Fragrance Lingers ~ A Love in the City Romance by Dellani Oakes – Part 36

 

His bags were packed, he'd checked out and he was downstairs having a cup of coffee and a Danish by the airport pickup lane when the bus pulled up to the curb. Tal and the driver hopped out, helped him with his bags. They were on the bus in less than five minutes.

"We're on our way," the driver said with a grin. "Sit back and enjoy the ride, brothers. Let Lenny do the driving!"

"What choice do we have?" Chase hunkered down and pulled his cap over his eyes. "You won't let us drive."

"That's because I don't trust you." Lenny chuckled and pulled into the early morning Orlando traffic.

Cole stopped watching as they magically avoided one accident after another on the Expressway and made their way to the interstate. Cole woke up somewhere in Georgia. It was all tall trees and straight road, as nameless and featureless as the ocean. Bored, he talked to Lenny for awhile and found him to be moderately entertaining. However, since most of his conversation centered around how many bands he'd driven on tour, how many beers he drank on tour, and how many women he got because he drove the band on tour, Cole lost interest fairly soon.

"The guys have some video games in the back," Lenny told him. "There's a Sony Playstation and an X-Box hooked up. Take your pick."

"Got any books?"

"Might be a couple. The guys are more interested in video entertainment. I've got a lot of movies and a DVD player if you want to see something. I've got connections out of Puerto Rico, I can get just about any movie you want really cheap. Pirated of course, but what the hell?"

"Got paper and a pen?"

"Check the cupboard over the table. Should be some in there."

Cole thanked him and went to search for the paper. He'd just remembered he had a dance he had to choreograph. If he was lucky, he'd have some of it done before he got off the bus.

"Hey, Lenny! Do you have any CD's?"

"Yeah, tons. Whatcha want?"

"Spindle Twisters?"

"Those boy band fags? Yeah. You want the first or second album?"

"The one with the feet and fruit on it."

"That's number one. What you want to listen to that gay, teeny-bop crap for? They suck."

"Because they are paying me an ass load of money to choreograph their tour." He grinned and winked at Lenny. "And I agree, they suck, but the kids like them."

"Not into pop music myself. These guys I like, though." He gestured at the bus, indicating the band. "I go to every concert. They're gonna make it big one day, you mark my words."

Cole listened to the CD, jotting down some notes. He listened again to each song, breaking them down into sections. These he started to diagram, getting more specifics on paper. It kept him occupied for the next few hours while the guys slept or played video games.

"Next stop, Emporia, Virginia," Lenny told them. "We're going up to D.C., staying at some podunk, blow ass motel on the outskirts. But that's the spot to exit for Suffolk. How're you getting where you're going?"

"See a car rental anywhere? I'll buy a damn car if I have to."

They found a car rental place and the bus pulled up in front of it.

"You'll be okay from here?" Tal asked him, concerned.

"I'll be fine. I appreciate this guys, I really do. If I can ever do anything for you, let me know."

"Just invite us to play at the wedding," Chase told him. "Peace, bro!"

They climbed back on the bus and Lenny pulled away with a blast of his horn. Cole took his bags and went to the desk at the car rental. Fifteen minutes later, gassed up and ready, he pulled into traffic heading toward Cheapeake. He hoped Mara would be easy to locate, because his directions weren't the best. He did have a map, that would be a big help. He couldn't help wishing for a GPS. On the off chance she'd be home, he called. There was no answer, but he left a message. He also called work, but the girl on the phone didn't seem to be too on the ball.

"I just know she had to go home," she told him. "Maybe Phoebe knows. Hang on. Hey, Phoebe! Some guy on the phone for Mara."

A moment's pause and he heard the phone be handed to someone else.

"Hello, I'm Phoebe, Mara's assistant. How may I help you?"

"I'm trying to reach Mara. I can't get her at home. Do you know where I can find her?"

"Are you a client?"

"No, a friend. My name is Cole Bayard."

"Oh, my God. No way!" She put her hand over the phone, but Cole could still hear her. "Debbie, it's the flower guy!" There was a lot of excited female screaming and giggling.

"Uh, Phoebe? Do you know where I can reach her?"

"No, but I've got her cell number, do you want it?"

"Actually, I wanted to surprise her. Could you call her and find out for me? Then give me a call back, I'll need some good directions."

©2021 Dellani Oakes

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Fragrance Lingers ~ A Love in the City Romance by Dellani Oakes – Part 35

They sat in companionable silence until Dr. Sandusky came back out to talk to them. "Olivia's decidedly in labor, doing great, and so is the baby. We're going to let her progress naturally for a time, monitoring everything carefully. If we need to, we'll do the C section. Right now I've every hope she'll have this little one by herself."

"Fantastic!" Mara was so excited, she kissed the doctor on the cheek.

Blushing, he ducked his head and looked at his shoes. His eyes wandered to Cissy and he smiled shyly. Kirk Sandusky was about six one and slight of build. He tended to be a little stoop shouldered as if trying to hide inside his lab coat. His hair was dark, wavy, and almost too long. His eyes were jasper colored and glittered with humor and intelligence. Mara caught Cissy's blush, although Kirk didn't see it. She smiled secretively.

"So, Doc, are you busy later?" Mara couldn't believe she was saying the words. "We were thinking about a celebratory dinner and drinks, after Olivia has the baby. Interested?"

Puzzled, Dr. Sandusky blinked at her as if he couldn't focus on her face.

"Are you," Mara repeated, "interested in going to dinner with us?" She pointed to herself and Cissy. "I mean if your wife wouldn't mind."

"I'm not—uh, not married," he stammered.

"Oh, well your girlfriend then?" She smiled sweetly, fluttering her eyelashes.

"Um, uh don't have one of those either," he admitted, blushing deep red.

"Great, are you free? You aren't on call, I hope?"

"I am free, as a matter of fact. I had plans, but I've just canceled them. Olivia needs me here." He smiled shyly.

"Excellent!"

"It's a date then, ladies." Smiling, he left the room and walked to the nurse's station.

Cissy leaped up, grabbing Mara by the sleeve. "What are you doing? He was looking at me!"

"I know! That's why I invited him to dinner. He's sweet, he's adorable and he's got a good job. I'll make some excuse and leave early. Badabing!"

"Mara, you're positively evil!" She hugged her sister, giggling happily. "Thank you." She looked ready to cry.

"If I can see you even half as happy as I am with Cole, then I'll do whatever I can to help out. I want the best for you."

Cissy began to sniffle. "I'm sorry for all the awful things I said."

"Me too. Now stop crying or your eyes will get puffy." She hugged her sister.

"Here you are!" Their mother sounded happily breathless. She was walking with Jeff's support. "Stuart gave me permission to come down here while Olivia's in labor. He'll bring the paperwork for me to sign, so I can check out of this dump." She sat heavily on the nearest chair, gasping slightly, but smiling. "My first grandbaby!" Her eyes sparkled as she thought about the impending event.

Paul arrived shortly after their mother came down. He was breathless, but excited. "I had company," he said with a grin and a slight blush in front of his mother. "Fortunately, she understood. Her sister just had a baby." He became very interested in his shoes.

"Awesome, dude!" Jeff gave him a high five.

The time passed pleasantly for the family. They took turns with Olivia and Toby. When the time came for the baby to be born, Toby called them all in. He was dressed in scrubs and a mask, but they could tell he was grinning.

A few hard pushes later and a beautiful, perfect baby girl was born. She had dark ringlets and mocha colored skin like her mother. The doctor and nurses talked Toby through the cord cutting as Olivia cuddled her newborn.

"Welcome, Amalia Louise," she said quietly.

"I thought we'd agreed on Mary Elizabeth," Toby looked a little disappointed.

"I was thinking," Olivia told him, "as I lay in the bed the last two days. We should name her after our maternal grandmothers. It just seemed appropriate. Amalia for mine and Louise for yours."

"It's a beautiful name," Toby told her, kissing her on the head as the nurse took the baby and weighed and measured her.

"She's twenty-one inches, eight pounds and six ounces," the nurse told them.

The family said their goodbyes and left the new parents alone. Toby would be spending the night and refused to leave.

"I'll bring your things over later," Mara told them. "I have to feed the beasts anyway."

"Thanks, Mara, for everything." Toby hugged and kissed her.

Olivia grabbed her in a hug that nearly broke her neck. "Thank you, Mara."

"Love ya, kid. Thanks for making me an aunt."

She and Cissy walked quietly down to the parking lot, each lost in her own thoughts of motherhood and childbirth. Mara couldn't help thinking of Cole, wondering what their children would look like. With a secret smile, she got in Toby's car and drove to the restaurant to meet Cissy and Dr. Kirk.

Cole slept poorly. The sounds of the airport, though muted, kept him awake. He was used to the sounds of surf and wind, not jet engines. To make matters worse, he had Mara on his mind and her face kept floating in front of him when he drifted off to sleep. He could smell her fragrance and hear the sounds of her moans and gasps when they made love.

©2021 Dellani Oakes

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Fragrance Lingers ~ A Love in the City Romance by Dellani Oakes – Part 34

Mara grinned her thanks. I just bet you do, she thought as she went behind the curtain.

Olivia looked terrible. They had gotten the bleeding stopped and were giving her an IV.

"She didn't need a transfusion," the nurse whispered to Mara. "But she's pretty weak. The doctor is thinking about a C section. We were hoping her husband would be here."

"Let me speak to her and I'll go out and try him again," she said softly. "Hiya, Livi."

"Mara," she smiled weakly and held out her hand. The other was full of needles and she had a pulse monitor on one finger. "Where's Toby?"

"I'm calling him again in just a minute. If I have to, I'll go get him myself."

"Don't leave me," she begged.

"I'll step out long enough to call, honey. They don't like cell phones back here. Okay?"

Olivia nodded slowly and closed her eyes. "I'm not going anywhere." She smiled feebly.

"I'll be right back." She kissed Olivia's forehead and walked outside.

She connected with the same secretary and was told again that she wouldn't interrupt the meeting.

"I want to talk to your superior."

"I don't see what good that will do, Miss Cross," she said crisply.

"Oh, it will do me a world of good. Not so much for you, though. Either I talk to my brother, or to your boss, which is it? Choose in five, four, three...."

The phone clicked and she heard Toby's voice. "Mara? What's wrong?"

She gave him a brief rundown. There was a short pause.

"Gentlemen," she heard him say. "I have to leave. My wife's in the hospital, in labor. I sincerely apologize."

She heard his boss, Frank Campbell. "Don't just stand there, boy. Go have a baby!"

"I'm on the way now, Mara." He hung up and she sighed deeply.

Her next call was to Cissy, who amazingly kept her cool. "I'll get Jeff. You call Paul. I'll be there in ten, I'm walking out the door as we speak."

"Thanks, Cissy."

She hung up and called her brother. He was harder to reach, but when she got hold of him, he promised to be there as soon as possible.

"It's going to take me around thirty to get there. Keep me posted."

"Will do," she went back into the hospital and was shown back to Olivia once more.

A few minutes later, an orderly came to get Olivia to take her upstairs to delivery. He was tall, good looking, and broad shouldered. He wore multiple earrings in each ear that clicked and jingled as he moved. His uniform clung in enticing places as if it had shrunk on him.

"You comfy?" he asked Olivia.

"Mm hm. You married?"

"Nope! You interested?" He flexed his muscles jokingly.

"I'm just here for the ride," she quipped. "But Mara's in the market. You like the goods, Mara?"

Mara eyed him like a prize bull. He flexed and posed for her like a body builder. "Got to admit, it's a tasty view, Liv. Do you have to beat the women off with a stick?"

He laughed quietly, tossing his head back delightedly. "Actually, I just throw my arms wide and invite all comers." He smiled, flashing a mouthful of beautiful teeth. "Here we are, your sumptuous home away from home."

The room was decorated in muted colors, calming beige with mauve and sandy colored stripes. Mara couldn't stand it, but she could see how it would be relaxing.

Dr. Kirk Sandusky walked in a few minutes later. He was putting on a pair of rubber gloves as he walked. A nurse came in behind him.

"I'll need you to step out while I examine Olivia," he told Mara. "I'll call you when we're done. Is Toby coming?"

"He's on his way, and should be here any minute," Mara told him.

As if on cue, Toby burst through the door. "I'm here! Livi, I'm here honey!" He squatted by the bed so she could see him without looking up.

"I'll be outside," Mara told them.

Dr. Sandusky walked over to the bed, smiling at Olivia. "All right, my girl. Let's see if we're having a baby today!"

Mara walked down to the waiting room and sat down. Huddled in a ball, she sat on a couch with her knees pulled up to her chin. Jeff and Cissy walked in quietly, sitting down on either side of her.

"Has anyone told Mom?" Jeff asked.

"I didn't think about it," Mara told him honestly. "I was so worried about Olivia and trying to get Toby, I didn't remember." She told them what had happened with Toby's office.

"I'll go up and see her," Jeff said. "It's okay, Mara. I wouldn't have thought of it in your position, either."

"I hope Toby fires that little bitch," Cissy said. "I had to talk to her when Mom got sick. She wouldn't bother him then, either."

"Someone's been swimming at the bottom of the gene pool too long. How could anyone be that dumb? Family emergencies mean nothing, I guess. If I ever get like that, please hit me."

"Ditto, sis."

©2021 Dellani Oakes

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Fragrance Lingers ~ A Love in the City Romance by Dellani Oakes – Part 33

Mara didn't hear the rest of what she had to say. She headed to the elevator with Jack behind her, trying to pull her back. He reached out and grabbed her sleeve, yanking slightly. The look she gave him when she turned around was devoid of expression, her voice flat and emotionless.

"Let go of my sleeve, Jack."

"But, Mara, I need you to talk to these people."

"Phoebe will do it. Now let me go."

"But, Mara!"

She wrenched her sleeve away from him and hit the button to take her to the ground floor. Jack's face was livid as the doors slid shut. She smiled sweetly as she went down.

She pulled into Toby's driveway less than ten minutes later. He was delighted to see her and gave her a big kiss when she walked in the door.

"She's in the bed watching TV. She's bored out of her mind. I talked to the doctor, he said just to keep her horizontal, and not get her excited. See if you can jolly her up a little, Mara. She's making herself crazy."

"I'll do what I can, Toby. Be careful on the road."

"Will do." He hugged her and left.

"That you, Mara?" Olivia called.

"Yep! What are you up to?"

Mara walked into Toby and Olivia's bedroom expecting Olivia to be lying down. She was sitting up with her feet over the side, trying to get up.

"What are you doing?"

"I need to pee!" She struggled some more.

"All right, let me help you."

Mara was surprised at Olivia's pallor. Usually a rich mocha color, her complexion was ashen and waxy. She didn't look well. Mara helped her to the toilet and waited outside the bathroom door.

"Mara?" It was a tone Mara recognized. Something was wrong. Olivia was on the edge of hysterics.

Bursting into the bathroom, she knelt by Olivia.

"What's wrong?"

"Call the doctor. I'm bleeding."

"Are you in labor?"

"I don't know. Call him."

"Hell with him. We're going to the hospital. I'll call on the way."

"Toby!"

"I'll call him, too."

Mara grabbed some towels and a blanket to keep Olivia warm. She bundled her into the backseat of the car and wrapped her up. As she pulled out of the driveway, she dialed Olivia's OB-GYN on her sister-in-law's cell phone. A short conversation with the nurse confirmed Mara's decision to go to the hospital.

Toby was next, but he couldn't be reached. He was deep in his meeting, and the receptionist didn't dare bother him.

"If his wife suffers because you're a chicken shit," Mara told her, "I wouldn't want to be you. Interrupt the meeting. If they don't understand, fuck 'em." She hung up.

They got to the hospital without incident in about half the time it usually took. Mara pulled up to the emergency entrance and grabbed the first orderly she could find. He came out with a gurney and helped her load Olivia onto it. She was bleeding heavily and by the looks of the towels on the seat, had lost a good amount of blood. Mara piled the towels on the gurney and followed the orderly inside.

"I'll take her, Miss," he told her kindly. "You have to move your car. There's places to the south of the entrance. You can park there."

Nodding, she dashed out the door, moved her car and ran back to the emergency room. Olivia was already being seen, so Mara got her paperwork filled out, staying as calm as she could. Once all the papers were signed, she asked if she could see Olivia.

"I'll check," the receptionist told her.

A short time later, she came out and called Mara back to the cubicle where Olivia was being tended.

"She's going up to the delivery floor in just a few minutes. You can go up with her. Has her husband been notified?"

"I've called him. He was in a meeting, and the girl didn't want to disturb him," her voice dripped with disgust and fury.

The receptionist didn't say what she thought about that, but Mara could tell. She didn't approve any more than Mara did.

"Call him again and I'll talk to her, if you like." Her smile was coldly calculating. "I love taking on uppity secretaries."

©2021 Dellani Oakes

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Fragrance Lingers ~ A Love in the City Romance by Dellani Oakes – Part 32

"When my legs no longer carry, and the warm wind chills my bones, I just reach for Mother Mary and I shall not walk alone."

Before she knew it, she was singing with the strong, gentle, voices softly at first and then with more energy. I Shall Not Walk Alone by Ben Harper, was her favorite gospel song. She could remember singing it with the choir. It gave her the strength she needed knowing that no matter what, she wasn't alone. She had Jesus, her family and Cole. Feeling better, she rose, crossed herself out of habit, and walked back to her mother's room in a better frame of mind.

Toby and her mother were talking quietly and earnestly as she walked in. The conversation stopped abruptly and she sensed they had been discussing her.

"Feeling better now?" Her mother asked, not unkindly. She held out her hand.

Taking her mother's hand, Mara sat on the side of the bed.

"I'm sorry you got so upset, dear," her mother said softly. "Cissy's always been so sensitive about everything. Toby gave me a more accurate account of her behavior this morning. It seems she left a few key points out."

"She always does," Toby interjected.

"In any case, I'm sorry I snapped at you."

"It's okay." She hugged her mother, laying her head on her shoulder.

"The doctor was in while you were gone. He says if I'm a good girl, he'll cut me loose tomorrow evening. You'll be able to get back to your vacation sooner than we anticipated," her mother said softly.

"Not until you're one hundred percent," Mara told her. "I'm not going to make another flight like the last one. It was horrible, not knowing."

"As you wish, dear," Rosaline smiled. "I know arguing with you won't do anything but make me tired. She always was the stubborn one," she said to Toby.

"Yeah, takes after her mother." He chuckled as they both stuck their tongues out at him.

"I think I'd like to go to sleep now," Rosaline said. "I love you, children, but I really need to rest."

"Of course, Mom," they said in unison.

Knowing her mother was better, Mara decided to go into the office the next morning and get the rest of her files done. She didn't want Jack to have any reason to delay her. Phoebe was waiting with a cup of coffee and some muffins on a tray. The files were stacked and color coded; urgent flagged red, moderate were green, and those that could wait were blue. By lunch they had taken quite a chunk out of them, but still weren't done.

"Are they mating in their stacks? I swear, I think we have more than we did when we started," Phoebe complained.

"I was wondering the same thing," Mara sighed heavily. "How did we do this before I left? I feel like I'm off my game."

"We don't have Jack breathing down our necks," Phoebe admitted frankly. "He has great motivating potential."

"True. I wonder why he's been so invisible."

Phoebe raised an eyebrow and looked smug.

"What do you know that you aren't telling me?"

Her assistant leaned over the desk conspiratorially. "He's scared to death he's going to lose you, that's why. He knows what you said to him was true. He needs you a lot more than you need him. He's got some new clients he's hoping to charm into signing with us, but only if you're on board. Now would be a good time to hit him up for a raise." She giggled, taking a sip of her cold coffee.

"Who needs a raise? I just want my vacation." Mara's phone buzzed. "Yes, Debbie?"

"Miss Cross, I've got a call for you on line one."

"Thanks, Deb. Who is it?" She secretly hoped it was Cole.

"I think it's your brother, he didn't say."

"Thanks, Debbie." She clicked the proper button and found herself talking to Toby.

"Mara, thank God! Are you free to stay with Livi? I've gotten called in to a meeting, I can't get out of it. I can't reach her sister, and seems like no one else is available. I knew you were putting in only the half day...."

"Chill, bro. Yes, I'll be there as soon as possible. Do you have to leave yet?"

"No. I can wait about twenty minutes, then I have to go."

"I'll be home in ten." She hung up, grabbed her purse and jacket and headed for the door, explaining to Phoebe as she went.

Jack Simpson was walking toward her with two important looking men in his wake. He blocked Mara's path with a subtle shift of his hips.

"Excuse me, Jack. I was just leaving."

"Mara, I've got some people I wanted you to meet."

"Jack, at any other time I'd be delighted. But I've got a family emergency. I'll see you later."

"But, Mara, wait!" He practically ran after her.

The confused clients stood by Debbie's desk. Phoebe walked over and introduced herself.

"I'm Miss Cross' personal assistant. Let me make her apologies. Her mother is in the hospital and her sister-in-law is quite ill. Complications with her pregnancy. I'm sure you understand." She didn't much care if they did or not, she was trying to deflect them. "I work very closely with Miss Cross. May I answer any questions you might have?"

©2021 Dellani Oakes

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Fragrance Lingers ~ A Love in the City Romance by Dellani Oakes – Part 31

 

Toby woke Mara around eight o'clock in the evening. "Hey, sleepy, time to go see Mom. Brush your hair and take a pee, then come down. We're running late."

"Yes, Dad, I'll be right down."

She took his advice, also brushing her teeth and putting on lip gloss. She was ready in less than ten minutes and plodded down the stairs wearily.

"Livi's not going?" She looked around for her sister-in-law.

"She's not feeling so hot. I think the stress and running around the last couple days has caught up with her. She went to bed with her feet elevated."

"Will she be all right here alone?"

"Her sister's coming over. She has a key, so Liv won't have to get up. She'll be okay, Polly should be here any second."

They heard a car pull up outside. It was Olivia's sister. She was carrying a heavy backpack full of books and a grocery bag of junk food.

"I figure if I'm going to be here, I'll take the time to study. I'll keep an eye on her, Toby. Don't worry. Women have babies every day."

"Yeah, I know. Thanks Polly." He hugged her, giving her a kiss on the cheek.

"Good to see you, Mara." She waved and went in the dining room, plopping her stuff down on the table. She was heading to the bedroom to check on Olivia when they left.

Traffic wasn't too bad on their way to the hospital, but they had a hard time finding a parking place. They ended up parking quite far from the building, but found one of the shuttles to take them up to the front door.

"Jeff called while you were sleeping. He said Mom has been moved to a room."

"Fantastic! When will she be allowed to go home?"

"Probably day after tomorrow. She should be up and walking around soon."

"That's great news!" Mara was grinning happily when she and Toby got off the elevator. Relief was a far better companion than worry.

Their mother was sitting up in bed, the color back in her face. She looked so much better, Mara almost wept. She kissed her mother's cheek and sat on the edge of the bed while Toby explained why Olivia wasn't with them.

"That baby is coming sooner than the doctors think," Rosaline said with confidence. "Having had five of you, I know what I'm talking about. They told me Mara would be born in September and there's my little August baby. The only one they got right was Toby. In fact he was born on his due date! That doesn't happen often, I can tell you."

"So where are they boys and Cissy?" Mara asked.

"I told your brothers to go home and rest. They've been here all day. Cissy said she isn't coming. What's wrong with that girl now? She said her feelings were hurt."

"My fault," Mara waved her hand. "She was having one of her maddening spells earlier, and we kind of ganked her. I'll apologize and see if I can get her to calm down."

"She sounded genuinely upset, Mara. This wasn't just one of Cissy's hysterical scenes. Something you said really hurt her feelings."

Mara explained her argument with Cissy. "I'm sorry if I hurt her, but she said some nasty things to me, as well."

"It sounds like an awful conversation all the way around," Toby agreed. "Cissy was in a state this morning. I guess we were all kind of harsh."

"I'm finding it hard to be very sympathetic," Mara said, her anger rising. "She said horrible things to me, and I'm not sitting around snuffling with my feelings hurt." She got up and started to pace, then decided that wouldn't be the nicest thing to do in front of her mother. "I'll be back in a moment. I'm getting a cup of coffee."

Her mother and Toby didn't try to stop her. They realized she needed a chance to calm down. Mara couldn't understand why her mother seemed to be siding with Cissy. Her sister had started the confrontation and the argument. Mara had defended herself. Probably, as usually happened, Cissy put herself in the best light, making Mara look like the villain.

She stopped and leaned against a wall, unwanted tears falling fast and furious down her cheeks. She was angry with Cissy for causing this much discontent. Her vacation had been intended to relieve stress, instead she felt even more burdened than before. Normally, she would have called her mother and cried until she felt better, but that option wasn't open to her. She couldn't call Livi, either.

Hurt and frustrated, she bought a cup of coffee and walked back to her mother's room, trying hard to wipe her tears and stop hyperventilating. She was getting concerned looks from visitors and hospital staff, but she couldn't quit sobbing. Her steps took her toward the chapel. On an impulse, she headed to the door, throwing her untouched coffee into a nearby trash can. Soft music was playing in the background filling the cool air with the comforting strains of familiar gospel songs wrapped around her. She walked to the nearest pew and knelt on the kneeling bench. It wasn't the most comfortable, but she had to stop and think in solitude for a few minutes. Kneeling seemed the best position to do that.

It had been years since she'd been to church. It was yet another casualty of her career. Jack didn't care what day it was, if a project was on a deadline. She found herself resenting him along with Cissy's histrionics and tried hard to force both from her mind. She focused on the music, the tune was familiar and she tried to remember the name. Words started to form in her mind, allowing themselves to flow with the instrumental music.

©2021 Dellani Oakes

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Fragrance Lingers ~ A Love in the City Romance by Dellani Oakes – Part 30

Cole chuckled. "Too true, the lady has high expectations."

They walked to the front desk of the hotel. He and Mitch went together to find their rooms.

"I come through here and Miami a lot. I own a company out of Jacksonville, but we have branches in the Islands, down here and Miami as well."

"What business are you in?"

Mitch chuckled and hitched up his belt. "I am the Sno-Cone King," he said proudly. "My company supplies all the products necessary to make Sno-Cones: ice shavers, syrups, paper cones, the works."

"Fantastic! I'll be sure to raise a toast to you, the next time I have one."

Dinner was delicious. They found a steak house in Orlando that Mitch recommended. "Has the best T-bone in the state," he said with the authority of a man who traveled a lot and ate out often.

They walked into the dark interior, finding it difficult to see for a moment as their eyes adjusted. The hostess approached with menus and a big smile.

"Hey there, Mitch!" She hugged him warmly.

"Hey, Brandi!" He returned the hug and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Meet my friend, Cole."

She had dark hair piled loosely on top of her head and was wearing a skimpy tank top with Daisy Dukes shorts. She was well built and young enough to be trouble. Cole kept his hands and his lips to himself as she hugged him too. The band was just warming up and Cole hoped they'd be good. He needed some music to distract him. As they walked past, the drummer leaned forward to stare at him.

"Cole? Is that you?"

"Chase? By God! Good to see you!"

It was one of the bands Red represented. He introduced Mitch to the guys and Brandi seated them near the stage. Cole had to admit he was glad they were the ones playing. Their music was upbeat and easy to listen to, along the lines of an indie-folk blend.

"Talk to you after the set," the front man, Tal, told him.

"See you then."

Cole sat back and enjoyed the music while they waited for their meal. Brandi brought them on sizzling platters complete with potatoes and fresh, hot bread. The steaks were great and done to perfection. Cole sat quietly, hardly speaking to his companion unless Mitch initiated a conversation.

After dinner, over coffee and the best Key Lime pie he'd ever tasted, he apologized. "I'm sorry, Mitch. I'm terrible company. Everywhere I look, I'm seeing Mara walk by, hearing her laugh.... Sometimes, I turn my head, and I catch the fragrance of her perfume. I'm losing my mind."

"Cole, I'm inclined to agree with you. But I understand. When you meet the right woman, things just don't go right until you're together. I've had my share of bad relationships. I didn't find Sally right away. After Leslie, I went into a slump, and thought my best way to drag myself out, was to bed every woman I could find."

"Did that work?"

"No." The old man chuckled. "But it was a hell of a ride. Which ended abruptly when I contracted a furious case of the clap. I got more careful after that."

The band finished their set and several of them came to sit down by Mitch and Cole. The restaurant was fairly empty since it was still somewhat early. They had a pitcher of beer brought to the table and sipped thirstily for several minutes.

"So, Cole. Why are you in Orlando? I thought you were helping with the vid for that other band." Tal snapped his fingers, trying to remember the name. "Larkspur?"

"Spurlack," Cole chuckled. He'd told the band more than once to change its name, but they didn't want to.

"Does that mean anything?"

"Not a clue. Means nothing to me but a fat paycheck. As to why I'm here, long story short, I missed my flight. I was supposed to go to Miami and head to Virginia."

"Bummer! So what's in Virginia?" Chase asked him.

"Prettiest brunette I've ever met. She hooked me good and proper." He sighed, thinking of Mara's smooth skin and sweet lips. "Damn," he cursed softly. "You had to make me think of her, didn't you?"

"So, exactly where?" This from Tal.

"Chesapeake."

"Well, it's not much, but I can offer you a ride up as far as Emporia, Virginia with us. We've got a gig up in D.C. not tomorrow, but the next night. We leave in the morning. We're on the tour bus, so it's not as quick as a flight, but it's an option. At least you'd be heading in the right direction."

"You'd do that for me?" Cole was touched and amazed.

"You're like family, bro. You and Red take good care of us. Anything we can do to repay you, we'll do."

"It's a karma thing," Chase told them. "You make good karma, it comes your way. Sounds corny, but it works, man!"

"You staying for the next set?"

Mitch and Cole exchanged looks. "Why not? I've got nowhere pressing to go. Do you, Cole?"

"No, but will they let us stay that long? We're taking up a table."

"I know the owner pretty well," Mitch told him with a wink. "I married his sister. We're among family. We can stay as long as we like."

©2021 Dellani Oakes

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