by Bria Marche
“Um… yeah.” Sasha poured the Merlot.
“Thanks, hon,” Karen held the glass and took a sip.
“You should just come out and ask what he’s comfortable with. He didn’t flinch at all when you said you would stay for a few weeks to help out. You are an employee, but is it crossing the line to stay at his apartment because you are an employee?”
“Well, shit, how do I know?”
“Do you like Mario in a romantic way?” Sasha boosted the pillows behind her back, and leaned against the headboard.
“I could, if I knew he felt the same way. Am I too old for him? Am I even his type?”
“You’re hot, Karen, and I’ve seen how Mario looks at you. His wheels are turning. First, I don’t think age means anything to him, and second, he’s into smart women. You’re super smart, and you have good business sense. I bet he thinks that’s sexy.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, really. Enough about Mario. Let’s talk girl talk.”
“So what is girl talk, if it isn’t about guys?” Karen asked.
“Humph… hell if I know,” Sasha said, with a questioning look on her face.
Karen poured more wine and put on her bathrobe.
“Where are you going?”
“To get us some snacks. I’ve got the munchies. Knowing Mario, the only snack he might have is granola or trail mix.”
“That sounds good to me, hurry back.”
***
Sasha and Max packed up his truck to go back to Tarrytown. The weekend was a huge success at the store. They signed up fifteen new skiers to take lessons and sold over $8500.00 in merchandise. Max took a copy of the schedule with him. He would come back for his part in every ski lesson given.
Sasha gave Karen a hug goodbye. She whispered in her ear, asking if Karen had a talk with Mario.
“Yeah, it’s all good,” Karen responded, whispering too. “It sounds like he expected me to stay at his place, and is cool with it. I’ll call you before I go to bed each night and give you the 411 on everything, whether it’s juicy or not.”
“Sounds good, sister, love you.”
“Love you too. Tell everyone I miss them already. See you guys in a couple of weeks.”
Mario and Karen waved as Max backed the truck out of the driveway.
“So do you have enough stamina to fight the crowds?” Mario asked.
“Sure, what are we doing?” Karen asked, cocking her head to the side.
“Let’s buy more Christmas decorations for the store. We can even get crazier and buy a Christmas tree for my apartment too, if you want.”
“That sounds like a riot. Lunch afterward?”
“Absolutely. There’s some cute restaurants in Hunter with pretty good home style food.” Mario, grabbed his car keys as he let Karen lead the way to the car. They got in the Karmann Ghia and took off. “Are you ready to face your biggest fears?” he asked, chuckling.
“You mean hitting the stores on the first official Christmas shopping weekend?”
“That’s exactly what I mean. Brace yourself,” he said, as he headed toward downtown.
Mario and Karen had the best time together. Pushing through crowds, waiting in lines and listening to well-wishers argue with each other, was more than amusing. The jingling bell of the charity ringer in front of the consignment shop reminded Karen of all the people that were less fortunate. She reached in her purse and took out the tan Coach wallet she was so fond of.
Mario stopped her hand and held it briefly. “I’ve got this,” he said. “I’m due to give back.”
The holiday feeling was in the air as they walked the busy streets of Hunter and window shopped like real couples do. They weren’t in any hurry, and spending as much free time as possible with Mario was well worth Karen freezing her butt off in the cold.
They reached the restaurant just as her fingertips were beginning to turn purple. Thank God we’re here. I have to use these frozen stubs to eat with.
“Here we are,” Mario said. “This is the best family owned restaurant in town.”
He held the door open for Karen as they entered Papa’s Diner. The theme was definitely no theme at all. The small diner looked to be exactly the same as it was when they opened in 1957. No fancy, schmancy decor, or anything for that matter newer than 1970. The floor was worn tan linoleum, speckled with black. The counter seating area still held the old round top stools with red vinyl seats. The swiveling stools were bolted down and had chrome trim.
These are probably worth a fortune on eBay, Karen thought, as they walked past them. The diner reminded her of a soda fountain you would see in the 1950’s, complete with a Wurlitzer juke box in the corner. Karen looked around, hoping to see one. Pictures on the wall from old newspaper clippings showed the restaurant when they opened in 1957. Everything was the same.
“This place is like being in a time warp, it’s amazing,” she said, completely wonder-struck.
Mario laughed and led her to a booth. “Wait until you try their food. Then you’ll really know what amazing is.”
Karen ordered liver and onions, while Mario decided on pot roast with potatoes and carrots.
“I’m pleasantly surprised,” he said, as he leaned back and relaxed against the cracked vinyl booth seat.
“About what.”
“You’re just so real, Karen. You don’t pull any punches, you aren’t prissy, and you eat liver and onions. Go figure!” He laughed out loud, looking pleased. “You’re easy to be with. I like that.”
“Thanks, Mario. I like your company too. This restaurant could easily become my favorite place. I’ll let you know after I try the liver and onions.”
The diner was a big success, and they ate lunch there several times that week. The store ran smoothly with Karen’s business sense. She and Mario were a good fit. The Christmas decor looked wonderful with flickering lights on the windows and around the large posts at the front door. A small Christmas tree was decorated and placed next to the store entrance. Signs on the windows always showed sales going on. There was a permanent sign on the front door stating furry friends were welcome. The whole look was warm and inviting, just the way Karen imagined it. The theme was identical to the way she designed Geared Up in Peekskill, except for the ski aspect. With the Christmas crowd walking the streets on these cold days, Karen made sure there was always hot coffee and cider for every customer that came through the doors. The store needed to have a hip vibe too, since much of their clientele were twenty-something’s. That was easily taken care of with the right kind of music playing throughout the store. The front doors were deliberately left open so the smell of fresh coffee and cider permeated outdoors to the sidewalk. The music helped draw the shoppers in. Karen was great at marketing and Mario appreciated every suggestion she came up with.
Chapter Twenty
“Sorry about the fireplace,” Mario said, as they returned to his apartment after a full day of work. It was six o’clock and a cold north wind rattled the windows.
Karen sat at the table with a glass of wine. She went over the daily receipts every night, to make sure the books were balanced. A pencil rested across the top of her left ear, nestled in, and waiting to be needed. She took a sip of wine. “Why are you sorry about the fireplace?”
“Well, it isn’t a real fireplace with the crackling, popping sound effects and nice, woodsy smell like Sasha has. It’s gas, but that’s what came with the apartment.”
“Mario, it’s fine. It adds a little heat, and the ambiance is cozy. Come and sit. Take a load off. Let’s talk about things.”
“Do you have something in mind?” Mario opened the cabinet above the stove and pulled out a wine glass for himself.
“Sort of.”
He looked at her, surprised, but pleased. “Okay, I’m game, let’s talk.”
Karen put the books away and poured wine into his waiting glass. Mario pulled out a chair and sat.
“What’s your story, Mario? Why did you really come back to Ne
w York? Telluride is eye candy, much more than here. The whole Colorado vibe is cooler, way more hip. You didn’t come back to Tarrytown where you grew up, so what gives?”
He fumbled for the words, then shrugged. “The store in Telluride is going really well. I hired somebody to run it for me. It’s nice to be close to home. There obviously isn’t any skiing in Tarrytown, so Hunter was the next best thing. I’m only two hours away. It was time to get back to my roots, reunite with my childhood friends and family.”
“Is that all?” she persisted.
“It’s nice to make new friends too.” Mario smiled, almost bashfully.
Is he talking about me? Karen laughed. “I wasn’t fishing, Mario.”
“I know that, but I’m glad you’re around. I like you Karen, a lot. You’re beautiful and smart. We make a damn good team. I heard the story about Jack and how you were married to him before Mia. What a jerk. He let two gorgeous, wonderful women, slip right between his fingers. And Sasha was always in the background, at his beck and call. Poor thing, she had no idea what a user and loser he was. Are you ready for another relationship? It’s been what… four years since you divorced Jack?”
“Yeah… a little longer. Before I met Mia and the girls, I was content in my own way, kind of settled into my personal daily routine. For God’s sake, I hung out with my cat like an old woman. Looking back now, it cracks me up.”
“Why?”
“Because it was so boring I could cry!” The thought made her laugh out loud.
Mario laughed with her. “Yeah, those girls are a trip. You mix the three originals with you and Sasha? Look out Tarrytown!”
“Ya think?” Karen enjoyed their easy conversation. “How about a pizza? I can call one in.”
“That sounds awesome. Pepperoni and black olives?” he asked, grinning from ear to ear.
“Is there any other way?” Karen picked up her phone and called Luigi’s Pizza on Main.
I really like her. She doesn’t need to hear the story about Sarah, at least not yet. I wonder if there’s any future for Karen and me. Mario stared at her as she spoke on the phone. He studied her lips. There was a certain pouty look about them. They were full, and perfect for kissing.
***
Preoccupied with the solitaire game on her tablet, Mia was curled up deep beneath the throw on the couch when “It’s My Life” began playing on her cell. “Hello, Martha Destiny, what’s up, babe?”
Sasha giggled. “I’m beginning to like my alter ego. Anyway, I’ve got you on speaker phone. We need a girl’s day in the city. Don’t we have tons of Christmas shopping to do?” Sasha put on her lime green readers and began touching up her nails.
“You’ve got a point there, but we have to wait for Karen to get back.”
“Well, Karen comes home on Friday and Max goes to Hunter on Saturday for the weekend. Let’s go on Saturday. Vic won’t have any excuse because Max will be gone. Guys don’t care if we shop all day as long as they don’t have to tag along. They know we’re going Christmas shopping to buy gifts for them anyway.”
“Well, that’s true. Aaron is working Saturday too. I guess a lot of people buy cameras for Christmas.”
“Cool then. I’ll call Karen and Tina can tell Vic. Let’s meet at the train station at nine o’clock Saturday morning. That will give us the whole day to max out our credit cards.”
“Does your platinum card even have a limit, Sasha?”
Sasha laughed while she closed the top on the fingernail polish bottle. “I have no idea, but we can find out Saturday. I’ll call everyone and get back to you. Out.”
Mia hung up the phone, ready to set it back down on the coffee table. Instead she tapped the gallery icon and started browsing through pictures. Everything going back seven months was there. Mia saw photos of Sasha on the day they met her in the salon. She found shots of herself and Max posing together for selfies by the campfire when she sprained her ankle. There were even pictures of Claire, which made Mia laugh out loud. My God, a lot has happened this year. There’s no way I’ll ever delete any of these pictures, they’re too precious. But it’s probably wiser to put the ones of Max and me on a stick and keep them in a private place. I wouldn’t ever want Vic to see them. That would send her into another round of insecurities. And Aaron? He would never understand, especially since he thinks Vic introduced Max to me. Mia rose from the couch and opened the refrigerator. She pulled out a Diet Coke and took it with her to the office Aaron set up for her in a spare room. Aaron’s house was large and Mia loved that. There were five bedrooms originally, but now she had one of the larger bedrooms as her very own office. She unlocked the file cabinet, knelt down and pulled out the bottom drawer. Inside, was a cardboard box full of labeled zip drives. Most were work related, but one had ‘miscellaneous’ written across it. That stick was password protected. Mia took it out of the box and pushed it into the port on her computer. After she downloaded the photos from her phone to the computer, she transferred them to the stick and deleted them from her phone. Better safe than sorry. I would never forgive myself if anyone saw them. With that safely done, she pulled the stick out and returned it to the box in the bottom drawer. With the file cabinet locked, Mia hung the keys on the rack near the front door and let out a sigh. No loose ends, no dumb mistakes. She looked at her watch and decided to call Aaron. There was some guilt associated with the pictures, but those few days with Max meant a lot. If she deleted them forever, it would be like it never happened. But telling Aaron how much she loved him might ease the guilt gnawing at her stomach.
“Hello, Daniels’ Camera Shop. Aaron Daniels speaking. How may I help you?”
Aaron always sounded cheerful. That was one of his most endearing qualities. Mia fell in love with that happy, dimpled smile and twinkling eyes. He was an eternal optimist.
“Hi, babe, it’s me. I was wondering what you wanted for dinner, besides me?”
“Can’t think of a thing.” Aaron enjoyed their banter and sexual undertones. Mia brightened his day. “I love the way you talk, hot stuff. How about pork chops and baby, red potatoes? A mixed greens salad sounds good too. How’s that?”
“It sounds delicious. I’m off to the grocery store. I’ll see you around six-thirty?”
“Definitely. Now that you have my imagination going wild, it might be earlier. Oops, someone’s coming in. Bye, honey.”
“Bye, Aaron.” Mia hung up, grabbed her keys and the list she scribbled on the back of a car wash receipt. She was off to the store to get tonight’s dinner. Later, she wanted Aaron to write down his Christmas wish list.
Mia circled the parking lot twice before she found a spot at the grocery store. Damn this place is busy. Her mind was preoccupied when she walked in the ‘out’ instead of the ‘in’ door and literally smacked into Max.
“Oh my God, I’m so sorry,” she said, now exasperated. Mia glanced up to see Max grinning at her. “Max! I had no idea it was you.” She punched him in the arm and they both broke out laughing.
“Well, that sucks. It’s kind of an ego bust that you’re so distracted you didn’t even see me.” Max enjoyed making her blush.
“Knock it off, dork. Damn, this place is packed. Good thing I have a couple of hours before I actually have to start dinner.”
“I think it winds down mid-afternoon. You want to grab a beer and wait it out?”
Son of a bitch, you’re a hard one to resist, Max Cole. If you weren’t so damn hot and sexy. Just looking at you makes me weak in the knees. “What?”
“I said, do you want to grab a beer for an hour then come back?”
“Oh… don’t you have anything in that bag that needs refrigeration?”
“It’s thirty degrees outside, Mia. I think everything will be fine. It’s just paper towels and dish soap anyway.” He grinned again.
Duh… smooth move, idiot. Jeez, Mia, get a grip. “What are you doing in Tarrytown anyway? Aren’t you supposed to be manning the store?” And I do mean manning.
“
Yeah, I was there all morning, but one of our suppliers here in town couldn’t get the sweatshirts I ordered to us until the weekend. I told him I would just pick them up. With the crazy Christmas rush, I don’t want to run low on inventory. So, how about that beer? I have a lot of time to kill before Vic gets off work anyway. I told her I’d stick around and take her out to dinner tonight.”
“Okay… sure. Nardi’s then?” Mia was already chewing her cuticles.
“Yeah, let’s go, I’ll drive.”
Nardi’s was empty. The lunch crowd had dispersed and Mia was relieved to go somewhere near the grocery store instead of downtown where Aaron and Vic worked. Why do I feel like we’re sneaking around? I’m only having a beer with a friend for crap’s sake.
Max furrowed his eyebrows. “Are you okay, Mia?”
“I’m sorry I’m behaving like a weirdo. I can be honest with you so I’m just going to come out and say it.”
“Okay, I’m all ears. What’s up?” Max reached across the table and patted her hand.
“Today, I was going through pictures on my phone and found the ones I took when we stayed at the Boy Scout Camp. I felt exhilarated and guilty at the same time. Does that make any sense? We both have wonderful people in our lives, and I love Aaron to death.”
“Hey, babe, don’t beat yourself up. Hell, I’d love to see those pictures again,” he said, laughing.
Mia slapped his hand. “What am I going to do with you? And don’t answer that. So is it wrong to feel the way I do? Just because I love Aaron, doesn’t mean I can’t love anyone else, in a different way. You know what I mean, don’t you? Where’s my damn beer?” Mia tapped her hands on the table, becoming flustered.
Max laughed. “I’ll be right back. I’ll get the beers myself. He returned with two frothy mugs of Sweetwater Road Trip Ale. “Now, to answer your question. Sweetheart, you’re normal. Do you really think I’ve forgotten our time together? Those two days are locked in my heart, Mia. Those memories are for you and me, except for the stuff you already told Vic.” He looked at her and smiled. “I’m just giving you shit.”