Autumn Leaves

By Melody Martin

This is romance mystery novel. The main character is Judy, an RN. She is working at a fast food place while a job as a nurse. She finds love with a man named Bill. There is someone who is harassing her secretly and causing her to become concerned and upset as the mystery character escalates his threats and actions.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Melody Martin
• Release date: Jan 2, 2019
• ISBN: 9781386500599

Melody Martin

I spent 3 years in the Navy. Today I spend My time writing or Painting. I am a very Independent woman Living in Kansas. This is just another stop in my journey through life. I was born in New York in 1941. So, I was alive when they bombed Pearl Harb I grew up on a small farm In Ulster County. The war years were tough but I never went hungry

Book preview

Table of Contents

Autumn Leaves

Autumn Leaves

Working at Sonic | Chapter One

Chapter Two | Starting a New Career

Chapter Three | Back to School

Chapter Four | A Weekend in the City

Chapter Five | Last week at Sonic

Chapter Six | Moving in With Bill

Chapter Seven | Planning the Mariage

Chapter Eight | A New Job a New Threat

Chapter Nine | Saving a Life

Chapter Ten | Firefighting school

Chapter Eleven | A Commendation

Chapter Twelve | A Car Crash

Chapter Thirteen | A New Car

Chapter Fourteen | My Friends Visit Me

Chapter Fifteen | Paramedic School

Chapter Sixteen | Picking out Gowns

Chapter Seventeen | The Wedding

Chapter Eighteen | The Honeymoon

Chapter Nineteen | Going Back Home

Chapter Twenty | A-Bomb?

Chapter Twenty One | I Remember Autumn Leaves

Autumn Leaves

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to an actual person’s, living or a dead or actual event is purely coincidental.

Autumn Leaves

Forward;

Judy is a Registered Nurse she is just out of doing her training and working in Vassar Hospital to complete her training. She could not find employment as an RN and is working at Sonic until an opportunity arises.

Someone is shadowing her and she is actively trying to find out who it may be. She falls in love with a man named Bill and finds work as a paramedic.

I hope you enjoy this story it is somewhat different than the other novels I have written.

Working at Sonic

Chapter One

Winter is gone and spring is bringing its glorious colors to bear. I love this time of the year. If I had a choice spring would be upon us all the time. My Name is Judy and I live in a small city in New York State. I am 25 years old and I am single. This was not part of my plan but the fella I was with decided he liked my best friend better. I was not aware of this up front, I found out when she posted a picture of him on face place. I called her cell and asked if he was any good in bed and her laugh gave it all away. My second call was to Roger, I asked him the same question about Gloria. He hemmed and hawed and denied it but I knew he was lying. I told him you and Gloria to have a good life, just leave me out of it. All of that is in the past now. I heard they got married while I was in college.

I have been looking for a job that pays better than skating around at Sonic, carrying drinks to raucous teens that did not show a dime in appreciation. I have my degree in Nursing but the demand is at a low point right now. I finished my two years studies and six months of residency. They did not have a slot for me when I finished that program. I have been to all the big hospitals in the area and I keep getting the same story, how much experience do you have. What was your last employment? All I get is I’m sorry, we don’t have any opening right now, we will call you if something opens up. I know this story I have heard it many times. How is a girl to get experience if she can’t get a job in her preferred profession?

I am getting ready for my shift at Sonic putting on heavy sox because after 6 -7 hours on skates hurt my feet. We can wear jeans and T-shirts at least they are comfortable. In the summer they said we can wear shorts. I got into my old car I used to travel back and forth to school. It is still running fairly good and if something breaks my dad is handy at fixing whatever breaks. I would like to get a newer car but on the salary I get, I just can’t afford it. This little apartment in town eats up a big part of my check then there are other things like food, electric, gas for the car.

It’s been a long day so far at work. Mostly teenagers with fancy cars their daddy’s bought for them, playing loud music and having fun like they did not have a care in the world. I like my co-workers one guy is always cracking jokes and acting like this is the best job in the world. He plays basketball at the local high school. His name is Peter. I don’t know where he gets all his energy. He is off on Fridays because that’s the night the team plays. But he is always here Saturday afternoon with his jokes and good humor. He came in after taking out an order to a truck parked near the back. He had a tear in his eye. I asked him what was wrong and he said he did not want to talk about it. Finally, I convinced him to open up. The guys in that that white truck told me they don’t tip niggers. They want me to send you out there with a large coke and they will take care of you. I saw my opportunity I grabbed a large cup filled it near to the top with ice and coke put the lid on it but did not press it down all the way on one side. I skated out to the truck and the driver behind the wheel said; bout time you got out here why do you let niggers work here? I smiled and started to hand the drink to him as his hand barely touched the cup I let go of it. The results were wonderful. It hit the steering wheel the lid fell off and the drink fell in his lap. I kind of giggled. Want me to send the nigger out here with some paper towels? He told me to do something physically impossible, started the engine and drove away.

They hit the road in front of the store and floored it. As luck would have it there was a cop parked in the church parking lot trying to catch people not slowing down coming into town. I saw his lights come on and he took off after the truck. I almost split a gut when I saw him fly away as I was walking back to the store. The cop was a black man, Talk about Karma biting someone this was the best. I was laughing when I got back inside. Peter asked what was so funny. I explained how I dropped the coke in his lap, how pissed he got and when I offered to send you back out with napkins to clean up with. They got pissed and told me to go F myself. Then they pealed out when the hit the highway and the cop went after them. The real kicker is the cop is a black man too. Peter joined me in laughing. Judy, you’re the nicest girl I know. I try hard Peter but sometimes it just comes naturally.

The rest of the night was uneventful. I went home knowing I struck one for the Gipper. My feet hurt and I showered and got into a nightgown. I turned on the TV and laid on my bed. I caught myself nodding off to sleep so I shut it off and got under the covers. It was still pretty cold outside in the evenings and I had several covers to keep me warm.  I woke up when the sun was shining in my window. I slipped out of bed and got into my slippers. Coffee was ready when I got to the kitchen. I set it on the timer. I poured a cup and put some Irish cream creamer in it. I slipped into a robe and went outside and sat on the porch swing. The air was brisk and there was a North wind it blew my golden locks in my face. I pushed it back and tucked it in the back of my robe. I finished the coffee and realized I was hungry. I got up and went back inside. I made some oatmeal and poured some milk and maple syrup on it. Not too much I don’t want to ruin my girlish figure.

I went to the den where I had my computer I turned it on and went to get a second cup of coffee. When I returned it was ready for use. Someday this old brick will just crash and die. I went through the e-mail to see if anyone messaged me about a job offer. Most of it was just junk mail. Someone wanted to give me a free sample of something that would make me the man of the hour in bed. Now wait a minute, I am a woman, and I just don’t get it. My e-mail address starts out Judy. How many men do that know whose name is Judy? I answered some personal mail then I went to Face Place to see what was happening in the real world out there. It’s because nothing ever happens in this little spot on the map.  It was getting near lunchtime and I looked in the fridge to see what I could fix quickly. There were a few eggs and some onions and bell peppers. A quick omelet will do the trick then I can get ready for work.

The day was cool the radio said it would warm up to 70 degrees by midafternoon. It will be a nice day to work. I got there at three thirty. There was a note on my station the boss wants to speak to me. I went in the back to his desk and asked if I could help him. He looked up from his desk, what went on yesterday I got a complaint you poured a drink in some guys lap. I kind of chuckled. Yes boss I did, but let me tell you what happened. I explained all the events that led up to the incident; I even tossed in the part about the black cop chasing them down. Okay to understand this you need to know, my boss is black. When I finished the story he smiled. I will make sure if they call again that they are not welcome on this property. I stood there smiling and he said well make sure the next time you spill a drink in someone disrespecting my employees you let me in on it right afterward.

Peter walked in as I was loading my change machine he helped me hang it around my waist. Judy, I told my parents what you did yesterday. They want you to come over for dinner Sunday, that’s your day off right? Yes, Peter, it’s time for the Sunday shift to make their little pot of gold. But tell me; is this the obligatory meet the parent’s thing? I think I caught him off guard, he was sipping a drink and nearly spued it all over the counter. When he got his composure back he laughed, no Judy it’s not like that besides your too old for me. So now, you’re calling me old? I did not mean it that way he stammered. I know it silly; it’s my turn to joke around. He smiled and pulled an order off the computer and began making it up. Then I skated out the door tray in hand to a vehicle waiting in stall three. I took the next order and skated out to the other side.

The day went by quickly and soon the sunset over the mountain. I took over the window while Cindy took her break a white truck pulled up to the window. I recognized this guy behind the wheel. I pushed the button under the counter to alert the boss to come up front. I was doing things that made me look busy. The boss, Mr. Kingman came out and he looked at me. I pointed at the window. He looked real quick and knew right away this was the jerks from yesterday. He walked out the side entrance and over to the truck. I could not hear what he was saying but his body language told it all. They pulled out and hit the street. This time they did not floor it but just drove away. Mr. Kingman came back in he laughed. That’s the most fun I have had all week. Thanks, Judy I would give you a raise but you’re at the salary top already.

It was getting near 11 pm our normal closing time only an occasional order would come in and we were cleaning up and getting things ready for the morning shift. An ambulance pulled in in one of the slots and pushed the button. They wanted 3 Coneys and three large cokes. Peter started making up the order and he had it on the tray. He said you take this one out it’s your turn. I picked up the tray and skated to the side of the ambulance. I handed them the order and they thanked me. One in the passenger seat asked, what’s a pretty girl like you working at this dump? I laughed because they don’t have any jobs at the hospital for a nurse. You’re a nurse? Yes, I am and I work here just to keep my head above water and pay on my student loan. The passenger said my name is Mike, stop in at the fire station tomorrow morning and tell them I sent you. I don’t understand Mike? Well, you’re a nurse and we are short staffed. Maybe we can work something out. I was not sure what he was going to do for me but I made a plan to wake early the next day so I could get to the fire station early in the morning.

Today is Friday, payday, and the day I was going to the fire department to see what Mike was talking about. I poured myself a cup of coffee and sipped on it while I was putting on some makeup. Mike is cute and well maybe he is single too. I don’t normally wear makeup to work because it’s hot inside of Sonic and it just melts away. I slipped into my best pair of tight jeans and pulled down a semi-transparent top. After I was ready I got into my old car and headed out to the fire station. I was a little nervous and I had no idea what to expect. When I arrived the ambulance was outside and some men were washing it and polishing the chrome. I went inside and announced to the first fireman I saw; hi I am Judy, Mike told me to stop in today he wanted to talk something over with me. The guy said my name is Jerry; I will go find Mike he just got off late shift. They had a hospital run this morning and they got off late. Jerry vanished out the side door and was back in about a minute. Why don’t you grab a cup of coffee and go into the office there, as he pointed to a door just a few feet away from me. I poured a cup and added some powdered milk to it and opened the office door. There were several guys in there and one woman who looked at least twice my age. She spoke; Are you, Judy? I replied to the affirmative. Have a seat, I will page Mike. No need for that ma’am one of the men told him I was here. Okay, you can call me Sally. No need to be formal in here she giggled. I sat at the table and sipped the coffee waiting for Mike.

Mike walked through the door behind