Page 20 of Clear Path

Lake was a generous description for the small, murky body of water that appeared as they reached the outskirts of town. A handful of trailer homes dotted its perimeter, interspersed with patches of scrubby woods. As they crested a rise, a squat building came into view. A large sign with the same cartoon hamburger from Will’s shirt identified it as Billy’s Burgers.

Will pulled into the gravel lot beside the building. “Home sweet home,” he said, gesturing toward a small, tan-colored ranch house set back about fifty yards from the burger stand.

Bodhi eyed the burger place. “Do you get much business on the lake?”

“Well, the burger stand used to be a bait shop. I worked there in high school. After a stint in the Army, I came back and bought it and the house back there and opened Billy’s Burgers. Nobody fishes in the lake. I mean look at it. But folks have to eat.”

They walked past the burger joint and up the gravel drive to the house. Will unlocked the door and ushered Bodhi into a modest living room. The space was tidy but dated, with a plaid sofa, a recliner, and a TV that looked to be at least fifteen years old.

Will gestured to the hallway that ran to the left. “You can drop your bag in the bedroom back there. Just ignore all the stuffed animals. It was my daughter’s room. She moved to Philly for college, but her teddy bears and bunny rabbits still call this place home.”

It took a moment for Bodhi to realize Will wasn’t offering to help him find a hotel room—he was opening his home to a stranger.

When he caught on, he began to protest. “I don’t want to impose. I’m sure I can find someplace?—”

“Aunt Dot would have my hide if I let you stay anywhere else,” Will interrupted with a good-natured firmness that made it clear he considered the issue settled. “Besides, it’s just me here since Jessie moved out. Plenty of room. Not only that, I’m pretty sure the motel in town has bedbugs.”

“In that case, I’m very grateful.”

Will shrugs off his thanks. “No worries. You can wash up if you want. Bathroom’s down the hall. I need to open the stand in twenty. Dinner rush’ll start soon.”

Bodhi thanked him and took the opportunity to shower and change into clean clothes. When he emerged, refreshed, Will was already gone. Through the living room window, Bodhi saw exterior lights illuminating the burger stand, and a pair of cars pulling into the lot.

Following the path to the metal building, Bodhi found Will working alone, flipping burgers on a flat-top grill with one hand while dropping fresh-cut potatoes into a fryer with the other.

“Need a hand?” Bodhi offered, observing the growing line of customers at the window.

Will glanced up, relief evident in his expression. “You know your way around a kitchen?”

“I’ve worked in a few.”

“Then grab that apron and man the fryer. I never turn down help during the rush.”

Bodhi tied the faded black apron around his waist and took up position at the fryer station. For the next two hours, they worked in seamless choreography. Will handled the grill and orders, Bodhi managed the fryer and assembled the completed meals.

As he passed meals through the service window, Bodhi caught snippets of the customers’ conversations. There was a lot of discussion about a long-delayed road repair, some speculation about a potential buyer for the abandoned glass factory, and hushed gossip about someone’s daughter who’d moved back from Columbus with a mysterious boyfriend.

“Hear about that photographer lady?” one man asked his companion as Bodhi handed them their onion rings. “The one taking pictures of all the old buildings before they get torn down?”

She nodded. “Yeah, my sister works in the bakery up in Union Hill. She says that photographer used to be a model. Like, famous. Victoria’s Secret or something.”

“No kidding? What’s she doing around here?”

The woman shrugged. “Taking pictures of dying towns, I guess. They say she’s documenting how the trail’s changing everything.”

“She oughta come here if she wants to see a dead town,” the guy said as they walked away from the window.

After the rush subsided, Will prepared a burger for himself and a plate of fries with a side of sautéed vegetables for Bodhi.

“Not much of a vegan meal,” he apologized as he set the food in front of Bodhi. “But the fries are just potatoes and vegetable oil, and the veggies are just ... well, vegetables.”

“It’s great,” Bodhi assured him. “Thank you.”

They ate at a picnic table Will had set up behind the stand. Bodhi watched as the sky transitioned from blue to deep purple. The lake reflected the sunset’s colors, temporarily transforming its muddy surface into something beautiful.

“My daughter’s a vegetarian,” Will said between bites of his burger. “Not fully vegan, but still. When she comes home to visit, I try to have better options for her.” He gestured with a fry. “She’s always sending me recipes to try. Some of them aren’t half bad. If I’d have known you were coming, I’d have had more to offer you.”

“This is perfect. How long has she been away?”

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