Page 66 of Soft Flannel Hank

“Did anyone follow you?”

“It was early. I picked her up just after you left this morning. Nobody was out.” Jory didn’t seem the least bit ruffled by him.

“Good. That’s good.” Hank started pacing. “He doesn’t know you’re here. I don’t think anyway. The only other people who know you’re here are Alice, Jamie, and Magda, and they wouldn’t say anything. If we can get you back to my house without being seen…” he trailed off, still pacing.

“What if I don’t want to go back to your house?” Esther said.

“You want to stay here? You want to put the other motel guests in danger?”

“I don’t want to put anyone in danger!” Esther shouted. “That’s why I’m in this goddamn mess in the first place! I don’t even want to putyouin danger, but you keep insisting on throwing yourself in harm’s way with me!”

Her shouting broke on a sob. And once the tears came, she couldn’t stop them. She dropped to a seat on the bed, covered her face with her hands, and wept. Jory slipped into the bathroom and brought her a tissue.

Her eyes were closed and tears squeezed through. But suddenly she felt his warmth. She heard the crack of his knees and a soft grunt as he knelt down in front of her. He rested two big hands on her knees. She felt his face close to hers.

“Esther,” he croaked. “I’m sorry.”

She cried harder, pressing the heels of her hands into her eyes. He gently wrapped his fingers around her wrists and pulled them away from her face. She squeezed her eyes shut, refusing to look at him.

“Esther. Sweetheart, please.”

There it was again.Sweetheart.Such a soft word from such a rough-hewn man, achingly tender in his mouth.

Esther opened her eyes and saw his face inches from hers. His hands still rested on her knees, squeezing them gently. The dark circles under his eyes looked deeper than ever.

“I was so afraid, Esther,” he whispered to her.

“What were you afraid of?” She hiccupped, wiping her nose on the sleeve of her shirt.

“That guy was sniffing around the gas station for you and asked me if I’d seen you. I tried to throw him off my trail, to make myself not look suspicious, but I was dying to get home to you. To make sure you were safe.”

“And I was gone.”

“And you were gone.”

Esther heard the motel room door open and close as Jory quietly let herself out.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, closing her eyes and absorbing the smell of him, the heavy feeling of his hands on her knees. “I thought you’d be happier if I was gone.”

He pulled away and looked at her. He opened his mouth to speak, but closed it just as quickly.

“Let’s get you back to the house.”

“Nothing’s changed, Hank. You don’t want me there, and you’re not safe if I stay.”

“I may not want you there, but I think I need you there.”

She started to protest but he pressed his fingertips to her lips.

“I’m all messed up inside, Esther,” he said, his voice rough. “I know it. But when I saw that you were gone? Let’s just say I haven’t been that scared in a long time.”

“I said I was sorry.”

“I know,” Hank said, standing up and reaching out a hand to pull her up as well. “I believe you. But it’s time to go. We’ll get back to my house, and I’ll help you decide what you want to do next. Even if that means leaving. But if you want to leave, you’re going to do it with a solid plan, not shooting off half-cocked into danger.”

Gone was the buoyancy of the morning. Esther’s limbs felt heavy while she packed up her things. As she slid the satin scrunchie around her loose tarot cards, one jumped out and fluttered to the floor.

The Lovers.