He truly couldn't remember what day it was. It had been a long day, a long several days, in fact, and he just wanted to face plant on his bed. He didn't want food, although, come to think of it, he was hungry and couldn't remember his last solid meal. He didn't want a shower, but truly, as he nodded to himself, ditto, just like the food-couldn't remember his last true hot shower, and he didn't want to check messages on his phone, again, even though he was sure there were several.
Andrew dragged himself through the motel lobby door and fished around for his room key. Truth be told, he was impressed with himself that he'd remembered his room number. It had been a whirlwind few days, flying to Juneau, waiting by Gammy's bedside, and now, even a few days later, her prognosis was uncertain. Her heart attack had been bad enough to require surgery to deal with blockages, and since then, she'd been in the ICU. That part was no surprise, but seeing her so weak and well, so un-Gammy-like was what had struck him. He couldn't return to New York, not until he was sure Gammy was on the road to recovery, and at this point, she was not. He'd remain here for at least a few more days; Gammy deserved that from him.
His eyes had to be playing tricks on him, and he shook his head, hoping to wake up, that it was only a dream. That didn't help, nor did it change anything. Instead, it only seemed to instigate the dull aching he had been feeling across his temple, the start of a headache forming. He sighed, dropped his head, and he clutched his jacket in his hand even tighter as he stepped up to the check in desk.
"So, my anonymous call to have you added to the no-fly list didn't work, I see," he said as he leaned on the counter sideways, looking to her. She turned toward him, oblivious that he had just stepped in the door.
"Andrew," Margaret said, and for the first time in a long time, he looked at her, directly at her. He searched her eyes and quickly looked away. He had been haunted by those eyes, seeing them over and over again this last year. Just as he was about to put the last year behind him, she'd turned back up in New York and now here in well, of all places, Juneau.
Andrew, with one elbow resting on the counter, gestured to her with his hand, still clutching his jacket.
"Why are you here?" Andrew asked his eyes now focused on her hand which was zipping up her expensive, elegant wallet. He remembered having to go pick that up for her at the department store almost two years ago if memory served. Ironically, it still looked new, why that was popping into his head, he didn't know, but it was his first thought as he watched her finish zipping it. As he happened to glance up, his eyes met hers, and he looked down at the desk, seeing her room key there.
"Look, you've been gone a few days-" Margaret started to say, and Andrew, tired and growing more and more impatient by the minute, cut her off.
"Yeah, Gammy isn't doing all that well, as I've reported through my messages, my emails," he told her. "I've kept in touch, Boss. It's a little out of the way for you to just pop on by here," he sighed.
He looked away, but at the same time, he couldn't look away, and he caught her nodding with the corner of his eye.
"Whatever happened or didn't happen between us," she said and sighed as she paused. He glanced to her then and saw she was taking a deep breath before she continued, "Gammy is special to me. She was so kind, even after the mess I made. I know things are tense with your parents, well, "she rolled her eyes, "your father, and I thought you could use a friend, or ahhh," she paused, "some support."
He pursed his lips and nodded. She started to fidget standing there, and he gestured at her as he spoke, "Ahh, yes, I see. Support. You, because well, things are great with us, decided to come support me as I deal with my very strained family relationship. Yeah, that's not awkward at all, not unless by coming here you are trying to make me realize that I'm in better with my parents right now than I am with you, that this," he gestured between them, "is the real strained relationship."
"Margaret!" Andrew and Margaret's heads snapped to the door to see Andrew's parents walking through the door. Grace had a huge smile and extended her arms to welcome Margaret, and as Andrew glanced beyond his mom to his dad, he saw exhaustion more than anything on his face.
"Oh, hi," Margaret said, genuinely happy, as she tried to give a small wave to Andrew's mother. He watched as his mother sidestepped any small wave and pulled Margaret into an embrace. He dazed slightly and snapped his head as his mother patted his arm.
"Andrew here has been such a blessing these few days, and it's good of you to come," Grace told Margaret. Andrew, now speechless, grunted something and just stood there. He knew his mother loved Margaret. Gammy did too. They both knew Margaret had hurt Andrew, and he was pretty sure they were both aware of his deep feelings for her-okay they most definitely were aware-he wasn't an idiot to think they were clueless, but his mother and grandmother, the hopeless romantics, had continually told him to give her time. Time. Time was the last year of his life. Time was over. Time was something that had ended. Time was up. He'd closed that door and had started to move on, or at least, he'd kidded himself that he had.
"Joe, say hi to Margaret," Grace nodded to him. Andrew watched his father as he nodded to her, and he then glanced to Andrew. Without promoting, Andrew finally spoke.
"A surprise to us all," he said and instantly felt stupid for saying it. It sounded so dumb.
"A welcome one," Grace smiled. Andrew caught his mom's eye and tried to shake his head.
"It's been awhile, Maggie," Joe said and instantly, he was elbowed in the stomach by Grace, and he corrected himself after grunting. "Margaret, my apologies."
"It's nice to see you too," Margaret said with a humble smile and nod. She gestured to the couple, "I'm very sorry Gammy is ill. I was just telling Andrew here that I thought he could use a friend."
"Oh, I'm just so glad you came, so glad you are back at home in New York," Grace smiled. "Andrew mentioned you're returned recently."
"Yes, yes," she nodded, "still getting settled. I suppose one good thing about being busy at work was that my suitcase wasn't even fully unpacked, so it was a quick getaway."
Andrew faked a laugh and gestured to the floor, where once again, she had traveled with way too much, "Quick trip, Boss? Might you be heading back to New York soon? I'm sure there is plenty to do."
Margaret frowned and turned her head toward Andrew, "No, I came with my work and am hoping to be some support."
"Hmm, funny," he said, drumming his fingers as he rested his chin now on his hand as he propped his elbow on the counter, "kind of disappeared the last year, not to mention the way things ended well, just over a year ago."
"Andrew," Grace sighed, and he turned to see his mother pat his dad's arm. "Joe, let's get to our room. You look like you are going to fall asleep standing there, and these two have plenty to sort out. Margaret, it was sweet of you to come, and I would like to sit down with you maybe tomorrow. We will get you updated on things. For the first time, Gammy is resting comfortably, and the nurses sent us home for the evening."
"Of course," Margaret gestured. "Please don't do anything for me. I really did come here to the," she paused as she looked around and wrinkled her nose as she said it, "Night Owl Motel to just be a friend to your family. I promise. I'm sorry if I overstepped. I don't have a family I don't know protocols for this. I know you're not family," she said now gesturing and blundering her words as she spoke, but she then glanced to Andrew, "but you all mean a lot to me, more than I probably know, and I am trying to make things right."
Andrew watched his mom give her a small smile, and she patted his arm as she started to walk by him. Andrew nodded to his dad, who did look rough with all things considered, and as she had almost stepped beyond him, Grace stepped back and leaned up to hug Andrew.
"Gammy would want you to fix this," she whispered in his ear. "Margaret is finally trying. Don't blow it. You've been miserable this last year."
Andrew just shook his head as she stepped away finally, and he looked to his jacket, still there clutched in his hand.
"I thought I would have had to bribe your secretary for your hotel information," Margaret broke the silence. Andrew glanced up, giving her a side eyed glance, and she continued, gesturing as she did. "It turns out that even though I haven't had dealings with Bess in the past, she's apparently aware of my reputation."
"Yeah, well, who isn't, Margaret?" Andrew sighed. "Look, I don't have the energy right now-"
"Right," she nodded, clearing her voice. "I just got in myself, as you can see," she gestured to her bags. "Ahh, dinner?"
Andrew just pointed out the door, "There's a local place just around the corner, looks like someone's house. It's a restaurant, Alaska for you."
"Right, no, I mean," she paused and chuckled. "For a book editor, I'm at a loss for words. I was asking, yes, for a place to eat, but I meant to say that you look like you could use dinner. I could too, and well, let's go. I'm getting you dinner."
He eyed her again, "I don't want to eat with you, Margaret."
She shrugged, "There's a lot you haven't wanted to do with me over the years, but I was always able to make you back then. Let's assume the same role, shall we? I'm taking you for dinner, and that's that. No discussion. You can help me get my bags to my room," she nodded to the floor. "Neither one of us has had a chance to freshen up, and quite frankly, right now, if either of us does that, we will end up just skipping dinner, so the plan is this-we will drop off my bags, go and eat, and then, I'll finally let you get back here to get some rest."
Andrew closed his eyes as he let out a long breath. When he opened them, she was standing there, hand on her hip, waiting for his reply.
"Sorry," he said in a sarcastic tone, "this is all just making this little trip even more enjoyable. Sure, why not? Everyone wants to eat with their boss turned fake fiancé, turned, well, I don't even know, Margaret, but sure, what a fun evening ahead we have."
She nodded, "Great, progress, no argument from you about helping with my bags. Let's get going."