Page 30 of My Thursday Throwback

Chapter 11 – Say What Now?

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IN THE BACKGROUND,a chiming phone rousted Zelda from a restful sleep but she found her body damp with sweat. Reaching for the nightstand, she grabbed her phone, pressing the button to answer and quickly discovering her sweat soaked body had gotten that way by a naked Scott. Evidently, during the night, he made a trip to the bathroom and unable to get his underwear figured out in his inebriated state, and opted to go without them.

“Hello,” Zelda said softly.

Scott rolled over, cupping one of her breasts, moaning happily as if he’d found a rare treasure. He smelled terrible. It was a mixture of sweat, vomit, and something foul only found after a tawdry night in Las Vegas.

“Ms. Fitzsimmons, is Mr. Berger with you?” Chandler asked.

“Yes, he is. Is everything all right?”

“I was about to ask you the same thing. A few moments ago, I received a call on Mr. Berger’s phone from the banquet manager at the Aladdin Hotel & Casino. Apparently, Mr. Berger and his friend, I assume this was Michael based on the description, damaged the buffet with a pet monkey,” Chandler said with no humor in his voice.

“Say what now?” Zelda said, sitting up in bed.

“As it was explained to me, the two men allowed the monkey to eat directly from the buffet, forcing them to throw out all the food. When the hotel management tried to stop their antics, Mr. Berger accused the staff of being racist,” Chandler said.

“Racist against Michael?”

“No madam, to the monkey,” Chandler said without laughing. “Mr. Berger left his number with the manager so they would be able to call him to pay for the damages. He left his phone with the gondola driver at the Venetian to call him to pay the reparations to his clothing.”

“What? How were they going to call him if he left the phone?”

“Exactly, which is why I am calling you to check on the health and well-being of them both.”

“They came in last night drunk. Scott was covered in some kind of grease and soaking wet. I can’t even start to tell you half of the stuff Michael said, but they are safe,” she told him.

“Good enough,” he replied.

“Chandler, does he get drunk like this often?”

The line was quiet. “I have never known him in 24 years to get drunk Ms. Fitzsimmons, which is also what prompted my call. Not meaning to pry, but again, is everything all right between the two of you?”

“I’m broken, but trying to mend. It will not happen overnight and there is some give and take, and Scott possibly feels as if he is doing all of the giving. I’m not a taker Chandler but, I guess, I’m not trusting my own legs to carry me,” she said softly.

“Stand up, move forward one step at a time. If you should stumble, fall, or trip, you are surrounded by people who will help you find a balance,” Chandler said with some emotion in his voice. “You will be at home here in Kentucky.”

“If you say I will be treated like family, I will crawl through this phone and smack you sideways,” she said.

Chandler chuckled. “I despise that term as well, Madam.”

Zelda held the phone, looking at Scott, touching the side of his face. “We are all fine, Chandler. Thank you for checking on him and on us.”

“The phone will be delivered momentarily via courier to where you are staying. Knowing Mr. Berger as I do, he probably has chronicled much of the adventure. I would pay good money to see the contents of that phone,” Chandler said. “Enjoy your day.”

For the first time, she understood the connection between Scott and Chandler was deeper than an employer and his butler. Chandler was Scott’s lifeline just as Michael was hers. The more she thought about it, she realized that she and Michael were a lifeline to Grandma Lula. She was a lifeline to Wilke and Scott was her line to a different kind of life.

“You can easily become my everything,” she said, leaning down to kiss his cheek, waking him. His breath hit her like a big fist in the middle of her face. “Good Lord!”

“Growl,” he said, rolling over to his back. “Did you get the name of the truck that backed up over me?’

“Maybe it was being driven by the monkey you took to the all you can eat buffet,” she said sarcastically.

Scott’s hands came up over his eyes, “Dear Jesus, that was real wasn’t it?”

Zelda touched the loose strand of hair that fell over his eye, pushing it back from his forehead. “Anything else you remember?’

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