Page 23 of Infinite as They Come
Her voice was warm and inviting, the sound pulling me closer to her. She had long hair, the strands bright and golden, falling right to her waist. She pushed it behind her ears again before scoffing, yanking a black scrunchie off her pale wrist, her hands pulling her hair into a ponytail.
“That’s better. My name’s Clara,” she said. “And you?”
“Holly,” I said, taking the seat by her side. I could hear some noise behind me since the door was open a crack. It sounded like the TV was on. “Are you on vacation too?”
She chuckled, throwing her head back. “If I was on vacation I’d be at the beach. I live here.”
My eyes widened for a second. “Oh.”
“Most of the residents are here permanently.”
“I didn’t know that was a thing.”
“Yeah, like I said, you’re not from around here. The couple who own this place are cool. Very welcoming. And they charge less when you stay longer, so…” She shrugged. “Why not, right? We all have to live somewhere, and my kid likes it here.” Craning her neck to the side, she eyed the front door. “Tommy, say hello to Holly!”
“Hello, Holly!” I heard a little voice call out from behind the door.
“Uh, hi!” I said back before turning to Clara.
“Tommy’s watching wrestling,” she said, rolling her eyes. “His favorite.Everyday. Wrestling, wrestling, wrestling. Can’t get him away from the TV when it’s on.”
“How long have you guys lived here for?”
“A little over three years. I wouldn’t stay here if Tommy wasn’t happy. It’s close to his school, my work, the rent is cheap. I really can’t complain.”
I gave her a nod. It was so different to everything I had ever known. A too big house, vacation homes all over the country, five star hotels. Still, the Melrose Motel had a certain charm I wouldn’t be able to find at the Ritz or The Plaza.
“And you guys like it here?” I asked.
She smiled, all big and bright. “You ask a lot of questions.”
“I’m sorry. That was rude,” I said sheepishly, cheeks getting a little hot. “I just spent three years studying journalism. Kinda hard to quit the habit of asking questions.”
“Nah, I’m just messing with ya. Tommy’s happy, so I’m happy. It’s a simple life. I know that. But we both like it this way. I work at a diner just around the corner,” she said, pointing behind us, “and Tommy’s school’s about five minutes from there. I drop him off, head on to work, we both come back here and live like kings.”
“Like kings,” I repeated softly.
“Poor kings, but still like kings. I take it you’ve never had to live in a place like this. I guess you’re not really used to it.”
My head shook. “I don’t mind it. It’s quiet and cozy and peaceful, and I really needed a break from New York.”
A sharp whistle escaped her lips. “New York, huh? You live there now?”
“Just studying. Well,studied. I just graduated.”
“Fancy,” she said. “But you know what? That can’t beat what we have here. Met some of my best friends these last few years. Diana, upstairs, she used to be in movies. And Richard, who lives towards the front, he was a truck driver, so he’s been all over this country and seen a hell of a lot. Seen things and places most people never get to see. And there’s Martha who lives a few rooms down from me. She was a chef at some fancy restaurant—the kind you probably go to. She’s retired now, but she can still whip you up a hell of a meal.”
“Sounds like a fun time living here,” I said, my eyes falling to the pool. The wind was hot but gentle, creating the calmest of waves there in the water.
“You know, if you’re a journalist, those are the people you ought to talk to. They’ll teach you so much. More than anyone else could teach you. The stories they could tell you? Those people have seen a lot. If you wanna hear about the world, you go to them.”
Humming, I gave her a slow nod. The people I had grown up with weren’t exactly familiar with the real world. We had rules we followed. Strict lives to adhere to. Most of it was already written out for us before we were evenborn: live in our gated communities and go to our fancy private schools and attend all the high society events with our fellow high society members. For most of my life, I had been shielded from any real problems and tragedies, from the struggles a lot of people had to deal with.
Like Sawyer.
He had taught me a lot about staying grounded over the years, in finding joy in the small things. Quick smiles, kisses to the cheek, gentle fingers moving through my hair, lazy mornings in bed with him, my head on his lap after a long day, falling asleep in his arms, because that was the safest place in the world to be.
My mind drifted to him in an instant, eyes glued to the water, to the gentle rush of the waves. I kept wondering where Sawyer was. What he was doing. Was he just driving around, confused, sore, hurting? I winced at the thought.
