Elizabeth stepped hesitantly into the smoke filled bar, pausing while her eyes adjusted to the dim light. Her first clear sight was of a small group of people who sat by a small stage, their stares curious as they watched her. Elizabeth gave them a small smile before she turned away to walk over to the long dark wood bar, which sat just to her right. The sight of the liquor behind the counter looked inviting and was just what her raging nerves needed. The cab and Aurora could hold off a moment while she gave herself some liquid comfort. Aurora would understand once she was told what happened. Elizabeth waved over the bartender, who came over with a raised eyebrow.
“Hi, could I have…” Her mind raced for something that would work quickly in helping her to forget her first day in New Orleans for a moment, just a moment. Then tomorrow was a new day and she will remember, yes, she would embrace her past, tomorrow. “How about bourbon?” She said, the first drink that came to mind.
“Could I see some ID, please?” the bartender asked with a raised eyebrow.
Taken back for a moment, Elizabeth was unsure on how to answer, panic filled her. Then quickly she remembered that she was twenty-one now as she reached into her pocket where her license and credit card sat, a smile lifted her lips when she proudly presented her license.
Her thoughts going to how easy it all looked on television when troubled characters bellied up to a bar to drown their sorrows. Her hand shook slightly as she brought the drink to her lips, the fiery liquor burning a path down her throat, coughing as tears filled her eyes, but quickly replaced by warmth that filled her. She wondered absently how anyone could drink this crap while she waved over for another. They were actors she thought while she shuttered just as violently with the second. Yet encouraged when the knot in her stomach slowly eased and her thoughts started to cloud.
Elizabeth paused on a third while she turned in her stool, the wood cool on her back when she lifted her arms to rest her elbows against the well-worn bar. Her head light with a warm pleasant buzz that quickly filled her while all the worries of the day left in a fog of liquid ignorance. “Dang she was a light weight.” She thought with a smile.
Absently, she turned her head to watch the bartender shake a martini shaker, while he laughed at something a woman told him further down the bar. Curious what the woman had said that was so funny, then wondering what he was shaking in the tin shaker. Thinking it was most likely better then what she just had, and debating whether she should ask for something more fruitier, like an upside down pineapple martini, she thought, “Yea that would be good.” She had tried one once at Aurora’s house, Aurora’s mom was cool that way letting them try drinks; something Elizabeth’s mother would never do. Elizabeth’s stomach turned at this memory and also when she remembered the violent reaction she had while her and Aurora attempted other drinks when her mother was gone one night.
Elizabeth smiled when she realized the gypsy and the man from earlier in the evening were now just distant specs in her mind. She swiveled her bar stool back around so she faced the bar and the mirror behind it. Her hazed filled eyes took in the scene of the bar reflected in the mirrors behind the bottles of liquor. The atmosphere casual, it seemed everyone knew each other, no rowdy partygoers filled the room, no one shouted out for attention, no one offered any of the local woman in the bars beads so they could see their breasts. Instead, the conversation was loud and friendly. It struck her at that moment that she must be pretty far off the party scene.
This served as a reminder that she had left Aurora, who was most likely worried about her; knowing she better get back to what she had come into the bar to do, which was to find a phone to call a taxi. After all, Aurora was the free spirit, not her. Although, one more for the road wouldn’t hurt.
The phone, forgotten once more while she lifted her martini glass, a smile spread across her face with the delicious imitation of the pineapple upside down martini the bartender had made for her. ‘Much better,’ she thought not quite remembering when she had requested the drink. Shrugging with blissful ignorance as she turned her body on the stool to watch the jazz band still playing. A large black woman was singing solo on the stage, while a saxophone and trumpet player stood off to the side. Her voice seductively beautiful as it floated along the smoky air, reminded her of Billie Holiday, a singer from the 40’s. Her friends always found it funny how much she enjoyed the older style artist.
Her fingers tapped against her knee with the rhythm, then she paused in mid tap when a movement to her right pulled her away from her enjoyment of the local entertainment. Curious, she turned her head to a pair of well groomed hands holding a drink, a clearing of the throat drew her eyes up to exquisite eyes with flecks of gold highlighting the green in the iris, long black lashes framed them to perfection. Elizabeth’s breath caught in her throat at the instant attraction she felt, quickly she adverted her eyes before he noticed. Her heart pounded in anticipation praying he didn’t notice; yet hoping he did. A deep chuckle next to her flipped her heart in her throat once more.
“She has a beautiful voice. Doesn’t she?” He asked, his voice a deep pleasant ripple on her ears. Refusing to turn and to give him encouragement, she nodded in agreement.
Then after a few moments of silence she found herself unable to resist the urge to look at him once more, raising her an eyebrow in question, her heart flipped with the instant attraction to him. “Does she play her often?”
A smile carried up to his eyes as he leaned over to place an arm behind her back, his warmth seeping through the thin material of her dress. Elizabeth inwardly groaned at the effect it had on her, his warm breath brushed her ear. “Yes, almost every weekend.”
Half smiling Elizabeth nodded, wondering what was happening? Well, she knew what was happening it just wasn’t the right time for something like this to happen. She watched him under her eyelids wave over the bartender, surprised when he asked for another drink of whatever she was drinking brought over to her. Elizabeth stopped his action, “No, I don’t need another.” She said in panic, knowing that she already had enough, her head pleasantly buzzing. And if she was to have another, she wasn’t quite sure what she would do and not remember since she found him extremely hot and her body was reacting to his nearness.
Confused by this, she had just had the most awful first day in New Orleans with massive amounts of emotional upheaval, yet here she found herself sitting in a small local bar attracted to a guy she had just met. ‘What was wrong with her?’ She thought, she should be in the heart of the party with Aurora not...
“So…what brings you into this dive, when the party is just down a few streets?” He asked with a twinkle, interrupting her wayward thoughts.
“What difference does it make to you?” Elizabeth asked sharply. Then quickly regretting her sharp tone.
“No difference to me. Just asking.” He said, lifting his hands in surrender, an under tone of laughter in his voice.
Elizabeth watched him in wearily, wondering if he found her an easy mark or was he just attracted to her as she was to him. “I’m waiting for a friend. Who should be here any minute.” Elizabeth said in the hopes that if he thought she was meeting someone he wouldn’t…”What was she being so paranoid about?” She thought. She really needed to clear her head a little bit.
She looked over to him when she heard him clear his throat, a look of hesitation in his eyes. “I feel like we’re getting off on the wrong footing here. So how about we start over. My name is....”
Elizabeth put her hand up to stop him, not wanting to know his name, not wanting to be distracted from what she had come to New Orleans to do. Finding him way to attractive and knowing if she was to get involved with him he would definitely be a distraction, pleasant one but still a very big distraction. She didn’t need that now that her memories seemed to be coming back, something she had been hoping for, for so many years. She turned back to him with a small apologetic smile. “How about we just stop right there. My lif
e is really messed up right now and you really don’t want to get involved with me. If you were just looking for an easy mark, a one night stand then I am not that girl. So I hate to be rude but what I really need is a phone.” She said before turning back to the bartender who had been discreetly polishing glasses behind them, “Do you know were I may find a phone? I mean my friend should be here any minute and I want to find out what’s taking her.” Cringing inwardly when she heard her words slur slightly and the pathetic lie that slipped clumsily from her lips.
A small smile curved the bartender lips as he nodded his head to a payphone just inside a hallway leading to a set of bathrooms. Thanking him, Elizabeth attempted to stand. The room swayed slightly with the action and she became irritated when a strong hand caught her stumble back. Looking down at the hand until he pulled it away, her eyes were drawn upwards to his irresistible golden green eyes, twinkling with laughter. Composing herself, she lifted herself taller, which inadvertently sent her stumbling backwards once more as she caught herself on a chair. She raised a hand and cleared her throat, her mind a bit fuzzy, “I’m fine.”
“Are you sure? It seems to me you might have had a few too many.”
“Well, that is the reason I’m calling for a cab.” Elizabeth said sarcastically.
“I thought you were calling your friend?”
“Well… yes, that too. But… if I can’t get a hold of her, I am just going to go back to the hotel.” Elizabeth said with a nod.
“In that case, I could always give you a lift.”
Elizabeth chuckled as she tapped a finger against his chest playfully “I think you have me wrong.” She said with a slight slur, “You see, no matter how good looking you are… I really can’t get involved with anyone right now.”
His laughter pleasant as a smile lights up his eyes in pleasure, “Are you sure, you know exactly what you want?”
Elizabeth realized what she had just said, her hand covered her mouth wanting to put the words back, before she giggled like a little school girl. She pulled back, her attraction to him made it hard to think clearly, “I really, really don’t mean to offend you or even be rude. But you see....” She said as she watched his eyes change to a different hue, fascinated by it and forgetting about the point she had been on the verge of making.
His eyebrows raised in question, “I see what?”
“What?” Elizabeth asked in confusion, the alcohol making it hard for her to keep her train of thought while she tried to remember what they had been talking about. Then it came back in a flash as she smiled, proud that she remembered what she had been saying, “My day. I remember. my day has been shitty.” She said with a giggle.
Then her heart skipped a beat at the touch of his rough hands, which pulled her forward between his legs, “so let me make it a little bit better. It’s obvious you like me and I know I like you. So how about you let me help you forget what a shitty day it has been for you and me. Let’s, instead forget about it together.” He said, while he ran a finger along her cheek to tuck a piece of hair behind her ear. “I don’t mind complications…either.”
The whole action made her forget why she shouldn’t let it happen. She lifted her head back to watch him and her heart caught when he leaned forward, his eyes changing hues once again, to a more rich green. Just before his eye lashes swept down, her breath came out in a rush of expectation as his warm lips brushed hers softly, her senses coming alive with just the slight brush.
His words soft, “How about we get out of here?”
The words brought her back to her senses, somewhat, when she pulled back lifting her hand to her lips. Not quite believing she let it happen, she really needed to get away from him before she did something she would regret in the morning. She had never had been one of those girls that believe sex is a casual activity which means nothing. She shook her head negatively while she stepped back out of his reach. Smiling, she tapped a polished red fingernail against her lip, “I think your trying to distract me and wanting to change my mind.”
His eyes bright, as one corner of his lip curled up adorably, “Is it working?”
Elizabeth chuckled, “Yes” she said, while lifting a hand to keep him away and then with a playful shove, she pushed him away to prevent him from pulling her back to him. “I really need to call that cab and get back to my hotel. My friend is most likely really worried about me.”
“Fair enough, how about later then? After you find your friend, of course.”
“No. Sorry. It’s just not a good time.” Elizabeth said as she turned, stumbling slightly from the action, laughing at her own clumsiness when she caught herself on the bar stool before stepping around him to use the phone, afraid to look up, knowing he was most likely laughing at her.
After she called for the cab, Elizabeth turned back around to look over at the bar where the gorgeous man sat, his back now turned from her, as he talked with the bartender. Their conversation easy and friendly, could be seen, even from this distance. Elizabeth smiled as he turned his head slightly so she could see his rugged profile, realizing with this man she could get lost in his arms and forget herself for a moment. Maybe Aurora had it right in free love and all. He didn’t appear to be some sadistic serial killer who would abduct her and do unthinkable things to her.
“Good lord, what was she thinking?” Her abduction, even though it was nine years ago and she couldn’t remember it, or what had happened, always seemed to distort her view on the world and the people in it. Sadness penetrated her drunken mood as she wondered if she was always going to be so paranoid and skittish.
Elizabeth shook her head sadly when she turned away from the bar and desire for this stranger, knowing that she was too messed up for anyone at this time in her life. She needed to remember her past before she could move forward. As she stepped outside, she is surprised by the cab already waiting. After giving her hotel information to the driver, she turned her head one last time towards the entrance to the bar in the strange messed up hope that the stranger would step out and give her one last look. Romantic fantasy is what it was, a hope and dream that she could meet some random stranger who could be…”Who was she kidding? Just a fantasy.”
Chapter 9
Roger watched the coming and going of the employees and guests as they went about their day outside the Gardens boutique hotel, instinctively taking note of the morning rituals and times of the staff as they came and went while he absently sipped his coffee, waiting patiently for his prey to make her exit. He was only mildly displeased when Aurora stepped out of the hotel, her face lifted up to the sky as she slid on a pair of sunglasses, a small smile curved her lips as she turned back to wave to the doorman before she started to stroll down the street. Roger was hesitant at first to follow as he wondered where Julia could be, then mentally correcting himself to the name Elizabeth.
Swearing under his breath, Roger jumped out of his car and as he threw his coffee cup into a trashcan along the street, avoiding the doorman standing attentively outside. Roger was not wanting any witnesses of his having been outside the hotel that housed his mouse (or muse); just in case things didn’t go as planned and he had to take alternative measures. Loose ends were one thing he always hated and the less he had to clean up, the better off and happier he was. His steps quickened but remained casual as he discreetly followed Aurora, his curiosity peaked with each step as he wondered where she was headed off to without Elizabeth so early in the morning? Smiling, he saw an opportunity to get those answers, as Aurora stepped into a local coffee shop. Roger strategically placed himself behind Aurora as he glanced up to the chalkboard menu which advertised a variety of coffee options, sandwiches and soup.
His demeanor casual with a calculated surprise when she finally turned her head and saw him, her eyes bright in recognition as her hand brushed back a piece of hair in obvious flirtation behind her ear. “Hey. How are you?” She asked in genuine pleasure.
> “Good. How about you?” He asked in an attempt to get the focus back on her and off of him.
“Good...” She said, a large smile curving her overly red lips as her eyes sparkled with happiness, then looked away with a chuckle when the clerk behind the counter called out a Raspberry Latte, her smile never leaving her face as she pointed to the pick up counter. “Well... it sounds like my morning pick me up is ready.”
“Yes, it does.” He said, his eyes holding her glance as he smiled down at her, covering his true thoughts, playing the interaction like a fine violin, needing her to believe that he thought only of her.
“Want company?” He asked as he nods towards a table in the corner.
“I might be able to be… persuaded.” She said teasingly, with a flirtation note.
Roger chuckled, “I can do that.” He said with a wink.
Sitting down across from Aurora at the small round table, Roger leaned back so his body was positioned in an open attentiveness, his legs crossed as he sipped the dark bitter espresso. “So, did you ever find your friend?” He asked casually.
“Yes...I did.” She said with a slightly distressed look.
His interest perked with the unconcealed look, determined to not leave it at that, but also knowing it was a delicate line he was on. “Well, that’s good news…I think. But your expression I believe is telling me there is more that is not being said.” He said, leaving the remark open ended.
“Yes, it was...is, good news.” She said with a forced smile.
“So why am I hearing, a but then?” He asked with a teasing note of encouragement.
“No, no… No buts.” She said with a small smile as she ran a finger along the rim of her cup.
“Okay, if you say so.” He said, his words placing just enough disinterest to cleverly indicate it didn’t make a difference to him either way. “But... if there was a but, you can always tell me. I’m a pretty good listener.” He said with an encouraging smile, his ploy a way to seem non-threatening, a way for her to vent about a situation that obvious was bothering her.
Secrets of the Weeping Willow Page 6