Nadia

Nadia

happyhugo

Romance

copyright (C) 06/11/11

16,537 words 

Readers score  7.34

Burley has lost his job. Nadia
is an abused wife, now divorced.
Spur of the moment decisions
point to them making a happy
life together.

“Burley, would you come in a half hour early this afternoon? I want to go over some things with you.”

“Sure, will two-thirty be soon enough?”

“Should be.”

I came in when I said I would. Now I was out the door. I should have seen this coming. The old man’s nephew had been training on days. Now the nephew was starting my shift and I was walking toward my car. I would be twenty-six tomorrow. What a birthday present.

Mom’s estate was almost settled. Mom willed Sis the house and she was moving in with her family in two weeks. I promised I would be out by then. I did have an equal amount of cash to compensate, so I wasn’t feeling badly. I was happy for my sister. What I owned for personal stuff wasn’t much and I had it all in storage already. I had to get on the ball and find a place to live though.

I drove down the street and on the spur of the moment pulled into a parking space in front of the city common. I walked over and got a drink from the fountain, turned away and looked for a bench to sit on. It was a nice day and most of the seats were occupied. I spotted someone I had gone to school with. Nadia Newsome something or other was sitting by herself. I couldn’t recall her married name right off.

We had never been friends, but I knew I could sit by her and she wouldn’t push me away. Let’s see, I remembered her being married a few years ago. Seems like her name was in the news lately as well. I tried to think in what context, but couldn’t recall before I sat down beside her.

“Hi Burley Squires. Sit and take a load off. Beautiful day isn’t it?” She said this, but it didn’t make her look happy. Maybe a little lost.

“Maybe yes, maybe no. Can’t tell yet. I was just let go from the filling station. Powers’ nephew just took my place. I don’t blame the old man much. He is keeping it in the family, you know.”

“Geesus, that’s too bad. You’ve been pumping gas since you were a kid, haven’t you?”

“Yeah, about that. All except when I pulled a hitch in the army when I was eighteen. I had trouble right after I got in, so it was a short hitch.” I grinned. “Shit nobody wants me.” I changed the subject. “What are you up to?”

“Nothing really. Killing time you know. I have a week off. I have to move and am looking for an apartment. I received a good settlement in the divorce and can’t make up my mind where to live.”

“That’s right, divorce ... that was what was in the paper. I was trying to remember. How long before you have to move?”

“Two weeks. My ex-husband got the house and a lot of good it will do him, at least for awhile.”

I started laughing, thinking I might put a smile on her face. “Hey, I have to move in two weeks too. It looks like you and I are in the same boat. I even have my stuff all stored until I find a place.”

“Good for you. Mine is too. I might live out of a motel until I decide.”

I had an inspiration, “So if we are both free from having to be anywhere, let’s go on a vacation.” I think Nadia was thinking I was kidding, but I wasn’t. What I had tried to remember about her came rushing back to me. Four months ago, Nadia’s husband had beaten her up and he had been arrested for domestic abuse.

Not much had come of that, but later she was out with some lady friends and her husband found her laughing with a man sitting next to her at a bar. This time he beat the crap out of her. Too bad for him, two off-duty cops came in while he was throwing her into a corner and was seen kicking her. Seems like he was going to be sentenced next week and he might get up to five years.

“You’re serious, aren’t you? It is weird, I’ve been divorced a week, but I feel like I am still married. I’m kind of leery of men right now.” I could see she was getting some tears in her eyes. “I guess I had better pass. I’d be a lousy person to be on vacation with and you’d have a terrible time. It sounds like fun though.”

“I don’t think you’d be much of a drag on me. I was discharged from the job I planned working at forever. Look, I have to go to the bank and deposit my final paycheck. I’ll swing back by here in an hour and you decide. You can tell me your decision then. I usually rent a camp up north on Lake Karen. We could lie on the beach and let our cares float away. Please think about it.”

I was hoping she would still be here when I returned. She definitely needed cheering up. I felt like hugging her, but as she had said she was leery of men so that wouldn’t work.

I thought back over what I knew about Nadia Newsome. She had married a man by the name I now remembered. Stanley Brinkley and he was a big guy. He was much taller by three inches than my 5 foot 9 inches. Nadia would never win a beauty prize as her hair was a dirty blond color that curled around the side of her face. Her face was pleasant enough with full soft lips. She had a pug nose that didn’t seem to fit with the rest of her features, but unless you caught her profile, you didn’t notice.

Nadia was never one to flaunt herself and even today as warm as it was, she had on a heavy dress so you couldn’t tell what her figure looked like. She never played sports where others would see her less than fully clothed. She was shorter than me by three inches or so. I heard she worked in a restaurant somewhere.

Me, I was shorter than the general male population and this brought its own problems. I had been harassed in school and when I graduated, I found I wasn’t much better off out in the so-called real world. Even my stint in the armed services was hell. I was released early to cover up an incident that occurred during basic training. They tell about not crossing the thin blue line in the police department, but it can happen in the service as well.

I was different now. Not many people harassed me physically. I took steps to learn how to take care of myself. It wasn’t obvious, but it gave me a confidence that others could sense in me whether they could see it or not.

I parked in the same space when I returned from the bank and didn’t see Nadia sitting where we had been. I walked around the park and found her on a bench in the back facing away from me. I sat down beside her. “Hi.”

“You came looking for me. I’m surprised. I thought you weren’t serious so I moved.”

“I am serious. Shall I call and see if they have a cabin?”

“I guess so, but you probably will be sorry.” There was concern on her face and I took it she didn’t want to spoil my vacation.

I dialed the number from my cell phone. I had taken the time to find it while at the bank. I made a reservation for a week. “Burley, are you expecting me to sleep with you?”

“No, not if you don’t want to. Well, I mean I don’t expect to be intimate with you. The cabin only has a double bed, but I can stop and get an air mattress somewhere.” She didn’t want to start a relationship and wanted that made clear before we went anywhere together.

“That won’t be necessary. We can make out somehow without bothering each other. How much is the cabin? I want to pay half.”

“We can split the cost when we leave if you want. Remember I invited you so I planned on this being on my tab.”

“No way. Is it okay to tell my best friend where I am and who I am with?”

“Sure, good idea. We have cabin number nineteen and the phone number of the campground is right here.” She pulled out her phone and dialed someone telling her that she was going on vacation. After a minute she answered some questions put to her.

“No, I have a restraining order against Stanley. I won’t be at his sentencing. Who am I going with on vacation? Burley Squires. We went to school together. I haven’t seen him since before I was married and I ran into him today.” She flashed me a smile. “Actually he is kind of cute. You know his sister, Beth. Beth Johnson. She is moving back to the home they grew up in. I have to run. I’ll talk to you when I get back. Bye.”

“Cute am I?”

“I had to say something to make her curious about you. We both know your sister, so you had better be good.” I grinned and didn’t answer. If Beth knew these women, then that was a recommendation by itself. Now Nadia was showing interest and a little excitement.

We set about putting things together for our vacation. We were going to take my car. Her car was old. She said Stanley had a newer one, but it was being financed. She giggled. “If Stanley gets five years, it will be about the same age as mine is now when he gets out.”

I told her I had a couple of light sleeping bags and we probably wouldn’t need much else. That way we could zip them up and sleep in the same bed. We went into the grocery and stocked up and then went by her house to pick up her stuff. She came out with a small suitcase and a thin garment bag. I took it that it held a dress. I sat in the car waiting as she did this. I was supposed to blow the horn if I saw Stanley coming. Thankfully he didn’t show.

I went by my home and came out with the same size suitcase. I had towels and a swim suit, sun block, and shaving stuff. I did bring extra blankets so we could lie on the beach. I also packed some clothes to wear if we went out in the evening. I got my large plug-in cooler to put the groceries in. I also loaded up some wood for a campfire.

“Before we go, do come look in the garage. I want to show you my pride and joy.” I lifted the door. There was a restored ’57 Chevy hard top, parked there in all its glory. “I’ll take you for a ride in it sometime. I don’t drive it much. It cost me too much time and money to get it into this condition to go someplace where it could be damaged or stolen. Sis says I don’t have to move it yet, so it stays until I find another garage.”

“That’s smart. I would love to ride in it.”

“You will, I promise.” We had a three hour drive and it took us four, as I just drove along listening to Nadia’s problems she had with her husband. She sounded more disappointed than regretful about her failed marriage.

She questioned why I was still single. Our conversation wasn’t all about her. “You never married. How come, you’re a nice guy?”

“I never ran into anyone I thought I wanted to live with for the rest of my life. I have had a couple relationships of a year or more and the women are still friends of mine. Their husbands are friends of mine as well. Both are happily married now. I date occasionally. I never went for the bar scene. I’ve been working the evening shift for four years now and it is too late to catch up if you enter a bar sober at ten in the evening.”

“Some different than my ex-husband. He wanted to go out every night. He wanted me to go with him. I did at first, but I stopped after awhile. I was always getting hit on and I got sick of it. We used to argue about it. When he started getting abusive, I knew it was only a matter of time before I would divorce him. I shouldn’t have waited so long. I got pretty well slammed around the last time.”

We drove thirty miles before anything else was said. It was nearly seven in the evening and I needed gas. I pulled into a filling station that sold the same kind of gas I pumped. There was a small restaurant attached. “We might as well eat here. We have another hour and we have to get set before dark.”

Nadia went around the corner of the building to the eatery while I pumped gas. When I paid, I looked around inside. It was the typical convenience setup. Soda, chips, beer and snacks. It couldn’t be doing too well. Most of the shelves and racks were less than half stocked. I found a twelve pack of Genesee Light and bought chips. I also got some scratch tickets.

When I came up to the counter and sat the beer down, “You aren’t the law are you? I’m too young to ring out the beer. I’ll have to get Gram or Mom to sell it to you. If they are busy it might take awhile.” The attendant might be fifteen or sixteen.

“Run my card. I’m getting something to eat. She can do it before we leave.”

“Oh hell, Mister, I’ll take a chance.” I suspected this was a family operation. The only problem I could see was that there wasn’t enough family. The food was good in the restaurant though. There was an older woman that was the cook and a younger woman that waited on us. She would look just like the old woman in another twenty-five years. Maybe sooner, as they both looked worn out.

When we paid for the meal we read a sign that stated the restaurant and the filling station were for sale. Nadia looked at me and smirked. Thoughts of her problems had receded. As we reached my car she said, “We should buy it. I want to get away from my home town and you don’t have a job.”

“Yeah, right. This is our first date and you want to buy a business together.”

“It is no stranger than me going on vacation with a man I haven’t seen for eight years and only know his name. Crazy isn’t it? Do you consider this a date?” I smiled and shrugged.

Maybe it was crazy, but I thought about the station the rest of the way to the cabin. I glanced at Nadia. I could see wheels turning in her mind much like they were turning in mine. Neither one of us said anything about it.

The cabin was small. The only thing for the bathroom door was a curtain. There was no shower … you had to go to the communal shower point for that. The bed was full sized, but one of us was going to have to get in first for there wasn’t room to get to the far side. If a person had to get up in the night, he or she would have to ask the other to move or crawl over. Nadia thought it a great joke. There was a good cook stove and two chairs that went with the mini table.

“We can make do. We’ll flip a coin to see who gets the far side first. Then we can take turns.”

We put our stuff away and then walked down to the water. I had been here several times, but in a cabin on the other side of the lake. There were people canoeing on the water and we could hear a party going on a ways down on the left. Just then a boat and a water skier went close in front of us. The skier had on a bikini … flesh colored. Nadia looked at me. “I knew there was a reason you brought me here. You wanted to see the sights.”

“Could be. Let’s go have a beer. I’ll start a fire and we can toast some marshmallows. I want to stay up late enough to see the moon come up. It should be directly in front of us. Maybe we will sleep on the beach tonight.” I was feeling as if I had been friends with Nadia for a long time, I was so comfortable with her.

“Burley, you are really giving me a treat. I have never been camping on a lake before. I really am enjoying myself. Not only that, you make me feel so safe and all the troubles I’ve had with my husband are behind me.” The moon came up as I promised. Big and yellow it seemed to fill the whole sky. The lake as well, for it seemed to shine a golden path on the water right to where we lay holding hands on the blanket.

We did go into the cabin about twelve-thirty and we did flip a coin to see who would get the far side of the bed. How Nadia giggled when she lost. “I’ll be getting you up about five so I can go pee. Sorry about that.”

“Geez, I thought I kept you out late enough so you wouldn’t have to.”

“You shouldn’t have given me all of that beer. Your fault.”

“I’ll suffer through it, I’m sure. Breakfast about eight?”

“That’s good. I’m cooking, that is what I do for a living and I have to keep my hand in until I go back to work in a couple of weeks.”

“You cook? I knew you worked in a restaurant.”

“Actually I’m the manager of Rita’s. Do you know the place?”

“I know where it is, but have never eaten there. This will be one of the things on my to do list.”

“You had better. I’ll be hurt if you don’t.” I stepped outside while Nadia got into her nightgown and returned when she said okay. The curtain was pulled back as she brushed her teeth. Now I had more of a sense of what her figure was. She was more voluptuous than I thought. The gown left little to the imagination. I thought for a moment, she might be teasing me a little, but decided she was just comfortable around me.

I usually slept naked, but I wore boxers and a tee tonight. I slid into bed beside Nadia and reached over and turned off the light. She turned and spoke, “Burley, I have had the best time today. Last night I was sleeping alone. I guess what I am asking is, do you want more tonight?”

“No. Let’s get to be friends. I have never been as comfortable with anyone as I am with you. I’d like to keep it that way. We’ll see if we want to change direction when we get to know each other better. I have a whole raft of friends who I know and almost as many are women as men. Some of the women I have had sex with. They were my friends before we were intimate and still my friends afterward.”

“I am going to be your friend always. I know that right now. We’ll leave the other until later. Goodnight, Burley.” She didn’t go to sleep and I didn’t either. Finally she spoke. “You know I haven’t felt safe in over a year. I never knew when Stanley would explode and start hitting me. It could happen and it did too often. I guess I am lucky it wasn’t worse.”

“You’re safe now.” I had been treating Nadia as a long-time friend. That was what she was going to be.

“I hope so. I’m divorced, but I don’t know what goes on in Stanley’s mind. In fact I didn’t then and I don’t now. Put your arm over me so I can forget him. I think I can go to sleep now with you holding me close.”

“Sleep then. I’m right here with you.”

I had an omelet that blew my mind away for breakfast. After we cleaned up I said we should walk around the lake, which would take all morning. Nadia put on a pair of walking shorts and a halter. She saw me looking her over.

“You like? Hey this is the new me. When I was in school, I was a little chunky and I practically hid. When I married, Stanley wanted me to dress to show off my body and I hated him telling me I should. Maybe that is where we went wrong. As time went on he wanted me to do more … you know get more physical and flirt with strangers. Then all of a sudden he went the other way and was jealous. We could never seem to get it right.”

I reached out and took her hand in mine as we walked along. “Forget Stanley. I’d never ask you to do that. I’m too possessive for one thing and I’m not jealous for another. Nadia, if I ever do anything you don’t like, please tell me and I’ll change.”

“Friends do that don’t they?”

When we got back to the cabin, I said we should just eat a light lunch. “I’m taking you out for dinner tonight. After all it is my birthday. We can celebrate.”

“You didn’t tell me it was your birthday. Good, we’ll have a party. I know just where and I’ll make a reservation.”

“Where?”

“Back at that place we ate in coming up here. I want to ask some questions of the owner.”

“You’re thinking of buying the business aren’t you?”

“Not really, but I am curious how much they want for it. I want to see the kitchen and the equipment, count the seats and what they have for a steady clientele. The menu the waitress showed us was horrible. I mean, they had three times as many entrées as they should have for a restaurant of that size. I’ve been thinking about it all morning while we were walking. I mean it is just a good nice sized restaurant to be easily managed for God’s sake.”

I didn’t tell Nadia I had run through my mind the changes I would make to the filling station if it was in my hands. “I think the biggest problem with everything was it is way understaffed.”

“Yeah, but the restaurant can be streamlined. There are four kinds of meat. There is beef, pork, chicken and fish. Add pasta on top of that. You could serve two kinds of meat on any given day and pasta for those who didn’t care for meat. Keep the meat served to two basic recipes so you would have only six entrées on any given day. It would be wholesome, tasty and yet nothing too fancy. Any cook can handle that.”

“Much the same could be done to upgrade the station. A lot of it would be paid by the oil company. It needs more modern looking pumps. The exterior of the building needs power washing and blacktop should be redone, in, out, and around the pumps. I know the company representative who I would be dealing with. Of course we would have to pay to have the parking lot for the restaurant resurfaced and done at the same time.”

“Do you have any money? It is going to take a lot.”

I didn’t hesitate to answer, “I am sure I have enough to handle the station, stock it, and put into the condition I want it to be.”

“How much is what I’m asking?” I looked at Nadia. Was she prying for reasons other than to buy the station and restaurant? I named a figure.

“I have close to that much. I’d swap a divorce settlement for a restaurant any day. If we have to put on a mortgage, it won’t be too big. Any bank would lend the remainder to us I’m almost positive.”

“Hey, slow down, this is just a dream.”

“I know, but it is a nice one isn’t it?”

I had to ask, “How would you want to work this? As two separate businesses or as one?”

“I don’t know. The filling station would be the smaller of the two and wouldn’t make as much money. That is unless you enlarged the convenience part of it. It wouldn’t cost as much to buy at first.”

I knew I had enough money for the filling station and would have some left over for the restaurant. “It would be better to pool our money then wouldn’t it? Nadia, I don’t know anything about the restaurant business.”

“So, I don’t know anything about pumping gas either. I’m saying it should be one business.”

“You’re a trusting person. Especially after what you have been through with your husband. We’ve known each other for twenty-four hours.”

“Burley, I remember you from when we went to school, and I know your sister. I can say I do know you. Do you trust me?”

“I do.”

“Well there is your answer then.”

We pulled into one of the parking spaces on the gas station end of the building. Nadia and I got out and looked around. I was mentally making a list of what needed to be done to shape up the station. We went inside and met an old slow moving man heading out. The girl I had bought beer from was behind the counter.

She spoke to the man as he went out the door. “See you tomorrow, Mr. James. Thank you for coming in for me this morning. I needed to do some shopping. Bye now.” Mr. James waved his hand, never looking around.

“Hi folks. Oh, you bought beer here yesterday. I can’t sell you any today. Gram and Mom chewed me out for ringing you out. Mom doesn’t want the place to lose our license. The license goes with the place and Mom is hoping to sell and we get half of the income from the beer sales.”

“Is anyone looking at the place to buy?”

“A few people have inquired, but nobody has any money. Are you interested?” The girl looked hopefully at us.

“Not really. I used to work in a filling station much like this one.”

“Shucks, I was hoping. I hate working here. I would rather be waiting table in the restaurant. I get tips in there.”

“How come you don’t hire someone?”

“We can’t afford to. Dad died and Mom is needed in the restaurant. It just leaves me to work here. We need help in here too. We can’t go on much longer the way we are. I have two more years of school. I guess we will have to close up.”

“That is too bad. How many other stations are there in this town?”

“Just the Gulf station on the way out of town on Route 6. They don’t sell beer though. Would you believe there used to be five stations that sold gas here in the area seven years ago?”

“I can believe it. The oil companies have cut the margin of profits so close, no one can make a living pumping gas without a sideline.” We walked around and I added to my mental list of what the place needed. The girl, who said her name was Jenny Sinclair, went to work stocking shelves. When she came back to the counter, I bought two scratch tickets and gave them to Jenny for cashing me out yesterday. She immediately scratched them, but there was a damned sheep in with the cows. She laughed when I said I hated sheep.  Two customers were coming in as we were leaving.

Nadia went around the corner to the restaurant, the same as she did yesterday. I moved my car and parked in the same spot. The place was busier than the day before. We were an hour earlier so I wasn’t surprised. The older woman who was the cook had everything in hand, but the orders were backing up to be delivered at the tables.

We were waved to a seat. When the woman of about forty came by with water and a menu, Nadia spoke to her. “I’m Nadia and I called earlier this afternoon and ordered something special. You seem awful busy. Can I give you a hand? I’m a waitress and on vacation.”

“Oh I couldn’t let you do that.”

“Sure you can. All I need is an apron.”

“Well, the aprons are in the kitchen in the cupboard behind the door. You can help until I get these orders passed out and catch up a little. Your special order is on the house for giving me a hand.”

I watched as Nadia wended her way around the dining room. She didn’t use a tray, just grabbing the plates and lining her arms with three and sometimes four orders. She laughed and joked with the patrons as she served them. The mood changed from one of tending to your own meal to where strangers at the next table were conversing with their neighbor.

The old woman doing the cooking of course was now behind. Nadia went right in and started preparing orders and addressing the cook asking, “Gram, where is this and where is that? Point me, I’ll find it.” The customers coming in the door eventually trickled to an almost standstill. Nadia stayed in the kitchen and the waitress came over and sat at my table. “I swear in all my years here I have never had a minute to sit down during the dinner hour. Where did your wife come from?”

“Nadia isn’t my wife. We are camping at Lake Karen for a few days. We stopped by yesterday and loved the meal so decided to return for another one.”

“You looked familiar when you came in and I remember you now. You have to stay after we close the dining room. Gram is making something special.”

“I heard the other customers call you Sammy. May I do the same?”

“Yes, it’s Samantha Sinclair. My husband started calling me Sammy when we first met on the first day of school. He is gone now. He was sick for two years and died a little over a year ago. I miss him. He was a short man just as you are, but he had a heart as big as the whole world. You remind me of him just a little.”

Another seven customers came in and she got up to take their order. She came back to my table, while Nadia and Gram were cooking their order and continued her conversation. “We got behind with my husband being ill. I had to put on a mortgage shortly before he died. I feel sorry for Jenny. She isn’t having any life at all. I have the property on the market, but I haven’t had anyone seriously interested.”

“What are you asking for both the diner and the station next door?” She named a figure. It was very reasonable. “What goes with it for equipment and maybe stock?”

“If I got the price, everything just as it is. There is also a small ell on the back that has an almost new pizza oven all set up and ready. My husband was going to expand and serve pizza, but six months after we opened it, he was too sick to keep it going.” She had to get up again and ask the customers if they were satisfied with their meal. They gave it raves.

Sammy came back. “Okay, they will be the last customers. Order whatever you want and Gram will make it for you and your friend. I’ll start cleaning up.”

Nadia came out and we sat talking. “Do you want to make an offer on this tonight? If they have clear title after paying their mortgage it is a great deal. We can pay cash for most of it and use what is left for start up money. Everything goes with the two businesses including what inventory there is. What do you think? You saw the kitchen and what is in it.

“One thing we should do is try to hire all three of these people. We can hit the ground running and might not even have to close for renovations. We’ll do those a little at a time. The filling station is the first thing people see when they drive by, so maybe that should be first.”

“The kitchen and the dining room do need some upgrade, but what is here is definitely serviceable. The only fault is the menu. That definitely can be simplified. I’m ready to be my own boss. How about you?”

“Are we going to be partners?”

“Equal?”

“Equal. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Let me talk to them after we eat. I’ll give them the idea that we are interested.” Our meals came and it was pure ambrosia. As we were finishing, Jenny came in from the filling station and filled a plate with leftovers. She was surprised we were still there.

Sammy whispered something to her daughter and Nadia got up with them and went into the kitchen. All four women came out with a small birthday cake singing, “Happy Birthday, Burley.” I don’t think I ever enjoyed reaching another milestone like I did this one. Nadia kissed me, which was a public display and surprised me greatly.

As we finished the little impromptu party I said, “Nadia and I would like to explore purchasing this establishment including the station next door. She has a little money to invest from a divorce settlement. I have about the same amount from my mother whose estate has just been settled.

“I don’t have a job, but I have been a night shift manager for a station much like this. I worked there for eight years, boy and man. The owner had to make room for his nephew and that is why I’m unemployed. I’ll let Nadia tell you what experience she has.”

Nadia had about the same employment record, but said she would like to become her own boss. She asked if Gram and Sammy would continue to work in the restaurant. They couldn’t say definitely right off. I agreed it was way too early to make any binding decisions. We would need to contact a lawyer to represent us. They of course already had one to advise them.

Sammy, who was the owner of title, got me a description of the property. It had been drawn up by their attorney. On the last page it was declared if the property didn’t go through a realtor, the attorney would receive 3% of the sale price for handling the transaction. I was surprised as something like this would be 10% through a realtor.

I pulled Nadia aside and suggested that we offer Sammy a profit share of the business if they would all come to work for us. “We can call it goodwill or for the name or something. This will assure a smooth transition while you and I get up to speed.”

“How big a percentage?”

“I was thinking 5%.”

“You’re cheap. Make it 10%.”

“No, that is too much. 7.5% I could agree to.”

“You’re the boss.”

“No, I’m not. We just talked over something which we had different ideas on and came to an agreement. I think you and I are going to work well together.”

“I could kiss you again.” I took a moment to remember the kiss I had received when my cake came. I wanted more of them.

“I’ll hold you to that.” I made the offer and Jenny typed up our proposal. Nadia and I signed it. I gave Sammy a hundred dollar bill for what was little more than intent to purchase, and she gave me a receipt. We would have had the 7.5% anyway.

The 7.5% was a small offer, but it should insure a speedy, smooth transition. Also we were hoping to hire them to do what they were doing as owners for us when the papers were inked.

The Sinclairs, we felt would work that much harder if they still owned a little piece of their former property. We left for Lake Karen shortly after that, leaving three people who felt their world was just about to improve. Nadia and I felt the same way.

I would be back early in the morning to see the station open at six. Jenny, who was actually sixteen, said she would come out to the lake to get Nadia before lunch. She drove a van and Nadia would pack up our belongings as we both had been implored to stay in Gram’s house for the next couple of days.

It was my turn on the far side of the bed tonight. I was tired and I didn’t think I would sleep from being so wound up about today’s developments and those coming at me in the future. I crawled in with just my boxers on. Nadia was last in the little bathroom and I heard her brushing her teeth. I felt her snuggle next to me. She didn’t feel the same as she did last night.

“Big boy, your birthday isn’t over yet. You have one more present coming.” I moved my hand back to feel for a nightgown. It landed right in the junction between her legs. I jumped, startled to feel her bare skin.

“Are you sure?” I turned over to face Nadia in the moonlit room. “I mean I know you are divorced, but if I’m catching you on the rebound, I think we should put this off.”

“Kiss me. We haven’t done any of that and you could have anytime. Burley, I’m not asking for a commitment from you, not yet anyway.” Her lips found mine before she continued.

“I think we will always be friends. I don’t know if we will be more than that, but tonight this feels so right. I hate to bring up Stanley but I feel I need to. He is going to be sentenced tomorrow. I suppose I am using you a little by saying this is a birthday present for you, but this is for him too. A slap in his face if you will, even though he won’t know about it. He is going to be in jail and I’m going to be here with you. So if you can accept me on those terms, I hope you can give me a little love.”

I didn’t speak, just reaching for my birthday present. Yes, and I wanted to help Nadia slap her ex-husband in the face as much she did. She might talk violence as in slapping, but I felt she needed kind and gentle. We didn’t spend hours and hours, and it was only the one time, but when we snuggled down to rest, we were both well satisfied in both body and soul. Tomorrow morning we would face the new day closer friends than when we woke up this morning.

I was at the door when Mr. James drove up to the station to open in the morning. “Hi there Mr. James. Jenny said you would show me around. I’m kind of looking the place over. Hope you don’t mind me watching over your shoulder.”

“If you know Jenny, I guess it’s all right. Sweet kid. Too bad she has to work here in the filling station. She ought to be out with a boyfriend or something. Those Sinclairs are all good people. Too bad Sinclair himself had to go and die. The women have really had to struggle. They’re about due for a break. They deserve one anyway.”

I followed the old man in and he went right to the coffee machine cleaning around it a little and getting two pots started. He started a pot of hot water for those who wanted tea. Then he went over to the cash register and counted the money.

“If you see anything you want to ask about, go right ahead. Maybe if you got a minute you could sweep up a bit. Customers are so messy. It makes a body wonder how they live at home. Youngsters have no respect for anything any more.” I got comments about any and everything. Customers came for gas. Most of them had cards and not too many came inside.

Then we had a rash of people wanting coffee and I took care of replenishing the pots. I wandered over to the soda coolers. The different kinds were all jumbled together. I separated them putting the Coke products on one side and the Pepsi products on the other. The beer coolers were better and I only had to put the domestic together where it was mixed in with the foreign brands.

I then set about straightening the shelves that held the canned goods and the soft snack items. When I got most of this done, it showed the inventory level way down. You couldn’t sell it if you didn’t have it. I took a pad of paper and listed what I thought the place needed and the different suppliers who listed these goods.

All of this time customers were coming in buying a snack or drinks for traveling or lunch later in the day. There was a big demand for newspapers and the old man was busy handling these, scratch tickets, selling and paying off winners, and doing it with ease. Some even made comments on how orderly things were for a change. The Sinclairs certainly had a good business here, but didn’t have enough money to either stock it fully or pay for enough help to sell it.

I wandered out back to where Sammy had said there was a pizza oven set up. The added-on ell that housed it was recently built and larger than I expected. Sammy didn’t tell me that there was sandwich and soup making equipment sitting idle in there either. No way was I going to let this establishment get away from us.

I called the family lawyer back in my home town. I left a message for him to return my call as soon as possible. I left Mr. James and went around to the restaurant. Nadia was already there. After saying good morning to the others, I pulled her aside and told her what I had found out back and that I had called my lawyer. “Get us some coffee and we’ll sit in the corner where we can talk. I know it is too early to make big plans, but I’m so excited I want to run things by you.”

Sammy and her mother were in the kitchen with Jenny cleaning the tables and setting places. They looked worried, thinking we might back out of the deal we made last evening. “Nadia, after looking around, this place is worth thirty to forty percent more than they are selling it for. There is room to create twice as much parking and I think we could fill the parking lot as well as the restaurant if we plan things right.”

“Burley, before we get to the business here, what about last night? Aren’t you going to mention that at all?”

“Nadia, I honestly don’t know what to say. To me it was one of the most beautiful experiences I have ever had. You said it seems just so right and it was! Where we go from here on a personal level, I don’t know. I don’t want to seem pushy, but I want it to happen again. I’m so afraid of saying or doing something to spoil it, I’m speechless.”

“Burley, you aren’t speechless. You have just said what I wanted to hear. I was kind of worried this morning. You left early and we only had a minute to say good-bye. We can put this on hold for a bit if you want. I’m happy that you want us to continue being close friends and someday I want even more. Now tell me why you are so excited about this place?”

I first ran down what I saw for the customer base that came in and out of the filling station. How I felt the pizza place could be more than what it was intended for. It could become a small deli, serving soup and sandwiches at noon. Close the diner for lunches and expand the dinner hour for the evening. Open an entrance to the lunch and pizza parlor through the station which would undoubtedly expand sales in there.

“Why all the changes?”

“I was thinking about what we would need for help. Look at Sammy and her mother. They are working every day serving three meals. No one wants to work that much. Say they did breakfast in the morning, and did dinners in the evening. Do lunches out of the pizza place. Pizza would be ready for lunch and continue late into the evening. Think about it. You’re the restaurant person.”

“That may be, but all of your ideas have merit. How did you come up with them?”

“I told you I’ve had some year-long relationships. One of them was with a woman who worked in a restaurant much like this one is going to be. I used to listen to her bitch about how things could be better organized so the help was treated better and they could have more time for their personal lives. She was expected to work six and seven days a week. That is too much. Everyone should have two days off unless they want to work extra. I know I do.”

“What a wuss for a boss. How are you going to make any money operating like that?”

“Okay, you work seven days a week. What happens if Sammy will only work five? I’m only working five. Say she and I meet up in a bar somewhere. We get drunk and get to feeling sorry for you. Then we start crying on each other's shoulder. Then we are hugging and then ‘what do you know,’ she and I have forgotten all about you.”

“You wouldn’t!”

“Hey, I think you should protect your interests.” I smiled letting Nadia know I was just making a point about treating the help as best we could. “Realistically though, I wouldn’t do this to you or anyone. We can find part time help to fill in a lot easier on the days we need off than working the full-time help all hours. Sure our overhead is bigger, but I’m telling you this business is going to make us a lot of money if we think of the people working for us first.”

Just then my cell phone chirped. It was my attorney. Nadia started to get up, but I indicated she was to stay seated. “What do you need, Burley?”

I explained what I was looking at, just giving him the outline. I said I had a person that was going in with me with the same amount of money and we were going to be equal partners.

“What is the guy’s name?”

“Not a he, it is a she. She is experienced in the restaurant business.”

“What’s her name?”

Nadia Newsome. She was just divorced from an abusive husband. His name is Stanley Brinkley.”

“The one who was sentenced today?”

“It was happening today. What did he get?”

“I happened to be in court, so I heard it all. Two years and if his attorney is any good, he will be back on the streets in eleven to thirteen months. That could happen. He’ll have to calm down and keep his mouth shut and nose clean, though. He was making threats against his ex-wife because she was the one who brought charges against him.”

“We’ll worry about that at that time. So, will you draw up partnership papers? Here is the name of the attorney who is handling the transaction for the present property owners.” We signed off.

“Your ex got two years, but could be out sooner. He is pissed and mad as hell at you.”

“I expect so. Does that bother you? He is big.”

“Let’s not worry about it now. I’ll have my lawyer keep track of him. If he is going to get released early, we’ll plan accordingly.”

“You’re a cool one. What’s happening with buying the property here?”

“Just a matter of time. Let’s go tell Sammy and her mother. They can clue their attorney in telling him my attorney will be in touch. It should make them happy. I hope they don’t change their mind on us. After we talk to Sammy, I’ll go find a place to live temporarily.”

“No need, I’ve taken care of where we will be living. The Sinclairs live in a six bedroom house and I rented two of the rooms for us. We can decide on more permanent quarters after we take possession. The rooms are on the third floor and you and I have to share a bathroom.”

“Sounds cozy.”

“Doesn’t it. You have to behave yourself, though. I want them to think well of me. I haven’t told them yet my ex is in prison or why.”

“I won’t say anything.” Nadia and I both lent a hand during lunch. I helped wreck the tables and did a few dishes. I wasn’t going to be here for dinner as I said I would take the evening shift in the station. I thought Jenny was going to kiss me she was so happy. Would she be tickled when she totaled up her tips as they finished the day?

It was not too late in the day for me to get in touch with the oil company representative to see if there would be any problem with the change in ownership of the filling station. I was in luck as I would be dealing with the same Rep I did where I worked before. We knew each other well. He would see that the transition went without a hitch.

I worried a little when Nadia said she had called her restaurant and told them she wasn’t returning. This was the third day after we had actually pulled shifts. It was also the day my former boss called me and said I could have my job back. I guess his nephew had balled up things greatly and Powers regretted he made the move to discharge me. “Sorry, can’t help you. I have my own place to run.” I didn’t yet, but it was coming.

Five weeks after we left town to go on vacation, Nadia and I were sitting in the lawyer’s office signing paper. All the permits were in place and all of the inspections were completed. The check we handed over to the Sinclairs was immediately turned over to the bank and they were out from under the mortgage and still owning a bit of the business.

Now Nadia and I had to make it work. We didn’t have much of a money cushion, but it was still warm weather and people were traveling. We would be by far the best restaurant for miles around and it was a town that could well support our endeavors. It would be another month before we attempted to open the pizza parlor. At that time we would be shutting down the lunches in the restaurant and serving them out of the pizza place.

Nadia did the scheduling. I held to the demand that all of the full time help have at least two full days off from work. We filled in with several people who wanted only part time work. Our biggest problem was to find someone to make pizza. We wanted fresh, not frozen and then warmed. We almost despaired until a little old lady came in asking for the boss.

“My grandson and ’is wife need job. Papa Polis teach to make pizza pie and good Greek food. You hire and pay. Papa work for free, six month. He teach good and be happy. Me too. Him under foot all time.” Nadia, ever the one who checked out the help, brought Papa Polis into the kitchen to build a sample pizza.

He brought the dough with him. He chopped his own vegetables. The knife he used was four inches wide at the haft going out sixteen inches to a point. He could sure chop with it though. Onions, peppers, green and red, black olives and mushrooms. He shredded his cheese. He opened a jar of sauce. “Not old country,” and shook his head as if to warn us this was going to be barely edible.

Things speeded up then. He greased his fingers and suddenly he had the dough spread into pie shape, no, there were three pies. A minute later all three were ready for the oven. “Better in pizza oven.” I had eaten pizza all my life, but these were exceptional. If the grandson and his wife could do half as good, we had us a winner.

We met Alexei and Anastasici the next day. They were both twenty. Alexei was thin, had curly black hair with a dark olive complexion. I feared there was trouble on the horizon when we met Anastasici. She was taller than her husband and heavier, most of it centered in her chest area. Hell, she was taller than me. She needed a harness to contain these mountains. I couldn’t help but stare and did until Nadia poked me. I then looked up into a smiling face with twinkling black eyes.

She was not shy and set us straight right off. “They just never stopped growing. You think these are something, you should see my Mama. These belong to my husband, but Mama is a widow and needs a man. If you know of anyone …” She left off speaking and burst out with a cheery laugh. Nadia didn’t see the humor at all.

Papa Polis was in first thing in the morning getting organized. He was speaking Greek to his students. He was as loud as they come and emphasized his remarks by gesturing with that knife that never seemed to out of his hand. He came to me on a Friday after being there a week. “Monday we sell pizza.”

We had done some advertising, but I think word of mouth sold the most pizzas. A week after we sold his first pizzas, he had soup and sandwiches on the lunch menu. He was great for making salads and they became almost as popular. We used the restaurant seating for those who preferred to eat in and this did take away from some dinner traffic in the evening. We didn’t mind this at all, for our dining room was now packed to capacity, whereas before we counted our self lucky to average 65-70%.

We did one expansion. I hired a construction company to build a covered access from the pizza parlor to the dining room. It would be heated during cold weather as no one would want to stand outside to order or travel to the dining room. Most people came in through the filling station to order if they were taking out. If they were eating in they entered through the restaurant. All the meals were boxed, whether eating in or ordering take out.

Business was so brisk I asked Anastasici, who we now called Anci for short, if she had any family she wanted to work with her. “Mama would.”

Nadia had the day off I interviewed Anna, but she came in just to see what the mother looked like. Anci had warned me that her mother, Anna, was more robust than she was, grinned as she said this. She definitely was. I knew Nadia would be upset if I hired Anna, so rather than hire her immediately, I told Anna I would let her know within two days.

I called our third floor apartment. “Nadia, I’m having an early dinner here at the restaurant. I’ll be coming home and we can talk about the business and where we are headed. We haven’t done that in awhile. We have grown so fast there just never seems time to talk.”

“You took time to talk to that big-titted bitch this noon. I don’t want you to hire her. She will be too much of a distraction.”

“Nadia, we have always been able to discuss things. Aren’t you just being a little jealous? I’m coming home. I think we should do some of that kissing and stuff. It just seems so right.” I was hoping Nadia would remember back to the night we made love when she crawled into bed next to me naked and said those very words. I must have got through to her, because she didn’t say anything.

“The house is empty until about ten this evening. Gram is cooking, Sammy is working the dining room and Jenny is serving the desserts. We should talk.” I paused and then added, “Or something.” I hung up without waiting for an answer.

I could hear Nadia singing as I went down the hall to our rooms. Apparently she had just showered for her hair was still damp. She came to me with her face up for a kiss. “You know when we agreed to be partners, I thought we were going to start making love sooner than this. Kiss me and then I will help you into the shower. I wish it was bigger and then I could get in with you.”

I grinned and kissed her lightly. She wasn’t having any of that. She grabbed me and locked her lips to mine. It became a kiss of passion. I turned her around so I could go back to the hall and down to my room. “Towels and stuff are already for you.” She followed me right into the bathroom. Her arms came around my middle from behind and she was tugging at my belt.

I undid that and she unbuttoned the top and slid the zipper down. Still behind me, she slid my shorts down with the trousers. I waited. Nadia screamed.

“Burley, what happened to the cheek of your ass? It is horribly scarred. It must hurt awful.”

I laughed. I knew I was going to have to explain before we went further. “I told you I was in the army and got out after only a few months. I got shot in the butt while in basic training. It was an accident. It doesn’t hurt now unless I want to run. That I can’t do. It happened out on the firing line during rifle practice. That was when I had been in only three months. It took six more months to heal and resolve what was going to happen to me.

“There was a courts-martial for those responsible for the accident and I had to be there to testify. That took awhile and then they had to decide to discharge me or keep me. The medics said I couldn’t run so they signed my release. I get a small disability which amounts to hardly anything. Needless to say I don’t go around telling that I got shot in the ass. End of story. Now where were we?”

Nadia was running her hand over my ass, feeling the scar with her fingertips. She gave me shivers. “Stop that! You’re turning me on.” I finished undressing and got in the shower. I wasn’t long and got out and shaved.

Nadia was right there watching every move I made. “We really don’t know much of anything personal about each other, do we?”

“No we don’t. Do you realize that the only time we were naked was in the moonlight? I don’t know what you look like at all. I have imagined you often enough though.”

“You mean, maybe I have big hooters like Anci and her mother, Anna. Too bad for you, you’re going to be terribly disappointed.”

“No, good for me. Better for you. Just think of having to lug them around all day. I wouldn’t wish those on anyone.”

“Most men want their women to have big breasts.”

“Well I’m not one of them. I have kissed one of your breasts you know. I did that after you went to sleep the night back at the lake. I could see you smile in the moonlight.”

“I didn’t know. Tonight we make love with the light on.” She said this as she was dragging me down the hall to her room. I have to say we came together with a lot of passion. We had known each for three months and everyday for us had been too busy to think about ourselves. We did this evening.

We now had our business up and running and organized just the way we wanted. Tonight we had done something that made the future more permanent than being just business partners. We were going to be life’s partners as well. No, we weren’t all the way there yet, but it was coming.

We finally got back to talking about the business again and what the future held. In the forefront were the two women in the pizza parlor. “Nadia, Papa Polis is teaching his grandson how to make pizza. I’ve been watching him. That isn’t all he is doing. Remember he is old country. He is trying to teach his grandson to be the head of family. To teach to make pizza doesn’t take long. He asked for six months. It will take six months and more to teach how to be head of family.

“I’m going to let them work it out for themselves without any interference. If the grandson can control his mother-in-law with the big boobs, I’ll applaud. He is going to have his hands full. I understand there are two younger sisters of Anci. I just might hire them as well.”

“Don’t you dare?” I didn’t say anything. Besides I had talked long enough. I let my gaze travel the length of this naked nymph lying beside me and pulled her face to mine for a kiss.

“Nadia, I want to say something. I choose you. I’m in a business working with mostly women. Jenny is sixteen and wants to try her wings. Sammy is forty and a widow. She hasn’t forgotten what love and yes, what sex is like. Gram is only a little past sixty. Don’t you think she would like to snuggle up to some young blood? Maybe not for an extended time, but she must remember her youth and would love to recapture a few of those experiences of the past.

“I have two women working for me in the filling station. One is married, but she wouldn’t be averse to trying her boss on for size. The other one is a divorcée. She is old and is about ready to settle for Mr. James as old as he is. Actually I suspect he is all ready trifling with her. In the restaurant there is one full-time waitress besides Sammy and Jenny. You know her, I don’t know her that well, but she is attractive.

“There are several part-time help you have hired. The only man working in the restaurant is the dishwasher. The other six are female. Back to the pizza parlor. Have you seen Papa Polis and Alexei handle those knives they use to chop ingredients? I had my moment to look at Anci, but that was more surprise than anything. I wasn’t surprised when I met her mother today, because I had been warned.

“So I say again, I choose you.” This time it was Nadia who pulled my face to hers for a kiss. It wasn’t late, but we snuggled down now and slept.

It wasn’t for long. The phone rang. I was in Nadia’s bed and nearest to the bedside table. I answered. “Burley here. What is it?”

It was Sammy and she was excited. “The station and the pizza place have just been robbed. We called the cops. You better get down here.” I looked at the clock. It was twenty minutes of ten. Sammy would have been cashing up the restaurant. The pizza parlor and the station were open until ten.

“We’ll be there in a few minutes.” Nadia was wide awake and we hurriedly got our clothes on. We usually walked, but I took my car. We got to the restaurant and there was a medical vehicle pulling in. There was a police car already there. “Oh crap, someone was hurt. I hope not seriously. I wonder who it is?”

I pushed my way inside the station. I had to argue with the policeman, but after explaining who I was he let me in. I could see two rescue personnel working on someone down between the food aisles. There was a trail of blood on the floor. One shelf of canned goods was spattered as well.

I looked around and could see that Mrs. Jacobs, the station attendant was okay, Alexei and Anci were fine. It must be a customer. Just then a cop came up to Alexei and said they would have to take his knife as evidence. The cop had the knife and a small gun in separate bags. There was a can of tomato soup in another. Also a cloth bag that was sealed. I was told it held the money and it went with the police, but I did have a receipt.

The rescue team got the person up on his feet. He was the robber. He had a bandage around his head. His shirt had been cut off and his right shoulder had been extensively bandaged. Two of the police started taking statements from Mrs. Jacobs, Alexei and Anci. I suggested they go into the restaurant where they would be comfortable. I knew Nadia would want a firsthand account. I would get the report from her. I shut the pump lights off.

What happened: The guy came into the station and waved a gun at Mrs. Jacobs, telling her to put the money from the cash register into the grocery bag he had brought with him. She complied and just before he left, Anci came through the door from the pizza parlor. He saw her and pushed Mrs. Jacobs ahead of him back into the pizza parlor. He motioned Alexei and Mrs. Jacobs into a corner.

He set the money bag up on the counter, reaching for Anci. He pulled her to him and ran his hand over one of her breasts. This was the wrong move, even though the robber had one eye on Alexei. Alexei dove behind the counter where the knives were kept. He came up with a short-bladed knife used to core the seeds out of the peppers used on the pizza.

The robber turned and ran and Alexei threw the knife hitting him in the right shoulder, slicing through the muscle in his arm. Mrs. Jacobs was the closest to the entrance into the station and she saw him turn to hide between the shelves. She grabbed a can of tomato soup from a shelf and when the robber staggered upright, she pitched it at him. It hit him in the head and he went down.

The bag of money had been left on the counter in the pizza place. The gun was found where he had dropped it when he reached up to clutch his shoulder. Anci called Sammy who called the police, rescue and then me. We had been in business just three months.

We finally finished with the police investigation and I locked up. Nadia drove my car and I walked the Sinclairs home, saying good night to them all before going upstairs. Nadia was in her room. I opened the door and started removing my clothes. “Burley?”

“Am I welcome to sleep in here every night? We have been apart long enough. I want to sleep with you the rest of my life.” Her arms opened and I told her I loved her and always would. “I also think we should get our own home. We certainly are making enough money to finance one. Don’t you agree?”

“Yes, Burley, I agree.”

A couple of facts came out of this holdup. No shells were ever found for the gun and it was determined the robber didn’t have any for it. Mrs. Jacobs had been a softball star in previous years and felt confident enough to throw the can of soup and hit her target.

I asked Alexei how he was able to throw the knife so accurately. He laughed and took me around back of the pizza parlor. He had a backboard tacked to the wall with a target drawn on it. “I could have killed that guy if I had wanted to.” He demonstrated and threw three times, the knife all landing within a half inch of the center.

Nadia and I started figuring how much we had to buy a home with. I had at one time promised the Sinclairs and Gram 7.5% of the profits. I handed over a check made out to the three of them. The check was for $450 dollars. “It isn’t much but it will be more next quarter as I used much of the gross to update different things as you well know.” She was well pleased of the little amount I presented and realized I was one to keep my word. She knew her mother and daughter would be pleased too.

I did inform Sammy that we were thinking of buying our own place shortly. “What about the second house down from here on the left? The man and woman were divorced a few months ago. The woman ended up with the house and wants to sell so she can move back to where she grew up. She has family there.”

“Thanks, we will look into it. Being so close to the restaurant it would be convenient. Living here with you has been the best, but we need our own home.”

“Does this mean you two will be getting married?”

“Almost assuredly. I haven’t asked Nadia, not knowing how she felt about me. Lately the subject has come up and now that we all have more free time with everything going smoothly, we are looking to see what will make us the happiest. We have talked about making a life together, but I haven’t got down on my knee to ask her yet.”

“Do the asking, now. The ceremony itself can come anytime. She needs to know for certain. You do too.”

“No time like the present.” I looked out to see Nadia walking across the room. “Nadia, would you please come into the office for a minute?”

Nadia knew I was giving Sammy the small profit payment and worried that Sammy would feel it was a too little amount. She had a concerned look on her face as she came through the door.

“Nadia, please help me get down on one knee so I can take the kink out of my old injury?”

“Burley, I didn’t know it bothered you that much. Are you okay? Should I call a doctor?”

“No, I can straighten it out if you would help me.”

Nadia came over as I slowly sunk down on one knee. “Now what can I do?”

“Just listen closely.” I smiled up at her. “Nadia, would you become my bride and marry me?”

“What did you say?”

“I asked you to marry me.”

Through the tears that started, I received an “Of course I will. Burley I love you so much and I’m going to make you so happy.” She turned around and hugged Sammy.

“Hey what about me? Are you going to leave me here on one knee? I need a hug and I want to be standing when I get it.” I got a hand up and I got the hug and several kisses.

Nadia and I went to look at the house Sammy told me about. It was a small two bedroom, but could be expanded as it had a large lot. We found that the owner was the lady who was getting the divorce. She had received the house in the settlement and wanted to return to her folks and would be living with them. I asked as I wanted to keep what money Nadia and I had as a cushion, “Would you consider a rent-to-own proposition?”

“How would that work?”

“Nadia and I would give you a small up-front fee and we would pay you rent until we have the property paid for. We would pay whatever is fair for this area plus a 10% premium. This would give you more income than if you just rented it. I would have to maintain the property and keep it in good condition and you would still have title until I made the last payment. The only stipulation I would make is if I had enough money early, I could pay the balance owed anytime.” This was found to be very agreeable.

The papers were made out and a month later we moved into our new home. We figured we could double the payments every so often and would have the property paid for in as little as five years. Our first night in our new home we lay in bed talking. I made the comment, “We need to get it paid off because our four kids will take all of our income by the time the oldest is ready for kindergarten.”

Nadia didn’t blink. “Four pregnancies, huh? You do realize there are twins in my family, don’t you? It could be as many as eight kids.”

“Seriously Nadia, would you like children?”

“I would definitely. Two anyway and maybe three.”

“That is about right for me. First though, we have to get married.”

“Why? We are doing okay the way we are.”

“I don’t feel that way. My thought is we should protect each other’s assets. When we are married and have a child started, we will be protecting the baby’s future even before it is born. The laws of the land lean toward the family unit. I hate to bring this up, but you have a very unhappy ex-husband. Keep that in mind, I do. We have been robbed once and it could happen again. When we are married, we will face these problems together.”

“Don’t even think about things like that happening. You scare me.”

“We have to. What if something happened to me? If we weren’t married, my closest relative is my sister. Say you are pregnant with Burley Junior? He would come into the situation as a child, probably sired by me, but you would have to prove it to collect. I think we should be wed as soon as possible. Besides, Mrs. Burley Squires has a nice ring to it.”

“Burley I was hoping someday, but it has been more of a dream. Then when you got down on your knee, I never expected it. People are engaged for years and even then never get married. From what you have said, I really do think you want to marry me. It sounds like you want it to happen immediately.”

“I do. I want us to start a baby. We have been building something in the last three months, but it isn’t really for us. Hopefully it will be for our kids so they can go on to a higher education.”

“You’re going to be a wonderful daddy. I’ll talk to Sammy about doing our wedding for us.”

“Anna and Anci would be willing to help.” I said this with a straight face.

“Burley, keep that up and you won’t have the equipment to become a daddy.”

“I had better start right now then while I have the chance.”

Yes, we were married and it happened six weeks from when we signed the papers on our new home. The reception was held right in the restaurant. Sammy arranged it and potluck was put on by our patrons. This was the best welcome for us, the newlyweds, that could ever happen. We were now part of the community.

Sam Johnson, my brother-in-law, had driven my ’57 Chevy hardtop up as we now had a garage to put it under cover. I had promised Nadia a ride in it the first day. Little did she know it was going to happen when the new Mrs. Squires was going on her honeymoon?

Our honeymoon was at Lake Karen where we had our first day and night together. It was late in the season so I rented a lodge with a fireplace. It was too cold to swim, but we did sit out on the veranda and watch the harvest moon rise as we snuggled together in a warm sleeping bag. It was a beautiful way to start our life together.

I suppose things had gone too smoothly for us. It was Alexei and his mother-in-law Anna, who were creating problems. Anna resisted taking orders from her daughter’s husband. They would get into shouting matches even while customers were present.

“Alexei, something has to be done. She works for you. Papa Polis told me you could control her, but it isn’t working. What she needs is someone to make her happy. She damned well needs a man. She is still young enough and I know that is what she needs. Can’t you find a husband for her or at least some man to sleep with her?”

“I’m working on it. Two weeks, maybe.” I had no idea what Alexei had in mind and he didn’t seem to want to share. Time would tell. I guess I could put up with the status quo for two more weeks, but not much longer.

Ten days later on a Friday afternoon, Alexei was all smiles. “Anna happy now. Me too. You’ll see.”

I had to admit things were calmer in the pizza parlor when Anna came in Monday morning smiling and singing. A month later Anna said she wasn’t working here anymore. She had found a man to make her happy. As she went out the door, Alexei said, “She finds man to boss and is moving to the city with him. He not much good, but make Anna happy. You hire Anci sister?” This made Nadia happy for Maria was much less well endowed than her sister or her mother.

Anci was sad as she missed her mother and worried about her at the same time. The man and distant cousin to Papa Polis was Nicolaos Papadakos who played a lyre in a Greek band at night and drove a vegetable delivery truck part time. I took it Anci thought he was a bit of a scoundrel and even more so when her mother came up pregnant. Women do get that way. Even the woman married to Burley Squires.

I had a wonderful Christmas this year, the best since my mother and father passed away. My sister Beth and Sam joined us. They stayed for the holidays through New Year’s Eve leaving on the first. Nadia didn’t have any close relatives so it was especially good for her. Sis was tickled that Nadia was pregnant. I took my niece and nephew over to the station and let them pretend they were the operators of the convenience store. This extended to letting them ring up sales.

Nadia and I worked the restaurant on New Year’s Eve. We were open for reservations with the understanding that we would be serving only to ten. This let us get home to be with my sister and family to bring to a close one of the happiest years I had ever had. What would the New Year bring? Hopefully one as satisfying as this one.

The bear in the woods was of course, Stanley Brinkley. Nadia hadn’t heard a single word from him since he had been charged with domestic abuse leading up to the two year sentence in prison. At that time he had made some major threats. Nadia was able to get a restraining order, but it was only in effect just until he was sentenced. It was surmised by my attorney he would be out in thirteen months.

I contacted my attorney at about the time Stanley had been incarcerated for a year to see if he could find out when he would be released. He got back to me with the answer that there was no sure way to determine his release date. It all depended on the size of the prison population and the monthly incarceration rate and what kind of prisoner Stanley had been.

“Keep checking and let me know just as soon as there are any developments.” I wasn’t worried for myself, but Nadia was my wife and I was determined to protect her.

It was ten o’clock one evening when I received a call from my attorney. “Burley, Stanley was released a week ago and I missed it. He was seen talking with some of the co-workers Nadia worked with last year. He probably knows where she is living by now.”

“Thanks for the heads up. We’ll be looking out for him.” It was three days later and Nadia had the evening off. I was on shift in the filling station. The red warning light came on over the door to the pizza parlor. I had no customers in the convenience store. I knew there was a red light on in the pizza parlor as well and there were several customers in there waiting for their orders.

I called the kitchen and Jenny answered, “Burley, there is a big man here asking for a Nadia Newsome. There is a woman with him and he doesn’t look terribly dangerous, but you said we should let you know if something like this came up.”

“I’ll be right in.” I went through the pizza parlor and signaled Alexei to follow me. I scanned the dining room when I came through the door. Jenny was watching me from the kitchen and headed toward a couple sitting on the left side that was farthest from the entrance. Brave little seventeen-year-old.

I eased in behind on the man’s right and was facing a woman sitting across the table from him. She saw me coming. Maybe I was looking too intent, for she spoke to the man. He didn’t look around, but tensed up. “Hello sir. You were asking after Nadia. What is your connection to her?”

“Are you her husband?”

“Yes.”

“I’m Stanley Brinkley. I was married to Nadia at one time. I would like to meet with her and apologize for the way I treated her while we were husband and wife. I know I made some threats of how I was going to get even when I had the chance. Now I’m just sick to think I have caused her so much pain.”

He looked around him. Alexei had his chopping knife visible. Gram had a cleaver in her hand. One of the waitresses had a three pound exercise weight she had picked up somewhere gripped in her hand. Anci stood there glaring at him. Sammy was standing off to one side with a cell phone visible.

I think the woman was more aware than he was. She spoke, “I’m Bridget Anthony. I work for the state as an anger management counselor in the prison system. Stanley has been one of my greatest successes. I’m here to lend credence to what Stanley has to say. He could have sent his former wife a letter stating his desire to have her forgive him, but felt it would be more effective if he came in person.

“I applaud that desire. Looking around us, I can see his ex-wife is well protected.”

“Yes, we have made sure of that. Stanley did make some very dire threats. Sammy, would you please call and ask Nadia to come to the restaurant? Tell her why and impress on her there is no danger. I guess everyone can return to work. Jenny would you take over in the station, please?”

“Sure Burley.”

Stanley asked me to sit with them until Nadia arrived. He looked around. “You have a nice business here.”

“We have. It wasn’t too profitable when we bought it, but we used what knowledge we had and put it to good use. The old lady with the cleaver, the woman with the phone, and the young girl here were running it by themselves before we purchased it. We kept them on and we are all making a little money. Enough so Nadia and I could get married.

“The young man with the knife and his young wife operate the pizza parlor and have made it a great success. They are married and are not quite twenty-one. His grandfather taught him not only to make pizza, but to be head of household as well.” We were down to discussing the weather when Nadia came tentatively through the door.

She came up to me and put her arm around me. She was obviously showing her pregnancy at six months. “Hello Stanley.”

“Hello Nadia. Nadia, I came to tell you how I sorry I am for the way I treated you. I think I was sick or a little crazy or maybe both. I would like to have you forgive me.”

“I don’t know as I can do that Stanley. I was scared of you for so long and then you started hitting me. You hurt me terribly before you were stopped.”

“I know that. I would do anything to make it up to you.” There were tears of regret in the eyes of this big man. I knew it was he who was hurting now, but it wasn’t my place to ask Nadia to forgive him. At least he had made the effort and someday she might find it in her heart.

It was I who introduced Bridget. “Nadia, this is Bridget Anthony. She has been Stanley’s counselor. I think it is she who has made him feel different about a whole lot of his past actions.”

“I’m pleased to meet you Bridget. I never thought I would ever speak to Stanley again. I don’t think I can go any further than listen to him at this time and I don’t know as I want to do that. I’m sorry. I guess I’ll go home now.”

“How far is it to where you live?”

“Just down the street a couple of houses.”

“May I walk you home? I’d like to tell you a little more about Stanley.”

“If you wish, but it won’t change how I feel about him.”

As the two women went out the door, Stanley asked, “Can you sit a minute? I don’t think Bridget will be long. She isn’t one to impose herself on anyone. About Nadia, I honestly thought she would forgive me. She has changed a lot since I knew her. I wish she knew what I went through when I was sent to prison. It was a tough time for me.”

“I don’t think you should bring that up. She would say you deserved everything you got. I think that way too. However, the courts sentenced you to pay for your actions. I can see you have. For me I would say you paid enough, but I’m not Nadia and I wasn’t your victim.

“She may soften though, now that you have approached her. We have been terribly nervous about you since we learned of your release from prison. You saw how we have countered what we perceived as a looming threat.”

“I made those threats almost two years ago. I’ve changed.”

“But we didn’t know that.”

We sat silent for a spell. Finally Stanley said, “I hope Nadia doesn’t turn Bridget against me. I love her, you know. I haven’t said anything to her yet. I wanted to come to Bridget with clean hands before I declared myself. That is why I came to find Nadia. I felt I needed Nadia’s forgiveness before saying anything to Bridget. I was so filled with anger toward Nadia and then at the system that locked me up.

“Bridget made me realize that it was me that caused all my own problems. Of course that is her job, but the subject falling in love with the counselor isn’t unheard of. Sometimes the counselor falls in love with the subject at the same time.”

“Do you see any of that happening with her?”

“I feel I do or I wouldn’t be thinking this way. She has done a good job with me and if when I do speak with her and she turns me down, I will move on and be grateful for what she has done for me.” Just then Bridget came in.

“Stanley, let’s go back to the motel. Nadia has invited me for breakfast. She didn’t mention you, but she didn’t say you couldn’t be with me. Mr. Squires you have a very nice wife and I can see you love her very much. I envy you. I forgot to give Nadia my card. Would you accept it from me to give to her?”

“Certainly.” I looked at it and saw it contained Bridget’s cell phone number. Sammy came with the dinner tab. I took it and put it in my shirt pocket.

“Thank you, Mr. Squires.” Stanley opened his wallet and left a generous tip on the table. He shook my hand as he left.

I was in an odd position. I totally believed Stanley when he said he was a changed man. Bridget had been lobbying Nadia as well. There was no doubt about the fact that my wife was a victim of Stanley and had endured some horrible experiences while married to him. I would be talking with her in a little while. I would then gauge how she felt. I went in and relieved Jenny.

“I liked the man when he was ordering. It wasn’t until he inquired for Nadia that I became concerned. Is he gone now?”

“Yes, but he will be back for breakfast. Jenny, you did just right. Stanley was a husband to Nadia before you knew us. He treated her terribly, both physically and mentally. He drew a prison sentence and has just been released. He says he has changed and he acts as if he has. Nadia can’t believe it because of what he did to her before. She may change her mind, but I can’t pressure her one way or the other. She knows him and I don’t.”

“I noticed he was nervous, but I heard the woman tell him to hope for the best, expect the worst and accept what the outcome was. He seemed to calm down and I didn’t even know what they were talking about. Right after that he asked for Nadia.”

“Well don’t think about it. One thing, he knows we all care about Nadia and will protect her to the last person. I think we worried him when he looked up and was ringed with her defenders.”

Jenny giggled. “I certainly was ready to clobber him. Goodnight Burley. Boy, working here is a lot more fun than when it was just Mom and Gram owning the place.”

“Don’t forget they would have given up the business earlier if you hadn’t been here with them?”

“I know, but it was our life and we were kind of holding on because Dad had made it what it was. He wanted to make a good life for us and he would have if he hadn’t got sick.”

“Hold that thought. That’s a good memory to hold in your heart. Goodnight to you, Jenny.”

I walked home an hour later. The lights were all off. In the back of my mind I knew we would have to deal with Stanley and he was here. How much would it upset Nadia? I hoped not too much with her having a baby. I went in. She spoke from the living room, “I’m in here Burley, sitting on the couch. Come in, but don’t turn on the lights.”

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. I do have to talk to you though. I guess it will be more of a confession about what caused Stanley to go a little bit crazy. I caused it, but then he brought it on himself to start with.”

“You had better tell from the beginning. You aren’t making any sense.”

“Okay. I told you that he wanted me to display myself and flirt with others when we went out. I’m not like that and I hated it. I lost most of my respect for him. I should have walked away right then. I didn’t. One night he came home and had been drinking. I knew he was going to be in that condition, because he had called earlier. Anyway, I figured I would show him. I got all dolled up and when he came in the door, I told him I was going out and spend the night with someone like he wanted me to.

“He looked shocked. I said for him to sit right there at home and imagine what I was going to be doing and I wasn’t going to tell him who with. I intimated it was with one of his friends who he had encouraged to flirt with me. I came in about six the next morning. He was passed out drunk and I went to bed. At two that afternoon he came in and stared at me and turned and left the room. I got up and got supper. He glared at me.

“He called me a slut, not even looking across the table at me. I said I wasn’t and that I had been out with my girlfriends. He wouldn’t believe me. He was so jealous and I couldn’t make him believe I hadn’t done anything. Three days later was the first time he hit me. You know the rest. So you see in one way he caused all the trouble, but it was his jealousy that caused him to hit me and what ultimately led to him being sent to prison.

“You know I could handle Stanley still being mad at me, but I don’t know how to handle him coming and asking for me to forgive him. I still don’t know what was worse, him hitting me or that he wanted me to go out and prostitute myself. That still pisses me off. Did I handle the situation the wrong way?”

“No I don’t think so. It was a train wreck that was bound to happen either way. You’re feeling guilt and that is what is preventing you from giving Stanley what he wants. If you are comfortable with it, I would think it would be a fine thing to do. I have to remember what hell you went through, so ultimately it is your decision to do or not do.”

“Burley, I’m going to do it. Maybe not all of it for him. Bridget thinks Stanley is in love with her and the only thing holding him from speaking is he wants to come to her with less baggage. I laughed when she said I was baggage. She said she loved Stanley, but he had to make the first move. I like her. I can do this for her even if I couldn’t for him.”

“Call her. I have her cell number.”

“I couldn’t. It is too late.”

“It is a call she is hoping and waiting for.” Nadia immediately picked up the phone. I think she wanted to get it settled as soon as possible.

“Bridget. I have made a decision. I’m going to forgive Stanley. It comes with one restriction. That is, when I tell him, he isn’t to get all soapy and we can never be friends. I want to move on and this is the best way to do it. You can tell him in the morning.” She still had the phone in her hand, “You’re going to wake him up tonight?” Bridget was still speaking, and Nadia answered, “Okay, I’ll wait for a call back.”

Nadia closed her phone. “Bridget has gone next door to wake Stanley. She said he will call me in a few minutes. What am I going to say to him?”

“Keep it simple.” It was fifteen minutes later that the phone rang. Stanley formally asked Nadia to forgive him which made it easy for her. She said she did. We had to laugh after she hung up the phone because Bridget had asked what the breakfast hours were as she and Stanley might be late.

Our business is still going strong. Nadia has given me two kids, a boy first and then a girl. We are debating on a third. Not my decision to make, I’ll leave that for Nadia. The three original owners are still with us. Gram married a short-order cook who was a widower. Sammy found someone. He doesn’t work in the restaurant, but he is our accountant and keeps the books.

Jenny is married too. She and her husband pretty much run the filling station and convenience store. Alexei still manages the pizza parlor. If his wife Anci is pregnant which happens often, he always has a sister-in-law available to fill in.

We have enlarged all of our endeavors as the clientele demands. I bought a half lot behind the restaurant and am trying to think of a use for it. No hurry, as we are doing well with what we have. We even purchased a cabin on Lake Karen. We haven’t seen Stanley and Bridget since that time he stopped to see Nadia. Bridget and Nadia do call each other sometimes. The two are friendly although not close friends. There are two kids in that family too.

I do pause sometimes and look at Nadia, remembering the day I was let go from a job I liked and went over to the park and sat down beside the woman who was an old classmate. She is much, much more than that to me now.

The End