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Chapter 4
(Dawson)
The better part of a year passed with me feeling miserable and being bad to myself. I drank too much, refused visitors, and I let my wounded heart (and pride) get the best of me. I couldn’t believe my true love had ignored my calls, texts, and even more, I couldn’t believe that she had let me stand in the hallway outside her door, professing my undying love and she didn’t even speak.
Selah Jones disappeared from my life as if she had never been there to start with. All I had ever wanted was to be the man of her dreams. I spent so many months devising ways to prove my love to her that I lost myself.
One morning, as I rolled out of bed late and with a serious hangover, I trudged to my downstairs kitchen in search of coffee. I smelled it long before I reached the bottom of the stairs. That dark, bitter smell that I have come to associate with mornings that don’t start so well.
Rick sat at my table, drinking coffee and reading the morning paper, which I had been neglecting to do for months. I wasn’t shocked that he was there. During those months after Selah left, he was often there in the mornings to help get me going. He wasn’t just a friend, he was my business partner.
“Morning, Rick. Anything interesting in that old rag?” I barely spared him a glance, my head was pounding.
“Not a single thing, I’m afraid.” He folded the paper and waited for me to sit. “Are you done moping around because of that girl? You have a business to run, a life to live, and a thousand other girls who would love to ruffle your sheets, buddy.”
“Her name is Selah. And no, I’m not done moping, as you put it. She was the one, Rick. She is the one. I have to find her. Have you heard anything from our private dick?” I was referring to Tom Salvinas, the best P.I. money could buy. I had hired him a month earlier to track down Selah for me.
Sighing heavily, Rick retrieved a paper from his pocket. He slid it across the table to me. “Gave this to me just this morning.”
I opened the paper, my heart in my throat. It was an address to a parcel of property in Corpus Christi, Texas that had been purchased under Selah’s name only a couple months after she had left me.
“It’s just an empty lot, Dawson. The other address is her apartment. She’s working at some restaurant down there, a manager, I believe is what Tom said she was.”
“Which restaurant, Rick?” I memorized the addresses, a smile in my heart.
“Gilly’s Gladhouse, I think is what he called it. I don’t know for sure, man, but you gotta be sure you want to see her again. Tom said she might have a ‘significant other’, was his exact term for it. She already broke your heart, don’t let her break you.”
I re-folded the paper. “Thanks, Rick. You’re a real friend.” I knew exactly what I was going to do. I was going down there; down to Corpus Christi and find Selah. I had to see her. I had to know that she was okay. And, if she was happy where she was, I would leave her alone. I just needed answers.
Two weeks passed before I was ready to fly down to Texas. I personally made all the plans and reservations; I didn’t need my secretaries or my assistants knowing all my personal business.
I left Chicago in the rearview without a single qualm. I had always thought I’d pine away for the windy city if I traveled farther away than an hour or two, but that day, I left it with a smile on my face to match the smile in my heart.
Knowing that Selah was alive meant that I still stood a chance at winning her love again.
I gave the driver the address to the parcel of property; I wanted to see the land, try to determine for myself what she had intended to do with it. If I hadn’t missed my guess, it would be the future home of her restaurant. After leaving me, she must have made a decision about its location.
The driver took me to the parcel, and I stepped out of the car. The view was stunning. It was seaside property with an uninhibited view of the ocean. I imagined that from a two-story structure, the view would seem endless, the water running right out to the end of the earth. Sunsets would be fabulously beautiful, too.
I walked the perimeter outside the poly-strip fencing. Selah had done well in her choice of property. There were so many ways she could situate the building to give her customers awesome views. I could see the appeal. People would flock to a high-end restaurant there. She would get the business of locals and tourists alike.
Despite my broken heart, I was proud of Selah in that moment, standing there looking out over the water, the warm breeze from the ocean warming me, comforting me.
