Chapter 7
1463 Words
(Scene returns to that night in cottage 509)
As soon as breakfast was finished, the young lady said. “Let's go.”
“Okay. Who's car are we taking?”
“What?! Look, we are not a couple. So you're taking, I assume, that green jeep parked in front of this door? And I'm taking my car.”
“Okay, okay...I don't see the sense in two vehicles going only a half mile to the same destination.”
India rolls her eyes and gets up from the table. She heads to the front door with her cell phone and a glass of juice. She opens her car door and then looks back at me, closing it firmly.
I chuckled, energetically jumping into my jeep. With all the distractions, I forgot to call Joe to let him know I was okay; no, I was doing just fine. So I took a few minutes to do just that. I started the Jeep up but sat in front of the cottage for a few minutes. I gave Joe a call before pulling off. India drove slowly, looking through her rearview mirror, wondering what took me so long to go away.
(India reaction) Shaking her head, saying to herself. 'This creeper must want to stay in this cottage with me! Not today!' She sped up and headed straight to the front office.
“Hi, you reached Joe Oley. Please leave a message at the sound of the beep.”
“Hi Joe, this SG. I'm doing fine. I’m still in America. Sorry if I caused you to worry. Since I don't have many clothes or cash, I don’t think it would be wise to use my credit cards. And I haven't figured out what area I will stay in yet. I'll call you once I get more details and information. Bye, my friend, and don’t worry. I’m doing excellent!”
Meanwhile, Joe's Situation:
Joe walks up to Mr. Gregg Garrison's office door. There are two tall burly-looking men with dark glasses on and dark suits. That gives in the okay to proceed forward.
My hand was trembling as I turned the doorknob and entered.
(Joe's Conversation With Stony's Father)
“Have a seat, Joe? I’ll be with you in a second.”
Mr. Garrison ends his call and asks. “Have you seen or talked to my son today?”
“No, Sir, I haven’t talked to Stone since yesterday,” Joe tells a very suspicious and upset Greg Garrison.
“Joe, you wouldn’t cover for him, now?”
“Sir, I don’t understand?”
“My son isn’t well, and he needs attention. You do know how important this situation is, don’t you?”
“Yes, sir,” Joe said. “Stone isn’t missing, is he, Sir?”
Mr. Greg sighs heavily. Joe's cell phone notification lets him know he has a message. “Excuse me, sir, let me turn this off.” But Joe sees it’s a message from none other than Stone.
“Okay, Sir, continue.”
“Look, I can’t go into any details. But I will be in contact with you again soon.”
“Yes, yes, please do.”
“You will let me know if you hear anything from him?”
“Yes, Sir, I will.” Joe left out of Mr. Garrison's office shaking like a leaf. The man is so intimidating looking. And those two big men standing as guards outside his office gave me the shivers!”
(Stone POV)
I ended the call and drove off. When I made it down to the front office, about a dozen people were in front of India. Either I was waiting to be checked in or getting assistance.
I came and stood beside her in line. With that boyish smile. She looked up at the tall young man, who was even more attractive in the daylight.
I noticed her eyes took pleasure in seeing my face in the light days as I enjoyed seeing hers. But that comforting thought was only momentarily. She rolled her pretty eyes away instead, saying under her breath.
'Dog! He has the nerve to be good-looking.' She inched forward in line, shaking her head while putting some space between her and me.
Still mumbling inaudible words to herself, the long line we stood in was barely moving. 'What's going on? And why is it taking so long?'
The guy behind the front desk waved his arm at us when she said that. The man got everyone's attention in the lobby, who were busy chattering.
"Excuse me! May I have everyone's attention, please!" The front desk clerk announces." Unfortunately, our computers have gone down. We will be working to get them back online as soon as possible, so could everyone please be patient with us? Sorry for the inconvenience. Thank you!"
&&&
While waiting for the computers to get back online and reboot. I glance at the girl's face. India stood in line at the front office of Ocean blue cottages, wishing and hoping this situation could hurry and be over with. Instead, she looked around impatiently and began peering out the large glass window in the front office.
I also looked out the vast window and noticed pedestrians getting off overcrowded buses. Sidewalks were filled with families and their children. People of all ages were making their way over to the beach. It was summertime. I saw parents joyfully taking their children to the beach on school breaks. Seeing couples on holiday going to this highly welcoming, irresistible blue made me smile.
I was clearing my throat while still looking out the window, saying.
"I don't know about you. But I do have plans to enjoy my vacation." I glance down at my watch.
"You're not about to get out this line, are you?" India looked up at me with a concerned expression.
"Look at this crowd! And their computers are still down. What do you want me to do?!"
"Stay in line! And get this room thing straight! I don't know you! And I'm not about to sleep another night with a stranger!"
"I may be a stranger. But you should be able to see I'm not a threat." I said in a much lower tone than she was talking.
In front of us, the people in line turned around and started looking at the two of us strangely. We both continue going back a forth, talking. My eyes shifted as I noticed everyone in our conversation and business. I lean down slightly toward India, whispering in her ear.
"See, you're attracting undue attention in our direction. So can you talk a little lower, please?" I calmly suggest.
She looks at me and then at the people line. Finally, she rolls her eyes at both of us, reaching into her purse and retrieving her eyeglasses. India puts them on while still speaking to me but in a lower tone this time.
"Don't worry. As soon as we talk to someone at this front desk, you won't have to worry about me drawing any attention in your direction."
She snapped her head around as the man and woman before we took their keys from the clerk. Staring at the two of us as they walked away. India didn't care; what only concerned her was what she uttered. 'thank goodness I'm next.'
"Can I help you?" The desk clerk asked in a snappy demeanor.
"Uhmm, Yes! This man here, he needs a cottage, please," India said, pointing up at me, although the word duh was precariously poised on her lips. But she didn't dare risk saying it to this unhinged clerk.
I jumped in, saying, "No...no. This lady needs a cottage."
The clerk looks at the both of us, perching his lips together like a fish. Then, he gives us both a sarcastic glare.
India turns and looks at me, saying, "I already have a cottage. But, Sir, he needs a cottage."
"Ma'am, let's start with you. What's your name?"
"India M. Jones."
The clerk begins typing her name into the computer. "Okay, ma'am, you in cottage 509."
I shockingly said, "No, that's my cottage. I'm in cottage 509. I reserved it a whole week ago in advance."
"What's your name, sir?" The clerk asked with his lips drawn in even tighter at the two of us.
"Stone…I mean Joe Oley."
"One minute, Sir. Could you please spell your name?" My face scrunch as I spell my name, Joe's simple name. The clerk types it into the computer. Once he sees my or Joe's name comes up under cottage 509.
His eyes bulge a bit as his lips begin to relax and separate, as his mouth gapes open as he says. "Oops! We have a problem."
- Writer
