Simple Man

- ELEVEN -

There was an elephant in the room. A very muddy elephant and his name was Rowan August. Kyra knew he seemed familiar. She hadn't seen the movie Stand Off because her mom told her she was too young for a movie like that but she remembered seeing his face on billboards.

Iyana was dirty too. Not nearly as bad but she was definitely going to have to wash her dress. Kyra wanted to laugh when Rowan noticed she was behind the desk, she knew he instantly recognized her as the girl he almost killed. "Well, well, well look what the cat dragged in." Kyra quipped.

"Not now Liv." Iyana sighed as she walked over to the desk and grabbed the sign-in book, "this is our new guest, Mr. Rowan August. Say hi."

"Hi. Nice to meet you." Kyra said, extending her hand for him to shake.

Rowan sheepishly took it, "Nice to meet you too... Liv was it?"

"It's short for Olivia. She prefers Liv." Iyana answered, "She's my niece."

"Liv it is then."

"So are we just not going to mention there is a movie star in our lobby? Or why?" Kyra asked.

"Liv... it doesn't matter," Iyana said as she handed Rowan the sign-in book, "He's a guest just like anyone. We will treat him no different and why he's here is his business so that means it's none of yours."

Rowan signed his name and then set the sign-in book back down on the desk, "It's alright. My stepfather died. I'm here to see he gets put to rest and put his affairs—whatever those might be—in order."

   He didn't volunteer anymore information and neither Iyana nor Kyra pried further, Kyra could see Iyana was a tad icy toward Rowan as soon as she walked in the door but even she thawed ever so slightly enough to say, "Sorry for your loss."

Rowan remained silent.

   'This is a little awkward' Kyra thought. Iyana walked around the desk, swatting at the slippers Kyra had rested on top the key counter. Iyana plucked a key from the rack and handed it to Rowan, "Room four, the corner room. Here's your room key, there are fresh towels and complimentary items in the bathroom. Breakfast is at 7 to 8. Lunch is 12 to 1. We don't serve dinner. Coffee is available in the lobby all day until 6pm. Any questions?"

"No Miss Meghan." Rowan yawned. "I think I got it. It was really nice meeting the both of you—I wish I had been in a better condition—but I'm gonna hit the sack."

"Goodnight Mr. August." Iyana said, not looking at him because she to busy discreetly smacking Kyra on the arm for snickering.

Kyra rubbed her arm as she leaned over the desk to watch the actor head up the stairs. Once he disappeared from view Kyra turned on Iyana. "So you weren't going to tell me he was staying here?"

"It's not that big of a deal." Iyana said, matter-of-factly.

"Are you kidding? This is more exciting the time Malcolm Taylor got stuck all the way up in Ol' Bes." She said, referring to the great large oak in the middle of town square.

  "You need to stay clear of him, you hear me. We don't know who knows he's here. If paparazzi come snooping I want you to be as far away from that man as possible. We can't afford to be photographed at all—it'll blow our cover."

"I gotcha but it's still cool." Kyra yawned as she stretched over the desk.

"Yeah, yeah whatever. Go to bed." Iyana said, rubbing Kyra on the back, "I have to finish up here and I'll be up shortly."

Kyra grabbed her comic book headed back up stairs. She passed room four and stopped, being noisy she pressed her ear to the door. In between snores there was mumbling. She couldn't make out all of what he was saying but it sounded distressed. A nightmare. She started walking away but stopped again. She remembered what Iyana said but she knew how it felt to have nightmares. She sighed. She was afraid to upset Iyana, she was afraid to wake a grown man, but she couldn't just leave him like that.

She rationalized if the door was locked she couldn't do anything about it anyways so she walked back and tried the knob. It turned. Kyra held her breath and pushed open the door. He wasn't even on the bed. He was sprawled in the leather armchair near the fireplace. Still in his muddy clothes and boots. He was an imposing figure even sitting down. He seemed too big for that chair. More height than muscle but still plenty of the latter. She was going to maintain her distance just in case he woke up swinging like her father would.

"Rowan?" Kyra whispered at first.

Rowan didn't budge. He continued crying out though, "No, no stop. Please. Stop."

"Rowan!" Kyra exclaimed, and he stirred slightly, "Rowan!" She repeated.

Rowan woke up with a noise between a gasp and a snore, "Yeah? ... What's going on? Is is morning?"

"Not yet. You we're having a nightmare." Kyra answered from the doorway.

"Is that why you woke me?" Rowan grumbled, readjusting himself in the air chair, "How do you know I was having a nightmare."

"Yeah." Kyra replied, "I could hear you mumbling and it sounded pretty bad. Don't be embarrassed. I get nightmares too. Probably for different reasons but they still suck."

Rowan rubbed his face. "What time is it?"

"It's around 11, you haven't been sleeping that long."

"Ah," Rowan yawned, "Well Kyra thank you from saving me from my nightmare but I'm gonna try to get some more shut eye."

"Alrighty, by the way I'm sorry about early this afternoon. I was kind of in a mood."

"I'm sorry I almost ran you over."

"I'm alive. I can forget if you can." Kyra said.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Rowan replied, smirking with his eyes closed and his head laid back.

"Me neither. Good night."

"Good night brat." Rowan chuckle as he adjusted himself one last time as Kyra closed the door.

So far Rowan was alright in her book, not because he was a movie star but because he seemed like a pretty decent dude. She understood why but it really was too bad she had to stay away from him. Not that listening to Iyana was her strongest suit but the threat of being found by her father was one of the nightmares that kept her up at night.