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Fresh off the Bus
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Jenna stepped off the bus into the muggy June heat. The amount of moisture in the air made it hard to breathe. For a minute, she considered getting back on the Greyhound and trying a different town, but no, Pella, Iowa was the perfect place for her to hide out. No one would ever come here looking for the spoiled, city-loving girl Jenna Baldi. No, make that Jenna Trippleton now. A simple girl looking for a simple life in small-town nowhere. Hopefully, no one would ever discover her secret or find where she’d gone.
Now to learn how to fit in and be a whole new person with a whole new life. She’d worked hard for this fresh start, and she wouldn’t mess it up.
The question was what to do now that she was in the middle of small-town America? She had chosen Pella because it was the smallest town the farthest away from Massachusetts with a bus heading to it; plus, she was pretty sure no one back home had ever heard of the place. Not exactly the best plan, but she’d gotten away when she had the chance. The bus pulled away in a cloud of fumes, making her cough and stumble on the sidewalk. Once her lungs and eyes cleared, she looked around her new home. She walked out of the mostly deserted bus depot and randomly started walking down a tree-lined street with barely any traffic. The smell of pizza wafted to her, and her stomach growled. Before she knew it, she found herself standing outside a quaint pizza-and-ice-cream parlor. A pizza place with a help wanted sign up in the window. Fate must be telling her this was the right place for her after all.
Her two suitcases in tow, Jenna headed inside. The red-and-white-striped awning was the first sign maybe she’d stepped back in time. The first thing she noticed, other than the refreshing gust of air conditioning, was the décor. She felt like she was back in the 1950s or 60s, based on the tables, the small jukeboxes in each booth, and the little row of stools at the counter. Even the waitresses and waiters were dressed in cute outfits from a time gone by. She shook her head and laughed to herself. “You sure aren’t in Kansas anymore, Dorothy.”
Jenna jumped when a sweet, motherly voice behind her answered, “I would never have pegged you from Kansas. New York or New Jersey maybe, but not Kansas. Definitely East Coast.”
Stunned for a moment, Jenna didn’t know how to answer. She stared at the older woman in front of her, scared she had already been found out. “Is it really that obvious?”
“Only to someone who has lived in the Midwest for a very long time. We know our own, and we know those who are from somewhere else. I’m Anneke Smit, but people around here call me Anna, and I’m the co-owner of this establishment. I didn’t mean to come off creepy, I heard you talking to yourself and thought I’d have a little fun.” She reached out her hand.
Hesitantly, Jenna took it. “Hi. I’m Jenna. Jenna Trippleton.”
“Well, welcome to Pella, Jenna. What brings you here?” Anna asked, smiling at her. She seemed to exude calm, and it helped Jenna tame her nerves a little.
“There was nothing for me back home. I needed a change, so I got on the first bus out of town. And here I am in Pella.” She figured it was best to tell as much of the truth as possible. It would give her story more credibility, help her remember, and attract less attention. “I saw the help wanted sign in the window, thought maybe I’d apply.”
“Have you ever waited tables before?” Anna asked, giving her a warm smile.
“Yes, ma’am. My father owned a pizza joint back home, actually. I worked there practically from the time I could walk, started officially waitressing when I was fourteen, which means I have almost fifteen years’ experience. I learned to cook authentic Italian fare from my mother as well, so I am useful in the kitchen. I worked in the family restaurant right up until Dad died a couple years ago. I’m a really hard worker, very efficient, and already know the pizza business.” Jenna smiled tentatively, hoping Anna didn’t ask too many questions or want a list of references to call.
To her relief, Anna broke out into a huge smile and then gave her a brief hug. “Well then, it looks like we’ve found us a new waitress. Welcome to the Pella Pizzeria and Ice Cream Parlor. You can start tomorrow. Lunch shift. Be here at ten fifteen, and we’ll tell you all you need to know.” She glanced down at Jenna’s two bags. “I’m guessing you need to find a place to stay as well?”
“Yes, ma’am. I just stepped off the bus. I have some money, so I was hoping to find a motel or something until I could find an apartment.”
“Well, we know the owners over at the Pella Inn. I know they have some short-term rooms at more reasonable prices than you would expect once you see the place. Have you heard of the Pella Inn?” Anna asked.
“No, ma’am. This was literally my first stop. Job first, a place to stay second.”
“Please, stop calling me ma’am. Call me Anna.” She smiled in a motherly way at Jenna. “Come in back and meet my husband, your other boss, Adam. He can also give you a ride to the inn and see about getting you a room until we can find you something more permanent.”
“Thank you, m— Anna. Is everyone here in Pella so nice?” Back home no one would have taken her someplace for nothing, there was always a favor needed in return for anything with her crowd. Her old crowd, she reminded herself. She wasn’t that person anymore, and she wasn’t back in Massachusetts anymore either. No one would ever find her here. People seemed nice; she could learn to be nice, too.
This quaint, old-fashioned pizza parlor and ice-cream shop was really starting to grow on her. She thought she might like working here. Judging from the few booths occupied in the middle of the afternoon, this was a much kinder and gentler crowd than she was used to. She probably wouldn’t have any ass grabbing and crude remarks thrown her way here, and that would be a welcome change, for sure.
“For the most part, yes, this is a very friendly town. You can usually find someone willing to help you out when you need it. That’s not to say there aren’t a few troublemakers and rumor hounds. I really hope you like it here in Pella, Jenna.” They reached the back of the restaurant. Anna tapped on the door as she opened it. “Adam, great news! We have ourselves a new lunchtime waitress. This is Jenna, she’s new to town.”
An older and kindly looking man, who seemed to be the perfect match for his wife, got up and shook her hand. “Nice to meet you, Jenna. Welcome to the Pella Pizza and Ice Cream Parlor. We try to be like family here, so never hesitate to ask for anything.”
“Funny you should say that,” Anna said as she lifted on her tiptoes and gave Adam a kiss.
He smiled down at his wife, and with love in his voice said, “What have you volunteered me for this time?”
“Jenna is literally just off the bus. She needs a ride up to the Pella Inn. That will do until we can help her find someplace more permanent.”
“Of course. I will give the Bakkers a call and make sure they have a room available,” Adam said, picking up the phone.
Anna kept talking to Jenna like she had known her for years. Jenna found herself liking this motherly woman; she wished her own mother had cared as much. She dimly heard her new boss and seemingly friend talking about how they would help her find a car or something to get around, and talking about apartments or houses that might be for rent in town, but her thoughts were back on her own mother, her own family.
Everyone in her immediate family was dead now, and not all from natural causes. She still had an uncle in the business whom she thought about often, but it was too risky to ever contact him. She wondered how her mother could have let a child be raised in the midst of such danger. But then again, once upon a time, she’d found that sort of life normal. She had been the apple of her father’s adoring eye. When she was younger she never cared about what he did for a living, she loved how he used to give her anything she desired. For a while, she’d even bought the idea he was a simple restaurant owner—until she became a teenager and started working in the family business. Until Vic came into her life when she was still a teen, and things turned darker. Twelve years of her life had been spent in fear, now she had broken away and would never be that woman again.
Jenna shook her head, coming back to reality. She’d come here to forget her past, to move on and become someone else. “Thank you so much, Anna. I have no idea how I can repay you for your kindness.”
Anna beamed at her. “Well, this is a pretty sweet little town, and we try to be welcoming. I think you’re going to like it here, but I’m sure it will take some getting used to. We tend to do things our own way and in our own time here. Much less fast-paced than you are used to, I’m sure.”
“Perfect. I don’t want fast-paced anymore,” Jenna answered.
Adam hung up the phone. “The Bakkers are getting a room ready for you. They say you can rent one of their rooms for as long as you like. Want that ride up there now so you can get settled in?”
“Sure, I guess so.” She turned to Anna. “Thank you again for being so kind and helping me. I’ll be here as agreed tomorrow to start training.”
“Of course, my dear. I’ll send Adam to pick you up before the lunch shift, this way you don’t have to walk. Here, I’ll go get you a uniform so you will be all ready to go tomorrow.” Anna disappeared for a moment and came back with three red-and-white dresses and three aprons. “I thought a small would fit since you are such a petite gal.”
“Yes, ma’am. Anna, sorry. I know I sound like a broken record, but I can’t thank you enough.”
Adam bent down and gave his wife a tender kiss on the lips. “I’ll be back in a flash. Try not to get into any trouble while I’m gone,” he teased, and Anna giggled like a teenager in love. Jenna marveled at the affection she saw between them, definitely not something she’d seen back home. Her parents’ marriage had been arranged, and she doubted there had been much love on either part. Adam then turned to her, took her bag, and led her out to his truck. “You’re going to like staying at the Pella Inn. Wait until you see it, it will be like living in a Wonderland. Of course, if you really are planning on sticking around, the wife will find you a place in no time. She knows everyone and everything going on in Pella, and always loves to help those who need it.”
“I don’t know what to say. I literally got on the next bus leaving and ended up outside your restaurant because of the help wanted sign. I never expected to get a job and so much help so quickly. Your wife seems like a wonderful woman,” Jenna said truthfully.
“That she is.” Adam smiled broadly. Just then he pulled in front of a quaint, old-fashioned-looking house. “Welcome to your temporary home, the Pella Inn. It’s on the list of historical sites in Iowa, but they keep the prices reasonable, and you’re getting a little discount since Anna is the one who sent you.”
“Wow. I’m speechless. Just wow. Are you sure I can afford this place, even with a discount? I mean, I have some money saved....” Jenna didn’t finish. She really hated lying, and in truth, she had more than a little money with her and in an offshore account. She had taken all of what was left of her father’s money. Dirty or not, the money was hers, and she would damn well make sure Vic could never trace it or get his hands on it. She smirked for a moment, imagining his reaction when he realized that not only was she was gone, so was all of her inheritance. Guess she wasn’t as dumb as he’d always said after all. Still, she didn’t want to draw attention to having that amount of money here in this small town. Money often led to questions, especially if a waitress had it, and the less of those asked, the better.
“Oh yes, the Bakkers charge the same as the hotel here in town. This is more comfortable though, and you can rent the rooms long-term if you’d like,” Adam said as he got out of the truck to grab her bags. He walked her up to the house, her mouth still hanging slightly open in awe. Things were definitely going better than she planned when she escaped. She had expected to be in some dumpy motel in the middle of nowhere, struggling to make her new life and identity work. Instead, in less than an hour she had a job, a seemingly awesome boss who was already house and car hunting for her, and in the meantime, she was going to stay in the cutest bed-and-breakfast she had ever seen, and all while being safe. It was like a dream. Maybe the universe was telling her she had made the right decision by running away and starting a new life, a peaceful and safe life.
The doors opened, and a glamorous woman in her fifties came out to greet them, a smile on her face. Adam returned the smile. “Stephanie, coming out to greet the guests now too? Don’t you have employees for that?”
“Not when a friend is bringing them by. How are you and Anna doing, Adam?”
“Can’t complain. Business is good, and my wife is the sweetest little thing this side of the planet. And we just filled our waitress vacancy. This here is Jenna Trippleton. Jenna, this is Stephanie Bakker. She and her husband, Charles, own this fine establishment. They will take good care of you until Anna helps you find a permanent place to live. I wasn’t kidding when I said it should be soon.”
“That’s for certain. She has more connections in town than anyone. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Jenna. I hope you enjoy your stay here, no matter how long or short it may be.” Mrs. Bakker extended her hand to Jenna.
“Thank you, Mrs. Bakker. I can’t believe how well things are working out and how helpful everyone is in this town. I don’t know how to repay any of you for your kindness.” She looked at both Adam and Mrs. Bakker as she said this.
“Please, call me Stephanie. And as for kindness, think nothing of it. We’re a small community that believes in supporting and helping each other. Now come on, let’s get you settled into a room. I’m sure you could use a shower and some rest before dinner.” She turned to Adam. “We can take it from here. Tell that wife of yours we need to do lunch sometime.”
“Will do. Bye, Jenna. I’ll pick you up in the morning a little after ten, before the restaurant opens, so you can get some training. Good afternoon, ladies.” With that, Adam walked back to his truck, and Jenna walked into something out of a dream. Stephanie led her into the homiest place she had ever been. Her head spun to think she would be staying in such a fine house, even for a little while. She would have been happy at a motel and knowing she was away from her past; now, she felt as if she were stepping into a fairy tale—though she could do without Prince Charming. She’d thought she’d found one once, but now she was content being single and self-sufficient, and most importantly safe. Her new life had no place for love or romance in it, on that she was adamant.