Dormant (Part 3 of 4)
He was going to walk right by her again, the big fool. Marie glared at the man, Carlos she was told his name was, as he trailed the family. He didn’t look to his left or right, staring straight ahead, but she knew he saw her. He was the best bodyguard Mr. Santos had, she’d been told that too. He saw everything.
She waited for the family to pass. Mr. Rayner hovered over his wife and child, his expression a mixture of love, pride, and worry. One big hand stroked his wife’s back, the other cupped underneath the baby as though by touching them, he reassured himself they were safe.
As soon as they were out of range, Marie threw the pen. It wasn’t a toss. She threw it as hard as she could right at the bodyguard’s thick head.
Carlos’ hand snapped up to catch it, his reflexes impressively quick. His head didn’t turn. He didn’t pause. He slipped the pen into the breast pocket of his dress shirt and continued walking.
Foiled again. Marie wanted to stomp her feet and pull her hair. She felt like the bebe he accused her of being.
Carlos’ body followed the family. His heart stayed in the lobby with Marie. He patted the pen in his pocket, close to that rebellious organ. The pen would be secreted away to his room because she had touched it.
She had thrown it. At him. He grinned. She was so full of passion, so alive. When around her, he felt that way too. Some of the dreary fog draped over him since… since… lifted. He felt almost… hopeful.
Then Mrs. Rayner’s phone buzzed, her emergency line, and that hope vanished. The new mom’s white face paled even more. Big green eyes lifted to her husband. “Hagen, we have to leave immediately.”
“Damn it, Englebarn, we just got here.”
Her hand reached up to touch that ugly face. “It is a matter of life or death.”
They stared at each other. Mr. Rayner’s fists clenched and unclenched. Finally the husband sighed. “I know.” He kissed his wife’s hand.
Carlos shouldn’t feel envy for something he could never have. Knowing that didn’t make the feeling go away. His fingers wrapped around the pen.
on January 20th, 2010 at 12:37 pm
I had forgotten he called her that, aww
on February 1st, 2010 at 1:05 am
Grace Williams