Room 212 (21 page)

“Well, don’t take this the wrong way, but I never pictured you this way.”

“How the hell am I supposed to take that statement, Seth? What did you see for me, tattoos and a brothel? We were kids. I was a little morally screwed up. I found my footing though, and I took the hard road to do it. I figured out a few things.”

“Oh yeah, what did you figure out?”

“That I am nothing without God. I was right about money, it isn’t everything, and I am more capable than I or anyone else thought.”

“So there’s no hero for you?”

“I am my own hero.”

“Nice,” he took a large gulp of his wine and seemed uncomfortable.

“What is it now, Seth?”

“Nothing… Why do you ask?”

“Because you’re sweating.”

“Wine, I really don’t like it.” I let out a chuckle as we finished our meal. We took what was left of our second bottle on the porch and listened to the stream running as the sun set.

“This is the life. So are you like a bitter cat lady now?”

I spit out my wine, throwing my neck back with a laugh.

“No, you shit. I have a dog. I have friends here, lots of them and I have a social life. Why do you assume I’m no longer having fun?”

“You’re just...calm.”

“Well, Seth, sorry to disappoint you.”

“Oh, you couldn’t.” He grabbed my hand and held it. It seemed so natural, I didn’t resist it. When we had finished our bottle, I took him back to the motel, the breeze blowing through the car windows and Tom Petty singing
Don’t Come Around Here No More
on the radio. I felt his eyes on me again and heat rose to my cheeks. I pulled up to the motel and hugged his neck without giving it a second thought, and then I took in his scent. I did a downward spiral. I quickly jumped back into my seat.

“I didn’t bite.”

“I know… I had fun. We should do it again before your leave.”

“Where do you live?”

“About fifteen minutes from here.”

“Take me there.”

“Pretty presumptuous, Seth,” I snapped.

“Laura, I just meant I wasn’t tired and I wanted to spend more time with you.”

“I have a long day tomorrow. How about we have dinner again soon?”

“Tomorrow, same time. Goodnight.”

Before I could respond, he was out of the truck. I rolled down my passenger window to catch him and let him know I couldn’t do it, when he turned around and leaned into it.

“Laura.”

“Seth.”

“I was wondering, you said you left Texas a long time ago, in your early twenties. How old were you exactly?”

Fuck.

“Twenty-Two. Goodnight Seth.” I put my truck into gear and drove away, forcing him out of the window. Damn it, Seth, things were going so well! To hell with it, he was the reason I left. If he had figured it out, then fine. No, it wasn’t fine. I should have lied. I should have lied. I turned the radio up and let the windows down fully, trying to rid my truck of his scent. It was driving me crazy. I went home and took a Benadryl to sleep him off. It was going to be a long six months.

*****

I met him downstairs the next night for our dinner date, this time I didn’t do much to dress up. I wore a vintage Beastie Boy tee, jeans and sneakers. He laughed at my choice of clothing and seemed to catch on to what I was doing.

“As if you could downplay how hot you are.”

“Thanks, I guess.”

“Where are we going tonight, baby?” I froze, his hand was on my door and he was just about to open it for me. I could feel his chest on my back and turned to face him, he was inches from me, and my lips. He had on jeans and a t-shirt as well and I could see his build underneath. He was still ridiculously cut. Time had served him well. He had tiny laugh lines around his eyes, but other than that he was the same strawberry blond, curly haired man that I fell in love with all those years ago. He licked his lips as I eyed them.

Oh, God.

“Baby?” My voice was harsh, too harsh.

“Yeah, baby. You do remember, don’t you, Laura?”

“Of course I remember, but—”

“Don’t think, let’s just have fun tonight.”

“McDonald’s it is.”

He chuckled as he opened the door for me.

“Why don’t we go to your house, you can cook for me.”

“God you are an ass. I’ll get the bill.”

“403 Raincoat Way, please.” He sounded off my address as he jumped into the passenger seat.

“What the hell?”

“I Googled you. You aren’t a maid. You own this damn motel, three of them in fact. You lied to me, you’re worth two point two million dollars. You—”

“I didn’t lie to you. I just didn’t correct you. There’s a difference.”

“Why would you let me think you were a maid?”

“Did you think less of me?”

“No, but I think it’s so cool what you’ve done with your life. I wish you would have shared it with me last night.”

“That’s called bragging, and if I take you to my house, you have to promise you will drop this subject.” I started the car and followed the familiar route toward my house. My nerves were starting to get the best of me. One day and he’s already invading my home? I continued to drive as he stared at me and I was quickly reminded how easily he could ruin me with it. All these years between us and two husbands later and he still had the same unnerving effect on me.

“Why did you clean the room yesterday?”

“Because the maid called in, her kid was sick.”

“So you couldn’t have delegated that out?”

“It’s like I told the manager, I’m no better than her. What does it matter?”

He seemed to digest what I said, his gaze never leaving my face. I knew for the first time in our history together, I had impressed Seth without trying. My heart sang as I pulled into my drive, and I had to say as far as houses go, I was a lucky woman. It was a huge two-story A-frame with two large wrap around porches. It had an incredible view of the mountain ridge and sat on three acres. It was my dream home. I hadn’t built it, but when I saw it, I knew it was meant for me. I still pinched myself every day.

“This is gorgeous.”

“Thanks, I love it.”

“I can see why.”

“Do you fish?”

“Yeah, I love to.”

“I have two boats at the dock, a pontoon and a fishing boat. You’re welcome to bring a few of the guys down.” Now he looked at me like I was an alien. He turned his gaze back onto my land and let out a long whistle.

“Thanks, I just might do that.”

T2 greeted us at the door with his usual bitching.

“T2, chill out. Sorry, he’s just a little aggressive toward men. He hated my ex-husband.”

“T2?’

“Tetris 2. You met Tetris 1, remember?”

He leaned down to pet Tetris and he immediately stopped barking. I gave him the stink eye. Little traitor.

“Okay, so how about some steak?”

“That will do, I guess.” He headed out the back door to my yard and stopped when he got to my garden. I watched him look around, completely baffled at what he was seeing. My insides did a little break dance. I was glad he knew I was successful, and looking at him now, I was sure that I was fighting him for no reason. Why not have a little fun with Seth? If he was anything like he used to be in bed, it could be a hell of a lot of fun. I went to the fridge and grabbed two beers and some steaks to marinate. I felt my inside warm to the idea. He walked inside and took a look around.

“You aren’t acting like a weirdo or anything, Seth. Just give yourself a tour.”

“What?” I heard him shout from my study. “I’m just trying to get to know you again.”

“Well, the frozen heads and other body parts are hidden in the shed.”

“Laura, this is fucking gorgeous. Did you plant that rose garden?”

“Yes, those bushes came from my parents’ house in Texas.”

“When did you get them? I read about their death. I’m so sorry.”

“I want to give you the normal people response and say ‘it’s okay’, but I won’t. It was horrible and it hurt terribly and it still does. I dug the bushes up after their funeral. She worked so hard on them, I couldn’t leave them.”

“I can’t imagine. I still have both of my parents, as much as they drive me nuts…” He looked at me as he cut himself off. He took a long sip of beer and rounded the counter. He brushed my hair away from my shoulder and kissed my cheek as I sliced an onion. I had to stop to keep from cutting myself open.

“You did so good, baby.”

“Thanks, Seth.”

“What about you? Tell me about architecture. Is it what you thought it would be? I always envied that you had a plan.”

“It is exactly what I thought it would be. I love it. We can go online and look at some of my buildings if you want later.” His fingers were now sliding up and down my lower back, just like they used to. I had to take in steady breaths to start slicing again. I felt the tingle start in my abdomen.

“What can I do to help?”

“Nothing really, I’m just going to throw this together. Relax, drink your beer. You must be tired.”

“So who was stupid enough to divorce you?”

“I did the divorcing.”

“Both times?”

“Yes.”

“So can I ask why?”

“Wow, dude, you are really nosey.”

“Yes, I am, so… Why?”

I have only really loved one person in my life, Seth. That’s why.

“It just never worked out. The first one was a huge mistake. Really, it was a Vegas wedding if that tells you anything.”

“And the last one…Anthony?”

“Jesus, what in the hell with the web?”

“There was an article on you when you bought your second hotel. You were still married to him. You had just opened Rooms for a Need.”

Rooms for a Need was a wing of rooms at my second motel open to out of town families who needed help with lodging for medical treatments. I saw Seth’s look of admiration and quickly put a stop to it.

“Don’t look at me like that. Karma kicked my ass for years. I was just trying to balance the scales.”

“Don’t lessen it, Laura. It’s amazing. I couldn’t believe I was reading about the same girl who used to dance on a bar, pouring shots down horny men’s throats.”

“I still have that skill.” I raised my eyebrows and saw his eyes flash. He finished his beer and walked over to me, lifting my chin with his fingertips.

“You say you took the rough road. How rough was it?”

“Let’s just say I bought a motel with my parents’ life insurance money and the settlement of the family whose kid killed them to make sure I always had a place to sleep, rough. I have no regrets, Seth. Don’t pity me. You tried to warn me. My mother tried to warn me.” I took my chin from him and began to gather more veggies out of the fridge.

“Conformity never suited you, but the life you made for yourself does.”

“What about your divorce?”

“I married Rebecca.”

My knife stilled on the cutting board. The mushrooms could wait.

“I thought she was perfect when I met her. Then you know what she did, but still she seemed like, you know, the right one to settle with. I had this stupid image in my head that life should be all structured out just so… It was dumb. Anyway, after our son was born, she went into a deep depression and things went downhill. We stuck it out for a few years after she snapped out of it, but it wasn’t the same. It really wasn’t ever the same before we got married. We’re friends, good friends.”

“Well, that was nice and tidy.”

“As opposed to what?”

“Admitting it was a total fucking mess.” I couldn’t help it. I was livid. I couldn’t believe he had married her! He didn’t love her, he loved me, he—

“Laura, you’re white as a sheet.” He grabbed two beers from the fridge and took me outside to the garden. I quickly came to my senses and took a long drink.

“I had a long day.” The sun was beginning its decent and I walked to the patio to light my grill.

“Let me cook then. I’m sorry I put all this on you. I could have just waited for you to tell me.” He turned me to him and wrapped his arms around me. Seth. I felt my eyes moisten and quickly dismissed it. I wrapped my arms around him and took a deep breath. Finally I was holding him, touching him, smelling him. It didn’t matter how many dreams I had of him over the years, nothing beat the real thing,

“What are we doing, Seth?”

“Having fun?” We both chuckled as we broke our embrace. He turned quickly to walk into the kitchen, coming back out with the steaks. “I’ve got this. How do you like yours?”

“Medium rare.” He gave me a wicked smile.

“You’re still a Texan.”

“Watch your mouth in this house!”

“Come on, Laura, you never miss it?”

“No.”

I missed him. I missed the people who used to live there. There was no way to make him understand that now it was a ghost town; he was the only person left there that I loved and he was here now, with me. I smiled at him and he caught it.

“What?”

“Just… It’s cool that you’re here.”

“I think so, too.” It was the same conversation we had on my brother’s porch. I felt the pressure in my chest and quickly sat down.
Laura, get it together!

We ate dinner on the patio, watching the sun go down. I lit a fire in my two-story stone fireplace and poured two Maker’s Marks in tumblers and sat with him on the couch. I slipped of my sandals and cozied up to him without reservation. It had always been so easy with him. Years of separation didn’t seem to matter.