Matter of Choice Read online

  The door opened, a woman with bobbed frosted hair and stout figure stood before her wearing an uncertain smile. “May I help you?”

  “Mrs. Stockard?” The woman nodded. “I’m Ms. Winters of the Grande Marquis. I was hoping to speak to you and your family for a moment, and to check on Rick, if I may.”

  The smile brightened, and the woman stepped back to allow Shannon admittance. “Ms. Winters? Yes, please come in. This is a surprise.”

  Shannon stepped across the threshold and glanced around. The Victorian interior flattered the home, with its flowers and lace, soft muted shades of mauves, lavenders and pinks, and classically designed furniture. Dining room to the right, living room to the left, square footage stretching back and up, left and right. The outside had been misleading, the home much larger than she envisioned, yet much more modest than the one she’d lived in for the past fifteen years.

  “Can I offer you anything? A soda pop? Water?”

  Shannon shifted attention to the woman, and guessed Rick’s mother was at least a good ten years older. “No, thank you. I actually came by to apologize for my husband’s actions at the Grande. For him hurting Rick. I can’t tell you how sorry I am it happened.”

  Mrs. Stockard reached out and took Shannon’s hand. “You have no reason to apologize. From what Rick has told us, you were as much a victim of that awful man’s actions as my son was. We don’t blame you, Ms. Winters.

  “Would you like to come sit in the living room?”

  Shannon nodded, speechless as she followed into the living room where Mrs. Stockard motioned in silent invitation to a camel back sofa. Shannon settled on the edge of a cushion, setting her purse beside her. Ankles crossed, she rested folded hands in her lap as the older woman sat in a nearby armchair.

  “How is Rick?”

  “He’s in bed. Probably not sleeping as he should be. Teenagers, they think all they need to survive is a video game and pizza and soda pop. Lots of all three.” Mrs. Stockard laughed. “When he woke up in the hospital, the only thing he wanted was to get out and finish the level he’s on in one of those games of his - I can never keep up with which one - and was furious when the doctor told him he would need to remain in bed for a day or two. It was only under threat of staying in that hospital bed that Rick finally relented. Honestly, I don’t know what I’m going to do with that boy.”

  Shannon smiled, the worry and dread fading a little, her muscles relaxing. It was apparent where Rick inherited the gentle temperament. “I’m so glad. I saw him rushed out in an ambulance, and then the notification of your intent to sue my husband. I can’t tell you all the awful things going through my mind. I have to admit, I was terrified to come today, but I couldn’t not come and apologize. Rick was trying to defend me. You have a wonderful son.”

  “You had no reason to fear coming here. Our intent against your husband has nothing to do how we feel about you. Rick tells us all the time how wonderful you are to work for, and the scenes your husband makes at that hotel, how gracefully you try to handle him. And how patient you are with Rick. I can only thank you for helping my son, teaching him, allowing him to make mistakes while pushing him to try harder. I’m afraid he has a small crush on you.” She chuckled. “Has a girlfriend and still has a crush on his boss. I have my hands full.”

  Shannon smiled as she glanced down her hands. The heat simmered in the back of her neck as yet another revelation in the reality of people understanding more than she wanted flushed her cheeks.

  “There’s no reason to be embarrassed, Ms. Winters. I venture to guess I’m a couple of years older than you, old enough to dare saying you can only do so much. If his tendencies are turning violent, you must not stay. There will be a time when someone like my son won’t be there, and you may not be able to escape the tirade. Your life is not worth a promise you can’t keep.” She paused with a smile. “I’m sorry. This isn’t my place to say. You’ll find, I’m afraid, as you get older, it’s harder to be tactful and much easier to speak your mind.”

  “No, it’s fine. Thank you for your concern.” Shannon dropped a hand against the purse, drawing it tighter against a leg. “I’m actually in the process of filing for divorce. I can’t allow what happened yesterday to happen again.” Making confessions to a complete stranger now. Her pulsed raced, unease stirring within. Drawing in centering breath, she stood. “Would it be okay to see Rick? Is he well enough for company?”

  Mrs. Stockard rose from the armchair. “Of course he is. Up the stairs to the left. I’ll be in the kitchen if you need anything.”

  Shannon nodded, thanked the woman again, and headed up the steps, words ringing in her ears.

  Your life is not worth a promise you can’t keep.

  She drew in a breath, pushed her hair back. The vows spoken had become that promise, and, as she climbed the stairs carpeting with plush mauve, she knew how hard it was to keep. Love was a feeling, but more, it was a choice. And Greg stole the choice away.

  The ache in her heart subsided, realizing the love had evaporated. Some bridges couldn’t be mended.

  Chapter Twenty

  The card key slipped out of the slot, light turned green and Shannon stepped into the room, then froze. Candles glistened in the living area, soft music massaged the background, aromas of Italian cuisine marinated the air. Her brows furrowed as she allowed the handle to slip from her fingers. The door clicked shut, and Shannon craned her neck towards the kitchenette, taking another step forward when she saw it empty.

  “Hello?”

  No reply, curiosity beckoned another step forward as red stains on the carpet pleaded for attention. She looked down, and noted the rose petals scattered in every direction. Sucking her lips over her teeth, she stifled a smile and took another step. “Hello?”

  Triston appeared out of the bathroom with towel in hand and smile plastered across his lips. “Surprise.”

  Laying her purse against the couch, she dropped her head to a shoulder, soft hair tickling a cheek. “How did you get in here?”

  “I promised not to reveal my sources in efforts to keep jobs intact.”

  Shannon giggled. “My staff will be required to attend a meeting in the morning in review of privacy policies.” She waved her hand across the hotel room. “What is all this?”

  “Just a little gift to the most wonderful woman in the world.”

  “Sounds like a bad pick up line, Triston.”

  “Okay. How’s this?” He stepped forward to take her hands. “I’m showing, in just one little way, how very much I love you. How I want spend my life showing you how much I want you in my life, every day, for the rest of my life. I’ve waited for years to apologize for what I did when we were children, to apologize for making you think you weren’t good enough. You are the love of my life. Always have been and always will be.”

  Shannon’s heart pounded. “Oh Triston, I don’t. I don’t know what to say.”

  “No need to say anything.” His nose wrinkled playfully as his head jerked upward. “Or declare unending devotion and love. Either works.”

  Her tongue ran over her parched lips, words trapped somewhere inside. Triston was making it hard not to confess, the moral high ground stifling her heart’s escape. Silence triumphed.

  Candlelight danced in Triston’s eyes, and he smiled. “Okay. Not ready for mountain top declarations.” He winked. “I can wait. Come, sit down. I’ve had everything prepared for you. Even that rabbit food you love so much.”

  He led her to couch and she relaxed into the cushions, lips pinched with amusement as he sat next to her. The music stopped, the CD switching to another set of love songs. “I have to admit, you know how to turn a lady’s head. This is, amazing, Triston.”

  “I want to do so much more than turn your head. I’m interested more in turning your heart.” He reached up and tucked a few strands of hair behind her ear, his thumb brushing a cheek as it pulled away.

  Shannon’s lips turned upward, and hoped he didn’t see the changes wit
hin reflected in her eyes. The quiet acceptance of resolving vows, the covert pleasure in knowing a bad marriage was over. The growing tenderness and budding desire for him. Never good at concealing emotions, she gambled the amalgam was transparent, despite the resistance to admit the combination of feelings. She drew in a deep breath and looked around. “What’s for dinner?”

  “Chicken parmesan. Rabbit food. The romance of some soda pop. I remember you don’t drink.” He took her hands in his and squeezed gently. “I hope nothing’s changed?”

  Shaking her head, she smiled. “Nope. You’ve got it all right. Just like all of this.” A hand gestured across the expanse of the room. “When did you get such a romantic streak?”

  “When I realized what I gave up. How foolish I was.”

  She stood and crossed the room. Being so close was far too tempting, and she needed some space. A little room to breath before she made a mistake she wasn’t prepared to handle. “So you meant what you said before, about coming to the Grande to chase after me. Surely you didn’t have that in mind, knowing I was married and having a girlfriend with you.”

  He shrugged and eased back against the back cushions, eyes drinking her in. “I came, in part, to see you, that’s true. I didn’t expect anything, just wanted to see that you were doing okay. Jennifer was a good friend and we tried for awhile to make it more, but couldn’t connect. I wouldn’t let her in, and she knew it. It wasn’t hard for either of us when she realized what was going on and chose to leave. But when I saw you …”

  “All the old feelings came back.”

  The grin on his face beamed brighter than the candlelight. “I’m glad to hear you felt the same way.”

  She blushed pink and made her way to the kitchenette, retrieved a glass of Sprite and asked if he would like anything. When he declined, she leaned across the counter, sipped at the beverage and dared to ask the one question they hadn’t breached. “Whatever happened between you and that girl? What was her name?”

  He leaned forward, forearms resting on his legs. “You mean the one that came between you and me?”

  She nodded, shoulders tense. The answer was one she wasn’t sure she wanted to hear, yet one which badgered her all this time. Maybe the answer would allow for it to rest.

  “Veronica. Her name was Veronica. And we weren’t together long. A couple of months I think. Not even a year, I remember that. It wasn’t anything, not anything that mattered. I don’t know if that makes it worse or better.”

  She chuckled and took another sip. “I don’t know either. Why? Did I suffocate you? Not give you what you wanted? What happened, Triston? You were my everything. I guess you knew that though.” She sighed and took another sip. “Maybe that’s what I did wrong.”

  He stood, nearly flying across the living room to stand behind her, wrapping arms around her as he breathed hushed whispers. “Shy, you didn’t do anything wrong. I was the one wrong, not you. We were so young, and I was so immature. I wanted to be one of those guys who could get any girl, any time. Look good for friends.” Leaning down, he caressed her neck with brushing lips, sending shivers down her spine. She forced a swallow as Triston turned her to face him. “I had no excuse, and have none now. You were mine then, and I let you go. Once I realized that you were my everything, I’ve been looking for you ever since and didn’t even know it. Can you ever forgive me?”

  A heavy breath trembled in her shoulders as she took a small step back. The kiss burned the skin on her neck and ignited desire. Deny it Shannon. “I’ve forgiven you a long time ago. I didn’t realize it, not until now. But you’re right. We were kids and kids make mistakes. We loved each other, that’s all that really matters.”

  “There’s no past tense to it. I love you now. Can’t ignore the sparks between us.”

  He glazed her face with a finger. Shannon’s body drank in everything about him, the fight against urges threatening to drown her in their call weakening. No longer any reason for such strong resolve.

  “May I have this dance, Ms. Winters?”

  She nodded, not hearing the melody or the words. The only thing that mattered was the feel of Triston’s hand guiding to the center of the living room, arms wrapping around and pulling her close against his body, muscles firm and protective. Shannon rested her head against a shoulder, eyes closed, swaying in time with his lead. His voice sung low in her ear, words of love and devotion, promises and lifetimes. She swallowed hard, tears stinging her eyes as the hold around his neck tightened. Meeting his eyes, allowing him to see everything burning within, wasn’t an option. She wasn’t sure she could explain it enough to satisfy either of them. His hands rubbed the back of her neck, her shoulder, her back, and stopped short above the small of her back.

  Caresses, warm breath against skin and through fabric, words she never expected to hear again was melting her every reserve, yet she couldn’t pull away, not even when the music ended and Triston continue to circle in time.

  Slowly he stopped. She blinked rapidly, begging her eyes to swallow back the moisture, and lifted her head from his shoulder.

  “Are you crying?”

  She smiled. “It’s nothing.”

  He nodded, shadows passing across his eyes momentarily. “Are you ready to eat?”

  “Yes, I think so.”

  “Please make yourself comfortable. Allow me to serve you.”

  She crossed the rose petals, some shredded by their circling feet, and settled at the dining table, wiping away tears beaded with candlelight, and rested the napkin in her lap. Triston nestled a plate on the placemat before her, and left one across the table before returning to the kitchenette to retrieve bowls of romaine lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, cabbage, cheese and egg. As he sat down, she smiled. “Since when do you eat salad?”

  “Since I’ve become curious as to why the woman I love is so crazy about eating leaves with her meals.” He poked at the bowl with his fork, and took a bite of crispy greens. “It’s growing on me.”

  Giggling, she took a bite.

  Triston peered into the salad bowl, jaw muscles releasing and tightening in consideration. Shannon rested the fork against her plate, waiting.

  “Are you okay? You were upset while we were dancing.”

  “No, I wasn’t.” She poked at the leaves. “Just a lot of emotions. I can’t tell you the last time I had anything like this done for me.”

  He cut into the chicken and took a bite. “I’m sure you can’t. Complete fool.”

  She nodded. “Maybe Greg is. I don’t know. And I’m beginning not to care anymore.”

  Triston lifted his head and studied her. “Then why the emotion?”

  “Can’t plead the fifth on that one?”

  “You could. I’d prefer if you didn’t.”

  Shannon rolled around a bite of cheesy Italian chicken, and swallowed hard. “Can’t you guess?”

  “I’d like to hear it from you without trying to guess.”

  She looked down, scanning the table, the plate, the glass, the utensils. “It feels so good to be in your arms again. Not just someone’s arms, but your arms. I want you to know, I wouldn’t be here with just anyone. Another man, regardless of Greg and I getting divorced, no one else could have gotten me up here like this. The atmosphere, music, candles, rose petals on the floor, even if another man would have made the same effort, I wouldn’t have wanted any of it. It’s you, Triston. I want to be with you.”

  Triston dropped the fork on the table, neck stretching forward, gaping. “Are you telling me ...”

  “I’m telling you I want us to get to know each other again. Figure out how far we can take it. See if we still love each other.” Tears spilled down her face, the admittance thick in the air between them.

  He stood, chair teetering as he rushed around the table and pulled her up against him. “I don’t have to explore that. I love you, honey. I’ll love you forever.” His thumb caressed her lips, and then leaned forward. Their lips met, soft and tentative. Triston reached down around her w
aist, pressing her into him, the kiss growing possessive and urgent. His tongue licked across her lips, slipping inside Shannon’s mouth as her lips parted in open invitation. Breath quickened and she clung to him, body yearning for more, then sighing with frustration as the kiss slowed and he eased her backwards.

  “You’ve made me happier than any man could ever be. But I won’t allow you to do something you regret. You’re not ready, and I won’t go further until you are. The promise of trying is enough.”

  With head slanted against his chin, the corners of Shannon’s lips curled upwards, eyes closed, allowing her insides to solidify again, slowing the rapid pulse. “This time it won’t be a mistake, will it? Because if we do this, and it is everything we want it to be, I’ll want it to be a forever love this time, Triston. Can you go there? Can we?”

  He kissed her forehead. “I promise you now, you have me. Take all of me, for a lifetime, or ten of them. Take me forever.”

  Shannon ignored the rest of the meal as Triston led to the center of the living room, twirling and spinning her, holding her tight as they danced. When the music ended, he escorted her to the couch, and draped his arms around her as she leaned into his chest. Words between them were lost in happiness, the comfort of a future bright with hope and love.

  Chapter Twenty One

  Shannon moved around the room with feet barely touching the floor. Triston left the night before at a respectable eleven and kept his word. A simple kiss before he left and Shannon remained whole with the knowledge they didn’t take it further. Now with plans for the future brighter than they had been for longer than she could remember, the horribleness of Greg’s actions and choices were becoming less scathing. It was a good feeling.

  Picking up rose petals was a bit of a chore, but she didn’t mind. The delicate petals, soft against her fingers, were mere reminders of confessions and promises made the night before. A sharp contrast to managing beer cans and discarded underwear. A good one. More than good. A perfect shift in reality.