A Lovely Day

The following weekend occurred during events depicted in 'Your Silver Nights and Golden Days Pt. 03.' This weekend was also alluded to in 'Promises Made and Promises Kept Pt. 01.'

Songs written and performed by Bill Withers, a great artist whose short but spectacular recording career significantly impacted the music scene, inspired the writing of this story. He died in 2020, thirty-five years after recording his last album in 1985.

All lyrics cited in this story are © Bill Withers.

© 2022-2023 Candy_Kane54

***

Friday - 08/27/88 - Ain't No Sunshine

Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
It's not warm when she's away
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
And she's always gone too long... anytime she goes away.

The alarm clock went off way too early, as it always did, waking me from a deep sleep. I tried organizing my thoughts as I lay there, trying to coax myself to get up and out of bed. I could hear the birds chirping outside my window, recognizing the towhees and tanagers among the chatter. I listened to the raucous "waka-waka" of the Acorn Woodpeckers and the occasional tattoo they made while drilling holes to stash the acorns they so famously were named after.

I opened my eyes and saw the dawn's early light shining through the drawn blinds. It was Friday, and I usually loved Fridays, especially this time of year when the days were long and the bright sun shined almost all of the time. I stretched, and as my arm stretched across the bed, I felt the absence of a familiar body next to mine. Suddenly, the promise of a bright new day diminished because she was gone.

I loved being the owner/operator of Pine Mountain Motel, located just east of downtown Groveland, CA, on Main Street (State Route 120). Ever since I got my business administration degree from the Dominican College of San Rafael, I'd dreamed of owning a motel in the mountains of central California. I had fallen in love with the area around Yosemite when I first visited as a kid with my family.

I wouldn't have had this motel if it weren't for Jack. With her love and support, I took the plunge and bought the run-down motel that had caught my eye on our trip as we passed through Groveland. We were on the way up to hike Half Dome in 1963, shortly after we had met when I was a senior in college.

Jack had never been to Yosemite before, and the trip was eye-opening for her. When we stood at the top of Half Dome looking out over Yosemite Valley and the Merced River below, I looked over at Jack. I saw a look on her face that I'd seen on just about everybody else's face making the journey there. That look said you'd seen the absolute majesty of nature and had realized just how insignificant you were in comparison. You couldn't help but realize there had to be a God because everything was just so perfect.

As I debated whether or not to get out of bed, my mood turned bleak. Jack was gone, and as much as I hated to admit it, my life revolved around her. The days were gray and dull while she was gone, despite the bright sunshine and the beautiful scenery that should have made me happy.

I loved working side-by-side with Jack at the motel. Nothing could go wrong that I couldn't handle while running the motel, but the glamour was lost whenever Jack was gone. She was just so positive all of the time, always having a smile on her face. Whenever something broke down or the maids didn't show up for work, she'd say, "Darl, it's not a problem. It's just an opportunity to make things better." Then she smiled at me, making me weak in the knees, and jumped in to do whatever was needed. Was it any wonder I loved her as I did?

When Jack wasn't helping me out at the motel, she was a part-time long-haul trucker working for a major trucking company out of Stockton, CA. She would make a run to the East Coast several times a year, delivering fresh fruits and vegetables. Once she got to the East Coast, she'd work to pick up loads as she made her way back to Stockton.

Sometimes, she'd only be gone a week to ten days if she managed to get a return load directly to the West Coast. If not, she could be gone for two to three weeks as she picked up shorter runs that brought her closer home. She didn't get lucky this time and was still working her way back home. She had called Wednesday and told me she had a load for Santa Fe, NM, so she was more than halfway back. Nevertheless, it was too far away until she was back in my arms.

Being fully booked for the weekend, it would be a hectic day. Business was booming this time of year from all the many visitors to Yosemite. It was the last weekend of August, and school would be starting after Labor Day, so everyone was trying to get one more trip in before then. Business would soon drop off until the leaves turned in October.

"Quit moping," I told myself. "You have a motel to run." I got out of bed and quickly performed my morning toilet before I headed down to relieve my regular night manager, Sarah Miller. She has been my night manager for the past four years, for which I was thankful that business was good enough that I could afford her. Having her on board allowed Jack and I to get a good night's sleep. Before Sarah, we would have had to get up in the middle of the night to answer the phone or take care of breakdowns or customer issues that couldn't wait until the morning. After all of those years, it was a welcome change.

After seeing Sarah off, having wished her a fun weekend, I headed for the breakfast room. I knew today would be a scramble, but not only because we were booked up. I again missed having Jack here to help since I lost my best worker yesterday when Glory came up to me at the end of her shift and said she was leaving...

***

... I knew I wouldn't like what Glory had to say from the look on her face. When she first arrived, she told me she wouldn't be staying long, but I had hoped it would be longer than this, especially now with Jack gone. Glory was an excellent employee and a hard worker. She had been here for five weeks, which was, for her, a long time to stay in one place, so I couldn't complain. "What's up, Glory?" I asked, hoping I had misread her look.

Getting right to the point, Glory said, "Darl, I'm leaving today. I've got a ride lined up into Modesto. I've really enjoyed my time here but am ready to move on."

I was disappointed, but I didn't let it show. I just smiled and said, "No problem, Glory. I figured it was getting close to the time for you to leave. Let me get your pay for the week, and you can be on your way."

A relieved look came over Glory's face, and she smiled and said, "Thanks for understanding, Darl. I hate leaving you here alone without Jack around."

"I'm used to it," I said as we headed into the office. I counted out what I owed Glory and added a little extra before I handed it to her. "You've been a big help, and I will miss you. Just drop off your key before you leave?"

"Sure, Darl," Glory replied as she went off. I watched her walk away, wistfully watching her ass sway and bounce. I was faithful to Jack, but I loved to look, and Glory was worth the look. I sighed, turned, and started planning how to make up for the loss of Glory for the upcoming weekend, wishing Jack were here...

***

... I ended my ruminations about Glory as I opened the breakfast room and got to work. The local bakery that supplied my breakfast goods was there with their delivery. I said a quick "Thank you, Lord," to myself, thankful they were on time as they brought the delivery inside. I signed the invoice and started laying out the continental breakfast we provided for our guests. They could go to a restaurant in town for a hot breakfast, but it would take valuable time away from their day in the park. As I worked, the girls started filtering in to begin cleaning the occupied rooms and setting up the empty ones for guests checking in today.

Guests who planned on hiking for the day would get up early so they could have enough time to do their hike before they got back late in the day. They appreciated how they could quickly grab something for breakfast before they headed out. The guests were already lined up at the door to the breakfast room by the time I finished the setup. When I opened the door to let them in, they filed in promptly to gather up the food they would eat and just as quickly eat and go. After the initial crush, I replenished the items taken and headed to the office.

With Glory gone, I would need to keep an eye on the girls more than I had to while she was here. Glory had quickly taken charge of the girls, and things had gone smoothly the entire time she was here. She enjoyed working with Jack or me when something needed fixing and was willing to dive in and get her hands dirty. Jack and I had more time for each other because of that, so I was disappointed when Jack got another long-haul load two weeks ago. Thinking about Jack, I recalled my first encounter with Glory...

***

... I always knew when Jack was home because she would always toot the air horn before pulling her Peterbilt 362 T/A Cabover Truck Tractor behind the motel. I ran out to see her, having missed her while she was gone as usual. When Jack climbed down from the cab, I flew into her arms and pulled her in for a kiss. It wasn't until I pulled back after feeling Jack's hesitation that I noticed she had a passenger with her.

The passenger's hairdo immediately caught my eye. Shaved on the sides, with no bangs, long on top and in the back, and pulled into a ponytail, it was a look I hadn't seen a lot, but it worked for her. Her auburn hair and green eyes were mesmerizing. The backpack she had slung over one shoulder and the worn knee-high boots told me she was a wanderer. Jack quickly said, "Ah, Darl, I found her at Maggie's. She was looking for a job, and I thought she might be a big help for us up here."

The new girl smiled, stuck out her hand, and said, "Hi, I'm Glory."

Dazzled by her smile, I returned her smile with one of my own as I took her hand. She had a firm grip, and I immediately knew she was used to working with her hands. She hadn't reacted negatively to Jack and me making out, so I knew I wouldn't have any problems with her interacting with me. I said, "Glory, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Darlene, but everyone calls me 'Darl.'"

"Well, Darl, I'm glad to meet you," Glory said as she released my hand. She chuckled as she looked down and said, "I had to see if your feet actually touched the ground after hearing Jack bragging about you all the way up here."

I looked up at Jack adoringly and said, "Well, I think Jack's a little biased," eliciting a broad smile from Jack and a chuckle from Glory.

Jack quickly explained how she had found Glory, picking her up from a small diner that Jack usually frequented when returning from Stockton after finishing a long haul. Maggie's was a nice roadside diner with great food. Jack and I were good friends with Maggie, and she constantly referred people to our motel if they asked about a nice place to stay near Yosemite. Maggie hadn't needed any help when Glory showed up, but before Glory had moved on, Jack came in to grab a bite to eat, so Maggie introduced Glory to Jack.

Jack was great at judging people's character, so I didn't have to worry that Glory would cause any trouble. As soon as I had finished greeting Jack, I took Glory inside to fill out the paperwork so that I could pay her. Unlike many of my workers, Glory had a Social Security Number so I could keep her on the books and not have to pay her under the table.

Glory and I talked while I was getting everything in order. She told me she had been wandering from place to place since she was eighteen. Depending on the situation, she would stay anywhere from a week to a month or so. Glory asked if that was okay since she didn't want to feel tied down and didn't want me to be surprised when she decided to leave. I explained that many of my maids were migrants who would work for a week or two and then quit with no notice, so I was used to it. I told her that Friday was payday, but if she had to leave before Friday, I'd pay her what she was owed at the end of her last day.

Since she had no place to stay, I offered her the spare room in the back that Jack and I kept open for such a situation as part of her pay. Glory had been thrilled at that since she had figured she'd have to rent a room in town and hitch a ride back and forth while she stayed here. "Thanks, Darl. You won't regret giving me this opportunity," Glory said when I made the offer.

I smiled at her and said, "I know I won't. Since Jack thinks you're good people, I know you won't be a problem. Let me show you your room so you can put your bag away." I took Glory through the back door of the lobby and showed her the room. I handed her the key to the room and said, "When you're ready, I'll have Jack show you the ropes. The girls have already done their work for the day, but I can still have Jack show you where everything is."

"Thanks, Darl," Glory said as she opened the door and went inside.

I headed back into the lobby office. I was in a great mood because Jack was back. I hoped she wouldn't have to take a load anywhere for the next few weeks. We would be swamped with everyone wanting to visit Yosemite before summer was over and school would start. We get a lot of families coming up here and a lot of college students on summer break.

This year had been relatively calm after last year's fires in nearby Stanislaus County. Most major wildfires have been in Yellowstone this year, so we'd benefited from getting some people who would have been vacationing there.

Jack came into the office after having showered and changed. We hugged and kissed, letting each other know without words that more was to come tonight. Within minutes, Glory came back into the office. She had changed into comfortable low-rise sneakers, high-waist shorts, and a U of A Wildcat sweatshirt. I asked Jack, "Would you mind showing Glory where everything is?"

"No problem, Darl," Jack said with a smile and headed out, Glory trailing behind her. I smiled, feeling that the next few weeks would go smoothly with Glory here to help. Now, if only Jack didn't have to go on another long haul for a while...

***

... Since we would be totally booked for the weekend, many guests would be showing up to check in today. I had to stay close to the office to check them in when they showed up, but I pitched in to help the girls out when I could. The phone was ringing off the hook with inquiries about availability. I wished I had the rooms for them, but I had to regretfully tell them I was all booked up.

At 9:00 AM, I closed the breakfast room, noting that I had been almost cleaned out of food. I usually let the girls grab a pastry or two if any were left. I knew they would be disappointed that their perk wasn't available today. I made a mental note to bump up the order for the weekend. By 11:00 AM, everyone checking out today had done so, and the girls could finish getting the rooms turned around for new occupants.

At noon, my assistant manager, Stephanie, showed up to help hold down the office. She was a part-time employee who only worked here when Jack was away. Although I couldn't pay her much, she appreciated the additional income. Stephanie was an avid hiker and spent as much time in the park as possible. She loved talking to the customers and advising them on what trails to hike after determining their skill level. She had just graduated with a forestry degree and was looking forward to working as a ranger in the park.

I took a quick break to grab some lunch before helping the girls get the laundry done. I asked them to look for someone to take Glory's place if they knew anyone looking for a job before I sent them on their way after paying them. I hoped they'd all show up again tomorrow, not hung over from partying tonight.

I went out to check the pool and patio. This was the centerpiece of the motel, where everyone could sit around and socialize after a hard, hot day of hiking and climbing. Also, having the pool lowered my fire insurance rate because the fire department had a ready water source to douse any fire.

I loved hanging out with the customers in the evening, especially when Jack was here. While Jack had been gone, Glory was there, regaling me with tales of her life. I learned a lot about her and understood why she needed to keep moving. However, I felt she was reaching a point in her life where she was starting to think about settling down...

***

It had been a hectic day with many check-outs and check-ins, so we'd been busy nearly non-stop since early morning. I was glad that I had finally managed to take a break. Glory quickly joined me, both of us sitting in an Adirondack chair. "So, Glory, have you ever thought about settling down one day?" I idly asked as we sat by the pool, relaxing and enjoying the early afternoon sunshine.

After a pause that lasted long enough to make me think Glory hadn't heard me, I looked over at her. I saw a pensive look on her face as she pondered my question. Finally, she turned to face me and answered, "Actually, Darl, I have been thinking about it. My 35th birthday is coming up next month on the eleventh, and I have been moving on less and less frequently than I have before...."

Her voice trailed off, and I made a mental note to remember her birthday if she was still here. "What do you think you would do?" I asked after a beat. "Is there any place you'd like to live? Or somebody you'd like to settle down with?" I asked, recalling the many adventures Glory had related to me during our afternoon chats.

After another long pause, Glory started, "Well, there was this girl named Sam I met while moving on from Albuquerque to Flagstaff nine years ago...."

"Go on," I urged after another long pause. I looked over and noticed Glory's eyes were bright with unshed tears. I saw her swallow hard, fighting the tears, so I stayed quiet and let her work through it.

Finally, Glory said, "It was only for one day, but God, what an incredible day it was." After another pause, the floodgates opened. Glory poured out the story of what happened. She explained how she had connected with Sam on a level she'd never had before or since. She looked at me, and I saw the beginning of tear tracks on her cheeks as she said, "I really wish I'd gone with her to Northridge now, but I wasn't ready to make a commitment like that then."

Without thinking it through, I blurted out, "Well. Northridge is only about six hours from here." As soon as 'here' came out of my mouth, I realized what I had said and turned to look at Glory. I saw that she had gotten a thoughtful look on her face. At that moment, I knew I may have to look for someone to replace Glory soon.

"Hunh," I heard Glory say thoughtfully before a smile broke over her face. "I didn't realize that I was that close." Then I saw her face cloud up as she probably realized Sam may no longer be in Northridge after nine years. "I'll have to think about that, Darl."

That ended our conversation, and we sat there silently for a while. I was thinking about the fact that Glory may soon be leaving and how I'd replace her. I threw up a quick prayer for Jack to return quickly, hopefully before Glory left...