The Journey Read Online Free PDF Page B

he was talking about… until the door chimed again.
    “Hey, Jem. What’s for dinner?”
    My eyes went wide when Baron and two of his buddies came in, plopping down at the same booth I was currently using—trying to catch my breath.
    “Break’s over. Time to head to the kitchen.” Doug took the ticket book out of my hand as I stood. “I’ll take their order. You… go pull yourself together.” He whispered that last part as I walked by him.
    From that day on, I spent hours on the phone with Drella. He called me at work, called me at home, and called me in the dorms. My cheeks ached from all the constant smiling. He lived in Harrogate but drove to Knoxville to go to the University of Tennessee. I lived closer to Knoxville but drove to Harrogate to go to LMU. We were the same age, both graduating at the same time, but our paths had never crossed.
    Even though Harrogate was a small town, I would never have met Drella unless I hadn’t gone shopping on my parent’s emergency credit card. Fate led us together, and I’d never been happier in my life.
    Yes… shopping can be a good thing. An incredibly good thing.
    Sundays became my Drella Days . He’d be there waiting for me when I got to work. I couldn’t come back to Harrogate any sooner , but I flew up there the minute church was over.
    His mesmerizing smile was always there to greet me. And, I giggled… Every. Single. Time.
    Doug was always super nice about it. As long as the store was clean and the shelves were stocked, I could stand by Drella’s truck and visit with him. If a customer pulled up, back inside I went. My handsome new friend was as patient as he needed to be, and stayed as long as he possibly could.
    He was teasing me one day—playing with my hair and tickling me every chance he got—when a big rig pulled in and one of my cousins jumped out.
    “Hey, Pooh, why don’t you quit playing footsie and get in there and make me a peanut butter and bologna sandwich?”
    I laughed before heading for the front door. Drella grabbed my wrist and pulled me back to him.
    “Who’s that?”
    I glanced toward the tall, rather handsome man as the door chimed.
    “Who? Him ?”
    “Yeah, him .”
    I chuckled. “Why? You jealous?”
    “Yes.” He pulled me close against him then. “Who is it?”
    “That’s just my first cousin, Ernie. This is his route. He runs a load up to Corbin and back, every day.”
    “Oh.” He blushed. “Are all your cousins that big and good-looking?”
    “Nope… Some are even bigger and prettier.”
    “Pffts.” He gently yanked on my ponytail. “Why does he call you Pooh?”
    “Most of my family does—the ones that knew me when I was little.” I shrugged. “Because I used to drag this old Pooh Bear around with me everywhere I went.”
    “Is that so?” He chuckled and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. “Better get to work, Pooh .”
    The next Sunday, Drella showed up with a fuzzy new Pooh Bear. I cried. I still have it to this day.
    Things went on like that between us for weeks—talking on the phone, spending as much time on Sundays as we could—but it wasn’t enough. The time finally came when we couldn’t stand it anymore. We had to have our first date.
    So, Drella decided to stay in Knoxville that next weekend, since that’s where we would have to go out and eat anyway. I drove home that Friday after class, and nearly drove my mom crazy gushing about my perfect guy .
    She woke me up early Saturday morning—something she didn’t normally do. I remember waking up, smiling like a Cheshire cat.
    “It’s date day,” I sang.
    “I’ve made some coffee. Come on in the kitchen.”
    I followed Mom, already rattling on about the evening while still rubbing morning from my eyes.
    “I wonder where we’ll go. Oh my gosh, I have no idea what to wear. Should I do heels, or something easier to dance in? Maybe he doesn’t want to go dancing. Maybe he’ll want to catch a movie instead. I don’t know. He won’t tell