Oliver
LOOKING AT THE sleeping Stori, I can’t help but replay why I love her. Laying on an uncomfortable recliner with your woman on one your worst days reveals a lot about you and her. Temperament, ability to cope, priorities, the effect being in love has. It all comes to the surface. When it’s a bad day for you both, multiply the effect by a hundred. It could have been disastrous. But for us it was something beautiful. We saw our ability to put the other person first, proving love.
I’m sure of her. But not in a way that makes me a dick. It’s just that she’s clear about who she is. What you see is what you get with Stori. When she says she’s all in you can believe it.
When we were young, I knew she was what I wanted. But you can only understand so much when you’re sixteen. Blinded and captured by the spell you’re in, you don’t care if there’s more. Now I’m old enough to see Stori’s pull goes beyond the obvious.
I love her beauty, the body, that goes without saying. But it’s other assets that set her apart most. I may paint the female form for a living, but it’s what’s behind the eyes that’s the most naked part of the image. Behind hers is a world of uniqueness and my ideal.
She’s got this sharp mind and a quiet self-assurance that’s fucking sexy to me. That coupled with a strong streak of self-reliance. A confident architect of her life, planning and measuring each step. I respect her for being so aware of her direction from a young age. I know that’s what stings most as she replays the last day’s collapse. Never had she considered this type of veer in her road. She erred on the side of trust. Trusting the friendship she had with Mrs. Abbott. I don’t think that’s such a flaw, even though it was her downfall. It’s that very piece of her that makes her good.
Stori’s a feminist and does the word proud. She’s talked about adolescent girls being shaped by what they believe about themselves. How sometimes a man’s view of them can become their own. It was her mother and father who encouraged her to always think for herself and form her own beliefs. Hers are solid. Intelligence and compassion went into her conclusions. Killer combo. Then there’s the gentleness about her, and it’s beautifully caped in strength. I could easily imagine her cradling a baby and see her fighting anyone who tried to harm it.
I’m struck by the force of love. Like a tsunami in the desert, it’s unexpected. Stori’s done that to me. This feeling’s what’s described in love songs. Not the moon, June, pop versions, or the I want to sex you up R&B interpretations. It’s the lyrics that talk about the deeper state. There’s reasons why the classics have lasted so long. Gershwin, Cole Porter, Gus Kahn, they got it right. Sinatra, Bennett, Gaga interpreted it to perfection. What it feels like to know together we’re more than the sum of our parts. The belief that the pain of loss, disappointment, even the fear of death, all will be quieted because we’ve found each other. Most men and women doubt that kind of love is even real. Now I see how much we’re the poorer for that fact.
Somewhere between Stori’s arrival at the vet’s and midnight, we found our way through our darkness. We didn’t solve any of our problems, not one. We just faced them together. All we did was talk it out. Her loss of the bar, the inevitable exit of my benefactor, and maybe future career, and finally Louise’s condition.
We arrived at a few conclusions. She’d start with having her lawyer looks over her lease and fight for the latest date of eviction possible while she regroups. I’d begin with a face to face with the hotelier in hopes of salvaging a strand of a connection. Maybe in time he’s going to give me another chance. At the very least the guy will know my intentions were respectful and my absence unavoidable. As far as Louise goes it’s a miserable waiting game.
Never did I think talking would be so healing. It calmed me tonight. She’s insightful and gets me like no one has before. My temperament has cooled a few degrees because of her influence, and that’s a good thing. My anger at Piper for possibly passing on the information about Whiskey River to her father turned to understanding. When Stori presented the facts logically as she sees them it made sense. She pointed out Piper owes her no allegiance and reminded me how messed up the father daughter relationship has been. She’d want to help her father, regardless of the fact it would impact either of us. Stori won me over with her good sense and ability to see the other person’s perspective.
I hate this helpless feeling I have when it comes to the turn in her story. How can I help her get what she’s worked so hard for? With zero experience or knowledge of real estate, negotiation, or contracts, my chances are slim. All I can think of is being there for her and supporting whichever direction she finally settles on. I trust her to find a way through this and come out on top. I don’t want to be naïve, but it wouldn’t surprise me if she proves the acceptation to the rule. After all, she’s the girl who had a five and ten year plan when she was sixteen, and the woman who devoted her entire life to making it a reality.
She snuggles against me, two tired people happy to share a one person recliner. She lifts her face to my neck and breathes in. “I love the way your skin smells.”
I look in her blue eyes and I’m reminded of how they seem to change color when she’s aroused. “Wish we were in bed right now.”
“God, yes.”
“You comfortable enough?” I say.
“Oliver, when I’m with you all’s right with the world.”
We’re interrupted by a knock on the door. “Come in.”
The door swings open and a smiling tech enters. “Good news. Louise is awake. Want to see her?”
I’m up before she finishes the question.
“I’m so happy!” Stori says. “I’ll wait here and gather our things. Are we going to be going home?”
“Definitely.”
I follow the girl into the back room where caged dogs and cats lie sleeping. Most of them, anyway. The ones that are awake all have the same look on their faces. Have you seen my human? Are they coming soon to get me out of this place? I spot Louise at the same moment she sees me, and we both feel the love across the room.
“She’s still a little groggy. You can say hi, give her a pat, and then we’ll let her rest. Check back this afternoon.”
“Will I be able to take her home then?”
“You’ll have to speak to the doctor about that. Maybe.”
The tech opens the cage and lets me pet my girl. The anesthetic hasn’t entirely left her system, but she’s alert enough to welcome my touch with a wagging tail.
“Hi, baby. You scared me today.”
I feel a little tongue lick my hand, and that’s all I need to know. I cover her in kisses.
Both Stori and I were happy to bug out of our temporary accommodations. We went to her place where we showered then climbed into bed at three in the morning. For the first time since we’ve been together we didn’t have sex when the opportunity was there. Neither of us had the will. The day had beaten us up.
Sleep came quickly. Mine was occupied with a vivid dream. In it I found myself standing on a dock as a huge luxurious floating hotel sailed off into the sunset. There were scores of partying guests laughing and lounging on the decks. The most interesting part of the dream was I wasn’t upset because I missed the boat. I was happy where I stood. I wake abruptly when the ship in my dreams suddenly reverses engines and heads straight for me.
I startle back to reality with a jump. Stori sounds a little moan and when I look at her sleeping face, she’s smiling. No doubt having a better dream than I did. Taking every precaution not to wake her, I get out of bed and check the time on my cell. It’s eight-thirty. Think I can track down Mr. Rush and plead my case before he leaves for his flight.
As I dress, I’m wondering how things should be handled. Do I let Piper know what I’m up to? Is she even accepting my calls? She needs to know I value her efforts but there’s no time to waste making amends now, and I’m not going to be talked out of appealing to the man myself. My window of opportunity is nearly shut and I need to prioritize. We’ll talk later today. That’s if we’re still on speaking terms.
Stori will find the note I left explaining my plans. Normally we don’t leave without waking the other, but I didn’t relish taking her away from her happy sleep where it looks as if something great is going on in her dream. I grab my cell and keys and quietly lock the front door behind me.
It’s a good thing I know where Rush stayed while in New York. Everything would have fallen apart had I not known that bit of information. I grab an apple, hop in a cab and spend the longest ten minutes of my life getting there.
“Thanks, man,” I say, handing over the driver’s due.
The Stanford is one of New York’s best. Piper filled me in. It’s kind of understated to the eye, but evidently the level of service and accommodations make it a favorite of people with the money to afford it.
“I’m looking for Edmund Rush. Can you connect me with his room?” I say to the well-groomed and pressed young guy at the front desk.
He gives me a look that says a little more than hello. It’s more like ‘how you doin?’ His eyes never left mine, and it was a few seconds too long. I know what that means, just like when a woman does it. It’s how I look at Stori. A wide smile breaks out on his face.
“I’d love to help you, sir, but the guest has already checked out.”
I feel my posture slip a little.
“How long ago?”
“Just before you came in. If you hurry, you might catch him in the lounge. I saw him head that way.”
He motions to the right of the desk.
“Do a guy a favor. I’m not sure what he looks like. Can you tell me something about his appearance? It’s really important that I speak to him.”
The guy pauses a few beats before he speaks. I’m sure it’s against every hotel rule to do what I just asked. But the pause makes me think he might make an exception. He lowers his voice.
“It should be easy. He’s probably got a cat with him.”
“Thanks, man!”
As I turn to leave the guy adds one last bit of information.
“Don’t leave the cat out of the conversation. Mr. Rush takes it as an affront.”
God bless this stranger. I give him a nod of appreciation and I get one back.
Entering the lounge, I scan the room for a man with a cat. Nothing. Shit. There’s two men sitting having coffee, but no cat. I see a fifty something guy who kinda looks like Billy Idol, bleached spiked hair, earring, leather bracelets. He’s on his cell, and obviously not my man. The rest of the patrons are women. Just as I’m scanning the crowd, someone comes up behind me. As he passes I feel the metal edge of something swipe my leg. Bingo! It’s a cat carrier and the young avant-garde dressed guy wielding it is headed for the man with the cell. I let it play out before I make my way over. It’s now or never.
“Mr. Rush?”
He looks up at me and I see a hint of recognition. Okay.
“I’m Oliver London.”
“I know who you are.”
“May I?” I say motioning to the empty seat between him and the cat carrier.
He gives his friend a look, and the guy gets up.
“I’ll be back at eleven. Your flights at one.”
No further words are spoken between them, and then we’re alone. Well, the cats still here.
“Who’s this?” I say taking my seat and speaking directly to the cat.
Rush’s expression brightens with my question.
“This is Alibaba.”
“Morning,” I say looking directly at the Persian prince.
The pampered cat looks blankly at me as if I’m a subject in his court, and he couldn’t be bothered with an acknowledgement. He licks his paw. But his human is happy with the fact that I included his boy in the conversation.
“He always gets distant when I have to cage him.”
“Well, he’s a male.”
I’m rewarded with a laugh, so I just jump in.
“I wanted you to know why I wasn’t at our meeting. Don’t think I wasn’t taking your offer seriously or undervaluing what you were offering. There was an extenuating circumstance, and I couldn’t choose differently if it happened again.”
He just listens and lets me say my peace uninterrupted.
“This may not sound like a valid reason to miss one of the most important meetings of a person’s career. But to me it was. It is. My dog was poisoned. I had to rush her for medical treatment. I had the choice to leave her there and attend to business. I would have been late, but maybe you would have still been here. I know Ms. Mann would have wanted that. She’s worked her ass off for me, and she’s probably not talking to me now. But I made the decision to stay because my dog isn’t just a pet. She’s a full-fledged member of my family and I didn’t want her to die alone.”
There. I spill it all out in one stream of consciousness. He smiles.
“Haven’t you spoken to Ms. Mann?”
“Not yet.”
“You made the right decision. Don’t you think I understand that?”
“Well, not everybody would,” I say completely surprised at his response.
“Listen. I travel the world with my Alibaba in tow. He stays in the finest suites, sleeps in the best beds, and his father’s silhouette is the world recognized logo of my own hotels. I wouldn’t do business with or respect anyone who’d put a few dollars before their compassion for their animal.”
I chuckle at his definition of a few dollars. And then it hits me. I’ve still got the deal. I’m sure my face wears my shock.
“Ms. Mann took ten minutes to get to the real reason you didn’t show. Then when she found out I was still interested in purchasing your work, she and I negotiated our deal. I guess she doesn’t think like we do. I’d bet she never loved an animal.”
That’s almost laughable.
“You might be on the losing end of that one. She loves her dog Hercules more than anyone or anything. They’re inseparable.
The right side of his mouth lifts in a smile.
“Really?” He says it as if he’s intrigued by the news. “What’s her thing? You’ve been around her for a while. You two dating?”
“What? No. No. We’re strictly business associates.”
“Good. She respects you, even though she says you can be as stubborn as she is.”
Note to self. Call and thank her for this pot of gold I just fell into. She’s done right by me. I don’t want to tell him she pisses me off on a regular basis. Or that she thinks she can boss me into submission. Let the dude find out for himself. Or maybe with him she’ll meet her match. I wonder if she knows he’s interested? I think she’s been a lonely woman her whole life. Somewhere in my heart a little flicker of hope just shined for Piper.