One Lousy Wish By LC Cooper
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Words: 3,180.
Language: English.
Published: January 27, 2011
. Category: Fiction » Literature » Plays & Screenplays
(4.60 from 5 reviews)
Copyright LC Cooper 2002 – 2010
Published by LC Cooper at Smashwords
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
This free ebook may be copied, distributed, reposted, reprinted and shared, provided it appears in its entirety without alteration, and the reader is not charged to access it.
Overview:
Jilted by her estranged husband, Cheryl Evans laments spending the weekend alone at a luxurious resort.
If given the chance, will she make lemonade?
One Lousy Wish
If given the chance, would you make lemonade?
A Celebration of Valentine's Day
by
LC Cooper
Published by LC Cooper at Smashwords
Learn about me and discover my other titles at Smashwords.com: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/LCCooper
* * * * *
"One Lousy Wish"
Copyright LC Cooper 2011
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
This free ebook may be copied, distributed, reposted, reprinted and shared, provided it appears in its entirety without alteration, and the reader is not charged to access it.
* * * * *
"Teresa, Mr. Exton in room 713 called again. Get these to him right away!"
"Yes, Mr. Davis, I'll take care of it."
"Excuse me, Mr. Davis ... um ... by any chance was the man you talked with on the phone, Peter Exton?"
"I am sorry, Miss…?"
"Evans. Cheryl Evans. I'm checking in."
"Welcome to The Kristabella, Mrs. Evans. Unfortunately, I can't give you that information, but I would be glad to talk with you regarding your accommodations, our amenities, and local social events. After checking in, could I interest you in a tour of our spa? I can provide you with a voucher for a complementary first treatment."
"No, no thank you. Please give me my room key so I can be on my way."
"Certainly, Madam, one moment, please, our computers are a little slow today."
"Seems to be the theme here. The package I booked at The Falconesse resort was oversold and my room was given to another couple before I arrived. I wasted most of the afternoon arguing with the manager because nothing else is available for this weekend. Then, the transfer shuttle that brought me here stopped at each tourist attraction along the way. I am worn out! I thought this was to be a peaceful, enjoyable weekend. Apparently, that's not the way this company operates."
"Ah, yes, I apologize for this error, Mrs. Evans. To compensate we have booked you and your husband into the Penthouse Suite. A butler has been assigned to your room for the duration of your stay. Similarly, concierge services and an open bar are always available on your floor."
"My, you are certainly generous, but I may be enjoying all this by myself tonight. I have no way of telling my husband, Sean, I am here at The Kristabella. His mobile phone was stolen yesterday. He thinks I am still at your Falconesse resort. He won't arrive for another three hours. We have dinner reservations at the Tampiato…"
"Excuse me for interrupting, Mrs. Evans. As part of our effort to make yours a pleasant stay, I can arrange for a limo ride to The Falconesse to meet your husband. From there, the limo will take the two of you to The Tampiato. What time is your reservation? I will have Pierce, your driver, pick you up an hour before, which is early enough to get you to The Tampiato in time for complementary hors d'oeuvres and cocktails."
"I appreciate your attention to detail. Our reservation is for 7:30. Although my husband won't be happy at all with the forced change to our accommodations, there is no doubt you are doing your best to make up for your employer's failures."
"Hmm … Will there be anything else?"
"I know you've done your best to compensate for your company's incompetence, but it's still not good enough. Well, this was to be my Valentine's Day surprise for my husband. Instead of enjoying a romantic candlelit dinner together, most of the meal will be spent calming him down – not the easiest thing to do. The timing for this screw-up couldn't be any worse."
"Again, I am sorry for the inconvenience. We will do everything in our power to make your stay a pleasant one. Here are your two keys for Penthouse Suite 1212."
"Yeah, thanks. Give me a second to gather my stuff and answer this call. Hello? Who is this?"
"Hi, Cheryl, it's Sean."
"Oh! Hi honey, you surprised me. I didn't recognize the number."
"It's because I'm using Becca's phone."
"She's with you? Where are you?"
"I am in her car, on our way to a trial. Where are you? I stopped by home, as you asked, and found this cryptic note on the dining room table … something about meeting at The Falconesse resort tonight. What's going on?"
"You are still three hours away, yet you're going to a trial? Really? This close to the end of the day? And on a Friday, no less? You were supposed to be on the road to meet me here."
"No, I told you I had this trial. Why are you at The Falconesse?"
"Actually, I'm at a sister property – The Kristabella. Happy Valentine's Day, Sweetheart!"
"Uh…"
"Sean, this is when you say something equally romantic or at least utter a thank you. What's wrong?"
"My, oh my, I was not expecting this. Spending Valentine's Day with you was not my plan."
"What's going on, Sean? You're worrying me."
"It's over, Cheryl."
"What's over? What are you talking about?"
"Don't play dumb! You knew I was having my lawyer draft divorce papers,. You damn well knew it!"
"Don't do this, Sean – not today, not this weekend … please."
"Ever since you found out about Becca, you haven't stopped making my life miserable. You knew this was coming."
"I was, and still am, mad at you for cheating on me, dammit! I threw this weekend getaway together hoping you and I could reconnect. I am willing to forgive you, Sean. We can work this out."
"Work this out? You kicked me out of our house. Oh, wait a minute, I see what's going on here. You don't want to be alone on Valentine's Day. Once again, your feelings take the centre stage. What about mine?"
"I am not that petty, Sean! I planned this little vacation as an opportunity to share our feelings and spark our relationship. It doesn't have to die. I am concerned about your feelings. My purpose for this weekend proves I still care."
"My assistant will serve you with the divorce papers on Monday. Make sure you are back in town to get them."
"Sean … hello, Sean…? I don't believe this – he hung up on me! Sean! Answer the phone, Sweetheart. Please answer the phone."
"Mr. Davis, I was unable to get Mr. Exton in #713 to answer the door. I knocked several times before using my key. He is in the room. The security-bar lock prevented me from getting in."
"Thank you, Teresa. Mr. Exton may be asleep or in the shower. I will call him in a few minutes to see if he still wants the towels. For now, place them on the concierge desk. Mrs. Evans, is there anything else I can do for you? It sounded like a terrible phone call."
"Do you know a good divorce attorney? Apparently, I need one right away."
"Oh, I am so sorry."
"Wow, what an absolutely lousy day! Looks like I won't need that limo tonight after all. I am heading to my room and calling it a night."
"I understand, Mrs. E…"
"Call me Cheryl. I need to get used to being called something other than Mrs. Evans. I can't believe this day."
"Your penthouse suite is on the house for the rest of the weekend, if you wish to stay, Mrs. E…um, I mean, Cheryl."
"You are too kind. I am sorry for being so short with you earlier. This was my last chance at saving my marriage. I wanted everything perfect for tonight."
"Trust me, I understand. Here is my card. Call me on my direct phone number with any requests, and I will take care of them personally."
"Thanks again. Guess I'll call it a night. Oof!"
"Oh, excuse me, Ma'am, I didn't mean to run the luggage cart into you. Are you alright?"
"I am fine, don't worry about it. Say, aren't you Teresa - the woman who was behind the front desk, talking with Mr. Davis a few minutes ago?"
"Yes, Ma'am, how can I assist you?"
--
"I SAID I AM COMING! Would you PLEASE stop pounding on my door?"
"It's the concierge, Mr. Exton, with the towels you requested."
"A little late for that isn't it? I got tired of waiting…and…took…my…shower…oh my God! Cheryl? Is that you?"
"Yes, Peter, it's me."
"Come in! Come in! Oh, my gosh, it's so good to hear your voice again. I knew it had to be you! Come here and give me a hug!"
"Mmm…after all these years, Peter, you're still so charming."
"Thank you. What a wonderful surprise! You'll never believe this, but I have been thinking about you a lot lately. Can you stay for a while and talk, or do you have to get back to work?"
"No, Peter, it's fine. I don't work here. A strange thing happened when I overheard the conversation at the front desk about a guest who needed more towels. I had a flashback to when we were a couple. You would aggravate me so much when you showered. You used three towels; one to stand on, one to dry your hair, and the third to dry your body. It's funny now, but boy, it bugged me then."
"Some things never change, do they?"
"I guess I'm not surprised – old habits die hard. Anyway, I slipped the concierge a twenty and brought the towels up, hoping it was you!"
"It is so good to hear your laughter again - and you still have that gorgeous smile. Wow, this is fantastic! I can't believe we are sitting here talking."
"I agree! My mind is sort of numb, like in a foggy dream. This is the most bittersweet day of my entire life."
"How so?"
"Would you believe fifteen minutes ago, my husband called to remind me he wanted a divorce? I set up a romantic weekend at The Falconesse…"
"Um, you must have taken a wrong turn somewhere, Cheryl. You do realize you are in The Kristabella, don’t you?"
"No, really – you don't say? Still very clever and quick with the one-liners, Peter – of course. The Falconesse was overbooked. After apologizing, they tossed me on a transfer bus and plopped me here at The Kristabella. The manager gave us…me…one of their penthouse suites, gratis, for the weekend. He felt sorry for me after overhearing the phone conversation I had with my jerk husband. I still cannot believe the only reason Sean called was to say he was going through with the divorce. I'm sorry, I am getting worked up again. Anyway, the hotel manager also said he is taking care of all expenses. I must have come across as quite the pitiful basket case."
"I can see why he might think that. I'm just kidding! So, you're on your way to being single again. Quite the sensitive Valentine present from your hubby. At least it's nice the hotel is taking care of you."
"Yeah, it's okay. Enough about me, what's your story, Peter? Why are you here? I see you are not wearing a wedding ring, but its indent is still fresh. Let's start there."
"Nice bit of detective work, Sherlock. I don't expect you to remember this but last Tuesday…"
"…was your birthday. Of course, I remember, Peter. I never forgot. What happened?"
"I turned sixty-five years old. My disability pension, the lifeblood of my family for nearly forty years, ended on my birthday. So all I have left for income is my monthly social security check."
"Wait…back up. You are disabled? My God, Peter, what happened? Are you okay?"
"Diabetes wrecked my eyesight and career, although insurance money provided stability. Tara, my wife, became distant over the years. We were never able to recover."
"Please, do go on…"
"So, last Tuesday, right after my sixty-fifth birthday party, Tara announced she wanted a divorce. She left me for a younger guy. I hear he's loaded. I really can't blame Tara. This wasn't the lifestyle we expected."
"I am so sorry, Peter. How tragic and sad. With all that going on, what brought you all the way up here?"
"You did, of course."
"Huh? You want to explain yourself? You are creeping me out."
"I'm joking again, Cheryl. My brother-in-law thought a weekend away might be a good way to get Tara out of my mind. Boy, is he pissed at his sister for leaving me!"
"Her loss. Um, any kids?"
"Yep, two daughters and a son. My girls, Britney and Sasha, are furious with my wife. My son, Roger, could care less – he's busy finding himself."
"I bet your kids are just like you; kind, gentle, and sweet."
"Thank you! Yeah, they are great kids. The sole benefit of losing my eyesight was that I was able to stay home and raise them. Our simple and honest conversations and tickle fights put smiles on my face at times when I wanted to do nothing more than scream."
"I apologize for appearing rude and forward, but I'd like to know…"
"…what I can see of you, Cheryl? Not a problem, my dear; I get asked that question several times a week."
"Can you see all of me? How about my blouse or…?"
"I can see your face and some parts of the room, but not much else."
"I am so sorry, Peter. My, we never dreamed life would take us in these directions."
"We wished it, Cheryl."
"Excuse me, but I most certainly did not wish for a whore of a husband in order to have a secure career."
"And I did not want to go blind or become a stay at home father. Do you remember what you and I said to each other that morning? We both wished for successful careers. Well, I had one. Within four years of us splitting up, I became the Senior Vice President of a major parts-supply company."
"I'm afraid my story is not so unique. My husband, Sean, was eager and energetic – not the conniving, unethical shit he became. I built a successful telecom-sales business, while he screwed his bosses wives."
"So, what was the final straw?"
"Last month, I caught him in our bed with a little bitch named Becca Rafton; the daughter of our next-door neighbors. So happens her father, Jerry, is Sean's boss. Would you believe that little slut, Becca, is younger than my daughters?"
"Ouch, what a scumbag you married."
"Sean wasn't that way in the beginning, I think."
"Do you have kids?"
"Yes, twin daughters."
"Wow, Cheryl, way to go! I bet they're as cute as you."
"Well, thank you. They are wonderful."
"I wish…"
"Be careful what you ask for, Peter. It's what got us into this mess in the first place. Say, do you still have the ring?"
"Yep, here it is on my right ring finger; as it was forty years ago when you gave it to me. Do you remember what you had inscribed on the inside of the band?"
"Of course – I wish. Peter, do you ever wonder what life could have been like for us if we'd got married?"
"Every stinking day of my life. Dumbest decision I made was to leave you and move to Cincinnati for a plant-supervisor job. Are you sniffling? Aw, don't cry, Sweet Pea. It's been a hard enough day for you. I don't want to make you cry ever again. May I interest you in one of my famous back rubs? A massage from me is guaranteed to melt away the worries of the day."
"I'm okay, Peter."
"After the day you had, are you really turning down a backrub? That phone call should have been the clincher. Consider a massage my Valentine present to you."
"Aw, how sweet! Since you put it that way, I will definitely take you up on your fantastic offer. Mmmm…feels as wonderful as I remember."
"Wow, your back is tight! You have a lot of knots, Cheryl."
"You still have great hands, by the way. Whew, I got that old shiver just then. I haven't felt it since…"
"Since right before we made that one lousy wish."
"Yep, it was then."
"So, how does that feel? I'm not pressing too hard, am I?"
"Heavens no, Peter! I haven't felt this relaxed in … I don't remember how long it's been."
"Me either. Did you ever try to take back our wish?"
"Sure, but I believe things happen for a reason. What do you choose when given a second chance?"
"Cheryl, I want to make a wish on the ring again. The past can remain the past. I hope, from this day forward, we never let each other go."
"Such a terrific sentiment, Peter. Hmm…I have an idea. Would you hand me the hotel phone on the nightstand next to you?"
"Sure, what's up?"
"You'll see. Hi, Mr. Davis ... yes, I'm settling in fine, thanks. Can you arrange for the limo to pick me up from the lobby at 6:30? You can? Excellent."
"So, what was all that about?"
"Pack your things, Peter. We are going to make new memories; beginning with an amazing dinner at a five-star restaurant. Then, we can continue enjoying our time together in my penthouse suite. We have such an opportunity to make this a fabulous Valentine weekend. What do you say? Are you willing to start over with me?"
"Maybe it wasn't such a lousy wish after all. In the end, I still get the girl."
###
Author's Note:
Please continue reading the story past the dashes ("--"). They indicate a scene change, not the end of the story.
Because this story was told strictly through dialogue. The following cast of characters is provided to assist.
Teresa: Concierge for The Kristabella hotel
Mr. Davis: The Kristabella hotel's manager
Cheryl Evans: protagonist, married to estranged husband Sean
Sean Evans: Cheryl's estranged husband
Peter Exton: former friend of Cheryl
Tara (Exton): Peter Exton's estranged wife
A very special Thank You to the following FanStory members for their invaluable constructive feedback: Sara_Goldwell, N.K. Wagner, bowls, dmjones, sizemore0409, Nanashirley, Espresso momma, Mustangpatty1029
Thank you, Wing, for the use of your photo of the Nina hotel lobby.
I hope you enjoyed reading "One Lousy Wish." Thank you for your time. Happy Valentine's Day!
Please remember to visit my profile in Smashwords http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/LCCooper and leave some feedback. Your candid review would be greatly appreciated!
With kind regards,
LC Cooper
Copy-write LC Cooper 2012
If given the chance, would you make lemonade?
A Celebration of Valentine's Day
by
LC Cooper
Published by LC Cooper at Smashwords
Learn about me and discover my other titles at Smashwords.com: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/LCCooper
* * * * *
"One Lousy Wish"
Copyright LC Cooper 2011
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
This free ebook may be copied, distributed, reposted, reprinted and shared, provided it appears in its entirety without alteration, and the reader is not charged to access it.
* * * * *
"Teresa, Mr. Exton in room 713 called again. Get these to him right away!"
"Yes, Mr. Davis, I'll take care of it."
"Excuse me, Mr. Davis ... um ... by any chance was the man you talked with on the phone, Peter Exton?"
"I am sorry, Miss…?"
"Evans. Cheryl Evans. I'm checking in."
"Welcome to The Kristabella, Mrs. Evans. Unfortunately, I can't give you that information, but I would be glad to talk with you regarding your accommodations, our amenities, and local social events. After checking in, could I interest you in a tour of our spa? I can provide you with a voucher for a complementary first treatment."
"No, no thank you. Please give me my room key so I can be on my way."
"Certainly, Madam, one moment, please, our computers are a little slow today."
"Seems to be the theme here. The package I booked at The Falconesse resort was oversold and my room was given to another couple before I arrived. I wasted most of the afternoon arguing with the manager because nothing else is available for this weekend. Then, the transfer shuttle that brought me here stopped at each tourist attraction along the way. I am worn out! I thought this was to be a peaceful, enjoyable weekend. Apparently, that's not the way this company operates."
"Ah, yes, I apologize for this error, Mrs. Evans. To compensate we have booked you and your husband into the Penthouse Suite. A butler has been assigned to your room for the duration of your stay. Similarly, concierge services and an open bar are always available on your floor."
"My, you are certainly generous, but I may be enjoying all this by myself tonight. I have no way of telling my husband, Sean, I am here at The Kristabella. His mobile phone was stolen yesterday. He thinks I am still at your Falconesse resort. He won't arrive for another three hours. We have dinner reservations at the Tampiato…"
"Excuse me for interrupting, Mrs. Evans. As part of our effort to make yours a pleasant stay, I can arrange for a limo ride to The Falconesse to meet your husband. From there, the limo will take the two of you to The Tampiato. What time is your reservation? I will have Pierce, your driver, pick you up an hour before, which is early enough to get you to The Tampiato in time for complementary hors d'oeuvres and cocktails."
"I appreciate your attention to detail. Our reservation is for 7:30. Although my husband won't be happy at all with the forced change to our accommodations, there is no doubt you are doing your best to make up for your employer's failures."
"Hmm … Will there be anything else?"
"I know you've done your best to compensate for your company's incompetence, but it's still not good enough. Well, this was to be my Valentine's Day surprise for my husband. Instead of enjoying a romantic candlelit dinner together, most of the meal will be spent calming him down – not the easiest thing to do. The timing for this screw-up couldn't be any worse."
"Again, I am sorry for the inconvenience. We will do everything in our power to make your stay a pleasant one. Here are your two keys for Penthouse Suite 1212."
"Yeah, thanks. Give me a second to gather my stuff and answer this call. Hello? Who is this?"
"Hi, Cheryl, it's Sean."
"Oh! Hi honey, you surprised me. I didn't recognize the number."
"It's because I'm using Becca's phone."
"She's with you? Where are you?"
"I am in her car, on our way to a trial. Where are you? I stopped by home, as you asked, and found this cryptic note on the dining room table … something about meeting at The Falconesse resort tonight. What's going on?"
"You are still three hours away, yet you're going to a trial? Really? This close to the end of the day? And on a Friday, no less? You were supposed to be on the road to meet me here."
"No, I told you I had this trial. Why are you at The Falconesse?"
"Actually, I'm at a sister property – The Kristabella. Happy Valentine's Day, Sweetheart!"
"Uh…"
"Sean, this is when you say something equally romantic or at least utter a thank you. What's wrong?"
"My, oh my, I was not expecting this. Spending Valentine's Day with you was not my plan."
"What's going on, Sean? You're worrying me."
"It's over, Cheryl."
"What's over? What are you talking about?"
"Don't play dumb! You knew I was having my lawyer draft divorce papers,. You damn well knew it!"
"Don't do this, Sean – not today, not this weekend … please."
"Ever since you found out about Becca, you haven't stopped making my life miserable. You knew this was coming."
"I was, and still am, mad at you for cheating on me, dammit! I threw this weekend getaway together hoping you and I could reconnect. I am willing to forgive you, Sean. We can work this out."
"Work this out? You kicked me out of our house. Oh, wait a minute, I see what's going on here. You don't want to be alone on Valentine's Day. Once again, your feelings take the centre stage. What about mine?"
"I am not that petty, Sean! I planned this little vacation as an opportunity to share our feelings and spark our relationship. It doesn't have to die. I am concerned about your feelings. My purpose for this weekend proves I still care."
"My assistant will serve you with the divorce papers on Monday. Make sure you are back in town to get them."
"Sean … hello, Sean…? I don't believe this – he hung up on me! Sean! Answer the phone, Sweetheart. Please answer the phone."
"Mr. Davis, I was unable to get Mr. Exton in #713 to answer the door. I knocked several times before using my key. He is in the room. The security-bar lock prevented me from getting in."
"Thank you, Teresa. Mr. Exton may be asleep or in the shower. I will call him in a few minutes to see if he still wants the towels. For now, place them on the concierge desk. Mrs. Evans, is there anything else I can do for you? It sounded like a terrible phone call."
"Do you know a good divorce attorney? Apparently, I need one right away."
"Oh, I am so sorry."
"Wow, what an absolutely lousy day! Looks like I won't need that limo tonight after all. I am heading to my room and calling it a night."
"I understand, Mrs. E…"
"Call me Cheryl. I need to get used to being called something other than Mrs. Evans. I can't believe this day."
"Your penthouse suite is on the house for the rest of the weekend, if you wish to stay, Mrs. E…um, I mean, Cheryl."
"You are too kind. I am sorry for being so short with you earlier. This was my last chance at saving my marriage. I wanted everything perfect for tonight."
"Trust me, I understand. Here is my card. Call me on my direct phone number with any requests, and I will take care of them personally."
"Thanks again. Guess I'll call it a night. Oof!"
"Oh, excuse me, Ma'am, I didn't mean to run the luggage cart into you. Are you alright?"
"I am fine, don't worry about it. Say, aren't you Teresa - the woman who was behind the front desk, talking with Mr. Davis a few minutes ago?"
"Yes, Ma'am, how can I assist you?"
--
"I SAID I AM COMING! Would you PLEASE stop pounding on my door?"
"It's the concierge, Mr. Exton, with the towels you requested."
"A little late for that isn't it? I got tired of waiting…and…took…my…shower…oh my God! Cheryl? Is that you?"
"Yes, Peter, it's me."
"Come in! Come in! Oh, my gosh, it's so good to hear your voice again. I knew it had to be you! Come here and give me a hug!"
"Mmm…after all these years, Peter, you're still so charming."
"Thank you. What a wonderful surprise! You'll never believe this, but I have been thinking about you a lot lately. Can you stay for a while and talk, or do you have to get back to work?"
"No, Peter, it's fine. I don't work here. A strange thing happened when I overheard the conversation at the front desk about a guest who needed more towels. I had a flashback to when we were a couple. You would aggravate me so much when you showered. You used three towels; one to stand on, one to dry your hair, and the third to dry your body. It's funny now, but boy, it bugged me then."
"Some things never change, do they?"
"I guess I'm not surprised – old habits die hard. Anyway, I slipped the concierge a twenty and brought the towels up, hoping it was you!"
"It is so good to hear your laughter again - and you still have that gorgeous smile. Wow, this is fantastic! I can't believe we are sitting here talking."
"I agree! My mind is sort of numb, like in a foggy dream. This is the most bittersweet day of my entire life."
"How so?"
"Would you believe fifteen minutes ago, my husband called to remind me he wanted a divorce? I set up a romantic weekend at The Falconesse…"
"Um, you must have taken a wrong turn somewhere, Cheryl. You do realize you are in The Kristabella, don’t you?"
"No, really – you don't say? Still very clever and quick with the one-liners, Peter – of course. The Falconesse was overbooked. After apologizing, they tossed me on a transfer bus and plopped me here at The Kristabella. The manager gave us…me…one of their penthouse suites, gratis, for the weekend. He felt sorry for me after overhearing the phone conversation I had with my jerk husband. I still cannot believe the only reason Sean called was to say he was going through with the divorce. I'm sorry, I am getting worked up again. Anyway, the hotel manager also said he is taking care of all expenses. I must have come across as quite the pitiful basket case."
"I can see why he might think that. I'm just kidding! So, you're on your way to being single again. Quite the sensitive Valentine present from your hubby. At least it's nice the hotel is taking care of you."
"Yeah, it's okay. Enough about me, what's your story, Peter? Why are you here? I see you are not wearing a wedding ring, but its indent is still fresh. Let's start there."
"Nice bit of detective work, Sherlock. I don't expect you to remember this but last Tuesday…"
"…was your birthday. Of course, I remember, Peter. I never forgot. What happened?"
"I turned sixty-five years old. My disability pension, the lifeblood of my family for nearly forty years, ended on my birthday. So all I have left for income is my monthly social security check."
"Wait…back up. You are disabled? My God, Peter, what happened? Are you okay?"
"Diabetes wrecked my eyesight and career, although insurance money provided stability. Tara, my wife, became distant over the years. We were never able to recover."
"Please, do go on…"
"So, last Tuesday, right after my sixty-fifth birthday party, Tara announced she wanted a divorce. She left me for a younger guy. I hear he's loaded. I really can't blame Tara. This wasn't the lifestyle we expected."
"I am so sorry, Peter. How tragic and sad. With all that going on, what brought you all the way up here?"
"You did, of course."
"Huh? You want to explain yourself? You are creeping me out."
"I'm joking again, Cheryl. My brother-in-law thought a weekend away might be a good way to get Tara out of my mind. Boy, is he pissed at his sister for leaving me!"
"Her loss. Um, any kids?"
"Yep, two daughters and a son. My girls, Britney and Sasha, are furious with my wife. My son, Roger, could care less – he's busy finding himself."
"I bet your kids are just like you; kind, gentle, and sweet."
"Thank you! Yeah, they are great kids. The sole benefit of losing my eyesight was that I was able to stay home and raise them. Our simple and honest conversations and tickle fights put smiles on my face at times when I wanted to do nothing more than scream."
"I apologize for appearing rude and forward, but I'd like to know…"
"…what I can see of you, Cheryl? Not a problem, my dear; I get asked that question several times a week."
"Can you see all of me? How about my blouse or…?"
"I can see your face and some parts of the room, but not much else."
"I am so sorry, Peter. My, we never dreamed life would take us in these directions."
"We wished it, Cheryl."
"Excuse me, but I most certainly did not wish for a whore of a husband in order to have a secure career."
"And I did not want to go blind or become a stay at home father. Do you remember what you and I said to each other that morning? We both wished for successful careers. Well, I had one. Within four years of us splitting up, I became the Senior Vice President of a major parts-supply company."
"I'm afraid my story is not so unique. My husband, Sean, was eager and energetic – not the conniving, unethical shit he became. I built a successful telecom-sales business, while he screwed his bosses wives."
"So, what was the final straw?"
"Last month, I caught him in our bed with a little bitch named Becca Rafton; the daughter of our next-door neighbors. So happens her father, Jerry, is Sean's boss. Would you believe that little slut, Becca, is younger than my daughters?"
"Ouch, what a scumbag you married."
"Sean wasn't that way in the beginning, I think."
"Do you have kids?"
"Yes, twin daughters."
"Wow, Cheryl, way to go! I bet they're as cute as you."
"Well, thank you. They are wonderful."
"I wish…"
"Be careful what you ask for, Peter. It's what got us into this mess in the first place. Say, do you still have the ring?"
"Yep, here it is on my right ring finger; as it was forty years ago when you gave it to me. Do you remember what you had inscribed on the inside of the band?"
"Of course – I wish. Peter, do you ever wonder what life could have been like for us if we'd got married?"
"Every stinking day of my life. Dumbest decision I made was to leave you and move to Cincinnati for a plant-supervisor job. Are you sniffling? Aw, don't cry, Sweet Pea. It's been a hard enough day for you. I don't want to make you cry ever again. May I interest you in one of my famous back rubs? A massage from me is guaranteed to melt away the worries of the day."
"I'm okay, Peter."
"After the day you had, are you really turning down a backrub? That phone call should have been the clincher. Consider a massage my Valentine present to you."
"Aw, how sweet! Since you put it that way, I will definitely take you up on your fantastic offer. Mmmm…feels as wonderful as I remember."
"Wow, your back is tight! You have a lot of knots, Cheryl."
"You still have great hands, by the way. Whew, I got that old shiver just then. I haven't felt it since…"
"Since right before we made that one lousy wish."
"Yep, it was then."
"So, how does that feel? I'm not pressing too hard, am I?"
"Heavens no, Peter! I haven't felt this relaxed in … I don't remember how long it's been."
"Me either. Did you ever try to take back our wish?"
"Sure, but I believe things happen for a reason. What do you choose when given a second chance?"
"Cheryl, I want to make a wish on the ring again. The past can remain the past. I hope, from this day forward, we never let each other go."
"Such a terrific sentiment, Peter. Hmm…I have an idea. Would you hand me the hotel phone on the nightstand next to you?"
"Sure, what's up?"
"You'll see. Hi, Mr. Davis ... yes, I'm settling in fine, thanks. Can you arrange for the limo to pick me up from the lobby at 6:30? You can? Excellent."
"So, what was all that about?"
"Pack your things, Peter. We are going to make new memories; beginning with an amazing dinner at a five-star restaurant. Then, we can continue enjoying our time together in my penthouse suite. We have such an opportunity to make this a fabulous Valentine weekend. What do you say? Are you willing to start over with me?"
"Maybe it wasn't such a lousy wish after all. In the end, I still get the girl."
###
Author's Note:
Please continue reading the story past the dashes ("--"). They indicate a scene change, not the end of the story.
Because this story was told strictly through dialogue. The following cast of characters is provided to assist.
Teresa: Concierge for The Kristabella hotel
Mr. Davis: The Kristabella hotel's manager
Cheryl Evans: protagonist, married to estranged husband Sean
Sean Evans: Cheryl's estranged husband
Peter Exton: former friend of Cheryl
Tara (Exton): Peter Exton's estranged wife
A very special Thank You to the following FanStory members for their invaluable constructive feedback: Sara_Goldwell, N.K. Wagner, bowls, dmjones, sizemore0409, Nanashirley, Espresso momma, Mustangpatty1029
Thank you, Wing, for the use of your photo of the Nina hotel lobby.
I hope you enjoyed reading "One Lousy Wish." Thank you for your time. Happy Valentine's Day!
Please remember to visit my profile in Smashwords http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/LCCooper and leave some feedback. Your candid review would be greatly appreciated!
With kind regards,
LC Cooper
Copy-write LC Cooper 2012