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"You respected him too much."

"How could I not? Work didn’t change the fact that he was my pop. He knows I ain’t cut out to do nothin’ else, and I never went to school or nothin’. He gives me enough to stay afloat, but I know it kills him thinkin’ that he’s got no one to give the family business to when he goes. It’s gotta go to me, and I don’t know what I’m gonna do with them cows that are left over."

Molly stared back at Bill knowing that things would never be the same around the station again, but she couldn’t be certain if that was a good or bad thing. She was so focused on watching him eat that she didn’t notice the black jeep that pulled up until its driver walked through the front door. Both she and Bill looked over immediately to see a young man in his twenties wearing a black coat with an attached black hoodie and worn motorcycle boots. He had a sort of subtle swagger about him until he stopped and stared behind the counter, Molly figured he was either her age or a bit younger. He was carrying a black leather bag in his right hand.

Molly got up and walked past him behind the counter. "Sorry about that, what can I do for you?" His eyes didn’t move; he was fixated on something behind her, a sign on the wall. She turned and looked as well, trying to locate which one. "Do I see that you have a shower in here?" He asked softly, Molly nodded. "Five bucks." He rifled through his wallet, pulled out a five and handed it to her, then began walking towards the back. "This way?" He asked, pointing. "Yeah, you want a towel or a bath mat?" He stopped and walked back. "That would be wonderful." Molly walked into the back where the heavily bleached linens were kept and fetched him two towels and a rubber bath mat. She came back and handed it to him, but he was again fixated on something behind her.

"Chivalry is dead?" He asked softly. She looked at him inquisitively, he pointed to the office’s magic mirror. With the right focus, she could see through it to the bulletin board on the wall; it was covered with old work schedules, suspicious purchase receipts, and messages to the employees, but in the top left corner there was a piece of paper with Roses are red, Some diamonds are blue, Chivalry is dead, But you're still kinda cute written on it in black magic marker. "Yeah, I guess." She said looking back, offering him his toiletries again. She leaned forward and stretched her body out, her loose polyester shirt hanging down and showing her cleavage, but his eyes were fixated on the adorned ring finger of her left hand. He took the items from her and muttered a thank you, then walked into the back. After a few seconds, she could hear the shower running.

The showers were usually only used by truckers, and every once in awhile someone from the area’s pipes would freeze and they’d need one, but this was the first time she’d seen someone she didn’t know that wasn’t a trucker use it. Judging by the fact that he brought the case in with him, he might have been expecting there to be one. Then again, Red Barrels are considered fairly large trucker hubs, and he could have been traveling cross-country. She’d know for sure if he came out and bought pep pills and asked to buy a sub. Fifteen minutes passed by as the snow continued quietly accumulating, the only thing that interrupted Molly’s gaze was the phone ringing yet again. This time, she knew who it was and picked up immediately.

"Harpursville Red Barrel, this is Molly speaking, how may I help you?"

"Molly. It’s past midnight, why are you still there?"

"Oh, I’m covering for Jeff’s shift Mr. Dougherty."

"I thought I told you I don’t want you covering his shifts no more."

"I know Mr. Dougherty, but he has a good reason not to be here. Alice can’t even get out to her car to bring him out. The roads are terrible."

"Don’t you have anything better to do than cover Jeff’s ass? You ever consider going out after your shift is over?"

"No sir. I wasn’t doing anything else and I could use the money."

"You always say that. You’ve got your own car and your own apartment and you can afford all those little extras, like satellite TV. There’s no man in your life that I’m aware of, so what… you saving up to go somewhere?"

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