Chapter 141
Before I had time to finish gathering those thoughts, Theo opened the door. “Elena?” he said, looking surprised. “I didn’t think we were supposed to leave for another couple of hours. That concert in the park isn’t until this afternoon.”
“We’re not going to the concert in the park,” I said. “But we are leaving.”
“Okay,” Theo said, opening the door all the way.
I hesitated now and then, forced the words from between partially numb lips. “I need to get away and think. I’m not sure where we’re going.”
“For how long?” Theo asked.
“Days? I don’t know.” I glanced back at my suitcase.
Theo followed my gaze, and his mouth opened in a silent “Oh.”
“Right,” he said, all business-like. “I will pack some stuff. You are at least telling Charles you’re heading out for a time, aren’t you?”
I followed him into his apartment. It was the first time I’d been there in the weeks that we’d been in Packhaven. It was smaller and less grandiose than the place that Charles and I had, but it was cozy. Actually, it was far more my style than the big places I stayed in with Charles.
It had a cozy little kitchen and a small living room with two squashy chairs rather than a couch, a TV, and a bookshelf stuffed full of books and board games.
“Do you play all these?” I asked while he headed for one of the doors, which revealed a bedroom when he opened.
“We have to do something to entertain ourselves. We don’t just sit around and wait for bad things to happen to you.” He poked his head back out the door. “Honestly, you’ve been very easy to watch.”
“Thanks. I think.” I wandered over and stood in the doorway while he packed. “I’m really sorry to inconvenience you.”
“Don’t worry about it. We could hear that things did not go well over the weekend.”
I nodded. “I really don’t want to talk about it, though.”
“Well, if you ever need an ear, I’m available. I have a family, too. While I might not be able to relate to exactly what’s going on, maybe I can help. If not, I’ll always be here to support you.”
“Thanks, Theo.”
“Where did you tell Charles you were going?”
“In my note, I said I was going to Wendy’s. But the more I got to thinking about it, the less I think I’m going to do that.”
“I’m sure she’d take you.” He gave a little shudder. “Not that I want to stay with her. That’s only going to cause trouble between her and me and her husband. I don’t want to have to keep her away with a broom or something.”
I laughed. “You make her sound like a rat or something.”
He chuckled. “Not so much a rat as a horny dog who I won’t be able to keep off my leg.”
Now I busted up laughing.
He turned to give me a big grin. “I’m glad to see that whatever’s going on hasn’t completely crushed you. I’m glad you can still laugh. Whatever it is, I’m sure it’ll work out.”
“Thanks, but for now, let’s just talk about Wendy and her inability to stay off you and focus on things like that.”
Again, he shuddered. “I’m not sure that’s a good alternative topic. At least as far as I’m concerned.”
“I can see where you staying there might cause trouble with her husband,” I admitted. “Now I’m really glad I thought better of it. I don’t feel like rewriting my note, though. So, when we figure out where we’re going to stay, I’ll text him.”
“I actually have an idea. There’s a hotel not too far from the concert in the park we were going to go watch this afternoon. Why don’t we check in there for a day or two? And if you still don’t feel like you’re ready to return, then I know that the government has a contract with a hotel closer to the official state buildings for people who need to work with the government for extended periods but who aren’t moving to Packhaven. I think they rent both weekly and monthly. We can find a place and stay there.”
“It’s not near here, is it?”
“That bad?” Theo arched an eyebrow, then went back to zipping his suitcase shut.
“I want to think, and I can’t do that if I’m worried about running into Charles. I need space, and I need to decompress and sort through everything.”
“I can understand not wanting to look over your shoulder. Don’t worry. If you drew a straight line from here to the government building, then the hotel is in a straight line in the opposite direction.”
“I think that will work then.”
The two of us left the apartment, and while we were waiting for the elevator, I double-checked with Theo. “You’re not going to tell David until later, right?”
He shook his head. “I won’t let David break the news for you. I’m sure David will call me as soon as Charles gets your note. He and I will have whatever discussions we need to have at that point.”
“Is this going to be too hard for you?” I asked. “Now, there won’t be anybody to give you a break if you need it. And what will Violet think of you staying with me?”
“Violet isn’t that kind of girlfriend. She won’t be jealous or possessive. And living separately might make things more difficult for me. But we’ll figure something out. I’m going to assume that you and Charles will be back together in just a few days. I’ll be able to live that long.”
“Thanks, Theo.”
The hotel Theo took us to was as nice as any I’d ever stayed in. And he got us adjoining rooms so that I didn’t have to stay in the same one with him. That night, he called Violet over so that he could explain.
I hadn’t gotten even a single text from Charles. He had to be home by now, but I honestly didn’t know how I felt about the fact that he hadn’t sent anything. Was it because he was furious with me? Or was he simply trying to respect my request for space?
I shut my eyes and forced myself to try sleeping, but it didn’t work. After a while, I got up and took a nighttime sleep aid. Without it, I was never going to get any rest.
The second morning in that hotel, Theo joined me in my room, leaning against the wall, crossing his arms, and staring at me. “I looked into those extended stay rooms at the other hotel. They’re a lot cheaper than where we’re staying. I don’t want to press you because I understand that you’ve got things to work through, but I need to know if you need more time. There’s a living stipend that you guys have been allotted, and we’re going to blow through that very quickly staying here. Unless you want to supplement it?”
“I’m not ready to go back, so look at one of those other rooms, please. And if I need to supplement funds, I can.”
“Just so we’re clear, they don’t have an arrangement like this with an adjoining door in that hotel,” Theo said. “We’re going to have to share so I can adequately guard you.”
I gritted my teeth together. “I guess so. I just think that’s weird for everyone all around.”
“We’ll make it work.” He shifted, cocking his head and gazing at me. “Are you sure you don’t want to tell me about everything?”
I shook my head. “It’s just a mess. I don’t need to get you involved.”
He nodded and pushed away from the wall. “In that case, we need to check out by 11 AM, so you’ll need to pack up.”
“Okay.” A tear slipped down my cheek.
“Seriously, Elena,” Theo pushed. “Are you going to be all right?”
A full flood of tears followed. “I already got permission to do all of my work from home for now. Since I have two stories approved, I don’t need to be at pitch sessions. And the editor-in-chief was understanding that things come up.”
Theo hurried over, putting a hand on top of my head. “I don’t want to be overly familiar, but you’re really distressing me. I’ve grown to like you over the last few weeks. I’d really like to help more than just tagging along after you while you fumble blindly through this mess.”
“I give up. You get us settled in the next hotel, and I will talk,” I agreed.
“Over lunch,” Theo promised.
I shook my head. “Don’t buy us lunch. You cook too well. How about you make me something instead?”
“If that will make you happy, then I’d be glad to. What would you like?”
“Comfort food. Maybe noodles?”
“I have the perfect recipe.”
The extended stay hotel room wasn’t anywhere near as fancy as anything we’d stayed in to this point, but it was serviceable. And much like the way Theo’s apartment had made me feel comfortable, this place brought up the same feeling of being more by style. So what did that say about me and Charles?
