by Bria Marche
“We were having a great time and had plans for the week. What was the emergency back home?”
“Oh, that. Sasha had a slight problem with her pregnancy. She’s fine now.”
“And Josh wasn’t there to help her? I don’t get it. Did she ask for you specifically to come home?”
“Okay, fine. I’m lying. There, are you happy?” Karen began sobbing into the phone. “I’ve got to go. I shouldn’t have called.”
“Karen, don’t hang up. It’s hard enough getting you on the phone. Tell me what’s wrong… please. I’ll be truthful and answer anything you throw at me. Why are you so upset?”
“Why didn’t you tell me you have a girlfriend in Telluride, Mario? Do you have any idea how humiliating that is? You made me feel cheap and used. Why did you even ask me to go on the road trip with you? I don’t understand any of this. When someone half my age walks into Gravity and deep throats your face, how do you expect me to feel? I wanted to get out of there as fast as possible. There, now you know the truth. I’m a middle-aged, jealous idiot, and I should have known you and I weren’t meant for each other. You belong with Debbie Dreadlocks.”
“With who?” Mario began laughing. “Karen, please take a breath and let me explain. First off, I don’t have a girlfriend in Telluride. I’ll admit I used to, but that relationship was over with a long time ago.”
“Yeah, that kiss didn’t look like it was over with to me.”
“I’m so sorry. I had no idea she was coming into Gravity let alone about to kiss me. She really crossed the line on that one. Hang on a second—someone is knocking on my office door.”
Karen waited, wanting to hang up but knowing she deserved an explanation. She needed answers from him. The conversation Mario was having with a female in the background was loud enough for Karen to hear. She assumed it was Abby.
“Sorry to interrupt, Mario, but I think my cell fell out of my pocket earlier when I was here. There it is, still on the chair. Okay, I’m going to call Libby and give her my notice. I’ll let you know what she says later at dinner.”
“Yeah, thanks, Sarah. Let me know when you can start. Okay, sorry about the interruption, Karen. I’m back. That was somebody I’m going to hire as a manager. I fired Joe and Rick, and they’re lucky I didn’t press charges. This woman worked here before I left Telluride. Hiring her again will make my life a lot easier.”
Karen was stunned. She’d never told Mario about the conversation she’d overheard between Sarah and her co-worker. Mario wasn’t even aware Karen knew her name. It had to be the same Sarah talking to Mario. Nobody else made sense.
“I’ve gotta go.”
***
Karen hung up right when Mario was ready to explain everything to her.
Shit. She’s probably mad because I laughed earlier when she was being serious and vulnerable. That was the dumbest thing I’ve ever done. Way to go, asshole.
Mario tried calling her back, but she wouldn’t answer.
Abby knocked on the office door. “Excuse me, Mario, but the cash-register paper is jammed. Can you take a look at it?”
“Sure, I’ll be right out. Damn, I could use a beer right now,” he said with a groan as he went out to the sales floor.
***
“I’m really sorry this is such short notice,” Sarah explained to Libby Anderson, the owner of Soup and Sandwiches. “I can work through Friday, but that’s it. I know several people that I can recommend to take my place. They’ve worked in retail before. It’s just that I used to be one of the managers across the street at Gravity, and now I have the opportunity to go back as a manager again. I hope you understand.”
“I do, and I know it’s tough working part-time, especially in a tourist town. You really have to hustle to get as many hours as you can, wherever you can. Sure, if you can work through Friday, I’d really appreciate it. Have your friends stop by as soon as possible so I can interview them. Good luck, Sarah. You’ve done a great job here.”
***
Mario stopped at the inn to shower then slumped down at the oak table in his room, with a cold beer in hand, to wind down and clear his head before leaving for dinner.
At seven o’clock, he walked over to Slopes, entering the restaurant through the double wooden doors. Remembering that the special was pot roast made his stomach growl with hunger. Mario took a seat at the bar. Sarah was already preparing a black and tan for him. Happy hour was over, and most of the customers were having dinner.
“Here you go, Mario.” She placed a coaster on the bar and set his tall, two-toned drink on it. A thick piece of Plexiglas covered the original wooden bar top with Morgan and Peace silver dollars, as well as old bar tokens, displayed underneath. Slopes was in one of the original buildings in Telluride and had been an eating and drinking establishment, as well as a hotel, for the last 142 years—though back in the day, it had been better known as a saloon and brothel. With great food and a lively staff, Billy had a goldmine with Slopes, and Sarah fit in perfectly.
“Would you like me to put in your dinner order? Pot roast, right?”
“Yeah, thanks, I appreciate it.”
“No problem, hon. I’ll be right back.”
Ten minutes later, Sarah returned with another black and tan and a heaping plateful of pot roast, mashed potatoes, gravy, and a medley of vegetables. A small plate with warm, crusty bread and a slab of butter sat on the bar along with an icy glass of water.
“Anything else, Mario?”
“Not right now, thanks.”
“Okay, I’ll let you eat. I’ll talk to you when I get my break.” Sarah strolled to the other end of the bar to wait on a couple.
Mario glanced at his cell, which was sitting on the bar. He didn’t want to miss a call from Karen if she actually decided to call back.
After Mario finished eating, Sarah returned and sat on the empty stool next to him, saying it was time for her fifteen-minute break. “I told Libby I could work through Friday. After that, I’m all yours.”
Mario gave her a sideways glance and sighed. “Enough innuendos already.”
“I just meant I can start work on Saturday. Jeez, Mario, what happened to you? You aren’t fun or happy like you used to be.”
“I have a lot on my mind these days, but I am thankful you’ll be working at Gravity again. Come in Saturday morning at eight o’clock, and I’ll get you up to speed on the security system. Is Billy here?”
“Nah… he left earlier.” Sarah checked the time. “Gotta get back to work. Want another black and tan?”
“Yeah, why not. I’m in no hurry to go back to the inn.”
“That’s where you’re staying, at the inn?”
“Yeah, only until Gravity sells, then I’m heading home. I just hope Billy and Brian are really as interested as they seem.”
“It’s weird that Billy would take on another business. He’s always so busy, and Brian is just an investor. He doesn’t know the first thing about actually running a store. They’d definitely need another manager even with me there. So, no matter what, you wouldn’t consider keeping Gravity?”
“Nope. I have two stores in New York, Sarah. I’m needed there.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Brad sat at the table, eating a microwave dinner and watching TV. Tonight was sliced chicken, mashed potatoes, and gravy. The divided area to the left of the main course held dessert: warm apple crisp. He mindlessly ate the bland meal while he tried to solve the puzzle on Wheel of Fortune. How the hell does Vanna look so good thirty years into this show? His cell phone rang. He looked at the name on the screen. Interesting. I wonder what Billy wants. “Hey, dude, what’s up? I haven’t talked to you since I left town. What can I do ya for?” Brad turned the TV down and hit the record button. Wheel of Fortune was one of his favorite shows in the early evening. He watched it religiously when he ate dinner in his tiny apartment.
“Hey, Brad, I’ve got something to run by you. Do you have a minute?”
“Sure, man.
I’m just finishing dinner. Go ahead and talk.”
“Well, I’m wondering what you have going on now that ski season is over. Do you have a summer job in the pipeline?”
“Not yet. I was sure it would be a piece of cake, but the competition here is crazy. Jackson Hole is way more populated than Telluride and easier to get to. I was super busy during ski season just because I’m an ace instructor, but now, with summer right around the corner, anybody can work in a store, especially the college kids. Why do you ask?”
“I’m sure you haven’t heard, but Mario is back in town.”
“That can’t be good for Sarah, or me.”
“Yes, actually, it can.”
“I don’t follow,” Brad said.
“Mario wants to sell Gravity, and Brian Link and I are seriously thinking of buying it.”
“No shit?”
“Yeah. Actually, we’re having a meeting with the bankers and accountants tomorrow. The problem is Brian isn’t a hands-on kind of guy, and I’d really be stretching myself thin if I tried to run Gravity and Slopes. Why don’t you come back to Telluride and run the store for us? I’d definitely buy Gravity if I knew you’d manage it. I know Mario thought of you and Sarah as great managers. I’ve heard through the grapevine that Sarah might get hired back. You’d have full reign just like you used to. You could be the head ski instructor again in winter, too. What do you say? Would you consider it? Like I said, we’re meeting tomorrow. I’m sure I’ll have to give Mario an answer in the next few days.”
“That sounds like a pretty sweet offer. Let me sleep on it. Call me after your meeting tomorrow. Later, dude. Gotta get back to my TV show.”
I wonder what it would be like going back to Telluride. It really pissed Sarah off when I left, but there was so much talk around town. I just needed to take a break somewhere else for the season. Maybe going back wouldn’t be so bad after all.
***
Monday and Tuesday nights were normally spent at Max’s house. He would end his day at Geared Up by five thirty and be home, eating dinner with Vic, at six. Sometimes Vic helped at the store on Tuesdays just for fun, then they would enjoy lunch together across the street from Geared Up at Reuben’s. Vic normally left first thing Wednesday morning to go back to Tarrytown. She liked their new routine. They’d settled in like a real couple, full of love and excitement for each other.
They’d just finished dinner, Vic busy washing dishes and Max putting the leftovers in the refrigerator, when a knock sounded on the door.
“Hmmm… weird, I never have company.” Max chuckled in surprise while he dried his hands on the dish towel and opened the door. “Karen, what the hell are you doing here? Is everything okay?”
Vic grabbed the towel that was slung over Max’s shoulder and dried her hands. “What in the world? Get your ass in here. What’s up?”
“Nothing, really, I just didn’t want to be alone.”
“And you thought to drive a half hour to Max’s house instead of five minutes to anybody else’s? What gives? Sit down. I’ll get the wine.”
“I’m sorry. I should have called. I thought I could help swap out inventory at Geared Up for a few days just to get my mind on something else.”
“You mean something other than Mario?” Vic asked.
“Yeah… I’m pathetic, right?”
Vic twisted the corkscrew into the bottle of Merlot and glanced at Max. He reached into the cupboard above the sink and pulled out two wine glasses then grabbed himself a beer from the refrigerator. Vic poured herself and Karen a glass of wine.
“Sit down, hon, you can stay here for a few days and help Max. You need the help, don’t you honey?”
“I sure do. You can wrap up the winter books and inventory then start on the summer books, if you don’t mind.”
“I would love to keep busy, and I don’t mind at all. It will do me good. I can get a hotel room downtown. It isn’t a problem.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Max said. “There’s a guest room here, and that’s where you’ll stay. I don’t know if it’s against the woman code to have a guy sit in on your relationship discussion, but how much do you know about Mario and the old girlfriend?”
Vic and Karen’s eyes bulged and their necks snapped.
“What does that mean? Are you trying to say you know something that we don’t? Mario is my friggin’ brother! Why would you know anything about that girl in Telluride? I swear, Karen, all I said to Max is that you saw a girl kiss Mario, then they left together. But in your defense, I also said I was going to kick his ass when he got home.”
“That’s true—she hardly told me anything,” Max agreed.
“It’s all right, you guys. Max, why would Mario confide in you about Sarah, and when the hell did he do it? Hand the wine over here, Vic. Go ahead. Tell us everything.”
“Well, it happened when we were checking out locations for Geared Up. Mario talked about her a little. He really didn’t expand on anything, just said that he found out she was cheating with his best friend and head ski instructor. I guess he intended to ask her to marry him, so it was a real relationship, in his mind anyway. Sounds like it was quite a blow to him, being blindsided by his girlfriend and best friend like that. Anyway, he fired them both immediately, hired two new managers, and left Telluride. I promise both of you, that’s all I know.”
“Well, you know more than I ever did. I had no idea Mario had a girlfriend in Colorado. He never mentioned her to me… ever.” Vic shook her head in amazement. “I thought Mario and I were close.”
“You are close, honey,” Max said. “Maybe he just wanted to forget about her. I’m the one who asked why he left Colorado. He didn’t bring the subject up.”
“If what I saw and heard is true, Sarah definitely isn’t over Mario. I wonder what happened to the guy she was cheating with.”
“Who knows? We have a little leftover chicken and potato salad. Want some?” Vic was already putting a place setting on the table. She opened the refrigerator and pulled out the leftovers.
“Sure, that sounds great. I guess I forgot to eat dinner.”
***
Vic kissed Max goodbye and gave Karen an encouraging hug as she got in her car and left for Tarrytown Wednesday morning. Then Karen and Max had breakfast downtown and opened Geared Up early to get a head start on the inventory count. They planned to box up most of the winter gear that hadn’t sold and fill the shelves with more items from the spring and summer line that day. Keeping busy would be Karen’s saving grace. Mario was in her heart and mind, but she needed some time to process everything.
***
Mario felt optimistic. He’d keep himself busy at Gravity until noon then walk over to Slopes. A relaxing lunch with Billy and Brian was planned before they met with the banker and accountant in the afternoon.
Hopefully, everything will go forward with these guys. I know Billy pretty well, and he seems excited at the thought of buying Gravity. I’m sure it’s just another investment to Brian, but I don’t care. The only thing important to me is selling the store and closing this chapter of my life. Mario ate a light breakfast and showered. He sat at his desk in Gravity, going over the documents he had to take along to the meeting. A small pot of coffee brewed on the counter behind him. He put the tax returns for the last four years, as well as all the current sales reports, in a brown-leather briefcase and set it on the floor next to his desk. The file cabinet was locked again, and Mario poured himself a cup of coffee. He reminisced about the road trip he and Karen had taken. That seems so long ago, yet only ten days have gone by since we left Tarrytown. Mario recalled each day of their trip and smiled at the memory. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Gateway Arch, the fender bender, their first kiss, and the night in Burlington when they finally made love were burned into his mind forever. The feelings he had in his heart for Karen were real. She meant everything to him.
The sound of his cell phone ringing made him jump. Mario shook himself out of the memories and answered. �
��Hello, Mario here.”
“Mario, it’s Max.”
“Hey, what’s up?”
“Dude, I don’t know what went on between you and Karen in Colorado, but she’s messed up, man. She’s staying up here with me in Peekskill for a couple of days. I’m putting her to work switching out inventory, and she appreciates the distraction for sure. Just wanted to let you know we’re keeping her busy and showing her the love. She was a wreck when she showed up here last night. This call has to stay between you and me though. Vic would cut my boys off if she knew I called you. Oh yeah, just an FYI, your sister is going to kill you when you get back. But Karen needs the truth. If you aren’t interested, tell her—don’t string her along. She deserves better than that.”
“I’m not stringing her along. I just haven’t had the chance to explain things to her. Either she’s hanging up on me, or she doesn’t answer the phone. I won’t explain it in a voice mail—that’s just tacky. The relationship I was in with Sarah ended before I moved back to New York. I have to make Karen believe me. The problem is I’m stuck here for a while, and I haven’t had the chance to tell her that either. I’m sure she thinks I’m coming back any day now.”
“Why are you staying in Telluride? What’s that about?”
“I put Gravity up for sale a few days back. An old friend is interested, and we’re meeting with his investment partner, accountant and banker this afternoon. It was a mistake thinking I could run Gravity from a distance without problems.”
“Well, whatever that was between your old girlfriend and you really tore Karen up. She said she saw her kiss you, then you left together. I guess she tried calling you, but she couldn’t reach you for hours. That looks pretty bad, man.”
“Yeah, I get that,” Mario said, “but I never left with Sarah. We didn’t go anywhere together other than just outside the front door. It’s all a big misunderstanding.”
