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The snow was coming down so heavy that the windshield wipers were clogging. Cedric was concerned that he would be stuck out on the Interstate without any means of calling for help. He had forgotten his cell phone at home and now was at the mercy of the elements. The weatherman had predicted heavy snow accumulating from seven to ten inches by six oâclock am. He had slowed down to nearly twenty miles per hour, crawling along behind an eighteen-wheeler ahead of him. Cedric passed a sign that read âFood and Lodging; next Rightâ. He decided to leave the interstate and head to the nearest motel.
At the end of the ramp, a sign pointed to a Marriott Courtyard hotel two miles down the road. Cedric drove carefully toward some lights that slowly coalesced into the word âMarriottâ and he breathed a sigh of relief. He pulled into the hotels drive and parked his Town Car as close to the hotel as possible. The wind and snow bit into his face as he braved the elements to reach the lobby entrance. Once inside he breathed a sigh of relief, stomped the snow from his shoes and removed his coat, already covered with melting snow. Brushing his coat free of snow he ambled to the hotel desk and asked for a room.
The clerk shook his head and advised him that he was fully booked, but if he wanted he could sleep in one of the chairs in the lobby. He was also told that if he had any cancellations, the clerk would save the first one for him. Cedric nodded and looked at the clock behind the desk. It read seven thirty pm. He looked about and saw that the restaurant was open. Hungry, he decided to have an early dinner, a drink after dinner and hope that someone would not keep their reservation this night. Placing his coat in the restaurant cloakroom, Cedric was shown to a table by the hostess. He took the menu and ordered a glass of Chardonnay as he looked over the menu. The hostess smiled and told him that the weather would almost surely cause several cancellations by midnight.
Hearing that, Cedric was encouraged and felt a little better, but was still concerned. He did not relish spending the night in the lobby chairs. A very pleasant waitress recommended the angel hair pasta with meat sauce and Cedric ordered it. The pasta was served him just as he finished his salad, and true to the waitressâs word, it was excellent. Gary finished his dinner and sat back to enjoy sipping his wine. He declined dessert and decided to top off the evening with a slow brandy in the lounge, while he waited for a room cancellation. Entering the lounge Cedric could see only two others in the room, the bartender and a woman seated on a barstool at the end of the bar.
Cedric chose a stool near the center of the bar and ordered a brandy. The bartender brought his drink and started to run a tab for Cedric. Sipping his brandy, Cedric could hear the bartender making small talk with the woman. Cedric could see her very well in the mirror behind the bar. She seemed taller than most women as she sat upright on her barstool. He judged her to be over five feet nine inches tall. Sneaking a glance at her long well shaped legs, Cedric realized that the woman must be at least six feet tall if not a bit more. She wore a black business suit with a short skirt revealing nicely shaped thighs, a white fluffy blouse and patent leather pumps with heels at least four inches high.
The womanâs hair was dark, long and straight, falling to her shoulders. Her face revealed a few slight wrinkles, but there was no doubt that she was quite a beauty in her younger years. âA very tall and lovely lady,â Cedric thought as he signaled the bartender for another drink. He was served quickly, but courteously, as the bartender hurried back to talk with the lady. Cedric could hear some of the conversation about her being a cosmetics sales woman traveling to a company meeting. The bartender asked her name and she replied, âJudithâŚJudith Wilsonâ.
âSo, Judy me girl, you got caught up in the snowstorm and ended up here?â he asked her.
âJudy, is for young women and girls,â she told him good naturedly, âAt my age, I think that Judith is the proper name to use. And yes, the snowstorm trapped me here. Luckily, I got the last available room.â She looked at Cedric and asked, âThe storm do you in too?â
âUnfortunately, yes,â Cedric replied with a smile.
Judith returned his smile with a broad grin and motioned to him, âWhy donât you come join us. Itâs going to be a long night and we need some new blood at this end of the bar.â The bartender and Cedric both laughed at the novel invitation and Cedric moved to sit next to Judith, bringing his drink with him.
âHello, Iâm Cedric Chapman,â he said to them. Judith and the bartender, Eddie, introduced themselves and the three of them began to chat about all manner of things. Eddie joined them in a drink as both Judith and Cedric bought a few rounds, joking about the snowstorm and their plight. âWeather man said that weâd get seven to ten inches by morning,â said Cedric.
âGod, how I could use seven to ten inches by morning,â Judith said with a grin and just a hint of seriousness in her voice. The lounge was suddenly quiet then Judith broke the silence with a charming laugh. âWas that a good punâŚor a bad one?â she asked grinning. Eddie refused to touch the next line.