SNOWED IN AT THE AIRPORT Ch. 2 Pt.3

SNOWED IN AT THE AIRPORT Ch. 2 Pt.3



I settled back into the pillows on the bed for just long enough to bring my heart rate down. I was still naked. The remnants of the previous night's lovemaking were matted against my groin. I am sure my hair was a mess. My back was sore from where Mel's fingernails had dug into my skin. My shoulders and hips ached from their exertions.

I would not have traded that feeling for anything in the world. Except for maybe having Melanie Nakamura wake up in my arms.

It had been close to a year since I had sex. Taking a deep breath, I wondered what we were going to do now. I have never been a one-night stand kind of guy. The few relationships I have had were generally long-term. Never friends-with-benefits or just fucking.

Marlene was the girl of my dreams. Not just because she was the prettiest girl in my school, but because of everything else: her brains, her willpower, her humor. Her looks were the icing on the cake, but as far as I was concerned, she was the whole package.

Just then, it dawned on me that maybe she was using me. I'm sure she could have had her pick of guys. So why not take pity on an old friend? It had been eighteen years—half a lifetime ago—since we had last seen one another. Who's to say that it wouldn't be that long again before our next meeting?

I rolled out of the bed and went to the closet. I pulled out a plush terrycloth robe and noticed that its mate was gone.

Very quietly, I opened the door and saw Marlene sitting in a chair by the window. She had her knees pulled up to her chest and was staring out into the darkness.

She jumped slightly when I stepped out into the main room. She smiled timidly. She looked so beautiful. Her hair was pulled back. She didn't have any make-up on, not that she needed any. At least in my humble opinion.

Once again, her eyes looked tired and worried. It was like she had to fight to smile.

"Good morning," I said softly. Wondering if our friendship was over.

She did not reply, but when I sat down on the couch next to her, she slipped her hand into mine almost automatically.

The curtains were drawn just enough to see outside. From our room at the top of the hotel tower, we watched the city slowly coming to life. The sun's first rays were coming over the horizon. Already the airport support services were coming to life. Plows and blowers had cleared the tarmac.

No new snow had fallen, although it still appeared to be bitterly cold outside.

We sat there for a little while. It seemed that she enjoyed the relative peace and quiet, and I was not about to disturb her.

Do you ever second guess the decisions you made in your life? she asked out of the blue.

I shrugged. "Not really."

Why not? Don't you regret any of the bad choices you made?

Sometimes I wish I did not have to learn things the hard way, I chose my words very carefully, wondering where she was going with this conversation. But I would like to think that each of the experiences in my life good, bad, or indifferent has made me the person I am today. Yes, there are some things I wish I could take back, especially when I had hurt someone's feelings, but each of those 'learning experiences' character-building' or whatever you want to call it has contributed to me being me. And I like who I am.

The look she gave me was one of both curiosity and almost-grudging admiration. That is very Zen of you.

What about you? I dared to inquire.

It was a moment before she replied. Knowing what I know now, there are some things I would not do again. But other things it is more complicated.

She paused to take a deep breath. Like my husband I would not have married him again. But then again, he gave me the two most beautiful children in the world. I guess it's a package deal, huh?

I squeezed her hand, mostly because I did not know what else to do. It seemed that she was building up to something else. She forced herself to smile for me again.

Devin, I am sorry for dumping this on you, Marlene said. You know how people will meet someone on a plane or a cruise ship and jabber on and on and on? I feel like that is what I am doing to you. And for that I am sorry. We have not seen each other for almost twenty years and here I am spilling my guts, making it all about me.

If you want to talk, I am always here for you, I said, almost naturally slipping back into the friend zone.

I appreciate that, this time her smile was genuine. She looked out the window once again, her mind drifting like the snow on the ground. She still had not let go of my hand. Dev, I have a confession to make.

Once again, she drew in a deep breath. This time she held it before letting it out slowly.

I am not in banking, she said softly. There were tears in her eyes not anymore. When the industry imploded, I got let go. Not in the first round, but soon afterwards. That was almost five months ago. I was just divorced and living in a house I could not afford. My ex, well, he does not pay alimony because I always made more than him. In fact, if I had not been laid off, I would be paying him palimony.

What do you say to that? I did the only smart thing and kept my mouth shut.

They gave me a generous severance, Marlene continued, her voice quivering. She would not look at me but that is gone now. I had to sell the house at a loss and move home with my folks. I was out in California for an interview but there are way too many MBAs out their job hunting.

I cannot compete with kids who are ten years younger and do not have two children to feed.

I squeezed her hand again.

Dev, I do not know what I'm going to do, she said softly. My heart broke as she began to cry.

Marlene did not resist as I lifted her out of the chair. We sat back on the couch. I pulled her to me. She buried her face in my shoulder and began to sob uncontrollably.

I may be a guy, but the one thing I have learned about women is that sometimes they do not want you to talk. Guys are doers. We fix things. Even when all you girls want is to vent your feelings, we still feel like we should be doing something. There were a million things I wanted to say or suggest, but none of them were helpful to Marlene at that moment.

So, I simply held her close. The tears rolled down her cheeks and into my bathrobe.

Gently, I stroked her hair and kissed her forehead. I let her know that I was close. I pulled my arms around her as comfortingly as I could.

Several minutes later, her breathing became regular. She had curled up into the fetal position against me.

I am sorry, Devin, she whispered, sitting up and wiping her eyes. I did not mean to unload all my crap on you.

That is okay, Mel, I smiled. I do not mind.

My arms were still around her shoulders.

Have you got to be anywhere to be by tomorrow? I asked, a flash of inspiration coming to me.

She shook her head just home to my kids. I am a boring person now being unemployed and living with your folks will do that. Mostly we just hang out at the Casa de Mel.

Can they live without you for another day?

"I guess," Marlene shrugged.

Then let us spend another day here, I suggested. My folks will wait. Besides, I'm sure we can milk the snowstorm for one more day.

I do not know she made a worried face.

C'mon, Mel, I coaxed. My treat.

Devin, I cannot her voice trailed off and I could tell that she didn't want to come off like she was mooching off me. You have already done so much.

To be continued