Distractions (37 page)

lot, we circled the building to walk into

the small pub style eatery. Shepard

ordered the pork schnitzel and spaetzle,

and I, the basil apple gnocchi. The food

was delicious, yet the mood had

changed. Finishing quickly, he chanced a

grasp at my hand, holding it gingerly as

we walked back to the car. It was not

too far of a drive into Austria. Several

large billboards reminded the drivers to

purchase the vignette required for travel.

When I noticed the symbols adhered to

the upper left corner of the windshield,

Shepard explained what each one meant

and the countries they belonged to. He

grew excited the closer we got to

Salzburg.

“Never in my wildest dreams, Vy,

could I imagine this moment. You have

no idea what it means to me.”

I just smiled and took everything in.

The roads appeared smaller and the

traffic increased the closer we got to the

river and the old city center of Salzburg.

The

Hohensalzburg

Fortress

sat

imposingly on top of the hill watching

over the town. I couldn’t resist the urge

to start singing tunes from the Sound of

Music. Shepard crouched as if my voice

brought him pain. Twisting his index

finger in his ears he coughed out.

“Who sings in that movie?”

Pulling back I replied, “Julie

Andrews.”

While keeping his eyes on the brake

happy car ahead of us, his reply was,

“Keep it that way.”

I wasn’t that bad when I tried, but I

was being pretty obnoxious in my

attempts at hitting the high notes. He

flinched, anticipating another punch

before busting out laughing.

“I never thought I would say this,

but you have become an asshole.” I was

secretly entertained by his riotous

behavior, but I dared not admit it, at

least not yet. He seemed to have

developed an ego I wondered if I really

had a hand in creating.

“I guess that’s what happens when

you don’t have a woman to keep you in

line.”

Although we established there was

no significant other currently in each

other’s lives, I doubted he had remained

single all this time. Deciding to test the

waters, I pushed a little deeper. “Right

now, but surely I just caught you in

between one of your steamy dalliances.

The car, the look, you’re a total

heartbreaker.” Leaning in, I pretended to

wait for juicy gossip, but his mouth

formed a tight line. He wasn’t amused

with my remark.

“Is that what you think, Violet? I am

some frivolous playboy who plows

through women?” Sinking back into my

seat, I wasn’t sure what I felt. I didn’t

want to be that weak girl who had the

nervous breakdown at the auto shop. I

had to prove to myself I could handle

this. “I know what you’re doing and you

can stop. I hate to break it to you, but I

am not some piece of shit like the one

who has obviously broken you.”

Stunned, my jaw just gaped, unable

to respond at first. “You really are an

asshole. I’m done; I don’t need your shit.

Sorry, but I have filled my quota for the

year. Take me to the airport, or train

station, I don’t care.”

Turning my head to look out the

window, I could feel him staring at me,

yet I refused to look back. The Shepard I

knew before would never be so callous

towards me. People change – I should

have known that. Nothing stays the same.

“So that’s it, you’re just gone. No

argument…just walking away. Good to

know.”

He sounded like I just confirmed

some theory he had about me. I had

judged him incorrectly and he was right

once again.

“You say you know what I’m doing,

but what the hell is going on with you?

We have been together less than forty

eight hours and I am ready to jump out of

the car. Don’t get me wrong, I am really

happy we ran into each other and for

your willingness to help me out, but I

don’t need this; it’s too much. I feel like

we are two confused magnets that can’t

decide if they are drawn to or repulsed

with one another.”

He was now the one refusing to

look at me. If it were another time, and

another place, perhaps I would have the

mental energy to sort out my feelings.

Like everything else in my life, this was

just another example of holding the

wrong hand of cards in a high stake

game of chance. I had to fold; there was

no winning here.

“I know I am screwed up; I don’t

need to be reminded. I think it’s best if I

am on my own from here on out. I really

do appreciate everything.”

The tension between us was

tangible. He continued to drive in

silence through the city, ignoring my

request. I didn’t push the issue, knowing

I was angry, as did he. Part of me

wanted to know what he was thinking;

the other part said I should know better.

Three more days – that may be all I have

with him, I needed to stop being so

sensitive.

Chapter 34 - Ingrid

The sun would be setting in a few

hours as we passed near the city center,

then up a steep grade into a hillside

neighborhood. Shepard pulled into a cut

out off the side of the road and parked.

“We’re here.”

I wasn’t able to see where here

really was, all I could see was a large

stone retaining wall against the parking

spot. A few feet in front of the car was

an opening with a stairway leading up to

the house. Walking up the steps, I was

eye level to a quaint garden with various

flowers and what looked like a

raspberry bush. A small but very tall

home was built several stories into the

side of the hill. It looked like it was

older, but well kept. There were only

three homes in this section that I could

see, with a small walking path

connecting them. Opening the door to the

cream stucco covered building, Shepard

guided me into the dark entryway with

our luggage. A wooden stairwell was

directly in front of us, with a small

hallway to the right.

“You can go upstairs; I will be just

a moment.” His hand flicked on a few

switches, lighting up the upper level.

Figuring he was going back to the car for

something, I nodded and removed my

shoes before heading up.

The first level was the living room

area and kitchen. It was very clean and

modern, almost bare. There were no

photos or personal items most people

have a tendency to display. The kitchen

was so tiny, my pathetic one looked like

a palace compared to it. Against the

wall,

however,

was

a

beautiful

handcrafted fireplace that had seats

molded into the side and a baking oven

at the top.

Remembering he told me I would

love the bathtub, I opened the door into

the surprisingly large room. A shower

stall was built into one wall with a

single pedestal sink. Another wall

created a partition, dividing the room so

I had to walk around to see the rest of it.

Against the windows was a sight that

caused me to moan in delight. It was

ridiculous how infatuated I was with

bathtubs, but he was right. He knew I

would love this. A large, antique,

porcelain, claw footed tub nearly

identical to the one in Cincinnati was at

my fingertips.

Shepard was calling through the

house for me when I yelled out where I

was.

“I should have known exactly

where you would be,” he laughed while

climbing into the empty tub with me.

“Where did you find this?” I grazed

my fingers against the smooth cold walls

lovingly, sedated by the sensation.

“It was in the house, actually. It’s

one of the reasons I bought it. It was a

sign it was the right one.”

Raising an eyebrow, I questioned

someone making a decision based

merely off a bathtub, then realized I

would do the same thing. “So, what’s the

other reason you bought it?”

Tilting his head to the side, he gave

me a deviant grin. “Do you want to

know?” My lips pursed together,

realizing we were visiting the same

memory. I didn’t reply, so he stood and

held out his hand. “Let me show you,

Violet.”

He led me up the second stairway

to the upper level. It was nearly open

except for a wall with French doors that

I imagined led to his bedroom. An office

was in one corner with a media center

and sofa in the other. It looked a little

more personal, but not much. With the

exception of the bookshelves lining the

center area, he could have sublet the

house while he was gone for all I knew.

A metal door was next to the office,

which cracked as it pulled from the

frame. Stepping out onto a narrow

wraparound balcony, he guided me

towards the front of the house. I now

understood why he chose this place. An

entire deck opened to the city below. A

perfect view of the fortress and the

churches along with the river sprawled

at our feet. I could take a picture and

never need to see anything else. I walked

to the edge and held my hand to my chest

in awe. The sun was setting behind the

hills, creating a vibrant display of light

against the clouds.

“Do you like it?”

I was speechless. I couldn’t

imagine living somewhere so beautiful; I

would never leave my house if this was

what I woke up to every day.

“It’s incredible; there are no words

to describe what I am feeling right now.”

“Violet, I’m sorry for earlier. I was

out of line. I didn’t mean to say that

about you; you’re not broken. If anyone

is, it’s me. That’s still not an excuse,

though. I was wrong.”

He walked to the edge of the deck

with his hands laced in his hair,

breathing out deeply. I knew he was

struggling just as much as I was. Our

emotions were running out of control and

we were taking them out on each other.

Stepping softly behind him, I placed my

hand in between his shoulder blades and

pressed lightly. His head dropped before

he turned around and held the sides of

my face in his hands.

He dipped slightly and held his lips

against my forehead. “Thank you.” As he

reached down to hold my hand, we

started to walk towards the balcony.

“Where are we going?”

Shepard started to laugh as he led

me out of the house and over to the small

path next door.

“Next door to my neighbor,

Ingrid’s. I ran over there to pick up my

mail and she doesn’t believe I have a

girl with me. I told her we would come

over, so I hope you don’t mind. She

wants us to join her for dinner.”

Trusting that Shepard wouldn’t put

me into another panic inducing situation,

I didn’t resist. He didn’t knock as we

came around to the door, simply yelling

that we were there. A small older blond

woman with sparkling blue eyes rounded

the corner with enthusiasm. Looking me

up and down, she turned to Shepard and

wagged her eyebrows.

“You brought me a live one. Come,

let’s get some coffee.”

I instantly loved her. She was warm

and inviting, the way you imagine every

grandmother should be. Her house was

covered wall to wall with photos of her

loved ones. Handcrafted quilts folded

delicately were placed across the arms

of her sofa and rocking chair. Two fluffy

cats slept curled up together in a basket

full of yarn skeins. The smell of

simmering tomatoes permeated the air,

causing my stomach to rumble. Shepard

moved about the kitchen with her,

grabbing dishes to set the table.

“This is why your kitchen doesn’t