Wet from the shower, a towel wrapped around his waist, Nicoletti answered his hotel room phone.
“Hey, Nico, it’s Lenny.” The upbeat voice of Lenny Pandori brought a smile to Nicoletti’s face. “Where the hell have you been? I’ve been trying to reach you all afternoon.”
“Just walking around town.” Pressing the phone between his shoulder and his ear, he tugged at the towel to stretch it around his waist. Either hotels were skimping on the size of their bath towels or he was eating too much pasta.
“Great little town, don’t you think? Nice place to settle down,” Pandori said.
“Yeah, very nice.” The towel sprung loose and fell to the floor. Nicoletti shook it, then wrapped it around again, this time holding it closed with one hand.
“Don’t forget the reception tonight. Want me to pick you up?”
“No. I’ll find my way there. How’s Liz?” Nicoletti abandoned his struggle with the postage stamp-sized towel and pulled on a pair of sweat pants and a T-shirt, trying to keep his ear to the receiver.
“She’s fine. Out of town until next week, visiting her sister in Billings. So I’m a bachelor once again. Make sure you’re at the Hawkins’ house at 7:30 sharp. The rest of the guests won’t show till eight. That’ll give you a chance to talk to the dean one-on-one. He’s really looking forward to seeing you again.”
“I’ll bet.”
“Don’t be so fucking negative. See you later.”
Nicoletti dried the phone, opened the drapes, and turned on the desk lamp. From his briefcase he took a small, dark green velvet pouch. He untied the drawstring and emptied the contents of the pouch into his left hand.
He sat on the edge of the bed and stared at the small, gold wedding band and delicate wooden rosary in his hand. He raised the gold ring to his lips and kissed it. Then, taking the rosary in his right hand, he began a ritual he had practiced since Kristen’s death. A ritual that signaled an attempt to connect, like dialing the phone and hoping she would answer.
His fingers moved from one bead to the next until he clasped the rosary and gold ring with both hands. He spoke to an empty room.
“Kristen, I’m in Missoula again. I guess you know that. I’m still thinking of taking the teaching job here. Actually, I’m not thinking of it; I have pretty much made up my mind. If the offer is good I’ll do it. Lenny thinks he’s helping me get a new start. Do I need a new start?
“I talked to the kids last night. They’re all fine. Kristy is thinking of quitting her job and opening up a pastry shop. I don’t know what to tell her other than ‘Do what will make you happy.’ You better give her a little nudge, if you can. The boys are the same as usual, so I guess all is well here.”
He stood up and shifted the rosary into his left hand with the gold ring. He started to walk around the room, then returned to the edge of the bed and sat down again.
“I saw a woman today. She reminded me of you. Not just the way she looked. It was more the way I felt when I looked at her. I know after all this time it’s a little crazy, and maybe it is…maybe not. For some reason I don’t think it is. Anyway, I just thought I’d mention it. Okay?
“I’ve got to get ready to go to some cocktail party with Lenny. I won’t drink too much so don’t worry.” He put his wife’s ring and rosary back in the pouch, pulled the strings tight, and placed it next to his cell phone in the briefcase.