Page 7 of The Playboy and the Waitress

“Slow the hell down then so I don’t have a heart attack.”

“Are there any other homes up here?”

“Nope I'm it; there is an old sawmill farther down the road, but it’s not been open in years.”

He eases up my driveway and I see him frown when he sees my thirty-year-old, single-wide trailer. Even though she is older I have never been ashamed of my house. It's kept me warm and dry most of my life and she is cleaner than most expensive homes. My yard is groomed neatly, and the flower beds I just mulched look pretty with a few perennials peeking their heads through.

“She isn’t much, but she is home, and she is paid for. In my world, that’s worth its weight in gold.”

“My silence wasn’t judging you, Jenna. To be honest, I was looking for Brutus.”

I point over next to the fence. “See that big black shadow, that’s him… He waits on me every night.” I hop out of the car, wincing when I see the dust from the road has coated the ground effects as I walk around to his side. I hear Brutus behind me stomp one of his large hooves on the ground as he hits his head against the gate hard. “Brutus, it’s just me. He doesn’t recognize your car and he is very territorial when it comes to strangers. He is also prone to show off. If you still want that coffee, you are welcome to come on in.”

“Sounds good.”

I can hear him getting out of the car as I make my way up the steps fumbling with my keys as I unlock the door. “Uhhh, I should probably ask you this question before I let you in. You’re not a serial killer are ya?”

“I’ve hit my quota for the month.”

“Good to know.” I shake my head, rolling my eyes. “Make yourself comfortable, I’ll only be a second. I'm going to get out of these clothes real quick.”

I kick my shoes off next to the door and then head towards my bedroom glancing around on the way, thankful I cleaned house before I went to work this morning. I yank my work clothes off. Then I grab my favorite capris and an old T-shirt out of the closet as I put them on. I grab a scrunchy off the dresser and walk back down the hallway, pulling my long hair up into a ponytail. When I come back into the living room, I see him standing at the front door, looking around.

He must have heard me because he turns back to me smiling. “Damn, that was quick. I didn’t know it was possible for a female to change clothes that quickly. I was just admiring the view, or maybe I should say lack of. I don’t think I have been anywhere in my life that I wasn’t surrounded by streetlights.”

“Wow, you are just experiencing all kinds of firsts this evening, aren’t ya? Let me throw some wood on the fire and I’ll start that coffee.”

“I thought the place seemed cool. You heat with wood?”

“I used to only use it for backup heat, or if it got extremely cold out, but last winter the main furnace gave up the ghost and I have been using it ever since. I should have replaced the furnace years ago, but you know how it goes.”

“Ok, I'm really going to show my ignorance here, but who keeps the fire going when you're gone?”

“You’re not ignorant, you're just from another world. I'm sure I would feel the same way at your place. I usually bank the fire and then hope there are some hot coals left when I get home. If it goes completely out it can get damn cold in here quickly. Thank heavens spring is finally here and the nights are getting warmer. So, I won’t have to mess with it much longer, but then packing wood just gets replaced with something else.”

I open the wood burner's door and place a few small logs in it, grateful that they catch quickly. He simply stands in the middle of the living room with his hands in his pockets, looking around.

“Dage, you look lost. If you're uncomfortable, you don’t have to stay. I promise you won’t come up as a missing person on a milk cartoon. Anyway, I'm not in the mood to deal with all that blood tonight. Cutting people up and hiding their bodies is such a chore when you’re tired.”

“Lord, I never know what you’re going to say. Sorry, I’m not intentionally acting weird. I reckon I'm just tired. To be honest, I'm not used to such late nights.”

“I don’t think you ever really get used to it. I only pull a double on Fridays because I'm not a night owl at all. I’ve always liked to get up early and get my day started.”

I hit the button on the coffee maker. “This just dawned on me, I only have good old Folgers coffee, not some fancy espresso, is that ok?”

He runs his fingers through his hair. “I really have made a bad impression on you haven’t I? I will admit, I'm slightly spoiled, but I'm not too good to drink regular coffee.”

“Good to know you’re not a complete brat then. While this is brewing, I'm gonna step outside for a few minutes. I forgot to fill the wood box before I left, it will only take me a minute if you wanna just chill in here.”

“I can help.”

“Oh, Hell no…you have done enough this evening and you are not exactly dressed for the occasion.” He frowns and I can tell he is gonna argue with me. “If it makes you feel better, you can go with me to hold the flashlight.

“Come on.” I grab a light coat out of the closet and pick up the mag light I keep in there just for this reason. “Here, you’re on light duty, watch out for anything that wiggles. It may still be early in the year, but the snakes are already out.”

“Snakes, cow, and zero lights…I believe I have walked into the twilight zone.”

“Keep it up, city boy, and you just might learn a few things.” We head back out the door and around to the back of the house where I keep the wood stacked. I pull the tarp off and grab a couple of pieces, stacking them in the crook of my arm.

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