Heartbreak Highway 1 (9 page)

When she got to the visitor’s center she asked for a hiking brochure. She was given several and on her way back to her room she stopped in front of Marshall and Simone’s door. She thought about inviting them along on her hike. She went so far as to raise her hand to knock but stopped herself. She was pretty sure that Simone wouldn’t find hiking appealing, but she might go along just because Marshall was and before their long drive to Dollywood today Eva was going to need a break from her.

She went back to her room and packed up her backpack with some bottled waters and snacks that she’d gotten from the vending machine. After making sure she had her phone for taking pictures and everything else she needed she started out.

She found out from the brochures that they were staying right near one of the finest public gardens in the Southern Appalachians. The landscape architect that had designed the grounds at the Biltmore Estate had begun building the public gardens and today it existed as a 434-Acre Arboretum. It had nine trails that wound through it and as Eva stood looking at the map, trying to discern which one she wanted to take she heard a familiar voice say,

“Pardon me, but this is a very nice way to go.”

Eva turned towards Marshall with a smile. He was so amazing. He had not only shown up, but he had shown up as the scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz. She tried to don a Dorothy look as she said,

“Did you say something? Of course you didn’t, you’re a scarecrow.”

“Or that way might be better,” he said, pointing the other way.

“You did say something! But how’s that possible? Scarecrows can’t talk.”

Marshall hesitated and then he at last grinned and said, “Sorry, Dorothy. I forgot the rest of my lines.”

Eva laughed and said, “That’s because you don’t have a brain. You should come with me to see the wizard.” Marshall hooked his arm through hers and said,

“Off to see the wizard?”

Eva laughed again, “You’re a nut. What are you doing up so early and where is your girlfriend?”

“I woke up early to go on a hike with you, and my “girlfriend” is still asleep. I offered her the chance to come along, but she said some very unladylike things when I woke her.”

Eva laughed again. She was thrilled both that Marshall had shown up and that Eva hadn’t. They walked along the trail until they came to the Bonsai Exhibition Garden where there were over a hundred specimens on display. It smelled amazing and the Japanese maple and Chinese elm trees were amongst the prettiest trees that Eva had ever seen. As they exited the Bonsai garden they were suddenly surrounded by Eastern white pines that towered over them and formed a cool, natural umbrella.

They walked the trail talking and laughing for at least an hour, switching trails twice and finding more natural beauty to admire with every turn. Eva had almost let herself forget Simone would be waiting for them when they got back until Marshall said,

“I hope Simone is up when we get back. I’m starving and we should be pulling out soon, I guess.”

Eva said, “Yeah, we should if we’re going to do Dollywood today. I’m excited about that,” she told him. “So what did you two do last night?”

“We went into town, to one of the clubs that Simone wanted to go to,” he said, flatly.

“You don’t sound very enthusiastic,” she said.

“Can I tell you something? Please don’t say anything in front of Simone about it….”

“Of course you can, silly. This is me.”

“I don’t know if it’s Granddad’s passing, or if it’s that I’m just finally starting to grow up….but going out to clubs and hanging out with a bunch of pretentious, barely out of their teens princes and princesses just doesn’t do it for me anymore.”

“Not that I would, but why would mentioning that in front of Simone be a bad thing?”

He shrugged and said, “She says that we’re young and we should enjoy ourselves and do things like that before we get too old.”

“There are other ways to enjoy your time together,” Eva said.

“I know, like this. I love this. You and me and nature, it’s so cool, like the balloon ride and even the Biltmore. Simone just doesn’t find the kind of pleasure in things like this like I do, and like you do.”

“Can I tell you something, and you won’t get mad?”

“I won’t get mad,” he said, “I brought it up.”

“Maybe you need to be with someone who likes the same things as you do, and finds pleasure in the simple things….like you do. I know you’re comfortable with Simone and I can see why you would want her…..but looks don’t last forever you know.” It was the first time Eva had come right out and told him that she thought he’d be better off moving on. Marshall didn’t respond right away. He seemed to be processing what she’d said.

As he did, they were coming to the end of the trail. Eva looked towards the clearing and she could see Simone already standing there, waiting for them. Just before they reached Simone it was as if Marshall suddenly remembered what Eva had said. He looked at her and then in a whisper he said,

“I did, but I made her my best friend instead.” Eva stopped in her tracks and watched as he walked over to Simone and draped his arm around her. Simone shot Eva one of her evil glares before cozying into Marshall’s side. Eva didn’t know what to make of what Marshall had just said. Was he trying to tell her that he had feelings for her? Damn him! If he did have feelings for her, then why didn’t he just come out and say it already? What was the arm candy about?

“Men!” Eva said, following the two of them towards the cabin.

* * *

After the trio had breakfast, they loaded their things up and checked out of the cabins. Once on the highway Marshall said,

“So, navigator, which way do I go?”

“Take the I-40W. We’re going to be on it for about sixty-six miles before we exit off. Just stay west young man, go west,” Eva told him.

“There is health in the country, and room away from our crowds of idlers and imbeciles,” Marshall said with a grin. It was a game they played, like Dorothy and the scarecrow. One of them began a quote and the other tried to finish it. Eva usually won; she was impressed with Marshall for getting that one right. Simone however, was not. With a heavy sigh, she folded her arms and dropped back into her seat.

“You two are ridiculous. I’m going to take a nap.” She closed her eyes and Marshall’s eyes caught Eva’s in the mirror. He smiled. Eva smiled back. The one thing that kept her from being insanely jealous of Simone was the fact that she and Marshall still shared a connection that she was sure even the evil Simone couldn’t break.

They listened to music and Eva dozed off and on for the hour and a half it took them to get to Dollywood. Eva was excited again like a little girl as they drove through the gates of the country-music themed park. She could see the giant roller coasters flying along the skinny rails that looked like they were barely hanging on….she couldn’t wait to get on one.

The park was crowded but they used the map they’d gotten at the front gate and Eva took the lead. She led them to the Wild Eagle. It was a unique roller coaster where the seats extend outside the top of the track.

“We’re really going to spend all day riding rollercoasters?” Simone complained.

“Not all day,” Eva said. “They have a really cool birds of prey show I hear and lots of concerts and entertainment too.”

“Oh joy!” Simone said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. Eva ignored her and noticed that Marshall was too. He looked as excited as she was about riding the coaster. The line was long and it took them almost an hour to make it to the front. By that time, Simone had decided that a fun activity while they waited would be rubbing her body all over Marshall’s. Eva would like to think Marshall was as disgusted by it as she was, but she’d only be kidding herself. She breathed a sigh of relief when they made it to the front of the line. Eva stepped on first and as Marshall started to step on behind her, Simone interjected herself in between them. Eva didn’t care; she was just thrilled to be going on the ride.

The ride was everything they said it would be…and more. Eva felt like she was truly flying as the wind whipped through her hair and caused the skin on her face to press back against her ears. She heard Simone scream several times but…..fortunately, she wasn’t flying off the ride and hurtling through the air only to land on the front end of an RV that was headed to the East coast. That would have been awful, Eva thought with a grin.

When they got off the Wild Eagle, they headed to the next one on Eva’s list. It was a wooden coaster called Thunderhead. It was fun, not as exciting as the Wild Eagle but Eva liked it and it made Simone scream, so it was worth it.

When they got off that one, Marshall said his stomach felt like it had turned on itself he was so hungry. They went to a restaurant called, “Aunt Granny’s.” Eva found out while they were there that it was named for what Dolly Parton’s nieces and nephews called her. The food was great; Eva and Marshall both had the fried chicken and all the trimmings. Simone was disappointed that everything on the menu seemed to be laden with calories. She finally settled on the side salad. When it was served the cook had the audacity to put green cabbage in it instead of red. Eva thought Simone might cry over it.

“Are you allergic to green cabbage?”

“No!” Simone snapped at her.

“I’m sorry; I’m just wondering why it’s such a big deal.”

“If you cared anything about your own body, you would know that the red has ten times more vitamin A and double the iron.”

“Simone, you don’t have to be so nasty about it,” Marshall told her.

With a look that said she wasn’t sorry in the least she told Eva, “I’m sorry, Eva. I didn’t mean to snap.”

“It’s fine Simone,” Eva said, “You’re right, I don’t pay much attention to what’s in my food. If it tastes good, I eat it.”

“I earn my living with my body,” Simone told her, “I don’t have the luxury of not caring how I look.”

Eva could tell that Marshall didn’t like that remark. She didn’t want him to say something to defend her that he was going to have to apologize for later though so she quickly said,

“Oh look, glass blowing. After we eat lunch, we should go watch.”

They finished their lunches and Simone seemed to have her forked tongue in check for the time being. Afterwards, they walked over and watched the glass blower for a while. Marshall bought Simone a red heart. He asked the man to put an “S” on top of it. Simone smiled and kissed him when he gave it to her, but she didn’t look as thrilled with it as she had the diamond earrings he’d bought for her at Biltmore. Eva bought a pretty little multi-colored glass box for her mother. She could use it for her discarded wedding rings, Eva thought.

They went to the “Winged Wonders” show which Marshall seemed to like the best of anything they had done thus far. The last thing they did was take in Randy Parton’s show. It was a variety show based on the history of country music. Even Simone seemed to enjoy that one. The sun was going down as they left the park, all tired and hungry.

“Should we find a hotel here in Pigeon Forge?” Marshall asked.

“That name just kills me,” Simone said, “You think people would have more self-respect than to name a town something that sounds so ridiculous.”

Marshall and Eva let that one go. Eva wondered though, and not for the first time, how a girl who didn’t grow up with much more money or social status than she did got to be such a snob. It must have something to do with her looks. Eva knew that she wasn’t ugly, but compared to Simone, she could see how she might be considered a little “plain.” Simone had hair as black as a raven that hung to her waist. It was always shiny and buoyant. Her skin was a light olive color and her eyes were the greenest shade of green that Eva had ever seen. When they were in high school Eva used to wonder if they were contact lenses. She had high cheekbones and a petite, dancer’s body with a lot of lean muscle. Her breasts were large for such a small frame and Eva had also found herself wondering if she’d had those enhanced as well. It didn’t really matter; because the overall picture was literally drop-dead gorgeous and men practically dropped at her tiny little perfectly pedicured feet. All of that had to be where the high-fluting ideas came from.

Once back in the car they discussed where to eat dinner and Eva started looking up hotels. She found a Motel 6 which Simone nixed right away saying that they were known for their “bed bugs,” and a Comfort Inn that Simone crinkled her nose at, but didn’t voice any strong objections. Unfortunately they were both full for the night. Eva went through the entire list of hotels in the city and eventually found one that had a vacancy. It was one of the higher end hotel chains and it was a very expensive penthouse suite. Marshall said that it didn’t matter, they’d take it. He was too tired to drive on to their next destination. Eva booked it, not having the nerve to tell either of her car mates that it had only one Queen sized bed. Besides, she thought it would be more amusing to wait and see the looks on their faces when they got there.

Eva had been right; the looks on their faces were priceless. Unfortunately, the look on hers as she lay on the small sofa in the sitting area was probably priceless as well. That part wouldn’t have been so bad, but apparently Marshall was saying….or more likely doing something that Simone agreed with a hundred percent. She kept saying,

“Yes! Yes! Yes! Oh Marshall, Yes!” For what seemed like hours. Eva turned up the volume on the television and tried to drown out her heart ache with an episode of I Love Lucy. She found herself wishing for life in the fifties. Ethel and Fred wouldn’t have dared made noisy love only feet away from where Lucy was trying to sleep.

Chapter 11

T
he next morning as they left the hotel in the Caddy with the windows down and the wind in their faces Eva sat in the backseat with Granddad’s ashes and rubbed her aching neck. She hadn’t slept well and now she was tired and grumpy. She found herself wishing that she had the nerve to defy Granddad and walk away from Marshall and go home. Even the idea of helping her mother plan her fifth wedding was preferable to the thought of spending another day with Simone, and another night only a wall or two away from where Marshall made passionate love to her. She watched as Marshall eased them onto the Natchez Trace Parkway. The road was 444 miles of non-commercial paradise and it was the only thing about this day that Eva was looking forward to.