(Author's note: All characters herein, as later described, are over the age of 18.)
I came into town early for the seminar, checking into the hotel Saturday so I could have time to relax and prepare for my presentation on Monday. Once things were in order in my room, I decided to go for a walk in a park not far away. I had been here before, and I thought the cool winter air would clear my mind.
I parked my rental car at the entrance of the park and wandered down the path into the wooded area. In the clearing, I saw a figure huddled on a bench ahead of me. As I approached, I noticed a young girl, her arms wrapped around herself, visibly shivering from the cold.
"Are you okay? Can I help you?" I asked.
She jumped back, startled and yelled, "Don't touch me! Stay away!"
I stepped back to put her at ease. "I won't touch you, I just want to help. You look cold; here, take my coat."
I took off my coat and offered it to her. She quickly accepted it and pulled it over her shivering body.
"My name is Will. What's yours?"
"Kate."
"Why are you here, shouldn't you be at home, or somewhere warm?"
"I've been staying at the shelter on Dickson Street for three days. I don't have a home anymore."
She went on to explain that her father had tried to have sex with her, and when she told her mother, her mother blamed her. She was afraid that her father would rape her so she ran away from home. Since she had no one to take her to work, she also lost her job.
"I stayed with a girlfriend until three days ago when her boyfriend moved in."
"Are you hungry?" I asked.
The look she gave me was all the answer I needed.
"Let's go get you something to eat where it's warm," I suggested carefully.
"How do I know you won't kidnap me or something?"
"I'll drive slowly and if you change your mind, I will stop to let you out anytime you tell me. You can keep your window down in case you feel the need to yell for help."
She thought about it for a minute before softly agreeing; "Okay. And thank you."
I showed her the way to my car and we headed back to my hotel. A mile away from the park, she panicked and said, "Stop! Pull over!"
When I had the car at the curb, I asked, "What's wrong? Are you sick or something?"
"No. Where are you taking me?" She asked, very nervously.
"To my hotel. It's not far away and they have a really good restaurant there. After you've eaten, I will give you a ride to the shelter, or give you cab fare to get there."
She must have felt better, because she rolled up the window and said, "Okay."
When we left the hotel parking garage, I led her directly to the restaurant. Her eyes grew as she looked over the menu.
"Gosh, this is expensive!"
"Don't worry; my meals all go on my expense account. What would you like?"
"Could I have a steak or a pork chop and maybe a baked potato?"
"Of course. What would you like to drink?"
"I like sweet tea; my mom makes great sweet tea."
I called the waiter, Toby, over to order, and I asked Kate how she liked her steak.
"Medium well?" She said.
"Toby, bring her a six ounce filet magnon, medium well, a pork chop, a baked potato with butter and sour cream, some rolls and butter and a pitcher of sweet iced tea. I'll have a chef salad."
Kate told me that at the shelter, the women's area was crowded and she had been intimidated by some older women who took over the few showers available.
"I was lucky to be able to go to the bathroom," she said. "That place is scary and full of creepy guys. I couldn't sleep at night worrying about being molested."
Kate's eyes lit up when the food arrived. I smiled as I watched her consume every bit of it. She didn't gulp it down, she chewed and savored it all. When we were finished eating, I suggested something that alarmed her.
"Why don't we go upstairs to my room, and you can take a nice hot shower or bath?"
She looked at me with fear and dread in her eyes. She obviously felt I wanted something for having helped her.
"Do I have to?" She asked quietly.
"Absolutely not. I'll stay down here for a while so you can be alone if you want."
"Do I have to sleep with you or anything?"
"No, Kate, I promise."
"You're really nice and I would love a hot bath, but you ARE a guy and I don't know if I can trust you that much."
I wanted to put her at ease and to let her know that she could trust me.
"Kate, I'm 60 years old and a widower. My wife died six months ago but we had a wonderful marriage, including a great sex life. I don't want another woman nor do I need a woman in my life. You're completely safe, I promise."