by Bria Marche
“I have a lot of thinking to do, so don’t try to put me on the spot. I’m not going to give you an answer today but maybe tomorrow. Are you working at the sandwich store tomorrow?”
“Yes, from ten until three. I get a twenty-minute break at noon. I’ll come over then for your answer.”
“That’s fine. See you tomorrow. Close the door behind you, please.”
“Mario… I’m really happy you’re back. I’ve missed you. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
She closed the door and walked away through the store. Mario watched through the office window as she stopped and chatted with customers and Abby. He saw her laughing and engaging with people just as she used to.
She was an asset to the store back then and could be again. Would it be dangerous having her this close to me? I know she wants to start over with the relationship we once had. But there’s Karen. I want to get back to New York and be with her. Do I prolong my stay here while I look for a manager, or hire Sarah so I can go home sooner?
Chapter Nineteen
Mario returned to the condo at six, worn out, with that headache still lingering. There was too much on his mind. He opened the refrigerator and grabbed a beer. Two slices of packaged cheese remained on the shelf and a small plastic bottle of creamer in the door. Wow… there’s nothing to eat in here. Tomorrow is my last day at the condo, so there’s no reason to buy groceries anyway. He twisted the top off the cold bottle and sank down in the recliner. He felt for the handle on the side and gave it a pull. The chair back reclined just enough to be comfortable, and the footrest came up. He uttered an exhausted sigh.
He had to give Sarah’s suggestion serious consideration. Hiring her would take care of the immediate problem, but what if the store didn’t sell? Would he have to stay even longer or trust her to run Gravity for him? He would be inserting her into his life again. Mario wanted to close that chapter and move on. There was the future to think about, and Sarah didn’t have a place in his life anymore. His family and closest friends were in New York. The Summit and Geared Up were doing well. Being a hands-on owner was far smarter than being an absentee one. He’d already proved that to himself.
Damn, I’m starving. That’s probably why I still have a headache. I haven’t eaten since breakfast. Mario gulped the last few swallows of his beer, threw the bottle in the recycling bin, and grabbed his coat. He locked the door behind him and caught the shuttle down the hill into town.
He found himself cozied up in the darkest corner of the bar at Slopes. Why do I always end up here? Mario chalked it up to good food and close proximity to the shuttle stop. It doesn’t have anything to do with Sarah.
“Hey, Mario, I’m surprised to see you tonight. What’s your pleasure?” She looked at him long and hard. A slight smile formed on her lips, parting them just enough to show off her perfect teeth. Those white-blue eyes twinkled with pleasure.
“Hi, Sarah. I’ll have a black and tan and a menu.”
“You got it, babe. I’ll be right back.”
Billy caught Mario’s eye. He strolled over after serving a round of beers to a group at the other end of the bar. “Mario, what’s up dude? Where’s your friend Karen?” Billy pulled out the empty barstool next to Mario and sat down. Happy hour was over, and the bar crowd thinned as customers headed toward the dining room for dinner.
“There was an emergency back home. She left yesterday afternoon.”
“Sorry to hear that, man. We’re still on track for Wednesday, right? I’ve got to admit, Brian is really amped up about Gravity. Stop by at lunchtime. We’ll eat first then head out. Just between you and me, Sarah is over the moon that you’re back in town. She can’t stop talking about you. I’m just giving you a heads-up. Gotta get back to work, see you Wednesday.”
“Sounds great, Billy. Later.”
Sarah returned, carrying two black and tans. She set a round cardboard coaster under each mug and handed Mario a menu. “I forgot how much I like black and tans, too. I haven’t had one since you left town. I’ve got a ten-minute break, Mario. Do you mind if I sit with you?”
“There’s an empty stool, go ahead.” Mario paged through the menu while he sipped his drink.
“Have you given any more thought to our conversation from this afternoon?”
“You mean your conversation? I don’t remember saying much. You know, I’m not the best company tonight. Why do you want to sit here with me anyway?”
“I love you, Mario. I always have. I made a horrible mistake, and I regret it every day.”
“I bet you only regret it because Brad moved away. I guess he found greener pastures.”
“You’re still hurting, aren’t you? You wouldn’t be bitter otherwise.”
“What’s bothering me doesn’t have anything to do with you,” Mario said. “Do you want to take my order, or should I call a waitress over?”
“I’ll do it. What can I get you?”
“I’ll take the steak sandwich dinner and another black and tan.”
Mario left the bar and found a small two-person table near the kitchen. It was quiet back there since nobody liked sitting near the kitchen-traffic area. He had a lot to think about before giving Sarah an answer.
***
“What time are you going to call Mario?” Vic looked at the grandfather clock in her living room as they sat together, each sipping a glass of Merlot. The chimes called out eight o’clock.
Karen had been dreading the phone call, but it was something she had to do. Postponing the inevitable would only widen the gap she was wedging between herself and Mario. She had to do it tonight. “Is eight o’clock a good time? The dinner hour is over, isn’t it?”
“You can’t overthink this, or you’ll never friggin’ call him.”
“That’s the problem. Has too much time gone by? What am I going to say—or should I let him lead the conversation? I don’t know how to do this, Vic, damn it.”
“Have another glass of wine, and let me think for a minute. Okay, you’ll say Sasha had a scare with the baby. You’ve been at her house all day because she needed bed rest, and you’ve been catering to her every need. You’ll remind him what a big baby she is. You know, say you were the only friend available since everyone else had to work. I don’t know. That sounds reasonable, doesn’t it? Now you have me second-guessing myself. I’ve always been good at making shit up but never to my own brother, for crap’s sake.”
“Okay, so what if I hear loud music in the background? That means he’s out having fun without me, right? And if it’s quiet, he’s probably missing me all alone at the condo?”
“Yep, that’s the way I would interpret it. Just go ahead—do it now.”
***
Mario looked at his watch as he waited at the bus stop for the shuttle to arrive. The bus was a few minutes late. The shuttle should have come by at eight o’clock. A rowdy bunch of tourists waited with him, ten people in all—seven women and three men, to be exact, and each one was three sheets to the wind, maybe four. They were loud. Mario rose as the shuttle approached. He got on first and headed toward the back. The drunk group climbed aboard, scattering themselves throughout the bus.
I’m glad this is a short ride, he thought as the women eyed him up and moved in closer than necessary.
With the noise surrounding him, it was difficult to hear the cell phone ringing deep in his pocket. He caught it just in time.
“Mario? Hello… it’s Karen. I can’t hear you. There’s too much noise in the background.”
“Yeah, a bunch of crazy, drunk women… hey, give me my phone back. What the hell?”
“C’mon handsome, you didn’t want to talk on the phone anyway. Talk to me, I’m here, up close and personal.”
***
Mario’s phone disconnected abruptly. Karen stared at Vic in disbelief. “Son of a bitch, I knew it was too good to be true. Men are all the same, Vic. They just aren’t worth the heartache.” Hot tears streamed down Karen’s cheeks as she spoke.
; “What happened?”
“Well, he sure as shit isn’t pining after me. All I could hear were a bunch of women’s voices calling him handsome. Then the phone went dead.”
“I’m so sorry. I had no idea my brother could be such a jerk. Wait until I see him again. How dare he treat you that way? That’s it—I’m opening another bottle of wine.”
“Can we get drunk tonight? I think I need it.”
“Sure, hon,” Vic said. “I don’t have to work tomorrow. Do you want me to call anyone else? Should Tina come over? She’s really good at bashing men. We could probably use her help right now.”
“Good idea. If anyone can dish out the man hate, it’s Tina. Call her, and tell her to get her butt over here fast.”
***
The shuttle climbed the hill to the Cimarron Lodge. Mario was busy trying to get his phone back while prying two of the women’s white-knuckled hands off him. “Okay already. Have a good night. I really have to go.” He stepped off the bus, thankful to be in one piece and relieved they weren’t getting off at the same stop. The shuttle continued on. “Jeez… what a bunch of knuckleheads.” He chuckled as he readjusted his shirt and entered the lobby of the lodge. He walked down the main hallway to his dark, quiet condo. Inside, he opened the refrigerator and pulled out the last bottle of beer. He’d regroup, relax, and call Karen back.
Mario reclined the chair and kicked his feet up. A weight had been lifted off his shoulders just from hearing her voice. He cracked open the bottle, took a swig, and hit the green phone icon next to Karen’s name. It rang five times before going to voicemail. “What the hell? I just talked to her. Why isn’t she answering?” He left a message for Karen to call him back.
***
“Was it wrong of me not to answer? I’m just too pissed off right now. I can’t believe he’s out with a bunch of drunk women. He’s not even mourning my loss.”
“Well, you aren’t dead, hon, but he’s going to wish he was when we figure out what to do about this.”
The doorknob turned, and Tina marched in. She was already pissed off, and she didn’t even know why. All Vic had said was Karen needed to get drunk and they wanted Tina to join them. In woman code, that meant Mario had done the unthinkable.
“Now, what the hell happened?” She grabbed the Merlot and filled an empty glass.
“I called Mario to explain why I left. You know, I planned to blame everything on Sasha. I’d give him a chance to come clean with any sins he may have committed since I left. Get this: Mario’s not even pining for me—he’s out partying with a bunch of drunk skanks. I could see it if he was with Delilah Dreadlocks, but instead, he’s with an entire cheerleading squad, for crap’s sake. It sounded like he was at a strip club. Do you think Telluride has strip clubs?”
“I doubt it, honey. Here, drink more wine.” Vic filled Karen’s glass and handed it back to her. “Did you listen to his voicemail?”
“Yeah… he just said to call him back. That’s ridiculous. I’m not going to play phone tag with him. If he wants to talk to me, he can do it when he’s sober and alone.” Karen huffed.
“That’s my girl,” Tina said. “Don’t take anybody’s shit especially if it’s coming from a guy. They all lie, you know.”
“I think there are a few good guys in the world, like Max and Aaron,” Vic said.
“Well, it’s pretty bad when you can’t even include your own brother in that statement.”
“Hmmph, you’re right.” Vic looked at the lineup of wine bottles sitting on the coffee table. “We’ve got a lot of brainstorming to do. Let’s drink.”
Chapter Twenty
Mario woke to an achy back and realized he wasn’t in bed but still lying on the recliner in an unconventional, twisted position. He slapped at the end table next to him, feeling for his cell phone. He wasn’t quite ready to open his eyes and face the bright sun blasting through the patio doors. That would take a minute. He shaded his eyes and looked at the time—7:44 a.m. No messages from Karen. I’m sure that nonsense on the shuttle gave her the wrong impression. I’ve got to get through to her today and explain everything, including Sarah.
Mario pulled the handle on the side of the recliner to release the footrest. He grudgingly got up, did a few neck rolls, and checked the amount of coffee left in the bag. Hmmm… that might make two cups. With the coffee brewing, he headed for the bathroom. I need a hot shower to loosen up my back.
***
Back in Tarrytown at Vic’s house, Karen opened her eyes and looked to her right. Vic slept soundly on the floor, her mouth wide open. Small gurgles came from deep within her throat every time she exhaled. Karen turned her head to the left, realizing she had quite the stiff neck. Tina lay curled up in a fetal position next to her on the couch with her toes jammed under Karen’s butt for warmth. Damn… my head feels like someone pounded on it with a hammer.
The evidence looked her straight in the face. Five empty Merlot bottles and three glasses sat scattered across the coffee table. Two peeled, but uneaten, shriveled-up oranges and a can of chicken noodle soup sat there, too. What the hell is that about? I don’t remember anything related to oranges or soup. Evidently, we chose to drink our dinner last night. Karen held her head, moaning loudly. The other two drunks began to stir. Somebody had to make coffee. In that moment, it seemed to be an astronomical task. Karen, being the most awake, took it upon herself to boldly go where nobody else had the energy to go: into the kitchen. She counted the steps, knowing that the distance to the coffee pot got closer with each one. I’m almost there… I’m almost there. I can taste the coffee… just a few more feet.
With the willpower and determination of an accomplished athlete, she poured the water and grounds into the pot and hit the on button. She sank down at the kitchen table with her head buried in her arms. In five minutes, they would return to life, albeit painfully, with the hot brown elixir nourishing their bodies. Somebody would find the aspirin bottle, she hoped, somewhere.
***
Mario gathered his belongings and gave the unit one last look before walking out the door. He was heading down to the lobby to check out of the Cimarron Lodge. Flashes of Karen and the few days they’d spent together entered his mind. He smiled, remembering about the sweet events. The unit was roomy and romantic with a hot tub and awesome view. He’d originally planned to stay at the lodge until he and Karen headed back to New York on another cross-country adventure. He shook his head and returned to the moment. He’d take the shuttle downtown and check in at the Telluride Inn. The location, being so close to Gravity, was super convenient. There would be no more shuttles or crazy, drunk women to deal with. When he’d called the inn the day before, he’d asked for a small studio. Mario wanted kitchen facilities, but he didn’t need a lot of space. A studio would be just right for the next few weeks. He hoped by then the store would sell. He’d know the next day when he met with Billy, Brian, and their representatives.
Sarah popped into Mario’s mind. She would stop by the store at some point today, wanting an answer from him. He hadn’t made a firm decision yet, but he was leaning toward telling her okay. It would be one less headache to deal with. Her employment would be on a trial basis, and Mario would make sure she understood what that meant. No crossing the invisible line, he’d tell her. Mario convinced himself he could handle being around her, all day, every day, since it would only be for a few weeks. All he had to do was keep her at arm’s length.
The checkout went smoothly, and within fifteen minutes, Mario was downtown, standing in front of the registration counter at the Telluride Inn. The inn was one of the long-standing historic buildings on Colorado Avenue and had stood as the grande dame on the main street of Telluride since the mid-1800s. It had seen cowboys, gunslingers, and the Wild West come and go. Six rooms had been updated to contemporary standards, but most of them were kept as close to their original state as possible other than the addition of bathrooms. Springtime wasn’t the busiest season for the Telluride Inn, so Mario had his
pick of the rooms. He stared blankly out the street-side window as the hotel clerk finished up with the guest ahead of him. There she was—he saw Sarah across the street, walking into the Downtown Cafe, a small diner popular with the local crowd. She’s probably getting breakfast before work. He glanced at his watch, seeing it was nine o’clock. That’s right, she said she worked from ten until three. He wondered why his heart skipped a beat at the sight of her.
“Sir, may I help you?”
Mario glanced back at the counter, realizing the guest before him was already gone and the desk clerk was waiting for him to step forward.
“Oh, sorry, I guess I drifted off for a minute.” He chuckled. “I reserved a studio under Mario Alonso.”
“Yes, it’s right here. Do you have a location preference? We have street view or mountain view.”
“I’ll take a mountain-view room. Thanks.”
Mario signed in and was handed the key. His room was on the third floor. He climbed the staircase with his luggage in hand, not minding that the inn didn’t have an elevator. He appreciated the fact that the owners tried to keep the building as authentic as possible. Mario turned the knob and entered his room. It was cozy with an antique double bed, dresser, and a golden-oak table with two chairs in the corner. The bathroom was tiny with a small shower and a single-sink vanity. The view of the mountain was stunning. Two windows on that side of the room provided Mario a great view. He settled in, making a four-cup pot of coffee and hanging his clothes in the closet while he waited for the brew. He called Gravity and told Steve he would be there in an hour.
***
Vic’s cell phone rang on the coffee table. She rolled three times across the living room floor until she was close enough to reach up and grab it. She didn’t have the strength to stand yet without her head spinning. “Hello?”
