It was the third week in August and a Wednesday, the slowest day of the week at our mountain resort-retreat and the bosses only day off. It was even slower because a Faith Bible Church group had booked the entire resort, and they werent doing any extras. They had meetings in the morning, then broke up for sightseeing and shopping trips. Almost no one came in to the Spa for massages and facials, though a few had manicures and pedicures in the Gallery area.
I was re-stocking the massage room with towels when I became aware of an argument between a husband and wife. They couldnt see past the bushes to the open frosted window, so I heard almost every word. The wife didnt want to see some Civil War battlefield with her husband, and didnt care to spend any more time with the other wives, either. She said she would read in her room, but her husband thought that would look bad. That set the woman off on a harangue about appearances and living other peoples lives, at the end of which she said that maybe she would get a massage. The husband thought she was joking, but she opened the door, said she was serious and told him that shed see him at 5 to get ready for dinner. He protested to a closed door for a second, then walked away mumbling.
I tried to look like I hadnt heard a word, and smiled when the woman looked at me and asked if I could fit in a massage. She was a nice looking, conservatively-dressed brunette, probably in her late Thirties.
"Ive never had a massage in my life, but I think I need one right now."
"Well…" I responded, but thats the only word I got out.
"Please, I need a massage. Ill take any time."
She was pleading with me, and I saw her eyes water a little
"Okay. I can fit you in right now. May I ask your name?"
"Arlene M____________________. Im with the Faith Bible Church group."
"Okay, Arlene. Theres a robe in the dressing room. Ill prepare the table. Come out when youre ready."
I put a "No Entry" sign on the door and locked... Læs hele novellen
