Chapter Eleven
Amanda
Three weeks after her uplifting conversation with Craig, Amanda passed the insurance test. Once it was verified, she’d be a licensed agent.
Everyone in the office was thrilled for her. She’d been gone that Friday morning for the test, and when she came into work, they all cheered and hugged her.
“We all have to go out and celebrate,” Craig said. “My treat. The restaurant at the hotel I’m staying in is excellent. Let’s go there after work.”
Everyone agreed it was a great plan. Craig told them to feel free to invite their spouses and significant others. Walter was married, and Gerald had a live-in girlfriend. But neither Andrea nor Amanda were seeing anyone special, so they showed up alone.
Craig always stayed in a five-star hotel right on the ocean when he visited the office. It was the type of place that only the uber-rich could afford. When Amanda walked into the lobby, she was spellbound. She’d never seen a place so lovely with a view so spectacular.
“Incredible, isn’t it?” Andrea asked her as they waited for everyone else to arrive. “And he can afford to stay here by being an insurance agent. Although,” she grinned. “Craig owns three offices in high-income areas, so I suppose he makes much more money than I ever will. But a girl can dream.”
Amanda didn’t even dream of places like this. She knew she’d never make the kind of money needed to stay here.
Craig finally showed up along with Walter and his wife, Susan, and Gerald and his girlfriend, Anita. They all walked toward the restaurant with Amanda falling behind next to Craig.
“Don’t you usually go home on Friday night?” she asked Craig. “Won’t your wife miss you?”
Craig smiled. “There was no way I was going to miss out on celebrating your big day. Marsha will understand. She knows how much we need new agents to stay in business. Besides, she’s been busy running the Torrance office and fixing up our new house. I’ll be home in time tomorrow to help with the yardwork she wants done.”
Once seated at a table with a view of the ocean, Craig ordered a bottle of champagne for the table as well as both red and white wine. After they ordered their meals—at prices that stunned Amanda—they poured champagne all around and toasted Amanda.
“To our newest insurance agent,” Craig said, raising a glass. “And to a long, prosperous career.”
“Cheers!” everyone said, clinking glasses.
They all talked and ate their delicious meals, laughing and enjoying this casual time together. Andrea kept refilling Amanda’s glass with champagne even when Amanda shook her head and said she’d had enough.
“Oh, come on. Enjoy!” Andrea said. “You’re beginning a whole new phase in your life. Celebrate it!”
Amanda wasn’t much of a drinker, and the alcohol went to her head quickly. She ate the bread that had been put on the table to try to soak it up, but with each sip, she knew she was getting drunker. But she didn’t want to stop. She was having so much fun with this new family of co-workers she’d gotten to know over the last eight months. And Andrea was right. She’d worked hard to pass her test, and she deserved a night out.
Everyone was acting silly by the time they’d all finished their dinner. Craig seemed tipsy and even serious Walter was three sheets to the wind. Luckily, his wife had drunk very little, and Gerald’s girlfriend had been careful, too, so the women could drive their men home.
Andrea and Amanda stumbled to the ladies' room to freshen up before leaving.
“Ugh! I’ve had too much to drink,” Andrea said. “There’s no way I can drive home.”
“Me too,” Amanda said. “I’d better call an Uber.”
When they returned to the table, Craig was retrieving his credit card from having paid the bill.
“Let us drive you home, Andrea,” Susan said. “You don’t live too far from us.”
“Oh, that’s great. Thanks,” Andrea said.
“What about you, Amanda? Do you need a lift?” Gerald asked.
“I don’t live near you,” Amanda said, swaying where she stood. “I’ll have to call an Uber.”
“Will they drive you to your place?” Andrea asked. “You live like forty-five minutes from here.”
Amanda shrugged, glancing at her phone. She was searching for the app.
“I’ll make sure she’s safe,” Craig told the group. “Maybe she can get a room here for the night.”
Amanda looked up quickly from her phone. “I can’t afford that,” she said.
The others laughed. “It’s probably the same price as an Uber to your house,” Gerald said. “Just don’t drive, okay?”
Craig walked everyone out to the lobby and waved goodbye. He’d be leaving the next morning to go home. Once the rest of the group had left, he turned to Amanda. “Let me rent a room for you. I’ll pay for it. I’d feel safer doing that than letting you ride home with a stranger.”
By this time, Amanda had given up on opening the Uber app on her phone. She was way drunker than she’d thought. “I can pay you back,” she said.
Craig laughed. “Don’t worry. Better safe than sorry.” He linked arms with her to steady her, and they walked to the front desk. “Do you have any rooms available tonight?” he asked the woman working there.
“Of course, Mr. Winslow. Let me look.”
The hotel clerk made up two key cards for the room and handed them to Craig. “It’s room 240,” she said. “Let me know if you need anything.”
“Thank you,” Craig said.
By this time, Amanda felt sleepy. She’d moved closer to Craig and placed her head on his shoulder. Craig held her tightly and walked her over to the elevator.
“You have to stay awake long enough to get to your room,” he told Amanda, chuckling.
Amanda lifted her head. “Thank you so much, Craig,” she said. “You’re such a nice man. Why can’t I find someone as nice as you? All the men my age are stupid.”
Craig laughed as the elevator stopped and opened up on the second floor. “I guess some men have a lot of growing up to do.”
He walked her to her door and then opened it with the keycard. “Will you be okay?” he asked her, handing her the little envelope that held both keys. “Maybe we can meet for breakfast tomorrow morning before I leave.”
“Okay. Thanks, Craig.” Amanda pushed on the door and walked one step before her heels tripped on the tile entryway. Craig rushed to her side before she fell onto the floor.
“Come on. I’ll help you inside,” he said. He walked her to the chair by the bed and had her sit down. Then he knelt down and slipped off her high-heeled sandals. “There. Now, you won’t stumble when you walk.”
Amanda sat there, staring down at him. “You’re like my prince charming,” she said, slurring.
Craig stood. “Hardly.” He smiled. “I’m just a middle-aged insurance agent.”
“No, you’re not,” Amanda said, standing up. She was a full head shorter than him. She gazed up into his warm, brown eyes. “You’ve been nothing but kind to me. And encouraging. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me.” She reached up, wrapped her arms around his neck, and hugged him tightly.
“You’re very welcome, dear,” Craig said, gently pulling away from her. “And you’re too pretty, and we’re much too drunk to be in this room together alone. Get some sleep, and I’ll see you in the morning.” He tried turning away, but Amanda grabbed his hand. Craig turned back to her.
“Please stay,” Amanda whispered, standing up on tiptoe to kiss him.
“I really should go,” Craig said softly.
“Stay.” And she pulled him close again.
***
The next morning, Amanda awoke with a dry mouth and questionable stomach. She slowly looked around, trying to remember what had happened last night. Suddenly, her eyes widened as it all came rushing back to her.
“Oh, God,” she whispered. What had she done?
Her dress and heels were lying on the floor in a puddle next to the bed, and she had nothing on. She looked around the room, but no one else was there.
Did she dream what had happened?
The clock by the bed said it was eight a.m. Slowly, she got out of bed, found her panties and chemise, and headed for the bathroom. She desperately needed a shower to help her wake up.
Later, she had showered and was wearing the hotel’s cotton robe when there was a knock on the door. She hesitated. Her hair was wrapped in a towel, and she knew she looked terrible.
“Amanda? I brought coffee,” Craig’s voice called from the other side.
Holding her breath, Amanda knew she couldn’t hide from Craig forever. She worked for him, for Pete’s sake! What had she done? She cracked the door open, and there stood Craig, looking fresh in a polo shirt and slacks, holding a tray with pastries and coffee cups on it.
“Hi,” Amanda said as she let him in. Despite everything, she was hungry and needed coffee.
“Good morning.” Craig carried the tray in and set it on the table beside the window. “Mind if I open the drapes?”
“No. Go ahead.” Amanda ran over to where her dress was still on the floor and picked it up. Maybe she should get dressed before eating anything.
“Come sit and enjoy the coffee and the view,” Craig said. “Everything is better with an ocean view.”
She walked over to the table and saw that Craig was right. The room faced the ocean, and it was gorgeous. Sitting down, she took a turnover from the tray and accepted the coffee from him.
“A teaspoon of milk and two sugars, right?” Craig asked.
Amanda nodded. “How do you know how I like my coffee?”
“I pay attention,” Craig said. “How are you feeling today?”
Amanda wondered if he meant how she felt after drinking too much or after what happened between them. “A little queasy, but fine.”
He nodded. “About last night,” Craig began, but Amanda interrupted him.
“Don’t worry about it. It’s fine.”
Craig frowned. “Is it fine? I mean, you seem really nervous this morning.”
Amanda let out a long sigh. “Honestly, I don’t know if I dreamed what happened or if it happened.”
“I see.” Craig looked thoughtful. “Well, if we’re being honest, I’m not sure what to say either. We were both too drunk last night to have made a logical decision, and I, as your boss, should have been the one to walk away. I’ve been worried all morning that you’d think I took advantage of you and our situation last night, but then I tell myself that maybe I did. I just hope you didn’t feel like I forced you into anything.”
“No, not at all. I was afraid of what you’d think of me.”
They stared at each other for a moment.
“So, you’re not mad at me?” Craig asked.
She shook her head. “No. If I remember right, I asked you to stay.”
Craig looked down at his hands. His gold wedding ring twinkled in the light from the window. “Well, I’m mad at myself.” He looked up at her. “I’ve never cheated on my wife in all the years we’ve been married. I love her very much. But now, I can’t make sense of why I didn’t walk away last night.”
Amanda felt bad for him. Everything from last night was swirling around in her head. Andrea kept refilling her champagne glass. No one lived close enough to where she lived to drive her home. All Craig was doing was trying to keep her safe when he rented the room for her. He wasn’t even going to walk into the room with her until she’d stumbled.
She was the one who’d insisted he stay with her.
“Everything is okay,” she said. “It was something that just happened. We’re two grown people. It’s not like we’re going to let it happen again.”
“I’m sorry, Amanda. I mean, you’re such a pretty girl and so very smart. You deserve someone younger who you can have a family with. I didn’t mean to cross any lines last night, and I wouldn’t blame you if you thought badly about me.”
“No. I don’t think badly about you,” Amanda said. “I know you’re a nice man. Look at all you’ve done for me.” She hesitated, suddenly scared she may have ruined her future. “I’ll still be able to work at your office, won’t I?”
Craig looked surprised. “Of course, you’ll still work there. I just hope I won’t make you feel uncomfortable after this.”
She smiled. “I can forget about it if you will.”
Craig suddenly looked sad again. “I’m not sure I’ll ever forget about last night. But I will do everything I can to make sure you feel comfortable working around me.”
Amanda studied Craig’s face as he turned to look at the view. Did he have feelings for her? He seemed so upset about cheating on his wife. “We can still be friends as well as co-workers,” she said.
Craig turned back to her. “Yes. We can. You’re a sweet girl, Amanda.”
She gave him a small smile and started eating her turnover. She believed they could have a working relationship even after last night.
Three months later, Amanda realized she was pregnant.