Chapter 3 Hannah

I make my way into the lobby of the next motel I see.  Like so many times before, there is a nagging feeling that is telling me to stay.  I ring the bell on the desk and a young woman of about 18 comes out of the office behind the desk.

“Hello, ma’am, Staying for the night?”  she asks.  With her best customer service smile. 

“You have any rooms available for a week?”  I ask.  Why not, something compelled me to stay here so I might as well take my time figuring it out. 

“Sure thing, what brings you to our quaint little town?”, she asks.  I get the feeling that people don’t just up and decide to stay for a week. 

“Not really sure.”  I smile back at her.  “There is definitely something comforting about a cozy little town isn’t there?” I tell her.  A nod, then a pause, like she is listening to something.  That was strange, not threatening just strange.  I shrug it off, I’m tired probably just my intuition on overdrive.  We complete the transaction and I turn to make my way out of the automatic doors at the front of the lobby.  As I am walking to the door, she shouts to me “Oh, if you’re hungry, the bar and grill across the street is open till midnight, 1 AM on weekends”. 

“thanks” I smile, as I walk out the door.

I need a shower before I think about doing anything.  Inside my room is a queen size bed, a mini fridge, and a small TV.  It’s an older box type TV with a VCR in the bottom.  Wonder if they have a video rental place here too, I laugh to my-self.  A sense of nostalgia from renting videos as a child igniting a pang of longing to see my family in my heart.  I brush it off and promise myself that I will call my aunt after I have settled in.  

Anxious to jump in the shower, I toss my duffel bag on the bed and fish through it grabbing my shampoo and body soap, and head to the bathroom.  The warm water is relaxing, and I am suddenly aware of how fatigued I am from driving all day.  I am completely at ease while traveling, but the necessity to remain alert does take a toll.  When I am finished, I wrap my head in a towel and put on a giant t-shirt I wear as a nightgown.  I make my way into my room and flop down on the well warn matress contemplating what it is that has drawn me to this place.  I feel around for the familiar presence of Lily, my spirit guide, but I dont feel her presence in my mind.  Is this heifer on vacation or something?

I am stretched out on the bed beginning to dose off when I hear a knock on the door.  I groan thinking that it might be a problem with my credit card and get up to look through the peek hole to see who it is.  There is no one there.  Reaching into my duffel I pull out my knife.  I was born and raised in Texas, and some folks think that its weird that I dont carry a fire arm, I have my reasons.  Don't get me wrong, I will defend myself if the occasion arises.  I just prefer to carry a knife for protection, because you have to be a special kind of crazy or desparate to use a blade.  There is an intimacy to it that requires a person to be absolutely certain they want to use it to harm another.  The alternative can be discharged without that requirement, and human error can result in some prettty disasterous results.  It's a personal choice.

Readying myself for a fight and slowly open the door.  Like I said, trouble seems to find me when I least expect it, so I’m always ready.  My room is on the outside of the motel facing away from the road.  Sitting in the grass about 50 feet away from me is the giant dog from before.  A light breeze touches my face gently lifting my hair off my shoulders.  As I inhale what I am anticipating to be the smell of fresh air after a spring rain.  I’m actually surprised when I get a whiff of something different.  I was expecting nature, the smell of earth and maybe the aroma of atmosphere. 

This was something masculine, like the man of my dreams was standing next to me.  There is something about it, not like those guys that put on a whole bottle of cologne before they leave for a night out.  Its more organic, like it is in their skin, and sweet. Like apples and one of those saltwater toffee shops at the fair. 

I close my eyes, savoring it, the warmth of it travels from my head down my spine giving me chills over my whole body from head to toe.  When I open my eyes, the dog is gone.  I cross my arms over my chest suddenly aware that I am "cutting diamonds".  stupid biological reactions.  I glance down at my feet, and there sitting in front of the doorstep is a jar of honey with a rose tied to it.