Home to Stay by Maryann Jordan

11

“I can’t believe how she runs the grade-level meetings,” Paula laughed. “I have a better time communicating with my third-graders! I honestly thought about talking to the principal but we’re so close to the end of the year and Bonnie’s term as grade-level chair is up, so I’ll just suck it up and deal.”

“I’m lucky. Cindy is great. In fact, she’s so good, she’s been our leader for three years.” Lucy opened a soda, handing it to Paula before opening another one for herself.

“Oh, I love this song!” Paula turned the radio up, bouncing in her seat in time to the music.

Lucy laughed, loving the lighthearted atmosphere of their drive. They traveled on roads through thick forests once they left Portland heading north. The spring morning was cool, the trees were green, and the sky peeking through the forest overhead was bright blue. As always, she was reminded how much she loved Maine. Other people talked about the sun and fun of the east coast beaches, the great canyons of the west, and the charm of the south, but being born and raised in Maine, she didn’t mind visiting other places but loved her gorgeous northern state.

The trip reminded her of others she and Paula had taken in the last couple of years. Their conversation was easy, sprinkled with laughter, gossip, and listening to music.

“I can’t believe I snagged tickets for this music festival. There are two headliner bands, about six or seven smaller ones, and I’ve already checked out the venue in the park. Once we get our hands stamped going through the gates, we can move about freely. Food trucks, shop vendors, everything. And we have VIP passes for great seats just to the side of the stage.”

“How on earth did you score those?”

Paula laughed as she looked over and winked. “It helps to know people in the right places.”

“So that’s what you call it when you get cozy with some of the band members?”

“You know it, girl!”

After several hours, they reached the border crossing into Canada between Canaan and Hereford. Paula slowed to a stop, and Lucy was glad traffic was not heavy. It only took a few minutes and they made it to the customs agents, answering a few questions. Lucy watched as one of the agents with his dog on a leash walked slowly around their car before they were waved to move on.

“I know it’s probably irrational, but I always get nervous when I see the drug dogs. It doesn’t matter that I have nothing, we have nothing… there’s that fear the dog will suddenly start barking.”

Paula glanced to the side and nodded. “Well, I’m sure the drug runners know how to get drugs across the border without stuffing them right in the car that goes under the nose of an agent.”

Lucy blinked, twisting her head to the side to stare at her friend. “Wow, Paula, that in no way makes me feel better!”

A bark of laughter came from Paula as she shrugged. “I’m just saying I think the serious smugglers know how to get around these borders.”

Soon, they entered Sherbrooke, and Paula drove carefully through the streets as they made their way with GPS to the downtown area, getting them as close to the Jacques-Cartier Park as possible. But they were not the only festival goers with this idea, and she had to park almost six blocks away.

“It’s okay,” Lucy assured. “After being in the car for several hours, I need to walk anyway.”

“I’m only thinking about when the concert is over and we’ve been drinking. I have a feeling tonight I’ll hate having to get all the way to the car!”

Lucy hopped from the vehicle, ready to be out of Paula’s small car, and turned to grab her bag. She had traded her purse for a small backpack and double-checked to make sure she had her wallet and phone. “Come on, let’s go. I’m starving.”

Paula grabbed her bag and nodded. “You’re right. Let’s get inside, find the VIP spot, and then hit the food trucks!”

The two wandered down the sidewalk of the city, soon coming to the park. Grass, trees, and a pond all combined to give the festival site a beautiful venue. The signs were in French, but since Paula was bilingual and Lucy knew enough French to get by, they had no problem finding their way around.

On their way to the VIP section, the scents emitting from the food trucks had Lucy’s mouth watering. “I’ve got to stop now. Anyway, the lines aren’t long.” She headed to a vendor selling crepes, deciding on savory ones while Paula bought fish and chips. They got enough for both of them before walking to the beer vendors. Once their arms were full, they sat on the grass and divided the food between them. The sun was shining, the sound of children laughing filled the air, and one of the bands in the distance provided the perfect backdrop.

While Paula kept up a running monologue about the bands, Lucy, with her belly now full, allowed her mind to wander—and it didn’t have to wander far to land on John. A little smile graced her face as she thought of being here with him and wondered what kind of music he liked. She wondered how his job interview went. And she worried. Even if he hadn’t bounced between hot and cold with her, she couldn’t turn off her emotions so quickly.

“Earth to Lucy.”

She jumped, jerking her head to see Paula laughing.

“Your mind was a million miles away, and I have a feeling it had to do with the elusive soldier.”

“I was just letting the sun soak into me, thinking what a perfect day this is.” There was a time when she was more certain of her friendship with Paula that she would have been truthful, but now the lie fell easily from her tongue, not wanting to share her thoughts of John. She sucked in her lips as she watched Paula lean back with her hands planted on the ground behind her. When a man walked by and glanced her way, she shook her long, blonde hair over her shoulders and arched slightly, making her breasts push upward, then laughed when the man’s gaze dropped to her chest. Has she always been so desperate for male attention? Professionally paired together a couple of years ago, they’d started hanging together. But is it a true friendship or am I just someone Paula hangs out with because she doesn’t make girlfriends easily? Deciding the day was too beautiful for such deep questions, she turned her attention back to the delicious food.

After they finished eating and tossed their trash, they walked to the VIP seats to the side of the stage. Obtaining passes, they grabbed seats and settled in, enjoying the band that was playing. An hour later, it was time for one of the headliner bands, and as they took the stage, Paula was dancing in the aisle, singing along. Lucy laughed as Paula pulled her to her feet. “That’s him… that’s the one I slept with. Gorgeous, isn’t he?” Paula shouted, pointing to the lead singer as others around lifted their brows or their drinks toward her.

Hands in the air, dancing and laughing, Lucy gave herself over to the music, having to admit that Paula was right—the band was great and the lead singer was gorgeous.

Paula disappeared when the band left the stage, promising to be back soon. Certain that Paula was off to see if the lead singer wanted a private repeat performance, Lucy wandered off to find the restrooms and then meandered through the vendor stalls. She found a silversmith displaying his jewelry and bought a pair of earrings for her mother’s upcoming birthday. Making her way back through the area of food trucks, she got in line for the crepes again, this time choosing one with strawberries and melted chocolate. Grabbing a handful of napkins, she devoured the treat, moaning in delight and not caring if her fingers were sticky by the end. Checking the time on her phone, she hoped Paula was back from her tryst and headed to the VIP section again, hearing the final headliner band introduced.

Arriving, she spied Paula on her feet, swaying to the music, and grinned. As she approached, her feet stumbled to a halt at the sight of who was sitting in her seat: the biker from Moose’s Bar the other night.

“Lucy!” Paula screamed, her eyes wide and slightly glassy as she lurched forward, throwing her arms around her. “Look who I found! What a coincidence! I had no idea Griz was here.” Paula dragged her closer, and the man stood. Much taller and bigger than she realized, Lucy’s head leaned back as she took him in.

“Griz?”

“Yeah,” he rumbled, his gaze penetrating while he maintained a stone-faced expression.

She licked her dry lips, not knowing what to say.

Paula giggled. “Griz is short for um… Grizzly because he… well, eats like a bear.” She leaned forward, her words slurring slightly. “What he likes to eat… well, you can imagine he gives it good.”

“Paula!” Lucy bit out, shifting to the side so she could speak without Griz or whoever he was listening. “You just happened to run into him? You had no idea he was here? And he’s in the VIP section? Come on, how stupid do you think I am?”

“Honestly,” she pouted, “I didn’t know he would be here. You may have some kind of biker prejudice, but I don’t.”

Paula shifted her gaze over Lucy’s shoulder then back again, but Lucy refused to turn around, praying Griz was keeping his distance so she could talk some sense into her friend. “Don’t flip this onto me. From the patches on his jacket, I don’t think he belongs to a bike club. I don’t trust him.”

“Well, I do.”

Rearing back, she pinched her lips together. “Paula, you’ve had so much to drink, you’re already swaying.”

Paula giggled. “I know. Geoff from the band smoked a bit and then when I ran into Griz, we’ve had some drinks.”

“What about us? You and me? Girls' day? Remember that?”

The smile fell from Paula’s face. “You always want things to be about you, Lucy. Well, I want to have fun.”

“And now I’m driving us home because you got high?”

“Well,” Paula began, dropping her eyes to her shoes, chewing on her bottom lip. “I got a hotel room. It’s not far from here.”

“You got a hotel room?” Lucy didn’t attempt to keep the incredulity from her voice. “We were going back tonight. Why did you get a room?”

“I’d already reserved one just in case we were tired. But Griz wants to hang out with me, and I really want to spend time with him.” Paula dug around in her purse, pulling out her phone. “Here it is. It’s at the Hotellerie Jardins de Ville. It’s nice, honest. You can crash there tonight, and we’ll head back tomorrow.”

“You’re ditching me? For someone you’ve been warned might be dangerous?”

“Christ, Lucy! Leave me alone. I’m a grown-ass woman living my life. I wanted to share a nice time with you, which we did. The drive. Lunch. The concert. Now I want to hang with someone else.”

Lucy wondered if someone’s head could explode from frustration, and if so, if hers was about to. Sucking in her lips, she steeled her spine, drawing herself up. “Fine. I’ll go to the hotel. You do whatever. And tomorrow, we’ll head home. But no more trips, Paula. No more playing your wingman.”

“Oh, Lucie-goosy, don’t be like that,” Paula whined.

“What room?”

Huffing, Paula pulled up her phone and turned the screen around, showing the reservation. “Two-oh-three.”

Jerking away, she refused to look at Griz, terrified that the scathing glare she wanted to send his way would not be taken kindly. Even if Paula had no fear, Lucy did.

The sun was setting as she used the GPS on her phone, walked out of the park, and made her way along the sidewalks of Sherbrooke until she came to the hotel. Standing on the outside, she breathed a sigh of relief. Paula had been right, it looked nice. Not fancy, but nice.

Standing in the shadows underneath a tree, she searched her heart, trying to decide if she had been fair to Paula. She is a grown woman. I’m not her keeper. She can do what she wants… she can do who she wants. But no matter what she told herself, it hurt that Paula had lied, manipulated the situation, and dragged Lucy along for the company when the outcome was to meet up with Griz. Griz for grizzly bear… Oh, my God. Rolling her eyes, she stepped forward, marching into the lobby.

Using her basic French, she managed to get the key to room 203 with little difficulty, surprised to discover that it was already paid for. She had been so disgusted with Paula, she assumed that as the first one there, she’d have to fork over the money. Thanking the receptionist, she turned and saw the elevator next to her. The doors opened almost immediately, and she stepped in, glancing at herself in the mirrored walls. Her face registered as much irritation as she felt. Once on the second floor, she stepped out, and with a quick scan of the room number sign, walked toward the last room at the far end of the hall. Sliding her card into the lock, she stopped at the sound of motorcycles filling the evening air as a large group rolled into the parking lot.

Leaning to look down through the window next to her door at the end of the hall, she watched as a group of men climbed off their bikes, a few women with them. The men all had black leather vests and jackets, and she could see a few with the same insignia as Griz. The accompanying women appeared to be in two camps: those in similar jackets as the men—and there were only a couple of them—or those attired in skintight clothing that left nothing to the imagination. Dropping her chin to her chest, she wondered if Paula was right. Have I become biker-prejudiced? Forcing Paula’s accusation out of her mind, she jerked her head up. No, I’m not. My brother rides, for Christ’s sake. But John didn’t trust these guys, and that’s good enough for me.

Turning to the room door again, she swung the door open, ready for a hot shower and to crash onto the bed. Her feet ground to a halt at the sight in front of her. A few clothes were scattered about the room: jeans, a couple of black T-shirts, and black leather jackets with patches sewn on the back. Her gaze swept over the room and landed on the small table in the corner. Small bags of white powder, three guns, and a pile of money lay on the table. Oh, shit! Her heart began to pound, her breath rushing from her lungs.

The sound of shower water running in the bathroom hit her ears, and she stumbled backward. Shit, wrong room! Looking up at the door as she backed away in haste, she confirmed it was 203. This is the room Paula reserved. The water turned off, and she continued to back away quickly, her feet tripping over each other in her haste to retreat, closing the door behind her.

She looked down the hall, saw no one, and quick-walked silently over the patterned carpet toward the stairs. After passing the elevator, she heard it ding its arrival, and not trusting who might be on the elevator, she raced the last ten feet to push open the stairwell door. Heart pounding, she peeked out to observe a group of the bikers get off the elevator and walk toward the far end of the hall from where she had just come.

Her stomach dropped as she stared in stunned horror as two of the men entered room 203, hearing one of them laugh deeply as he mentioned Griz being busy that night so he wouldn’t be back for a while. Lucy plastered her back against the wall, uncertain her legs would hold her upright. It was Griz’s room. Or one of his friend’s rooms. Paula pawned it off on me just to get me away from her and Griz. I could’ve been in there. I could’ve been in there in the shower or the bed when those men came in. And Paula never thought about that. Or she didn’t care.

Lucy lifted her hand, her fingers fisting as they pressed against her chest, her body beginning to shake. Whether in anger or fear, rage or frustration, she had no idea. Maybe it was all of the emotions swirling inside of her. Uncertain what to do, she jolted into action, racing back down the stairs and into the lobby. More bikers were standing near the reception desk. Not wanting to be seen, she darted around a column behind a large decorative plant in a huge pot. Dropping into a chair behind the thick leaves of the plant, she grabbed a newspaper lying on a nearby table. Staying seated, she peered over the paper and between the fronds of the plant, hoping no one noticed her.

Forcing her heartbeat to slow, she sorted through various scenarios, but none of them were good. Paula knew someone would be in the room. Or Paula knew someone else could get in. Paula planned all along to meet with Griz at the concert. Did Paula know about the drugs and the guns?

Regardless of what Paula did or didn’t know, Lucy was sure of one thing. I can’t wait onher to show up in the morning. I’ve got to get out of here!

The lobby finally cleared as some of the bikers headed to the elevator and others called out goodbyes and left through the front door. Reaching into her bag with a still-shaking hand, she pulled out her phone.