Chapter 40 A new start

Chapter 40 A new start
Daphne
I wake up exhausted from the long trip I made back to my hometown, Meadowbrook, just to get away from Hades and Adonis and the entire fucking mess for a while. I just couldn’t stand being around them.
I haven’t been back in Meadowbrook since my adopted parents died years ago. The memories have always been too painful.
I get out of the bed and make my way to the kitchen for a glass of water. A knock comes on the door just as I’m pouring the water into a glass.
I shuffle over to open the door.
“Hi, good morning, I was brought breakfast for you. Room service,” a young man who looks to be about my age says. His hair is a flaming lock of red. He has freckles scattered all over his rosy cheeks. He is handsome.
He pushes the breakfast tray toward me. “You ordered room service last night. It’s nothing fancy but you know, it’s eatable,” he says with that familiar Meadowbrook charm.
“Hi, come in,” I say. The nametag on his uniform reads ‘Randy.’
He wheels the trolley into the room. I feel mildly embarrassed about the state of the room. Clothes are littered all over, half-spilling out of the box. “I haven’t had the chance to call in the cleaners.”
Randy shakes his head. “Oh, it’s nothing. We see all sorts out here. Yours is actually, believe it or not, not that bad.”
I watch him unload the small plates of food on the table.
“So, how long are you in town for?” he asks.
I shake my head. “I am not sure yet. But It’s not gonna be more than a week. I will have to get back to school eventually.”
Back to Hades, and the chaos of my life. I guess I have to accept that, unless Hades gets fired or suddenly drops dead, I may never get rid of him.
 I actually thought the revelation of our affair and the subsequent investigations would lead to: my suspension/expulsion or his termination but neither had happened.
I would think it was a miracle if I didn’t know what Hades is capable of. I know he was connected enough to pull strings with the investigations.
“School’s still in session as far as I can tell. What are you doing here?” Randy persists with his questions.
“Is a motel staff supposed to be this chatty with the guests?” I ask.
Randy laughs. I like the sound of his laughter, carefree and attractive. “It’s a family business so don’t worry, no one’s going to fire me. At least not yet. My mother would love to do that any way. The only reason she hasn’t is because she can’t find someone else in town to do this job for its crappy pay.”
I find him funny, cute, and attractive. Everything about this encounter reminds me of home. I can’t remember much about my parents but Randy’s vibes are sending me back to the buried memories in my head. His smile reminds me of my father’s; his wit is just like my mother’s.
“Hey, would you like to meet my mother? It’s not always we get out-of-towners. It’s a small quiet town. Nothing ever happens here,” Randy continues.
“Oh, I actually spent a portion of my childhood here. My parents grew up here. They raised me for a while until they died in a car crash,” I tell him.
Randy’s eyes mellow with concern. “I’m so sorry. That must have been tough.”
“Yeah, it was. I’ve been on my own ever since.”
Randy touches my arm briefly. “I’m sure that’s not true.”
It was a soft touch that energizes every nerve in my system. Suddenly, a familiarity washes over me. His voice, his eyes, his skin on mine all feels weirdly familiar.
“Have I met you before?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “No, I don’t think so.”
“But you grew up in Meadowbrook. You’ve lived here all your life? Is there any chance we knew each other when we were kids? It just feels like we’ve met before, like I know you from a long time ago.”
Randy seems surprised by that. “No, actually, my mother moved us here a few years ago. We just set up the motel six years ago. I don’t think we would’ve met.”
He moves toward the door with the trolley with a hurry. “Anyway, it was nice to meet you, um???” he pauses in a sing-song tone, waiting for me.
“Daphne. It was nice to meet you too, Randy.”
“Welcome to Meadowbrook. If you ever need any help with anything, just let me know. I’m here for you.”
I push forward, stopping him in his path. “Actually, I was hoping to take a walk around town, see some of the old places I haven’t seen in a long time. My parents’ old house, etc. I think there was a lake they used to take me to. I’m not sure…”
“Yeah, Lake Meadow. Everyone goes there.”
“Yeah, exactly, I would love to see it again. Would you take me?”
Randy cocks his head to the side. “Are you asking me out on a date, Daphne? Cause if you are…you are gonna need to buy me a drink first before taking my pants off,” he teases.
He is joking, but for some reason, it wasn’t a joke to me. There’s something easygoing and freeing about him. He has a comforting aura. Not as dangerous as Hades’ or as mysterious and demanding as Adonis.
He seems like the kind of guy you would take home to meet your parents; the sweet kind who would not cause me unnecessary stress. I am so desperate to find a fix for my Hades’ addiction. I want someone who would make me forget about him. Adonis had failed but maybe, Randy would be different.
I’ve never actively pursued a guy before yet when he said that, I saw an opportunity for my freedom.
“Yeah, actually, I am asking you out on a date.”