Roberts Plan, a love story by Sharon Martin

Robert's Plan

By Sharon Martin


Kate screamed in pain when she felt the snap in her ankle. Reading and walking in the sloppy parking area of a truck stop in Toledo  was her downfall, and her pain was blotted out by her anger at herself as she lay in the half frozen slush. How could she have been so stupid! This was certainly not part of the plan. Robert’s plan.

Robert had made plans. When he found out he was dying, he made many plans.  He had made her go to Truck driving school. He had ordered a new truck with all power options and the latest sleeper equipped with everything Kate could need. He worked extra loads to pay off  most of the truck . He had taught her everything he knew about trucking, and Kate learned fast. She was a good driver and an excellent manager.

Robert’s plan didn’t help her when the cancer that crept silently into his life finally took it. For months, she was numb. She just couldn’t let him go. She could see him each time she looked at the big Peterbilt truck sitting in the pole barn, she could smell him when she opened the door and curled up in their bunk. She could picture him sitting in the driver’s seat, wheeling down the interstate, chatting on the CB radio.  Her world was gone. It left when he died.

She had climbed into her custom seat in the truck two weeks after they had married, and had traveled with him  for three years. They saw the country together, they ran mostly mid west freight with occasional trips to California. She had learned to drive and to do the endless paperwork and billing, and she loved it.  She had sat in her “favorite seat” as he had backed the rig into the barn and turned it off for the last time. They had walked away  hand in hand, and the rest was history.

She had a couple good offers on the truck but she just couldn’t sell it. She considered hiring a driver, but she hated the thought of someone else behind the wheel of the Pete. Financially she had enough to make it for awhile, but she knew she would have to make a decision. Someday.

Spring came, and somehow the hurt and the hollow spot  turned into an itch to reach out to the life Robert had left for her. She knew that he was confident she could make her way in this men’s world, she had what she needed. Now it was up to her. 

She walked to the pole barn door and fumbled with the key in the lock. She put her shoulder to the big slider and pushed. Two big headlights and four feet of polished chrome grill looked her right in the eye. She felt shaky, but sure she was doing the right thing. She climbed into the truck and bounced a couple of times on the seat, put the key in the switch, pushed in the clutch, and fired the 400 Cummins. It rolled over and sputtered to life!

She pulled out of the barn and let it sit and run while she went thru her check list. Robert had taught her well. She made a call from her cell phone to a familiar number. Their friend John had always serviced their truck. He told her to bring it on in.

Half an hour later she pulled into John’s Truck Garage. John was cleaning grease from his hands, and his dark curly hair glistened around his freshly washed face. His blue eyes smiled as he recognized his old friend’s truck. Kate parked it and shut it down in the parking lot, climbed down the steps, and walked toward him. John noticed her jeans were a little tight, her boots too new, her hair was tucked under a pink cap. Otherwise she was now just an owner-operator bringing a truck in to be serviced. Maybe.

“You are really going to do this, Kate?” You’re going to go back to work by yourself? It’s tough out there!

“I know that, but its been our life for over three years, it was a good life, and I really have little training in anything else. I have to try. The Pete has 4 or 5 good years left, I can earn a good living doing something I think I will love again. I have to try.”

John understood. He remembered his accident with his truck 5 years ago, and he remembered how hard it was to give up that life when he had to because of injuries. Even though his injuries had healed, he remained with the repair business he had built up with the help of his two brothers. Robert had been one of his biggest supporters, best customers, and had chosen him for his best man when he had married Katie. He also knew that it was a tough job, and he had to admire Kate for trying! There were nights when he stood on his front porch and listened to the roar of the big engines on the nearby interstate, and he questioned his decision not to get his own truck again.

John made a list of the things Kate  wanted done and added a few suggestions, which Kate quickly thanked him for. She also accepted his offer of a ride back to her home.  He would call her if there were problems.

Within a week John had gone over the truck, did an oil change,  replaced two tires, and checked and repaired the wiring to the tail lights and had a new inspection sticker on the door. Kate updated plates and stickers and contacted the trucking company she would haul for, who welcomed her back. Monday morning she threw her bag in the sleeper, pulled on her cap , adjusted her sun glasses, and started the Cummins. The brakes hissed and she turned onto the highway. She was on her way!

Everything went smoothly thru the summer months. Kate took a lot of short runs which paid well. She was familiar with many of the warehouses and routes, which made finding places easier for her. She knew most of the drivers on these routes and they were helpful when occasionally, muscles counted She was careful and loved the challenge, and for the most part, everything went well.

Kate made it home at least every two weeks, not because she missed being home-she didn’t, it was too lonely, but she liked to have the truck serviced by John. She trusted him  as Robert had, and knew he would do the services correctly, and check for other problems, which keeps the truck running and safe. These became weekends for getting the paperwork caught up, shopping for supplies, and mowing the lawn. She looked forward to getting back on the road “To rest”, she smiled.

John looked forward to her bringing the truck in and usually found an excuse to be the one who drove her to her home while the service was being done. In fact, one rainy evening, he asked her if she had eaten, and she had to admit that she had not.                                                                                    

 They had chatted for an hour over hamburgers and coffee at the local diner. She related many stories that made him homesick for the road. He loved hearing tales about the drivers at the truck stops and all of their adventures, and she admitted she enjoyed their company.  He watched as she talked and pulled the tie out of her long hair. He didn’t remember it looking that soft before-hadn’t noticed how her hazel eyes twinkled when she laughed. It was good to hear her laugh again.

John stopped  in front of the house Kate and Robert  had shared,  and watched her walk up the sidewalk and unlock the door. She turned, waved and walked inside. Why did he not want to leave? He shook his head, and eased his pick-up into reverse, and headed for home!

Kate watched as his tail lights disappeared over the hill. For a minute, she felt lonely. She shook her head, took off her clothes, and brushed her hair as she ran hot water over bubbles in her own tub. Truck stops were quick showers, then back into your clothes. Home had advantages.

Autumn brought wonderful landscapes into view as Kate worked the freight routes in the Midwest. Her brokers had lots of freight and her home company kept her busy. She kept careful accounts and records and was amazed that she was doing so well. She took off a week in November and visited her sister Jackie and her husband in Columbus.

“So with all the men in your life, have you managed to find one who is special?”  Her sister loved to challenge her, just like always!

“How can I choose one when I see dozens of them every day” Kate laughed
Kate was respectful of the drivers she met, and careful not to lead them down a road where she didn’t want to find them!

“Do you know what my favorite time of the night  is,” Kate smiled? “Its after supper, in the truck stop. You can walk thru the store or around the lounge, and all the drivers have had a shower and a shave, and they all smell heavenly!” She blushed at her own admission, and her sister smiled at this picture.
“So how could I choose just one, they all treat me well, and they all smell so good!”
They both laughed.

“Seriously, no interests? No special guy?”

“Nothing!” Kate protested. Then she thought about John. Sweet, hard working John, who took such great care of her truck, laughed  at her stories, and made sure she got safely inside of her door after he dropped her off.  She thought of his blue eyes and the tan, six foot plus frame, she wondered if he worked out?

“I saw a hesitation! There is someone special!” Jackie insisted.

"We’ll see", Kate thought a bit. No, no one special. She smiled to herself and Jackie hugged her.

“I think you need to do some thinking", she smiled! “Let me know when you think of someone special.”

Now she fought to keep from passing out from pain as the drivers came to her rescue and tried to help her inside the truck stop, out of the bitter February cold. She cried thru gritted teeth as she waited for the paramedic’s  and finally, became calm as she thought thru her situation. One step at a time, she thought.

The ankle was indeed broken. The doctor who looked at the x-rays and assessed the  break  assured her she would not be using it for several weeks. Kate stared at the swollen ankle. Nobody drives truck with a broken ankle, its just physically not possible.

Because of the swelling, Kate had to stay overnight in the hospital. The ankle would be stabilized with a cast in the morning. She found her phone, and called her trucking company. She explained her plight. They told her they would find a driver to fly out to her location, deliver her load, and drive her home as soon as they could.

Kate hung up the phone, and laid back in the bed. Tears escaped down her cheeks. Tomorrow was February 14th, she remembered, great Valentine’s gift! She fell asleep from the pain meds and had scary dreams.

Kate was managing her crutches quite nicely as she paid the cab the next afternoon. She had the cab bring her out to the truck stop where her truck was parked. The manager  welcomed her back, and assured her that her truck was plugged in outside , and ready to start.  She felt at home there with her friends  She ate dinner with lots of company, then started outside to rest in her truck. The company driver should be here by morning.

“Happy Valentine’s day.” She turned and there was a dozen red roses staring her in the face! Slowly the roses came down to chest level.

John stood smiling at her. “I called your company to send you some roses for Valentine’s day. I decided to deliver them.”

She was so happy to see him that it surprised her! She let her crutches fall as he handed her the roses, and she clung to them as he scooped her into his arms. She let go of them with one hand and slid it around his warm neck as he gently kissed first her hair, then her forehead, and finally, her lips.

“Are you ready to head home? I heard you need a driver,” he whispered into her ear.

“Thank you,” she smiled, “I think I have exactly what I need.”

“Lets go home” they headed for the truck.

He carried her to the Peterbilt, and helped her buckle into the passenger seat.  He opened the driver's door and for a minute, he thought of his friend Robert. He climbed in and started the Cummins, then slipped outside to check the trailer, the tires, and the lights. He unplugged , and climbed back in. He went over the gauges using a mental check list which seemed to have resurfaced in his head, he adjusted the seat, smiled at Kate, and released the brakes. They were rolling.

Kate watched as he shot her a quick smile, as the interstate swept past, and she smiled back at him. John was right at home.

And so was she.

 She would call Jackie tomorrow. Could this be part of Robert's plan? She smiled as she guessed the answer.



A Love Story, by Sharon Martin.

I rode with my Owner-Operator husband for many years, most technical words and descriptions in the story are very close to correct. Trucker jargon is also correct. I think all of the truckers, and their sweethearts would love this.
Sharon.