Chapter 2
The wind was blowing in her hair as she drove and for the first time in years Rose felt alive. A few hours into her trip she stopped for lunch at a cute little diner. She pulled out her cell phone and called her parents. It was time to let her know that she was moving. She knew it wasn't the most adult way of handling the situation but had her mother been given the chance she would have stalled Rose as long as she could have.
"Rosalie I don't understand the point of this all. If this is just some sort of point that you're trying to make about your independence then you've made it. We all know you can't just pick up and leave all these loose ends." Diane was worried about what the neighbors would be whispering about when they found out Rose left town.
"Mother I have no loose ends. Mrs. Pickering is watching over the house until it sells. Eric's family will be receiving a delivery of his personal belongings on Monday. I packed them myself." Rose tried to stay calm but firm in tone.
"What about money? Are you just going to magically find a job somewhere?" Diane was starting to sound desperate. "What will you live off of?"
Rosalie had laughed bitterly. "You honestly think I don't have money? Eric's life insurance was well funded. So funded in fact that I left his Ferrari for Daddy. Daddy are you still on speaker phone?"
"Thank you sweetheart!" Benson Hale's voice boomed in her ear. "Did I ever tell you you're my favorite daughter?"
"You're welcome Daddy." Rosalie laughed, in full knowledge that she was his only daughter. "Mother I know you're sulking but don't worry. Your friends at church will only whisper for a little while and then they'll forget I even exist. It can't last for long. I have a plan and I've been in contact with some of my college friends and they have connections in Montreal."
"Montreal!?" Diane may have burst a blood vessel in her throat she yelled so loud. "Your plan is to be Canadian? Oh for pity's sake. I'm hanging up. I can't handle this. Call me when you're ready to come home and Daddy will buy you a ticket."
And then the phone was dead. Rosalie sighed but she wasn't daunted. She was starting fresh and she knew she was making the right decision. She finished her lunch and got back on the road. It was her intent to get as far away from that little Pennsylvania town as she could before the sunset.
Driving gave Rose so much time to think about things and for once she was excited about the future. She was almost giddy as she drove through the beautiful hills and mountains of New York. The breathtaking colors of Fall were showcased as the hot September sun beat down on her. It was the perfect day for a new beginning.
At dusk she pulled into the small tourist town of Lake Placid. She stopped at a bigger hotel by the lake which turned out to be a Crowne Plaza. They had a room with a view available and she was thrilled to see it included a balcony, fireplace and a Jacuzzi tub. So thrilled that she booked it for the whole weekend. She figured she was due some pampering.
After a long soak in the tub and a glass of wine she slept the best she had since the funeral. It was glorious. When she woke up the next morning she ordered breakfast and ate it on her balcony while browsing the hotel's amenities book. She noticed that there was a wing of shops attached to the hotel and she knew that was where she was headed next.
A couple hours and a hot shower later she was dressed in her favorite pair of jeans and her blond curls were cascading over her shoulders as she wandered through the little gift shops. She bought herself a few things and made an appointment at the spa. At the end of the little mall there was an Adirondack styled coffee house that was just adorable. She was standing in line to order when she closed her eyes and inhaled the toasted smell of coffee.
"Rosalie?"
Her eyes shot open and she spun around. Behind her in line there was a group of guys and she had a hard time focusing on which one had spoken until her eyes landed on a familiar face.
"Emmett?" His smile grew huge at her recognition. He stepped up and wrapped her up in a huge hug. When he released she took a good look at him. The years had done him justice.
"Emmett how are you? I haven't seen you since.." Her voice trailed as she remembered his going away party that her late husband had made such a jealous scene at.
"Yeah, since my party! Hey I'm sorry about Eric. I should have gotten in touch with you before now." Emmett's face was conflicted between sadness and the lingering happiness he had shown upon meeting her. "We had so much fun back in the day, it's a shame his life had to end so young."
"Oh Emmett, thank you really, that's sweet of you but I know you're busy and it's not like we'd been in touch." She moved ahead in line and ordered herself a caramel latte.
"So how are you?" She asked but he was busy adding his own order to hers and insisting on buying her coffee.
They walked together out to a large balcony and picked a table. It was a beautiful crisp day and the mountains made for a gorgeous backdrop but Rose wasn't paying attention to the scenery. She felt like she was on a date and it made her feel so pretty.
"So Rose, what brings you to Lake Placid?" Emmett's eyes grinned at her even when he wasn't smiling. She was so distracted by the way they glittered that she didn't answer for a few seconds.
"I am en route." She said simply. "En route to a new life."
"Mysterious! I love a good mystery. Where do ya plan on landing?" He took a gulp of his coffee and waited in intrigue.
"I'm moving to Montreal. I need to start over. People in town.. they just don't look at me the same way. I'm never going to be me there. I'm always going to be the one that Eric cheated, and then died on." She tried not to sound sad, because she truly wasn't feeling sad at all. "Montreal has a great art scene, plus it's French speaking.. who doesn't get turned on by that right?" She flirted shamelessly while running a finger through her hair.
He laughed and nodded in agreement. "Well I'm really glad I ran into you. What are the chances right? I'm in town for a few weeks for training. I'm still with the National Forest Service and this is a nice change from Montana."
A little voice in her head lamented over the fact that Montana was such a long distance from Montreal. It was obvious this flirtation was going to be short lived.
"Hey listen, I've got to get back to the guys but is there any way we could meet up later? There's a great little Italian place in town and I'm going to be starving for food and good company." His smile lit up his whole face as he cocked his head to the side waiting for her answer.
She stood with him and nodded. "I'd like that."
He wrapped her up in another hug before she even knew what was happening and she could smell something that could only be described as freshness. It was intoxicating and the second long hug seemed to last for hours.
He smiled at her as he backed away. "Bye Rose!"
As he walked back to his co-workers one of them gave him a punch on the arm in a joking fashion and she could only imagine what they had said. His eyes met hers and he winked before walking out.
It had been so long since she had basked in any man's attention. A couple hours later while she was lathered up in a chocolate body wrap with cucumbers on her eyes she kept thinking about him. He was in terrific shape. The hug had confirmed what his t-shirt had already hinted at. There was little more than muscle there.
Emmett had always been well built but obviously hiking around the wilderness of Montana had enhanced that. It had only been a couple years but he had aged just slightly. There was still a youthfulness in his face but his cheekbones were more defined. His hair was also shorter.
She wondered if it had always felt that good to hug him. It made her question whether or not Eric had reason to be jealous that night at the party. Maybe her face had given away more than she had known? It was doubtful though because she had shut down any reaction to men long before that. It was for their good as well as her own.
Now she couldn't help but day dream. After the spa appointment she walked down Main Street and found several little clothing shops. It wasn't her intention but she stumbled upon a dusty mauve color wrap dress that accented her curves really well and was cut a bit lower than she had ever dared to wear. The sales girl suggested pairing it with a pair of brown suede boots that came up her calf. "They were perfect for a fall night" she said. Rose was convinced.
Once she was back in the hotel room she dressed and was putting eyeliner around her deep brown eyes when she realized that he hadn't given her a time, or even asked for her phone number for that matter. Her heart dropped. He wouldn't even know how to get a hold of her.
She had gotten all excited over a date that wasn't going to happen.
Flopping down on the bed she turned on the tv and watched a stupid game show until around six o'clock when there was a knock at the door. She had chills. There's no way he could be.. no… it can't be him.
She looked through the peek hole and sure enough, there he stood in an argyle pullover sweater running his fingers through his short hair. She could see his bicep flex. Enough Rosalie, pull yourself together.
She opened the door with a smile. "How did you know how to find me?"
He grinned. "I just asked for your room number at the front desk. The guys have been flirting with that clerk all day so she was putty in my hands." He looked suddenly sheepish. "I mean, not that I'VE been flirting."
She laughed and grabbed her purse and a sweater. He threw an arm around her shoulder and out the door they went. As they stepped out of the hotel she couldn't help but notice that he hadn't lost touch with her the entire time. Arm around her in the hall. Hand on her back in the elevator. Brushing her arm while opening the door, and taking her hand to guide her to the north end of Main Street.
Rose couldn't remember the last time a man had held her hand out of pure affection instead of duty or attention of bystanders. It felt nice. Maybe too nice. She was going to have to be careful with this because she knew it had to end tomorrow.
They chatted as they walked down the street until he stopped in front of a restaurant that read Mike's 21 on the sign. There was a line of people waiting but Emmett had been thoughtful enough to not only reserve a table, but one overlooking the lake.
The small talk was incredibly fun and she found herself laughing more than she'd laughed in months, or maybe years. He told her about his work and she told him about her hope to sell some of her art some day.
She asked him what was good there and they both settled on the lobster ravioli. Dinner was amazing and they closed the place down after having wine, dessert, coffee and more wine.
Walking back along the lake they grew quiet, but in a comfortable way, just watching the moonlight sparkle off the water.
Out of nowhere he blurted "Hey you know you look beautiful tonight right? That dress is amazing. It's just you though, you've always been gorgeous."
She was grateful he couldn't see her blush in the dark. She squeezed his hand. "You're looking pretty handsome yourself." She answered. "Can I tell you something.. without sounding like a weirdo?"
They were almost to the hotel entrance and she could see him nod along with his "of course!"
"I feel like I've missed you in my life and I've never even had you in my life." She paused already regretting the words. "It's silly right? But tonight, and earlier.. I mean. I don't know. I guess I don't know what I mean."
"Rose, I do know what you mean."
They stepped into the lobby and the conversation was drowned out by a wedding party going on in the attached banquet hall. After pushing the 5th floor button he turned to her, stepping closer. "I've missed you too. I wish you weren't leaving tomorrow."
With that the doors opened and they dragged their feet down the hall to her door. He waited until she unlocked the door to her room and set her purse down before stepping inside and pulling her by the hand into another signature hug. This one really did last forever.
"Is tomorrow a definite?"
She nodded into his chest. Willpower Rose, have willpower. You have sacrificed for a man your whole life.. you need to go to Montreal.
"I'm afraid if I don't go tomorrow I'll never do it." She murmured.
He sighed a heavy exhale and she found herself thinking that Emmett should never sound so down. It didn't suit his personality.
"Well in that case I think this has to be goodbye. I don't want to ever ruin anything for you and.. well if I was to stay the night here you'd never want to leave tomorrow." She looked up to see his signature grin and was grateful for the return to flirtatious Emmett. Sad Emmett just didn't seem right.
"Pretty confident of that huh?" She smiled shyly. "Almost makes me want to take that challenge."
She stepped back into his hug with her chin raised up defiantly. He was a few inches taller than her and while he smiled back at her his eyes had a different look. He leaned in and pressed his forehead against hers, closing his eyes. "I won't have a one night stand with you Rosie, no matter how bad I want you." His arms wrapped tightly around her waist and having his body so close to her was bringing all sorts of heat to her. He pressed his lips to hers in a sweet little kiss and then pulled away with a groan. She wanted to protest but she knew he was right.
And just like that he was gone.
She opened the French doors to her bathroom and drew herself a bath. While soaking in the steaming hot lavender water she couldn't tell whether she wanted to giggle like a girl reliving their evening or cry real tears at the idea that he was gone. Her body was filled with regret but it obviously wasn't thinking clearly.
Wrapping up in the white fluffy bathrobe she looked in the mirror and she realized that she had been happy tonight. Really happy. And she was devastated to have lost that feeling as soon as she had found it. Tears started to fall when she realized he didn't have her phone number. She wiped the eyes that she had thought couldn't possibly have still held wetness after going dry so long ago.
As she walked across the room to turn the lights off she noticed a piece of paper on the floor in front of her door. She picked it up and there on hotel stationary was a note that read:
Rosie,
This can't be all. I can't just walk away. A girl at least needs a friend to write "home" about while she's having adventures in Montreal right? Please keep in touch. 570-567-1112
Em
Rose breathed a sigh of relief. That was exactly what a girl needed.
