I Can't Wait For You ~ 4

Don't waste this chance with your smile

I had a feeling that this was the sort of establishment that didn't take credit cards. Blowing out a quick sigh I threw the door open and dashed into the downpour.
"This is some awful weather for you to be out in," a man not much older than me said from behind the counter.
"I didn't really have much choice."
"Well, how far you goin?"
"The plan is Charleston."
"You got a death wish?" I stared incredulously back into his open mouthed shock.
"No. But I am supposed to be in Florida, I have to get there."
"Look missy, you're still about forty minutes outside Summerville. Charleston is beyond that a ways and this storm is only supposed to get worse. There's a bed and breakfast up the road some. I'll give you directions, you should stay there until this whole thing blows over."
"I can't do that."
"What's so urgent for you to get to in Florida?" When he put it like that..should I really be risking life and limb?
"Maybe you're right," I finally sighed.
"That's the smart decision. I'm used to storms like this..too much longer and you won't be able to see an inch in front of your face." That sounded picturesque.
"Well, I guess I'll still need some gas." He nodded and I pulled out my wallet.

His directions were easy, eleven miles up the road, on the left. It was right where he said it was. I could only hope things were finally going my way. At least a bed and breakfast would be more comfortable than the airport. I parked as close as possible, which was still about thirty feet away and ran for the white door.
"Good evening. Can I help you?" The woman behind the counter was exactly the type of woman you would expect to find in a small town bed and breakfast. She wore small glasses with a bead covered string holding them in place. Her white hair was piled neatly on top of her head and she wore a maroon vest over a flowered shirt with a tan skirt and penny loafers.
"I was hoping that you would have a room for tonight." I approached the counter and tried to keep my teeth from chattering.
"You're in luck," that's what she thought, "we have one left." I smiled.
"How much?" Not that it mattered, Dad's emergency credit card was already in my back pocket.
"Well, I don't think you planned on stopping, so I'll give it to you for $100 even." I wondered what the actual price was..most likely much higher, this looked like a nice place. I handed over the silver plastic and glanced around at my lodgings. It had a sort of antique store feel to it, china lamps on all the little tables that were scattered through the room. There were even doiles, and throws on the backs of the recliners and love seat. Her hand was poised to slide when the door was thrown open. Several shadows were in the doorway. No, no, no. Please, no.

A family of seven piled into the makeshift lobby.
"Do you have any rooms?" the father asked, desperation making his eyes wide and glassy. My shoulders slumped in defeat. There was no way I could take that room.
"Well, this lady here just took my last one.." Upon her statement the toddler in the mother's arms began to wail, something she'd been doing quite a bit by the amount of snot already on her face.
"They can have it, where's the next hotel?"
"Well," she said settling a hand on her hip, "if I recall it's about forty seven miles south of here. But, I can call in a favor. My friend Nan lives just off the next road..maybe you can stay with her." She turned and went through a door as I put the card back in my pocket. I turned around and leaned on the counter, the family collapsed into the various seats and breathed a collective sigh.
"I can't thank you enough, truly," the father said, rubbing his forehead before cleaning his glasses.

"I would hope someone would do the same for me, so it's no problem." The innkeeper emerged once again, nodding to herself.
"It's no problem dear. Just go seven miles up the road, turn left, three more miles and it dead ends at her place. You can't miss it." I bit my lip and nodded. Perfect.
"Thank you," I said to her.
"Kids, what do you say to this amazing young lady?" the mother asked her five children.
"Thank you," they chorused solemnly. Throwing my hand in a half wave I tried to draw my body in on itself to go back out in the rain.