When he reached the chair, he was surprised to see her sitting in the seat next to it. “Done already?”
Her lips curved into a half smile. “I could ask you the same thing. And since I was here before you, you’re the one with the shorter time in the water.”
“Got me there.” He toweled himself dry then draped it over his shoulders. “Mind if it sit?”
“Go ahead.”
He sat down and glanced over at her. The motel’s exterior lighting gave off enough brightness to have a clear view of her. Though her hair still dripped, her skin appeared dry, which told him she’d been out for several minutes at least. Had she purposely stuck around?
Yeah, yeah, I know. Don’t let my thoughts go there.
Lifting the towel to his face, he dabbed away more moisture. “How was your swim?”
“Good, but I still couldn’t clear my mind.” She sighed. “I thought a few hours alone would help me collect my thoughts, but instead, I got lost in them again.”
“Need an ear to listen?” He winked, making the same offer she had earlier.
“Only if you do, too.” She removed an elastic band from her wrist and pulled her hair into a ponytail. “I’m sorry if I offended you earlier with my comments about the place. You would think after years of working in public relations, I’d choose my words more carefully.”
“Thanks, and I wasn’t offended.” He ran his fingers through his wet hair. “I know it needs more work, but the process has slowed considerably.”
“The place looks great compared to how it did.”
His ears perked. “How do you know?”
She gave him a sheepish grin. “I logged onto your Wi-Fi and searched for information about it. You really should have a password on that connection.”
A hearty laugh rumbled from his chest. Cassidy proved to be a breath of fresh air. “I will eventually. I’m surprised the signal reached to you, but I should have thought to tell you about it, anyway. Use it all you need.”
“Seriously though, I love the Route 66 relics in the rooms, including the black and white photos. My friends loved their rooms, too.”
“Glad to hear. Gran helped me pick them out.” A slow smile spread as he remembered all their days out, scouring antique store after antique store. He cherished those times, especially knowing they were limited.
“Is this a family business?”
“Not exactly, but my grandfather, Gran’s husband, left me a large sum when he passed to invest in this dream.” Small pangs stabbed his heart. He’d never stop missing Pop. “My parents support the endeavor but aren’t involved. They have their own lives in Nevada and no intentions of leaving.”
“Is that where you’re from?” She scooted in her seat so that her body faced him.
“Yes, a small town north of Reno, near the California border.”
“What made you want to buy this place?”
Now that he was dry, the damp towel became uncomfortable, and he tossed it aside. “When I was a kid, my grandparents took me on a road trip from Chicago to Santa Monica, sticking closely to the historic Route 66. The trip changed me, and I wanted to preserve a piece of that history.”
“I’ve been all over the U.S. but have always flown.” A slight frown appeared, but she didn’t leave it there for long. “This trip is the first time I’ve driven cross-country, and it’s been amazing. Living in the East my whole life, even going to camp in Arizona but again, flying, I never understood the vastness of America. I can see how that trip would change you.”
“The entire trip was an adventure, but there was more to it.” For a brief moment, he captured that excitement he’d felt as Pop pulled up to the next roadside attraction, or as the landscape changed. As he tasted his first tamale at a diner in New Mexico and watching Pop devour an enormous steak in Amarillo. “I was so mad at first because my parents had just bought me a new handheld video game, but my grandparents refused to let me play it while driving. They insisted I look at the scenery and appreciate God’s creation.”
“I love that. We have too much technology in our lives. I’ve even caught myself typing away on my phone only to look up just in time to see a breathtaking landscape. It makes you realize how much we miss by always plugging away.”
“Exactly. Life shouldn’t be measured in battery power.” He spoke faster as the passion for his dream came out. “Route 66 is an icon that symbolizes the American spirit of freedom and movement, but it also throws us back to a simpler time in life. I want to be a part of that nostalgia that helps people find enjoyment in the simple things of life.”
“I think I understand.” She stretched her legs and crossed her ankles. “My parents always planned big, fancy vacations for us. They were great for the most part, don’t get me wrong, but sometimes I wished they didn’t have to be so extravagant.”
“You grew up by the ocean, right?”
“Yes, and I loved it. I saw families come in and have a great time year after year.” She swatted away a bug. “One time, I asked my dad why we couldn’t have a vacation there, or even further up the Outer Banks, but that wasn’t good enough for him. He always had loftier ambitions. Every vacation somehow connected to a business or political goal, which is why my parents went to extremes. They, especially my dad, had illusions of grandeur.”
