Love Means Nothin'

by Markee Anderson

  He smiled and thought for a moment. “Yes, I do, and it sounds fine to me.” He ate a few more bites of the pizza. “I guess I have to figure out a different way to word it. So what’s keeping you in West Virginia?”

  She had to tread lightly, because she didn’t want anyone to know about her circumstances back home. “Oh, my family and my job, pretty much. Do y’all really play tennis all day long?”

  “Sure do. I have a tennis court at my home where I practice. As a matter of fact, I was in a tournament today, practicing for the upcoming U.S. Open.”

  It impressed her that he was that much of an athlete, but didn’t want him to know it. It sounded like he hated the status, so she kept her voice calm. “Did ya win?”

  “It’s over tomorrow, and I’m the leader.”

  She leaned closer to him. “And you were gonna throw all that away? Do you know how many people would do anything to be in your position?”

  He faced her, silent for a few minutes. “You’re right. I should be grateful and not think of it as a curse.”

  “You’ve got more talent than anyone I know with the opportunity to make a huge name for yourself and you’re willin’ to throw that all away?”

  “You made your point.”

  She faced him with determination. He wasn’t going to get off that easily. “I haven’t even started to make my point. I don’t want ya to get angry with me, but I want ya to listen. Where I live, most people try to survive from paycheck to paycheck. They work in the coalmines or at menial jobs. They usually can’t go to college, but they survive because they’re tough. You’ve been handed an opportunity that everyone in my hometown would consider like winnin’ the lottery and ya want to run away from it all?”

  “You’re right and I’m so glad I met you. If I had gotten on that train tonight, I’d wallow in my self-misery, kicking myself for leaving. I’d always be asking myself, what if. What if I’d stayed? What if I’d really made it?” He reached out and took her hand. “What if I’d never met you?”

  He lifted her hand to his lips, but she pulled it away. She wasn’t about to be thrown off her game by a kiss to her hand. No man got away with being that forward, in her book.

  “You’d have been okay,” she said. “Y’all went to law school with Chuck, so that makes you a lawyer, right?”

  He looked frustrated. “I never took the bar exam. I had to play tennis.”

  “What do your parents think about it?”

  “I don’t speak to them very often. They’re too embarrassed by me.”

  “Embarrassed? Are y’all kiddin’ me?” She leaned closer to his ear. “Do they beat you?”

  His face turn confused as he leaned closer. “Beat me? As in games?”

  She shook her head. “No, beat ya when they get drunk.”

  “Never.” He studied her face for a bit. “Does that happen to you?”

  She lowered her eyes. She’d said too much. “No, not really.” She couldn’t tell him more or her daddy would be arrested. She was surprised her father had made it this far without much of a police record.

  John touched her chin with his fingertips and raised her face to meet his, his blue eyes glistening in the soft light hanging above their table. “Do you get beaten?”

  “I can’t talk about anything.” She checked her watch. “I really have to get some sleep. Elsie—I mean Elise, told me she’d take me to see the Statue of Liberty tomorrow before the rehearsal.”

  He watched her for a moment, as if he were trying to get into her head, but then seemed to give up. “Ask her if I can be your date for the rehearsal. I’d love to join you in something normal.”

  She smiled, his blue eyes begging her. “Sure. I’ll do that. Now, tomorrow, you have a tournament to win, and you’re gonna do it for me. Got that?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” he said, grinning. “Have you ever played tennis?”

  “Sure. In high school, I played on the co-ed team.”

  “Co-ed?”

  She nodded, taking a drink of her soda. “We didn’t have enough players for two teams. My school was very small, but the coach was great. Elsie and I used to be on that team together. We were like two peas in a pod.”

  “Elise, right?”

  “Oh yeah. I know I’m gonna mess that up. She and I were friends since before my momma died.”

  “Your mother died?”

  Melody lowered her head with a sad sigh. “When I was eight. Daddy raised my older brother and me after that. Momma had cancer and refused treatment.”

  “That’s sad.”

  She didn’t want to think about it. Her mother’s death had been one of the saddest days of her life, but her mother had been through so much pain, she was sure she was in a better place.

  Melody finished her meal and turned toward him. “Thank you so much for dinner.”

  “Didn’t they give you dinner on the train?”

  Melody scrunched up her nose and grimaced. “It was fish. I hate fish.”

  “But the pizza had sardines on it.”

  She stared at her empty plate. “It did?”

  “The salty stuff was sardines. I guess I should’ve told you that.”

  She looked up at him again. “Oh, I liked that part. How weird is that? Maybe I don’t like fresh fish, with all those bones. It doesn’t seem worth it to me.”

  He smiled. “You haven’t had the really good stuff. The things I could show you would amaze you.”

  “See?” She grinned at him. “You have so much to offer, and you wanted to run away.”

  “You’re so right.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “I’m glad I met you.”

  She felt her cheeks burning and faced him. She felt her mouth fall to the floor and her eyebrows hit the ceiling while she reached up and touched her cheek.

  “Are you okay?” he asked.

  “Uh, sure.”

  He studied her for a minute. “You’ve never been out on a date, have you?”

  “No, sir. I wasn’t allowed to date, and my daddy makes sure no man talks to me until I’m thirty.”

  “How old are you?”

  “Twenty-five.”

  “Do you live at home?”

  “I have to stay there to take care of my father. My brother’s out of the house and is married, so I have to support my father. I’ve been workin’ at a job since I was twelve to take care of him and the house.”

  The man sat back and stared, as if surprised. “Twelve? What does he do for a living?”

  “He’s draws welfare from the state, but it doesn’t pay the bills.”

  “Unbelievable,” he said in a slow manner. “You need someone to rescue you from that.”

  “No, I’m fine.” She picked up both of their plates and put them in the trash. “Are you done with your drink?”

  “Sure,” he said, still staring at her.

  She threw away the cans and glanced around the room, sitting back in her seat. Tony’s brother-in-law was wiping tables, so she turned toward him and snapped her fingers, making him look up. “Good job,” she said. “I think you can stay employed—for now.”

  Tony walked out to the cash register and counted out some money. “John, I think you and your friend earned your wages tonight.” He walked over to the table and handed John the fifty dollars back. “I appreciate it so much; I’d love it if you came back every night to help me out.”

  “I didn’t do anything,” John said, his hands lifted to show he wouldn’t take the money.

  “But look at this place,” Tony whispered. “It’s actually clean! And I didn’t have to say anything!” He handed the money to Melody. “Can you take it?”

  She shook her head. “No, sir. That would be dishonest and I’m not like that. I’ve been raised right.”

  “I guess you’re stuck with it,” John said, laughing. “What a problem, huh?”

  Tony shook his head and sighed. “Sure is. A businessman with extra money.”

  “We have to go,” John said. “We appreciate
the hospitality, though.”

  “Thanks. Don’t be a stranger.”

  John smiled and helped Melody to her feet. She took the handle of her suitcase, but he moved her hand away. “Mine. You need to take it easy after that long trip.”

  “I do?” She raised her right eyebrow. “But I’ve been sittin’ down for hours!”

  He grinned, trying not to laugh. “Yes, you do. Now what hotel?”

  “It’s called the Monument Estate Hotel close to here. Do you know it?”

  “Know it?” he asked, his eyebrows rising. “My dad—never mind. Yes, I know exactly where that is.”

  “That’s the place where they’re gettin’ married, too. I don’t know why she didn’t go to a church, but it’s her life. I hear it’s a classy place, too. She said it has an elevator. I’ve never been one of those.”

  “Sure is classy,” John said, biting his lip. “You’ve never been in an elevator?”

  “Well, not really. There was one at work, but it only goes up one flight, so I don’t take it. I’ve seen inside it, though.”

  They said goodbye to Tony and walked out of the restaurant. As soon as John hailed a taxi, one pulled to the curb, making Melody wonder if he had some sort of secret power.

  “I was just gonna walk,” she said. “Elsie said it was only a few blocks from the train station.”

  “Try ten blocks. That’s a long way this time of night. No, a taxi.” He yanked open the door and helped her inside, then turned toward the driver. “Can we put her suitcase in the trunk?”

  “Sure,” the cabbie said in a deep voice.

  John did as told, gave the cab driver the address, then got into the seat beside Melody, facing her. “When’s the last time you saw Elise?”

  “Let’s see. This is August, and it was July of…” She thought for a while. “Gosh, it’s been about seven years! I bet she’s changed.”

  “Knowing Chuck, I’m sure of it,” John said.

  “Really? Is he controlling?”

  John started to laugh. “Controlling doesn’t start to describe Chuck. He has rules about everything, unless he’s changed. The guy couldn’t even put his socks on right, without measuring the seam across his toe to make sure it lined up.”

  “Measuring the seam? Are you kiddin’ me?”

  He shook his head, still smiling. “No. He lived with a six-inch ruler in his pocket. He was an odd duck.”

  She shook her head. “Living with a ruler, I agree. That’s just weird.”

  “When’s the wedding?” His eyes twinkled every time they passed another light. He was so handsome…but she had to put that out of her mind. He was a stranger and if her father found out she’d thought such things, she’d be in trouble.

  She brought herself back to the present to answer John. “The wedding’s Saturday at seven. Won’t you be playin’ games then?”

  “No, it’s over tomorrow morning. This is just a preliminary tournament and isn’t that big a deal. What time is the rehearsal dinner?”

  “Seven tomorrow night, after the rehearsal which is at five.”

  He smiled, looking like a little kid who wanted candy. “Can I join you for that?”

  “It would be nice to have someone there to talk to. I only know her family and her father’s scary. He’s a big shot over in Charleston.”

  “Why is he scary?”

  She didn’t want to tell him that he worked at the prison and threatened to put her father in jail more than once. No one needed to know that. “Oh, he’s just so tall. Her brother will probably be there, too. He wanted to go out with me in the worst way. I had to turn him down.”

  “What does her brother do for a living?”

  “He’s a farmer, but lives at home and rents farmland.”

  “But you couldn’t go out with him? Why?”

  “My father wouldn’t let me. My job is to keep Daddy happy and he told me that every day since my mother died.” She turned to look out the window, because she didn’t want him to see the tears filling her eyes. Her life was all about her father and she had no right to feel badly, but really wanted to make it on her own, by herself.

  He touched her chin and made her face him. “Whenever you talk about your father, you get sad. Why is that?”

  “No reason.”

  The driver pulled up to the curb and Melody fished her wallet out of her purse, but not before John paid the fare.

  “That’s not right. I need to pay that,” she said to him.

  “No, you don’t. I need you to do something for me tomorrow morning, early, and that’s payment for doing it.”

  Uh-oh. She didn’t like hearing that. She swallowed hard, staring at his face. “What?”

  John said nothing, but got out of the car and helped her as well. After grabbing her suitcase from the trunk, he thanked the cab driver, then walked with Melody into the hotel.

  “John!” The older woman at the front desk sat up straighter and smoothed out her blouse. “What are you doing here? Is your father with you?”

  “No,” he said with a grin, putting his arm over Melody’s shoulder. “But my friend has a reservation in this place, and I’d like her to have an upgrade if possible.”

  Melody turned toward him. “I can’t afford an upgrade.”

  “Yes, you can. Your room will be comped, if I have anything to say about it.”

  “Comped?”

  He leaned toward her, his eyes mere inches from her face. “That means free. My dad owns this hotel, and about four other ones in the city.”

  She looked around the lobby, decorated in gold, white and dark green. It was gorgeous, with fresh flowers everywhere. “Your dad owns this?”

  “Sure. That’s why he thinks I’m a failure. I didn’t go into business like he did.”

  “Unbelievable,” she whispered. “But I’ll pay my way. I don’t need your daddy thinkin’ your friends are moochers. I also want to pay for that cab ride.”

  He smiled. “So you’re my friend now? I’m not a rapist or a serial killer?”

  She held back her laughter, but was wary because he needed her help and never told her why. “No way. You’re a good guy and I can tell.” She glanced down at her suitcase. “Why don’t you have any luggage?”

  He leaned closer to her ear, cupping his hand around his mouth. “I didn’t want anyone to know I was leaving town, so I hopped into a cab and never looked back. If I had a suitcase with me, someone would’ve noticed.”

  “Oh, right,” she said.

  The woman behind the counter had Melody sign some papers and handed her two keys to the room. “You’re in the presidential suite, on the top floor.”

  “I am? But you don’t have to—”

  “Yes, she does,” John said. “I’ll show you to your room.”

  “We can have one of our bellhops take your things upstairs,” the woman said.

  John shook his head. “That’s not necessary. I’ll do it.”

  “But that’s not like you,” the woman said, then covered her mouth. “I’m sorry, sir.”

  “No problem,” John answered with a grin. “People change.”

  She smiled and nodded, then glanced at Melody. He nodded back, while Melody just stared at the two of them. What an odd thing to do.

  With his arm still over her shoulder, he walked with her to the elevator. After they both got inside, he moved away from her, pushed the button for the twentieth floor and the doors closed.

  They kept rising and rising, and Melody held onto the railing, not sure if they’d ever stop. This elevator stuff was quite an adventure.

  “You okay?” John asked, glancing at her hands.

  “Sure, why?”

  “You’re pale and your knuckles are white. You’ve really never been in an elevator, and it shows.”

  She lowered her head and closed her eyes. “I’ve also never been up this high before.”

  “You’ll be fine.” She was sure he was smiling, but she wasn’t about to open her eyes. “I’ve never met
anyone like you. Have you ever been out of West Virginia?”

  “Never. But Elsie—”

  “Elise.”

  She opened her eyes and stared at his face, making her realize it wasn’t as bad as she thought it was. Watching him, she just wanted to reach out and touch him, as if he could make it all better. It was as if she’d known him for a long time. “Elise said I could do it. She wrote it all out for me, so it’s fine. I’m to meet her tomorrow after lunch to see the Statue of Liberty, then the rehearsal’s at five and dinner’s at seven. I think everything for the wedding is right here in this hotel.”

  “Probably. Is it possible for me to come here to get you early tomorrow morning? I need help, and I think you’re the only person who can do that.”

  So this is what he needed. But early? She had to keep her wits about her, but was curious. “What time? I seem to have a schedule already.” She chuckled, but he seemed distracted, chuckling slightly. The thought of her having a schedule in New York was humorous to her, because she was a West Virginia girl, born and raised. No one really had a schedule back home.

  “Early, before the tournament. Like five in the morning.”

  “Five? In the mornin’? How do you function that early?”

  He smiled and unwrapped one of her hands from the railing, caressing it with his other hand. “You learn to deal with it. I just wanted to see you before the game and hit the ball around with you. That’s all.”

  That was it? She was worried for nothing? “But why me? Aren’t there other more qualified people who can do that? I’m not a pro like you are.”

  “I need you because my practice partner won’t be able to be there until eight. The game starts at ten. I wanted to practice before that. Can you help me out?”

  She studied his face, just begging for her help. How could she deny him? “Sure. I’ll be ready at five.”

  As soon as the elevator stopped, they both stepped out into the hallway. He took her key and walked with her down the hall, pulling her suitcase while leading the way.

  “I’m not in your league to hit the ball with you,” she said. “Y’all know that, right?”

  “I bet you’re better than you think.” He stopped at the presidential suite and opened the door for her, flipping on the light as they walked inside. As soon as he shut the door, his cell phone rang. “I thought I had that off,” he said, pulling it from his pocket. He glanced at the caller identification, sighed and answered the phone. “What do you need, Art?” He glanced at Melody, wincing. “It’s my manager,” he whispered, then turned back to the phone. “Yes, I know. I’m on my way.”