I was just finishing my third cup of coffee and flirting a waitress named Trish when Jenny came by with a coffee pot in her hand.
"How 'bout a refill Hon?"
"Oh no I'll never get to sleep tonight if I have any more," I joked. It was already after 10 pm. Truck drivers drink so much coffee and soda that it doesn't really affect our sleep. We are used to being awake and sleeping at odd hours and our drinking and eating habits reflect that.
I was at my favorite truck stop on I-80. I had been stopping here since I started driving nearly 10 years ago. Back then I was a company driver. I've owned my truck the last 6 years. I'm Jake 32, 6-3, 210 pounds with a kind of lived in but pleasant face.
Trish was 50 something and had been working here I first time I ever came in. We flirted and gave each other a hard time whenever I came in. Jenny on the other hand was kinda new.
She was little thing maybe 5-2 about 110. Bleached blond hair and blue eyes. Maybe about 26-28 years old. I didn't know much about her. I figured same old story, divorced, a couple of kids that stayed with her mom on the nights she worked, deadbeat ex that didn't pay child support. Trying to save up enough money to go to Community College.
Jenny stayed and talked for a minute the continued on her refill chores. I watched her walk away thinking that was one of the nicest things I'd seen for a while.
Trish put her hand on my arm and said, "Now that's the girl for you Jake. You ought to chat her up, get to know her, I think you two would hit it off."
"Well she's cute and all but I don't need the baggage."
She frowned and asked "What kind of baggage do you think she's carrying?"
"I don't really know," I said "But I bet it doesn't fit in one suitcase."
Trish shook her head and still frowning said, "Look, she gets off in less than an hour. Stick around and talk to her. I think you will be surprised."
"Oh hell she isn't going to want to sit around talking to a driver. She sees 50 guys a day like me."
"No not like you Jake. I've known you for 10 years. You're a good man. Better than most."
I snorted and she went right on, "I've seen you push cars out of snowbanks, help other drivers repair their rigs, I saw you give a homeless man the jacket you were wearing. And don't think I don't know who puts a hundred bucks in the Toys for Kids bucket every year. You're a good guy that deserves a good gal like Jenny."
Trish wandered away but soon came back and filled my coffee cup. She gave me the evil eye that said you just sit there bub and walked away. I was sitting there staring off into space when someone laid a hand on my arm. It was Jenny and she said, "I'm sorry, Trish said you wanted to talk to me but I have to get home right away, family emergency. It really would be nice to talk a minute but I really have to go." With that she was gone. I just shook my head, paid my bill, and walked out to my truck to catch some sleep.
The next morning I left early and had made my way out to the east coast and dropped my load. I picked up another close by and delivered it in Chicago and then picked up a load going to LA. I stopped in at the truck stop. It had been eight days since I was here and I had thought about Jenny every day.
I walked in the restaurant and was just sitting down when Trish took my arm and said "Go sit over in the next row. That's Jenny's section today."
She came up from behind me and distractedly said, "What can I do you for?" I looked up and grinned at her. "Oh my gosh, hi Jake! Good to see you. Sorry for the greeting, got a lot on my mind right now. What can I get you?" By the time she got all that out she was smiling. She seemed genuinely happy to see me. I realized I was happy to see her also. I gave her my order and she said, "Be back in a jiff with your coffee."
Trish stopped at the table and said, "That's the first time I've seen her smile in the last 3 days. You been thinking about her? She's been pumping me about you. I told her a bunch of lies. She would never believe the truth about what a good guy you are."
I laughed and said, "With friends like you I don't need enemies."
Jenny came by with my coffee and casually asked, "So you headed out tonight or in the morning?"
"In the morning. Not enough hours left to get far tonight."
"Oh that's great. Um, maybe we can have that cup of coffee tonight?"
"Sure, that would be great."
"Where is this load going?"
"LA," I said, "Actually the Port of Long Beach."
"Really? That's interesting, very very interesting." She looked at my face for a minute then shook her head slightly and hurried away.
One of the other waitresses brought my meal and I finished without seeing Jenny again. It was only 8 pm so I went to my truck to get a nap before I went back in at 11 when Jenny got off.
I had only been in my bunk for a few minutes when someone was knocking on the side of my sleeper right below the open window. "Jake you in there? We need to talk," came Trish's voice.
I yelled out the window "Let me get my pants on. Climb in, the driver door is unlocked." Whatever this was I didn't think I was going to like it. I got my pants on and the curtain open at the same time Trish got settled into the drivers seat.
"Something has been bothering Jenny ever since the last time you were here. At first I thought you had upset her somehow. I found out that it wasn't you, it was her roommate. She had been picked on a DUI that night. That was the family emergency she had. Now her roomie is in jail with no money for bail. They are already 2 months behind on the rent and Jenny can't make it on her own. She's going to get kicked out at the end of the week."
"So what does all of that have to do with me?" I asked.
"Well here's the thing," she answered, "Jenny got in contact with an old friend and explained her mess. The friend told her to come outright away. She could live with her and she could even guarantee Jenny a job the day she got there."
"Great, so problem solved. I'm still wondering where I fit in this thing."
"This is where you come in. Jenny doesn't have a car or enough money to get her to where her friend lives. So tonight Jenny asked you where your load was going and you said LA. Well her friend lives in Barstow."
"And she needs a free ride out there right?"
"Jake honey, it's right on the way."