Another Fling
It had started snowing even before she departed. No stranger to inclement weather, particularly frozen precipitation, Allison had set out with no travel concerns. Halfway home, she found herself in a full-blown snowstorm. Of course, she slowed down, but even that proved to be somewhat daunting. However, the real scare came when she abruptly encountered a tall wall of snow blocking the road.
She considered getting out to examine the obstacle, but the snow was falling heavily, so she wisely and carefully turned her car around. She drove several miles at a crawl before nearly colliding with another vehicle. She had to swerve to avoid a hit, almost running off the road. Coming to an abrupt stop and catching her breath, she was suddenly shocked by someone beating on her driver's window. She could barely see out because the window was covered in ice, so the gloved hand wiped enough away for her to see a handsome man's face.
"Are you alright?" she vaguely hard him ask.
Allison rolled her window down an inch. "Yes," she shouted.
"See if you can back out. We need to get out of here."
Putting her car in reverse and gently pressing the gas pedal, Allison's car slowly moved back onto the road.
"There's a motel a few miles back in the last little town," the man said. He returned to his vehicle as she drove off with him following.
They made it to the motel safely, and he followed her into the office.
"Sorry about that," the man offered. "Once I saw you, I tried to slow, but skidded. Fortunately, I didn't hit you."
"Yes, fortunately."
"I'm Trevor, by the way."
"Hi, Trevor by the way. I'm Allison."
Trevor chuckled at her greeting.
"Can I help you?" The desk clerk asked, apparently patiently waiting for them to finish.
"Where did this weather come from?" Trevor asked.
"Oh, you know, usually a cold front comes through."
Trevor shot the desk clerk a look at his flippant reply. "I meant—"
"I know what you meant," the clerk added with a grin. "Just messing with you. Yeah, it wasn't forecast to be this bad, but that's how it can be with these early storms. This one's good for all night. You two need a room?"
"Oh, we're not together," Allison was quick to say.
"Well, if you want a room, you better be. I only have one left."
"I don't mind sharing," Trevor offered.
"Share
a motel room?" Allison repeated with incredulity. "I don't even
know
you."
"Then shall we flip for it?"
"Are you
kidding?"
"You have a better solution?"
Allison shook her head. "Is there another hotel or motel nearby?" she asked the clerk.
"About thirty miles back the way you came," he answered pointing in that direction. "But I wouldn't attempt it in this weather."
"I'll just wait until it slacks up," Allison said. "Is there a restaurant close by?"
"Next door. And the weather is not supposed to let up until morning."
"Let me buy you dinner and we can get to know one another," Trevor offered.
"What are you after?" Allison asked in exasperation.
"Not a thing. I'm just trying to help. If you don't want it, that's your choice."
"Well, I guess if I go to the restaurant, you'll just follow, so let's go."
As they were about to leave, the desk clerk asked, "What about the room?"
"I'll take it," Trevor said, returning to the desk. He pulled out his wallet and handed the man his credit card.
"Dr. Trevor Miles," the clerk read.
"At your service."
The clerk ran the card, and then handed it back to the doctor.
"One keycard or two?"
Trevor glanced at Allison, who was merely shaking her head in stupefaction. "Two."
Key cards in hand, Trevor escorted Allison to the restaurant. It was a casual chain restaurant, and not at all crowded, quite likely due to the storm. As a result, the hostess let them choose their own table. Allison selected a booth. These types of eateries generally had poor wine lists because the people that frequented them were usually not wine drinkers, but Allison ordered the one Cabernet they had. Trevor had the same.
"So. Dr. Trevor Miles, huh? What kind of doctor?"
"Medical. M.D."
"Well, that's impressive. Do you have a practice?"
"I'm actually on my way to a new job in Hartwell Falls."
"Hartwell Falls?"
"You know it?"
"Yes." But she didn't want to mention it was her hometown just yet. "Are you starting your own practice?"
"No. The doctor there, Dr. Wilson, is up there in age and he wanted to bring someone in so he could gradually scale back and eventually retire." He paused to sip his wine. "So, what's your story?"
Allison stood. "Will you excuse me? I need to visit the restroom."
Trevor very gentlemanly stood until she walked off.
It caught Allison by surprise when he said he was moving to her hometown. She didn't know Doc Wilson was bringing another doctor in. It was exactly what his brother, her new boss was doing. Was it a concerted effort? She pulled out her cell to call the physician.
He answered after a minute. "Allison, how are you? Glad to hear you're coming home."
"Thanks, doc. I'm excited."
"Glad that old coot of a brother came to his senses and is bringing you in."
"Sounds like you're doing the same."
"How did you
know
that? My brother is the only one who knows. Did
he
tell you?"
Allison told him what had happened.
"You can trust him, Allison. He's a good guy. Comes
highly
recommended. Excellent doctor."
"If he's so good, why is he coming to work in our little town? No offense, doc, but he doesn't sound like someone who would be suited to Hartwell Falls."
"That was actually my first question. He said he just wanted to work in a small town to actually help people, not to work for a big clinic or big hospital where everything was about dollars and cents."
"Hmm. That sounds noble."
"Allison, it sounds like you'll be stuck with him overnight. You know the people of Hartwell Falls. I'd be interested in your assessment. Will they like him? Will he fit in? That sort of thing."
"Will do. Thanks, doc. Oh, one more thing. Can you describe what he looks like, so I make certain he's the real deal?"
"I can do one better. I'll email you a photo. Hang on." Several seconds later, the email came through. Allison quickly looked at it. "Yeah. That's him. See you soon, doc." She hurriedly used the facilities, washed her hands, and returned to their table.
As soon as Allison sat, the waitress appeared to take their order. "So, the storm is getting worse and the manager wants to shut down and let everyone go home. But he said we can grill you a couple of burgers and fries and make them to go, if you like."
"That works for me," Trevor said, glancing at Allison.
"Guess we have no choice," was her response. She didn't want to seem like she was giving in just yet.
"Can you add a couple of bottles of this wine and a corkscrew?" Trevor asked.
"Sure can."
After the waitress walked off, Allison questioned, "Are you going to try to get me drunk?"
He took her seriously. "Oh, no, no, I wouldn't do that. As a physician, I can't condone consuming too much alcohol. On the other hand, you put alcohol on the radiator of your car to keep it warm, so . . ." Trevor trailed off, then quickly changed the subject. "Well, it was your turn to tell me your story, but first, I have to ask what changed your mind?"
With a grin, Allison said, "Well, that's actually part of my story. I'm actually
from
Hartwell Falls. I know Doc Wilson. I'm moving back home to work for his brother. As doc is the only physician in town, so Mr. Wilson is the only CPA in town. I'm a CPA also. I called doc while I was in the restroom to ask him about you. He said I could trust you."
"Well, that is very wise."
"Trusting you?"
"Well, that, too. But contacting
Doc
Wilson."
Allison smiled and shrugged. "A man nearly runs into me on an icy road and then offers to share a motel room with me?"
"When you put it like that, it does sound pretty shady."
They both laughed and changed both of their moods. Allison could now look at him as a very handsome man. And she had to admit to herself, he had been very polite and gentlemanly from their first encounter. The waitress brought their food, they bickered over who would pay, but he snagged the bill. Finally, they headed to "their" room.