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The Red and Chrome Door

Heading South

By Michelle IvyPublished 4 years ago 10 min read
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As Margie approached the red and chrome door, she mentally prepared herself for another long night. At the age of 47 she had really hoped to have accomplished more with her life. But here she was, 2 failed marriages, 3 grown children and 26 years later, still walking into her overnight shift at the diner. She didn't mind the job because she loved the people in her small Texas town and they all knew and loved the waitress they just called "Red". She had come to terms with her meager existence, but always felt this hole deep in her chest that told her something big was missing. She took a deep breath, tied her apron around her waist, clipped the gold name tag on to her chest, smiled her best smile and pushed open the door.

The night air had began to cool, and the moon and stars shone brightly above in the sky above James. It was a strange feeling for him, being alone this way. For years, he had dedicated himself to taking care of everyone around him. Following his divorce, he was 100% devoted to being a great dad to his boys. Then 2 years ago he took on the challenge of caring for his terminally ill father, which had completely drained him both mentally and physically. Now, with the boys grown and his own father gone, it was time to pick up the life he had selflessly put on hold. So the day after the funeral, he loaded what he could into the saddle bags of his Harley, and headed south.

The diner was empty except for Margie and Al, the 65 year old fry cook, who now laid napping on the cot in the back corner of the kitchen. This was typical of most nights, as the streets in town seemed to roll up around 10 pm. She stood behind the counter scooping grounds into the filter of the coffee maker. She always kept the coffee fresh just in case. The only sounds were the percolating coffee, the oldies softly playing on the jukebox, and the muffled snoring coming from the kitchen. She didn't mind the quite, but sometimes the time moved awfully slow.

On the interstate somewhere south of Dallas, James began to feel a heaviness in his eyelids. The lines began to blur at bit as they zipped past the tires of his bike. Just ahead , glowing like an oasis in the desert , a large well lit billboard came into view. "Archie's Diner" it read "open all night" with a picture of a giant steaming cup of coffee. It's as if the advertising gods had read his mind. A hot cup of joe is exactly what he needed. "exit now, just 5 miles west". He took the turn off the interstate and headed west down the dark highway.

Margie was on autopilot, going through her nightly routine, when her trance was broken by the rumble of the motorcycle engine as it pulled into the empty parking lot. She looked up from the salt shakers she was filling to see the single headlight approach. She hollered out to the sleeping fry cook "Showtime Al, we got a live one!" He grumbled something in response and slowly rose to his feet. She stared at the red and chrome door , waiting to greet the late night visitor.

As James rolled into the empty parking lot of the diner, light rain drops began to splash off the gas tank of the bike. He pulled up under the red awnings at the front of the building. Except for him, there was no one else around so he didn't figure anyone would object to him blocking the sidewalk in an effort to stay dry. He could already smell the aroma of coffee in the air. He shook the rain from his jacket, and swung open the red and chrome door.

She watched him as he entered the diner with great curiosity. He definitely was not from around here. He looked to be close to her in age, perhaps a little older, but the obvious tiredness in his eyes made it harder to judge. "He's handsome," she thought to herself. And he was, not in a movie star sense of the word, but in a rugged, world worn kind of way. She watched him as he slid into a booth beneath the buzzing neon "always open" sign. She grabbed the fresh pot of coffee and a cup and headed over to his table. "Looks like you have perfect timing, the coffee is fresh and well.." She nodded her head towards the window and the sky that had opened up into a full downpour. At first, he did not look up from the menu as she sat the cup on the table and began to fill it up. "Can I bring you some cream and sugar, hun?", she said with a sweet southern drawl that made him look her way. "No," he said with a weary smile, "I think I need it full strength tonight." as he really looked at her for the first time. "Wow," he thought as he gazed into the bright green eyes that shown from beneath the auburn curls of her bangs. She smiled back and James felt his stomach do acrobatics that it hadn't pulled off since high school. " What else can I get for you tonight?" she asked. " Oh, I think the coffee will do." She could hear Al grumble in protest to being woke up for nothing, as he returned to is spot in the back corner of the kitchen. "Are you sure? We have the best pie in 3 counties". "Well," James proclaimed,"who can resist that offer, what kind do you have?" Margie grinned as she replied " Lemon, chocolate, and pumpkin , pick your poison" "Tell you what," he paused to glance at the gold name tag pinned to her chest, "Margie...they all sound amazing, how about you bring me one of each" "Coming right up," she laughed ,"and the folks 'round here just call me Red" As he reached out and took her hand he smiled, "Nice to meet you, I'm James... and I think I prefer Margie."

She stood behind the counter , trying hard to steady her trembling hands as she cut a perfect slice of each pie. She felt a bit ridiculous being as giddy as a school girl over a man she had spoken to for less than five minutes. She tried not to be obvious as she studied his features from across the diner. He had kind eyes. She returned to the table with 3 pieces of pie in hand and lined them up on the table in front of him. "Need anything else?" she asked. "Could I maybe get another fork?" "You gonna go after 'em with both hands,huh?" she giggled. "Nope," he replied, " I was kind of hoping you might help me, this may be a bit more than I can handle on my own" he winked. Her heart began beating wildly as she slid into booth across from him.

He couldn't believe she sat down. He had never been that bold before in his life. He was usually the shy, quiet type who watched in awe when other men effortlessly flirted with beautiful women. But there she was, sitting across from him looking like something he had dreamed up.

At first, the conversation was slow and awkward as nerves consumed them both. But soon it flowed as freely as the rain waters pouring off the awning outside the window. She was witty and charming, he was funny and smart. They seemingly had absolutely nothing in common, but found a million and one things they could talk about. The hot coffee continued to flow deep into the night. Their laughter often caused a stirring and a grumble from the cot in the kitchen. As they danced to a slow tune emanating from the jukebox, neither had ever felt so alive. Until that moment James had not realized how lost he had been, and Margie, who had never ventured out of her small town, felt like she was home for the first time in her life and that nagging hole in her chest seemed to be slowly filling.

4 am found them sitting on the same side of the booth, her head laid gently on he shoulder and his arm draped around her. The rain outside had finally subsided, and the edges of the dark sky were lit with the first signs of dawn. Both their hearts felt a sudden heaviness as they realized the night would soon come to an end. "Where will you go next?" she asked ,trying hard to hide the break of sadness in her voice. "I'm heading south until I reach the Gulf" he replied "I've never seen the ocean" "Me either." "Well," he smiled hopefully, "you should come with me then" She laughed a bit until she noticed the look on his face, he was serious. " Oh, James honey, I couldn't just up and leave" she said quietly. " Why not? what's keeping you here? Other than this glamorous job , of course." he teased. "Well I..." she paused in thought, " no I, I can't." James slid from the booth, "Tell you what, I'll go down to the motel and catch a nap. Your shift doesn't end for a few more hours, that will give you time to think it over." He paid his check and headed for the red and chrome door. "I'll see you soon." he smiled and walked out.

Margie sat frozen as she listened to the motorcycle drive off towards town. She couldn't actually be considering running off with a man she just met? The idea was crazy, but when she thought of letting him just drive out of her life, well that seemed crazy too. She had no idea what she was going to do.

James laid his head on the hard motel pillow and closed his eyes, but sleep just wouldn't come. He had just had the most incredible night of his life in a diner in nowhere Texas. Did he actually just ask a woman he had just met to run away with him? Who had he become? But he could not help himself.

Three hours passed in the blink of an eye. James had not really slept and Margie hadn't really completed her chores at the diner. She had just clocked out when she heard the familiar sound of the Harley pull into the parking lot. How was she going to be able to do this? She nervously chewed her bottom lip as she waited for the red and chrome door to swing open. When James walked in she felt her heart drop into her stomach. Boy , but he was amazing. She gave him a half-hearted smile and handed him a large to go cup filled with fresh coffee and a bag with 1 perfect piece of each pie inside. The smile left his face as he lightly pressed his lips to her warm rosy cheek, took the cup in one hand and the brown bag in the other. Without another word, he walked to the red and chrome door, gave her one last wink and walked out into the brightness of the morning. She stared in silence at the door. As she heard the rev of the engine, Margie felt that hole in her chest once more. A warm tear escape her eye and rolled down the same cheek he had just kissed.

James stood next to his motorcycle, staring back at the door to the diner. His chest felt tight as climbed on and started it up. He had taken a chance but it just didn't pay off, " but at least I took it " he thought to himself. He took a deep breath and let out a sigh as he stared down the highway towards the interstate.

"Hey Al," Margie suddenly exclaimed to the old fry cook, "tell Archie I QUIT!!" She ripped off the apron and and gold name tag and tossed the over the counter and ran out into the parking lot. "Room for one more?" she shouted as she dashed toward the motorcycle and the man she was crazy about. "If you are the one more, I'll always have room" he smiled as he helped her on the back of his Harley. He kissed her sweetly on her smiling lips. Both gave one last look at that red and chrome door that brought them together, and then headed south to see the ocean.

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About the Creator

Michelle Ivy

A 47 y/o mother of 3, I have always loved to write, just never had the time. My children are older & I'm opening my life to new adventures,pursuing the passions that I put on the back burner. Looking forward to this next chapter of my life

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