Chapter Eight
Yvette
The sun began to set towards the horizon, showing through the trees as the highway curved out of sight up ahead, as though it was leading her towards Tallulah. Yvette adjusted her sunglasses as she entered the information for the bed and breakfast she’d stay at on her first, and luckily only, night on the road. She pulled over once and pushed the button for the roof of the Jeep to lift up and set up the seat warmer before she got back on the road to head to her destination. She kept her eyes peeled for her turnoff, and was disappointed with the lack of signage telling her where the B&B was.
She was exhausted after having spent ten hours on the road. Her legs were stiff, and she was starving. The protein bars and water along the way had only weighed her down, and now she was craving a real meal. She saw on her GPS that there was a restaurant near the bed and breakfast, for which she was grateful. It was likely that the people that own the B&B wouldn’t make her food after seven. Usually, they had a set schedule for when meals were dished out.
Daley Road and Hodgekin’s Bed and Breakfast was one mile ahead. Okay, she could do that. She turned into the furthest lane and slowed down as best she could while still on the highway and saw the turn coming up ahead. She gripped the steering wheel and double-checked the next sign before turning off. The last thing she needed would be to get lost while trying to find the place. Yvette turned the volume up, making sure that she could hear the GPS voice, too, just in case.
“In one mile, turn right. Your destination will be on the left.”
The voice felt foreign after hours of silence. She’d muted it while she was driving so that it wouldn’t drive her insane every two minutes with an update on her route. Now, after so many hours on the road without having gone to the bathroom, she was grateful for it.
She wondered where Jace was in his drive. Was Jace Johnson a faster driver than her? He could already be a few hours ahead and closing in onto their destination faster than she could get there. Not that it mattered. Once they were both in Tallulah, they’d run into each other at some point. It was a small town of three thousand people. It would take work on his part to make sure they didn’t see each other at all.
“In five hundred meters, turn right. Your destination will be on the left.”
She scoured the area to see if she could see the roof of the place, but it was nearly impossible to see anything. There were trees in all directions, their green leaves shining with traces of red as the sun began to set ahead of her. As she neared the street, she could see the house along the corner. It was a massive colonial-style home that exceeded her expectations. A smile formed on her lips as she stared at it. Hopefully, the beds were as grand as the house.
She turned the car to the right and saw the restaurant towards the end of the street, alongside a gas station. Everything in close proximity? Perfect. There was even a quick-stop for coffee inside the gas station.
She drove down the long driveway towards the house and saw the little wooden sign along the way, letting her know that she had, in fact, reached her destination without any issues. She let out a sigh of relief as she drove into their parking lot, slowly bringing the Jeep to a full stop in one of the empty parking spaces. She grabbed her purse from the seat next to her and threw the keys in before pulling out her phone. She rolled her eyes at the amount of emails she’d received while driving, alongside a text from Nick, asking how the strip clubs were.
She’d just have to check everything at dinner. In the meantime, she just wanted to get checked in, drop her stuff off, and relax for a moment. Beyond that, her bladder felt as though it was going to burst. She opened the door to the Jeep, only to see an older couple waiting for her in the doorway. She squinted her eyes to see them in the fading light as she rounded the Jeep. She waved to them, and grabbed her bags, only to see the older man coming down the stairs to help her.
He’d nearly reached her by the time she’d gotten her bags out of the back of the Jeep. He had a kind face and short white hair. He reminded her of a kind grandfatherly figure, and she was glad that she was staying at a place that was family run. It seemed that the magazine had pulled through incredibly well when it came to planning the trip.
“You must be Yvette?” the older man asked as he neared her. “We’ve been expecting you. There was also a call to make sure you’d arrived safe. The man’s name was Fred or Ted?”
“It’s Fred. He’s my boss.”
The man shrugged as he reached for her bags. “Well, no matter. Let’s show you to your room first, and then you can get started on working. Seems a shame to work while you’re on a road trip and enjoying some time away.”
“Thanks for helping with my bag,” she said, and grabbed her toiletry bag while he hoisted her suitcase up against his side. “This is actually a work trip, so there won’t be much lounging around at all.”
He grunted as they walked towards the immense house. She couldn’t believe how beautiful and high the white pillars stood, holding up a veranda with classic french doors. The house itself was gorgeous and pleasantly welcoming as she made her way up the stairs. The late day sunlight was beginning to fully wane, and the deep red was reflected against the windows as she walked up.
The older woman standing at the top smiled at her as she neared. “Hello, there. I’m Betty. You’ve already met my husband, Tom Hodgekins. It’s so nice to have you here.”
“It’s so nice to be here. It’s been a long trip.”
Tom finally made it to the top of the stairs and slammed her luggage down between them. “Did you take any stops along your trip from the city? There’s lots of beautiful sights around here.”
“I just drove straight here. No stops. Speaking of which,” she said, and inhaled deeply, “could you point me towards the nearest bathroom? I haven’t gone since I left.”
Both Tom and Betty began laughing, as Betty opened the red front doors, only to step aside to allow Yvette to walk through. The bed and breakfast was cozy, with an open interior that had windows in every direction, letting in the tangerine colored light from the sunset. Yvette was quiet as she walked through, enjoying the country furniture and the inviting atmosphere.
“The bathroom on the main floor is just over here. After that, we’ll show you to your room.”
“Is the restaurant down the street open late?” she asked, following Betty down a white hallway. “I haven’t eaten much, either.”
“Oh, of course. It’s also the local bar.”
That sounded even better after a long drive. Have a beer and get her work done? It would be a match made in heaven.
~
She’d already changed and was on her way to the restaurant. She’d left almost everything back in her room and was enjoying the short walk to the restaurant, her dress swaying around her knees in the light summer breeze. She spotted fireflies as she made her way down the road, flickering against the brush. There was a coziness to the area, and she could see why someone like Jace, who was constantly being thrust into the spotlight, would enjoy being away in such beautiful, quiet countryside. She desperately hoped that her place in Tallulah was just as nice.
She imagined there being wildflowers, a surrounding forest and a hiking trail. Maybe even a lake where she could go cliff diving. She was ready and excited to see what would come about, even if she had to deal with being around Jace, who was less than friendly once he’d decided she wasn't someone he wanted to be around.