The Hotel

by Melanie Jones Brownrigg

  ◆◆◆

  After dropping by the dry cleaners, I met up at six o’clock with Kay at Red Lobster. We ate here often because the noise level was subdued enough to carry on a good conversation and, too, it was Thursday night, so it was never as crowded as the weekends.

  “Emily,” Kay called out from the across the room.

  Kay was my best friend, all the way from about the age of four on. She was married to Lucas Baker, Greg’s longtime friend and an attorney from Blevins & Howard.

  “Kay,” I called back in an enthusiastic voice and a broad smile splitting my face. As soon as I made my way over to a booth on the far side of the restaurant, Kay jumped out of her seat and threw her arms around me, causing her dark black loosely curled hair to fall around her shoulders.

  After generous hugs, she stood back to admire me. “I love your hair,” she noticed first.

  “Thank you. I had it done yesterday.”

  “It’s beautiful.” She eyed me again. “You’re definitely styling today. Is this something you snagged for an unbelievably low price?” she questioned with an arched brow.

  “Yes, as a matter of fact.” I eyed her ensemble. She, too, looked like she was wearing something expensive, yet practically free. “You look great. Did you do a little shopping today?”

  She laughed and we scooted back into bench seats, sitting opposite each other. “Little is right. Man, thank you for calling me about that sale. Can you believe this is a Burberry outfit? For twenty-five dollars,” she added with wide blue eyes. She was wearing a black, taupe and red plaid shirt with stylish cream-colored jeans. “I got the sunshades too,” she bragged, pulling them out of one of the expensive handbags.

  “Oh, shoot,” I grumped. “I meant to look in the box of sunglasses but somehow, I was distracted by the boxes of jewelry.”

  “It’s probably all gone by now,” Kay warned. “Brenda and I had to fight tooth and nail against Angie. Your mother was unrelenting, grabbing at everything she could get her hands on.”

  Just like I had been with Ava, Kay was currently a stay-at-home mom with Troy, her little three-year-old boy. Kay and Lucas had been married for a little over six years. Both were on their second marriages, neither having any kids by prior spouses. Currently they were planning for a second child.

  “Brenda made it there? I know I called her, but I didn’t know if she could get away from the reception desk at Blevins & Howard.”

  “Are you kidding me? It was the opportunity of a lifetime. She had Lisa Jacobs answering the switchboard for her until she could get back.”

  Lisa Jacobs. Just hearing her name made my anger come alive, remembering how she was missing my husband. Poor her.

  My attention waned for a moment until I realized Kay was still carrying on and I had tuned out part of the conversation. “Not only was she there, your coworker from the bank, Jordan Hughes, had Harold Cummings covering for her. We were all in a frenzy to get that stuff. I didn’t even bother trying anything on. Some of the jewelry I simply fisted and threw in a hand-held carrier without even looking at it.”

  “Well, I’m glad I called you guys.” Hearing how they gorged themselves, I felt a little silly about not grabbing a lot more while I had the chance. Even if I hadn’t liked it, I could’ve sold it on the Internet, or even pawned it, and made a ton of money. At least my wise mother got over there and snatched as much as she could.

  We paused for a moment to give the waiter our food order and then Kay went right back into conversation. “Why do you think that lady, what’s-her-name...”

  “Margaret Winslow,” I answered.

  “Yeah, her. Why do you think she dumped all that stuff? Wouldn’t you have sold it on eBay or even used a consignment store?”

  “Well, I would have,” I answered firmly, the thought having just crossed my mind. “But I suppose, if money wasn’t a factor, it’s easier to just dump everything at a place where the proceeds will be used to do good things. Maybe it’s her way of giving to the church.”

  Kay frowned. “Could be. Personally, I thought it was a little stupid.”

  I nodded. “It seemed a little stupid to me that Twice Blessed was selling everything so cheaply. They could’ve really pushed up the prices and it would’ve still been an amazing bargain.”

  “Oh, you didn’t know?” Kay asked. “The store clerk told me it was a stipulation for none of the personal items to be priced over twenty-five dollars. And the furniture items had to be under fifty. Otherwise, she was going to take it somewhere else.”

  “Oh wow. No, I didn’t know. See, maybe she was trying to give back to the community,” I reiterated. After a thoughtful moment, I said, “But you know, if she really wanted to help the needy, you would’ve thought she would’ve wanted Twice Blessed to get top dollar.”

  “I agree,” Kay said with a bob of her head. “But, whatever the reason, we were certainly in the right spot at the right time.”

  We continued our bargain-find bragging until I could no longer stand it and just had to circle back to Lisa Jacobs manning the front desk so Brenda could run to Twice Blessed. “So, Lisa Jacobs was holding down the fort while Brenda went on a shopping spree. Do you know her?”

  “Well of course. You know her too. Remember, she’s Mr. Blevins’ secretary. You’ve met her at Christmas parties and other functions over the years. I’m sure you have.”

  “Yes, I remember her. I just wondered if you were friendly with her, or if Lucas might talk often about her.”

  “No. I only know her in passing. Lucas hardly ever talks about anyone from work. When he gets home, all he concentrates on is Troy, me and relaxing.”

  “That’s good,” I replied, wishing Greg would turn off work once he arrived home.

  “Speaking of Lucas, Troy and me ... guess what.” Her soft blue eyes suddenly brightened and her whole face lit up with a glow.

  “Oh my God, you’re pregnant, aren’t you?”

  “I am,” she squeaked out. “Eight weeks.”

  “Well congratulations.” I jumped up from my side and leaned over the table to give her a big hug. “I’m so happy for you.”

  Okay, I was a little jealous. Greg and I had always wanted a little brother or sister for Ava. We had tried and tried and tried, but with no luck. We had seen several specialists. Greg’s sperm count was perfectly normal and the doctor’s found no particular reason why I couldn’t get pregnant. Yet I never had. We had long ago foregone any type of birth control. Why bother? Even so, month after month, and year after year, my period had served as a repetitive reminder of no second child.

  The food was delivered, and our drinks were refilled. As soon as we were settled, Kay continued to talk about her due date, possible baby names, and she was considering a natural birth. We were well into my offering to throw her a baby shower and we had even discussed setting up a trust fund for the baby-to-be. The baby-topic had completely exhausted the meal to the point our empty plates were removed.

  “I want dessert,” Kay declared. “With the pregnancy, all I can think about is chocolate.”

  “Sounds delicious,” I agreed. We shared a brownie overboard and as soon as it was served, we began devouring it with all kinds of oohs and aahs.

  Pausing to adjust my now seemingly tight jeans, I asked, “What else is going on? Other than your little addition.”

  “I don’t know. You tell me.” She gave me a questioning gaze. “For starters, how come Greg quit playing racquetball?”

  It was all I could do to keep a straight face and suppress a yelp at the back of my throat. Greg hadn’t mentioned one word to me about quitting racquetball. My mind wasted no time in picturing Thursday nights as now being Greg’s nights to meet up with his skanks. Lisa Jacobs and Taylor Anderson popped to the forefront. Was he with one of them right now? Possibly even both at the same time? I suddenly wanted to leave, go find my husband and throttle him. My extended silence gave me away.

  “You didn’t know, did you?” Kay asked in the softest of
tones.

  “No, I didn’t. But Greg has been working long hours with his new job. Sometimes he works late at the office. Other times he brings work home with him. It takes up a lot of weekend time too. Perhaps he felt guilty about playing racquetball since he hasn’t had much family time.”

  Even though I wanted it to be the truth, it felt like a lie. Greg should’ve discussed it with me. How stupid of him to think Lucas wouldn’t have mentioned it to Kay and, in turn, she wouldn’t have revealed it to me. For God’s sake, we met every Thursday night. It was bound to eventually work its way into a conversation.

  “Yes, that’s probably it. I’m sure you’re right,” Kay continued in a soothing voice that suddenly made me want to bolt from the room.

  “How long ago?” I dared to ask.

  “I’m not sure. Lucas only let it slip one day this week. Otherwise, I would’ve asked you earlier. I was hoping you knew and there was a reasonable explanation.” She gave me a pitiful look. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know how to handle the information.”

  “Don’t be,” I assured her. “It’s probably nothing. Like I said, Greg’s probably just working late like he is every other night.”

  Like he’s screwing around on me every night.

  “Greg’s not cheating on you,” she said, trying to convince herself, more than me. Kay was divorced from her first husband because he cheated on her. She’d been there, done that. She was my best friend and knew me inside and out. I should be able to express my concerns to her.

  I shrugged. “He might be.” I spent the next thirty minutes telling her first about Taylor Anderson and then Lisa Jacobs. “It could be either one of them. Or both. Or others,” I said, summing up the conversation.

  Kay’s face had been screwed into a tight ball during my entire spillage of guts. “Oh Emily. I’m so sorry.”

  My eyes watered and a double lump formed, one in the back of my throat and one in the pit of my stomach. “Do you think Lucas knows and has been keeping his secret?”

  She pressed her lips into a flat line. “I don’t know. Do you want me to ask him?”

  “Yes, would you please?” I found myself asking.

  An image of my salt-of-the-earth husband came into view. He was the type of guy who presented himself to me, and to everyone, as being the perfect husband. For all these years, I thought I had found my true partner and my best friend. This week alone, he had reaffirmed what a fantastic lover he was. His values had always been hard-working, honest and moral. He was a true family man at heart, and he loved Ava with every fiber of his being. For him to be out catting around seemed completely outside his character. I had to be getting this all wrong. Kay had to be getting this all wrong. There was nothing to worry about. So, I told myself.

  ◆◆◆

  The topic of my husband’s possible infidelities had put a damper on mine and Kay’s night together. Once she had offered to question Lucas in more detail, I had asked her to find out more about where my husband had been spending his Thursday nights ... and with whom. In the meantime, I had to see for myself that Greg wasn’t batting a ball against the wall in a heated contest between himself, Roger, Neal and Lucas. Somehow, through blinding thoughts, I had managed to drive to Racqueteers, the downtown Fort Worth facility featuring not only racquetball, but fitness equipment and an indoor pool.

  In a nearby parking garage, I worked up my nerve to go inside. First, I made it to the garage elevator, then to the correct floor, then into the main entrance. I felt like a fish out of water, one that was struggling for every breath. The gym was to the right. A wall of glass let me know right away that there were numerous gorgeous females at varying exercise machines. The pool, straight ahead, also separated only by a glass wall, provided a buffet of perfect-figured girls, each dressed in barely clad swimwear. It had never occurred to me until this moment, but Greg could’ve easily met some chippie here. He might be with someone completely off my radar.

  The racquetball courts were to the left with rooms on each side of a long hallway. As I made my way up to the observation level for the courts, I felt like a jack-in-the-box, sneaking up on each court and then quickly popping my head up to inspect the players. Staying close to the wall on the right, I peeked into each court, only to find someone else playing. Sometimes two guys, or two girls. Sometimes mixed couples. There were courts with a parent playing with a child. Others were filled with either four girls, or four guys. But none of them, so far, were occupied by anyone I knew.

  At the end of the hallway, I turned around and came back down the other side. Somewhere near the middle I popped my head up and gasped. Sure enough, it was Roger, Neal and Lucas, but no Greg. And much to my surprise, the fourth player was Paul Jensen. I supposed, since Greg had already paid for the membership, Paul was playing for free. Keeping over to the far side with my head barely visible, I watched them for a few short moments as they each rushed around at lightning speed, whacking the ball against the wall. Among my many spinning thoughts, I wondered if Paul had situated his money around, such that his wife could buy groceries.

  With a moment of optimism, I checked the other courts, hoping to find Greg in one of them and some man opposing him. Maybe some other A.D.A., or someone from church, or even someone I hadn’t thought of. But no. He wasn’t in any of the rooms.

  Back at the entrance lobby, I stared into first the pool area to see if he might be there, then I glared at everyone in the equipment room, hoping he might be firming up. But no, he wasn’t there either. Greg wasn’t here. But where was he?

  ◆◆◆

  With a leaden heart, I left the facility and made my way back to my car. I hated everything I was feeling ... like I was inadequate to keep Greg. Greg must’ve strayed when his love for me faded and I became nothing more than a tax deduction. Did he envision me as a large disappointment, or worse, a mistake? Down the street from me a church’s clock chimed eight times, each strike marking a countdown in mine and Greg’s marriage. As the last bong rang through the still night air and ended in dead silence, it felt as if our relationship died with it.

  The drive to my mother’s house to pick up Ava was spent in turmoil, fearing what was going to happen to my marriage, and to Ava. When I pulled into my mother’s driveway, I had to work up courage to go to the door and plaster on a face that hid my true despair.

  My mother spent thirty minutes yammering about the bargains she found at Twice Blessed. “The delivery truck is bringing the furniture tomorrow,” she said excitedly. “I think I can redo half my house with the stuff I bought. Emily, I’ll let you know what I’m getting rid of. You might want some of it. And I got the rest of the clothes in your size and the remaining sunshades too. I’ll go through everything and sort them out for you. I grabbed everything as fast as I could, except what Brenda, Kay and Jordan wanted, of course. But there wasn’t any need to leave anything. If we don’t want it, we can sell if for a good price.”

  “Okay, mom,” I said. My mood was too deflated to be excited about the deal of the century. I just wanted to leave. “Look, I need to get Ava home and to bed. She has a school field trip tomorrow.”

  “Yes, of course. She’s told me all about it. She’s so excited.”

  “Let’s go, Ava,” I called out to my daughter who was in the next room adding a bow to Piper’s long fur.

  The drive home was spent with Ava chattering on and on about how much she loved the embroidering and, once again, she told me about winning at bingo. Between being hyped up on her latest hobbies with Gigi and the school trip tomorrow, I wondered if she would get any sleep at all.

  When I pulled into the garage, I parked next to the empty spot where Greg’s car should be. It happened every Thursday night. But tonight, it was different. He was somewhere he hadn’t told me about and I couldn’t think of anywhere good it could be.

  “Get ready for bed,” I told Ava.

  “Okay,” she agreed, thankfully without a confrontation. “I want to hurry up and go to sleep so it will be tomorrow
. I’m so excited about going to the Science Museum. It’s going to be so much fun. We’re going to the Omni Theater too. We’re going to see Dinosaurs. I can’t wait.”

  Once Ava was tucked in bed and I had kissed her goodnight, I headed for the nearest bottle of wine. With a filled glass in one hand and my phone in the other, I stared at Greg’s number on my list of favorites. My thoughts alternated between hitting the call button, to deleting him from my phone. Darker thoughts considered deleting him completely from my life. If Greg was cheating, were we too far gone? Would I be forgiving enough to agree to couple’s counseling? If we tried, how long would it be before he cheated again? Or was he in love with someone else and would simply want a divorce?

  Where was he right now? I pictured Greg’s life outside the sanctity of our marriage and away from fatherhood. In my mind’s eye, I saw him filling every moment away from me and Ava with his adulterous trysts and rendezvous, telling me he was working late, had a late-night meeting ... or racquetball. Unbeknownst to me, was he skipping lunches and having lust-filled evenings away from his work? I thought of his lover, possibly lovers, spending every intense moment in pure unsaddled abandonment. It must be exciting for him to have these clandestine encounters, spending time in secret pleasure with no strings attached.

  He must be having the time of his life without me there to gripe about his duties on taking out the trash or requesting him to fix this or repair that. Ava wasn’t bothering him for help with her homework, to play a game with her, or to tuck her in at night. And he didn’t have to listen to me going on and on about a bathroom addition.

  Had he constructed a life outside ours? One that didn’t include family responsibilities, paying bills and providing a roof over our heads. One that was carefree, fun, spontaneous and brimming with spur of the moment adventures. Had he found a provocative and stimulating romance with another lover, or lovers, or skanks according to my thoughts?