took the set handed to her and saw the number five engraved on the blue tag.
“The rooms are all along the front, the ones you saw when we pulled in. One is on the far side, and eight is next to the office.” He pointed to the map on the wall. “The building makes an L-shape, and the pool is around back if you wish to use it.”
“Is there a lock or anything needed to enter it?” She could go for a long swim.
“The code is six-four-four-seven. You have to hit the pound sign before and after.” His teeth grazed his bottom lip. “The laundry room isn’t completed yet, but if you need to wash or dry anything, Suzie next door at the Desert Breeze Inn will let you use theirs. I’ll call her and give her a heads up. They also have vending machines you can grab a soda or snack from.”
Jessica smiled. “That’s very generous of them.”
“She’s a great lady. Her whole family is.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “I’m sorry I don’t have much more to offer you.”
“You’ve done more than enough,” Bridget assured him. “I’m sure I speak for all of us when I say a huge thank you. We appreciate everything you’ve done.”
“I’ll unload your bags for you. My house is right behind the hotel, so if you need anything, just come knock on my door.”
They returned to his truck and retrieved their bags.
“I’ll call Randy in the morning and verify what time he’ll be in. Who should I let know?” He looked at each of the women.
All pointed to Bridget, and she laughed. “I guess that would be me.”
“If there’s nothing else, I’ll see you ladies in the morning.” He tipped his hat and left.
“What a night.” Lark rubbed her eyes. “I’m going to call Cody and give him an update, then head to bed.”
One by one they left for the rooms until Cassidy stood by herself. All the sleepiness she’d felt fifteen minutes ago evaporated. She decided to drop off her bags in the room, then wander over to Desert Breeze and grab a soda and chips. Maybe afterward take a swim to burn off the negative energy fighting for space in her mind.
Chapter Four
A warm breeze blew over the high desert, rustling the curtains of Joel’s house. The salmon-pink window treatments came with the house, and he hadn’t cared enough to change them. Now, the matching sofa with traces of baby blue woven throughout and had dips in two of the three cushions—as soon as he regained control of his finances, he’d make a trip to the furniture store.
His eyes glazed over from staring at the spreadsheet taunting him on the computer screen. With all loan income options exhausted, his only alternative was to open the motel and pray for income. The little he had left would cover the necessities to open, but how much could he make with only eight rooms available?
At that rate, he could renovate one room a year, and have the entire motel open by the time he reached retirement age. Maybe a bit of an exaggeration. He was only thirty. Still not an encouraging thought. But he’d keep the place that way. Maybe.
Tired of focusing on his own problems, he allowed his thoughts to drift to the women he’d helped tonight. They intrigued him. From the little information he’d gleaned, they’d taken a road trip instead of attending their ten-year high school reunion. They’d started out in North Carolina, where they had all grown up and had driven across interstate forty. This afternoon they’d left the Grand Canyon and then ended up here.
That’s all he knew, except Cassidy fought inner battles. A few stray comments here and there told him something had happened to her which caused her to have a low opinion of herself. It wasn’t his business, but he felt drawn to her and couldn’t explain why. Maybe he was drawn to things that were broken and in need of repair. Look at the motel for crying out loud.
Don’t lose faith. God called me to this, he’ll see me through.
He stretched his arms, relieving the tension from his muscles. Not used to sitting for long periods, he stood and paced. The pool called his name, but he didn’t want to intrude on his guests if they’d taken advantage of the one amenity he could offer. He glanced at his watch. Two hours had passed since he’d dropped the girls off at the motel, and they’d all seemed tired. He figured he could safely assume they were all asleep by now or at least settled in their rooms.
Changing into swim trunks, he forced the worries from his mind—not so easy when his livelihood depended on the motel’s success. Not only that, but he didn’t want to waste the inheritance from his grandfather. Failing meant letting down Gran, who was still alive to see the dream come true. Failure wasn’t an option, but there wasn’t anything more he could do tonight.
He plodded to the pool, glad he hadn’t neglected its upkeep. The previous owner—for all his other extreme flaws—had recently upgraded the pool and filter, so maintaining it didn’t take much effort on Joel’s part. The little energy and money required paled in comparison to the enjoyment he received from it on a hot summer day.
A splash in the water startled him, and he spun to see the cause. He’d acted too quickly and slipped on wet cement, that he should have noticed but had been lost in thought. Waving his arms, he worked to regain his balance to no avail and fell on his bottom.
“Oh my goodness, are you okay?”
Looking up, his gaze met Cassidy’s. Of all the women to be out here tonight. Embarrassed, he ignored the pain and rushed to his feet. “I’m fine.”
“Are you sure? I heard the thump, and it sounded painful.” Her soulful brown eyes searched his.
The temptation to get lost in them pulled at him, and he snapped his brain to reality. “Positive. I should have paid more attention, but I thought you and your friends would be asleep by now.”
“All the others are, but I couldn’t sleep.” Dripping wet, she tilted her chin to the pool. “A good swim always helps clear my mind.”
He let out a sound, a combination of a snort and laugh. “That’s why I’m out here.”
“Rough night rescuing five women?” When she grinned, he didn’t see a trace of the sadness from earlier.
“If only that were my biggest problem.”
“Need an ear to listen?”
“Thanks, but I won’t bore you with the details.” He tossed the towel in his hand over his shoulder. “I’ll let you finish your swim and come back later.”
“There’s no reason for you to leave.” She waved a hand over the pool. “It’s a big area.”
Leaving would be the smart option, but he selfishly wanted to stay. He looked forward to the laps, and maybe conversation depending on how long she stayed.
Stop that train of thought. Even if she wasn’t only here for the night, you have no business taking your focus off the motel.
“If you’re sure.” He dropped the towel and jumped off the deep end.
When he came out of the water, he wiped the droplets from his eyes and pushed back his wet hair. He swam to the shallow end and back again. From the corner of his eyes, he searched out Cassidy. She stayed on the opposite side and held out her arms, floating on the water.
What he wouldn’t give to find that peacefulness. Except, even as he thought it, he knew hers wasn’t complete. He’d seen the signs earlier.
Everybody had struggles in life. Seasons came and seasons left. Was it wrong to hope and pray this current season of stress ended soon, but only by getting the motel up and going? He didn’t want it to end by folding and having to find another career path.
Man, what was wrong with him? Even the swim couldn’t clear his mind. He passed it off to exhaustion, although physically, he wasn’t tired at all. Maybe a few more laps would help. He put everything he had into pushing his arms through the water and kicking but gave up after the tenth trip to the shallow end.
He climbed out and walked carefully to the chair with his towel. It wouldn’t do to embarrass himself with another fall. She must think him completely clumsy. Maybe he should tell her he hadn’t fallen since third grade, but, no, that would only br
ing more attention to it. Best to let it go and let her think what she would.
When he reached the chair, he was surprised to see her sitting in the seat next to it. “Done already?”
Her lips curved into a half smile. “I could ask you the same thing. And since I was here before you, you’re the one with the shorter time in the water.”
“Got me there.” He toweled himself dry then draped it over his shoulders. “Mind if it sit?”
“Go ahead.”
He sat down and glanced over at her. The motel’s exterior lighting gave off enough brightness to have a clear view of her. Though her hair still dripped, her skin appeared dry, which told him she’d been out for several minutes at least. Had she purposely stuck around?
Yeah, yeah, I know. Don’t let my thoughts go there.
Lifting the towel to his face, he dabbed away more moisture. “How was your swim?”
“Good, but I still couldn’t clear my mind.” She sighed. “I thought a few hours alone would help me collect my thoughts, but instead, I got lost in them again.”
“Need an ear to listen?” He winked, making the same offer she had earlier.
“Only if you do, too.” She removed an elastic band from her wrist and pulled her hair into a ponytail. “I’m sorry if I offended you earlier with my comments about the place. You would think after years of working in public relations, I’d choose my words more carefully.”
“Thanks, and I wasn’t offended.” He ran his fingers through his wet hair. “I know it needs more work, but the process has slowed considerably.”
“The place looks great compared to how it did.”
His ears perked. “How do you know?”
She gave him a sheepish grin. “I logged onto your Wi-Fi and searched for information about it. You really should have a password on that connection.”
A hearty laugh rumbled from his chest. Cassidy proved to be a breath of fresh air. “I will eventually. I’m surprised the signal reached to you, but I should have thought to tell you about it, anyway. Use it all you need.”
“Seriously though, I love the Route 66 relics in the rooms, including the black and white photos. My friends loved their rooms, too.”
“Glad to hear. Gran helped me pick them out.” A slow smile spread as he remembered all their days out, scouring antique store after antique store. He cherished those times, especially knowing they were limited.
“Is this a family business?”
“Not exactly, but my grandfather, Gran’s husband, left me a large sum when he passed to invest in this dream.” Small pangs stabbed his heart. He’d never stop missing Pop. “My parents support the endeavor but aren’t involved. They have their own lives in Nevada and no intentions of leaving.”
“Is that where you’re from?” She scooted in her seat so that her body faced him.
“Yes, a small town north of Reno, near the California border.”
“What made you want to buy this place?”
Now that he was dry, the damp towel became uncomfortable, and he tossed it aside. “When I was a kid, my grandparents took me on a road trip from Chicago to Santa Monica, sticking closely to the historic Route 66. The trip changed me, and I wanted to preserve a piece of that history.”
“I’ve been all over the U.S. but have always flown.” A slight frown appeared, but she didn’t leave it there for long. “This trip is the first time I’ve driven cross-country, and it’s been amazing. Living in the East my whole life, even going to camp in Arizona but again, flying, I never understood the vastness of America. I can see how that trip would change you.”
“The entire trip was an adventure, but there was more to it.” For a brief moment, he captured that excitement he’d felt as Pop pulled up to the next roadside attraction, or as the landscape changed. As he tasted his first tamale at a diner in New Mexico and watching Pop devour an enormous steak in Amarillo. “I was so mad at first because my parents had just bought me a new handheld video game, but my grandparents refused to let me play it while driving. They insisted I look at the scenery and appreciate God’s creation.”
“I love that. We have too much technology in our lives. I’ve even caught myself typing away on my phone only to look up just in time to see a breathtaking landscape. It makes you realize how much we miss by always plugging away.”
“Exactly. Life shouldn’t be measured in battery power.” He spoke faster as the passion for his dream came out. “Route 66 is an icon that symbolizes the American spirit of freedom and movement, but it also throws us back to a simpler time in life. I want to be a part of that nostalgia that helps people find enjoyment in the simple things of life.”
“I think I understand.” She stretched her legs and crossed her ankles. “My parents always planned big, fancy vacations for us. They were great for the most part, don’t get me wrong, but sometimes I wished they didn’t have to be so extravagant.”
“You grew up by the ocean, right?”
“Yes, and I loved it. I saw families come in and have a great time year after year.” She swatted away a bug. “One time, I asked my dad why we couldn’t have a vacation there, or even further up the Outer Banks, but that wasn’t good enough for him. He always had loftier ambitions. Every vacation somehow connected to a business or political goal, which is why my parents went to extremes. They, especially my dad, had illusions of grandeur.”
“Designer taste on a thrift store budget?”
She shook her head. “More like give them an outfit, and they wanted the whole store. Nothing’s ever enough for them. Mom wasn’t always like that, but I guess Dad rubbed off on her.”
“You said they’re in politics? What do they do?” The sound of a car with deep bass drove along the main road, and Joel paused until it passed. “My dad served as mayor of our town, but decided politics wasn’t for him, although he does serve on the chamber of commerce.”
Cassidy snorted. “I wish that’s all my dad did.”
Uh oh. Seems I hit a nerve. “Not a good topic I take it?”
“To say the least.” Her mouth turned down, and the sadness appeared in her eyes again. “If you knew who my dad is, you’d probably hate me like half the country.”
“I doubt that.” Curious, he wanted to ask, but let her share if she desired.
“Do you know of Senator Frey?”
“You mean the creep who sold information to foreign governments? If it’s true what he did, he’s a despicable man.” Too late, he put the pieces together. If his delayed brain-functioning wasn’t enough to tell him, the crestfallen look on Cassidy’s face did. “He’s your dad, isn’t he?”
“For better or worse.” Tears shimmered in her eyes, and she stood up. “I should get back to the room now. Thanks again for everything.”
He sprung to his feet and reached out a hand to stop her. “I’m sorry. I should have thought before I spoke.”
“It’s okay. I’ve heard much worse.”
“You don’t have to go yet unless you want to.” He dropped his arm to his side. “You’re not responsible for your father’s actions. What he did has no influence on my opinion of you.”
“Then you’re the only one who doesn’t care.” She crossed her arms, looking scared and vulnerable.
“That’s not true. I can’t speak for anyone else, but I can see you have four friends in the motel who will stand by you through thick and thin.”
Her lips twisted into a partial smile. “All right. I’ll grant you that one. They’re the best friends anyone could ask for. When they invited me on this road trip, it was an answer to prayer.”
“How so?” He sat back down, and she followed his action.
“I worked for a public relations firm, and when news of my father leaked, I became a liability to them, so they fired me. Then all my friends in D.C. backed away, not wanting to be associated with my family in any way.” She swallowed and wiped the last of the tears he could tell she begrudged. “Do you have any idea what it’s like to go from a privileged l
ife to nothing? It’s not even the loss of privilege I care about, but the betrayal of my dad and friends. It makes me doubt everything I’ve ever known about people.”
“I can’t say that I do understand, but I can’t imagine it’s been easy.” His heart went out to her. He’d read the news, and the horrible lines spewed toward Senator Frey. He’d even said similar ones himself in his anger, but never gave thought about the repercussions for his family. “I’m sorry you’ve had to experience this. Do you think there is a chance he is innocent?”
She shook her head in a slow fashion and with such despair that her pain latched on to him. “When I first heard, I didn’t want to believe it, but I went to visit him in prison. He admitted nothing, but I knew—he is guilty.”
“How is your mother dealing with everything?”
“She’s in denial, and although she has plenty of her own faults, I truly believe she knew nothing of my dad’s activities.” Cassidy rubbed her temples. “I worry about her. She’s aged a decade in a few short months. Her hair has gone from a beautiful glossy chestnut color to ninety-five percent gray.”
“I’ll keep your family in my prayers.”
Her eyes widened. “You’re a believer?”
“Yes. My parents took me to church but didn’t put much effort into teaching me about God. It was Gran and Pop who taught me I needed to have a relationship with him.”
“They sound like amazing people.” Her tone adopted a wistfulness. “I never knew my grandparents, but my parents made me go to church every Sunday, for appearance’s sake, I’m sure. Little did they realize everything I learned stuck with me. If not for trusting in God, I’m not sure where I would be now.”
“I know what you mean. Faith makes a huge difference when facing an obstacle.”
“That’s never been clearer than the last few weeks.” She glanced in the direction of the rooms her friends were in. “Most of my friends in D.C. weren’t Christians. And while it’s not my place to judge, those who claimed to be showed little fruits. To be fair, I’m not sure my life the last few years was a shining example either. But Jessica, Lark, Rain, and Bridget—they’re the real deal. Their friendship never faltered and I know their close walks with God played a large part in that.”
