A love story for you. 
I pulled into a gas station off Route I 86. The trip was almost two hours long, and I was about half way there. The Elmira Airport was in the middle between Prattburgh and Sayre. Sayre was actually in Pennsylvania, but very close to the border. I was glad they decided to advertise in the state phone directory. I guess when you are so close to the state line, you get customers from both sides. I put the nozzle into the tank and went to pee. Forty five miles and I was already peeing. It must be my nerves I thought. I hadn't had any coffee since last week at the diner. I didn't even eat the food I ordered. After calling Lexi's, I got light headed and sick. I went to the bathroom and threw up. I drove home and went to sleep. It felt so good to lay in my bed. I stayed there for days. Depression was overwhelming me.
Mom is that you? Yes Sarah, It is okay. Everything is going to be fine. The plane landed and I got off. Mom was waiting in the drivers seat of the Limo. She got out and opened the back door for me, and there was Jake. I climbed inside and she slammed the door hard. The sound jolted me awake. I was still in my bed, I was dreaming. The room lit up and then boom, the thunder. It was one AM and I was wide awake. I paced the house for an hour trying to think, but the dream had consumed my every thought. I decided to drive to the limo shop. By three I was showered and in the car. The ride was good. This early, there were no cars on the road except mine. It was passing the airport, that I noticed my gas tank was nearly empty, so here I am.
I paid for the fuel inside the mart, and grabbed the local news paper, and a coffee. I would be at Lexi's in an hour, and they were not open until seven. I could read the paper for a while to steady my nerves while I waited. Gas tank filled, I headed back down the highway toward Sayre. I don't know what I was going to find out, but I had to try and find out about Jake. Anything at all. I had to know. My soul was twisting and tearing inside me. I needed answers. Even if I couldn't have him, I needed to know something, I needed closure.
As I drove, I thought about my dream. I was in a plane, and my dead mom was waiting for me in a limo, with my love inside. Why did I dream this. It must mean something. They flew Jake away in a plane. The driver of the other car was dead. My mom was dead also, but alive driving the limo. The only thing that made sense to me was Jake. He was there in the back of the Limo. I was confused and tried to shake it all from my mind. The coffee was refreshing and welcomed. I sipped it as I drove. 
Welcome to Pennsylvania. It wasn't much further now. The next sign said four miles to Sayre. My stomach started to have the butterflies. I felt a little panicky too. Maybe it's the caffeine I suggested to myself, but I knew better. I was afraid. What if Jake stole the car? I didn't care if he was rich or not, but the lying, that would be unforgivable. Especially in the first hours of our miraculous reunion. I began to wonder if he set me up. Had he known I was alone and still lived in the cabin? Was I his next mark? Maybe he saw mom's obituary and decided to prey on my emotional sadness and weakness. My mind plotted crazy scenarios. I slapped my face. I remembered how Jake stopped us from going all the way. He said he wanted us to take things slow. I wondered. The only thing I had of value was the cabin, and that not very much. I wouldn't think enough to try and scam someone. Jake, maybe he was a conman after all.
I turned onto Canal street and immediately saw the big lighted sign. "LEXI'S LIMO'S". I pulled into the lot and parked. It was just past six AM. I had an hour to wait. Between the coffee and my nerves, I was fully awake. I reached over and took the newspaper off the passenger seat. The seat looked like I felt. Empty and alone. Even so, I was determined to get some answers. I needed to heal. I put my seat back and lifted the paper and read. My thoughts interrupted every sentence and made it hard to read. I was on maybe the third page, when the parking lot lights went out. It was daybreak. I turned on the interior light to keep reading. A small headline on the next page caught my eye and my interest. "LIMO DRIVER ARRESTED IN FATAL CRASH". I shook my head in disbelief, it couldn't be. It was. 
Apparently, the limo driver had worked at Lexi's. He stole the limousine, and used it to pick up clients at the airport in Elmira. Had been working the scam a little over a week when the crash occurred. It went on to say that the accident left one dead and one critically injured. Two others were treated and released. The driver was picked back up and arrested two days later. It wasn't Jake, it wasn't Jake. Surely they would have said he was involved if it had been him. A car pulled into the lot behind me and I put the paper down. A man came over to my car and asked if everything was alright. Yes I said. I came to talk to the manager. That would be me he said.
He opened the door and turned on the lights. Now how can I help you. I explained who I was, and that I needed any information he could give me. OH, I remember you, he said, you are the lady on the phone last week. Yes I told him. I'm sorry you drove all this way. I told you before you need to speak with the police. I know I said. But did you know they caught the man who stole your vehicle? Yes of course. I was notified immediately. He was a former employee of mine. What else can you tell me I asked him? I know nothing more than that he said. My car was stolen by an x employee, and involved in a fatal accident. Yes I said and my boyfriend is in critical condition. Well shouldn't you be by his side then he said. I looked at him with tears in my eyes and said that is all I have been trying to do. No one will help me. The tears came fast and strong. I was crying hard again. No one will help me. 
Calm down mam, calm down. Everything is going to be fine. I don't know if this helps, but my driver, when he worked for me, always picked up his clients from the Elmira Airport. Tears slowing, I choked out a few words, I read that in the paper. How can that help? Well said the manager, his job was to only pick up clients from privately owned planes. They pay the best and he knew that. Maybe your boyfriend came off a private jet. My eye's popped open wide. I jumped up and threw my arms around him. Thank you, Oh thank you I said excitedly. That must be it. Thank you. I have to go now, I have to go. I rushed to my car away I went.
I was on the highway and speeding back toward the airport. It never dawned on me that he flew here, and rented the car. Let's take my car he had said. It was his car. His rented transportation. What a fool I was, how could I have not trusted him. Our short time together was just to intense to be fake. No, my Jake was real and I was going to find him. 
The airport was quite large. I did a lot of walking and asked many people a lot of questions. After going from one place to another for almost two hours, I wound up at the base of operations office. The young man working there was very nice. Handsome too I might add. He was about my age, well perhaps a year or two younger than me. My name is Fred he said, how can I assist you. I told him my whole story. He looked at me the entire time I talked. He listened to every I had to say before he spoke. When I finished, he wiped a tear from his eye, and vowed to help me. That was the saddest most loving story I have ever heard he said. He took my hand in his and led me to another room. As we neared the door he slipped his other arm around me and his hand gently rested on my side. He gave a soft squeeze and then took it away and opened the door. It was a file room. All the manifests are filed here he said. I think he was just trying to be comforting. I won't lie though. His touch felt good and stirred something deep within me. It will take me some time to look through all these files he said. If you give me your phone number, I'll call as soon as I find something.
His eye's were soft and honest looking, alright that would be wonderful I said. I gave him my number and he walked me all the way back to my car. I am very touched by you and your story he said to me, I wish you all the luck in the world finding him. He put his arms out as if to comfort me. I was not uncomfortable and I let him hold me. I'll find him Sarah, he squeezed me, don't you worry. He let go. Thank you I said, I'll be waiting for your call. He opened the car door for me and I got in. Thank you again Fred, I said, and drove toward the exit to go home. 
I don't know why but for some reason, I found myself thinking about Fred. It was like there was some kind of connection between us. He was a good man, and he was going to help me find Jake. I drove the last forty miles in quiet, just reflecting. 
Time began to pass. I was back to work and back to my usual routines. Loneliness was my life. I wondered if Jake was even alive. It had been months since our encounter by the river and my feelings were once again going dormant. All I could do was wait. The young man at the airport, Fred I believe his name was promised to call if he found anything, but so far no call. I walked by the river a lot more these days, hoping and longing for a sign, or maybe what I really wanted was love. Maybe Jake had passed I thought. Would I spend my life alone ? Well there were no men lined up at my door so I guess I would have to be content with my memories of my Jake. I was so lonely. I missed mom a bunch. I thought of her and dad, having there dates out in the woods. Just them and mother nature. It made me smile. If ever I get the chance, that is how I want my relationship to be. I think Jake wanted that too.
RRing Brring, RRing Brring. I jumped up startled by the phone ringing. My old phone hasn't rung since after mama's funeral. Hello I said. Hi is this Sarah asked the voice on the other end. Who is this I asked? It's me Fred from the airport. My heart leapt into my throat. The lump was there and my eyes began to well up. Yes Fred it is me Sarah, have you found anything. I was calling to see if you have found Mr. Morgan he said. No nothing yet, I told him, I was actually waiting on you. You are my last hope. I have spent a lot of time looking through those files he said, it's going to take time to get through them all. I was wondering if you might like to have dinner with me sometime? I thought about him for a second and how nice and caring he was toward me and my plight. Yes Fred I would like that very much. I flashed back to Jake, the dinner and the accident, I shook my head,I need to move forward I thought, and asked him when he would like to go. How about Friday night? Okay I said, where shall me meet. I know a great place said Fred, it's closer to my house if you don't mind the drive. No, not at all. Give me the address and I'll meet you there. Is eight o'clock alright with you he asked? Eight is fine I said, I'll see you there. It's a date then he said and hung up. 
A date I thought, I just made a date with a man. I was alone and the companionship would do me good. Besides, he was doing me a favor spending all his break times looking through files to find Jake's plane registration and address. He was a good hearted man. I remembered him wiping the tears from his eye's when I told him my story. A date it is, I said out loud. I felt better than I have in a long time. It was Friday, I was done working for the week, and I had dinner plans. I was feeling a little smug. Happiness was creeping slowly back into my life. God knows I needed it. I got home and took an extra long shower and cleaned extremely well. I groomed myself, the first time in months. Damn I needed it. I dried my hair and used the curling iron to give it a little pizzazz. I put on my only evening dress, I had to get it for a function at work once. It was beautiful. It felt superb to get all dressed up, and to be going out on a date with a nice guy. A date with anybody! 
I thought about Jake while I was driving. I wondered if he was awake, in a coma, alive or dead. I hadn't heard from him. I will find you Jake I said to myself. I promise. I wondered if I was cheating on him going on this date. If he was alive and awake, he could have contacted me if he wanted . Right? I asked myself. I was doing this for him and that's that. This wasn't cheating. Besides, it is just dinner with a friend. It took me just under an hour to get to the restaurant. The Elbow Room, in Elmira. Fred was standing at the door waiting. I was late. Only ten minutes but none the less, late. Hello Fred, Hello Sarah, You look beautiful. He put his arms around me and held me tight for a second and then released me. It was good. Just a healthy hug. I have a table for two waiting for us he said. How was the drive, he asked? It was fine I said, not wanting to get my brain back on the cheating thing.
Fred held the door and I went in first. The hostess led us to our table, where Fred being a perfect gentleman, held my chair as I sat down. He pushed me in and then put his hands on my bare shoulders. They were strong and warm. I felt myself quiver. I hope he didn't notice. I saw other woman eyeing him. He was handsome. Just the way he carried himself, and holding my chair, I think they were jealous. The menus were already on the table. The place was cozy and had a comfortable family atmosphere. Your waiter will be over shortly, can I get you something to drink while you wait. I ordered a glass of wine. Make that a carafe, and two glasses Fred told her. I'm not much of a drinker Fred, and I do have to drive home, it will probably be wasted. That's okay he said. If we want it, it is here. I smiled. That seemed reasonable enough to me. Growing up poor I learned that you don't waste anything. If he didn't mind wasting his money, who was I to argue. 
We talked about Jake at first, but then the subject was about me. Fred wanted to know everything about me and I just kept talking like a chatty school girl. I didn't realize it but by the time the food came half the carafe was gone. We ate and talked. He made some jokes that were actually pretty funny. He had me laughing so hard. I was having such a good time with him. When dinner was finished,so was the wine. I excused myself to go to the ladies room to pee. Fred took care of the check while I was gone. When I came out of the bathroom, we left the restaurant. I was more than tipsy. I was drunk. 
End part part four.