Room 702 (42 page)

“Of course.”

“While I will not reveal you as a source, I’m sure he is going to start asking around in his organization to figure out where the leak is.
 
Are you prepared for this?”

“Don’t worry, I’m perfectly capable of handling my own business.”

“When I ask him for a comment about the accusations, what do you think his response will be?”

“He’ll deny it.”

 
“While I’m putting the article together and trying to get in touch with Mr. Hartley, I want you to think about what you’re about to do.
 
I know this may sound obvious, but once the articles published, it cannot be undone.”

“I’m aware.”
 
Rising and buttoning his suit coat, he asks, “Are we done here?”

 
“Yes, I’ll let you know if I have any follow up questions.”

“Thank you.”

Karl leaves and Angel has the distinct and bitter feeling she’s been used.
 
Of course, she knows she’s being hypocritical, because as much as Karl might be using her, she’s using him to forward her career.
 
Being the one to break as big a story as this will show everyone she’s not afraid of getting her hands dirty.

Opening her laptop, she cracks her knuckles, rewinds the tape player and begins transcribing their conversation.

“So, Oscar, you’ve been seeing me for the better part of this year, right?”

 
“Yes.”

 
“And how do you feel about the progress you’ve made in that time?”

“Good.”

 
Nancy lifts an eyebrow and says, “Just ‘good?’”

 
“Fine, Doc, I think I’ve come a long way.”

 
“I think you have too.”

 
“But I still have a ways to go.”

 
“I told you at the beginning this could be a long process, but I’m glad you’ve taken this seriously.
 
Your commitment means a lot to me.”

 
“Thanks.”

 
“So, how did your surprise for Dani go?”

 
Oscar gives a broad, multi-million dollar smile and says, “Very well.”

 
“The new guy?”

 
“He’s alright.”

 
“Your parents?”

 
Oscar sighs and says, “Them.”

 
“What’s the latest?”

 
“I have been trying not to focus on them as much.
 
I know they don’t deserve my energy.”

 
“Have you felt any significant impact from acting this way?”

 
“It still makes me sad to think about.”

 
“Do you feel any less alone?”

 
“Some days are good.
 
Some days I still feel like, ‘what’s the point?’
 
‘Am I ever going to feel differently?’”

 
“Have you talked to Dani about your feelings?”

 
“No.
 
I really think this is something I need to work out on my own.
 
Plus, if I told her, she would probably just blame herself.”

 
“Really?”

 
“Yes, and I know it has nothing to do with her.
 
I just wish I could wake up one day and feel normal.”

 
“You’ll get there, Oscar.
 
It takes time.”

 
“I know.”
 
He changes the subject, “Anyway, we invited my parents out for Thanksgiving.
 
And before you say anything, it was all Dani’s idea.
 
She seems to think we need to make peace before we have a baby.”

 
“How do you feel about them joining you?”

 
“They haven’t committed to anything yet.”

 
“Oh.”

 
“It’s how they operate.
 
They always wait until the last possible moment.”

 
“What about earlier this year?”

 
“Whenever I buy them a ticket, they feel guilty if they don’t use it, but I feel like I’m forcing them.
 
For once, I’d like for them to even appear as if they
want
to come see me.”

“So, by them not officially committing to your invitation…”

 
“…it’s just another way they hold control,” Oscar finishes the thought.

 
“Exactly.”

 
“Have you been firm with them?
 
Asked them you need a specific commitment?”

 
“Not yet.”

 
“Oscar, you and I both know one of two things is going to happen.
 
Either they are going to show up or they are not.”

 
“I know.”

 
“You’ve extended an invitation, which is much as you can do.
 
How they choose to receive the invite or what excuses they come up with have nothing to do with you.”

 
“I get it.”

 
“What about Dani’s parents?”

 
“They’re coming.
 
In fact, we bought their tickets last month.”

 
“Well, then if your parents don’t come, at least you’ll have something else to look forward to.”

 
“I will.”

 
“Oscar, in the spirit of facing your fears, I want to ask you something.”

 
“Go ahead.”

 
“This time next year, there is a very real possibility you will be a father.”

 
Oscar blinks a few times and says, “I hadn’t ever thought about it like that.”

 
“What changes would you like to make between now and then?
 
What is the future Oscar doing that you’re not doing now?”

 
Oscar ponders the question a moment and answers, “He’s a more attentive husband and he’s made peace with his parents relationship.”

 
“Is he alone?”

 
Oscar closes his eyes and says, “No.
 
He has a healthy son or daughter.”

Although the Winchester does not necessarily market itself as a family hotel, as they do not consistently run at capacity during weekdays, the property is in no position to turn away a paying customer.
 
Furthermore, when eleven-months old Rose Stewart checks in with her moms, she immediately won over the chic front desk staff.
 
So much so that the front desk manager gave the obviously exhausted couple a free upgrade to the suite.

With the help of the bellman, Chad wheels in their luggage and baby accoutrement into the room.
 
Alejandra tips the young man and then she and Leslie look around at the space.
 
This trip is the first they’ve made since Rose was born nearly a year ago.
 
As part of a year round school district, Leslie, an elementary art school teacher, also had the week of Columbus Day off.
 
As Alejandra had a meeting come up in L.A., they had decided to take advantage of the three-day weekend.

Unbuckling Rose from her stroller, Leslie asks, “Maybe you should go through quickly and try to baby proof this place?
 
You know how she’s been.”

Rose has recently learned to pull herself up and now prefers to move around by balancing herself on any available object that is remotely near her or her height.
 
Alejandra tries her best to move things out of Rose’s reach and finishes assembling her travel crib.
 
Dusting her hands, Alejandra says, “Okay, looks like we’re ready.”

“Yeah and so is she – I think it’s your turn for diaper duty.”

Alejandra breathes out.
 
The flight from Denver was a relatively easy one with minimal fussing from their daughter, so she counts them lucky.
 
Easily plucking her daughter up, Alejandra grabs the diaper bag and takes their squiggling daughter into the bathroom.
 
Not seeing anything that resembles a changing table, she unrolls a padded cloth on the floor, and starts to get to business.

In the lounge, Leslie walks around the room, taking in the perfect space.
 
While she does keep a clean house, nothing can compare to the pristine area around her.
 
More than anything, she wants to relax and sink into the oversized bed.
 
Unfortunately, she needs to unpack a few things before that happens.
 
By the time she’s unloaded and put things away, Alejandra appears out of the bathroom.

“So,” Leslie asks, “with the time change, is she at all close to a nap?”

“I don’t know.
 
We were up so early for the flight, I thought Rosie would be exhausted by now.
 
I sure am.”

“Maybe she knows she’s going to Disneyland tomorrow.”

“Shh!” Alejandra puts her hands over their daughter’s ears.
 
“It’s supposed to be a surprise!”

Since her six-month birthday, their daughter has shown an indescribable attachment to Minnie Mouse.
 
Although it’s probably impossible that Rose will remember this outing, her parents want to indulge their offspring.

“Well, since she’s going to need her energy for the happiest place on earth, I’m going to try and get her to sleep.”

“And then?
 
Seems a shame to waste such a nice room.” Alejandra lifts her eyebrows suggestively.

Not feeling particularly romantic after staying up all night packing, Leslie suppresses a sigh and says, “We’ll see.”

“Anyway, I don’t know about you, but I would also enjoy some time to sleep in that amazing bed.”

“While you do that, I think I might enjoy a bath.
 
From what I can tell, it looked incredible.”

“Take your time.”

Alejandra goes into the bath and turns on the tap, allowing the hot water to fill the tub.
 
Settling in, among the lavender scented bubbles, she thinks to herself just how lucky she is.
 
That she has found a wonderful person to share her life with and they are raising a beautiful daughter together.
 
Sighing, she knows there is just one thing that would make her life even more perfect.
 

Leslie walks in to the bathroom and after splashing some water on her face says, “Surprisingly, she went right out.”

“Small blessings.”

Leslie examines the fine lines around her eyes in the magnified mirror, and says, “You’re not thinking about them, are you?”

Leslie and Alejandra have been together for eight years, and married for three.
 
Rose is a recent addition to their family.
 
Alejandra tops up the hot water and answers, “Maybe.”

“You can’t force them to do anything.”

From a different generation and raised in conservative religious houses, Alejandra’s parents had not been too happy when their only daughter had come out.
 
They hadn’t come to the wedding and had met their only granddaughter once.

“I know, I just thought that at some point they would finally come around.”

Leslie walks over and takes her partner’s hand and holds it tightly.
 
She says, “Hey, my parents couldn’t make it either.”

“That’s because they are on a cruise.
 
You know they would have been here in a heartbeat if they had been in country.”

“I know.”

“Do you think mine will ever change their mind?”

“I don’t know, honey, but I do know they are missing out on someone wonderful.”

“Yeah.”
 
Alejandra lets herself sink under the water and focuses on floating in the warm liquid.
 

When she comes up for a breath, Leslie says, “Seriously, you can’t keep expecting them to show up.”

“I know.”

“Now, repeat after me, ‘tomorrow, me, the woman I love and our beautiful daughter are going to have an amazing time at Disneyland.’”

 
Alejandra mumbles something similar.
 

“That’s not loud enough.
 
Come on, we’re going to the happiest place on earth.
 
By the time you get out of the tub, you need to be in a happier mood.”
 
Leslie moves to go outside, and asks, “Are you hungry?”

“Famished.”

“Want to split a pizza?”

“Music to my ears.”

“I love you, you know that, right?”

“I know.
 
And I know I’m being perfectly silly.
 
I have so much in my life to be grateful for, I don’t need to be whining that my parents don’t love me.”

“They do – I’m just not sure they know how to express that love.”

“I know, now how about ordering that pizza?”

“Extra pepperoni and a side of the garlicy breadsticks they can make!”

The trio enters the room, sunburned, each with ubiquitous Mickey ears upon their windblown hair and loaded with souvenirs.
 
Dropping their belongings in the lounge, Alejandra plucks Rose from the stroller and the group collapses on the bed.
 
Rolling over to look at her daughter, Leslie asks, “How is my Rosie-posey?
 
Did you have a good day?”

Having slept the entire way home (and a good portion of the afternoon parade), Rose is now wide-awake and babbles happily at her mother.
 

“Bath time?” Alejandra asks.

“It’s my turn.
 
No doubt she’s covered in ice cream and other sundry sugar products.
 
Did we just eat our way through the park?”