Among the Cattails

Hotel Webber

   Rose frowned, the disappointment registering faintly. "It's nice to see you too Ryan. Glad to know you missed me."

   "I didn't," Ryan answered bluntly, "I'm not known for my enthusiasm."

   Grunting, Ryan finished clearing out the clutter as quickly as he could, and proceeded to wear a face of sheer avoidance. Rose, being the stubborn spawn of the Webber family, simply asked more questions, ignoring the hint.

   "You didn't answer my question. Are you still working at the mechanics?" She asked. She was determined to crack the outer shell he had built around himself. She didn't like it.

   "What do you think?" Ryan gestured to his tow truck. His old self became visible through his sarcasm.

   Rose laughed. "You always told your dad that you would leave that place for a different job. I guess you didn't follow through." Over the years, her memory had remained as sharp as a blade.

   At this, Ryan seemed offended, and shot a piercing glance at Rose. Ryan's father had owned the towing company for as long as anyone could remember, and all he wanted was to keep it running.

  For him, the only choice was to leave it to Ryan, even if his ambitions carried him elsewhere.

   Striding around the truck, Ryan attempted to divert the inquiry by entering Dylan's view. He hoped this new boyfriend would intervene in the conversation.

   "How 'bout you, Rose?" He indicated towards Dylan, his accent becoming thicker, "You've changed quite a bit." He appraised her head to toe. "Honestly, I didn't recognize you 'til opened your mouth."

   "I guess I'll take that as a compliment." Rose muttered.

   Finally coming to the Trucker's rescue, Dylan approached the car, light sprinkles of rain dotting his hair.

   "Dylan Broadstone." He said, thrusting a hand out.

   Politely, Ryan returned the handshake. "Ryan Tyler. I'm one of Rose's..... old friends."

   Dylan nodded, then wiped his hand on his shirt, not-so-discreetly.

   Ryan and Rose could only stand there in the embarrassment. "Sorry about that." Rose whispered. Suppressed laughter was all that Ryan replied with. City people were all hilarious where he came from.

   Ryan appraised the situation, and assured them once again that the car would take a few days to repair, but promised that it would be ready within the week. He'd become a car fanatic, Rose believed, against his will, but he was good at it. 

   Clapping his hands together, Ryan asked if they were ready to head into town. Frowning, Dylan recalled the events of last night, when Rose would not answer where they were staying.

   "So, where are we gonna stay Rose? The motel didn't look too...open, and the hotels are all a few miles away." Dylan said.

   The trucker laughed. "I bet Hotel Webber's open, though." 

   Dylan looked between Rose and Ryan a few times, then held up his hands and blinked hard, dumbfounded. "I didn't see a Hotel Webber." 

   Ryan laughed again. Rose sighed and replied, "He's talking about my parents' house."

***

   The ride to the Webber home was a bumpy one, and the gravel driveway sent the truck bumping along, crushing Rose between the two men every time it lurched upwards. 

    It only got worse once they reached the small bridge that jumped the small creek.

   The initial bump sent Rose flying into a one-sided hug with Ryan, and she blushed, but he simply looked forward, and asked if she was okay. 

   Rose just stared at him again, admiring him. He had been the handsomest boy in all of her primary school classes. He was probably still the handsomest in the town. 

   He had dark hair (which was hidden under his hat), and up close, one could tell his eyes were more blue than the sea. Rose had been right, he was more muscular, and he was still extremely tall. Now he had a thick scruff covering his face, which Rose believed was a little too out of control.

   No, Rose scolded herself. She shook her head. You're in a relationship!, one voice told her. Yeah, but it's mostly you forgiving him, another voice interjected. You're over him!, the second voice stated. Clearly, her subconscious had a different view of Ryan than she did. 

  Finally, the tall farmhouse came into the view of the headlights. It looked exactly as Rose had left it. It was composed of red bricks and several curtained windows. On the ground floor, clean french doors welcomed in the breeze. The lawn was well taken care of, and the porch was recently swept, catching Rose by surprise. She was taken aback by the fact that all of her childhood chores could be done by her parents.

   In an instant, the lights flickered on through the french doors, and two robe- clad people, one tall and thin, one short and stocky, came stepping out of the front door. The shorter one had rollers in her hair, and the taller figure was squinting through thick glasses. Both appeared wide awake.

   Stopping and turning off the car, Ryan stepped out, his long legs giving him the benefit of a lengthy gait. Rose expected him to signal for them to come out, but he appeared to be striking up a conversation.

   "I hope you have some of your famous apple cobbler ready for me Mrs. Webber!" The trucker called.

   Margaret Webber smiled, squinting to see Ryan, her husband Harvey's arm around her shoulder.

   "Ryan Tyler! Is that you?" Mrs. Webber called, waving to the approaching Ryan.

   "Yes ma'am ." He answered, reluctantly having his ribs crushed by Mrs. Webber's hug, however many feet shorter she was than him.

   "Son, you know we love you like family, but what possessed you to come here at this tima' night?" Mr. Webber asked, his hand on Ryan's shoulder. 

  "Oh leave him alone, Harvey. He's probably just missing Rosie again, and needed some apple cobbler to fix 'im up. I got some in the kitchen with your name on it." Margaret said with a motherly smile. Ryan blushed. Embarrassing him was one of the easiest things to do for Mrs. Webber.

   Rose giggled and covered her mouth with her hand. Glancing over at Dylan, she was relieved to know that he hadn't heard any of that.

  Before she knew it though, and before Ryan could correct Margaret, Dylan exited the car, his gait quite short and hoppy. Approaching the Webbers, he held out his hand to shake theirs.

   "I'm so glad to meet you finally! I'm Dylan Broadstone," he answered, much more politely than Rose had anticipated. 

   Immediately, the Webbers' smiles faded, and Ryan turned around to subdue his laughter.

   "Rose is in the car?" Mrs. Webber said, quickly recovering, and leaving Harvey to deal with Dylan.

   Rose remained planted to the truck's seats.

   While Harvey invited the men into the house, Margaret opened the door to the truck and beamed at her only daughter.

   "Ryan's so much more handsome than this city boy!" Margaret said jokingly, like a gossipy teenager. They both laughed and Rose blushed uncontrollably.

   "Momma!" Rose scolded, laughing. "Actually...." Rose began, much to the humor of her mother.

   Rose laughed and hugged Margaret. "I missed you momma," she said. 

   Margaret patted her back and smiled. "I missed you too, my Rosie. Let's go, before the boys eat all the cobbler."

   At this, Rose bolted out of the car.