It Happened One Night

Chapter One
She’d met him during the darkest night of her life five years ago. She was sitting on a park bench, her three-month-old bundled against the cold. She had nowhere to go, and no one to see.
He sat beside her, quietly taking in her bedraggled appearance.
“Hi, I’m Max.” He said. Keeping his tone low so he didn’t wake the sleeping infant.
“I’m Sherrie. This is Celine.”
“Nice to meet you both. What are you doing out here on such an awful night?”
A single tear slipped from her eye. “We have nowhere else to go.”
“Will you let me get you a motel room for a couple nights? Just until you figure it out?”
She looked up, her blue-black eyes shimmering in the moonlight. “Why?”
He shrugged. “I don’t want to see anything happen to you. This isn’t the best place to be after dark.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure.” He grabbed her hand to help her up. “Have you eaten?”
“I had a sandwich for lunch.” She answered him.
“Come along then. We’ll get you something to eat and then check you into the hotel.”
“Nothing too expensive. McDonalds if fine.”
He looked at her, aghast. “No, it’s not. I’m assuming you are nursing, so you need a proper dinner.”
She shrugged and followed him to his car. Moonlight danced on the hood of the silver Camry as he led her to the car. Fear creeped in, making her wonder if he would harm her or Celine. Why would someone who had it easy financially help someone like her?
Max opened the door for her, his dark curly hair starting to curl in the misty rain falling. She had only two choices. Run or get in. She said a prayer and got in.
He fed her dinner that night and checked her into a nice motel for three months. He checked on her daily and soon they were the best of friends. He helped her when no one else could and she thanked God for him daily.

Three months passed quickly, Sherrie getting into a routine with little Celine and working for the first time. Finding a job while having no experience and only a GED had been difficult. She’d finally managed to snag a job at the motel as a maid. She hoped to be promoted to office at some point.
She was at the end of her stay and needed to decide what she was going to do. She had no idea what to do. Her phone rang, and she answered to hear Max’s pleasant voice on the other end of the line.
“Hello, beautiful! What are my two favorite girls doing tonight?”
She smiled. It made her feel good when Max called her beautiful. “Nothing but TV and food. Wanna come over and hang out with us?”
“Actually, that’s why I’m calling. I wanted to see if you two wanted to go out tonight.”
“I guess that would be ok.”

“Great! I’ll pick you up at six then.” He told her, the smile on his face reflected in his voice.
“See you then!” she said with a smile and hung up. Two more hours to go until she was off and then she could spend a relaxing evening with max.

Promptly at six Max knocked on her door.
“Come on in” she hollered from where she was putting Celine in her car sea Using his key, max stepped inside the dimly lit room.
“You know, electricity is paid for in your rent, right?”
Sherrie laughed. “Yeah, but if I don’t need it on why use it?”
“Point taken.” He nodded. “You look cute tonight.”
She looked down at her jeans and Seahawks jersey. Nothing outstanding there. She had her hair pulled into braids down her back and just a light coating of make-up. “Really? I don’t see it.”
He looked at her, “Don’t you know how beautiful you are Sher?”
She shrugged. “Not really. I haven’t been told that by anyone but you.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s ok. Can’t miss something you’ve never had.”
He grabbed her hand and changed the subject. “Let’s eat, I’m starved. I guess you want to hit Tuffy’s?”
“Well, I do think with my choice of clothes that Sweet Gardens is out of the question.”
“Yeah,” he shook his head. “I don’t think Tessa would approve.”
“She never does anyway.”
She grabbed her coat and he grabbed the baby as they headed off to Tuffy’s

Tuffy’s was quiet for a Wednesday night. Only three of the bright aqua booths were occupied. They chose their seats and sat waiting for their waitress.
“I don’t normally see you two on a Wednesday night.” Alera said as she sat a coffee in front of Max and a sprite in front of Sherrie.
“I felt the girls needed a night out.” Max told her.
“Do you want the usual, or something different?”
“I want a steak tonight, Al. “Max said, all smiles.
“I want the usual.” Sherrie replied.
“I’ll get them out to you in a jif.”
Max watched her walk away then turned to look at Sherrie. She really was a beautiful woman. Her blonde hair fell in soft curls to the middle of her back and her eyes were dark as midnight. She was only 22 but had been through so much in her life that she seemed older. He had something to ask her, but was unsure of how to proceed.
“Have you made any decisions about your living arrangements?”
She took a sip of her drink and looked at him. “Not really. The motel said I could continue to stay there, with a discount, as long as I want. But Celine will be mobile soon and I want a bigger place for us.”
“I have a question for you.” He said as he took her hand. He touched her rarely since she didn’t seem to like being touched but he felt the moment lent itself to at least holding her hand. “I just bought a new house and I would like you and Celine to move in with me.”
“Live with you?” she squeaked out. “Like live, live with you?”
“No. Just as friends. There are five bedrooms. You’d have your own space.”
She nodded. “Okay, I’ll think about it.”
Max smiled at her. “That’s all I’m asking. Do you want to see the place?”
Her smile lit up the room. “I would love to. I love looking at houses.”
“Ok, as soon as we’re done, we’ll run over there.”
“Food’s hot and good.” Alera said as she set their meals in front of them.
“Thanks, Al.” They said in unison causing all three of them to giggle
Sherrie chatted about her day while they ate. Little things like finding a $20 in one room and turning it in. And how much she hated mopping the bathroom floors. “I wish they would put carpet in there. Mopping sucks.”
Max smiled at her through it all. He knew he was in deep and probably would never be more than just her friend. But he could live with that if she was always a part of his life.