On a moonless night, Roy drove on an unfamiliar back road in the woods. He was traveling home from a business trip and taking a short cut. He was so tired from his three and a half day drive and all he wanted was to get home and climb into his own bed.
The sales meeting was a bust, and it showed on his nerves, adding frustration to his fatigue. His eyes closed for a moment it seemed but then a loud pop then a sound of air rushing out made him open his eyes.
The car sunk down low and shuddered as it veered off to the left side. Roy slammed on the break to avoid hitting any of the trees on the roadside. A loud shriek of metal issued from the side of the car as exposed rim tore into the wheel well as the car came to a shrieking halt.
Roy cursed and hit his fist on the steering wheel in frustration. "Great! Of all things that could've made this trip worse!" He opened the door and climbs out of the car to survey the damage. Seeing the tire and rim is pretty much destroyed, he kicked it. He let out a resigned sigh and pulled out his phone but there was no signal.
Dammit! Where the hell was he? Night sounds surrounded him and his damaged vehicle. The forest seemed to come alive and begin to close in around him. He shivered, feeling a chill creep up his spine and walked around the car to the road. Well there was no use standing around, he realized, with no other options, Roy began to tread the seemingly endless stretch road looking for a house or someone he could ask to use their land line.
After a mile or so, Roy saw a light through the trees up ahead. Hope grew once more within as he picked up his pace as much as his tired body would allow , toward what he hoped was a light in a window. He stumbled over a patch of cracked road and nearly fell on his face. "What a joke, who ever made this road was either blind or drunk!"
Tired though he was, Roy kept going towards the sight of the light. Every step towards it raised his spirits a bit more. As it got closer, he dared to push his exhausted body to move faster. His feet shuffled quickly, kicking dirt and gravel with each step as he made his way towards his only hope.
When the trees open to the clearing, he could see a house. Roy was overjoyed and astonished to see not a rundown shack or a rusted out trailer with old junk cars piled around it, but a lovely huge plantation type mansion, complete with white columns and rocking chairs on the wrap around porch. The white two story plantation home has black shutters on every window which are closed tight, except for a few on the first floor. The porch light glows softly and as he approached he can hear strains of ethereal music coming from somewhere in the house.
Roy walked up to the porch and heard the music but the place seemed otherwise still and unoccupied. He made his way to the door and wrapped his knuckles weakly on it. "Hello? Anyone home? Sorry to disturb but my car is stuck down the road and I have no way to call for a tow. Could I come in and use your phone?" He stood and waited, leaning against the side of the house.
From somewhere at the back of the house, he could hear movement. The sounds get closer as someone is obviously moving to the door. The door opens silently and standing in front of him was a beautiful woman dressed in a turn of the century gown. Her skin is glowing in the soft porch light. Her dark sparkling green eyes took in his state and a small smile forms on her lips. She brushes her long curly black hair back behind her eyes as she speaks in a soft southern accent, "Good evening' sir. I'm sorry to hear of your trouble. Do come in. I reckon you must be parched. Come in and have a drink. I was just starting the morning' baking'." Roy stood there stupefied. When he finally snapped out of it, he glanced at his watch and saw it was almost 5 am and he'd been walking for nearly two hours. It was a testament to how worn out and weary that he didn't even question how she had heard him from so far back in the house.
Roy wiped the weariness from his eyes." Thank you. That's very kind." He smiled drowsily. Slowly he stepped inside her home. From inside the place seemed very spacious. He noticed several pictures on the walls. He turned back to the beautiful woman. "I'm sorry I forgot to mention my name. I'm Roy. Roy White." he offered her his hand. He smiled seeing how beautiful she looked in the light. He couldn't help but notice how her eyes lit up and seemed to sparkle with a life of their own.
She smiled, "I'm Lily. Please excuse me if I do not shake your hand." She held up hands coated in flour. "Busy morning'." she giggled softly. Her green eyes sparkling at him. She moved to lead him to the back of the house to the kitchen. Her movements fluid and graceful. "Let me brew you up some tea." She said softly over her shoulder. "I'm afraid we have no phone way out here, but when I'm finished with my baking I'll drive you into town." As she entered the kitchen she picked up an apron and efficiently popped it over her head and tied the back in place, then she started brewing a large jug of tea. The actions to his sleep deprived mind seemed almost magically fast... or was it truly sleep deprivation. "Take a seat. You look dead on your feet." She turned over her shoulder and winked playfully at him.
He smiled. She had a beautiful name to go with her beautiful eyes. "Nice to meet you Lily." His hand dropped to his side and he followed her into the kitchen. He thankfully slumped down onto a chair and watched her brew the tea. "Oh that would be most gracious of you. Thank you," he said as she mentioned a ride to town. His hand rubbed at his eyes. She was right, he did feel dead on his feet. He shook his head and tried to make conversation. "So... um Lily, are you always up so early?"
Lily smiled as she set the tea in front of him on the table. It seemed like it had only taken her minutes to make it but there was not a stove or anything boiling in sight. She pushed a tray of sugar, cream and lemons for him to choose from close to him. Then slide a small plate with a piping hot cinnamon roll covered in gooey frosting in front of him as well. They all seemed to come out of nowhere. "Only on baking' day. Most days we here about get up around six."
"We?" he looked around for others then back at her. He smelled the hot sugary sweetness and picked up the roll between his fingers. "This looks absolutely delicious. How kind." He took a bite, tasting the sweet freshly baked dough as it simply melted in his mouth. He picked up the glass of tea and took a long drink and swallowed. "That was quite good!"
She watched him drink. Was that a wicked gleam in her eye? No he must be imagining it. She seemed so sweet. "We" as in the people who live here 'bouts. The town, unfortunately, doesn't open up until after nine. I'm glad you like the tea. Drink it up now. It's my own blend. It will make you feel better." Was that that wicked gleam again? Hard for him to tell as she turned quickly back to whatever she was baking.
He took another bite followed by more tea until both the roll was gone and the glass was empty. Roy felt really relaxed and surprisingly satisfied. "Wow, that blend of yours was really good. I have never tasted anything like it." He yawned, feeling his exhaustion begin to return. "This is quite a big house for a pretty girl like you."
