(A/N: Hope everyone is well and healthy :) Bet you didn't expect me to release a new chapter this soon, right? Me neither. Weird things happen all the time!)
The moment Arnold opened up the doors to the Sunset Arms, the flood of various animals pushed him to the side, as they charged up the stoop and into the house, with Abner following as the tail.
"Hey, boy." He greeted his faithful pet with a stroke to the hind quarters, a pleasant aroma of dinner wafting his way. It didn't smell unique or foreign, but rather… normal, for a change. Maybe it was just baked chicken, or some sort of roast? It was hard for his nose to discern, but the one thing he was sure about, was that his stomach was ready for whatever it was. "You smell it too, huh?" He asked his pig, who gleefully squealed back at him, before rushing towards the kitchen.
"I'm home!" The young boy shouted out as he hung up his jacket. He could hear voices in the distance, and assumed that no one had noticed his arrival, giving him time to get settled before entering the dining room area.
Arnold ran up the stairs and headed straight to the dangling string to his destination. With a sturdy pull, he lowered the old wooden stairs to his bedroom and eagerly climbed up and into the refreshing scenery of his domain. He took in a deep breath, smiled, and set his backpack down besides the door after shutting it. He took off his shoes, placed them out of the way and gave himself a moment of reprieve. There was just that certain something about finally getting to a space that was only meant for you, that gave a feeling of belonging, security, and a source of calm, similar to that of a mother's love. Arnold embraced his private sanctum for a few treasured minutes, before coming to terms with the fact he needed to go down to dinner and then embrace the chaos that awaited him.
There was a certain excitement to knowing every dinner would be different. Not just the food, but the conversations, fights and even news being spread around the table as well. With that in mind, Arnold left his bedroom, raced down the stairs and made his way to the dining room.
"Sorry if I'm late!" He hurried to announce as he rushed in and took a seat at the table. "I got caught up helping Gerald with something…"
"Oh, you're not the one late." Ernie corrected with his usual gruff dissatisfaction. "It's little miss Suzy Homemaker that's taking up all our precious time!"
"Huh?" Arnold looked around, confused. He could see that Suzy was nowhere in sight, so why would Ernie say something like that? "What do you mean?" He asked, before being distracted by the absence of another familiar face. "Where's Mr. Hyunh?"
Phil moseyed on into the dining room, a wash cloth in hand. "Something about a work conference." He informed, still taking care to make wipe off each hand individually before pausing for a moment in thought. "Although, I don't know why making tacos would call for a conference… but to each their own!" He brushed off with a laugh, before sitting at his self-assigned seat. "Pookie!" He shouted to his wife. "Are you trying to starve us all?! What's taking so long?"
"Just a minute!" They heard her sing from behind the doors.
Oscar looked sadly at his stomach. "You hear that? My stomach is crying…"
"Which one, Kokoschka?" asked Ernie with a snide look. "You have to have at least two, since no matter how much you eat, you're always complaining how hungry you are!"
"I have a fast metabolism!" Oskar shouted back. "It's not my fault! I eat and I eat, and my body craves more!"
The two began to argue back and forth, before a loud crash startled everyone in the room, followed by a very loud female voice, cursing "Criminy!"
At first, Arnold wasn't sure if he had heard correctly. Although he hadn't seen her yet, he considered she still might be in her room. The kitchen was the last place he expected her to be.
"Easy!" Shouted another female voice, this one much more understanding and patient. "You're going to hurt yourself again, if you do it like that!"
Now very alarmed, Arnold looked towards his grandfather, who had a newspaper propped up and seemed to be ignoring everything around him. "What's going on in there?" He asked, doing his best to seem more curious than concerned.
"Beats me." Phil replied as he licked his finger and turned one of the pages. "But from the sounds of it, we might be looking forward to take out tonight."
Ernie then threw his napkin on the table. "That's it!" He said before standing up. "I'm giving them 5 more minutes before I start rioting! If the old lady can do it, so can I!"
"If you begin rioting, I'll be putting up a vacancy sign." Phil retorted, unaffected by the stout man's words as he turned another page from his newspaper. When he didn't hear Mr. Potts reply, he lowered the paper a little in order to make eye contact with him. "Pookie gets away with it because I'm married to her. You, on the other hand, don't have that luxury." He placed his paper back in its former position, then snapped it straight. "And besides, there's enough of a commotion going on back there as it is."
His words caused Ernie to sit back down, and mumble curses under his breath while Oskar gave him faces of mockery.
It was clear that Phil had some idea of what was going on, but since he wasn't going to inform the rest of the party, Arnold stood up to investigate for himself.
"Sit back down, Shortman." Phil advised from behind his articles.
"But…" Arnold began, but was immediately cut off by his elder.
"What's going on in that room is out of our bounds…" The old man began, cryptically. "The moment a man enters through that doorway… He won't leave the same way he went in." His voice hummed something ominous before he continued. "Best case scenario, you'll come out relatively unscathed with a few cuts and bruises… worst case, you'll come out missing a limb. Who's to say?"
"Grandpa…" Arnold warned in an obvious tone, knowing full well that he was only being dramatic.
Phil lowered his newspaper once more, then smiled. "Hey! All I'm saying is I'd like my only grandson to remain in one piece and the moment you tread into that unknown territory, I won't be able to save you."
"Save me from what?" asked the youth, still remaining oblivious to his grandfather's hints.
The old man's face dropped into a serious and deadly expression. "The womenfolk, Arnold." He let his words swirl around the room, causing Ernie to shiver, going right through Oskar's head, and over to Arnold who was doing his best to understand. "Just as us men have our teachings, so do they… and if we interfere…?" Phil made a motion with this thumb cutting across his throat. "It's best to learn this young, Arnold. Might save your life!" He finished with a wink.
"Oh come on," Arnold replied, looking at the rest of the men in disbelief. "You can't really expect me to believe that if I go in there and ask if they need any help, that they'll attack me."
"I gotta agree with Gramps on this one, Arnold." Ernie shuttered as he considered what sort of witch's brew was being concocted behind the barriers that separated the genders. "Women can be savages when provoked."
"Grandma through knives at me from across the room, once!" Oskar cried as he pretended to fear for his life. "I didn't even do anything wrong, either! I was minding my own business, wandering into the kitchen to get a glass of water, since my throat was so dry…"
"Like anyone believes that…" Ernie muttered under his breath.
"Your mom's pretty nice, but when crossed, even she has deadly glares that will pierce right through a man's soul…" Miles's voice suddenly emerged from the hallway and into the dining room, a plastic bag in hand. "Not to mention, she knows how to poison someone in at least 54 different ways…."
Phil let out a hardy chuckle as he watched his son tremble at the thought. "See, Arnold? Even your dad knows!" He said, turning to his grandson. "Doesn't matter how much a woman loves ya! There are just some cases that you don't want to meddle in, no matter how sincere your intentions may be!"
"And your little girlfriend there isn't exactly the daintiest of the flowers, if you know what I mean?" Ernie added, staring directly at Arnold, and crossing his arms. "Listen to your elders, kid. Just smile and nod, stay outta their way, and you'll be fine!"
"Alright, already!" They all heard Helga shout from inside the kitchen. "I got it! I got it! Just give me some space, will ya, lady?!"
All men in the room set their eyes on the young man, who only replied by sliding down in his chair, and silently wishing he never gotten up in the first place.
Suddenly, a loud dinner bell rang out from inside the kitchen, followed by Gertie bursting through the doors, making the ringing even louder.
"Dinner time, Everyone!" She shouted, walking around the dining table, and causing everyone else to cover their ears. "Grab your stools and sit down at the bar! Ice cold refreshments sold for only a buck!"
"I take it back, Ernie!" Phil shouted, attempting to talk over his wife. "Maybe I'll move into your room instead!"
"Come one, come all!" Gertie continued to sing, "The main attraction is about to begin! Hold all your questions until the end of the ride!"
"Mom! Is this really necessary?!" Miles asked loudly, attempting to save his eardrums from any further damage.
The question caused the old woman to lower her triangle and hand it over to her son. "Oh, you're right!" She concluded happily. "Take my place! I'll be right back!" and before anyone else could utter another word, she flew back into the kitchen, leaving Miles with a lopsided grin.
"Get out while ya still can…" Ernie whispered to Arnold, who only groaned and sunk lower in his seat.
It wasn't long after that, until Stella, Gertie and Helga came out with three separate dishes in their hands: One with a meatloaf, one with mashed potatoes, and the last being a dish of string beans. They each set down their platter in the middle of the table.
"Enjoy, everyone!" Stella called out to the assembly, with a charming smile. When she sat down next to her husband, she gazed over at her young son who seemed to be red with embarrassment. She gave Miles a questioning look, only to be turned down with a gesture signaling for Not right now.
Helga begrudgingly sat down next to Arnold, swirling in her own personal hell, and not even wanting to know what was wrong with him.
"It was a pleasure having you help us in the kitchen, Eleanor." Gertie called out to Helga with endearment, before grabbing a small plate of food for herself. "I must say, it's always humbling for us working class citizens to serve alongside the First Lady herself. You must join us again, in the future!"
Phoebe's words echoed in Helga's ears as she considered never stepping foot in that God forsaken room ever again, and forever taking her meals inside her own room. "S-sure…" She forced out, locking eyes with the old woman. "Anytime…"
The lack of spitfire from his neighbor, caused Arnold to actually look over at her in surprise. Did she really just offer to help my mom and grandma cook more often? He wondered, now seriously considering if that triangle had done some damage to his hearing.
"Wonderful!" Phil called out after he finished piling his food on his plate. "Glad everything worked out. Let's all eat!"
One by one, the adults grabbed their plates and began to fill them up, leaving only the two preteens to sit and wait their turns, neither one wanting to make the first move.
Arnold looked between Helga and what was left of the dishes. "You should get some before its gone…" When she made no reply, the boy frowned. "Don't you want to know how your own cooking tastes?"
Heat rose into the girl's cheeks at the thought of her beloved acknowledging the hard work she had put into making this meal, as well as the resounding strength it took to endure being cooped up in that kitchen with not only his grandmother, but his mother as well. "Y-you go ahead f-first…" She stammered, looking away from him in hopes he didn't notice.
With a sigh, Arnold rose up with his plate, and added small portions of each of the three dishes. When he turned back to see her, he saw the reddening blush and smiled. "If you say so…" He replied, sitting back down with his plate.
"T-that's right! I do say so!" She replied, her fiery spirit finally igniting. "And don't you forget it, bucko!"
Arnold chuckled before noticing that a certain set of eyes were upon him. He looked his grandfather's way, with a questioning look but only getting a sly wink in return.
What was originally supposed to be a nice, mild night out with her new co-workers, slowly became something similar to which Miriam would later regret…
Once the team had gotten their table at Hotshots, Miriam had made it a point to look at her watch and keep an eye on the time, not wanting to stay long and assuring herself she would only have one drink, that way she wouldn't seem boring or unlikeable. The men joked around and made fools of themselves after only a few drinks, while the women giggled and told Miriam stories about times past, making the woman feel as if she was in a safe place. Soon, she was opening up and relaxing with her new colleagues.
When finished with her one mixed drink, Miriam rose from her seat and grabbed the empty glass, with the intention of bringing it to the bartender and closing her unnecessary tab.
"Going for another?" Asked Sarah with a smug smile that made her face even rosier than it already was from her few glasses of wine.
Miriam watched as the young girl swayed slowly back and forth to the music, before giving back her own smile. "No… I think it's time I call it a night…" She replied sadly, secretly longing to remain there for longer.
Sarah let out a loud laugh, then roughly grabbed on to Miriam's arm, yanking it almost as if she was shaking someone's hand. "Come on! When was the last time you had some fun?"
"Let the woman go if she wants to." Lora said from behind her martini glass. The air around her seemed so sophisticated that it was almost royal. "She probably wants to run home to her husband…" The woman slowly took a sip and then crossed her legs, "I would if mine were still around."
The words of the older woman seemed to breeze right through the young blonde's ears, and fall away into the loud music coming from the antique stereo in the corner of the room. "No, no, no! You just CAN'T go yet!" She pleaded to Miriam, showing off her best pout. "We need more time to bond and get to know each other!" and when her hostage opened her mouth regretfully to oppose, Sarah had a gleam in her eye and grabbed her mostly full wine glass. "Here!" She insisted as she shoved the wine towards the timid woman. "You can't leave unless you close the tab, right? Have my drink, that way you can stay longer!"
"I've… never been much of a wine drinker." explained Miriam as she set her empty glass on the table and grabbed the wine before the girl spilt it.
"Why not?" Sarah gasped, mortified of such a suggestion. "It's practically all that I drink! Here! Have some!"
Knowing that this insistent young woman wouldn't let her go, Miriam casually brought the glass of wine to her lips and took a small sip. She could smell the alcohol, unlike her own drinks, but the taste wasn't as foul as she last remembered. It was sweet, tangy, and somewhat crisp as if biting into a granny smith apple.
"Seeeeeee?" Sarah smiled wildly, proud of her achievement. "It's good right?"
It was hard for Miriam to lie, knowing full well that the sip she had taken was rather pleasant, but she knew that staying would only lead to her spending more than she really had. "It… is, but maybe next time." She smiled as she placed the girl's glass back on the table. "If I don't go home and sleep soon, my husband will be worried…"
"Who needs husbands when you have us girllllllls!" Sarah cried out, as if she was in pain. "Men are boring!" She explained as she glared across the room to Bill who was flirting with another female at the bar, then looked back at Lora and Miriam. "Girls are MUCH more fun!"
"Don't push your lifestyle on her, Sarah." Lora scolded with annoyance. "She's old enough to know what she wants. Let her go home to the warm and welcoming bed."
Sarah ignored her senior's advice and continued to pout. "We were having so much fun though! You just can't leave yet! We're supposed to be celebrating your first day working with us! There will never be another night like this AGAIN!"
The reasons presented caused Miriam to waver. When was the last time she had fun? When was the last time she had other females to talk to? When was the last time she was offered friendship? The thought of her grumpy husband crossed her mind as she looked between her co-workers. "Well…" She began, but her words got caught in her throat when she remembered the money she had spent on her new outfit, and how spending anything else on her leisure might rock their boat even further. "This is the first job I've had in a while…" She said sadly, wishing things were different and she could be as carefree as this woman in front of her, "I don't have a lot to spend…"
The wine glass was shoved in front of Miriam once more. "This is freeeeee!" Sarah smiled happily. "No money needed!" The girl then stood up and gestured for Miriam to sit in her seat. "You have this one and I'll go get another!"
Miriam opened her mouth to object, but the moment Sarah finished her words, she turned around and quickly ran to the bar. She looked over at Lora, who seemed to be blissfully in her own world, and then back at the wine in front of her. I suppose this one glass couldn't hurt… and after all, they're being so nice to me… I can't let this go to waste… Miriam let out a soft sigh and took in another sip. This time, the alcohol didn't seem as prominent as before and she could taste more of the fruit.
"If you're sure…" Lora remarked quietly, as she swirled the cherry skewered toothpick around the rim of her glass. "That girl is in the spring of her youth, while we're well into the autumn hills." She pointed her toothpick towards the carefree young lady at the bar, and Miriam watched as she seemed to be dancing in place while the bar tender poured her another glass. "She still has many years to learn how short life is and to make choices she'll regret later. We may not…"
The words of wisdom caused Miriam to take another sip, this one much larger than the last. "But sometimes… girl's just want to have fun." She said with a smile, as she turned towards her new friend.
With a glass raised, Lora toasted to the thought of them enjoying their time together, and Miriam gladly replied in turn.
But… with what was supposed to be one glass, turned into two, and then finally three until the clock struck an hour that Miriam couldn't even remember the last time she had been awake to see. The lights seemed so much brighter than normal, and colors all seemed to blend into each other as she giggled with her new girlfriends down the road. Bill had ended up being rejected by the petite brunette he was trying to woo, which led to everyone drinking alongside him to make him feel better while Mark stayed mostly sober enough to make sure everyone got home safe.
She couldn't remember the last time she had had this much fun! Usually, she would just drink alone and let her smoothies wash away the day stresses and intruding negative thoughts but this wasn't something she had experienced since probably her college years. Just why hadn't she done something like this sooner?
The night sky was so pretty as the stars shined up above her, like a bunch of diamonds glistening on top of a dark blue ball gown. The world felt so different when she felt light and carefree, warm, and happy. What were worries to her when she could enjoy a night like tonight with kind people who enjoyed her company? Miriam reached her arms out in front of her as she attempted to pluck one of the diamonds out of the sky.
"Woah!" a male voice suddenly shouted, before Miriam found herself tripping on something unknown and almost falling forward if it hadn't been for this nice man to catch her. "Are you okay?"
Letting out a small giggle, Miriam looked at the dark haired man with his thin wire framed glasses. She could smell the scent of his shampoo and his embrace felt warmer than she had ever felt before.
Mark shook his head and helped her to walk straight, while the others were too into their conversation to notice. "I'll be driving Miriam home tonight." He declared, sounding like a discouraged parent chaperone. "I'll see you all tomorrow."
They each hooted and hollered at them both but immediately shut up the moment the older man sent a piercing glare their way. He was fully aware what had happened over at the girls table but didn't think the outcome would have been so drastic. The woman he led along to his car seemed so docile and timid, that he had no idea she could suddenly become outgoing to the point of dancing with the others and even pretending to lasso some of the other customers and pull them in to her act.
"Watch your head…" He warned gingerly, as he helped her into the passenger side of his car, making sure she didn't hit her head at the clearing. He watched as Miriam lay her head back against the headrest and get comfortable. It was almost like he was tucking a child into bed. "Do you feel sick at all?"
Miriam turned her head from side to side and then smiled back up at him. "No… I feel as fit as a clam!"
"I'm not sure that's how it goes…" The man replied with an odd expression, before shutting the door and getting into the driver's side. Once the engine turned over, he put on his seatbelt and could see she was doing the same. Silently, he thanked the universe that he wouldn't have had to intrude into this new co-worker's space any more than he already had to. "What's your address?"
"Hmmm…" Miriam hummed in response as she tapped her fingers against her lips, deep in thought. "What was it again…?"
"You don't know where you live?" He asked with a puzzled look, hoping she wasn't trying to play any games. "What's the name of the street, at least?"
"The street…." Miriam repeated, narrowing her brows as she continued to think.
"Do you remember the house number?" Continued Mark, now growing tired and doing his best to remain patient. "I could go back to the shop if we need to, and look in your records."
An unexpected laugh came out of Miriam, startling her driver. "Oh, that wouldn't help." She stated, turning her head over to face him. Her amusing look turned into something a lot more depressing as she continued to stare his way. "That's now just an empty home, devoid of any and all of its past potential."
Placing his thumb and index finger against the bridge of his slender nose, the man took in a deep breath to steady his frustrations. "How about just tell me left or right and we'll take our time." He suggested, before taking another look at her and smiling to save face. "How's that sound?"
"That sounds pretty good." She replied, suddenly losing her glum demeanor, and facing forward in excitement. "Let's do that."
The two drove on for a little more than 20 minutes before Miriam was lucid enough to properly get them both to the motel. At first, Mark was unsure if she was trying to pull some sort of stunt, or if she was serious, but after he parked the car and kept it idle, he was sure she was serious when she unbuckled her seatbelt and opened up her door.
"Thanks for the ride!" She said warmly, shutting the door, and leaning her top half on the windows edge. "It was a fun night!"
"You live… in this motel?" Mark asked in concern, looking between her and the dingy exterior of the building.
"Oh… It's just for now." Miriam replied as she turned towards the window that she last saw her husband in. "Or at least, that's what B says…"
Not wanting to jump into any of her private family matters, Mark cleared his throat and flashed a smile. "I hope so because I can't imagine the beds are very comfortable in this B rate motel."
"It's about the same as a couch so, I'm pretty used to it." Her voice was pragmatic, that anyone would have taken her words as satire. "Have a good night, Mark!" She then waved at the man before turning around, making sure she had all of her belongings, and then walking towards her room door. Before entering, she turned around and waved at her savior again, and waited for him to drive off.
Resting her back up against the door's cold exterior, Miriam took in another sight of the nights sky and wondered what it would be like to live up there. She knew she would have to go into that room and deal with whatever fight Bob wanted to start, but just for the moment, she wanted to remain blissful and pretend that she was living someone else's life.
A few minutes passed until Miriam found herself strong enough to head on into her motel room and greet her husband. She turned the golden doorknob and pushed on in to see him sitting at the edge of the bed and looking at his phone.
"Do you have any idea what time it is, Miriam?" He asked her in a cold but stern voice, still not looking up at her.
Miriam walked into the room fully, closed the door and began to take off her shoes. "No but definitely later than 4pm…" She said before letting out another small giggle, realizing that she had practically been out and on her own for longer than she had in a long time.
The room was uncomfortably quiet, leaving the two adults wondering who would be the one to speak next. When Miriam then began to put down her purse and head towards the bathroom, it became obvious to Bob that he would have to be the one to ask what should have already been told. "I consider myself a reasonable man…" He started, holding back every ounce of his anger to speak calmly. "But coming home at 11 O'clock at night after leaving at the crack of dawn, unexpectedly, to go to some mysterious job… is not something I expected from you." The veins began to expose themselves at the top of his hands and forehead as he watched her walk into the bathroom without a word, and begin to take off her earrings. "Where have you been, Miriam?!"
His sudden booming voice caused Miriam to jump, but nevertheless, she continued to take off her accessories to get ready for bed. "Well, I went to work and… then enjoyed some time with my new friends." She replied casually, her head still a bit fuzzy from the drinks.
"Work?" He repeated, still confused with the concept. "Work? What work?!" He asked, standing up and walking towards her. "You can't be galivanting all over town doing who knows what!"
"Relax B… I'm not doing who knows what, I'm working!" A small smile spread across her face as she watched her husband fluster from the reflection in the bathroom mirror and her confidence only grew, "And besides, I'm a grown woman, remember? I can handle myself..." Calmly, Miriam turned around to face him. When she could see that he was still waiting for her to explain further, she walked over and placed her skinny hands over top his tensed fist, that was still clutching his cellphone. "I was invited for a little bit of team bonding time… so I took it."
As Miriam approached him and began to speak, Bob could smell the alcohol on her breath. He narrowed his eyes as he peered down at his wife. "Team bonding involves drinks?" He hissed in suspicion.
The woman tilted her head slightly to the side and gave him a questioning look. "Wasn't it you who taught me that you need to butter up the client before making a deal?" She asked, recalling all of the things he had told her before meeting with those big clients from Buffalo. "Well, these people may not be clients, but if you plan on working well together in the future, it doesn't hurt to create some comradery, right?" Her smile was warm and understanding, even if underneath it all, she was grinning sadistically with how tables could turn. She could feel his fist beneath her hands begin to release some of its pressure on the phone, as he listened to her siren's song. "Now… why don't we get ready for bed, huh?"
Bob watched as wife playfully poked him on the nose, and then ventured back into the living area. He toyed with the thought of if his words of wisdom back then really influenced her decisions, but also whether she was just drawing attention away from the facts at hand. "If you knew you were going to be out this late, didn't you think it might be nice to let me know?"
As Miriam got to the bed, she began smoothing down the blankets, attempting to make the countless wrinkles disappear. "I just didn't want to disturb you or interrupt any important call you may get." She explained simply, placing her slender body underneath the covers, and getting comfortable. "You've been so distracted lately, that I thought it might make you upset.
"Gee… Imagine that." He growled sarcastically as he approached the bed once more.
"But you know…" Miriam placed her palm against her cheek, "Thinking back on it now, I suppose letting you know ahead of time might have been a more thoughtful approach." She then turned to him with a sympathetic look on her face, reached over and grabbed his forearm to pull him closer. "I'm sorry, B."
The man continued to eye his wife suspiciously, until giving into the thought that maybe everything she had done really was done absentmindedly. "Yeah…." He mumbled, still not completely convinced but wanting to believe her words. Bob watched as she smiled and eventually gave in to her loving tugs to sit down close to her. "Still would have been nice to know that you'd been looking for a job." He grouched, pushing forward his feelings of insecurity. "How're you gonna just leave me in the dark about something like that?"
The irony caused Miriam to chuckle, causing her to lean closely towards him to place her hand over his and his cellphone once more. "You've just been so stressed, B…" She lied, smoothing her fingers in between his own, causing them to loosen somewhat. "I couldn't just let you be the only one…. Taking care of things."
His gaze softened as he gave into his wife's affections, taking it to heart that she really did have his feelings in mind when making her irrational plans. He had been focusing a lot on getting important updates from Nick, the police, the bank, and the insurance company, that it was possible he was creating unnecessary worry around his spouse. By looking into her eyes, he could see that she must have been suffering too, causing him to feel a small pang of guilt from within his chest.
There it was, the small soft spot that hid itself deep within the man's fortress, exposing itself just for a moment, and Miriam knew that her window of opportunity wouldn't be there for much longer. As their fingers intertwined, she was able to lean forward enough to give him a small kiss, and successfully allow herself to grip his cellphone from beneath his fingers. It was much too soon to show him that her true aim was to break the phone away, just to see what he had been hiding, so instead, she pushed forward to deepen their usual shallow kiss, into something much more leading; dropping his guard down even further. Once she had broken their lips apart, Miriam smiled at her adoring man, before fully grasping his phone and slowly sliding it out of his possession. "Why don't you… just put this down for the night?" She suggested, leading him on.
The idea didn't seem like a bad one, and the outcome did seem mutually beneficial to ease both of their stresses, so Bob did not argue and instead, watched as she placed the old flip phone on the table next to her. He could feel his worries melt away into a place in time that he hadn't been in for such a long time, that it almost felt foreign. "Okay…" He replied, sneaking up from behind her and pulling her against his chest. Their embrace felt so right and comforting, that neither would have noticed anything else in the world… until a strange odor hit Mr. Pataki's nose. It wasn't a powdery scent, or a floral scent, but something muskier and… manly. Like casino slot machines, ideas quickly spun in front of him until all three categories landed on the same conclusion: debauchery. "Tell me about these new friends of yours…" He hissed in her ear, causing a notable shiver to run through her body.
"F-friends…?" She asked, a little confused at why he would bring something like this up so suddenly. "They're just a few co-workers who were nice to me."
"Yeah?" Bob asked, holding back his rushing rage. "How nice were they to you tonight?"
"Well… Sarah introduced me to this nice wine, and Lora gave me some good advice…" She began, still confused at relevance this held, but also just happy that he was taking interest at all. "We watched as Bill made a fool of himself in front of some girl's he was flirting with…"
"So… there were male partners as well?" He growled, unintentionally holding her tighter.
Miriam wiggled in his grasp to loosen it enough for her to be able to turn around and look at him. "Of course, there were man there." She chuckled, thinking of how ridiculous the notion was of an only female staff in such a profession. "I pretty much just… danced with the girls, though."
"Pretty much?" Bob probed, bringing his nose closer to the nape of her neck. "Then why do you smell like one's been all over you, Miriam?"
The implications caused Miriam's buzz to fade into oblivion, as well as her heart begin to quicken. "Wh-what are you talking about, B?" She asked nervously, sincerely confused.
"You neck, Miriam…" He grit his teeth. "It smells like a man…"
"That's… That's impossible…" She laughed nervously, pushing him away from her so she could look at him properly. "I didn't dance with any men. You know I have two left feet…" but no matter what she said, she watched as his face started to turn red, which caused her to back away. Bob had never been violent towards her before, but his intense anger always caused her fight or flight signals to sound an alarm within caution.
Bob began to tap his fingers on the bed impatiently, still waiting for a reasonable explanation. "Then are you suggesting one of your female co-workers wears cologne?"
Miriam fumbled backwards until she accidentally hit the end table, causing the lamp to shake and distort the lighting in the room, as it flickered. "No… Not that I'm aware of…" She replied, still wracking her brain at an explanation. She thought of the drinks, the dancing and then vaguely remembered "roping" some of the bar patrons into dancing with her and her friends. I remember dancing… but not very close to anyone… Miriam thought as she concentrated deeply on her memories. Everything else is hazy…
"Well then, I'm waiting…" His voice sounded almost sinister, as he tapped his fingers on the bed methodically.
She began to wonder about the gaps in the night. Had she paid her tab? Where did they go afterwards? And how did she get back to the motel? And it was at this final thought, that she remembered how she felt before walking into the room. It was like she was Cinderella, and the clock was about to strike midnight, causing the magic to wear off and for her to go back to her rags and chores.
The image of a car flickered in her mind, as well as her stumbling a few times on the dance floor. "Oh…" She moaned, starting to piece together some of the fractured memories. "You know what? I think… I think someone brought me home…" She said to herself before letting out a snorted laugh. "Of course, someone brought me home… how else would I have gotten here?" Miriam continued to laugh at the thought of herself trying to get back to the motel, all topsy turvy. "Can you imagine me stumbling around town trying to find my way back?" Her laughter continued, but only she seemed to find everything amusing. Once she saw her husband's annoyed expression, she got herself back on track. "Oh yeah, right, right… let me think." She turned around, still deep in thought but mumbled a little as she continued to piece her mental puzzle into place. "Yep… I think he helped me into his car and brought me home, that's how I got back!"
Bob's face turned a bright red in anger. "You let some man drive you back?"
Turning back around to face him, Miriam wagged her finger in front of his face. "Not some man, B…" She corrected. "Mark. His name is Mark and he's the man who hired me. He's, my friend!"
"Your… Friend?" Bob couldn't believe what he was hearing. Was she seriously that oblivious? Did she seriously not understand the possible consequences of her actions? He was beginning to feel like he was scolding a high schooler. "Miriam! You've just met this man! Do you realize what could have happened to you? Do you realize what you getting into this man's car could have implied?!" His voice had turned into a howl, causing some of the decorative accessories on the walls to shake. "For Pete's sake, Miriam, what were you thinking?!"
Despite the storm that was swirling in front of her, Miriam casually dismissed his concerns with a wave of her hand. "Oh B… You're over reacting." She smiled, attempting to calm him. "He's a good guy. He's the one who made sure to stay sober during our time out so he could make sure we all got home safely. You would trust him if you knew him!"
"Know him? Know him?!" Bob had finally had enough. He stood up and towered over his wife, who still seemed unaffected by his boisterous voice and towering figure. "Have you lost your senses completely? I don't need to know him, Miriam!" He shouted. "Men like that are all the same! They act like the responsible and trustworthy ones, while scouting for the easiest target to fall into their laps, unassuming and sauced up!" His face only got redder as his voice got louder. "You're a grown woman! We shouldn't even be HAVING this conversation!"
At this point, Miriam no longer wanted to have this conversation. Not only did she not feel the need to justify her actions, as her own husband should have more faith in her, but who's to say that he also didn't end up in questionable situations whenever trying to woo a client into purchasing more product? "So, are you just assuming that because I am a woman, that I would be unable to handle myself?" She challenged, taking a step forward and narrowing the small gap between them.
"For crying out loud, Miriam!" The man raved, placing his hands on his head in disbelief. "It has nothing to do with that! It has to do with your lack of judgement!"
With Bob none the wiser, Miriam grabbed the cellphone from the table behind her, walked a few feet away from him to get some distance, then tucked it inside her night shirt. She then looked around, at herself, and then back at him, with her hands on her hips. "Well, it would seem I have pretty good judgment since I'm right here, and perfectly fine!"
"You're not going out with them anymore." Bob stated, looking as serious as ever as he watched her. "And that's final."
"In fact, if anyone should be suspicious of the others actions… I think it would make more sense if it was me, asking you about your actions." She suggested as she continued to walk around the bed, until reaching the other side, closest to the door. "Don't you think?"
"What are you going on about now?" He spat, crossing his arms to show he still stood firmly in his decision.
"I told you where I was going and even when to expect me home, even though I wound up coming home late…" She explained, calmly. "I may not have told you about my decision to get a job to help support us while you try and work things out with the bank, but I also told you why." Miriam could feel her blood begin to boil as the haze of the alcohol had been obliterated from her system, and gave way to the adrenaline as she was about to turn this conversation around. "But you haven't told me about any of your plans." She then pulled the cellphone out from her shirt and waved it around. "You've had your eyes glued to this thing for days, and whenever I ask you about it, you push me away."
Bob looked at the end table where the phone had been, and then back at her. "Just what do you think you're doing?" He asked, his voice becoming a touch nervous. "Give that back, Miriam."
The warning in his voice caused her to let out a slight laugh. "I wonder… Why do you have a right to be upset with me for keeping you in the dark… but I don't have a right to be upset at you?" She then opened up the phone and began to scroll through the text messages. "When you haven't told me any of your plans?"
"Miriam…" He warned, slowly making his way towards her.
Still, she continued to scroll. "I see many names and numbers I don't recognize…" She noted as she continued her investigation. "And even a name I do recognize that you promised you would no longer have any future dealings with…" Bob marched over to her and attempted to snatch away the device, but she quickly avoided him, stepped to the side. When she had her fill, Miriam snapped the phone shut and gave him a disapproving look. "Do you have an explanation for YOUR actions, Bob?" She asked with a disapproving look, placing her closed fits on her hips.
"I make the business decisions in this house, not you!" He replied, upset that his decisions to keep his transactions quiet were now being questioned, when they never were before. "And I'm not the one throwing myself into some random guy's car, sloshed out of her mind!"
As Bob began to walk towards her, Miriam continued to slowly walk backwards. "So… My decisions to have fun and safely make it home are reckless… but your decisions to partner up with a man who has pulled the wool over your eyes more than once, is a safe one?"
"Dammit, Miriam!" He shouted, now fed up with her disobedient behavior. "Give me the phone!"
With that as the final word, the man charged at his wife, who scampered around the room playfully. Back and forth, to and fro, the couple danced to a dysfunctional tune that would eventually lead them both to an all-out wrestle on the motel's old rickety bed. If their shouting match didn't earn head turns from the strangers around the complex, the sound of old brace beams and squeaking coils definitely did.
"I don't want to hurt you, Miriam!" Bob growled as he attempted to reach behind Miriam's back, that was firmly planted on the bed, to grab the phone. "Give… It… Back!"
"Not until… You tell me what's going on!" Miriam growled back, tossing from side to side to avoid his grasp.
A few more tumbles around the bed and eventually the cell phone was yanked out of the slender woman's hands, but launched across the room, hitting the wall, and on to the floor. Both adults paused in silence, as they registered what had just happened.
Bob jumped out of the bed, raced to the phone a picked it up.
"Is it… okay?" Miriam asked, out of breath.
Holding up the cellphone, Bob did not answer but gave her a clear look at it.
Seeing no clear visible damage, Miriam sighed in relief. "Oh good…"
"Not. Good." Bob replied, blunt and without feeling.
Confused, Miriam got up to see what he was talking about. "It looks fine to me…" but once she got closer, she could see something was missing. "O-oh…" Her voice drifted off into a quiet whisper. The antenna from the cellphone had cleanly broken off.
"Yeah." He replied, now physically and mentally exhausted by the whole ordeal.
Bending down to pick up the piece of plastic, Miriam looked it over sadly before handing it over to the now distraught man. "D-don't worry, B… We can get a new one…"
"And what if the important call I've been waiting for, coming before that?" His voice was hollow. "What if the bank calls? Or the insurance agency? Then what, Miriam?" He asked, turning around, and shoving the small device in her hands, before walking over to the bedside and sitting down, defeated.
Giving her husband a small smile, Miriam sat down next to him and placed her hand on his large knee. "We have a phone right on that table, B…" She soothed, pointing behind them, even though he made no movement as to look. "The police know the room number, and so do the bank. If they need to reach us, they can."
"And what about the Huang's?" Bob asked, knowing full well that she had no idea who he was talking about. "I've been waiting for them to call back all weekend long. I've made a deal with Nick to land us a lucrative deal with them for off brand cell phones, as well as a prime location in the new mall that's being built. What happens if either of them call?"
Miriam didn't know how to answer him. If they didn't know the motel room's phone number, there was no way for them to get in touch with him. Suddenly, a thought popped into her head. "Oh!" She exclaimed happily. "They could just leave a voice message! You can still check your voice messages from other phones, right? By calling your cell number and entering your pin?" She asked him, not so sure if she was remembering the facts correctly. "If you check your messages, you can just call them back, right?"
"Only one problem…" Bob informed, turning to his wife, sorrow filling his voice. "I opted out of that option to save money."
"There's still the payphones down the street!" Miriam encouraged, with excitement in her voice. "Just call Nick tomorrow, explain the situation and then let him know about- "but before she could finish, Bob cut her off.
"Just forget it, Miriam."
"What?" She gawked at him, speechless.
"The offer was probably too good to be true anyway…" He replied, getting up and moving back to his side of the bed and laying down helplessly. "I'm sure the models would have been crappy, broke before the customers got them home, and soon I'd be up to my neck in returns before I could even purchase the real deal."
"What about the insurance that comes with the phone plans?" Miriam suggested, rolling over and lying next to him. "Have the customers purchase a low budget plan along with the phones, that way when they break, they have to take it up with the insurance company instead of you?"
With a long winded, exasperated sigh, Bob looked over at his wife and then back at the ceiling. "Just forget it… I've had enough."
"Isn't… Isn't my idea good?" She asked, concerned with his lack of inspiration. She could see how deflated his aspirations were, which only made her heart ache even more. "Don't forget, Bob… We're in this together." She explained, her voice full of reassurance as she turned to him. "Husband and wife; partners in sickness and in health, through good times, and the bad… and to whatever may come our way?"
"What are you getting at?" He hissed in annoyance.
"Maybe it's time I refresh your memory…" Miriam sighed, looking at the ceiling along with him. "It seems like it was only yesterday that we were young and in love… Do you remember?" She asked, her heart giving way to a small throb as she let her mind wander to those nostalgic feelings. "You were this handsome, young brute, who would stop at nothing to get what he wanted. I was smart, at the top of my class, fit and had the world ahead of me… do you remember?"
Bob's hard gaze soften as he recalled what they used to be in their youth.
"I had… All these men throwing themselves at me, but I turned down every single one of them, because Daddy wouldn't let me date." She laughed as she remembered. "Men will promise you the world, use you for your success, then break your heart leaving you with nothing!" She quoted, doing her best to sound like her father. "But… then you came around. Full of strength and ambition." She turned her head to see him once more, "You'd stop at nothing. No matter how many times I turned you down, you'd get right back on that horse and keep on trying until I had no choice but to give you a chance." She could sense a listlessness in him as she brought on those old memories. "Do you… Do you remember?"
"Yeah…" He finally replied, but not as reminiscent as her. "And look where this got us."
Miriam nodded. "Right." She placed her hand on his chest, before cozying up to him. "You created an empire from the ground up, showing everyone that you could do anything you set your mind to." She felt him grunt, but didn't let this stop her. "We got married, moved out here…. Created a family together… and not without bumps in the road."
"This isn't just some measly bump, Miriam." Bob growled as he closed his eyes in irritation. "This is a full on traffic stop, bumper to bumper, with no clear detour in sight."
She rested her head on his chest and listened to his heart pound from within. "We're still alive though, right?" She paused again to listen to his heart beat. "So long as we're still alive, there is nothing stopping us from figuring it out. Even if there is no mapped out road ahead… all we have to do is make out own path, just like we did before."
Her words finally moved him, causing him to place his warm arm around her slim body, holding her close. No words needed to be said, because for the first time in a very long time, their hearts connected as one once again.