A totally platonic move, but it was quite possibly one of the most intimate moments of her life.
“Okay.” She sighed heavily.
“Okay.” He trailed a fingertip over her cheek.
She climbed back into her car. He waited while she backed out of the parking space. She gave a little wave and then moved onward to the exit. Lothario barked from his spot on the passenger seat.
“Me, too,” she whispered. “I’m going to miss him, too.”
And she would. He had played a huge role in the healing that needed to take place post-Scotty. Now, she was on her own. Her life was hers to figure out. She turned on the stereo and let Adele’s soul music fill the air along I-70 toward downtown.
If her life was a movie, this would be where the montage of her getting herself together would start. A blank canvas scared the hell out of her. But a blank canvas was hope. Was anything she wanted it to be. She was ready for this, for what came next.
She pulled up to the valet stand. Adele’s music continued to play in her head even as she stepped from the car, even as she pushed through the rotating doors, even as she sauntered to check-in.
“Marlee Medford, here to check in.” She passed over her American Express.
“Welcome to the Four Seasons, Ms. Medford.” The desk clerk clicked away on the registration computer.
He frowned.
More clicking.
An abundance of frowning.
Pressure began to form at Marlee’s temples. He continued frowning. Frowning and clicking.
“It seems that your card has been declined.” The desk clerk slid her American Express back to her side of the counter. He had no poker face, the confusion as clear as the lines on his forehead. “I’m sorry.”
“No, that’s not possible.” Marlee pushed it back toward him. “Could you please try again?”
“Of course.” He did his clicking thing as he glanced at the card, then at the screen, then back at the card.
“I’m so sorry.” The desk clerk pushed it back to her. “Perhaps a different form of payment?”
Marlee pulled her emergency backup Visa from her bra. This couldn’t be happening. Her cards were all tied into her trust. Her stomach clenched around a volleyball-sized knot of realization. Her trust was managed by her parents—terms set down when her grandmother passed away when Marlee was eight. She didn’t get control until she turned thirty-five, and that was still years away.
Her grandmother had wanted Marlee to be old enough to really understand money management before she got control. Marlee had always thought that wasn’t a big deal. Until now.
Her mouth went dry.
“I’m sorry, Ms. Medford.” The desk clerk handed that plastic card back as well. “Would you care to use our house phone to call the credit card company?”
“No,” Marlee sighed. “I’ll contact them.” She held up her cell.
But she didn’t need to call. Her parents had to know what had happened in Vegas.
She’d been cut off.
* * *
So steptwo was now step one and that was fine. Perfect, actually.
Marlee pulled into the U-shaped brick driveway that led to her parents’ front door. She strode to the massive red door and pushed it open. “Mom? Dad?”
She set Lothario on the floor. He loved coming to visit his Mimi and PopPop.
Marlee’d always had visions of her and Scotty’s kids doing the same whenever they would have eventually had them. Another sting to her heart and a not-going-to-happen dream.
