Page 62 of Old Flames

“Lock it in.”

Jules briskly made her way to the car rental kiosk. She accepted the first vehicle offered, found it on the lot, and tossed her luggage into the trunk. She synced her phone and mapped out the route, but she would have found her way back to The Aurora, even if blindfolded. A couple hours later, she stopped in Key Largo to use a burger joint’s restrooms and grab a bite to eat. Then it was one key after another and a blur of motels, bait shops, and seafood shacks. Flying to New York made no sense, she reasoned, halfway over the Overseas Highway. Her only choices were to stay at Vicky’s or book a room or an Airbnb. Why bother checking out of one hotel only to check into another? Both Ayesha and Vicky had plans to reconnect with their families. In a way, wasn’t that what she was doing? She couldn’t leave Ruby behind. What if she were in trouble and it was Jules’s mission to save her? She’d do it, even if it meant sitting in the garden night after night. When Ruby appeared, she would shut up and listen. If Ruby said nothing, she’d lean into the silence. Jules peddled in words, but there was more than one way to communicate. If it turned out that Ruby had nothing to say, she’d sit with her until she felt her love.

23

7:00 a.m.

Leo set out for an early morning run. He ran the length of Duval, from the gulf to the Atlantic. When he reached the concrete buoy marking the southernmost point in the continental US, the sun was rising. Dawn broke in waves of red, blue, and gold—a sky on fire. A feeling that he’d ignored thus far took grip. He did not want to leave. He had no desire to climb back in that car and resume his redemption tour. He considered staying on a couple more days. The next idea, the next big thing, wasn’t in Charleston. It was here, and he could feel it. He’d come to Key West for a specific reason. It hadn’t panned out and it hurt, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t make the most of it.

Back at The Aurora, it was odd to find the property hollowed out, though he had no complaints. It perfectly fit his mood. Despite his better judgment, he crossed the lobby, ventured down the hall to the back stairs leading to her room on the top floor. The doors were left wide-open, possibly for housekeeping staff. Leo didn’t dare enter and violate her space, even though she’d long vacated it, and nothing remained of her, except for the rumpled sheets on the bed that must enviably retain her scent. The open cupboard doors and general chaos suggested that she’d packed in a hurry. Last night, they’d said their goodbyes in the lobby. Leo followed her cues and kept it brief. She avoided his eyes. In the early morning, she took off like a thief.

Noon

Leo was arranging to extend his stay two nights when he was offered a discount for the week. He handed over his credit card to the front desk clerk.

“You’re still here! When will you be heading off?”

It was Daphne, a porter leading the way with a trolley loaded with her luggage and boxes of promotional brochures.

“I’m staying,” he said.

“Checkout is at one,” she said. “Stay any longer and it’s on you.”

“Don’t worry. I got it.”

She frowned. “You’re . . . staying? For real?”

“One week.”

“Here? Alone?”

He told her about his friend’s house in Charleston, the burst pipes, the damage, and the mess.

“I’ll keep my condo, thanks very much,” Daphne said. “These old houses are charming until the wiring sparks and the roof caves. I need something built in this century.”

“Where are you off to?” he asked.

“My parents’ house, to spend time with my mother until April.” Without any sort of transition, she asked, “What are you doing later? Want to meet for a drink?”

“Yeah, sure.”

“I never really got a chance to hang out with you guys over the weekend. Now it’s over and I need to decompress.”

2:00 p.m.

After lunch, Leo escaped the heat in his room. He selected a book at random and read a couple of chapters, then worked on an outline until it was time to meet with Daphne.

3:00 p.m.

Jules wheeled her suitcase into the lobby of The Aurora. She was greeted warmly by the front desk clerk. “Ms. Jones! How great to have you back! We can offer a free upgrade.”

“No, thanks,” she said. “I liked my room. Is it available?”

“It’s yours,” the clerk said. “And we have a special promotion if you book the week.”

“I’ll take it.”

7:00 p.m.