“cute.”
Puppies, kittens and babies could be cute; women are either “beautiful” or
“have a good personality.” Cute is a passive way of calling a woman “not
beautiful, but likeable nevertheless.” No grown woman wants to be called
“cute.” Jenna surmised the cabin felt the same about being called “charming.”
The Jax family had owned
this house since the 60’s, when Shawn’s first single topped the Billboard
Charts. They came here on their way to a tour date in San Francisco and got snowed
in. Shawn ended up spending a few days learning to ski in this teeny resort
town and fell in love. For the first time in his life, he could afford to
splurge. So he bought a little cabin on the lake. Over the years, the other
small cabins peppering the lake’s shores were torn down and replaced by gaudy
monstrosities, but Shawn loved his little cabin in the forest with its perfect
lake views, private pier, and his very own boat garage. Jenna adored her
father’s whimsy when it came to this cabin and the mountain lifestyle he found
refuge in, but now, feeling the winter cold soar through the single pane
windows, she wished he had splurged on a few renovations. She padded lightly to
the kitchen to begin foraging for food and more importantly, coffee. None. Anywhere.
No coffee maker? No toaster? What had she done? She pulled at her hair from the roots
and felt the first twinges of caffeine withdrawal coming on. Sure, she needed
some time alone, but not in lieu of civilization.
“Hello?” came a voice with a little courtesy
knock as the front door swung open. Zach peeked his head around the corner into
the kitchen.
“Coffee?
Breakfast burrito?”
“You’re a
lifesaver!” She said, nearly bowling him over with a hug. He handed her a giant foil wrapped
burrito, chuckling as she devoured it.
“I’m lucky you didn’t take off my hand,” he said.
“Sorry,” she
blushed. “Thank you … again.”
“I knew you
didn’t have a car,” he shrugged. “And I figured there wouldn’t be anything edible in the
house—except maybe some Twinkies from 1985. I’m heading down to Reno to grab a few
things. Wanna come?”
“Sure! She
made a list (she couldn’t give up all organization) and let Zach run her all
over Reno until every last item was checked off. She got a toaster, blender, espresso
maker, thick warm-trapping curtains, bath towels, and even found an organic
supermarket to get her pesticide-free veggies, meatless ground, tempeh and
liquid aminos that she absolutely positively could
not live without. As she draped the last curtain over the brushed nickel rod,
she admired her progress. Things looked better from up here. She made a mental
list of things to ask Zach (Best breakfast place? Best coffee? How to fix the
lights?) Once everything was neatly checked off her list, all clean and
orderly, then she could tackle unpacking her emotional baggage. It was only
logical to create a tranquil environment before battening down the hatches.
Chapter 13
“I need to
take some time off,” Alex said. Simon stopped his furious typing and looked up
from his phone.
“Are you
crazy, mate? The tour is completely sold out!” Before Alex could respond, Simon
continued, “Look, in 6 weeks it will be over. Done. And then you can take as
much time as you need. But it don’t do well to dwell on it now do it? No. Tell
you what. There were some nice girls backstage just waitin ’
to talk to you … maybe you could go out with them. Get your mind off things.”
“No. I’m
done. I’m going to save my marriage. Tonight’s my last show.” Zach turned on
his heel, striding off down the long hotel hallway.
Before the
elevator doors shut, Simon jammed his stubby hand through. His face was
different, the smooth salesman façade gone, revealing an angry Welshman who
looked a brass knuckle away from busting someone’s kneecaps.
“You listen
to me. Listen good . You’re gonna finish this tour.
Puppies, kittens and babies could be cute; women are either “beautiful” or
“have a good personality.” Cute is a passive way of calling a woman “not
beautiful, but likeable nevertheless.” No grown woman wants to be called
“cute.” Jenna surmised the cabin felt the same about being called “charming.”
The Jax family had owned
this house since the 60’s, when Shawn’s first single topped the Billboard
Charts. They came here on their way to a tour date in San Francisco and got snowed
in. Shawn ended up spending a few days learning to ski in this teeny resort
town and fell in love. For the first time in his life, he could afford to
splurge. So he bought a little cabin on the lake. Over the years, the other
small cabins peppering the lake’s shores were torn down and replaced by gaudy
monstrosities, but Shawn loved his little cabin in the forest with its perfect
lake views, private pier, and his very own boat garage. Jenna adored her
father’s whimsy when it came to this cabin and the mountain lifestyle he found
refuge in, but now, feeling the winter cold soar through the single pane
windows, she wished he had splurged on a few renovations. She padded lightly to
the kitchen to begin foraging for food and more importantly, coffee. None. Anywhere.
No coffee maker? No toaster? What had she done? She pulled at her hair from the roots
and felt the first twinges of caffeine withdrawal coming on. Sure, she needed
some time alone, but not in lieu of civilization.
“Hello?” came a voice with a little courtesy
knock as the front door swung open. Zach peeked his head around the corner into
the kitchen.
“Coffee?
Breakfast burrito?”
“You’re a
lifesaver!” She said, nearly bowling him over with a hug. He handed her a giant foil wrapped
burrito, chuckling as she devoured it.
“I’m lucky you didn’t take off my hand,” he said.
“Sorry,” she
blushed. “Thank you … again.”
“I knew you
didn’t have a car,” he shrugged. “And I figured there wouldn’t be anything edible in the
house—except maybe some Twinkies from 1985. I’m heading down to Reno to grab a few
things. Wanna come?”
“Sure! She
made a list (she couldn’t give up all organization) and let Zach run her all
over Reno until every last item was checked off. She got a toaster, blender, espresso
maker, thick warm-trapping curtains, bath towels, and even found an organic
supermarket to get her pesticide-free veggies, meatless ground, tempeh and
liquid aminos that she absolutely positively could
not live without. As she draped the last curtain over the brushed nickel rod,
she admired her progress. Things looked better from up here. She made a mental
list of things to ask Zach (Best breakfast place? Best coffee? How to fix the
lights?) Once everything was neatly checked off her list, all clean and
orderly, then she could tackle unpacking her emotional baggage. It was only
logical to create a tranquil environment before battening down the hatches.
Chapter 13
“I need to
take some time off,” Alex said. Simon stopped his furious typing and looked up
from his phone.
“Are you
crazy, mate? The tour is completely sold out!” Before Alex could respond, Simon
continued, “Look, in 6 weeks it will be over. Done. And then you can take as
much time as you need. But it don’t do well to dwell on it now do it? No. Tell
you what. There were some nice girls backstage just waitin ’
to talk to you … maybe you could go out with them. Get your mind off things.”
“No. I’m
done. I’m going to save my marriage. Tonight’s my last show.” Zach turned on
his heel, striding off down the long hotel hallway.
Before the
elevator doors shut, Simon jammed his stubby hand through. His face was
different, the smooth salesman façade gone, revealing an angry Welshman who
looked a brass knuckle away from busting someone’s kneecaps.
“You listen
to me. Listen good . You’re gonna finish this tour.
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