Chapter 12, Arrangement
Cathee tossed her purse on the desk chair as they entered the room and turned to the dresser to get her pajamas. As she was turning, she noticed the phone’s flashing light that meant she had a message. She approached the phone slowly, as if it was a snake preparing to strike, terrified of what the message might contain. Shakily, she lifted the receiver and punched in the ‘retrieve message’ button. “An arrangement has been delivered for you. You can either pick it up at the front desk or have it delivered.”
Her eyebrows creased. “An arrangement?” she muttered. “What do they mean – an arrangement?”
She knew a delivery would mean a tip, but she’d saved a lot of money on the trip since Garrett kept paying for their meals. She could have it delivered. She dialed ‘0.’
“Good evening. How may I help you?”
“Hi. This is Cathee Laurenson in Room 608. I understand I had a delivery today.”
“Yes, you did.” The night clerk sounded amused. Cathee wondered at it. “Would you like it delivered to your room?”
“Yes, please.”
“It will be right up.”
“Thanks.”
“Is there anything else you need?”
“No. I’m fine.”
“Have a nice evening.”
“Thanks. You too.” She hung up the phone and headed back to her purse. She dug around until she found money for a tip.
A couple of minutes later, a light rap sounded on her door. She looked through the viewing hole cut into the door, but was confused by what she saw. She opened the door slowly and was amazed to see the size of the floral arrangement the hotel employee was holding. He could hardly see over it.
“I...I’m so sorry. You can put it in here.” She slid the phone to the edge of the desk to make room for the flowers. “Wow. I had no idea.”
He chuckled as she handed him his tip. “I wasn’t sure if you were planning a wake in here or not. Glad to see no one is dead.”
“Certainly not.” Cathee had been through too many harrowing experiences in the last couple of days to appreciate the humor. “Thanks for your help.”
“My pleasure.” He slid out the door, and Cathee turned to stare at the flowers.
“Mommy, aren’t they pretty?”
“They certainly are.”
“Where did they come from?”
“I’m not sure, but I’ll bet I can guess.”
She stepped to the desk and pulled out the card tucked into the arrangement.
In Celebration of New Beginnings–for both of us.
Garrett
A tear trickled down her cheek as she tucked the note back into its envelope and hugged it to her chest.
“What’s wrong, Mommy? Who is it from?”
“Nothing is wrong, Sweetie.” She wiped the tear away with a fingertip and smiled. “It’s from Garrett.”
“I knew it. I knew it.” Christina beamed with excitement. “Isn’t he the awesomest?”
“He is awesome,” Cathee agreed, “but I’m still tired. Let’s get ready for bed, shall we? You need to take a bath.”
While Christina was in the tub soaking the day’s dirt off, Cathee picked up her phone and dialed room 702. “Garrett?”
“Yes?”
“It’s me. Cathee.”
“Oh. Hi.” She could hear the warmth in his voice, and her heart warmed in return.
“I just wanted to thank you for the beautiful flowers.” She gently touched the coral velvet tip of one of the yellow roses. Yellow signifies friendship. She smiled wistfully.
“Oh. Wow. I forgot I ordered them. Today has been hectic.” Understatement, he thought.
“Yes it has been. When did you order them?”
“This morning before I heard about Juan. The advent of his escape threw it completely out of my mind.” He hardly ever forgot anything. The stress of the day had taken its toll. How could he forget he’d ordered an arrangement for her? You’re losing it, Buddy.
“I’ve never seen such a huge, lovely arrangement. I really love it. Thanks, Garrett.”
“You’re welcome, Cathee.”
“I’ll see you in the morning, then?”
“The usual place?”
“Of course.” She paused, wondering what else she should say. “Good night. Sleep well.”
“You, too. ’Bye.”
“’Bye.” She whispered, then hung up the phone. For the first time in her life, she ached to be somewhere other than her own solitary bed. She shook herself. It wasn’t a feeling she was comfortable with.
After Christina was dried, dressed, and tucked into bed, Cathee went to the bathroom to change. She stared at her image in the mirror. What was it Garrett was seeing in her? She wasn’t particularly attractive in her book, and she’d made every effort to push him away. The flowers meant he wasn’t planning on leaving.
What should I do? I’m not ready for a relationship–especially with a widower. When I get married, it will be in the temple to someone I’ll have all to myself. I don’t want to share. She started to brush her hair vigorously. Jill will always be his first love. I don’t want to be anyone’s second. She slammed the hairbrush down in anger and stared at herself another moment, then busied herself with getting ready for bed.
When she stepped out of the bathroom, she could see Christina was already fast asleep.
She turned out the lights and climbed into her own bed, then lay awake staring at the ceiling. Her mind filled with all the things she’d done wrong in her life. Her choice to date Juan hadn’t been approved by her aunt and uncle. Juan wasn’t a member. Her parents and then her aunt and uncle had insisted she date members, but in Salina and then Manhattan after they died, that meant no dating. She refused to think about that dark night with Juan. Instead, she thought back on all the men she’d pushed away. Anyone who acted interested, she’d treated exactly the way she’d treated Garrett. He was the only one who’d bothered to push past her insecurities. “Maybe...maybe,” she whispered to herself, “I’m only good enough to be someone’s second.” She rolled over and cried herself to sleep.
Hidden in the Heart: An LDS Novel Page 19
