Considering that, Vivian knew that she must be insane. She would go back to work sooner than she planned. There was too much time on her hands, too much time to do something totally stupid that once was done, couldn't be undone. Maybe the key was to see other men. To give other men a chance with her and see if any sparked with her the way he did. She sniffed again and blew her nose. "Monday morning, its back to work for me. Enough of this shit."
* * *
Sylvia lay with her eyes opened realizing something instantly. Her husband must be exhausted and out cold. Reason she knew was because his snoring woke her up. Even though Shawn snored, she'd never heard it like he was now. Only drinking or exhaustion made him snore this way. Made him so out of it that nothing short of an earthquake could wake him. His mouth was right near her ear, because her back was to his chest, sleeping while spooning. His big leg was over hers, his arms around her. She was warm and feeling a bit sweaty from their combined body heat. She lay there listening to him and realized that right now, at that very moment, if she were going to finish what she started, she needed to go that moment, when he was sleeping so soundly. Question was, how would she wiggle herself from his arms and leg without waking him? Was he really out, that cold, that her movements wouldn't wake him?
She knew he hadn't been asleep all night, because he'd made love to her again. Gently the second time. With such reverence and care, it once again brought tears to her eyes. Following that, he'd held onto her, caressing her, telling her over and over, how much he loved her. That he couldn't live without her. His hand had caressed her lower belly over and over where their child lay nestled away safe, saying in her ear, "Your waist has grown thicker, I can tell. I can always tell with you. I know your body, perhaps better than my own... our child is growing. Soon now, there's gonna be a bulge here. I can't wait." He'd murmured next to her cheek, kissing her ear, her neck as she lay in his arms, her murmurs soft as well, reciprocating and agreeing until sleep had taken her down.
Now it was morning. She wasn't sure what time. Whatever the time, she needed to either make her move, or forget it. Once he woke, there would be no way to escape him, nor would she be able to reason with him why she must do this last thing and alone. She couldn't believe that he hadn't turned away from her, that he hadn't grown so warm that even in his sleep he would need to roll away just to cool his body. Taking a deep breath, Sylvia thought she would be better off turning over herself, a natural movement. Praying she was right, she turned towards him, the movement made him shift and roll to his back away from her. She froze and prayed. Daring to not move a muscle. 'Please please please please please.' Her lips moved with the silent prayer as she waited. Sure enough, he started snoring again. Slowly she moved her right leg over the edge of the bed, and then her left, letting the weight of them along with gravity slowly force the rest of her to follow until she turned and was on her knees just about on the floor, scared the bed would move enough to jar him. On hands and knees she waited beside the bed, listening for his snoring to continue.
He'd stopped.
Any moment she expected him to shift and lean over and ask her, "Where do you think you're going?" She prayed again because she knew that if he woke, that's exactly what he would say. She felt ridiculous, naked, on her hands and knees, beside the bed, afraid to move. Finally he moved and snoring commenced. "Yes!" She exclaimed softly, more gesture than sound.
Slowly she stood and began looking around the room for her clothing. Quiet as a mouse. No way she would bump anything with him laying there.
Problem.
No matter how quiet.
No matter how much she looked.
No clothing.
No purse.
His things - yes.
But no trace of her things.
All she found was that stupid gown hanging in the closet and nothing else to be seen.
She had no clue when he'd done it, but obviously while she slept he'd suspected she might do this. Sometime in the night, her husband had gotten rid of her things, obviously realizing he might just drift off into a sleep that wouldn't stir in time to catch her. So - he'd made sure she had no way of leaving.
Sylvia stood in the middle of the room with her hands on her hips, eyes narrowed at him. If she could pop him in the chest without waking him, she would. She went into the bathroom. Still quiet as ever trying to think of what to do now. One thing for certain, she knew she was taking a big chance, but she didn't care... she was getting into the shower. She smelled of sex and there was no way she was going out like that. "The hell with it, I need a shower." Trying with all her might to be quiet as can be, she started the shower and got in. Moving as quickly as possible washing herself all over. Again, imagining that he would surely show up any moment now, move the shower curtain back and if he did, ask, "What are you doing?" She waited for it to happen as she showered. It never did. She was out of the shower and drying off wondering what the heck was going on. With the towel wrapped around her, she walked slowly out of the bathroom and looked at her husband. He was still sleeping hard, soundly. Not like Shawn. She stood for a moment just staring and tears came to her eyes when she realized, that he must have been needing sleep very badly. Meaning, he'd lost sleep. Hadn't slept... more than likely, since she'd been gone.
She almost... almost... changed her mind and climbed back into bed with him.
Almost.
Instead she put the gown on, with nothing on underneath, grabbed his leather jacket and put it on. Feeling in the pockets there was a few dollars and loose change. It was enough. No keys to be found. His wallet was no where so she would have to leave as she was. She walked to the edge of the bed, staring down at him. "I love you, with all of my heart, I love you. I promise you... this is it. Just let me do this... and I'll be home." She whispered softly. She wanted to kiss him but dare not, that would be definitely courting danger. She turned to leave and realized something else... no shoes. No where in sight. She looked back at him and smiled.
"You're something else Shawn. Sorry honey, really I am, I'll be back... I promise I will."
She quietly left the room, making sure to close the door with extreme care. Turning away, she dashed down the hotel corridor on bare feet, praying that the gift shop was open downstairs off the lobby. Fortunate for her, it opened every morning at 7am and so she could enter and purchase herself a pair shoes, well... that is if there were shoes there to buy. Sylvia stood there feeling defeated. He'd won. She was barefoot. Suddenly she had an insane moment and laughed out loud at herself, because she stood there barefoot and pregnant, because of him. She shook her head feeling ridiculous, not knowing what to do. The lady at the register stared at her smiling, doing so because Sylvia was smiling, giggling actually.
"Is there something I can do for you?" She asked Sylvia suddenly. She was a mid age woman, white, blonde hair, permed and done up fancy, nice approachable face.
Sylvia took a deep breath and thought, what the heck. She stepped up to the counter and said, "I have no shoes on. The reason I have no shoes on, is because my husband, who is up on the 7th floor sleeping, hid them." She stopped to giggle, her situation as she stood there making her laugh at herself. "He um, hid them, so I wouldn't do what I'm doing now... quietly slipping away... for good reason mind you. But he's one of these men who won't listen to reason, and won't work with me so I can do something I really need to do. As you can see, I have this gown on, because he hid my clothing. I have his jacket on, because I have this gown on. And... well... what size shoes do you wear? I wear a size 6 - maybe I could get your shoes and oooh... never mind." Sylvia was still grinning because she couldn't help herself.
The woman behind the counter was grinning too, because her explanation to her obvious situation rung too crazy for her not to believe it.
"Unfortunately darlin' I wear a size 8, however... I happen to know, that in our storage room, we have summer sneakers. Care for a pair?"
"Oh PLEASE!? Oh yes! Oh wait, how much? You see-..."
&nbs
p; "He took your money too?" The lady asked, foreseeing that detail.
Sylvia took a deep breath and nodded.
"What room?" The lady asked with a wink.
Fifteen minutes later, Sylvia was running out of the hotel, with floppy size 8 sneakers on, there were no size 6 in sight. She didn't care, at least she had shoes on. Holding up the length of the gown, she made her way to the L train and trotted up the steps; stopping to take a breath. Being pregnant had shortened her breathing endurance for running. At the top, she paid for an all day transfer and went out on the platform, zipping up Shawn's too big, heavy leather because of the cool breeze blowing up there. She waited on the L train and prayed for it to hurry, she felt uncomfortable dressed as she was, no underwear on, fancy gown on, with see through panels, even though nothing important showed through, but the suggestion was enough to make her uncomfortable. She was thankful that Shawn left his jacket out, because it at least went over the top of her hips midway, and it was very warm. Smelled like him. Oddly enough, it comforted her.
Standing out on the platform like a sore thumb among persons dressed for work, men in suits, women in business attire, she ignored the few glances she received and stepped onto the train as it pulled up fifteen minutes later. She rode it to the south side of Chicago, got off and grabbed a cab the rest of the way. It would have cost her too much, just about all that was in Shawn's pocket to take it from the hotel downtown to the hotel where she'd been staying. At the desk, she stated what room, her name and that she'd lost her purse, they gave her another card key to get in because she'd been staying there for a while, they knew her.
Sylvia wasted no time. Back in her room, she took off the gown, lotioned herself down because she felt dry and dressed. She knew she had to get out of there quick. She also gathered up all of Meribel's things to leave at the front desk for her. She gave her mobile phone a call, but it was off and so left a message on the answer phone where to pick up her things. With no time to waste she knew to keep moving. If Shawn woke, it would only take one phone call to Meribel and he would be there. Sylvia hated the fact that her phone was in her purse, so she was was forced to make one more phone call before she checked out. She needed money. Her check book, debit card, credit cards, all in her purse. There was only one other alternative.
With the old paper in hand, she looked at the circled contest at the Fitzgerald's and dialled the number. It was 8:50 - she wondered how early Bruce went into the club?
Truth was, he could be found there more so than at home. He answered after the fifth ring. He'd been laying on the sofa in his office sleeping off a few drinks after the failed events from the previous night.
"Hello - Fitzgerald's, Bruce here."
"Um, hi... this is Sylvia McPherson - I won last night at your club, I have your gown, remember?"
Bruce held the phone a few minutes trying to wake up. "Of course I remember." He stated, wondering how was it that she was calling him so early.
"Well, I wish to bring the gown back to you now, also - I'll be looking to collect the money that I won last night, if you would honor that?"
Bruce sat up on the sofa, with his eyes narrowing, careful not to say too much, he said simply, "Okay... sure. How soon can I expect you?"
"Well... I'll be using public transportation, the train and bus, ummm - in about an hour?" She asked.
"Why don't you call a taxi, you'll be here sooner."
"I - I haven't the money for a taxi-..."
"Take a taxi, I'll pay it."
Sylvia was quiet, not so sure. But then, the prize money would cover that, nodding to herself, she spoke up. "Okay, I'll be there as soon as possible." She hung up.
Bruce clicked the button off on his cordless phone and wondered what was happening. For some reason, she wasn't with her husband. He couldn't help the smile that suddenly spread across his face. He wondered had they fought? Maybe she'd told him off and had changed her mind about getting rid of him. Grinning ear to ear, Bruce sprang up from the sofa and went into his tiny office bathroom. There he made quick work of washing his face, brushing his teeth and freshening up. All the while, his mind working overtime. Maybe all was not lost, maybe his little songbird was rethinking things, perhaps he would see his plans through after all.
He was watching his security camera pointed at the front of the club when the taxi pulled up, his steps were swift to the front and out the door to pay her fair. She had a medium size piece of luggage with her, a laptop brief bag and his gown within plastic over her arm, wearing what looked like a man's leather jacket - too big for her. After paying, he took the medium size suitcase and laptop bag. Before he could close the taxi door, Sylvia leaned in and said, "Don't forget, no more than thirty minutes I'll need you back here."
The cabby nodded.
Bruce slammed the door and stared at her. She was a lovely woman in the daytime, and glamorous at night with make-up on. Now, her face was clean. She looked soft, and sweet - very kissable features, very desirable mouth, he just wished she wasn't wearing that damn jacket; he remembered it being on her husband last night. It kind of spoiled things for him, after all, she was the kind of woman that made a man wish to protect and keep - but not while she was wearing another man's clothing.
"Follow me." He finally invited. Against her better judgement, Sylvia followed. She needed that money. Her bank was in Camp Daniels. Because she hadn't used travellers checks, she couldn't just call them and say, "Hey, I need some money... no I no longer have id of any kind thanks to my husband, but I am who I say I am... not!" She needed this money from Bruce, or she would have to go to a friend and borrow.
In his office he sat her things down and turned to her, "Have a seat." He invited. "Would you like some coffee?"
"No thank you. I don't have time to sit. If you would please, I need the money from the contest."
"Why so anxious?"
"I'm in a hurry... I don't have time to stop." She explained.
"I see. We haven't had our talk, that you promised me." He reminded her, making himself comfortable at the front of his desk with a half sitting, half stand kind of lean with his arms crossed over his chest, his right leg up to the side.
"I'm sorry about that. About what happened last night. As for the talk, it wouldn't matter anyway - I'm not in a position for whatever it is you're offering."
"Wouldn't you like to hear, what I'm offering, before you make that decision?"
"I'm pregnant. I'm going to be having a baby. Whatever you're offering, doesn't fit in with that."
Bruce felt his heart squeeze, stop and then resume beating, "I see." That had taken him by surprise. He sighed. "So you're staying with the jerk, I take it?"
"Don't call my husband a jerk."
"Must be, why are you running from him?"
"For reasons, I haven't the time to get into with you. I need that money please?"
"You know, in a recording studio, won't matter if you're pregnant... you can still sing while pregnant."
"Recording studio?"
"Yes... as in - recording a record, a song. With a voice like yours, I can get that for you. Pregnant or not, I can make it happen, if you just give me a chance to put something together and contact the right people."
Sylvia shook her head, "Look, I'm sorry - I can't. That taxi will be back here shortly, I need to be out front when it gets here."
"So what's the big hurry?"
"My husband is going to wake up, find I'm gone and possibly come here looking for me. If he isn't awake already, in which case, he'll be making his way here, I'm almost sure of it. I need to be gone before he gets here."
"Ah - a little chase hm? So you want me to just hand over the contest winnings, forget the other part that went along with it? Is that right?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Forgotten already have you? The winner would cash in on $500 dollars, while signing a contract and working for me here at Fitzgerald's, singing three nights a week. Including the possibility of a recording
contract. You see, that was my plan. Your plan is to take the money and - just - walk away. If I were to go along with your plan, what do I offer the person who steps into the spot you vacated? As far as I'm concerned, you've forfeited your winnings."
Sylvia stood unable to argue with him on that point. She needed some money. "Oh no. Well, so'kay, sorry I bothered you, at least you have your gown back. If nothing else, thanks for the experience." She murmured softly, trying to think of what to do next; she walked to her case by his leg and bent to pick it up. He stood from the desk and gently grabbed her arm, standing too close for Sylvia's comfort.
"Just how badly do you want that money?" He asked as she straightened to look down at his hand holding her arm and then up at him.
"Not, that bad. Now if you will excuse me, I'd like to get my case and leave." She shifted her arm and pulled back for him to release her.
"Look, I didn't mean that the way it sounded. How about we leave here and go to my place, and discuss this without threat of Fred Flintstone storming in?"
Sylvia didn't mean to laugh, but she couldn't help herself, the imagine immediately had that effect on her. Bruce smiled down at her. "Ah, so I've made you smile, and what a bright one at that. Come on, how about it?" He asked as if he'd won a point.
"As funny as that was, I don't think so. It's been nice but I have to go."
Realizing by the look in her eyes she really wasn't interested, he tried to be a gentlemen. "You have no money on you at all?"
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