Simple Man

- THIRTYFIVE -

"Why are the rooms so small? And can we discuss the wallpaper situation? Like, it might have trendy back when petticoats were still in vogue but now... Not so much I'm afraid." Edmond commented, looking around as he sat himself on the sofa in the parlor, tea cup in hand.

"It's a small town bed and breakfast... you know this right?" Raul asked, probably hoping that his partner was joking but knowing his partner well enough to realize he wasn't.

Rowan saw Edmond wave off Raul's question and directed his interior design commentary to his friend who sat slumped down in a small stiff wooden chair. Rowan hardly got any sleep due to the burning questions that kept him up until four in the morning. Rowan was weary from the revelations he overheard last night and felt Edmonds questions could have waited the next day but his manager vehemently disagreed. So there they were.

"What?" Rowan said a little more sharply than he intended to but Edmonds' criticisms of The Magnolia Inn were the least of his concerns at present. He was consumed with the weighted guilt that he had a niece he never knew about, that she was in danger somehow and he had to keep pretending he knew nothing in order not to spook Iyana into fleeing with her. It was going to prove difficult to keep up with the pretense of calling them Meghan and Liv as if everything hadn't just shifted on his priorities list. Rowan could only pray to a deity he didn't even believe in that he wouldn't slip up.

He had felt an instant connection to Kyra and now he knew why. Beside the fact she was a cool kid who was wise beyond the scope of others her age she was his kin-an innocent who needed the love, protection and guidance he never got. Rowan also felt a pull just as strong-but that of a romantic nature -towards Iyana. He was quietly coming to terms with the fact that his body, heart and mind no longer belonged to him. That their sole purpose now was to be of service to two other people roaming this earth.

It still didn't mean he was ready to see them again just yet.

Rowans' curt manner didn't dissuade Edmond from continuing, "I know you like old things Rowan but even you have to admit that this place needs a bit of a revamp."

Rowan was fed up, between Edmonds' unexpected arrival, being indirectly linked to a witness protection assignment and his abusers funeral arrangements he about had it up to here, "I frankly don't give a iota of a shit about the wallpaper, or the doilies, or the fake plants in the corner that have collected dust. This is markedly better that The Magnolia Inn I knew as a kid so I would be grateful because if this place was still in that state I wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't a cockroach doing backstrokes in your tea cup. God, I need some aspirin, excuse me." Rowan abruptly pulled his statuesque frame up from the tiny chair, unconcerned that brunch was about to start in the dining room.

"Edmond don't you dare, sit your ass back down." Rowan heard Raul order as he walked back upstairs, "You're very well read babe, so read the room next time. Sometimes it's better to drink ones tea and be silent."

Rowan didn't catch Edmonds' reply if he gave one but did suspect his friend was pouting through sips of Earl Grey. Rowan dragged his feet down the hallway, his head was genuinely hurting but he mainly needed to be alone right now. Even though Edmond and Raul had booked their own room both of them had ended up crashing in his room somehow. Rowan was woken up by a hard elbow to the ribs as Edmond shifted in the bed next to him. Grimacing though irritation it was all he could do not to push his manager off and onto the floor.

No sooner had Rowan slipped the key in to his room when two glaring questions came to the forefront of his mind. Why did his niece need witness protection from his half-brother? And why were they hiding in Juniper of all places? He seriously doubted he would get an answer for the second question unless he straight up asked Iyana or Kyra which wasn't going to happen. It was still an important piece of the puzzle, just one he would have to save for later. The first question could be answered in about as fast as his legs could carry him back downstairs.

Rowan took the stairs three at a time and very firmly had to use his hands as brakes when he reached the front desk. If he hadn't he would have ran through the solid oak piece. Or at the very least, it was just enough force that it gave the middle aged man at the desk a start. The gentleman recovered in that refined southern way, making it look as though he didn't jump of fright but simply jumped into vigorously brushing imaginary lint off his sweater vest and coughing to clear his throat, "I declare, nothing can be that serious Mr. August. All the same, what can I help you with?" The man asked in a soft Cajun drawl.

"Usually I'd be inclined to agree with you sir but in this instance it's that serious I'm afraid." Rowan said, slightly breathless.

"Well I own The Magnolia Inn so whatever your issue I resolve to solve it to the best of my abilities."

Before Rowan could ask the question that was literally hanging from his tongue he heard Edmond and Raul come up from behind to investigate. Clearly they caught sight of the distress on Rowans' face as his lanky frame ran back downstairs with all the agility of a Great Dane.

"Where's the fire? I thought you were going back up for lie down?" Edmond asked, disquieted by his friends increasingly odd behavior.

"I was but I don't have time, now would it be alright if I continue my conversation in private?"

"I can get you aspirin if that's what you're needing." Edmond offered.

"Edmond... Seriously, fuck the aspirin. Can. I. Continue?" Rowan asked as he impatiently gestured at the both of them to remove themselves from earshot of the conversation.

Edmonds face showed understanding but Raul was the first to move, "Darling, look, they've opened the dining room. They're serving crep-es today."

Rowans' managers look of genuine concern turned into mild exasperation as his partner lead him back through the parlor and into the dining room, "How many times have I told you that is not how you pronounce crepes, it's not crep-es it's crepes."

Raul laughed loudly, "I love you but I swear it's like you forget English is my second language and I speak no French, I'm a proud Cubano who wasn't born with a silver spoon in his mouth, for this I will not apologize. You can pronounce it then when you order for the both of us, now stop being a pain in everyone's ass."

When Rowan was sure he wouldn't be overheard he turned back to the owner and said, "What I'm about to ask needs to be handled with discretion, is that clear?"

The gentlemen slowly nodded but said nothing.

"Now how many newspapers are available at present in this town? And if not many what would I have to pay to get every important newspaper and major tabloid delivered to my room by end of day? I can compensate generously for gas, food and their time but I need this done. Quietly."

"Let me make a call, we can get those to you... Quietly." The owner replied as he spun an unseen number on an old rotary phone, he added as he waited for the person on the other end to pick up, "You know Mr. August that we take out guests' privacy very seriously here at The Magnolia Inn. I can assure you apart from the townspeople and your friends no one outside of Juniper knows you are here. You grew up with most of the folks around here so you aren't a big shot actor to any of them. To them you're just Rowan August and you know them as well I'm sure... People in Juniper tend to be very insular so they mind their business as to not garner unwanted attention from outsiders..."

This wasn't the primary objective of Rowans but it had been a fleeting concern since he first got here. He didn't want to be ambushed while he was dealing with his stepfather's affairs but now his only worry was that of his niece and Iyana. So it felt reassuring that discretion was not only taken seriously but acknowledged.

"Perfect. Thank you. I'll be upstairs for the rest of the day. Call ahead, I'll come down to collect them."

"Very good sir."