“Better than Burger King I guess.” Kerry sighed. “I sent chocolate.”
“So I smell and see.” Dar tipped her head to one side and regarded the festive looking basket. “Thanks. Definitely better than Burger King. I think I see Kit Kat bars.”
“They had that, and peanut butter cups.” Kerry exhaled. “Mocha and Chino have been running me crazy all night. They finally just settled down, and I'm going to have a bowl of soup or something.”
“Want some of my Kit Kats?”
“I want you.” Kerry's smile was audible. “Do you have to go back over there tomorrow?”
“In the morning, yes. Need to set up the delivery time line.” Dar said. “And, I guess, the ILS team there wants to get a handshake in.”
“Aww.”
Dar chuckled softly. “Wish you were here.” She said, unexpectedly. “I”m so used to having you around, it's weird when you're not.”
“Funny. I was just thinking that.” Kerry's tone warmed. “It's crazy isn't it? I lived by myself for a long time here before we met, and now I can't even remember what that felt like.”
Dar thought about that for a minute, as she listened to Kerry breathe gently in her ear. She did remember what that had been like, those long years of living alone, and how quiet it had been. Quiet like it was in the hotel room, just the creak of the building around her and the far off sound of street traffic.
“Dar?”
“Hm?” She dismissed the memory. “Just thinking. Been a weird day.”
“Having to meet the president?” Her partner laughed softly. “You handled it really well, hon. I don't think I would have, and I”m sure you were a lot more comfortable talking about your dad than I would have been about mine.”
“Mm. I did okay. Hey, you think room service would have hot dogs? I feel like a hot dog.” Dar rolled up onto her feet and went over to the small desk in the room, flipping through the menu. “Why in the hell would someone want to eat the heart out of a palm, Ker? That sounds brutal.”
“It's just a vegetable.” Kerry answered in an indulgent tone. “You'd probably like it if they dumped peanut sauce on it.”'
“I like everything with peanut sauce. Especially you.” Dar chuckled .”Oh, here we go. Two hot dogs, a bowl of chili, and a plate of nachos. I can make my own chili cheese dogs.”
“Oh, Dar.”
Dar imagined her beloveds pained expression without effort. “Nah, actually they've got snapper fillet. I”ll get that.” She pushed the menu aside and dropped into the chair. “So we got a security guard, I sold two designs, you wrote three contracts and I met the President. All in all, a good day.”
“Except how it began, and the fact you're not here.” Kerry said. “Aside from that, we're good.” She said. “Okay, let me let you go get dinner. I'm going to get my soup, and go for a walk with the kids.”
“Okay. Talk to you tomorrow.” Dar said. “Kiss the kids for me.”
Kerry chuckled. “I will. Night hon.”
“Night.” Dar hit the key to hang up and juggled the Handspring in her fingers, then let it drop to the desk. She glanced at the phone, then got up and went back to the bed, sitting down and pulling her boots back on. “Let me go find a real hot dog.” She decided. “Better than hanging out in this boring room.”
She shrugged into her jacket and slipped her key card in her back pocket, then ran her fingers through her hair before she went out the door. The hotel lobby was sparsely populated, and she only glanced into the restaurant before she went outside and braced herself against the chilly wind.
Turning up her collar, Dar stuck her hands in her pockets and strolled down the road, glancing at the store fronts as she passed. There was a scattering of other walkers on the street, and she crossed with some of them, seeing a few couples walking together hand in hand and talking.
Now, she really did wish Kerry was there with her, and she flexed her hand almost able to feel the warmth of her partner's as she imagined folding her fingers around hers. They had started doing that in public, lately, or sometimes Kerry would ease over and slide her hand into Dar's front pocket, bumping lightly along with her in somewhat clumsy comfort.
The sudden scent of garlic distracted her, and she noticed two of the couples heading towards a restaurant on the next corner. She trailed after them, and found herself at the door, pulling it open and entering.
It had a typical brick and wood interior, and smelled great. Dar patiently waited her turn, then followed the very busy hostess to a table near the window, passing between much bigger ones surrounded by large groups.
Busy restaurant on a weekday, good sign. Dar relaxed in her chair and opened the menu the woman had left. There would be no hot dogs, but she not only recognized most of the dishes, she'd eaten a number of them before.
“Getcha something to drink?” A waitress was standing at her table, with an inquiring look.
Ah. Dar regarded her choices. She really wasn't much of a drinker – Kerry could easily put her under the table – and she usually indulged when they were out mostly to keep her partner company. However. “Beer?” She ventured. “Draft?”
“Foreign or domestic?” The woman asked.
“Foreign.” Dar decided. “Nothing dark.”
“Sure.” The woman whisked off. Dar figured out what she wanted and put the menu down, then half turned in her chair to study her fellow diners.
Well, it would be better than having a hot dog. Dar leaned back and exhaled. And better than consuming the contents of her gift basket. She smiled briefly as her beer was delivered. Maybe she'd even end the night by taking a walk.
Kerry toweled her hair dry, and stuck her head out of the bathroom, hearing a growl fest going on in the living room. “Hey, what are you guys doing?”
Chino came trotting into the room, her tongue lolling out. “Growf!”
Mocha galloped in after her, spotting the towel Kerry had wrapped around her and seizing on the corner of it gleefully. “Yap!” He backed up and tugged the fabric with him.
“Hey! Cut that out!” Kerry tossed the towel in her hands back into the bathroom and made a grab for her modesty. “C'mon now! I ran with you guys for an hour. Aren't you tired out?”
“Yap!” Mocha stood up on all fours and peered at her, his tail wagging furiously.
“Oh my gosh.” Kerry traded her towel for a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, and ducked back into the bathroom to run a brush through her hair. “Give me a second, okay?”
Nearly midnight, and she had to admit she was tired out. She glanced at her reflection in the mirror, then blew her damp bangs back out of her eyes. “Ugh.”
Then she emerged, and leaned against the wall, regarding the water bed pensively.
Choices. She could sleep downstairs, here in what was once Dar's bedroom and was now both of theirs. The water bed was comfortable, and it was where she usually slept.
However, she was never so aware of Dar's absence as she was when she was in that bed, alone. A little silly, she knew, or probably a little crazy, but she counted' help feeling the way she did and so, with a sigh she abandoned the room and trotted up the steps with the dogs right behind her, moving down the upstairs hall and into the condo's master suite.
Big and with high, arched ceilings, tall glass doors that opened onto a broad, shaded patio, soft sea foam green walls, and light wood furniture she almost never used.
Had done, for a little while, when she'd first moved in with Dar and she'd put her things up here, in the plethora of drawers and cupboards, and in the walk in closet that was half the size of her original apartment. She still had clothes hanging in that, her business suits and formal wear, but the rest of her stuff was and had been mingled with Dar's for a long time now downstairs.