Pieces of January

by Ronald Paxton

  “In a minute. I need to talk to you about something first.”

  He told her everything—the phone calls that had gone unanswered, the near-fatal accident as he drove through the storm to see her, the horror of discovering her naked and unconscious on the motel room floor, the futile nine one one call, and the long, agonizing drive from the motel to the hospital.

  “God, Bo, I don’t know what to say. I’m sorry I put you through this, but my client wanted to party. I need to keep my clients happy if I want repeat business and referrals.”

  Bo frowned. “You won’t have to worry about repeat business if you’re dead. I’m too old for this, Melissa. I can’t go through a night like this again.” He handed her the brochure. “Dr. Christian gave this to me. It’s that new place down the road where the theme park used to be. They have a thirty-day inpatient drug treatment program. You’ll come out of there a new woman.”

  Melissa shook her head. “Don’t you get it, Bo? I don’t want to be a new woman. I like who I am and what I do for a living. Sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll, that’s what I’m all about. You should know that by now.”

  Bo glanced around the room and lowered his voice. “I’m not trying to change you, Melissa. I love everything about you, and I don’t want to lose you. Just give this place a try. If you don’t like it or can’t stick with it, I’ll come pick you up. You just need a little time to rest and build up your strength. The drugs and your clients will still be here when you get out, and so will I.”

  Melissa flipped through the brochure. “My insurance won’t cover all this, Bo. I can’t afford it.”

  He told her about the center’s policy of accepting whatever a patient’s insurance would cover.

  “We’re talking about the entire month of January,” Melissa said. “I don’t think I can do that.”

  “You just need to stay in the moment and not look too far ahead,” Bo said. “Break up the month into small, manageable pieces.”

  Melissa smiled. “I just hope we’re talking about pieces of January and not pieces of Melissa. All right, I’ll give it a try, but no promises. I’m not going to let this little experiment kill me or ruin my life. If I don’t like it, I’ll walk right out of there in a heartbeat.”

  “Deal,” Bo said. “I’ll get the doctor, so we can get you unhooked and hit the road.”

  A nurse removed the IV lines and nasal tube. The doctor came over a few minutes later and conducted a brief physical exam.

  “Okay, your heart and lungs sound fine. You’re good to go, Miss Wright. I’ll call the people at Passages and tell them to expect you later today. Good luck.”

  Bo wrapped the blanket around Melissa and helped her out to the car. The snow had finally stopped, but there were no road crews in sight. It was going to be a long drive back to the motel.

  “We’ll just take it slow,” Bo said. “There’s no rush. You’ll need to pick up some clothes and check in with Bruce. If you’re hungry, we can get something to eat a little later.”

  Melissa yawned and looked at the clock. Dawn was still a few hours away.

  Bo turned up the heat and backed out of his parking spot. The driving was a little easier now. The snow had stopped, and New Year’s Eve traffic had packed down most of the drifts. He rubbed his eyes and looked over at Melissa.

  “Are you warm enough?”

  “Actually, I’m hot.”

  Bo reached over to adjust the heat setting, but Melissa caught his hand. He watched from the corner of his eye as she removed the blanket and tossed it in the back seat.

  “You’re going to make me have a wreck.”

  Melissa laughed and laid a hand on his thigh. “I’m just trying to get you in the mood, baby. Consider this foreplay.”

  Bo spent the next ninety minutes keeping one eye on the road and the other on the delicious woman sitting next to him.

  She retrieved the blanket when they reached the motel. Bo unlocked the door to the room and pushed her against the wall as soon as they were inside. His hands and mouth explored her meager body.

  “Use me,” Melissa gasped.

  Bo didn’t have to be told twice. He fumbled for his belt and leaped out of his pants like a teenager.

  Melissa raked his back with long, red press-on nails as he kissed her mouth and pressed into her with pent-up urgency. Less than five minutes later, it was over.

  “Do you feel better?” she whispered.

  He chuckled and released her from the wall. “I do for now, but I think I’m going to need you again before we leave.”

  Melissa smirked and headed for the bathroom. “I’m going to take a shower. You can use that time to recover.”

  Bo folded his clothes and placed them on a chair. He walked across the room and examined his body in the mirror. His once-firm flesh now sagged with age, but he didn’t look too bad for an old man.

  His deep attraction to Melissa was baffling. She certainly wasn’t young, especially for someone who made their living as a prostitute. Bo guessed she was in her forties. She wasn’t beautiful, although he still got butterflies in his stomach every time he looked at her. Melissa knew how to use makeup, lipstick, and eye shadow to create that hot, slutty look he loved. Her body was spare—the drugs kept her thin, almost to the point of emaciation—and her small breasts looked like deflated balloons. Bo couldn’t get enough of her. He still wasn’t sure if it was love, lust, or addiction.

  God help me, I hope she leaves the center early. I don’t think I can go an entire month without her.

  He heard Melissa turn off the water and step out of the shower. She’d be out in a few minutes. He moved over to the bed and waited.

  She opened the bathroom door and turned out the lights in the room. “It’ll be light outside soon.”

  Bo stared as Melissa made her way to the bed. She was wearing lipstick and makeup. Her eyes glittered from the cocaine she had apparently enjoyed after showering. He felt himself becoming aroused.

  It was slower this time, and they finished together. Bo held her for a few minutes before rolling away.

  “I guess it’s time.”

  Melissa got up and dressed without a word. She was packed and ready to go in less than ten minutes. Bo took her bag and put it by the door.

  “I’ll put this in the car. Why don’t you powder your nose before we go? You might as well start this experiment in a good mood.”

  She kissed him and hurried back to the bathroom. He went outside and breathed in the frigid morning air. The storm was over, and the sun was coming up over the lake. Maybe that was a good omen.

  Melissa stepped out of her room and walked to the car. They stopped at the office so she could talk to Bruce and make arrangements to hold her room while she was gone.

  “I told him I might be gone for the entire month. I’m already paid up through December, so we’re square.”

  Bo nodded.

  “I also told him I might be back in time for lunch.”

  Bo grinned and shrugged. “Fair enough. I just want you to give it a shot.” He pulled out of the parking lot and headed down the road to the center.

  Chapter 4

  “I’m glad it’s a holiday,” Salem said. “I’m going to need the whole day just to clear the snow here and at the stores.”

  Krista handed him a glass of juice and looked out the window. The snow on the mountains across the lake glistened in the early morning sun. It looked like a gorgeous day.

  “Don’t worry about the house. Monday and I will take care of the porch and steps and put down salt in front of the doors.”

  “I still need to shovel the driveway and Henry’s spot.”

  “Finish your breakfast and get out of here,” Krista said. “I’ll do Henry’s spot first. Randi should be back by lunchtime. She can watch Anderson while I work on the driveway.”

  Monday looked up from her bowl of cereal. “Daddy, you’d better make sure you’re strong enough to shovel all that snow.”

  Salem moved his chair over bes
ide Monday and put his right elbow on the table. “I’ll show you how strong I am. I’ve been doing my pushups. This time, I’m going to beat you at arm wrestling.”

  Krista smiled as Salem started grunting and gasping for breath. A moment later, Monday slammed his arm to the table.

  “I won!”

  Salem leaned over and gave his daughter a loud kiss on her cheek. “It’s a good thing I’ve got you to help me and your mama with all this snow.” He took his glass and plate into the kitchen and helped Krista load the dishwasher.

  “Last night was fun,” Krista said.

  “Which part?” Salem asked.

  Krista laughed. “Take a guess.”

  Salem moved closer and buried his face in her hair. “Wait until tonight. We’ll go down to the boathouse.”

  She kissed him and stepped away. “We’ll end up down at the boathouse this morning if you don’t get out of here right now.”

  He headed for the door and then stopped. Krista looked up from a bowl she was rinsing in the sink.

  “Be safe, Krista. I don’t know what kind of nut job we had lurking outside the house last night, but I’m going to find out. Call me if you see anything that doesn’t look right.”

  She watched from the window as he drove away. The house was quiet. Both Salem and her father would be gone most of the day, and Randi wouldn’t be back for several hours. It was just her and the children.

  Krista finished rinsing the bowl and hurried up the stairs to check on the baby.

  * * * *

  The metal skeletons from the abandoned Pirates South amusement park were gone, along with the weed-infested, cracked asphalt parking lot. Someone had spent a fortune moving earth, landscaping the grounds, and building trails that meandered through the property.

  Bo turned off the road and passed a sign welcoming him to Passages. He drove slowly, looking for directions to the addiction center.

  At first glance, the facility resembled the campus of a small, liberal arts college. They passed the Passages Wellness Center, a large, three-story fitness facility, and continued on through some thick woods that led to a spacious parking area with several modern brick buildings in a clearing near the base of the mountain.

  “This place reminds me of Sweet Briar College,” Bo said. “I wonder if they have a screaming statue.”

  Melissa snorted. “I expect there’s plenty of screaming that goes on in this place with or without a statue.”

  Bo parked the car and stepped out. A message board with a map of the complex stood at the foot of some steps leading up to the buildings. He returned to the car a moment later and pointed out the addiction center.

  “It’s that building on the far right next to the woods.”

  Melissa nodded. “Perfect. I’m already planning my escape route.”

  “I don’t think you have to worry about that. This place looks pretty open—no security gates or checkpoints. I’m sure you can leave whenever you want, but remember, you’re actually saving money here because you’re not paying for food or your motel room.”

  “Nice try, baby,” Melissa said. “I also won’t be making any money from my clients, and you buy most of my meals. I hope this time away doesn’t ruin my business.”

  They climbed the steps from the parking lot and stopped in front of the building with a small, simple sign that said, “Passages Addiction Center.” Below the sign, in smaller print, was the center’s pledge: “Give us thirty days, and we’ll change your life.”

  The lobby was warm and inviting. Rays from the morning sun filtered in through the window blinds and danced across the tile floor. Bo caught the scent of strong coffee and fresh muffins. If nothing else, this place would give Melissa a respite from motel living. She never complained, but spending your life in a worn-out motel room had to be hard. She didn’t own a car…couldn’t afford the payments, insurance, and maintenance, especially now that she was paying for health insurance.

  Bo did what he could. He took her out to lunch or supper when she would let him and drove her to the new Carson’s General Store whenever she needed to pick up some things. The motel room had a small refrigerator and microwave oven. Melissa mostly ate snack food, candy, and fruit. She was reluctant to heat up a hot meal in the microwave because she was afraid the odors would linger in the small living space. That would be unpleasant for her and bad for business.

  He had talked about buying a small, lakefront condo for her, but she had balked at the idea. Melissa liked having a serious boyfriend, but she wasn’t looking for charity or a sugar daddy. Bo had countered by suggesting that he could buy the condo as an investment and rent it to her. It would give her a chance to meet new people and upgrade her clientele. Melissa was still considering that idea.

  Of course, the simplest solution would be for her to move in with him. There was plenty of room, and it would be a vast improvement over her life at the motel. If they were living together, she could start taking out-call appointments, and Salem could give her some hours at the store or the campground if she got off the drugs. It was perfect, except for the fact that it would never work. Melissa wasn’t interested in a straight job, and she wasn’t about to give up her in-call business. That was her life and her entire source of income. He also recognized that she would probably never give up the drugs. She enjoyed it too much, and the nature of her work practically required it. He couldn’t have illegal drugs and strange men coming into Salem’s house. He couldn’t have that around his grandchildren.

  An attractive, middle-aged woman wearing a huge smile crossed the room to greet them. “Welcome to Passages. My name is Norma. How can I help you?”

  Bo waited for Melissa to respond. When she said nothing, he jumped into the silence. “This is my girlfriend, Melissa Wright. I’m Bo Carson. I believe Dr. Christian called you earlier this morning.”

  “Yes, he did,” Norma said. “Melissa, I have some forms I need for you to complete. Mr. Carson, you’re welcome to wait here. We won’t be too long.”

  Bo watched Melissa as she filled out paperwork at the reception desk. Their relationship was certainly unusual, but it worked. It wasn’t always easy dating someone who was essentially on-call around the clock. They saw each other almost every day, but rarely for more than an hour or two at a time. It was difficult for them to spend the night together because a client might call at midnight or even later. Melissa couldn’t and wouldn’t say no to the prospect of making a quick hundred bucks. She wasn’t some high-end escort who could pick and choose her clients and her hours. If she was going to pay for her motel room, health insurance premiums, advertising for her services, drugs, and basic shopping necessities, she needed to do a volume business. Bo had suggested she supplement her income by offering webcam shows and phone sex, but the motel room wasn’t a good place for that. The last thing her clients would want to see was a camera in the room. The webcam idea would work better in a two-bedroom condo.

  He yawned and massaged his forehead. His eyes were sore and scratchy, like someone had kicked sand or broken glass in them.

  The sun’s up, and I forgot to bring my sunglasses. Perfect. I’ll be lucky if I can drive home without going snow blind. Maybe I’ll stop at the motel and get some sleep first.

  Bo’s eyes snapped open. He had nearly fallen asleep on his feet. Melissa was headed his way. She leaned into his embrace and kissed him hard.

  “I’ll talk to you soon, baby.”

  She was gone before he could think of anything to say. The sun hit him in the face as he stepped outside. The immutable snow-capped mountains loomed behind him. Bo marveled at the pristine fields of snow and thick woods that covered the property. The lake sparkled like an uncut diamond the blizzard had polished to a high gloss. The silence was perfect. This had to be the most beautiful place on earth.

  Bo descended the steps to the parking lot and climbed in the car. He stared up at Passages Addiction Center. Someone was probably showing Melissa to her room right now.

  Christ, I m
iss her already. I’ll call her later today. If she doesn’t answer, I can send her a text. I need to get Krista to show me how to send a text.

  He started the engine and headed down the long driveway. The next thirty days would be a test for both of them. He would need to break the month of January into small pieces. That’s what he had encouraged Melissa to do. It was the only way either of them could get through this.

  A smile crossed Bo’s face as he turned left onto the road. He would stop at the motel and take a nap in Melissa’s room. If he couldn’t be with her, he could at least inhale her scent and the fresh memory of early morning sex. That would have to be enough for now.

  Chapter 5

  Bruce Patterson watched from his office as Bo Carson drove into the motel parking lot and parked in front of room number eight. A moment later, he opened the door and went inside.

  The motel manager sighed. Bo Carson was an admired and respected member of the community. There had to be any number of women who would love to go out with him. What in the hell was he doing running around with someone like Melissa Wright?

  Patterson wasn’t an idiot. He liked Melissa and understood the purely physical appeal of no-strings-attached sex with a prostitute. What he couldn’t understand was why any man, especially a guy like Bo Carson, would want a serious relationship with that kind of woman. Melissa was reasonably attractive if you liked slutty, undernourished women who wore tight clothes and heavy makeup. She certainly had a steady stream of customers knocking on her door day and night. He was still trying to think of a way to use her business to put some money in his own pocket.

  Despite its shabby appearance, the motel was a successful enterprise, mainly because Bruce had no direct competition on the western shoreline. The condos, townhouses, and rental homes had no impact on his vacancy rates. His guests didn’t have the money to give those places a second look. During the summer, he hosted a steady stream of budget-conscious families, sport fishermen, and blue-collar workers who lacked the money for more expensive vacations. Fall and spring were always busy on the weekends. There was no shortage of visitors looking to get an early jump on summer or extend the season beyond Labor Day.