The wind whistles outside hitting the window like an invisible fist, leaving wet globs of snow to sticking to the glass and slowly melting away. Inside the hotel bar is relatively empty, this are slowly returning to normal several months after the COVID-19 vaccine was distributed out to the masses. Still people opt to keep their masks on especially in the cold weather.
I tuck up to the bar to order food, I am stuck here, tonight only a short distance from home but the roads are closed and the release has to go through this weekend. The nature of a project manager you have to be available. My phone vibrates, home is calling, either my wife wants to know what she should feed the kids or if I have any food she can heat up.
"Daddy" My daughter shouts not even allowing me to say hello.
"Hey kiddo, what's goin -" I start
"Whenareyoucominghomedad?" All said as one word without pause.
"Well I need to be here until this weather get's better, if there is an issue with the work release daddy's desk is across the street and there is a state of emergency."
"DADDY" my son shouts his sister yelling that he stole the phone. He proceeds to tell me about his latest video games that are neither age appropriate or educational. But he knows the stories and can articulate plenty about the characters. "When are you coming home, I want to use your iPad."
"My iPad is on my nightstand and I will tell you the code to unlock it."
"OK" he replies and hangs up the phone. Ten seconds later the phone rings "I have your iPad Dad." I give him the six digit code he lays the phone on the ground and leaves. My wife picks up the phone shouts at the kids and hangs it up. "Guess I am off the hook" I think to myself. Bartender brings me a water and menu.
"Can I start you off with a drink?" He asks.
"I want one but the water is fine, on call for work unfortunately." I say as he turns away to help a very striking woman at the end of the bar.
"Is there anything I can get you ma'am?" I overhear him asking.
"Do you have a Malbec or Syrah?" I'll take one or both she says while letting a deep sigh. Long dark hair hangs a bit damp from the snow. A dress hugs her beautiful figure nicely, her eyes a chocolatey color. I am getting lost and if I stare any harder I am going to burn a hole through her. I shake my head and return to the menu.
The bartender returns to me, I am just taking a grilled chicken sandwich with lettuce and tomato, nothing fancy but I honestly have no idea how late tonight will be. It could be a quiet night watching TV or I could be over at the office identifying emergency fixes to be deployed and tested.
I keep an eye on the beautiful woman at the end of the bar while trying not be so obvious. I am calling her Winona in my mind, for Winona Ryder who as a teenager was a celebrity crush, also beautiful with dark hair and dark eyes. I watch her as she slowly sips from her glass of wine, then a sparkle in her eye as she receives a phone notification. She picks up the phone and just as fast the joy in her face escapes. She texts a bit furiously, then asks the bartender to leave the bottle. Without hesitation I motion the barkeep over and ask him to leave the bottle on my tab. He gives me an incredulous look but does punches the POS. Before I can ask to make it anonymous he sells me out.
Winona smiles uneasily when she looks over, I think she caught me staring at her. "Do you want a glass?" The bartender asks. "Sure" I reply not sure if I will actually have any.
"I appreciate the wine, but I'm not that cheap mister". Winona says in a sweet but teasing manner.
"Sorry, that was not the intent. I just saw you flash from happy to dispirited and it's a lousy night out so I wanted to do something nice."
"Well if you want to enjoy some of this wine you bought bring your glass down and get some."
I grab the empty glass that was set in front of me and saunter down the bar. My sandwich arrives and is delivered as I walk down.