The Parking Space

by Angela Archer

  “She’s going to give Jason a run for his money. His wife better be okay with her calling all hours of the night.” She laughed at her own thought and then cleared her throat as she noticed my less than amused reaction. “Is everything okay?”

  “Everything is fine. I didn’t see any articles about her, but you never know what will come out next week.” I forced a chuckle from my chest.

  “What’s going on?”

  “Nothing.”

  “I don’t believe you.” She shot me a glare. “So spill it.”

  “Spill what?”

  “Whatever is bothering you. Did Tom call you again or something?”

  “He’s called every day since I talked to him and rushed off the phone. I never answered any of the calls, though. I have nothing else to say to him. And quite frankly there isn’t anything he could say that I’d want to hear.”

  “So then what’s bothering you? What else could it be?”

  “Nothing is bothering me.”

  “You are about to land at one of the most desired vacation destinations in the world and you look like someone shot your dog.”

  More than anything, I wanted to tell Lisa about what happened with Reece. Never had I kept something from her, but to unload this news when we were traveling for her wedding felt wrong. I didn’t want to burden her with my stress or worry. Not now.

  “I swear, it’s nothing. I’m just tired. We’ve been flying for over ten hours, ya know.”

  “Oh please. You’re not an old fuddy-duddy, so don’t try to play one now. You slept half the way here so I know you aren’t tired. I know you are keeping it from me on purpose because you think it will stress me out. But holding it in is just going to ruin your vacation and mine, so you might as well just tell me.”

  Drat. She knew me well.

  The plane descended and landed, giving one last lurch as it skidded from the brakes. A bell dinged above our heads. Everyone around us rose to their feet and began rummaging through the overhead bins for their carry-on bags.

  Along with Ben and their families, both Lisa and I followed suit, though I had checked every piece of luggage except for my small handbag that I hooked over my shoulder.

  “Reece isn’t my client anymore,” I finally admitted.

  “What? Why? What happened?”

  Sparing her the details, the only words I could muster were the simplest and easiest to say. “She fired me.”

  “What? She fired you?” Her tone screeched so loud that everyone within earshot turned their attention toward her, gaping at the both of us as though we just announced our love.

  Gee, thanks for announcing it to all the passengers on board.

  Lisa grabbed one of her bags and handed it to Ben, who then grabbed the other one and held them both in his hands. He smiled at her, knowing the concerned look on her face meant for him to remain silent while we spoke to one another.

  Lord, he was annoyingly perfect.

  “It’s a good thing I don’t have a phone right now or I would call her up and let her have it. I’m so sorry she did that to you.”

  “It’s okay. Everything happens for a reason, right?”

  She opened her mouth, but the line began filing out of the plane and Ben tugged slightly on her arm, motioning her to follow him.

  My feet were rooted in their place, unable to move as I glanced around the plane. Each face, unknown and known, beamed with joy—a little too perky for the dark cloud that hovered over my own head.

  I had been looking forward to this moment ever since I stepped inside the San Francisco airport. Heck, I’d been looking forward to it since Lisa told me about the possibility at lunch that one day, and now that it had arrived, my thoughts were on Reece and how she’d ruined everything.

  I can’t think about her. Not anymore. I can’t. She’s not going to ruin this vacation.

  With a deep inhaled breath, I wedged myself in between the other passengers, following Lisa and Ben while ignoring Jeff and Tracy behind me who continued to explore each other’s mouths with their tongues.

  Ben and his parents, along with Lisa and her parents, all disembarked in front of me. Their oohs and ahhs as they exited stirred in my excitement.

  As I stepped through the door, I put on my sunglasses. Heat from the sun warmed me through my jean shorts and chiffon button up shirt. Salty sea air swept through my blonde curls and filled my lungs, leaving a beautiful tranquility that inched across my skin.

  Down each step, I fought the battle of watching where I placed my feet over taking in the beauty of the island around me. Nearly barren as it had been from the sky, the island’s runway still awakened my soul. A desolation that soon gave way to the flowered bushes, sand, and palm trees surrounded the hut-like building of the Aeroport de Bora Bora, with its shake-style roof and stucco siding.

  “Is this the hotel?” Tracy’s nose crinkled as she squinted and popped her gum.

  “No, babe, this is just the airport. We shuttle over on the boat, remember?”

  “Oh, that’s right. Well good, because I was about to freak out. Pay all this money and this is the resort. Uh, I don’t think so. But as long as it’s not, then it’s okay.” Although the utter repugnance in her voice faded, her nasally voice grated on my nerves.

  Ben exhaled a deep sigh and shot his brother a glare as we all made our way to the luggage cart—equally annoyed.

  After locating my bags, I tugged on the handles. The wheels rolled behind me drowning out the sound of Tracy’s stiletto heels clicking against the cement walkway and the clanking of the dozens and dozens of gold hoop bracelets around each of her wrists.

  Another typical woman Jeff always seemed to find. Ones with the IQ of a gnat who followed the money instead of followed the man. Not that I thought having your only mission in life to find a rich man to support your every whim would be a bad thing. That just wasn’t me.

  Of course, given my relationship status and the lack of potential for one, perhaps they were the smart ones.

  Lisa glanced over her shoulder and winked as Ben held the terminal door. The bounce in her step mimicked the excitement on her face as she reached for my hand, dragging me onto the uneven cobbled floor inside the building. Air conditioning cooled my skin as I spun in a few circles and examined the thick, stained ceiling beams.

  Ben’s parents, Lisa’s parents, and the make-out twins walked in behind me, all equally taken aback by the size and the relaxation that seemed to flow from the room.

  While Jeff found a corner bench and sat down, Ben, his dad, Bob, and Lisa’s dad, Allen approached the front desk. They pointed to our group a few times while they spoke to the clerk.

  “So, Helen, how have you been?” Nancy, Lisa’s mom asked, her hesitation obvious by her tone after hearing Lisa on the plane. “The last time I saw you was . . . well, I guess was just before your . . . wedding . . .” She let her voice trail off then cleared her throat.

  Didn’t quite think about that sentence before you started speaking, huh?

  “I’ve been great, actually.”

  “I hear the housing market is really good in San Francisco right now.”

  “Yes, it is. There are so many beautiful homes available. It’s really a buyer’s market right now.”

  “Oh, well, that’s good. Even if . . . well, as we heard on the plane that a client let you go.”

  My eyes shifted to Lisa, who stifled a giggle as her eyes danced from her mother to me.

  “Helen is one of the top agents in the city, Mom. Losing a client like Reece Jones isn’t going to affect her at all.”

  “Reece Jones? The star of . . . oh what was the name of that movie . . .”

  “Yes, Mom, that’s the one.”

  “Wow. How fun it must have been to work with a star. So is she as nice as they say in the magazines?”

  “Hardly,” Lisa scoffed.

  Mrs. Carter’s eyes widened and she jerked her head slightly. “Oh.” Her sound was more of a breathed sigh than a spoken word.
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  “She was fine.” I tried to wave off her confusion.

  Lisa rolled her eyes. “She wasn’t fine. Her wish list proved nothing more than a ridiculous and endless stream of outrageous requests. I swear no house in the whole city of San Francisco would have ever measured up. She called Helen nonstop and treated her horribly.”

  “Oh, I would have never thought she could act like that. In all the articles I’ve read, people talk as though she’s an amazing person.”

  “Yeah, amazingly rude.”

  “Who are you talking about?” Jean, Ben’s mom asked. Curiosity finally got the better of her, drawing her toward the tiny group.

  “Reece Jones.”

  “Isn’t she that star of that movie . . . oh, what was it called?”

  “I know,” Nancy laughed. “I couldn’t remember it either. I guess that means I didn’t think much of it.”

  An antsy heat tickled through my chest. While Reece planned to badmouth me all over town, I hadn’t exactly desired to stoop to her level.

  “All the houses and sellers and buyers are just going to have to wait, though, because I’m here to celebrate and relax.” I boasted with a raised, joking volume to exaggerate the change of subject.

  “Exactly.” Lisa hooked her arm in mine and mirrored my smile with a squeal in her voice. “And I’m here to get married.”

  “Are you ladies ready?” Ben asked as he approached. “The boat just outside will take us to the resort, and it’s leaving in just a few minutes.”

  While the two mothers and Lisa followed their men outside, I hung behind—an idea that seemed great until I glanced to my right and caught sight of Jeff and Tracy still going at it as they both stumbled outside to the dock.

  Don’t they ever come up for air?

  We strolled down the walkway to the boat dock. The uneven wooden planks shifted a bit under my dazzling new sandals that I’d purchased the day before we left. All of the diamond-like crystals glimmered in the sunlight, brightening the white leather straps.

  The luxurious party barge rocked back and forth in the ocean waves as we all stepped down into the hull, while its cream-colored canopy shifted in the slight breeze. Large enough to carry every passenger from the plane, each of the strangers we’d flown in with now all sat sporadically throughout the seats of the boat.

  I sat down on the plush cushion next to Lisa and scooted my purse under my seat before I pulled my bags up against my knees. A few of my shoulder length curls brushed against my face. The annoying strands got in my way and made me regret not packing a hair tie.

  Even through the dark lenses of my sunglasses, the sun brightened the island. Each color popped against one another—the turquoise water, the green palm trees, and the white sandy beach, all in deep hues that caused me to melt into my seat.

  Conversation buzzed all around me as each member of both families spoke of the wedding plans. Talk of flowers, the dress, and the top picks for ceremony sites rattled through my brain. My ears heard each of the words spoken, and yet, I couldn’t repeat any of them even if I wanted to.

  Tracy continued to smack her gum as she sat next to me. She crossed one leg over the other and it twitched with nervous energy.

  “So how long is the boat ride, babe?” she asked Jeff.

  He shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know, but I guess we’ll find out.”

  Listening to the growl under her breath, I gazed out over the water, determined not to let anything or anyone distract me from the adventure pulsing through my veins.

  “Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome aboard. I am Captain Jean-Paul and I will be escorting you to your destination resort this afternoon. We will first stop at Four Winds Bora Bora then continue on to the St. Mont Royal Resort.”

  Lisa grabbed my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze, and a soft squeal left her lips.

  “For those continuing on to the second stop, please remain seated to allow the disembarking passengers enough room and time to collect their belongings. And, as always, while we are sailing to each of the resorts, please keep your hands, arms, and legs inside the boat at all times. Thank you.”

  With a slight nod to everyone on board, the captain started the motor. A loud rumble vibrated through the seat cushions, and my back arched as the boat pulled away from the dock and began to bounce along the teal water.

  EIGHT

  THE BOAT GLIDED up to the main dock of the resort and Jean Paul shut off the engine. Gentle waves lapped against the hull, rocking us back and forth, as the boat continued to glide along. A couple of men waiting for us on the dock seized the railing, drawing us toward them until they were able to tie ropes around the poles of the canopy hanging over our heads.

  I rose to my feet and with clammy hands reached for my suitcases. My stomach so tied in knots, I could barely focus.

  “Why are you shaking?” Lisa wrapped her hand around my wrist and squeezed. “Are you cold?”

  “I don’t think anyone could be cold here. I have no idea why. I think I’m just nervous and excited and . . . crazy.”

  “You’re supposed to relax on a vacation, duh.”

  “I know. I know.”

  “You sure about that?”

  I shot her a glare that caused her to laugh as I hoisted my luggage out of the boat. A man on the dock captured the handles from me and nodded.

  “Let me help you, madam.” His thick French accent thumped on the letter ‘d’.

  “Oh, thank you.”

  “My pleasure, madam.” As I reached for my bags, he moved them away from me. Redness blushed through his cheeks. “I’m sorry, madam, but I am to see to your bags personally.”

  “Oh. Okay.”

  My leather-soled sandals scuffed along the dock as I made my way toward the front entrance of the hotel’s property. A huge white marble wall lined the side of the beach, standing ten feet above me, with wrought iron letters that spelled out the name of the hotel. Two bowl-like pieces sat on either side of an opening that should have housed a gate, but didn’t. Flames licked at the sky, burning in both bowls as if to draw me into some hedonistic bonfire.

  “Helen?” Lisa called after me. “Don’t go too far. We have to stick together until we can check in.”

  Ignoring her, I continued to walk toward three huts with roofs made of palm leaves that sat behind the marble wall. Island drumbeats thumped in the distance. A sound so faint, and yet, they resonated in the deep parts of my chest with a rhythmic pattern just as the salty sea waves pounding the sand.

  To say this place was beautiful suddenly felt stupid and wrong, as the word did nothing to describe the view in front of me—a tropical island from my dreams that dazzled with a foreplay that seduced the soul.

  And this was just the entrance.

  Before I passed through the wall’s opening, one of the women tiptoed down the steps and approached me.

  “Welcome to the St. Mont Royal.” She lifted her hands and draped a ring of flowers around my neck—a token greeting that I’d seen in countless movies, but never experienced firsthand.

  “Thank you.”

  With my voice barely a whisper, she gave me a slight bow and moved toward the rest behind me, draping flower leis over all their heads while another woman approached and handed me a drink from the tray she held in one hand.

  “Complimentary for the Hogan wedding party.”

  “Oh. Thank you.”

  My fingers wrapped around the tall glass. Bright yellow and red liquid splashed between ice cubes that clanked against the crystal while chunks of pineapple and several cherries floated on top. A splash of the islands in a glass, the fruity cocktail fizzed on my lips.

  “Oh my, this is yummy.” Lisa closed her eyes after taking a sip. She leaned into Ben’s chest and he wrapped his arm around her shoulder, kissing her forehead.

  Our group continued up the path. A man in a snow-white suit stood underneath one of the huts next to several golf carts. He welcomed our presence with open arms and a broad smile across hi
s face. His tall, thin frame towered over everyone, even Ben and Jeff.

  “Mr. Hogan, Miss Carter, and families, welcome to the St. Mont Royal. My name is Julien and I am your personal concierge during your stay with us.”

  With a clasp of his hands and a flick of his wrist, the men who had helped us disembark obeyed his unspoken command and scurried off with our luggage—hired employees who would see our bags to our respective rooms.

  “I have your rooms all ready and waiting,” Julien continued. “And, of course, your luggage will be waiting for you when you arrive. Now, if you will please,” he pointed toward the three golf carts, “board your transportation, I shall escort you to your rooms.”

  “Helen, why don’t you ride with us?” Lisa grabbed my wrist, dragging me a few feet toward a cart without a driver. She patted the front seat before climbing in the back with Ben.

  Julien followed within minutes, sitting in the seat next to me as I tucked my handbag in between my feet. He flipped the key and the tiny motor fired up, vibrating below us as he drove off down the pathway through bright green grass and rows of palm trees.

  “We have a surprise for you, Helen.” Lisa’s giggle reminded me of a parent waiting to show something to their child, making me a tiny bit nervous.

  She hadn’t stupidly invited some guy in hopes he’d be my date, did she?

  “And when am I supposed to get this surprise?”

  “You’ll see.”

  Oh my stars, she did. She invited someone.

  We continued driving down the bricked path through the grounds of the resort. Sunlight flecked the grass through the trees. Waves rolled along the white sandy beaches in the distance; one after another after another, all timed perfectly as they lapped upon the sand.

  Julien stopped the cart in front of several large villas. The stucco buildings looked like several duplexes connected, and with grassy little front yards and cobbled paths. Their hut roofs peeked through the tall palm trees.

  “It’s so beautiful here,” I whispered, shifting my weight to exit the cart.

  “This isn’t our stop, Helen,” Lisa said.

  “But aren’t these the beachfront villas?” My forehead crinkled as I reached for my handbag. I yanked my day planner from one of the pockets and flipped it open to retrieve the printed reservation sheet. “That’s the room I booked.”