Thursday, September 27, 2007

Chapter 16

The bedside phone ringing shrilly pulled Tricia from what had been an uneasy nights sleep. At first she panicked, thinking she had somehow overslept for her tournament. Groggily she picked the phone up and said hello.

“Tricia?” she heard Matt ask. “I thought this would be late enough. It’s nearly ten. You are alone aren’t you?”

Hearing him ask that was somehow almost oddly comforting. Then it occurred to her how close she had come to not being alone. What had she been thinking last night. Clearly she had been letting emotions get in the way of good sense. Maybe Jaime was being the sensible one of them after all.

“Of course I’m alone Matt,” Tricia said. “Five or ten of the guys from the poker room and I had an orgy but I kicked them all out a couple of hours ago. How are you this morning.”

She half expected Matt to say something about that sarcastic comment but he chuckled and let it go. “Another late night playing huh?”

“Partly playing and partly watching the final table of yesterday’s tournament.” She said telling the truth but not the whole truth. “I did pretty good yesterday. I won another satellite so I’m in the event that starts in a couple of hours and this is a $1000 buy in event.”

“And you won an entry into that?” Matt asked sounding impressed. “You didn’thave to use any of your money?”

“Yep!” Tricia said happily. “I’ve still got more money than I came with. Can you believe that? I’m not rich but on the other hand I’m not broke. It looks like the cash games may make enough to pay for the hotel.”

“Well,” Matt said. “That is great. I guess I owe you an apology for not believing you could do it.”

“That’s ok. Nobody did. I know my parents thought I was nuts. Hell I guess I didn’t really expect it to go this well.”

“How much does this tournament today pay?”

“You mean if I win?” Tricia asked. “I heard estimates that the $1000 events should pay between $90,000 and $100,000 to the winner.”

“Jesus,” Matt said. “And you got into that for free?”

“Not free but less than the $1000 buy in,” Tricia said. “I also don’t think I’ve got a very realistic chance to win Matt so don’t spend the money yet.”

“Well it sure would be nice. Now I wish I was there watching you.” Matt said.

“That would be kinda nice,” Tricia said realizing that it might even be true although it obviously could also cause other problems. “Maybe another time? If you’ll let me come to another one of these.”

“It doesn’t sound like I can stop you.” Matt said.

“Matt?” Tricia asked, almost afraid she might be afraid to break the amicable mood but feeling the need to ask what was on her mind. “You asked me if I was alone. Are you alone? You’ve been hard to get hold of and not to look a gift horse in the mouth but you’re taking this all a lot more calmly than I thought you would.”

“Jesus Tricia!” Matt said, sounding surprised and flustered but not as angry as she had expected. “You’re right. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth. I agreed to let you do this and I’m trying to do that.”

“I’m sorry Matt,” Tricia said contritely. “But you’ve been very hard to get hold of and I thought you’d be checking on me constantly. What am I supposed to think. Then when I asked Mom and Dad and Mary Beth they all just tell me nothing is wrong but theyalso sound strange. Is there something going on Matt?”

“Honey, relax,” Matt said. “Just play your tournaments like you went there for. It sounds like you’re doing great. I do miss you and will be glad when you get home. When are you leaving again?”

“I’m not sure,” Tricia admitted. “I figured I’d be leaving by the weekend because by then all that will be left is the larger buy in events and the main event. The way I’m going I’m wondering if it’s possible that I might win my way into the main event though.”

“And what would that mean for when you left?”

“Well it starts next Tuesday and should end on Thursday. It’s a three day event.” Tricia said, wondering if he was going to tell her he wanted her home sooner as she half expected since she had told him she would probably be home by the weekend.

“Do you really think you can do that? I thought those were pretty expensive. You told me you wouldn’t be playing that one.”

“Well I didn’t think I could. The buy in is $5000 and obviously I can’t afford to just plunk down $5000. I’ve been doing well in satellites so I just might win one to get an entry or a miracle could happen and I could cash in this tournament today and have enough to pay for it. Would that be ok with you if I won over $5000 today if I bought into the main event with it?”

“It’s your money Tricia,” Matt replied. “You are the one earning it and we agreed your poker money was yours to do with as you pleased.”

“But I promised to be home by the weekend. Would you mindterribly if I end up staying until the main event?”

“As long as you’re sleeping alone I can live with it,” Matt said, somewhat surprising Tricia although the way he said it sounded a bit more like the old Matt. “I’ll try to get by and visit Matty a bit more. Maybe if you’re not home on the weekend I’ll take him to the zoo on Saturday. It sounds to me though like he is having a ball at your parents and they sounded happy to have him still so don’t worry about him.”

“I have to. That is what mom’s do best.” Tricia said, feeling a bit guilty because she wasn’t worrying about him that much. She knew he was happy at her parents and from talking to them knew they were very happy to have him.

“Well just let me know what you’re doing,” Matt said. “Let me know when you’re planning to come home. I’ve not exactly been keeping up with the housework and you wouldn’t like it right now.”

Tricia smiled. Now that sounded like she expected. She knew he would have made a very sloppy bachelor indeed. “I will do that. I expect the house to look like it did when I left Matt.” She said in a teasing tone that she hoped he picked up on. “And no fair asking my mom to clean for you either!”

“How about Mary Beth?” Matt asked, teasing back. “I saw her yesterday and she said she had talked to you. She offered to clean the house so that I wouldn’t get in trouble. She said she knew that if she was gone as long as you are now that Dutch would have the house looking like a disaster by the time she got back.”

Tricia chuckled. “You made the mess, you clean the mess. Maybe it will make you appreciate what I do for you.”

“I already do babe,” Matt said. “I’m sick of frozen dinners.”

“Well I’m sick of eating out so when I get back I’ll cook a nice big dinner.”

“I’ll hold you to that,” Matt said.

Tricia looked at the clock and said, “Matt I ought to get moving. I need to shower and get some breakfast and get to the poker room, the tournament starts in less than two hours.”

“Ok well good luck. Call me even if you have to leave a message and let me know how it went,” Matt said. “And remember not to take any strange men back to your room ok?”

Tricia rolled her eyes. “I won’t take any normal ones either. No men in my room. I promise.”

“Love you babe,” Matt said. “Knock ‘em dead. Make us rich.”

Tricia laughed. “Not likely. I love you too Matt, and thank you again for letting me come.”

She took a shower and dressed, thinking the whole time about the night before and how close she had come to dragging Jaime back to her room. She knew that it was only because he stopped her that it hadn’t happened.

Did he really have a hard time saying no, she wondered? Or had he just said that. She spent the time leaving the room and going downstairs in the elevator wondering what she’d be feeling if she had slept with him again. In a way she was glad she hadn’t and in a way she wished she had. Matt was being nicer but who knew if that would change when she got home and she’d be back to evenings alone as Matt slept in his chair in front of the TV after work.

Her mind was still churning over all that as she stepped off the elevator and began to walk through the lobby.

“Earth to Tricia,” she heard somebody say behind her. Her head snapped around and shesaw Rick getting up from one of the chairs in the lobby.

“Oh,” She said, surprised to see him. “Hi Rick. Have you been waiting for me? I didn’t forget promising to meet you this morning did I?”

He shook his head. “I just got down here and thought I’d wait a few minutes and see if I’d get lucky and catch you on your way to breakfast.”

“Well you did,” She said. “Would you like to join me?” She was looking around as she asked, wondering if maybe Jaime was around too.

“Looking for somebody?” Rick asked. “I’d be glad to join you if you didn’t have plans.”

“I don’t have plans. I’m not really looking for anybody I expect to see and I’d like company at breakfast.”

Once they were in the little cafĂ© where they had decided to grab a quick breakfast Rick asked, “So how late did you stay up last night? How’d he finish up?”

“He got fourth,” Tricia said. “He seemed happy enough with that.”

“I would imagine. That paid well.” Rick said and then asked, “Did you celebrate his finish with him afterwards?”

Tricia cocked her head at Rick and smiled. “Are you jealous? You sound jealous.”

Rick shrugged. “Envious maybe. Not jealous. Obviously you two have some kind of history.”

“I’m married Rick. You know that.”

He shrugged again. “I know. If I was out of line I’m sorry. It just seemed like there was something between you and him that was more than just somebody you met playing poker.”

“I didn’t meet him playing poker,” Tricia said, realizing she wanted to tell the story. “I met him online about eight years ago. We quickly got very close and we had an affair. Then my husband caught on and I’ve spent the last eight years trying to make my marriage work. Until this week I’d not seen Jaime or heard from him in that whole eight years.”

“Jesus, he just left you to sort it out by yourself?” Rick asked angrily.

“No!” Tricia said quickly. “He didn’t do anything I didn’t ask him to. I am the one who told him I couldn’t have any more contact with him and he respected that. Sometimes I wish he hadn’t.”

“How’d you end up here together? Was it planned?”

She shook her head and told him about the cards and how Jaime had explained it.

“Oh,” Rick said. “I guess I judged him too quick. Was it hard seeing him again? I’m trying to think how I’d feel. I wonder if feelings would last that long.”

“They do. It’s been harder than I thought it would be. I think it’s been harder on him.”

Tricia got quiet then, thinking about the night before, her eyes tearing up.

“Tricia if I brought up something you didn’t want to talk about I’m sorry,” Rick said. “We all have our skeletons in the closet. We all make mistakes although I’m not sure that what happened to you was a mistake.”

Tricia looked up sharply at that. She had not expected that. “What do you mean?”

“Well you met each other’s needs at the time and it does sound like it helped your marriage, at least for a while. Now you’ve got a little boy and you ARE still married to the same guy.”

Tricia shrugged. “Yeah the same guy who spent a lot of the last eight years not letting me forget for a second what I had done to him and who has slowly slipped back into being about the way he was. Now he’s acting even weirder.”

“He is? Weird how?” Rick asked.

“Well I thought he’d be on my case constantly to make sure I didn’t have time to do anything with anybody. Instead I’ve hardly heard from him and when I call I usually get his voice mail. He’s taking this whole thing so calmly I just think something is up.”

Rick looked at her. “Maybe he is showing you he trusts you.”

Tricia smiled. “Maybe. At any rate I know I should not look a gift horse in the mouth. I’m here. I’m having a ball and I’m gonna win today’s tournament.”

Rick laughed. “Would you settle for second so I can win?”

“Hell no!” Tricia said. “I’m sorry you had to listen to all that but thank you. It helped to get it off my chest. Not many people know about me and Jaime. I’d appreciate it if you keep it to yourself. He might not like it that I told anybody, especially another poker player.”

“I’ll keep it to myself.” Rick said.

“Good, now lets go win a tournament!” Tricia said, feeling happier than she had for a while.

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