Walk of Shame by O. L. Gregory

another, trying to get my foot in the door, and for the occasional
meetings. And that meant hotel rooms. And that had expenses piling up. So, that
had me thinking to relocate, but I had been getting nibbles in a couple
different cities and I didn't know which place would be better for me to move
to. But then I found, as the years moved on and as I got past the nibble stage
more and more, they were content with small internet meetings. And that opened
up some options for me. I got the fifth wheel and now park it in whatever area
looks interesting, and move it when I have to go a physical meeting, camping as
close to the city as I can."
    "Does your music change as
your surroundings do?"
    "Oh, definitely. And it was
the right decision for me. Otherwise, I'd have ended up living in a tiny
apartment in a city and I'd be suffocating from it."
    "I hear that."
    "How did you end up
RVing?"
    "I guess I just got tired at
looking at travel brochures. I watched the Travel Channel growing up and didn't
want my view of the world to be tied down to a box in the corner of the room.
My writing actually got started from me picturing myself in all these other
places and imagining what kind of life I might have, living there."
    "Very nice."        
    "Thank you."
    Drake was getting looks from the
other guys. "I think I better move on and let someone else have a
turn."
    "Can't have the natives
getting restless."
    Yamid must have found his
courage, because he swooped up to the platform, cutting off one of the other
guys.
    This guy just wasn't racking any
points up with me tonight. I have a thing about rude people. I don't like them.
    He helped himself to a seat.
"This is a very different kind of meeting than I'm used to," he said.
    I smiled. "For me, as
well."
    "I am not used to the woman
controlling the situation."
    Aha. "Well I make it
a policy to not let anyone control me. If I don't agree with what's going on, I
walk away."
    "You would not expect your
husband to make decisions?"
    "Yes, but to make them with
me, not for me."
    He made a face.
    I made one back.
    He was back to not saying
anything.
    "What brought you to coming
on the show?" I asked, because I was genuinely curious at this point.
    "My friends suggested that I
apply."
    "Have you ever watched
it?"
    "No. But I understand that
you pick who will be the best husband for yourself, the best provider and
caretaker."
    'Caretaker'? Are you freaking
kidding me? I thought. "What kind of work do you do?"
    "My family owns a few
hotels."
    "And you do what for
them?"
    "I travel among them. I'm
the main accountant. I double check the books and handle all the taxes."
    "How far spread out are the
hotels?"
    "They're along the east
coast. They're spread from North Carolina to New York."
    "So, you're tied to that
region. You don't really get out into the middle of the country, do you?"
    "No, not really. But, as
part of the owner's family, I do get to stay in a suite whenever I'm at a
particular hotel for a few days auditing the books."
    "That sounds lovely." I
stared down at the assortment of flowers on the table. They had four different
colors laid out, red, pink, pale pink, and white.
    "And if you're just
traveling back and forth between hotels, you probably stay at the same sites as
you have before."
    "Of course, I am a preferred
customer. I get the best sites."
    "You also probably own your
own home, as well."
    "Oh, yes. I have a condominium
on the waterfront. My family all own condos in the same community."
    "Keeping the family
together."
    "Yes."
    "Are there any other
traditions your family maintains here in the US?"
    "Everyone in my family wears
the traditional garb. It is far more modest."
    I picked up a white carnation and
a pin. "The lady's clothing is absolutely gorgeous. I've seen some with
exquisite detailing."
    Finally he'd found something to
smile about. "Are you skilled with a needle and thread? My sister is quite
good at doing the embroidery work. I'm sure she'd be happy to teach