Room 702 (12 page)

 
And yet, she’s proud of herself.
 
Traveling with a baby, alone, seemed intimidating, but, thanks to a helpful seat mate and a direct flight, was easier than she expected.
 
Toby behaved like an angel and was currently resting in the travel crib the Winchester was nice enough to provide at check in.
 
Mentally going through everything that needs to happen tomorrow, she retrieves the ice and, true to her promise, Clare returns within a minute, bucket brimming with ice.
 
She moves to push the door open and collides with its hard surface.
 
Dropping the ice entirely, she begins violently shaking the door back and forth.
 
 
“No, no, no.
 
This cannot be happening.”
 
Frantically, she puts her hands in the pockets of the robe, hoping against hope that a key or phone will appear.
 
Neither does.
 
She continues and slaps her hands against the door, banging loudly, not caring if she wakes up the entire hall.
 
The ice and bucket remain on the ground.
 
Clare looks around the hallway, willing help to appear and none does.
 
“Fuck!”
 
 
Dashing to the elevator, she reappears a few minutes later, now in tears with a well suited Ethan deSoto, able-bodied night manager and professional putter outer of fires big and small.
 
Professional as ever, he pretends not to notice that she’s dressed in only a half opened robe.
 
Pulling out his all access plastic key, he says, “Don’t worry, Ma’am – we’ll get in.
 
He’ll be just fine.”
 
With the swipe of a key, the green light activates and with the lock no longer engaged, Ethan opens the door, with Laura closely behind him.
 
Sweeping into the bedroom, she all but falls next to the crib and practically cries out in relief.
 
There, sleeping soundly, unaware of the drama around him, is a perfectly content and resting seven month old.
 
Kissing him softly on his head, Laura moves out of the room and looks at the bellman, who quickly removes the shocked expression from his face.
 
“You must think I’m a terrible mother,” she whispers.
 
“It could happen to anyone,” he says diplomatically.
 
“But it doesn’t.”
 
“Not regularly.”
 
“How can I repay you?”
 
“Just doing my job, Ma’am.
 
The Winchester endeavors to keep parents and children together.”
 
He moves to leave the reunited family and asks, “Is there anything else we can provide for the evening?”
 
“If you could manage not to tell his father, I would greatly appreciate it.”
 
“Mum’s the word.”
 
She follows him to the door and he retrieves the key from the door, pressing it in her hand and saying, “Keep this in a safe place.”
 
“I will.”
 
After her heart rate slows down and she checks multiple times to ensure that Toby is sleeping soundly, she is surprised when there is a knock at the door.
 
Pulling her robe tight, she looks in the LCD peephole and sees a hotel employee on the other side.
 
Opening the door, she asks, “Yes?”
 
“Compliments of the manager.” Chad wheels in a cart, and lifts the cover to reveal a selection of cookies, a cold pitcher of milk, a stuffed animal (a Moose, the mascot of the Winchester) and a note.
 
He walks out of the room, leaving a bewildered Clare.
 
She takes the note, handwritten on letterhead, sits down and reads:

 
Enjoy this midnight snack on us and, if you have time – please visit the spa – our compliments.
 

 
Ethan and the rest of the Winchester family

 
PS We’re happy to arrange for childcare while you do!

“Are you ready to begin?”

“Yes, Doc.”

 
“It’s been awhile,” Nancy says neutrally.

 
“I know.”

 
“Is there any particular reason?”

 
“My schedule.”

 
“We make time for things that are important to us.”

 
Oscar looks down at his size 15 feet and says, “I know.”

 
“If this venue doesn’t work, I’d be happy to meet you somewhere else in the city.”

 
“It’s not that.”

 
“Then what is it?”

 
“Honestly?”

 
“Yes.”

 
“When am I going to start feeling better?”

 
“Oscar, this is not a process we can rush.
 
There’s not some sort of magic internal button we can push and you’ll instantly feel better.
 
However, consistently meeting with me and talking through things can help.”

 
“Promise?”

 
“I promise.”

 
“I’m just so tired of feeling different than everyone else.”

 
“I know,” Nancy answers in a reassuring tone. “How do you feel about the medication?”
 

“I think it’s definitely having an impact.
 
I accidentally missed a few days in a row recently and noticed a difference,” Oscar answers.

“Good.
 
I don’t think we need to adjust your levels then.
 
Remind me and at the end of our sessions I’ll write you a new prescription.”

“Thanks.”

“So, would you like to update me on what we discussed last time?”

“I think I’m going to get a new agent.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Can you walk me through how you came to this decision?”

“After we spoke, I set up a meeting with him.
 
And not to get all Jerry Maguire, but I realized he saw me as a meal ticket and nothing more.
 
I started talking to one of my teammates from Georgetown about his relationship with his agent.
 
I set up a meeting with this guy and I think we could be a great team.”

“Are they at the same agency?”

“No.”

“Are you under contract with your current agent?”
 
“Actually, we’re coming up to the end of my agreement with him.”
 
“Are you prepared to give notice to your current agent and all the fallout that might accompany it?”

Oscar takes a deep breath and says, “I am.
 
As much as I dislike conflict, I realize that having a better agent, or one that I actually have a relationship with will not only help my professional career but also my personal life.”

“I’m very glad to hear you say that.
 
When do you think you will make the change?”

“Thank goodness, my contract ends after the end of the season.
 
I want all the off court drama to happen when the focus isn’t on basketball.”

“Understood.
 
What does Dani think of your decision?
 
Did you consult her in making the choice?”

“I did.
 
I think she liked being part of the process.
 
She brought up some valid points – no one is a bigger cheerleader for me than she is.”

 
“And how was she with your parents?
 
Did you end up meeting with them?”

“We did and she was very helpful.
 
If it hadn’t been for her…”

“Do you mind telling me the whole story?
 
Again, I’m most interested in what part you played in being in control.
 
I think this was an important step for you.”

 
“They came to Chicago, which was more than I thought they would do.”

“Even after you bought them the tickets?”

“Even then.
 
My mom has a bad habit of refusing to commit to things until the last minute.”

“Interesting.
 
Has this been an ongoing personality trait of hers?”
 
“Sure, being late, not committing, backing out at the last minute – as far as I can remember.”

 
“If she has been behaving like this since your childhood, your refusal to try and control things could be a reaction to her actions.
 
If you had zero ability to make an impact on her then, maybe you never got the confidence to take charge as an adult.
 
If your childhood was a series of never ending out of control events, maybe we’ll have a better understanding of why you feel the way you do.”

“I never thought of it like that.”
 
“I’m not saying this is a case where we can blame your mother for everything – but I encourage you to continue to reflect on her and your childhood.
 
Sorry, to interrupt, what happened when your parents arrived in Chicago?”
 
“They arrive and things are as formal as ever.”

“How so?”

“We don’t talk about anything real.”

“Can you define ‘real’?”

“Anything past superficial.
 
Our basic conversation follows something like, how am I playing?
 
How is Dani’s job?
 
How are their jobs?
 
What is the weather? How are my siblings?
 
How are my niece and nephews?”

“Sounds like ‘real’ talk to me.”

“But that’s it – that’s as far as it ever goes.”

“Where do you want it to go?”

“I don’t know.
 
Are you happy?
 
What are your goals?
 
What do you want to do after you retire from playing?”

“And did you tell them this?”

“I tried to.
 
Actually putting the words together was more difficult than I thought it would be.”

“Do you think they understood what you were asking?”

 
“No.”

“How did Dani help?”
 
“She stood by me and tried to give examples.
 
We didn’t want to bring her parents into it.”
“Good – I don’t think a comparison to your in-laws would’ve helped make any progress.
 
Now, when confronted, did they recognize there were issues?”
 
“I think so – I mean, it’s not like I surprised them.
 
This behavior has been going on for years.”
 
“As a percentage, how much would you say you got through to them?”
 
Oscar taps his long fingers on his knee and answers, “Not as much as I would like.”
 
“But it was a start.”
 
“Yes.”
 
“And maybe now they see you as more of an adult, or more than just a basketball player?”
 
“I certainly hope so.”
 
“What would it take for you to feel you had resolved things with them?”
 
“I’m not sure exactly.
 
Look, I know it’s difficult for people to change – and they’ve been the same way for years.”
 
“Could you ever accept them the way they are?”
 
Oscar takes a moment to consider the question and answers, “No.”
 
“Why not?”
 
“One day, they will be grandparents.
 
I want them to have a relationship with my kids.”
 
“That’s a topic we haven’t got into just yet.”
 
“What?”
 
“Children.”
 
“Oh.
 
Yeah.”
 
“What does that response mean?”
 
“Dani wants them now,” Oscar mumbles.
 
“And you don’t?”
 
“We’re still young!”
 
“Of course you are.”
 
“Is there something you need to prove or do before you would feel ready?”
 
“I’m not sure – I just know that now is not the time.”
 
“Okay – off the table is fine, but maybe that’s a good ‘real’ conversation to have with your own parents.”
 
“How do you mean?”
 
“Ask them about when you and when your siblings were born.
 
Maybe you could get a real dialogue going.”
 
“You think?”
 
“You won’t know until you try.”
 
“I hate it when you make sense, Doc.”
 
“That’s what you pay me for, right?” Nancy asks with a smile.

Desiree Guthrie sighs to herself as the door to the suite closes.
 
She’s catching a few moments of peace before the preparation for her first major press junket begins downstairs.
 
It’s not that she’s not grateful, it’s just that when she studied acting, she hadn’t realized all of the endless promotion that went into the process.
 
This is her second studio film.
 
To date, she’s been involved mostly in independent films and stage work prior to her ‘big break’ on a short-lived sitcom last fall television season.

 
“First world problems,” she mutters to the empty room.

As predicted, the desk is overflowing with a selection of fruits and other snacks.
 
A giant bouquet of Stargazer lilies (her favorite) sit in a beautiful vase next to the treats.

A knock on the door alerts her to the hair and make up team, undoubtedly sent by the studio.

Pasting a radiant smile on her face, she opens the door with her trademark greeting, “Hi y’all!”

 
“Hey gorgeous!”

 
In recognition, they air kiss and Desiree is delighted to see Francisco, a man who actually understands hair.
 
Although Desiree has long worn a weave, she feels confident with the effeminate man in front of her.
 
Feeling better now she knows she’ll be in professional hands, the actress wheels out the chair from behind the desk and, sitting down says, “Do your best.”