Chapter 5
Valerie Masterson
My arms are filled with goosebumps as the plane taxis to the runaway. I’ve never been to Texas but look forward to seeing new sights. Devin was surprised to learn that he would be joining me and that everything had been arranged, including airfare, car, and hotel accommodations.
I know that he’s going to miss Samuel. I found it difficult to leave Whisker-loo with Toni, hoping my cat would get along with her dog, Leia.
Hopefully, the next two weeks won’t be too long enough for Whisker-loo to forget who I am.
My eyes land on Devin. He writes feverishly on a small pad of paper .
“What are you doing?”
“Writing down things to look for.”
“Such as?”
“What amenities and services are available in the town? Are there grocery stores and fast-food options? Will our presence be beneficial to the community, or could it potentially be a burden?”
“Great questions, and we’ll look into all that once we get there. In the meantime, sit back and enjoy the three-and-a-half-hour flight.” I pulled the magazine from my bag and handed it to Devin. “Here.”
“A gossip magazine?”
“Yup. I like to see what nonsense they write about my best friend, Rae.”
He chuckled. “So, what does it say? Is she dating her newest costar?”
“Apparently.” I tap my fingers against the armrest. “Tabloids will say anything to get a rise out of her. Mostly because they can’t catch her outside her home or off the movie set. ”
“Didn’t I see photos of her plastered all over the tabloids? She was going to Mexico. It was a picture taken with her going through security.”
“Yeah, we don’t talk about it when we’re together. It was quite embarrassing for her.”
“What’s she like in person?”
“Honestly?”
“Yeah. I’m curious.”
“She’s kind, down-to-earth, caring, and a fierce protector of her best friends.”
“So, you’ve known her for a while?”
“I would say all my life.”
“That’s nice to have a tight-knit group of friends.”
“You know, you’re a part of that circle. The circle of people I can trust.”
“Cool. Can you introduce me to Rae?” He smirked.
The edges of my lips curled to a smile. “Maybe when we get back. I know the two of you would get along nicely.” I took out a second magazine that focuses on the latest fashion trends for winter.
The first thing I see is a sweater worn by a slim model.
The description reads ‘Women’s Cropped Turtleneck Sweater, with lantern sleeve, ribbed knit pullover sweater. ’ “This is ridiculous.”
“What is?”
I point at the photo. “What is the purpose of a turtleneck if it’s cropped? I’m supposed to cover up my neck, but expose my stomach?”
He lets out a chuckle. “Right?” He paused for a minute. “You know what I’ve always liked about you?”
“What’s that?”
“You’re never afraid to say what’s on your mind.”
“It’s part of my charm.” I tilt my head and bat my eyes, and we both laugh.
The flight goes off without a hitch. We spent most of our time chit-chatting about random things.
Allowing myself to relax, I stared at the puffy cumulus clouds as we flew somewhere over Arizona.
They reminded me of cotton candy. I had to remind myself that there was a slight time difference from California to Texas.
The plane lands at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Austin, Texas.
Once we landed, the flight attendants opened the overhead bins.
I’m not in a hurry and let other passengers grab their things first. We have plenty of time and don’t have to check in with my boss for a couple of days from now.
I finally grab my carry-on, and the only thing left is to head to baggage claim and wait for two other pieces of luggage.
The doors open and everyone stands impatiently to exit the plane. It doesn’t take us long to get the rest of our bags. We exited the airport to walk to the rental car; the heat was unbearable. I glanced at my phone to see it was eighty-eight degrees.
I thought I was prepared for the June Texas heat.
I admit, it’s a different climate than I’m used to.
I doubt I’ll see early morning fog here.
The city of Austin is reminiscent of San Francisco with its towering skyscrapers and beautiful storefronts.
I’m already homesick and we haven’t even left the airport yet.
Forty-five minutes later, we pulled up to the quaint inn on the edge of town; I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of excitement. The small town of Skybrook, Texas was vastly different from the hustle and bustle of San Francisco, but there was something undeniably charming about it.
We pull our luggage from the trunk and carry it up a few steps.
I’m met by a gentleman who waits patiently holding the door for me.
He’s what Toni would call a tall drink of water.
His hair is jet black, and his eyes are dark blue like a stormy night.
Whoa, are all the men going to look this attractive here? If so, I’m gonna be in trouble.
From behind me, I hear. “Valerie, you’re blocking the doorway. ”
“Thank you, kind sir.”
He stares deeply into my eyes; I blink rapidly and move on.
Upon entering the lobby, the sweet scent of lavender envelops me, instantly making me feel relaxed. The innkeeper greets me warmly, welcoming us to their establishment.
“Hello there, welcome to The Skybrook Inn. How may I assist you?”
“Hi, we have a reservation under the name of Masterson and Appleton,” I respond, uncertain why I’m experiencing this awkwardness.
“Ah, yes, Ms. Masterson and Mr. Appleton. Let me check you in.” She says, typing away on her computer.
“Here are your keys, ma’am and sir. Your rooms are on the second floor, room 207 Ms. Masterson, and Mr. Appleton, you are in room 209.
Breakfast is served from seven to ten AM, and dinner is served from four to seven PM.
If you need anything else, don’t hesitate to ask. Enjoy your stay. ”
“Thank you…” I glanced at her name tag. “…Ms. Woods.”
“Please, call me Abby.”
“Sorry, Abby, I forgot to ask. Is there somewhere within walking distance where I can grab snacks?”
She glances at her watch. “Mm, you might find a grocery store, a diner or a fast-food restaurant available. Most downtown shops close by five PM on weekdays.”
“I appreciate the information. We’ll be down for dinner a little later.”
We took our keys and headed to our rooms. I press the button for the second floor in the elevator.
I hear Devin snicker. “That guy at the entrance was pretty hot! You know, if you keep finding good-looking guys, you’re not going to get any work done.”
“What? I’m single and have a sex drive. It’s like having an expensive pair of heels in a closet— pretty and shiny, but nowhere to go!” He lifts an eyebrow. “Okay, fine. My shoes haven’t been out in a long time. Let’s face it, my sex drive is sad and lonely, but it’s not gone.”
“There’s nothing bad about wanting sex, but finding love lasts longer.
” He leaves me standing in the hallway alone with his final words as he closes the door to his room.
As I unlock my door and walk in, a rush of cool air hits my face, and a wave of nostalgia washes over me.
The room was decorated in a rustic style that reminded me of my childhood visits to my grandmother’s house in Virginia.
Once I unpacked my bags, I took a quick shower to cool off.
Wearing an outfit with light fabric, I’m ready to walk with Devin.
It’s always a good plan to get myself acquainted with the town and the people that reside in it.
As I strolled through the streets, the first place that caught my eye was the old clock tower.
It has charm and looks like it’s possibly a century old .
At the corner of Main Street, the quaint library beckons with its charming brick facade, inviting visitors to explore its wealth of stories and knowledge.
The sun was setting, and I could actually hear crickets.
I’m used to hearing the sounds of traffic and trolley cars moving through the city.
The shift in my surroundings has truly put me at ease, wrapping me in a comforting sense of relaxation.
“Let’s head back before we miss dinner at the inn.” I nodded at Devin and continued to enjoy the sights and unfamiliar sounds of Skybrook.
“Have you talked to Samuel since we’ve landed?”
“No. I texted him to let him know that we arrived, and I was going to call him after dinner, since they are two hours behind us.”
“That’s a good idea.”
We continued our way to the inn and walked directly into the dining area.
Since we arrived later than most guests, the seating is fairly empty.
We take a plate and examine the choices of food at the buffet.
The selections for someone who is a vegetarian are slim.
As my mom would say, beggars can’t be choosers, so I fill my plate up with salad and grab two rolls and some butter.
We find a table in the corner and make ourselves comfortable.
A few minutes later, a young girl comes over; she can’t be more than four or five.
“Hello.” Her blue eyes scoured the table.
“Hi, can I help you?”
“My Nana asked me to check if anyone was in the dining room.”
“Oh, are you Abby’s granddaughter?”
“Yes, ma’am. My name is Emily.”
“Emily, pleased to meet you. Can you tell her the dinner is lovely?”
She scrunches up her face. “Are you sure? You don’t have anything on your plate except salad.”
Devin nearly chokes on his meal. “Well, that’s because I’m a vegetarian, and I don’t eat meat.”
“A veg-what-ian? ”
“Oh my God. I love her!”
“Emily?” A male voice calls from the kitchen.
“I gotta go, Daddy’s calling me. I’ll tell Nana what you said.”
“Oh, please don’t.” She ran off quickly before hearing my response.
“Damn, now Abby’s probably going to think I don’t like her food, and I’ll offend her on our first day.
” A few minutes, later the door to the kitchen slammed open.
A man standing about six feet, strides out of the kitchen and to our table.
His furious chocolate eyes match the color of his wavy brown hair.
If I had to guess, I’d say he was in his late twenties, possibly in his early thirties.
“Excuse me, is there something wrong with your dinner?”
He had a commanding presence that caught me off guard, and to my surprise, I found myself rambling nervously. “No, sir. I was explaining to the young lady that I am a vegetarian, which is why I was only eating a salad….”
“Wait, what?” He stared into my eyes. I knew they caught him off guard. I get that quite often with my heterochromia eyes.
“I’m a vegetarian.”
“Your eyes….”
“I know, they’re distracting. I get that a lot. I even had an ex-boyfriend ask me to wear a colored contact lens so they would be the same.” Why am I telling a perfect stranger about my business?
“Did you know there are more than 200,000 cases per year?”
I shake my head. “I didn’t know that.”
“Your eyes are fascinating. Don’t listen to what anyone says, don’t change them.” The corners of his mouth curved into a subtle smile.
“Do you like to study random facts?”
“You can say that.” He paused. “Sorry about me barging out here. I misunderstood what my daughter said. Enjoy your dinner and my mother will find something suitable for you.” He stepped back into the kitchen, but I couldn’t tear my eyes away from him until he finally vanished from sight.
“Earth to Valerie.” There was the sound of snapping fingers near my head.
“What?”
“Girl, you’ve got it bad. It reminded me of when Lois Lane fell in love with Superman.”
“You’re being ridiculous. I’m not in love.”
“In lust then?”
I smacked him on the shoulder. “Just stop.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you at a loss for words.”
Come to think of it, neither have I, but I didn’t want to say anything out loud. I’ve always prided myself on being career-focused and purposeful. Personal connections were and have always been secondary in my life, which suited me fine – or so I thought.