The Greener Field

The Hazards of Truth

When Carrie returned to Sarah's parents' house that night, it was still early. Sarah was up and in her pajamas watching Netflix, when her friend made it through the usual repetitive greetings by Sarah's mother, and quietly up the stairs.

"So how was your . . . hot date with Mr. Hot  Hoffmann?"  Sarah playfully asked from her stretched-out position on the bed. "Hmmm. Must not have been that hot . . . it's barely twelve o'clock, you good girl."

"Yeah, well you know. . . men just can't last as long as we girls can." Carrie joked but still found it hard to look her friend in the eyes.

Sarah feigned a short, forced laugh.

"No, seriously. What did your Gunther  have to share? Anything new?"

Carrie placed her handbag on the desk adjacent to the bed and walked up to the mirror. Facing it, instead of having to look directly at Sarah.

"Oh . . . well he gave me a little more insight about your lovely Derek Iverson. That was interesting. What a beauty that creep is. And a little shop talk about . . . police procedures. Other than that, it was mostly all about how to catch this slime ball. And how to keep you safe and out of harm's  way in the process, Sister."

Carrie slipped off the new dress and walked over to her friend's walk-in closed to procure a coat-hanger. Just when she came out with it, Sarah managed to catch her off-guard.

"You said that's mostly what you discussed. . . So, was there anything else?" Like, you know, the typical . . . 'now that I have you here in the hotel,'  thing?"

Carrie seriously pondered telling her the truth about the more surprising topic of their discussion, but paused. After all she reflected, Sarah did have a right to know. But how could it actually help things? Aggravating her friend more about the recreational characteristics of men, would only further upset her. And besides, the whole idea of Hoffmann telling Carrie he was attracted to both of them, just somehow just wouldn't sit right with either of them. Though it did at the time excite Carrie knowing he found her physically appealing. Carrie simply took the easier approach to curbing the inquisition.

"Actually. . . the guy was a perfect gentleman tonight. As I suspected he would be, Sarah."

"Hmmm. . . .Not even a subtle come on?""

"Well . . . I'd be lying if I told you I didn't find him very handsome  tonight. And ever charming. As we've seen from Hoffmann before."

Why was she even telling Sarah this, Carrie wondered?

"I guess I was just more impressed with the hotel. The La Valencia just reeks with class, Sarah. You could certainly call it a romantic setting, by all accounts."

"Carrie?"

"What?"

"Why did you tell me that? . . . The place is . . . romantic?  Of course, it's romantic. Half of Hollywood used to come there for their rendezvous and love affairs. The building was probably rocking nighty from producers screwing would be ingénues!"

"Well I guess I 'd forgotten about all that. It's just a stunning old hotel, that's all. But see? There you go again. Assuming  things."

"Alright Carrie. I'm sorry. I don't know why I keep doing that. You've been such angel to me throughout this whole thing. And you really don't deserve that kind of suspicion. So do you forgive me?"