As Jeff drove home his subconscious was back in the home of Bob and Mary. He could not forget the vision of Bob, Mary, Candy, and Rob as they held tightly onto one another.

As tears rolled down his face he had to keep reminding himself that this was for the best. He did not pursue Mary because he knew that she still had ties to Bob. He would not be happy and secure with Mary until he was sure that their relationship was over. He wasn't sure that things would end up as they did, with Mary back with Bob, but a nagging in the back of his mind always warned him not to encourage Mary to go home. If he hadn't tried to do what was right, Mary might be in his arms right now.

Jeff pulled over to the shoulder of the road. He had to get control of himself if he was going to continue driving. Years of truck driving made him aware of the accidents that could happen with just a few minutes of lost concentration.

He was starting to gain his composure when a wave of sadness swept over him catching him completely off guard. His sorrow and grief was more than he could bear. He shook as his sobs engulfed his very being, sobbing as if all hope for the future was lost, and it was. The love that he had been looking for was right there in front of him. Mary was kind, thoughtful, and unaware of the sweetness she shared with everyone. How could he ever be happy with anyone else once he had spent time with Mary? She never realized how much he had fallen in love with her. She never saw herself as an attractive woman, someone that anyone would give up everything in their life just to be a small part in her life. He would be happy even if he could just be a friend connecting with her periodically, but that wouldn't be practical; it would leave him tied to her forever, and he would always be an intrusion in her life. This realization brought another wave of tears and a feeling of complete loss.

Suddenly Jeff was startled by a pounding on his car window.

"Hey buddy, are you okay?"

Jeff looked to see a large burley man pounding on his window. He had a salt and pepper full beard that was neatly trimmed. His hair matched his beard in color, and was styled so that the sides were layered back and the top smoothly intertwined with the sides.

"Yes, I'm fine." Jeff answered loudly. He realized that he must have fallen asleep from exhaustion, but wanted to give the appearance that everything was fine.

"Are you sure? You look upset! Do you mind stepping out so that I can see that you are okay?"

Jeff thought for a second wondering if this guy was safe to open the door to, but he knew that he could take care of himself, so he slowly opened his door as the burley inquisitor stepped aside.

"I'm fine," Jeff stated," I have just had an emotional visit with a friend, but I'm okay."

"Hi, my name is Pete; do you mind me asking where you are headed?"

"I'm going to Midland; it is just about 150 miles away. I'll be all right."

"You know what? I'm going to Midland, too. If you don't mind I'll follow you to make sure all goes well."

"Is that your rig you're driving?

"Yes, I've owned it for two years now. All seems to be going well, no serious repairs yet. I thought it would be a good idea to own my own rig, but there is a lot of paper work that I never had to worry about before when I worked for a company."

"It must be hard on the family life being gone so much."

"I'm the only one I have to worry about, so it isn't a problem. I don't think there's anyone that would put up with me and my schedule."

"I see by the emblem on your truck you were a Marine. Semper Fi, buddy".

"Semper Fi to you, too."

"Oh, I wasn't in the Marines, but my uncle was, and I know how tight you guys are. Semper Fi, always faithful, certainly fits the camaraderie shared by all the Marines. I have a lot of respect for them. We've learned over the years that we would not have the freedom we have if it weren't for men like you."

"If you feel like you're ready, I'll follow you in. I'm getting hungry, and I think I'll need to stop pretty soon."

"I tell you what, follow me in and I will buy you supper. I have a great place in mind and the owner is a personal friend of mine."

"Give me a minute to get in my cab and we're off.

Jeff was grateful to have a distraction from his thoughts about Mary, but felt foolish that this guy thought he needed to be escorted to Midland. You don't find too many people that will go out of their way to help a stranger. Semper Fi, always faithful. Yes, that certainly fits Pete. He must be a very special guy.

Jeff pulled up to Dolly's Café parking lot with Pete following him in his semi-truck.

"Hey Dolly, we're starving, do you think you can fix that problem?" Jeff yelled to Dolly as he walked in the door.

"Well, hi Hon, I was wondering when I would hear from you again. It has been a long couple of days."

"Dolly I want you to meet Pete, he's quite a guy. He's hungry and I told him I knew of someone that could fix him up."

Dolly searched Jeff's face for some answers as to where he was, what he was doing, and if he knew that Mary had left for home.

"Not now Dolly, later," Jeff said as he winked at her. He knew it was too soon to explain to Dolly what had happened between Mary and Bob. In a louder voice he said "We want food, now."

"Okay, I'm the one that can help you," Dolly said as she put menus on the counter. She then brought two cups, full of coffee, and set them down. "I know Jeff wants coffee, how about you Pete?"

"Black would be great. I see you have a motel across the parking lot. Is that yours, too?"

"As a matter of fact, it is. Are you looking for a place to stay?"

"I am ready for a bed, shower, and maybe even to put my feet up and watch some TV.

"I can fix you up right after we get some food in your belly. What do you think? Are you ready to order?"

Pete looked to Jeff, "What would you recommend?"

"My favorite is the hot beef sandwich, mashed potatoes, and lots of gravy".

"Wow! That sounds great to me. Maybe even a piece of pie for dessert."

"Two orders of hot beef coming up," Dolly said, as she turned to walk into the kitchen.

I wonder when Jeff met up with Pete, Dolly thought. She hadn't seen him before. He certainly was an interesting man. His eyes were beautiful. They always say the eyes are the window to your soul, and if that is true, this Pete is a very kind man. Dolly then shook her head. What was she doing? She didn't have any time for a man in her life. She was very happy just the way she was.

When Dolly delivered the hot beef to Jeff and Pete they were deep in conversation. Jeff must have known this Pete for some time she thought; they act like old buddies. Funny he never mentioned him before.

As she placed the plates in front of them Pete looked straight into her eyes and said, "Thanks, Hon"; and with that Jeff and Dolly exploded in laughter.

"What's wrong?" Pete said.

"Nothing's wrong" Dolly said, "but that is what I always call everyone, Hon, so I guess it's okay if you call me that, too. People will think they are hearing it in stereo." As she turned to walk away, she broke into a smile. Isn't that strange, she thought to herself.

"So tell me, Jeff," Pete said, "if you cared that much for Mary, why did you work so hard in getting her back with her husband?"

"It was difficult, but I couldn't build a future with Mary until I was sure that she was finished with her past, and I knew she had lots of questions that needed answers," Jeff replied.

"If I found someone I had that much of a connection with, I'm not sure that I would walk away that easily." As Pete made this comment his eyes turned to watch Dolly as she cleared some of the tables. He wasn't interested in anyone, but this Dolly sure has his attention, something that hadn't happened to him in years.

"I'll tell you a story I told Bob, Mary's husband, and then maybe you can understand. A long time ago I read that love is like a butterfly; you must hold it in open palms. If you hold it too tightly, you will break its spirit or break its wings, but in any case it would die. If while you are holding it, it flies away and doesn't come back, you will miss it, but the memories of the time it spent with you would be beautiful. If it flies away and then comes back to you, you will have found real love, and it will be with you forever ...

"Mary is my butterfly, but I had to give her the space to fly. My only prayer is that she will return to me ... someday. That is the only thing I am waiting for. She has a lot of things to straighten out in her marriage, and after meeting Bob, I'm not sure he is ready to change. I think he cares about her in his own way, but over the years he has become selfish and doesn't think about her or his family.

"I have to be patient, but it's hard. My heart aches for her and for all the things I didn't have time to tell her. She knows that I care for her, what she doesn't know is that I have fallen in love with her. I thought that I had learned a long time ago not to let words go unspoken, but here I am again with all these words in my heart, and I can't speak them now."

Jeff's eyes welled up with tears that he thought were spent. He slowly shook his head, praying he would have a chance to tell these things to Mary someday.

Dolly had busied herself with cleaning up the tables so as not to intrude in their conversation, but as she turned to check on them, she realized that she needed to refill their coffee cups.

"How about a refill?" she asked as she filled their cups. "Does everything taste okay?"

"Dolly, this is the best hot beef I have ever had. How did you ever escape off my radar?" Pete said.

"Well I don't know ... does your radar take you through Midland very often?" she said with a wink.

"Not a lot in the past, but that can be changed," Pete said returning her wink.

Jeff sat back in amazement. What in the world is going on? Dolly, who isn't interested in any man, and Pete who said no one would put up with his schedule, flirting with each other.

"Now would you like a piece of pie, Jeff, my treat for introducing me to this fine café?"

"I don't usually have pie, but today I think I might since you're buying. What kind do you have Dolly?"

"We have sour cream raisin, apple, cherry, and pecan."

"I'll have apple" Pete announced.

"Do you want that warmed up?" Dolly asked.

"You bet, and with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top," Pete added as he finished his last mouthful of hot beef and pushed his plate aside leaving room for his pie.

"I'll have pecan, Dolly," Jeff added.

Dolly picked up the plates, and took their plates into the kitchen. She returned a few minutes later with pie in each hand.

"Pecan," she stated as she placed the pie in front of Jeff, "And warm apple pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream," she said as she placed the pie in front of Pete.

Jeff looked at his pie, and then at Pete's, and then back at his. Pete's pie was twice as big as his, and the ice cream scoop was huge. Hmm.

"Dolly, do you make these pies?" Pete asked.

"No, my cook does. I gave her my mother's recipes and she makes them taste just like Mom did."

"I wouldn't change a thing. I would hate to have to say which was best, the hot beef or the pie. Now I think I am ready to rent one of your rooms."

"I'll get the registration form and get your key," Dolly said.

"I'm glad I stopped to see how you were doing; otherwise I wouldn't have stopped here and I might have missed this great food."

"Food? Is that all you're glad you stopped for?" Jeff answered with a smile on his face.

"What do you mean?" Pete said as he sharply turned towards Jeff.

"Oh, nothing I guess. I thought you would like it here, the food is great, the rooms are clean, and if you decide you would like a beer, there is always The Office Bar, just across the parking lot."

"I think I need a shower and a nap first, maybe later."

"When Dolly closes up tonight I'm going to meet her at The Office, if you would like to join us."

"I'll have to wait and see," Pete said, "I really need a nap, it's been a long day. Besides, I have to drive tomorrow, so I could only have one beer."

"That's about all we have too, just to unwind and talk. Well, think about it. Dolly is usually out the door by 9 PM."

"I just might do that. Jeff, it has been a pleasure. I hope our paths cross again."

"Oh, I'm sure they will."

With that, Pete stood up, picked up his key, and walked out the door towards his truck. He took a small duffle bag out of the truck and walked to his room and opened the door. Jeff was right; the rooms are clean. It will be nice to relax in a room, watch a little TV and sleep. No, sleep comes first, right after my shower.

"How do you know Pete?" Dolly asked.

"Oh I met him on the road," Jeff answered looking away.

"I bet there is more to that story."

"Could be, some other time," Jeff said.

"The only reason I am letting you get by with that kind of answer is that I am waiting to hear where you have been. Did you know that Mary left to go back home? Can you believe that?"

"Yes, I know. You were wondering where I was; I was talking to Bob, Mary's husband. I needed to make him see what a mistake it was to give up on their marriage. Mary is too special a woman to just throw it away."

"Really? That surprises me. I could have sworn that you had some real feelings for Mary," Dolly said as she studied Jeff's face. "Why in the world would you try to talk him into trying again with Mary?"

She immediately saw the pain in Jeff's eyes, and a glistening coming over them, slowly gathering at the corner of his eyes, ready to slide down his face. "Oh, Jeff honey, I'm sorry. Of course you cared for her." Dolly slid her hands over Jeff's and gave them a little squeeze. "What did Bob have to say?"

Jeff could barely keep his thoughts straight. All he could see was Bob, Mary, Rob, and Candy in their family hug. And he was an outsider walking away. Jeff shook his head as if trying to rid the memory from his mind, and just sat there gathering strength to go on.

"He was very suspicious of me at first, but once he saw that I was a friend of Mary's, he relaxed and I convinced him that Mary was still committed to him and their situations were being manipulated by his secretary."

"His secretary? How did you know about her? Where did she come into this?"

"Oh, that's a long story, Dolly, but it didn't take me long to put two and two together and it equaled a secretary who would do anything to get her claws into Bob, even if it meant making up lies to both Bob and Mary. She was a beauty, but her heart was as cold as ice. She knew what she wanted and she didn't care who she had to hurt or tear apart to get it."

"So are they going to stay together?" Dolly asked almost hoping they weren't.

"Yes, Bob is willing to do anything to keep his family together. And their kids, Dolly, you should see their kids. They love Mary so much and were so worried about her. I know they will do anything possible to help. What a family ... What a family." With that his voice trailed off as he stared into his coffee cup. His crying was over. What more could he do? He gave up everything to help them stay together, and he knew God understood his heartache.

"Say Dolly!!" Jeff bellowed. "Aren't you just about ready to shut this place down and go to The Office for a beer? I'm ready to relax."

Dolly must have jumped two feet as Jeff announced he was ready for a change. She realized that enough had been said tonight about Mary. She felt so sorry for Jeff. He was such a nice guy, and finally he was happy. You could see it in his eyes every day, and now that spark is gone, and his eyes are blank. Dolly walked around the counter to Jeff and gave him a big hug.

"You bet I'm ready, lets blow this place."

"Wait, I told Pete to come on over and join us at The Office, so we need to knock on his door and see if he wants to come, too."

"Oh," Dolly said as she fussed with her hair, "that would be good."

The two of them turned off the lights, locked up the café, and walked over to the motel room that Pete was staying in. They knocked at the door, waited, knocked again, waited, and decided that he had fallen asleep.

"I'm sorry Dolly; I guess he really was tired. Is my company going to be enough for you?"

Dolly gave Jeff a hit on his arm. "You know you're my guy, why would you say such a thing?" And the two of them walked arm in arm to The Office.