Julia had slept in a motel the night that she left, the next morning she got up and drove most of the day. She did not know where she was going but felt she would know her destination when she arrived. It was now the early afternoon and she was clearly in the middle of the countryside. Signs of rural life were all around her as she continued to drive down that highway. She would see the odd farm and livestock dotting the landscape of the tranquil scene.
She had not slept well last night, not that she slept well recently anyway so why should last night be any different. She momentarily thought about turning around, that it was a mistake to be taking this time out from her girls. She remembered however all the reasons why she left and knew that she could not return until she had found an answer to her dilemma. She had come so dangerously close to giving in to something she knew that she could never forgive herself for. She was not abandoning her children; it was simply a strategic retreat to regroup herself so she could be a better parent.
Julia was now hungry and decided to stop for a bite to eat at the next town she passed by. Within a short while a truck stop came up that seemed good enough so she stopped. As she entered the small greasy spoon it seemed to be exactly as she expected, cozy, clean with old fixtures. Booths lined the outside walls and the counter / kitchen was opposite the main door. There were a few tables scattered in the center of the diner. All in all it was nothing to write home about but at least the food looked good and the other patrons were not gagging.
Julia sat down at the counter and looked over the menu. In a short while the waitress came up to take her order and Julia responded and ordered without looking up at the waitress. At this point she didn't care what she ate she just wanted food. She felt so emotionally drained that everything in life had lost its flavor, so why should the food be any different. The place was relatively deserted and Julia was alone at the counter. The only people there were the waitress, the cook and a handful of other patrons. So Julia wasn't too surprised when the waitress came over and started a conversation with her.
"Where you headed?" The waitress asked her standard opening line as she wiped the counter near her new customer.
"I'm not sure." Julia replied now looking up at the waitress for the first time since she sat down.
Julia noted that she was a pretty young lady and momentarily glanced over her. Her uniform fit her fine and while it was not the most flattering outfit, you could see that she was slender and petite. Her hourglass figure was apparent even though she was smaller that most people. She stood just over five feet tall and was pretty and well proportioned just the same. The long black hair that her native heritage had given her flowed far down her back even though it was pulled back in a ponytail. Her dark skin was without blemish and she had a healthy glow about her. Judging from her looks Julia guessed that she was in her late twenty's. The young lady was not plain looking, nor was she gorgeous, she was pretty and pleasing to the eye.
"Well, it's kind of hard to know when you've arrived if you don't know where you're going." The waitress replied with a questioning look.
"I guess so but it's also hard to get lost, cause every road is the right road." Julia chuckled back.
"True." The waitress chuckled in agreement. "If you don't mind my asking, what are you doing out here, if you don't know where you're going?" The waitress inquired with a warm, inviting and puzzled smile. For a moment Julia was lost in the big beautiful brown eyes of the waitress and broke into a smile of her own. She seemed friendly enough and quite disarming, Julia found herself at ease around her.
"I guess I needed some space, y'know a quiet place to sort through some stuff. I guess the exact place doesn't matter as long as I can think straight." Julia replied, opening up just a little bit, still cautious about what she shared and just how much to open up.
"Well in that case, you came to the right place." The waitress said as she stood up strait and proudly smacked the counter. "My uncle runs a small lakefront resort near here. There is a bunch of cabins that he rents out, all of which are on the lake and a few are more secluded than the rest. It might be just what you're looking for, or at least worth checking out." The waitress smiled and looked away as she returned to wiping the counter but was watching intently for Julia's reaction out of the corner of her eye.
"It sounds like just what I need." Julia smiled back at the waitress. She truly had nowhere else to go and was in no hurry to get anywhere particular; at least it would be worth checking out. "Thanks . . . I never caught your name." Julia said slightly embarrassed.
"Lisa." The waitress said with a smile and a nod.
"Nice to meet you Lisa, I'm Julia." She responded and stretched out her hand.
"Nice to meet you Julia." Lisa replied as she shook Julia's hand.
The two continued chatting as Julia finished her late lunch. At the end of their conversation there was a familiarity between them. Julia could not explain it but she felt like she and Lisa had been friends for years even though they had only just met. Once Julia had directions to the resort she was off in search of the peace and quiet she so desperately needed.
The short drive was quiet and uneventful, although near the end she thought she had been given the wrong directions. The road wound down and thick bush closed in on either side and it looked as though nothing was down this road. Just as she was about to turn back she rounded a bend in the dirt road and arrived at an idyllic scene. She pulled up in front of the main building, got out and took a deep breath of the fresh rustic air.
Julia looked around and saw that even though it was a small lake the cabins were well spread out with plenty of space between them. The cabins themselves seemed to be small and cozy in size but appeared to be sturdy enough. She felt more at ease already and somehow knew she had come to the right place, she had indeed arrived at her destination.