Abandoned but Not Alone (12 page)

“
What happened last night, the last thing
I really remember was doing the electric slide and then it
’
s a complete blank?
”

“
Well, you already know you had too much
to drink, and you passed out just after that ridiculous line dance.
”

“
Oh no, please tell me I didn
’
t fall over drunk!
”

“
Come on Angel, I would never let you fall. Don
’
t worry, you left with your dignity intact. I
brought you home and as I didn
’
t know which room
you were staying in, I put you to bed here.
”

“
Did you take my clothes off?
”
Jason raised an eyebrow as if to say what do
you think. Aviva knew it was a stupid question as soon as she asked it.
“
Well did you at least avert your eyes while
doing it?
”

“
Avert my eyes
…”
Looking at her as though she had lost her
mind, he answered with a deadpan face.
“
Yes ma
’
am, I most certainly did avert my eyes.
”

“
You are such a liar, Jason King.
”

“
But the question is did my answer make you
feel better?

“
No, it did not.
”

“
Funny, that
’
s what I thought you
’
d say.
”
  Jason said with a snort.

Swinging
his long legs off the bed Jason rose to his full height and stretched.
“
I got Mrs Drake to bring your things;
your suitcases are over there.
”
Aviva
followed the direction of his pointing finger noticing her suitcases and
toilette bag for the first time.
“
Get up when
you
’
re ready and you
should really try to eat something. Don
’
t worry it
’
s just
toast, fruit juice and water. You need to start rehydrating your body. I have
to go and take care of some business so I
’
ll see you later.
”
  Dropping
a swift kiss to her forehead Jason left the room.

~~~~~~~~~~

Aviva
thought how well Jason was looking after her as she reached for the toast he
had left on the tray. Taking a bite, she was startled by the sudden opening of
the bedroom door to admit, what appeared to be a very angry Hope.

“
What are you doing, sleeping with a man you
just met yesterday, making a damn fool out of yourself?
”
Not waiting for a response, Hope continued
her tirade.
“
Poor Carlos, you
really need to give him a call before you sink any lower in his estimation.
”

“
For your information, I didn
’
t have sex with Jason. As for Carlos, he knows
he and I are just friends, nothing more.
”

“
You still need to call him; he was devastated
when you left with Jason.
”

“
Devastated my ass, girl please, that man has
women falling all over him, he always has and probably always will. Anyway I
was so wasted I didn
’
t know if I was
coming or going.
”
Turning to look
at Hope, Aviva closed her eyes in remembrance of her horrendous appearance when
she awoke.
“
Hope, I gotta
tell you I would rather have woken up anywhere but here this morning.
”

“
Why, what happened?
”

Aviva
described the state of her face to Hope before she had washed it. Unwrapping
the towel she had used to hide her bedhead, Aviva showed Hope a part of what
she had been confronted with, even more distressing what Jason had been
confronted with.
The
sounds of Hope
’
s laughter filled the room, her
fists thumping the bed, overcome with hilarity at the situation Aviva had found
herself in. 
To Aviva
’
s way of thinking Hope seemed a little
too pleased with her humiliation and tutted, making Hope laugh even more.

Wiping away
her tears of laughter, Hope sniggered at Aviva.
“
Well it serves you right for being such a lush; you know you can
’
t hold your drink.
”

“
You
’
re supposed to be my friend, where
’
s the sympathy for my humiliation?
”

“
Sorry, not handing any out today.  So
Jason didn
’
t get some
…”

“
I already told you what happened, why are
you still talking about it?
”

“
No reason, now get your drunken behind
out of that bed and do something about that mess on top of your head, because
you sure as hell are not coming to my wedding looking like that!
”

For the
first time Aviva took a good look at Hope and noticed that something was off.
She couldn
’
t put her
finger on it exactly, but she saw a look in her eyes, a look she couldn
’
t quite decipher. Aviva thought it
resembled detachment.

“
Is everything alright with you, Hope?
”

“
Of course, just last minute jitters is
all.
”

“
Although I don
’
t have first-hand knowledge, I'm told all prospective brides
have last minute jitters. You
’
re still
sure this is what you want to do, right?
”
Hope wouldn
’
t meet her
eyes and that fact worried her. Aviva had expected to be slapped down at her
last question, or at the very least to be told, yet again, how wonderful Steve
was, but it didn't come.

“
Hope
…”

“
I
’
m fine, now get the hell out of that bed and sort yourself out,
because sister-friend from where I
’
m standing,
it
’
s gonna take a while.
”

~~~~~~~~~~

Washed and
dressed Aviva left Jason
’
s suite and
stood outside the door in an attempt to get her bearings. One end of the long
hallway contained a window and the other a door. Walking towards the window
Aviva peered out at a view of the garden and what appeared to be a guest house
and, in the distance, what looked like a man made pond. Having had no
opportunity to explore her surroundings she was keen to see more of the
property. Never having stayed in such an extravagant home she was again amazed
that Steve lived in such grand surroundings. Hope had mentioned that he and his
partner were doing very well but this house would have surpassed her
expectations if she had had any. Turning around Aviva made her way to the
opposite end of the hallway, opened the door to another walkway which
eventually led to the stairs. Her stomach had settled down and Aviva realized
that she needed real food. Deciding to go to the kitchen to see what she could
muster up she spotted Hope and Steve.

“
Well good afternoon miss sleepy-head, how
are you feeling?
”

“
Much better thank you. I had my first and
last dose of yours and Jason
’
s hang-over
cure and all is now right with the world. At least it will be once I get some
food in me.
”

“
Yeah it kind of hits you like that, after
a while you feel an overwhelming need for food. Have some fruit first, it seems
to help. Pineapple seems to work best.
”

“
Thanks, I
’
ll see if the Drakes have any going.
”

“
Good, well I
’
m glad you feel better, because I don
’
t ever want to witness that thing you did with your eyes ever
again. Last night was enough.
”

“
What thing?
”

“
Well
…
your eyes crossed first and then they kinda rolled around for a
while and then your head sort of flopped to one side and your eyes crossed
again. It gave me the chills.
”
At his
shudder Aviva slapped him on the arm and rolled her eyes, knowing she did no
such thing. What he described was ridiculous and she didn
’
t believe him for one moment.

“
I told you not to do that, it freaks me
out.
”

“
Shut up Stephen, before I sic Hope on
you.
”

Hope who
had been standing quietly shaking her head at their foolishness started towards
the stairs. 
“
Leave me
out of it, sorry sister-friend you
’
re on your
own. You
’
re the drunkard around
here, so you can deal with the fallout on you own.
”

“
Thanks sister-friend, I got your back
too. Where are you two off to?
”

“
I have to run out for an hour or two and
Hope said she was going to relax by the pool for a while.
”

“
Well have fun, now I really need to go
get some food. See you both later.
”

Aviva left
them as she descended the stairs making her way to the kitchen in the hope of
persuading Mrs Drake to feed her. Mrs Drake was pleased to oblige and prepared
her a wonderful meal of pineapple followed by fluffy scrambled eggs, grilled
tomatoes and English muffins which she washed down with freshly brewed coffee.

After her
meal, Aviva spent some time speaking with the Drakes
’
, making discoveries. They originally worked in the hospitality
industry having been the owners of an inn. Mr Drake had been the manager and
Mrs Drake the chef. They had many successful years running it together, but had
sold the inn and the land it sat on to Jason and Steve, agreeing that after a
period of time traveling they would return and work for them. Aviva enjoyed
hearing about all the places they had visited on their travels, and Mrs Drake
chatted up a storm about the recipes she had acquired from their many ports of
call. As she listened to the story, she couldn
’
t help but feel Mrs Drake was leaving out large chunks of what
had really taken place. Not wanting to pry, she refrained from questioning her
in greater detail. She could only surmise that the offer Jason and Steve had
made them far outweighed the benefits of running one
’
s own establishment.

At the
beginning of their conversation Hope popped her head around the kitchen door to
inquire whether Aviva would be joining her at the pool. Aviva declined,
genuinely enjoying spending time with Mrs Drake and she had many more questions
she wanted to ask about her travels and the countries she had visited.

~~~~~~~~~~

Throwing
down his pen Jason cocked his head to the side and listening to the quietness
of the house. Deciding to continue with his paperwork, he again became quickly
absorbed in the documents set out before him. So lost was he in the mountain of
paper, he didn
’
t hear the
door open as someone entered his office. It was the sound of his name being
called impatiently that caused him to realize he was no longer alone. Looking
up he saw Hope standing in front of his desk.

“
Hope
…
what are you doing in here?
”

“
We need to talk Jason.
”

“
We do?
”
Jason genuinely had no idea why Hope would need to speak with
him.

“
Yes we do. In fact this conversation is
long overdue.
”

Baffled by
her cryptic comment, he was at a loss as to what Hope had on her mind. Rather
than attempt to figure out what the subject of the
‘
talk
’
could be
about, he decided to hear her out.

“
Take a seat
”
Jason offered, indicating one of the chairs in front of his
desk.