5. Chapter 5
Chapter five
Later that evening: Lucy
“ Y ou will be careful, won’t you, peanut?”
“Of course I will, Mom,” Lucy assured over speakerphone as she meandered north on U.S. Route 97 toward Leavenworth. “This is just a little getaway to clear my head. I don’t plan on doing anything dangerous.”
“Ok, well, your father and I worry about you, is all.” Her mom’s voice, usually warm and comforting, crackled with apprehension.
“There’s no need to worry. The plan is to relax and enjoy the scenery. I’ll stop by next weekend on my way back to Seattle.”
Lucy’s parents lived in Greenwater, a tiny town twenty minutes outside of Mount Rainier National Park. Shortly after retiring from his thirty-three-year career in ecology, her father, Hank, became restless and applied for a post-retirement gig as a park ranger. His experience in environmental consulting combined with an avid involvement with the Portland Mountaineers made him an invaluable addition, and they hired him after only a brief phone interview. Within two weeks, her parents uprooted their entire lives in Odell, Oregon—sold the family home, left their active community of friends—and made the move to rural Washington. Her dad was thriving, but according to her mom, Sally, there wasn’t a decent Bunco group to join within fifty miles . She swore she was happy to make the sacrifice because it was so important to Lucy’s father. His joy brought her joy.
“Mom, I need to let you go. I’m about to go through Blewett Pass.”
“All right.” Her mom must have remembered something just then because she blurted, “Oh, Lucy!”
“Yes, I packed bug spray. And bear spray. And pepper spray, for that matter.” Lucy smirked, realizing she had her bases covered regardless of what kind of beast she might happen upon.
“That’s good, but I wanted to remind you to keep your chin up, stay optimistic, and know that you’ll find love again. And if you can’t see the sunshine . . .”
“. . .be the sunshine,” Lucy parroted back with a slight grimace as the familiar affirmation rang in her ears. She could argue that a woman shouldn’t have to be sunny all the time or that love was the furthest thing from her mind—unless it was learning to love herself—but sometimes it was easier to smile and nod, allowing her mother the satisfaction that she may have shared some earth-shattering wisdom.
“That’s my girl. Be safe, peanut. See you in—”
The call disconnected.
Lucy glanced at the phone mounted on the dashboard of her car. Zero reception. She smiled, relishing the separation from the familiarity of everyone back home. There were no deadlines for work. No one urging her to move on with her life and rebuild. Nothing was expected of her. On vacation she didn’t have to be recently dumped, couch surfing, not-sure-what-to-do-next Lucy O’Malley. She could be anyone and test out a new version of herself before officially launching Lucy 2.0 back in Seattle. For the first time in a very long time, she felt genuine optimism about her path forward.
The zigzagging road roamed through rock cliffs trimmed with colossal ponderosa pine trees and dotted with unruly sagebrush. Towering rock faces and steep wooded hills flanked the long, narrow highway on either side. Fresh mountain air rushed through the open windows, teasing through her hair and revitalizing her lungs. She hadn’t seen another car in a while. The isolation was exhilarating and gave her an anticipatory buzz. But mostly, she couldn’t wait to get out on the trail.
Nothing helped Lucy find clarity like hiking did. Or at least like it used to back in the days when she actually did it. To say she was out of practice was a gross understatement. Unless, of course, walking two miles home from a bar, uphill, in the rain when Brodan refused to call for a rideshare counted. The trudge in heels had been challenging, but it wasn’t quite the same thing. Nope, her last actual hike was three years prior. Her brothers, Oliver and Garrett, had been in town, and the three of them had visited Mount Rainier. They hiked one of Lucy’s all-time favorites: Skyline Trail. The loop was a quintessential Pacific Northwest adventure—glacial views, wildflowers, marmots, towering trees, and a waterfall. But at six miles round trip with nearly two thousand feet of elevation gain, it was a doozie.
She cringed slightly, realizing that she was probably going to struggle with the hike planned for the next morning. The company she’d booked through offered hikes in three skill level categories: easy, moderate, and hard. Her knee-jerk reaction had been to select an easy hike to ease Brodan into things. But after considering his fitness level (gym rat), she decided an overly simple hike would bore him and opted for a moderate jaunt instead. Although that didn’t really matter anymore since she was there alone. Despite her positive attitude, Lucy was still a bit nervous about her own ability to hike with her thirty-some-odd-pound pack (she embraced being an overpacker). She didn’t want to embarrass herself, but more importantly, she wanted to enjoy the experience.
It’ll be fine. It’ll be better than fine. It’ll be life-changing.
She smiled and dismissed her concern, focusing on the rest of the drive.
Lucy rolled into Leavenworth a short while later. The quaint Bavarian-themed strip of shops, restaurants, and lodgings instantly transported her far away from the commotion of Seattle. Flowers flowed over balcony railings, wooden barriers blocked off Front Street to allow tourists to meander freely, and a massive chestnut draft horse, hair braided with colorful ribbons, pulled a little carriage along the farmers market. With her car windows down, the jaunty tune of an accordion and tuba harmonizing drifted through the air, as did the yeasty scent of pretzels and hoppy beer. Lucy inhaled deeply and let everything wash over her. A rumbling belly informed her that dinner would be the first stop after checking in.
Toward the southwest end of town, she turned into the Wilhelm Haus Inn parking lot and exited the car. She strolled into the lobby entrance, suitcase and backpacking gear in tow. The ceiling boasted the natural beauty of wooden beams, there were barrels of petunias throughout the room, and adorable paintings of children wearing lederhosen chasing goats around a pasture. The place was immersive and charming and filled Lucy with joy.
“Willkommen, Frau!” A portly man with ruddy cheeks dressed in a white polo and khakis greeted Lucy as she approached the front desk. “Welcome to the Wilhelm Haus Inn. I am Gunther. We are so happy to host you today. Are you checking in for your reservation?”
Lucy smiled broadly; the receptionist’s warmth and happiness were contagious.
“Yes, sir, I am. The reservation should be under O’Malley.”
“Ah, yes, O’Malley. We have been expecting you.” Gunther disappeared below the counter, his wispy gray hair flopping up with the quick descent. A moment later, he popped up and ceremoniously tossed a handful of rose petals in the air above Lucy. “We are so happy that you and Mr. O’Malley chose the Wilhelm Haus Inn for your stay. We are the perfect place for a romantic getaway.”
“Yes, well, about that—”
“You have selected the romance package. This includes a bottle of wine and chocolates.” He rambled, hands clasped together, not even noticing Lucy trying to cut in.
“I won’t be needing—”
“Your room also has a private hot tub.” Leaning in, Gunther lowered his voice, “And complimentary massage oil.”
“Gunther!” Lucy raised her voice, feeling instantly guilty, but she didn’t know how else to make it all stop. “Thank you, but all of that won’t be necessary. It’s just me checking in.”
Gunther’s face fell, and his eyebrows drew together in a mix of embarrassment and sadness. He absently smoothed down his hair then lowered his hands to the desk. “Oh, dear. I am so sorry for the mix-up. Oh, dear.”
Lucy sighed. “It’s ok. I’m sorry I shouted at you.” She patted the man’s hand and continued, “And being here by myself is a good thing. There’s no need to worry. All I want is to settle in”—her stomach let out an audible rumble—“and apparently, get some dinner.”
A sparkle glinted back into Gunther’s light blue eyes. “Then you must go to The Rooftop Tavern just down the street. Best food in the whole town, in my opinion. It’s more of a local spot and,” he lowered his voice again, though no one else was in the lobby, “a little less touristy. Tell Stella I sent you.”
Gunther handed Lucy the key card to her room after she signed the necessary forms.
“You’re in room 315, up the stairs, fifth door on your right. You have a charming view of the mountains off the balcony. Oh, also,” Gunther ducked down under the desk again for a full minute. Lucy could hear the beep of a number pad, a quiet curse, then the number pad again. After another failed attempt, she heard the groaning complaint of a small safe as it finally gave way. Once it closed, Gunther popped back up. He held out a small card to Lucy. “Here’s a little something to apologize for the mix-up earlier.”
Lucy looked at the twenty-five-dollar gift card for The Rooftop Tavern and smiled. “Thank you, Gunther. You’re very sweet.”
“Enjoy a burger and a good German beer on me, Frau.” He smiled warmly. “And if you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ring down. Enjoy your stay.”
Lucy scanned the key card for her room. She turned the handle, and with a loud creak, it opened. She walked in, flipped on the lights, and froze.
“What the actual fuck . . .” Her voice trailed off as she surveyed the ghastly scene before her. Rose petals strewn everywhere, two towels folded into swans lay on the end of the bed with a bottle of massage oil snuggled between them. She walked over and picked up the oil. Shuddering, she set it on the credenza beside the TV that quietly played smooth jazz. On a small table, a handful of chocolates flanked an ice bucket, chilling a bottle of bubbly. The whole horrendous scene was capped off by red and pink streamers draped from every corner of the room and an absurdly large bouquet of heart balloons floating beside the bed.
Lucy pinched the bridge of her nose, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. Pulling out her phone, she snapped a couple of pictures of the nauseating scene and sent them to Todd.
Lucy:
I forgot to cancel the romance package…
She carried her suitcase to the closet and set it on the luggage rack. Her phone buzzed.
Todd:
LMFAO! That’s a sexy setup!
Lucy:
The best part is the edible grape massage oil. Who the hell picks grape?!
Todd:
They probably got a case of it from the sex shop clearance shelf. HA!
Lucy:
Probably…
Todd:
Now all you have to do is find a hunky lumberjack to bring back to your room and slather his grapes with that stuff. *wink wink*
Lucy:
Gross.
I’m on my way to get some dinner. Talk to you later.
Todd:
XOXOX