Page 21 of Anywhere with You
“I can have it first tonight because you had it first last night,” she corrected.
“Fine. Reject my generosity. Just feed me soon.”
“Yes, ma’am,” she said and started the car.
Chapter Eleven
The hotel was nice enough that I took notice, tired as I was.
“This place,” I said as we dropped fast food wrappers into the trash can and hauled luggage to the elevator.
“Fancy, right? I got a last-minute deal you wouldn’t believe.” Cara seemed pleased that I’d noticed.
“That’s…thank you. Thank you for taking care of all the planning. It’s hitting me how little I did to prepare for this trip, compared with you.”
Her smile widened. “You are very welcome. I enjoy the planning part. There were times with Lorenzo that I enjoyed the planning more than the vacation itself.”
“I get that,” I said. And I did. Even on weekend trips with Bridget, I’d find that I enjoyed the travel snacks more than the company.
As Cara took out the key card for the door, everything I’d said today came to mind at once. Had I been unhappy? I didn’t know if I could trust my memories right now. I was still too angry to think clearly. But I did myself the favor of not disregarding what I felt, just setting it aside to examine when I was less exhausted.
“If you like the hotel now,” Cara said, “just wait until breakfast.”
I called the store while Cara showered. I tried to stay near the door and not get sand in the room, but I soon gave up and sat at the desk, reasoning that so long as I didn’t get sand in the beds, Cara couldn’t be too upset with me.
Doug answered, “Strings & Things, Douglas speaking.”
I snickered, then tried to cover it with a cough. “Hey, Doug. It’s Honey. How’s it going?”
“That drum kit finally sold. I thought we’d never get rid of it. I hate those effing cymbals.”
I was impressed. That was a good sale. “Yeah,” I said, “but you know we’re just going to get another one, right? If it helps, there are bongos in the next delivery.”
“Coooool.Hey, can wireless mics go bad? We have one that smells weird.”
“Weird like it’s going to burst into flames? Or weird like someone breathed into it a lot—maybe someone who doesn’t floss?”
There was a gagging sound on the line, then Florence took the phone.
“Honey, stop calling and worrying about us,” she said. “Your body needs a break, but your brain does, too. We’ve got this.”
“I know you do. I actually haven’t been worried at all.” It was strange to think that was almost true. I missed the store, but I was pretty sure Florence and Doug were better at running it than I was.
“Good,” she said. “Now be sure to have some fun, get into a little trouble, then tell me all about it. In detail, if you please.”
I heard the shower stop and immediately stood.
“I have to go, Florence,” I said. “Cara’s…” I didn’t want to sayCara’s getting out of the showerbecause Florence had a tendency to take innocent statements and make them weird, so I lied. “Cara’s waiting.”
“Whatever cranks your tractor, Hon. She is a pretty one.”
I put my head in my free hand. “What…? Never mind, please don’t tell me what that means. I’ll call again tomorrow.”
“Or don’t,” Florence singsonged. “Your choice.”
* * *
Cara was so very right about breakfast. There was a hot buffet, a made-to-order omelet station, and a coffee bar on top of the usual continental breakfast offerings.
