It's All a Matter of Choice Read online

  “The Holiday Inn? I can’t afford that, Emmet,” Anita said as they drove out of the motel parking lot.

  “I can,” he said shortly, “I wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight knowing you were staying in a place like that. Al packed up your stuff for you. He said goodbye and good luck.”

  Anita stared at the young man, whose eyes were on the traffic and rain-slicked road. He was headed back uptown.

  “Emmet, I can’t accept this from you. It’s too much,” she said to the associate.

  “You have to accept it or I’ll lose my money,” he replied, “I talked them into a good rate and prepaid it. Since it was so low, they told me if you didn’t stay, they would keep what I paid.”

  Emmet was lying. He wanted Anita to stay at the hotel.

  “They can’t do that!” Anita declared.

  “If you are negotiating a rate they can. They want to make sure they get their money since the rooms are blocked out and they can’t sell them to anyone else. They might lose a customer. So…” Emmet said, shrugging.

  Anita fell silent.

  The upcoming light turned red and Emmet stopped, waiting for it to turn green.

  “Emmet?” Anita said softly.

  Emmet turned his head to look at her.

  “Yes?” he responded.

  Suddenly Anita dove across the seat, locked her mouth to Emmet’s and kissed him deeply. Shocked, surprised and somewhat overwhelmed, Emmet took his hands off the wheel to hold Anita so she didn’t crush him against the driver’s window. She was so soft and wriggly.

  Unfortunately, Emmet’s foot slipped off the brake and they started to roll through the intersection, Anita’s mouth moving soft, wet and warm against his lips.

  God, Emmet had never felt anything so good in all his life.

  Chapter 7 ~ A Bit of an Accident

  As Anita kissed Emmet, the Acura rolled into the intersection and oncoming traffic. Luckily, because of the weather most cars were moving slowly and were able to stop, horns blaring angrily. Emmet became aware of the honking, then suddenly…the earth moved. Hard.

  Actually it wasn’t the earth, it was another driver talking on her cell phone who didn’t see the Acura until it was too late and slammed into the right rear quarter panel, sending Emmet’s car into a spin.

  “Oh my god!” Anita screamed, breaking the kiss as she and Emmet both grabbed the steering wheel, the entire world whirling around them

  “Turn into the spin!” Emmet cried desperately as they spun toward the corner and hit the curb, the car halting just before hitting a light pole. Both Emmet and Anita sat up, looking at each other. One of the lenses in Emmet’s glasses was cracked across the middle. He could see through it, but was going to have to get a new pair.

  “I’m so sorry Emmet,” Anita breathed, her brown eyes wide as people ran toward the car.

  The sounds of sirens sang in the distance. The woman whose car had hit them was walking toward them, still on the cell phone and gesticulating wildly. Two police patrol cars pulled up.

  A wide-eyed man pulled on Anita’s door, but it was locked, and he knocked on the window.

  “Are you all right?” he asked through the glass.

  Anita nodded and unlocked her door, getting out…helped by the man as people gathered around the car. Emmet opened the glove compartment and took out all his insurance information, grabbed his keys, then exited his car.

  An ambulance pulled up, the emergency technicians leaping out and running over to the couple, pushing through the crowd. They insisted on checking and treating them, as the two officers asked Emmet questions and wrote down an accident report, the woman who hit them saying it wasn’t her fault.

  When asked what happened, Emmet looked over at Anita, who was having her neck checked by a technician.

  “I slid through the light. The road was slippery and my brakes didn’t work,” Emmet lied.

  “You were lucky,” the cop said as Emmet and the woman exchanged information. “You could have been killed.”

  Emmet thought he would have died happy with Anita’s warm lips pressed again his. Neither Emmet nor Anita had been seriously hurt, but the technicians advised them to go see a doctor as soon as possible. Emmet thanked them and walked around his car to look at the damage. The entire rear panel was pushed in so the tire wouldn’t turn. As far as Emmet was concerned, it wasn’t worth fixing. It was time for a new car.

  Emmet sighed, then walked to the back of the Acura, opened the trunk, took out Anita’s bags and carried them over to a sheltered bus stop. He set them on the ground. Anita followed him, her eyes downcast. Both sat down on the bench, waiting for the tow truck to arrive and take the remains of Emmet’s car away.

  Anita looked at Emmet.

  “Emmet, I’m so sorry…I shouldn’t have done that,” she said softly, “but I couldn’t help myself.”

  Emmet looked at her, remembering how good her kiss felt. He gave her a half smile.

  “It’s all right, Anita…I needed a new car anyway. I was procrastinating. Now it’s out of my hands…I have to get one,” he said. “I’ll just get a rental until the weekend. The car was lousy but my insurance is pretty good. It covers rentals.”

  Anita looked at him.

  “So you didn’t mind me kissing you?” she asked him.

  Emmet colored.

  “Not at all,” he said shortly.

  Hell, he wouldn’t mind if she kissed him again. He could enjoy it more now that they weren’t spinning towards their deaths. The tow truck arrived.

  “Excuse me a minute,” Emmet said, walking over and talking to the driver for several minutes. As the driver hooked up the Acura, Emmet made two phone calls on his cell. First he called a taxi for Anita, then he called his mother.

  “An accident? Oh my god, Emmet…are you all right?” she asked him, “I didn’t know why you weren’t home. Why were you running so late?”

  “I was helping a co-worker,” he said shortly, “She was moving to a hotel and I was taking her.”

  ”She?” June Barrows said frowning. “Not the same girl you took to lunch?”

  ”Yes,” Emmet said, “Anita.”

  June scowled so blackly, Emmet could feel her expression across the airwaves.

  “If you had come straight home, you wouldn’t have had an accident, Emmet,” she said, “I warned you women were nothing but trouble.”

  ”Mom, it was an accident. They happen. Listen, I will talk to you when I get home, ok?” Emmet said, hanging up.

  “When are you coming home? Emmet? Emmet!” June said into the phone, realizing her son had hung up on her. Emmet never did that. He usually listened to everything she had to say. This was the second time he arbitrarily ended a conversation in only two days. Angrily, she dialed Emmet’s number back, but got his mailbox and was told to leave a message. June frowned.

  “Wheel of Fortune!” the TV chanted.

  “Oh, shut up!” June spat at it, picking up the remote and clicking it off.

  *

  Anita and Emmet watched as his car was towed away, little pieces of it falling off into the street as it sped away into the distance.

  “I feel awful,” Anita said to Emmet.

  “Don’t worry about it, Anita…I’m not,” Emmet said to her. “A taxi is on the way. It will take you to the Holiday Inn and you can check in.”

  Anita looked at him.

  “Aren’t you coming with me?” she asked him.

  Emmet shook his head.

  “No. I’m going to take a taxi to the closest car rental place and pick something up to drive for the rest of the week,” he replied.

  Anita stared at him for several moments, so intensely Emmet felt his face starting to burn. He pretended to be watching for the taxi.

  “Emmet Barrows, I think you are the nicest man I’ve ever met,” Anita said to him. “You don’t even know me, and you paid for my hotel stay. I’m going to pay you back when I get on my feet, though it will probably be in installments.”


  Emmet looked at her.

  “You were staying in a very dangerous place, Anita,” he said to her, “and you helped me out enormously when you took that paperwork and made the girls do it. Thanks to you, I’m going to be able to set up more interviews and make more money. So don’t worry about the hotel tab. My next bonus will probably cover it. Just think of it as a ‘thank you.’”

  “I couldn’t do that, Emmet,” Anita said, “It’s taking advantage of you. I don’t want to do that.”

  Emmet smirked at her.

  “Well, if I won’t take the money from you, there’s nothing you can do, Anita,” he said.

  Anita gave Emmet a look that made his stomach tighten a bit. He couldn’t identify what it was he saw flit across her face, but it did something to him.

  “Well, if you won’t take my money, Emmet…will you accept my help?” she asked him.

  Emmet looked at her a bit perplexed.

  “What do you mean by ‘help?’” he responded.

  Anita took a deep breath.

  “Emmet, I am going to be candid here, ok? I’m not trying to hurt your feelings or anything…but if you ever want to get out of that office and close your own deals…you need a new look,” Anita said carefully, “A new haircut, new clothes, new glasses…the works. I think it’s horrible that everyone else gets the credit for your hard work. Brandon doesn’t even mention you when he talks about closing. It’s like you provide his paycheck. It’s not fair.”

  Emmet listened to her. It really wasn’t fair, and he’d felt like that for years. He would like to try to close his own deals. He just didn’t have any idea what he had to do to get into that position. He knew he didn’t look the part. He had no fashion sense whatsoever. His mother picked out his clothes for him each day. He didn’t appreciate it, but she liked doing it so he didn’t protest. His eyes washed over Anita. She did know how to dress for her environment.

  “So, you think you can help me become more presentable?” he asked her.

  “Yes, but I’d have to go shopping with you,” Anita said. “You’d have to spend a little time with me.”

  Emmet didn’t mind that aspect of Anita’s “help” at all.

  “That doesn’t sound too bad,” he said haltingly. Anita beamed at him.

  “So you’ll let me dress you up?” she asked him, delighted.

  Suddenly, Emmet felt like some kind of dress up doll. He shrugged.

  “I guess so. My mother’s been doing it for years,” Emmet replied.

  Anita digested this. His mother could be a real problem.

  “Your mother’s probably not going to like the changes, Emmet,” she said evenly, “It’s going to seem like I’m stepping on her toes.”

  ”My mother never likes anything I do if it isn’t specifically for her,” Emmet replied, “She’s going to complain no matter what. But if the changes help me to do my own closings, I’m willing to try.”

  “So, do you want to go shopping this weekend? Saturday maybe?” Anita suggested.

  Emmet’s mother was going to be gone this weekend.

  “Saturday sounds fine,” Emmet said as Anita’s taxi pulled up. The driver saw the bags and opened the trunk with a button on the dashboard.

  Emmet put the bags in the trunk, then walked up to the driver and paid him. He gave him a little extra.

  “Bring her bags into the hotel for her,” he told the driver, who nodded and smiled.

  Anita stood behind Emmet, who opened the door for her.

  “I’ll see you at work tomorrow,” Emmet said as Anita approached.

  Suddenly she gave him a quick peck on the lips. It didn’t last as long as the car kiss, but was just as affecting to Emmet, who took on a dazed look for a moment as she got into the taxi. Then he looked at her with a rather goofy smile.

  “Bye, Emmet,” Anita said, pulling the door closed gently.

  Emmet let the handle go and watched the taxi drive off, Anita waving at him out of the back window. He waved back rather absently, not even noticing the bus pulling up until it splashed him when the wheels spun through a huge curbside puddle, wetting the front of his pants entirely.

  “Damn it,” he hissed, brushing at his pants with one hand and taking out his phone to call a taxi with the other.

  As he sat on the bench waiting for the taxi, he thought about the day. He had made seven solid interviews, had lunch with Anita, received not one, but two kisses from her, and was going to go shopping with her Saturday. Oh, there had been some bad aspects to the day…but they didn’t matter at all.

  Because he was almost sure Anita really liked him. There had been something in her eyes for a moment that told him that at a gut level. His taxi pulled up. Emmet opened the back door and got in. He realized he’d left his briefcase in the back of the Acura. Ah well. He’d get it later.

  “Where you going buddy?” the taxi driver asked, looking through the rear view mirror at his nerdy passenger. Emmet’s hair was sticking up all over his head. He looked like he’d been through a very tough day.

  “Closest car rental, please,” Emmet replied.

  The cab pulled off, Emmet reliving Anita’s two kisses with a rather dreamy smile on his face.

  *

  At the Holiday Inn, Anita checked in without any difficulty. She had to roll her own luggage to her room on the second floor, but she had a luggage rack so it wasn’t hard to do. She opened the door to her room and gasped. It wasn’t fancy, but Emmet had booked a room that had a separate sitting space with a table, chairs and a sofa. The bedroom was large with a queen-sized bed and fresh flowers in a vase. There was ample closet space and a dresser with a mirror. The bathroom had a large shower and tub, and a lighted vanity mirror.

  “Oh Emmet,” Anita said softly as she walked around the room. She sat down on the edge of the bed and bounced on the firm mattress. This was a far cry from the “Short Stay” motel.

  “Emmet Barrows, you’re the sweetest man alive,” she breathed, falling back into the bed and snuggling luxuriously.

  A slow smile crossed her face as she thought about kissing the associate. She had been doing most of the kissing the first time…well before they were hit. Emmet seemed so shocked, but he didn’t hesitate when he grabbed her.

  That was a very good sign.

  Chapter 8 ~ Emmet, Love Thyself

  Emmet rented a white Honda for a good rate until Monday. It felt strange to drive a car that didn’t belch and wheeze the entire way home. He passed by the deli, but it was closed. Ah, well. Mom would have to eat something else. Maybe a tuna fish or ham sandwich. They lived off sandwiches. Emmet’s mother stopped cooking when his father died. When Emmet shopped, he purchased things that could be microwaved or put on a sandwich. Then cookies and other little sweet fingerfoods his mother liked.

  The ribs today had been delicious. Emmet decided he wouldn’t brown bag it any more. He deserved at least one hot meal a day. As he drove the Honda he decided he deserved a decent car too. He had been thrifty all his life. He had quite a bit of money in the bank. It was time to spend some. Maybe even spend a little more on Anita…at least until she got on her feet.

  June Barrows was in the window when Emmet pulled up in the rental. She made an “o” with her mouth and quickly withdrew, hurrying to the couch and pinching her cheeks so she looked flushed. She slumped listlessly and waited for Emmet to come in.

  Emmet entered the house and walked directly to the living room to find his mother looking quite peaked.

  “I’m home, Mom,” he said, walking up to her, leaning over and kissing her on the cheek, “The deli was closed so I couldn’t get your sandwich tonight.”

  “No sandwich? What am I supposed to eat, Emmet? You know I have a Reuben every night. It keeps me regular,” she said, sounding hurt. “And all this excitement about you having an accident has made me feel faint. I feel as if I could keel over any second.”

  Emmet looked at her worriedly.

  “Maybe I should help you to bed. I’ll make you a tu
na sandwich and some iced tea,” he said to his mother.

  June’s nose wrinkled. She didn’t care for tuna fish.

  “No, I don’t want to go to bed and I don’t want tuna,” she said, sitting up a bit, Emmet helping her. “Maybe a ham sandwich with lettuce and tomato.”

  “All right, mom. Give me a few minutes,” Emmet said, walking out of the living room and into the kitchen.

  June heard him whistling as he made her sandwich and tea. It was annoyingly cheerful. He didn’t even have his briefcase with him…so that meant no paperwork. After several minutes, Emmet emerged with a sandwich on a plate and a nice glass of lemon iced tea. He sat them down in front of June, then looked at the television. It was off.

  “No television tonight?” he asked his mother as he sat down.

  “I was too distraught to watch TV,” June replied, picking up her ham sandwich and biting into it.

  She was in curlers, her nightgown and robe. Emmet couldn’t tell if she’d gone out today or not. He knew his mother changed her clothes when she did go out, hoping he wouldn’t notice. But Emmet caught on years ago when she’d left her clothing in the bathroom after having a few drinks with the girls during lunch. When he asked if she had gone out, she said she’d spent a lonely day at home, as usual.

  Emmet also found a couple of casino chips on her nightstand when he went to check for plates and utensils after she was supposed to have spent a weekend at Agnes’ house. Emmet always suspected those weekend sabbaticals over Agnes’ house to talk about “old times” was a ruse. His mother took far too much luggage to be staying at a friend’s house. His suspicions were confirmed. But he never said anything about it, and at least he had some peace when she was gone those couple of days. She wasn’t constantly calling him to do something for her and he could get his work done. Now, he didn’t have any work to do at all and his weekends would be free.

  June swallowed her food and took a sip of tea. Then she looked at Emmet.

  “So how bad was the damage to your car?” she asked him.

  “Pretty bad. I’m going to buy a new one,” Emmet replied, “Probably a Honda. They’re good cars.”

  “A new car! Emmet, that’s so expensive. Can’t you just get your car fixed?” June asked him.