I was watching the pretty hostess walking before me as she lead me to a table by the window. I thanked her as I picked up the breakfast menu, and sat down. I ordered and ate my breakfast while checking my emails and messages on my tablet. I was sipping a fresh cup of 'joe' when I heard a voice that I hadn't heard in over thirty-five years. It sounded like the distinctive laugh of my first wife. She has a very distinctive voice and laugh.
I needed to leave to make a meeting with a new supplier for my business, so I paid my check at the table. As I walked toward the exit, I looked around for my ex. I could hear her, she was always loud. Not intentional loud, just loud.
Following the sound of her voice, I was curious on how the years had been to her. I hadn't seen her since a year after our divorce when I ran into her in a parking lot at our university. She married the man that she left me for, his folks were wealthy, and moved East. I would marry again, and move South where we would have three beautiful children. The funniest thing is that she left me for money, and I went on to become a very successful restaurant owner of eight independent restaurants. I had recently started a new business to help me past the time. It looks to be more successful than my previous companies.
The voice lead me to a table in the section nearest the entrance of the hotel restaurant. I could see an animated woman talking with her hands from behind. Her light brown hair/dirty blond was held in the latest style. It was obviously her. Seated facing her was a young man in military camo. Definite career military.
Walking up, I put on my best smile. I stood behind her, and said. "Mary Catherine, you are still the loudest woman in any room."
She turned and looked at me. A moment passed before she recognized me. I was closer to sixty than fifty, but I was always active and trim. I hadn't needed to work out until the last couple of years after I turned the business over to my kids to operate. Salt and pepper hair, and the normal thinning that comes with my family genes.
"Martin!" She smiled at me. "It's been years. How are you?" She stood up and hugged me. Tighter than I would find appropriate.
As she sat back down. "I am well, and you look like you're still running."
"I am." She replied, and pointed to the young man. "This is my oldest, Thomas. He is stationed here so I come and visit him every month since it's only a few hours drive."
I shook his hand. "Thank you for protecting us."
I waved my right hand. "It was nice seeing you, but I have a meeting with a new supplier, so I've got to go."
The drive to my meeting was quiet as I thought abut how nice she still looked. I wanted her to look bad, but I knew she wouldn't. She's petite with this runner body. She was never busty so I was surprised that she didn't have implants since she was always jealous of Mary Beth's bust line in high school.
I spent the day with my new supplier, and we settled on a catalogue of products for my business. I liked the young man and I wanted to make this a good partnership. Reminded me of myself at that age.
I ate a light dinner, and made use of the hotel's exercise room. I walked on the treadmill for an hour, and use the weight machine for another half hour before deciding to make use of the hotel's indoor pool.
Spent was how I felt as I returned to my room to shower.
The red light on a room phone showed a message as I dried my hair after my shower. I sat beside the phone, and prepared for this message. There was only one person that would have left me a message. I played the message.
"Martin, it was good seeing you this morning. It's still early would you like to meet me in the bar at eight, and catch up? I'll see you there."
Wow, she asking and demanding at the same time. I looked at the clock, it was nearly seven-thirty. I figured what the hell, I was not doing anything anyway.
I found her sitting quietly at a table in the rear of the lounge while sipping a glass of some flavor of white wine. Her hair fixed perfectly atop her head, so elegant. A blue summer dress that matched her eyes with a nice necklace across her neckline.
