24. Olive
24
OLIVE
I step out of the elevator on the first floor by the front desk. Looking around, I try to absorb all the details of this special place before I leave tomorrow. Almost all the Christmas decorations are gone, but even bare, the lobby still reflects beauty, charm, and history. I gaze ahead at the entrance, unable to believe it was only one week ago that I arrived.
I wander over to the crackling fireplace in the Blue Room. The holiday atmosphere is gone here too, but the coziness remains. I glance at myself in the mirror over the mantle and remember what I looked like inside and out on the first day. Mentally and physically drained, lost, shy, insecure…the list goes on. I’m still that woman, but I’m an improved version now. My issues won’t disappear in a week, but the confidence and inner strength I’ve gained here will help me confront them when I return home.
I ease onto the couch where I first saw Leo. The cushions feel different, firmer somehow. I remember wanting to lose myself and vanish. How silly that was. If that’s all I wanted, I could’ve easily gotten lost on my couch at home.
From my first conversation with Leo, he encouraged me to accomplish what I came here to do. His support was subtle, never imposing. Well, maybe a little. He pushed me to tap into an auxiliary power I didn’t realize I had. He’s become my biggest cheerleader and positive influence.
A light tapping sound jolts me out of my thoughts. I focus my eyes and find Marla coming toward me, exuding professionalism in a perfectly pressed white button-down and navy blue pants. “I’m sorry. Would you prefer to be alone?” she asks, stopping behind an armchair on the other side of the coffee table.
With confidence and determination, I wave her over. “Not at all. Feel free to stay. Just walking down memory lane. The first time I saw Leo was in this room, and I wondered if I’d ever have the courage to talk to him.”
With a kind expression on her face, she says. “Let me guess, he took care of that for you.”
“Yep. He said one word, and I fell right into his universe.” I can’t hold back the lovesick smile spreading across my face.
“Hmm,” is all she says, then roams over to the tea and coffee service in the room’s corner. I can’t read her at all, which is annoying as shit. While we spent time with her last night, I caught her observing me with a facial expression I couldn’t figure out. And the constant questions, like she was screening me for a job! Leo had to interject at one point again.
Would my mom act like that when or if I introduce her to Leo? I’m not sure I’ll tell her about him. Not until I know we truly have a future, anyway.
“Would you like a coffee or tea?” Marla asks.
“No, thanks. I’m meeting Tonya at the café in a little while. It’s a farewell since she won’t be around tomorrow when I leave.”
Marla hmm ’s again, and my hackles shoot up. I hope I’m misreading her. She’s so confusing. She opens a yellow packet and places the teabag in a cup. I wait as she pours the steaming water and dips the tea bag in it. Maybe she’ll leave the room without another word. I almost wish she would.
Finally, she comes over and places her cup on the coffee table, then sits down across from me. Sure. Make yourself comfortable. “We’ve had an eventful week since you arrived. Usually, we don’t encourage the staff to get involved with our guests. Leo has always taken that seriously until you came along.”
And your point would be? Her tone isn’t malicious, but it’s hard to identify otherwise. That’s okay—I’ll wait her out. One thing’s for sure, I won’t apologize for getting involved with her son.
She glances my way. “That’s when I knew something was different. His actions spoke louder than words. He tried to hide it at first, but…I hadn’t even met you yet, and I could see how he felt about you. And let me mention he’s never brought a woman home before to meet the family. Well, you’re staying here, but you get my gist.”
I nod, but school my emotions. Is she annoyed that I caught his attention? This little convo’s obviously leading up to something.
Marla cradles the cup in her hands and blows on it. “Tonya came to me flooded with tears when she saw Leo dancing, and when he sang to you, I was the one crying.” She takes a sip, then rests the cup back on the table.
“He didn’t sing to me.” Why am I protesting when he said the song was for me?
Her eyes narrow. “We both know that’s not true.”
“Okay, if he did sing to me, what are you trying to say?” That came out more defensive than I wanted it to, and she picks up on it.
“I’m sorry, Olive. I’m doing this all wrong. This is very new for me. Let me try again.” She rubs her hands down her pressed pants. “Seeing parts of Leo that have been missing for a long time makes me hopeful. I can’t thank you enough. It’s a mother’s dream to see her children truly happy, and that’s what I see when he’s with you. If you think he lights up the room now, you should’ve seen him before…” She frowns and her shoulders droop, her tough woman act disappearing.
“It’s okay. He told me about Corey, their plans…”
“Good. I’m glad he’s opened up to you. That’s not easy for him. It’s been awful, watching him grieve and suffer for years. We were all still grieving, but I’ve never seen Leo break down the way he did. Not even when his father died. I can’t imagine what he was going through, losing his best friend and only cousin.” She gasps, then straightens and covers her mouth. What the hell?
I push to the edge of the seat and reach out my hand. “Are you okay, Marla?”
“Yes, yes.” She wipes her forehead. “I just remembered something. Anyway, where was I?” She takes a moment to gather herself. “Time has helped. We’ve seen bits of him come back over the years. But the parts of him I’ve seen this week have made me ecstatic, and he doesn’t even realize it.”
That has me smiling.
“But—” Her eyes harden with concern. “I’m also worried. Will he disappear again once you leave?”
“You should probably talk to him about this. I don’t think he’ll relapse. He’s not the only one who’s changed this week. We plan to keep in touch. We feel strongly about each other, but we both know—I can’t solve his problems and he can’t solve mine. We can only help each other along the way. Logistics and jobs are also an issue. We have a lot to talk about. I won’t take Leo for granted. I consider myself very lucky, and I hope my future includes him in some shape or form.” I hesitate, and then my own doubts sneak out. “Of course, we’ve only known each other a week. There are no guarantees.”
Enough, Olive. You’ve said more than you intended. Zip it now.
“Time doesn’t matter when it comes to finding your soulmate. When you know, you know.” Marla shifts in her chair and shrugs. “It happened to me and my husband. Our parents were skeptical because we jumped in headfirst. Best decision of our lives.” A soft smile appears on her face. I can imagine what she’s thinking about.
“Same thing happened with my mom and dad,” I say. “I think they had issues in the beginning, too, but they didn’t really talk about them to me or my brother. Seems like you and she were lucky to find great men.” It’s sad to think that both Marla and Mom have lost their husbands. “It’s strange though. I mean, to think that every event in my life has been steering me toward Leo all this time? That I got up one day and made a crazy decision that I thought was random, but it’s ultimately changed my life for the better?”
“Now you sound like Leo…and I guess me when I met my husband. Love hits you when you least expect it. When it does, grab onto it and don’t let go,” she encourages. “Life’s too short to say it’s too soon or it’s not possible. I promise you, it can happen . And I think deep down inside, you both know that. You can deny it if you want, but all you’re doing is wasting precious time. I don’t know your personal story, but it seems you’ve been dealt a shitty hand, much like Leo, and it’s shaped your outlook on life.”
She hit the nail right on the head. Why am I so skeptical and denying my feelings? Hopefully, it’s not out of fear of what my family will say. Their opinions shouldn’t matter. I’m thirty, for fuck’s sake.
Marla continues. “Even Sully talks more when he’s around you. You’ve got a magical touch, and you don’t realize it. I guess we needed an outside force to shake things up a bit.”
She’s talking like I’m the answer to their prayers. “You give me way too much credit. You all do, but I’ll take it.”
She glances at her watch. “Oops, I have a conference call in ten minutes. I’ve gotta cut this short.”
“No problem. Tonya’s probably already at the café. I’ll head over there now.” I stand and step away from the couch. She does the same.
“I don’t know if I’ll see you before you leave tomorrow.” She pulls me in for an unexpected hug. “Don’t be a stranger. You’re always welcome here.” She leans back and braces her hands on my upper arms. “Bring your mom for a visit. Let’s prove to her it’s a beautiful place to be even when it’s cold.”
When she lets go, I step back. “That’s a good idea. I might have to drag her off the ferry kicking and screaming.”
She grins. “She sounds like an interesting character.”
“Oh, she is, but I love her anyway. She’s had it tough too. Maybe this hotel will miraculously change her like it has me.”
“I’d love to see that. Oh, and don’t forget to give us a five-star rating on the internet.”
I guffaw with shock, and she cracks up.
“Oh my gosh, Olive. Of course, I’m just kidding!”
“Sure. Sure.” I play along.
We leave the room in silence, but the tension is gone. I understand her better now. A sense of relief seeps in because I think I received approval without asking for it. We all seem clueless here.
“Have a safe trip home, Olive,” Marla says, then turns toward her office. I head to the café with a pep in my step.
* * *
I walk into Café Charmant and scan the room for Tonya. I spot her in the corner, sitting at the same table I used on my first day here. She’s writing on her tablet, deep in thought, her tongue peeking out the corner of her mouth. I wave to Louis and the barista, then move toward Tonya.
A week ago, I would’ve never gone into a café alone and waved to people like I own the place. Instead, my head would’ve been down, and I’d have searched for the closest empty table. Now I’m excited to come here to meet a friend.
Friends. I have had no close ones in a long time. That was my doing. The ones who live near me are married with kids or single and partying. I couldn’t relate to any of them. Being cooped up at home was all that I knew. It’s time to change that and reach out to my old friends. Not only the ones in the Seattle area, but also in LA. I shiver just thinking about stepping a foot back in that city.
“Hey, Olive,” Tonya exclaims when she sees me. She stands and gives me a hug.
“How’s it going?” I ask. “You seemed kind of pissy yesterday when we saw you.”
She sits and rearranges her things on the other side of the table. “Yeah, sorry about that. You guys caught me right after I got off the phone with a bridezilla. Nothing I couldn’t handle, though. I guess it keeps my job entertaining and pays the bills.” Her smile doesn’t reach her eyes.
The barista comes and takes our orders. “I hate that you’re leaving tomorrow.” Tonya touches my hand. “You’ve added some excitement here this week. It’ll be weird after you’re gone.”
“I’m not sure about that.”
She huffs. “Oh, please . Sully let you hold Smokey. And Mom’s friends are calling, asking about Leo’s girlfriend . The”—she makes quote marks with her fingers—“woman he kissed at Clover’s.”
I wince. “Oh shit, half the town witnessed that, didn’t they? We were caught up in the moment.” And many other moments since then. Every chance we’ve had, we’ve been naked. “But girlfriend ? That’s kind of weird, isn’t it?”
This denial shit is getting really boring, Olive. That kiss wasn’t a simple gesture, and you know it. You felt that thing down to your bones. Not to mention the rest of the week.
But he hasn’t introduced me as his girlfriend. I know we talked about it, but it’s still hard to believe the connection we have. Is it too good to be true? Then I think about what Marla said. My brain is on the verge of exploding, and I’m ready to scream. Welcome to my world, where I overthink every fucking thing.
Tonya shrugs. “It’s my family. We’ve been here forever, and Leo has always stood out. That’s why it’s a big deal. Which girl finally captured Leo’s heart?” she gushes with playful sarcasm. “Too many people think they know our personal business. It’s a small island and they gossip, whether it’s good or bad. I know it happens in the city, too, but you can hide there. Here, not so much.”
“Have you ever thought about leaving the island?”
She props her chin on her hand. “Like everyone else in this area, I attended Seattle University and lived there for a while. I got tired of the city life and came back here. Eventually, I took over as the event manager. Will I do this forever? Who knows.”
“Do you get lonely?”
“During this time of year, yes . It’s frustrating.” She fists her hair and groans. “Business picks up again in April. But there aren’t many eligible men at the hotel. The ones who come here are usually taken. It’s a romantic hotel, not a party place for people our age. There’s been some discussions about expanding or advertising to attract more business functions. Maybe that’ll increase my options. Oh, hell, what am I talking about? It doesn’t matter because we aren’t allowed to fraternize with the guests. You’re the only exception.” She grins.
I roll my eyes. “Well, what about in town? You’ve got karaoke,” I tease.
“ Pfft . I go out, but I’m tired of the singles scene. Why can’t I meet someone and click instantly, like you and Leo did? Or when my mom met my dad. It looks easy for others, but not me. Be honest, do you think it’s my analities?”
We both inspect the table space next to us. Her tablet and papers sit neatly stacked with rainbow stickies poking out. Three different colored pens line up in a row like soldiers next to the stack. The spacing between them is precise, like she measured it herself with a ruler.
I burst out laughing, then instantly feel bad. “No. I don’t think so. Your analities , as you call them, make you unique. So your ‘instant click’ is out there somewhere.”
“Instant click,” she repeats, nodding. “I like that. Well, my Mr. Instant Click better get here soon. I’m losing my patience.”
“Why do you have to click right away? It doesn’t happen like that for everyone. Have you ever had a serious relationship?”
“Not really,” she mumbles. She inspects the surrounding area, then leans in. “I can’t believe I’m considering telling you this. Can you keep a secret?”
I lean in closer and whisper, “Of course.” One thing I’m good at is doing that. My head is a vault, and people seem to pick up on it somehow. Random strangers have spilled their guts to me, like on the bus or standing in line at the DMV. I don’t miss that because it felt like some were confessing their sins to a priest. And don’t get me started on what people lying on their deathbeds have told me.
“Did you ever have hate sex before?”
My eyebrows hit my hairline. Say what now?
“I guess not.” She looks away and doesn’t continue. There’s an awkward silence and I’m not sure if she’s waiting for me to say something.
“And…? You can’t stop there.”
She takes a deep breath. “Okay, about a year and a half ago, I stayed at a friend’s apartment in San Francisco because I had an internship at a convention center. My friend didn’t mention that she’d sublet the other bedroom to a guy until he ended up at the door. Long story short, he was a total slob, took nothing seriously, and drove me absolutely batty. What he called organized chaos was more like a tornado went through the place.”
She would hate my brother.
“Oh no. I can see where this is going.” I lean in. This is like listening to an audio romance. Who cares about food?
“And what annoyed the shit out of me most was that he was gorgeous ,” she snarks. “Like GQ model, drool fest, light-my-body-on-fire gorgeous. If he wasn’t wearing a designer suit, he was strutting around shirtless. The chemistry between us was off the charts from the moment we met. We bickered nonstop, and that added to the sexual tension.” She fans her flushed face with her hand. “Damn, I’m getting worked up thinking about it again.”
“Me too,” I admit, blood rushing to my cheeks. Where’s Leo when I need him? Now I’m really looking forward to tonight.
She nods with amusement. “Right? It gets better. The tension built until it exploded. Fireworks galore! We attacked each other. Clothes flying, knocking things over and breaking them, pawing each other—raw and intense, nothing soft about it. He threw me around like a rag doll because he was so big and bulky.” Her lips quirk up and she stares into space. “I loved that.”
I chuckle, then snap my fingers in front of her dazed face. “Hello, fireworks galore?”
She shakes herself out of her stupor. “Oops. Sorry. We went at it for hours. No talking at all. Just pure lust. When I woke up magnificently sore, sated, and covered in hickeys, he was gone with all his belongings.”
“No way!” I say, my voice carrying through the café. I look around and whisper, “Sorry.” Then I want to shrivel up. What if people are listening to our conversation? I hope the old couple two tables over can’t hear about Tonya’s sexcapades.
“Yep. Gone. Not a word. Not even to my friend. She didn’t care because he’d paid everything in advance.”
I sit back and cross my arms. “Well, that’s bullshit. You didn’t know where he was from or anything to help you find him?”
“Nope. I was okay with that. We didn’t discuss that kind of stuff. He’s the one who left. I wasn’t about to go chasing him. No regrets. Hands down, the best sex of my life. There were no feelings involved besides hate. The downside, I’ve never felt that fire again since.”
Our coffees and pastries arrive, and we spend a few minutes enjoying them, putting a welcomed pause on the subject. Tonya finishes the last bite of her vanilla éclair and cleans up her little mess, ensuring every crumb is off the table. I do the same with the remnants from my chocolate tart.
Finally, she looks up at me and says, “I’m still sad that you’re leaving tomorrow.”
“Me too. If you ever leave the island, come visit me. Or I could meet you in Seattle.”
“Sure! I’d love that.”
I slide out of my chair. “Listen, I need to go pack so I don’t have to do it tomorrow morning. Leo has something special planned for us tonight.”
She stands and braces her hands on the table. “Know what I think? I bet you and Leo are married by this time next year.”
I’ll play along, but she’s crazy. Who knows if we’ll stay in contact after I leave tomorrow. “You’re on. What’s the wager?”
She taps her chin a few times, then suggests, “How about a spa weekend away?” Her face lights up. “Leo would know the best places to go. Or we can think about something else. We have time. Let’s shake on it.” She extends her hand, and I shake it.
“You’re on, girl.”
If fate is on my side, she’ll win.
With a sad face, she announces she has to go—she has to call a florist for the bridezilla’s wedding. I watch as she places her stuff meticulously into a black computer bag, then we hug and she leaves. Before I follow, I say goodbye to Louis and his team.
This time tomorrow, I’ll be at my apartment.
The thought tugs at my heartstrings, and a strong sense of sadness rushes through me.