Love Resolution

So much for serenity. Avery wandered restlessly through the rooms of the suite trying not to watch the clock. Marcus had gone downstairs to run on the treadmill. She scrolled through the songs on her iPod. Usually listening to music helped her unwind, but even the Foo Fighters couldn’t do that for her right now. She yanked out her ear buds, sighed, and slammed the music device down on the coffee table. She felt trapped inside the walls of the hotel.

I need some fresh air.

Remembering Marcus’ directive not to go anywhere alone, she pulled out her cell and tried Sam’s number. It went straight to voicemail. JR’s was the same way. She smirked. They were probably together. She paced some more. There was no real reason she couldn’t go out by herself. She grabbed her hoodie from the back of the sectional, swiped her room key off of the glass topped table in the foyer, and pulled open the door.

“Oh,” she exclaimed in surprise, hand to her chest. “You scared me, Ray.”

“Sorry,” he apologized, straightening his black leather coat and pushing away from the hall wall where he’d been leaning. “Where’re you headed?”

“KeyArena.”

“Is it time for sound check already?” Ray asked glancing at his watch.

“No. Not yet. But I thought I might go check it out early. Maybe hear Tempest play.”

“Alright. I’ll take you over and come back for Marcus later.”

“I don’t want you to make an extra trip.” She shook her head. “I’ll just take one of the chauffeured SUV’s.”

“No can do, Avery.” Ray had a sheepish look on his face. “Marcus’ instructions were for me to keep an eye on you.”

“I can take care of myself,” she said indignantly, hands on her hips. “I’m a grown woman, Ray. He needs to stop treating me as if I’m a child.”

“Don’t be mad. I don’t think he means it that way,” Ray assured her. “He’s just wants to be sure you’re safe.”

“You’re probably right,” she relented. “Ok. I certainly don’t want you to get into trouble on my account.”

“How’s your father today?” Ray fell into step beside her as she walked to the elevators.

“I haven’t checked,” she said softly as the elevator opened and she walked in. “We aren’t really close.” She glanced over at him. “He used to knock me and my brother around.”

“I figured as much. I overheard some things when I picked you and your brother up at the airport.” His brow creased. “No child should have to grow up like that, Avery.”

The elevator was uncomfortably silent as they began to descend to the parking garage.

Ray cleared his throat. “I know I’ve told you how my mom basically raised me on her own, but I’ve never told you why. My father wasn’t abusive, but he was never really there. He and my mom always had a rocky relationship. He slept around on her. It got so bad that he stopped coming home for days at a time. Eventually my mom had enough. They got divorced when I was thirteen. After that I resented him for a long time. He was always distant and emotionally detached. Sure he’d help with financial stuff every once in a while when his conscious pricked him but that was it. Nothing reliable. He never pursued a relationship with me. Then he died when I was over in Kuwait.” He sighed. “Anyway, the reason I shared all that was to tell you what my mom told me when I got back stateside.”

Avery’s eyes met his as he continued.

“She said, ‘Ray, you gotta let it go. In this world, people like your father are gonna let you down. You’re gonna have expectations that some will meet, and others won’t. That’s just the way it is. You can’t control that. Your choice is what kind of man you’re gonna be. One who lets his bitterness destroy him or one who lets go and gets on with his life.’”

“I get it Ray,” she said softly. “You chose not to be bitter.”

“Avery, I can’t tell you what to do. But if you don’t mind me saying so, you don’t seem like the kind of person who lets the past define them.”

While she was considering what he said, the elevator arrived and the doors opened. Ray held his arm in front of the sensor as she stepped out into the parking garage. The cold made her shiver and her nose wrinkled at the unpleasant odor of heavy exhaust. She pulled the sides of her jacket together and zipped it up. Sticking her hands in the pockets, she started to look for the familiar grey Mercedes.

“We’ve got the Suburban for transportation here in Seattle.” Ray gestured to a black SUV with tinted windows.

Once Avery was situated in the back, Ray closed the door and climbed into the driver’s seat. Avery noticed him glance at her in the rear view mirror. As he maneuvered the large vehicle up the ramp and out of the parking garage, she pressed her lips together, took a deep breath, and pulled out her cell. Scrolling to the recent call list, she found the number. Justin picked up on the first ring.

“Hey sis. How’s Seattle?”

“Good. I guess. I haven’t seen much yet, except for the hotel room. We have a killer view, though.” She looked out the window at the city as Ray drove. The downtown sidewalks were jammed with pedestrians. Traffic seemed light for the middle of the day. “How’s Arthur?” Her eyes met Ray’s in the rearview mirror.

“Much better. They’re talking about discharging him tomorrow. I’m with him right now. Do you want to say hi?”

“I guess.”

There was a pause on the line. “Hello, Kat. How are you?”

“A little tired. Nervous a bit. How are you feeling?”

“Better. Much better. What time do you go on tonight?”

“Around nine thirty.”

“That’s pretty late.”

“Yeah. I know. I’m sure I’ll get used to it though.”

“I’m sure you will.” The line was quiet for a moment. “I wish I could see you perform. I know you’ll nail it.”

Suddenly her mind flooded with memories: him holding her hand as he walked her into school, his soft kisses when he tucked her into bed at night, and the two of them holding the taper together and lighting a candle at the church when her mother had gotten sick. She realized that she had suppressed quite a few of the good things. She cleared her throat. “Hey, we’re pulling into the garage.”

“I’ll talk to you later then.”

There was a question implicit in his tone. “Sure,” she agreed. She could make an effort to be civil.

“Sis, wait,” Justin said, coming back on.

“What?”

“I want you to promise to be careful. Especially around those guys from Tempest.”

She snorted. “How many times do I have to tell everybody? I can take care of myself.”

“I know that. Why are you being so defensive? It’s just that I read online that some of those guys are into some real crazy shit.”

“Like drugs?”

“Yeah, and other things. So anyway just humor me, ok?”

“Alright, but you don’t need to worry. I’ve got Ray. He’s my guardian angel.”

She caught Ray’s nod of affirmation in the mirror.

“Ok. I’ve really gotta go now. I love you Justin, I’ll talk to you later.”

“Ditto. Take care, sis. Bye.”