Page 32 of Second Chances
“It doesn’t look rough, Josh. I mean, from the outside this place could be on a Christmas card. The inside, I mean, I can see the potential, but it does look – temporary.”
“I never thought about it that way. I mean, I’m definitely not going anywhere.”
“So why not make this a home?”
Megan regretted her question immediately, but even more so when she saw Josh stiffen and purse his lips.
“That was out of line.” Megan looked down at the tiled floor wishing that she could go back in time and take back her comment.
“No, I mean, I’m thirty-four years old, my glassware shouldn’t all have come from the Last Chance.”
“The Last Chance? And wait, you’re thirty-four?”
“Yep. I’m an old man now. And you mean to tell me you’ve been here for how many years and you’ve never been to the Last Chance?”
“Um. No...”
“Wow, you really don’t get out much, do you? That’s gotta be the first stop on our tour. Speaking of which, I have to let this varathane dry, why don’t we start our Chance Rapids guided tour right now?”
“I really shouldn’t.” Megan protested.
“What, you’ve got somewhere to go?”
“Actually, no. And it looks like the crew is done for the day, so, why not. Let’s do it. Go get your cane, old man, and show me the town.” Megan winked at Josh and strode out of the workshop.
**
JOSH HOOKED TIMBERup to his leash and the three of them set out toward the downtown strip. The snow hadn’t let up and it was now over the top of Megan’s boots as she walked. As they turned the corner, Josh pointed to the icicles hanging from the barber shop awning, “Watch your head, we call those widow-maker’s here.” As Megan looked up at the giant spear of ice looming over her head, she missed its counterpart, a frozen puddle of ice and even with Charlotte’s fancy winter boots, her foot slipped out from beneath her. “Eeeeeee,” she squealed and flailed her arms, grasping for anything to rescue her tailbone from certain bruising.
Josh caught her by her elbow and whisked her back to her feet. “I guess I should’ve been more worried about the ice patch than the death spear,” he laughed. “Are you okay?”
“I’m okay,” Megan’s heart was pumping. Josh was still gripping her elbow and she swore that she could feel the heat from his hand penetrating her down coat and radiating through to her core.
“This would be the gentlemanly thing to do, wouldn’t it?” Josh said and crooked his elbow, inviting Megan to weave her arm through his. She smiled and stuck her mittened hand through the crook and gripped his muscular forearm.
“First stop, the coffee shop.”
“Wait, I thought Chance Rapids didn’t have a coffee shop.”
“I should say gas station,” Josh chuckled. “You need to study your competition, don’t you?”
“I suppose I do,” Megan mused.
They walked past the pumps and into the gas station, a bell ringing above the door as they entered.
“Hi, Josh.” The white-haired lady at the cash register smiled. “Who’s your friend?”
“Muriel, this is Megan.”
“Well, how do you do?” Muriel asked and leaned on the counter.
“Pleased to meet you,” Megan smiled and reached out her hand to shake Muriel’s.
The gas station was surprisingly warm inside, not white and institutional like the stations along the highway. Beams ran along the ceiling and there were stuffed bears and deer placed in each corner. “Are those real?” Megan whispered.
“Yep,” Josh whispered back and reached his arm around her to guide her to the small eating area adjacent to the convenience store. The smell of fried food and something delicious that Megan couldn’t quite put her finger on, met them as they slid into the Formica seats of the booth.
Muriel toddled over to the table with a coffee carafe in her hand, “Coffee? Just brewed.”
