Kelly and I are connected now, whether she knows it or not.
Chapter Thirty-Six
“I’m thinking of volunteering at the shelter.”
“Volunteering?” Kelly is holding a glass of red wine in one hand as she gazes out over the cityscape later that evening. We’re having after-dinner drinks at the rooftop lounge of her hotel. Gas fireplaces are glowing shades of orange around the roof, and cozy sofas decorated with knit blankets and Western-style throw pillows anchor the fires. The lounge is busy with people dripping in real furs, winter boots, and expensive ski attire.
“I’ve been thinking I could stay here awhile.”
“Stay? In Tahoe?” She finishes her glass of wine and then gestures to the waitstaff for a refill.
“I like it. I like the energy and the people. There are plenty enough coffee shops for me to work in.”
“But what about your place in LA?”
“I could rent it out, maybe.”
“You think this is the place for you? I know you like the mountain air, I do too, but it’s so far removed from anything worth doing…”
I sip my wine slowly, enjoying the taste of the Californiagrapes on my taste buds. Kelly and I spent most of the day together, and hotel management was able to move her to a room with two beds. I promised to reimburse her when I’m able, but she insisted that the price is the same whether I’m there or not. She’s very kind. I wonder if she’s always so open with everyone she meets or if she feels a special connection with me because we’ve been talking weekly for almost two decades.
“I think you shouldn’t rush to make any life decisions. Just enjoy the mountain air and relax. You’ve been through a lot lately.”
“I have.” I sip my wine again. I wonder how she knows that. I’ve only told her that Dean has left me. She doesn’t know a thing about anything else. Or does she? The hairs on the back of my neck rise as I wonder exactly what her motives are for coming all the way out here. “Maybe I could find a temporary rental.”
“Hmm.” Her eyes are trained on the yellow streetlamps that peek through the snow-laden evergreens surrounding the hotel. It feels like we have a bird’s-eye view of the village from here, and while we can’t see the ski slopes through the trees, I know they’re lit up in the distance, the ski lifts carrying adventure-seekers to the mountaintop. I yearn for the easy life the people who come here have.
“You don’t think I should stay?”
Her eyes scan the crowd and then land on me again. “Well, I just don’t see why you’d want to.”
“I could take up skiing. Or be a nanny for the wealthy families who visit.”
“You…want to take care of kids?”
I shrug. “I could.”
“But do you want to?”
“Maybe.”
“It just doesn't seem like ayoukind of thing to do.”
“Well, what does?”
She doesn’t answer. The truth is, I’ve always felt like this—a bit of a lost soul wandering and wondering which way the wind will blow me next.
“It’s just…” I ponder how much to share with this woman. “I’ve been so attached to my online brand…unplugging and taking it easy for a while sounds refreshing.”
“For a weekend, maybe,” she quips. She must be at least a little drunk, and I think how funny it is that Kelly Fraser is the kind of person that gets drunk with a stranger on their first night together. I don’t think I’ve ever trusted anyone as much as she’s trusting me right now.
“So, how’s your sister doing?”
One of Kelly’s Botoxed brows twitches. “She’s mad at me right now.”
“Oh?”
“Says I should have been there for her more during her move. I just couldn’t rearrange my schedule to help her like she expected, I guess.” Her words are a little slurred.
