Authors: Nancy Hopper
Her boss had recognized right away that she had a flair for that, and it helped sell. Besides, he thought she was real good to look at.
She was in Denver, where no one would ever know her. She was determined that she’d make it on her own, and have a new start here. She’d taken draws on all of her credit cards in Utah, so her father wouldn’t trace her to Denver. Then, she had cut them up and thrown them all away. She had been able to stash enough that she could live half a year, if she was careful.
Her third night after work, she was so exhausted she couldn’t see straight. She wearily walked out to the ‘Vette and flopped in. She just sat there for a minute, with her face in her hands, trying to get her eyes to focus. She hadn’t been doing so well with her vision since the altercation with her father.
She sighed and said a silent prayer for strength, under her breath. Then she put her key in the ignition and tried to turn the key over.
Her hand would not move. It took a second before she realized that there was another hand over hers, holding her hand in place, and preventing her from starting the car. She looked at it in disbelief, and then let her eyes follow the arm upward, until she was looking into tender, blue eyes.
The love and compassion in those eyes cut her heart open. She pulled her hand away as if she’d been burned, and closed her eyes tightly.
“
Get out of the car, Tasha.” Gary ordered softly.
She just shook her head negatively. “How did you find me?” she asked in a tortured voice.
God, how it hurt to look at him.
“
That’s a long story. Move over, then.” he insisted.
“
No! Get away from me! I hate you, Gary Taylor, I hate you!” she hissed, incensed that her voice was choked with tears.
“
I know. Now, you can’t go anywhere without your keys, so use your head for a minute and listen to me, will you?” he insisted pleasantly.
She looked. The ignition was empty, and the keys were in his hand. Impotent rage filled her at the realization that she was helpless. Again. At his mercy, again.
He always took over, and made her come in line. It was so unfair! She had always worked so hard to be in control, the powerful one in every situation.
He leaned over the door of the car. “You could have confronted me, Tasha. You could have belted me, which is what I deserved. Honey, you didn’t even investigate to see if there had been a misunderstanding.”
“
At least we agree on something. I
should
have belted you.” she interrupted.
“
I can’t believe I didn’t tell you about Alaska. I guess somehow, it had slipped my mind that you wouldn’t know. Things were happening very quickly, Tasha. I’d only been out of the hospital a week before you started turning my life upside down and inside out. But, that’s why I introduced you to Marietta. I wanted you to get to know her before time to go.”
He sighed, and let the words sink in. “Glen was coming into town Thursday, and I had a million things on my mind, honey. I can only imagine how you felt, what you thought. I’m very glad Joe saw the look on your face, or it all never would have made any sense to me. When I put the pieces together, I was beside myself.”
He tried to take one of her hands, which she promptly pulled away. “Tasha, my job was to perform the wedding Sunday. Not play a leading role. Marietta married Glen Deal, a friend of mine from Louisiana. She and Glen and her daughter Dodi are going to be with us in Alaska in September to help with the new church there.”
Tasha’s head rose slowly as the words began to make sense. A sob escaped, and she quickly bit it back. She wasn’t ready to open herself up, yet.
“
I understand what you thought, honey, but I ... I thought you knew how I felt about you. Good God, did you really think I’d do that to you? My love? The woman I’d asked to share my life with? Tasha, honey ... ” he broke off, and ran a hand through his hair. He fought with despair. She wasn’t responding.
He swallowed hard, and tried to gather his composure. “Tasha, please. Forgive me for being such an idiot. I didn’t mean to keep so much from you. I love you, honey. I want to take you home, and marry you. Please. Please, don’t let this come between us.” he asked in a whisper.
“
I’ve never loved anyone but you. I’ve never asked another woman to be my wife. You’re the only one, no matter how it looked. Tasha,” he said, wearily.
Hope fled. He looked at her in torment, and let his head fall on his arm. “I’m sorry. Tasha, no matter what happens, I want you to know. I never meant to hurt you. I love you. I’m so sorry.” he pleaded brokenly.
Watching them from the van was breaking Deb’s heart. She’d never seen Gary so broken and humble. She’d never seen Tasha so ... wounded. It was like she was catatonic, in a stupor.
Gary just knelt down, right there by the driver’s side of her car, going through the black night of the soul. He’d done all he could do. He understood to some degree how much it had taken her to trust him, how deep the hurt had gone, and what she’d been through since then. He didn’t blame her for not wanting to open the wounds, again. Not at all.
Finally, Tasha just began to weep. She put her head on the steering wheel and let go. Gary could see that it was all she was capable of at the moment. He smiled grimly. It was a good thing – at least the wound was open again. Maybe now, she could heal.
He opened the door to the ‘Vette, picked her up, and carried her to the van. “Come on, baby. Let me take care of you, now. We’ll decide what to do, later.” he said gently.
He nodded to Deb, who opened the back door. He put her on the couch in the back of the van, sat on the floor, and just held her hand.
“
Look through the car. See if you can find out where she’s staying.” he suggested. Deb nodded, with a worried look at Tasha, and obeyed.
When she was a little calmer, Gary sat on the couch, and put her head in his lap. Deb got a cup of ice water in the mall, and he just bathed her face with it, tenderly, waiting for her to digest everything in her own time. He didn’t care if it took all night. She deserved his patience.
After an hour or so, she sat up slowly and hugged herself tiredly. “Take me to my hotel.” she said quietly.
“
Where is it, honey?” he asked gently.
She pointed east. “Down this street, one mile. The ... LaGrande.” she said, and turned her face away as she started to fall apart again.
Gary pulled her close, and she didn’t object. It felt so good to have someone hold her. He kissed her cheek, and got up. He met with Deb outside the van, running a tired, worried hand through his hair.
“
She says she’s staying at a place called the LaGrande, a mile east on this road. Let’s see if we can find it.” he suggested worriedly.
“
I’ll drive the ‘Vette. You stay with her.” Deb suggested uneasily.
“
Yeah.” Gary agreed, sick at heart.
They found the motel without too much trouble. The lady at the desk showed considerable interest, when Gary went in the office to talk to her.
“
Yeah, she’s paid for two nights yet.” she told him willingly. “If y’all are gonna stay with her, the money'll just cover one night – tonight, that is.”
“
Fine.” Gary said tiredly. “We’ll let you know tomorrow what we’ve decided to do.”
“
Thanks, then.” the woman said with a smile.
Gary went back to the room, and sent Deb out for Chinese food. “Be sure to get plenty of chicken soup with it.” he said quietly. “If the smell of Chinese doesn’t get to her, nothing will. If she won’t eat, maybe I can at least get some soup down her.”
“
What did the woman in the office say?” Deb asked hesitantly.
Gary shook his head. “She was pretty unsavory. I didn’t waste a lot of time. Be careful, I have a feeling we’re not in the best part of town.” he advised darkly.
Deb nodded, and left.
Tasha was sound asleep when Gary went back to check on her. He looked down at her with a deep anger in his heart. This ‘motel’ was the crappiest excuse for a roadhouse he’d ever seen in his life. It upset him terribly that Tasha had been here – especially alone.
She didn’t wake up when the food came, or for the rest of the night. The phone woke Gary up at ten after eight the following morning.
“
Hello?” he asked tiredly.
“
Where’s Tasha?” a man’s gravely voice insisted.
“
Depends on who’s asking.” Gary answered coldly.
“
This is her boss. She was supposed to report to work ten minutes ago. Where is she?”
“
She’s sick this morning.” Gary said, feeling it was the closest thing to the truth he could say.
“
Why didn’t she call in?” the man demanded angrily.
“
She’s not awake yet. She is
really, very
sick. I’m sorry she didn’t call in.” Gary said, trying to be polite.
“
Who the hell are you?” he asked, growing more surly by the minute.
“
I am her fiance.” Gary answered, gritting his teeth.
“
Well, I need her here.” the man growled.
“
I’m sorry. The company you are with is...?”
“
Today’s Rage.” the man spit out angrily.
“
Tasha is very ill. I don’t think she’ll be coming back to work for you. Could you please prepare her check, and I’ll pick it up? We must get her to medical care, immediately.” Gary asked in a clipped voice.
“
No. She can come get it herself when she’s better.” the man roared.
Gary was silent for a moment. “How many days’ pay is it?” Gary asked, finally.
“
Three days, minimum wage.” the man snapped.
“
Keep it.” Gary said coldly, and hung up the phone.
Deb was looking at him worriedly from her place on the couch when he turned around. He rolled his eyes, and ran a hand through his hair.
Tasha was still sleeping, and she continued to sleep until late that afternoon. At checkout time, Gary went to the office again.
“
I guess we’ll be staying another night.” he said uncomfortably. “Unless you have a very late checkout.”
The woman laughed, showing many blackened teeth, and a few missing. “No, honey, no late checkout. What’s the matter, did those two pretty girls you’re with keep you up late last night?”
Gary gave her a look that he hoped would quell her imagination. “How much?” he asked tersely.
“
It’ll have to be sixty-five.” the woman said regretfully.
Gary looked at her as if she’d grown two heads. “Sixty-five? For
that
room?” he asked incredulously.
“
Take it, or leave it. You didn’t give no
notice
. There’s a late registration fee.” she said, sweetly.
Gary rubbed his forehead. “All right. Here you go.” he said tiredly.
The woman smiled at him and looked him over carefully. “Thank you, honey.” she said.
Gary nodded tersely, and got out of there.
Tasha woke up in time for dinner. Gary was reading his Bible, and Deb had gone to get something for them to eat.
She slowly sat up, and rubbed a hand across her eyes. When she looked up and saw Gary, she went white as a sheet, and began to tremble. Putting his Bible aside, he walked over to her, looking worried.
“
Hi, honey. How are you feeling?” he asked gently.
“
How did you get in here?” she asked incredulously.
He sat on the edge of the bed, and looked at her with deep concern. “You don’t remember last night, when I met you in the parking lot at the mall, and explained what had happened?” he asked gently.