Stella's divine detour

" I can't believe it's already almost three am" Stella said to herself, yawning as the rain started to fall heavier on to the dark road ahead of her. Barely able to see the road she failed to notice the large fallen branch until she heard the large thud upon impact. Immediately her car started smoking,and she started cursing out of frustration. On her long journey home from her mother's funeral, she just wanted to get home and back to the city life she's been embracing for the past few years. Surrounded by dense forest, her cell had no service, making her feel terribly uneasy in the pits of her stomach. She looked ahead down the dark country road, through the rain she faintly saw a dim light way in the distance. She took a deep breath as she hesitatingly put her arms through her coat, unsure if the walk would be worth the anxiety it's already provoking. Stella was the spitting image of her mother,tall with long golden hair and eyes greener than the hills in Ireland. She was used to getting more attention than most and she hated it. Especially in a situation like this, stranded in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night while the storm raged around her. She wondered if some estranged mountain man or homicidal trucker would appear, because she was firm believer in Murphy's law and what can go wrong will go wrong. Pushing those thoughts aside she got out, locking the car behind her and look around at her surroundings."What else can I do?" she said to herself as she sauntered toward the dark abyss ahead of her.

The rain was still pouring steadily, as tears started to trickle down her face. She had maintained a stoic facade during the funeral, full of resentment for what her mother had become. Far from the noble woman Stella remembered growing up. Her mom in recent years sold her dignity to her addiction. After so many failed interventions, Stella moved to the city to shield herself from seeing her mother's decay. Stella's father left before she was born, never even knowing his name. Somehow her mom never let that hinder her daughter's quality of life. Thinking back Stella realized how hard it must've been to work two jobs but somehow never miss a game, school play or anything else important to Stella. She was like a super woman, never getting a moment to herself, no wonder the stress weighed on her so. Stella wasn't the most easy person to raise, with her penchant for chaos. She now felt mad at herself for being so bitter the past few years and through the service the day before. She laughed, thinking of the karmic irony of the situation she was in. Scared, soaked and lost in thought she didn't realize how far the light actually was. Walking for what felt like an eternity, she finally could read the bright neon sign in the distance "RR Diner 24/7". She picked up her pace, thinking of the special comfort a warm cup of coffee would gift.

A chill traveled down her spine, while her hair stood up, and she came to a dead stop. The diner was run down and desolate, a big white van was the only vehicle in the lot. It looked abandoned and she contemplated if she should just go hurry back to her car until morning. Neither option seemed great, especially with the temperature dropping, so she decided to approach the diner cautiously. She smelt a cigarette still burning in the over filled ash tray by the door. Peeking through the dirty window as her heart beat louder than the thunders roar, she saw a large older man wearing an apron over his flannel shirt, a big bushy gray beard and a trucker hat. A woman emerged from the kitchen, yelling at the man. The woman was homely, portly and absolutely enraged throwing plates. Stella couldn't hear what the ruckus was about, but she didn't like the idea of interrupting tension so high. She turned to make the chilling walk back, when she heard the door swing open behind her.

"Howdy little lady" the man said with a deep yet kind voice, as he lit a fresh cigarette. Stella softly replied "hello" . The man grinned as he could see Stella was visibly nervous." Whatcha doing wandering out here in this nasty weather at this hour?" he said inquisitively. Stella froze for a moment before stuttering as she spoke about her car's misfortune a few miles down the road. " You're gonna catch a cold being out in the rain, why don't you come inside, I just made a fresh pot of joe" the man said sincerely. Stella hesitated ,remembering the lady raging a few minutes earlier. Almost as if he read her mind he followed with "I suppose you heard my wife, Sadie's probably calm by now, especially if she knows there's a customer." Stella smirked and asked his name as he opened the door for her and flicked his cigarette into the tray simultaneously . "Randy and your's?" he responded. "I'm Stella" she said. "Stella, you remind me of someone I knew long ago" Randy replied as his steel blue eyes turned misty. He headed back through the kitchen door as he asked his wife to help the soaked stranger that was Stella. Sadie gasped as she said "You poor thang, come have a seat and warm up" as she started pouring Stella a cup of coffee. Stella looked around, the diner was run down but the neon nostalgia was welcoming. An old jukebox played Sugarloaf's Green eyed lady, one of her mom's favorite songs. Stella couldn't shake the feeling like she knew Randy, something about him just seemed so familiar and comforting. Almost as warming as the coffee, which was brewed just right, Stella starred down at the cup as if they were in love. Then Sadie placed a plate with a slice of fresh baked peach pie. Stella smiled and said it was delicious like how her mother used to make from scratch. "It's Randy's old recipe,he wanted you to have bite to eat" Sadie said proudly. Randy came out from the kitchen with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream topped with cinnamon, serving it to a surprised Stella. Deja vu she thought maybe it was a sign from her mom, as she excitedly said "My absolute favorite combo, just how my mom used to serve it when I was little." Randy looked a Stella in awe, and raised a brow as he asked who her mother was. "Cindy Korri" Stella proclaimed. Sadie abruptly suggested Stella best be on her way, as Randy became speechless. Stella awkwardly chugged the last bit of coffee, and nodded her head respectfully to Sadie, thanking them both for their hospitality, and briskly made her way to the exit.

"Wait Stella!" Randy said emotionally, "I knew your mother, I knew her very well" he continued. Sadie intruded with "Is this necessary? She really should be on her way.", "Maybe it's time for you to be on your way Sadie, I've been living with this long enough for you and the sake of our marriage but I've had it." he replied sternly. Sadie spit in Randy's face as she rushed out, racing off in that creepy big white van. "Sadie has always hated your mother, and that's my fault. She was the love of my life but I was already married to Sadie when we met, and back then, divorce wasn't an option" Randy confessed. Stella was in shock, she never heard of this man, and couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Your momma used to waitress here when I first opened and is the most enchanting soul I have ever encountered, you really remind me of her in the way you smirked." Stella grinned, still absolutely bewildered by the moment and intently listening to the stories of her mom's charming younger days , and of the woman she remembered growing up with.

He asked how Cindy was eagerly hoping the best. However Stella's head dropped, her smile dissipated and she said " She passed last Tuesday, I just was driving home from her funeral when I hit the branch." Randy's misty eyes flooded into a river, remorseful was an understatement. Stella overwhelmed with her and his emotion, started sobbing as well. Randy hugged her close, and said " I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I should've followed my heart long ago, I should of found her sooner, I shouldn't have left her when I did" he confessed further. Stella confusingly asked " Wait, do you know who my father is?" Randy looked at Stella and without hesitation said "Stella, I am your father". Both unsure of what the future would hold, they embraced the moment getting to know one another and sharing stories of Cindy and all her quirks. The coffee flowed, as did their conversation, Stella figured it was fate or divine intervention her mother arranged that led them to this moment. A moment she didn't want to ever end.