The Weight of Gravity (31 page)

             
“You
wish
she was sweet on me.” 

He was making progress on the novel, and resigned to returning to his life in New York.  Marcie had held the fort long enough and he was anxious to get back to work -- fulltime.  His agent was growing impatient and Max’s lifestyle depended on his writing.  He’d be back to visit Doris, but it was time to close the door on Cottonwood. 

              Max told Doris he’d stay for the Pie Paper Ranch gathering, rescheduled for Saturday, but he’d definitely leave on Monday.  He was grateful she didn’t question his decision. 

             
Erika never called again, but that didn’t surprise Max.  He’d decided that they’d had their moment and it didn’t work out – for her, certainly, and ultimately for him as well.  Maybe Doris and Mel were right.  Maybe what was missing in his life was not Erika, but something that his relationship with Erika long ago had given him.  He hoped that they’d remain friends, closer than they’d been for two decades. 
Now, if I can just believe all that.

             
Max met Mel at a deli-style restaurant in the mall.  She was seated on the patio when he arrived.

             
“Am I late?” he asked, taking the chair next to her.

             
“Nah, you’re right on time.  Hope this is okay with you.  I wanted to treat you to a lunch similar to what you might enjoy in the City.  Everyone around here assumes New Yorkers live in delicatessens.”

             
“We do.”  Max laughed.  “This is nice.  Thank you.”

             
“How’s the new book?”

             
“Amazing.  I surprise myself sometimes.” He sipped his iced tea.  “It’s going very well.  How’s the new housing project?”

             
“We had some environmental impact reports that slowed progress, something about a burrowing owl, but we plan to break ground next month.”

             
“Big job for Kristoffersen Contractors?” he asked.

             
“The biggest.  It should put us on the map.”

             
“I thought your company
was
the biggest game in town … discounting the Chicago gang.”

             
“We are, but this project should raise some eyebrows in the state capital ... maybe bring some larger bids our way.  McCoy Construction …Shane’s family … was our competition, and they’re working for me now.”  She smiled.  “My dream is that the conglomerates that Hightower’s firm represents will look at our success and realize the error of their ways.  We’ll wait and see.”

             
“I think your dream will come true.” 

Mel
liked his choice of the salmon entree and ordered the same.  “You have to come to New York and I’ll take you out for some fantastic sea food.”

             
“I’d like that.”

             
“Thanks for everything, Mel.”

             
“What, you hitting the road after lunch?”  She laughed.

             
“No.  I’m leaving on Monday, but you know what I mean.  You helped me a lot.  The wounded animal is ready to be returned to the wild, so to speak.  My jungle is NYC.”

             
“That’s good, Max.  Glad I could help in some small way.”

             
“You did much more than that.”  He laughed at a private thought.

             
“What?”

             
“Any chance I can get a picture of your lovely ass to take with me?  It might help me if I start slipping back into my obnoxious self.”

             
“You wish, Cowboy.  Ain’t gonna happen.”  She took a bite of salmon.  “Unless, of course, you’re not too drunk next time and decide to get in the shower with me.”

             
“Best invitation I’ve had all year.”

             
“
I - Said – Out - Side … NOW!
”

             
Shouting from the opposite side of the restaurant drew everyone’s attention.

             
“We have nothing to discuss.  Please don’t embarrass both of us by making a scene.  You’ve had too much to drink.”  Max recognized Erika’s voice immediately.

             
“We have plenty to discuss.  It’s going to be here with everyone listening, or outside … your choice, slut.”

             
Until now, Max hadn’t noticed Erika and another woman seated at a table across the room.  The man standing next to their table pulled at Erika wrist.  Max excused himself and walked over to their table.

             
“Problem?” he asked, standing behind the man.  Max could see that Erika’s adversary was dressed in an expensive suit, but his tie was pulled to one side and half of his lapel was sticking up.  His words were deeply slurred.

             
“None of your business, shit-for-brains,” the man said without turning around.  “
I-said-I-need-to-see-you-outside … now!
” he shouted at Erika.

             
“Leave me alone, Darrell.  I’m having lunch.  We don’t need to talk.”

             
“
Yes we do, Bitch!
”  He pulled her chair back from the table.

             
“Easy there, guy.  That’s not a nice thing to call a lady.  I heard her ask you politely to leave.  I won’t be that friendly.”

             
“Who the hell ....” Darrell struggled to keep his balance as he turned to face Max.  “Hey, you’re that ...”

             
“Max, please stay out of this,” Erika pleaded.

             
“... writer guy!  You’re the whole fucking reason I lost my job, you asshole!”  Darrell drew back, but Max grabbed his arm, spun him around and sent him to the floor.

             
“Stay down,” he ordered, putting his foot on Darrell’s back.  “Might be a good idea if you and your friend went somewhere else to have lunch,” he said to Erika.

             
“Max, I’m so sorry you got involved.”  Erika rose from her seat.

             
“So, you’re Max Rosen,” her companion said with a I’ve-heard-about-you smile.

             
“Max, this is Miriam.  She knows a lot.”

             
Darrell stumbled to his feet.  They watched as he staggered back into the mall.

             
“Do you think he’ll be back?”  Erika asked.

             
“No, mall security should be on him by now.”  He looked at Erika.  “I assume you two have history.” He motioned in the direction of where Darrell had gone.

             
“He was Garner’s partner in the firm.”  Max waited, suspecting that what she said next was not what she was thinking.  There was more about this man that she wanted to say, but couldn’t.  “I told you about Darrell.”

             
“Yes, you did.”  He started to move away.  “Well, hope you and....”

             
“… Miriam,” Erika’s companion said.

             
“... are okay.  Enjoy your lunch.”  Max returned to his table and Mel.

             
“Now you’re a knight in shining armor, Max, charging in to save the damsel in distress?  Are you okay?”

             
“I’m fine.”  And he was.  He hadn’t felt this good in a very long time.

             
Max walked Mel to her truck after lunch.  He was pleased to realize he hadn’t even noticed when Erika and Miriam left the restaurant because it meant that maybe he was finally putting all that she represented behind him.  She was no longer the center of his attention in Cottonwood.  He told Mel he’d see her at the Pie Paper Ranch.

On the way to his car, Max heard more shouting.  Threading his way through the parked cars, he arrived in time to see Darrell strike Erika with the back of his hand.  Max wrapped an arm around Darrell’s neck and slammed his face onto the hood of a Cadillac parked next to Erika’s SUV.  Darrell crumpled and Max turned to Erika. 
There was blood in the corner of her mouth and her cheek was beet red.

             
“What the hell did you do to piss him off?”

             
“I slept with him and he never got over it,” she said.

             
“Damn, you are good, aren’t you?”  He was examining her eye and cheekbone when security rushed up to take Darrell into custody.  “He got you good, Erika.  What are you going to tell Garner?”

             
“Garner knows, remember.  That’s why he fired Darrell.” She looked at the ground.  “It was a mistake, Max.  Something that happened before you came back.  I told you that night at Clay and Cindy’s.”

He wanted so badly to tell her that an affair of the body is not as serious as an affair of the heart.  You can forgive an affair of the body, but you’ll never forget an affair of the heart.  But
if he did, it might only fuel the fire that he’d decided was best extinguished.

             
“Hey, you don’t have to explain to me.  I worry more about this asshole ruining your life,” he said.

             
“I did that already when I allowed myself to get into a relationship with Darrell.” “Maybe, ...”  She hesitated,  “... my life went sour the day I chose to stay in Cottonwood ... and not leave with you twenty-four years ago.”

             
“It’s too late for regrets.” He touched her swollen eye.  “That’s going to be hard to hide from the family.”

             
“Garner and I are separated, Max.  He moved into a condo by the country club.  We’re going to the bar-b-cue together, for Jay’s sake.  After that …?”

             
“I’m sorry.”

             
“It’s not all bad.  We’re talking and going to therapy.  Who knows?”

             
“So, there’s a chance you’ll salvage your marriage?”

             
“No, I’m certain that’s over, but we have to live with each other for a while longer, at least until Jay is old enough to be on his own.”

             
“How’s Jay taking all of this?”

             
“Not well.  He doesn’t know about Darrell ... or you, for that matter.  Jay just figures his parents have taken the fighting to a new level.  I’ll tell him someday, maybe, if he ever grows up.”  She smiled.  “I have to go, Max.  It was nice to see you again.  When are you leaving?”

             
“Well ...” he began.

             
“Please say ‘never,’ for my sake.”  She reached out and touched his chest.  “That’s not fair.  I’m being selfish.  You’re just seeing me at my weakest moment.  I just know in my heart it will never be that good with anyone else.”

             
“You may be right, Erika.  Thank you.”

             
“You know, if you ever asked again, it’d be hard to say no.”

             
“We were good together.”  He wasn’t going backward now.  Why is it, he wondered, that two people can’t fall in love with each other at the same time.  Seeing Erika like this, it was obvious that she was incredibly vulnerable and insecure about everything.  He was smart enough to realize that he wasn’t the answer to her problems.  Smart enough to know that her endearments toward him now were motivated by the extreme nature of the situation with Darrell, and what he represented in her personal life.  She was hurting, emotionally and physically.  “But, it’s always been about timing with us, hasn’t it?”

             
She waited a moment longer, and then climbed into her car.  Max watched as she pulled out of the space and drove away. He’d never in his life seen her look sadder.

Chapter 40 – Max

              On Friday night Max took Doris to the
Fox and Hound
where they met Clay and Cindy.  It was Doris’ first night out since the stroke.  He couldn’t resist the urge to scan the crowd for Erika, but she never came in.  He did see Mel and Shane come through the door.

             
“Join us,” Doris said when they approached, and Shane pulled up two more chairs.

“Hello, boss lady,” Clay said to Mel.  “Let’s boot-scoot, Cin.”  He took his wife’s hand and they stepped out onto the dance floor.

Max saw the subtle communication between Shane and Mel before they rose from the table and followed the Bakers. 
They make an attractive couple.
  He watched them move slowly around the floor.  Shane held her close.  He knew all the steps and seemed to effortlessly control her body as they danced.  In true country style, Mel let the cowboy lead. 
It’s just a dance … right?  There’s something very machismo about country swing.