A New Kind of Bliss (7 page)

And what if you really had to go and Mr. Henderson from down the hall was in there, complete with newspaper and a fresh cigar? But it was probably all Mrs. Cox could afford. Marsha’s mother worked as a cocktail waitress and couldn’t have made much money, and in hindsight I realized that Marsha’s thin frame might have had less to do with nature and more to do with not getting enough to eat. I knew from Marsha that her father had skipped out long ago. I don’t know where he went, but wherever it was, I’ll bet
his
ass didn’t have to share a bathroom, like the family he’d abandoned.

“I love your hair,” I told her now. Gone were the short strands that were barely long enough to smooth down close to her head so she could pin on one of her mother’s hair-pieces. Marsha now wore her hair in a stylish bob even with her chin on the left and with her earlobe on the right. Its texture was so straight it looked as shiny as patent leather, but a few strands of gray that the light hit told me it was all hers and not a weave.

“Thanks.” She patted it with a hand I noticed had polished oval nails of uniform length and rings on both her index and ring fingers.

“Is this your son?”

“Yes. This is Cameron. He’s not feeling so hot today, so I figured I’d bring him in to see Dr. Norman, now that I’m back in Euliss.”

I directed my next statement toward Cameron. “I’m sorry you aren’t feeling well,” I said, rubbing his arm. “I’m sure Dr. Norman will give you something that will make you bounce right back.”

“Thank you,” he mumbled politely.

“So you left Euliss, too,” I said to Marsha. “Where’d you go?”

“I wasn’t far. I lived in New Jersey. I came back and moved in with my mother when my husband died.”

“Oh, Marsha, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.” Marsha seemed too young to be a widow, but I quickly realized that we weren’t too young for anything anymore, even to die ourselves.

“Thanks. I’ve been back for two months.”

The sliding frosted-glass window opened like a miniature shower door. “Cameron Hendricks,” a woman called.

I quickly grabbed the notepad I always keep in my purse. “Marsha, we have to get together. Please give me your number, and I’ll give you mine.”

“Sure.” She waited until I pulled the pen out of the loop that held it in place, and then she recited a number. “That’s my cell phone. It’s easiest to catch me on that.”

“Okay.” I took it down, then flipped a page and scribbled my mother’s number. “This is mine. I have to make a quick trip to Indianapolis, but I’ll be back the week after next. Let’s plan to have lunch or even dinner together, okay?”

“Bet.”

She stood next to Cameron, and we hugged briefly before I left and she disappeared into the inner office.

I walked back to my car with a spring in my step. Not only had the interview gone well, but I’d run into an old friend in the waiting room. Surely that was an omen.

I saw nothing but good things in my future.

I
flew home on Tuesday to meet face-to-face with the property management service I’d chosen and to prepare my condo for rental. After speaking with the property manager, I’d come to the conclusion that it would be best if I made it a furnished rental. People relocated to Indy all the time, and businesses were always looking for furnished units for short-term rentals. This would mean that I could probably get back into my place the moment I was ready to come back and continue with my life.

The agent I worked with expressed admiration for my reasons for giving up my home. “Maybe one day one of my kids will do what you’re doing for their mother and me,” he’d remarked.

I was relieved at not having to move out my belongings, but I took the property manager’s advice and rented a small storage unit to place my personal things, like my small collection of LPs, my large collection of CDs, and my photos, as well as clothing I couldn’t bring with me to Mom’s, given her limited storage space. I spent a few hours packing those up and driving them over to the storage place. I gave myself another day to take care of any loose ends, like making a key for the property manager, putting in a change of address at the post office, and stopping in at my bank, after which I would return to my condo and get to bed early. I’d promised the property manager I would leave my place ready for a renter, and that meant clean sheets and no dishes in the sink. As soon as I arose I would change the bed linens and freshen up the place before hitting the road for the long drive to New York.

I was about to load a box of clothes into my car to take to the post office when my cell phone rang, with its familiar theme from
Bonanza.
A quick glance at the caller ID window revealed Aaron’s cell number, which made me smile. He’d called two or three times a day, every day, since I’d been gone. The insecure part of me feared he would move on to someone else—like Tanis, who would know from her mother that I’d flown home—the minute my plane took off, especially since his schedule didn’t allow him to drive me to the airport. My niece took me to catch my plane, since my mother wouldn’t consider driving anywhere within the five boroughs of New York City. Aaron apologized profusely for not being able to take me himself, and my last night in town he took me to the Ruth Chris’s Steak House in Tarrytown.

“I wish you were back already, Emily,” he confessed.

“That’s sweet. But we’ll be together again before you know it.”

“Speaking of that, I had an idea I’d like your opinion on.”

Immediately I started to feel squeamish. It always made me a little nervous when people asked me for my opinion. Often they were trying to justify something they knew damn well was wrong, or they wanted to be told that a too tight suit looked great on them. Either way, they were not going to like my answer, and then they’d end up getting mad at me. “And what’s that?” I asked, my voice pitched low with caution.

“I can easily take a day off Friday. I thought it would be nice if I flew out to Indy and helped you drive your car back. You were planning on driving back on Saturday, weren’t you?”

I was. I hesitated only because I hadn’t expected such a generous gesture on his part. Aaron wasn’t looking to have his ego stroked; he wanted to help me out. My heart filled with gratitude. The man was a physician with a busy and important practice, yet he was willing to take off from work for a boring drive across three and a half states. “I think that’s a wonderful idea, Aaron. Are you sure you’re not putting yourself out too much?”

“Not at all. My mother-in-law is here and can watch the kids. I’ll have my secretary make my reservation and shuffle around a few appointments, and I’ll be good to go. As long as I’m back by Monday, everything will be fine.”

“I’m flattered that you want to help me,” I said honestly.

“I guess I want to make sure you really do come back. I hate the idea of you being so far away from me.”

“I’m definitely coming back. And now, thanks to you, I have something to look forward to.”

After we said good-bye I smiled as I hung up the phone, and I suspected he did the same.

I stuffed as many clothes and shoes as I could into two tall dish cartons and took them with me to the post office, where I would ship them to my mother’s apartment via parcel post. I left behind anything I felt I could absolutely, positively do without while I was in transition, knowing full well that the first thing I’d need for a special occasion would probably be something I’d left behind. I’d have to help Mom clean out Pop’s closet when I got back, a task I wasn’t anticipating happily. But even as I hoisted the cartons up onto the counter I wondered if there’d be enough room for it all in what was a very small closet.

Tonight I was to be the guest of honor at a farewell dinner hosted by my three closest friends, all of whom were shocked by my decision to return to Euliss. Sometimes I couldn’t believe how quickly my life had changed, myself. Just a few weeks ago my friends and I went to a cookout on Memorial Day, and the Fourth of July would find me living in Euliss again. On my mother’s sofa.

But at least I had Aaron. I couldn’t wait to see him.

First thing in the morning, with a slight headache from the mango margaritas I’d consumed and feeling a little teary at the thought of leaving my friends in Indy, I washed all the bed linens and remade the bed, dusted and vacuumed the four rooms and the hall, mopped the floors of the kitchen and bathrooms, and polished the mirrors and TV screens. The management company would send in a cleaning service to spruce up the unit before rental, but I’d promised to do my part. Even though I knew I was making the best move for my unique situation, it felt a little weird, thinking about a stranger sleeping in my bed or putting his or her feet up on my coffee table. I felt very proprietary about my house, my most valuable asset. I even hummed the Diana Ross tune “It’s My House” as I worked, a strangely upbeat song for my mood. I was leaving behind good friends who cared about me, plus the comfortable home I’d created, to sleep on my mother’s sofa bed for the next few months.

If it weren’t for Aaron, I’d probably throw myself across my bed and sob.

At eleven o’clock, after checking with the airline to make sure the flight from New York was on schedule, I headed out to the airport to meet his plane, my weekend bag sitting on the backseat and my desktop computer on the floor in front of it.

I started circling the drive outside the baggage claim carousels ten minutes after his flight landed. As I slowly drove through the second time I saw him sail out the doors, looking crisp and handsome in tan khakis and a short-sleeved collared cotton shirt. Pink plaid shirts aren’t for every man, but Aaron pulled it off magnificently. He looked as refreshing as a bowl of raspberry sherbet…and just as tasty, I thought wickedly. Trying not to drool, I got out of the car and honked the horn so he’d see me.

As I watched him approach, his bedroom eyes hidden by aviator sunglasses, I suddenly realized that we wouldn’t get to New York tonight. The only way to complete that seven-hundred-plus-mile, twelve-hour drive would be if we got on the road at dawn, but it was nearly noon. By eight-thirty it would start to get dark. We’d have to stop somewhere for the night.

And I hadn’t packed the first thing to sleep in, or at least to wear to bed.

Shucks. I wanted our first time together to be special.

I got out of my Altima just before he reached it. He gave me a quick but forceful kiss with just a hint of tongue. Good thing he steadied me by putting an arm around my waist, or else I would have slithered to the ground like a garter snake. I used my remote to unlock the remaining doors, and he tossed the duffel that hung from his shoulder inside before turning to me once more.

“I missed you,” he said earnestly.

“I missed you, too. Thought about you all the time.” I gave him a quick peck on the lips. “Come on, let’s get out of here so they can have the space.”

I got behind the wheel, and he sat in the passenger seat. “Did you want to hit the road now, or maybe eat first?” I asked as I pulled away from the curb.

“You’ve gotten everything done?” He sounded surprised.

“Yes. I took my clothes—at least the ones I’ll be needing—with me to the post office yesterday and shipped them to my mother’s. I’ve got my computer on the floor in the back, and the condo is all clean.” I shrugged. “So I’m good to go.”

“It’s been years since the last time I was out here. I attended an AMA convention here once. Tell you what. Since it’s kind of late in the day to start a long drive, why don’t we go get some lunch, and then you can give me a tour of the city. We’ll get an early start tomorrow.”

“Um…you do realize that my condo is all prepared for rental. I changed the linens and fluffed all the cushions this morning. I’d be afraid to as much as sit down in there.”

He smiled at me. Even his mouth was sexy, I thought. “I anticipated as much, and I certainly don’t want to mess up all your preparations. I figured we’d get a room. Or, if you prefer, rooms.”

I had a quick thought of my mother. Usually she sprouted lines like, “Why should he buy the cow when he can get the milk for free?” But when I told her that Aaron planned to fly out and drive back with me, she’d asked, “Will you be spending a night on the road?” with an eagerness that sounded to me like she was ready to make the hotel reservation herself, just to make sure we had no problems doing the deed. I knew she wouldn’t be quite so receptive to the idea of my sleeping with Aaron if he were, say, a locksmith. What a difference an M.D. degree makes.

I decided to play with him a little. “You mean, you in one room and me in another? That doesn’t sound very cozy, especially after us not seeing each other for nearly a week.”

He grinned at me across the console. “I was hoping you’d say that. I just didn’t want you to think I was rushing you,” he said shyly. “You have to understand I’m a bit out of practice with this sort of thing.”

I knew what he meant. One of the best things about being married is that you get all the sex you want.

“Do you feel like eating anything in particular?” I asked innocently.

He shrugged, my double entendre going right over his head. “What do you suggest?”

“There’s a pub downtown I like. Burgers, chicken, ribs, pizza, sandwiches, stuff like that.”

“Oh, I’m sure I can find something on that list that appeals to my taste buds.”

I headed downtown and parked inside the Circle Center Garage. “It’s just a short walk from here,” I said.

At lunch he ordered the chicken-and-ribs platter and I had jambalaya. We both had beer. Then we walked back to the Circle Center, a collection of upscale shops that had been made into a mall via the contribution of a couple of smart architects. The department store anchors were still accessible for pedestrians on the streets of downtown, but somehow it all connected. We did a little window shopping, then went to the theater in the mall and caught a matinee showing of one of those innocent-man-accused-of-murder thrillers. Finally, we headed back to the car.

I drove around downtown, pointing out the State Capitol, the Convention Center, and Market Square Arena, even the Benjamin Harrison House.

Aaron looked at everything with what appeared to be genuine interest, although I knew he’d seen it all before. Maybe he was trying to figure out what was different. “Hey, there’s the Hilton. Let’s go by there and see if they have any availability.”

They did, so Aaron registered us, or I guess he registered himself. I’d always presumed that men checking into hotels with women they weren’t married to just listed themselves on the register.

He came outside waving a key card. We took our bags out of the car and got into the elevator. I tried not to look over at the registration desk. I’m sure the folks manning it were looking at me with that “
we
know what you’re going to be doing in the next five minutes” look on their faces.

Actually, what happened in the next five minutes was that both of us fell asleep, me on the bed and him in the reclining easy chair. Travel on his part, cleaning and packing on mine, plus a heavy meal and all that sightseeing had done us in. I woke up before he did, and I was pleased to hear the sound of easy breathing and nothing else. I hugged myself in anticipation. Not only was he good-looking, not only was he rich, but he didn’t snore. Mom was right: I’d really hit the jackpot.

I took a shower while he slept and put on a white cotton eyelet sundress in anticipation of dinner. It was rather casual, but it was all I had with me.

Aaron opened his eyes a little after six. “Wow, I was really knocked out.”

“Not really. It was nearly four when we checked in.”

“It’s going on ten after six now. Would you like to get some dinner?”

The truth was, I was feeling a little peckish, but I didn’t want him to think I was one of those women who ate like a horse when someone else was footing the bill and practically starved herself the rest of the time. Nor did I want to sound impressed by his casual invitation to go out to get another meal after that nice lunch we had. I could get used to eating out like this all the time.

“Something light,” I said. “Maybe a salad. But this time it’s on me.” The man had flown all the way out from New York to help me drive seven hundred miles, plus he’d paid for an extremely comfortable hotel room. The least I could do was buy him dinner. Even if it set me back a hundred bucks.

He opened his mouth, presumably to object, but I stopped those kissable lips of his from forming the words by holding out my palm like a traffic cop. “I won’t have it any other way, Aaron.”

He gave me a lazy smile. “Something tells me its hopeless to argue with you. All right, Emily. There’s a McCormick and Schmick’s in the hotel. Good food, and I don’t have to wear a jacket. How’s that?”

“Perfect. I was hoping you wouldn’t want to go far.”

“I’m going to take a quick shower, and then I’ll be ready.”

I took advantage of his time in the shower by going downstairs to the restaurant and asking to see a menu. I was relieved to see it was a moderately priced restaurant specializing in seafood. Since Aaron assumed I was familiar with it, I figured they had locations in major cities.