A Simple Thank You
Rollin had been released from the hospital in the late afternoon after spending the night recovering from his exposure to the plague culture. He had an idea to thank Cinnamon for her selfless act in keeping him alive. So, he paid a visit to his favorite jewelry store.
“Rollin. How nice to see you again.” The salesgirl called as he entered the store.
“Hi Celeste, how have you been?”
“Very well, thank you.” She said with a smile. “What can I do for you today?”
“I need something special for someone.” He said meeting her at the counter.
“Oh? Like…”
Rollin looked down through the glass cabinet. “That I think.” He pointed to a gold atomizer.
She picked out the piece and handed it to him. He examined it and returned it to her. “That’s perfect. Can you engrave it for me?”
“Certainly. What you like to say?”
“Thank you. R.”
Celeste nodded. “I’ll give it to the engraver. Do you want to wait?”
Rollin nodded. “Sure.”
She moved away from the counter to the rear of the store.
Rollin waited for twenty minutes making small talk with Celeste. She leaned across the counter to talk with him, giving him an eyeful of her ample cleavage. He responded to her as he reached for her hand to admire a tasteful ring she wore.
She took his hands in hers. “You have such soft hands Rollin.” She purred.
“Well, I’m an actor not a stevedore.”
“So I can tell.” She said rubbing his palm.
An older saleswoman moved behind her. “Celeste. I think Mr. Hand’s item is ready.”
Celeste straightened. “Yes, Miss Anderson.”
Miss Anderson replaced Celeste at the counter. “Good afternoon, Mr. Hand.”
“Hello, Helen.”
“May we put this on your charge?”
“That will be fine, Helen. Thank you.”
“She must to one special lady. It is a lovely gift you have chosen.”
Rollin smiled. “She is.”
Celeste returned with his purchase in a gold box and handed it to Rollin. “Here you are Rollin.”
“Thank you Celeste. Helen.” He said pocketing the package.
He left the store and found his car.
Cinnamon crossed the living room to answer the knock at the door of her apartment. Opening it, she found Rollin standing there.
“Rollin!” She said surprised.
“Hi.” He responded.
“This is a surprise.” She said. “Please come in.”
Her greeting was formal and as he stepped inside, he saw why. There as a man was seated on her sofa.
“Cinnamon, I’m sorry. If you’re busy, I can come back.”
“No, no, it’s all right,” she said moving back into the living room.
The man stood as they approached.
“Rollin. This is Bennett Schneider, my business manager.”
Bennett extended his hand to Rollin. “How do you do?”
“Bennett. Rollin Hand.” She said as they shook hands.
“Nice to meet you, Bennett.” Rollin said with a smile.
Rollin turned to Cinnamon. “Really I can come back. I didn’t…”
Bennett held up his hand. “No, I’ve got to get going anyway.” He said reaching for his briefcase. “Cinnamon, you be sure and sign those papers.” He said as he moved for the door.
“I’ll get them back to you by the end of the week.” She called after him.
He gave her a wave and he crossed the room to leave.
Rollin watched Cinnamon as he heard the door shut behind him.
“I’m sorry. I should have called.”
She moved to where he stood. “No, it’s fine. We were through.” She said. “When did you get out?”
“Just a little while ago.”
Cinnamon hugged him tight, her cheek against his shoulder. “You’re all right?” She asked.
His arms moved tighter around her. “Fine.” He said looking over her head.
“I’m glad, ” she said with a smile. “You came straight here?” She asked.
“Well, almost.” Rollin said reaching into his jacket pocket.
He pulled out the small box and handed it to her.
“What’s this?” She asked.
“Open it.” He coaxed.
She opened the gold box and looked inside. It was a gold perfume atomizer.
“I figured the one you had wasn’t any good anymore, so…”
Cinnamon looked up at him with a sincere smile and reached up and kissed him lightly. “That’s very sweet.”
He reached for her hand. “Thank you for saving my life.”
“I think I should thank both you and Barney for saving mine.”
Rollin smiled; he remembered jumping out of his chair at the moment Barney deflected the gun from her head and griping Passik’s throat.
“Well, if you hadn’t of been there. I wouldn’t be here. At that’s the reason.” He said tapping his gift.
She sighed. She’d been worried for him and the exposure to the plague culture that he’d had. They had all been treated for exposure, but he’d been kept overnight, just in case.
Rollin pulled her close and kissed her. It wasn’t just a simple thank-you kiss. It was soulful. He held her tightly as their lips moved against each other.
They parted breathless. “Well, you’re certainly welcome.”
He smiled down at her. “Could I interest you in an early dinner?”
“Give me ten minutes to change?” She said with a smile.
He nodded as Cinnamon slipped from his embrace and went to her bedroom.
Rollin lit up a cigarette and ventured out onto the balcony. He smiled as he looked at the chaise lounge that sat in the corner. He remembered one night they spent together, that had started on that lounger.
He looked out over the city, grateful to be alive. The doctors had told him he’d been very lucky, without Barney’s quick intervention, he wouldn’t have made it. He was also thankful for Roger’s quick thinking of grabbing the bottle of antidote. He wondered if Passik was still alive. He’d follow up with Dan on that.
She stood by the door to the balcony. “Where were you?” She called softly.
He turned at her voice, smiling as he took in her short red dress. “Thinking,” he said moving to her. “Where would you like to go?”
She shrugged, “Your idea.”
“Okay.” He said moving inside and closing the door behind him.
She retrieved her purse from the table next to the door and followed him to his car.
They drove to the beach. He knew a number of good restaurants there. He chose Antoine’s as it had the best view of the ocean for sunsets and as the sun was just going down, so their timing was perfect.
They were given a table with a splendid view. They ate, talked and watched as the sun sank into the water.
He took the proper amount of money from his wallet and left it for the waiter.
“They take very good care of you, don’t they?”
Rollin gave her a wink. “I’m a good tipper.”
Cinnamon laughed as she rose from the table. They walked slowly to his car, hand in hand.
“Hey, it’s early. Would you like to come down to my place?”
“It’s near here?”
He nodded, indicating the highway, “just a little further up PCH.”
“Why not.” She shrugged.
He smiled as he opened the door for her and she slid inside his dark green mustang.
They made the quick trip to his small house on the beach. There, he unlocked the door from the driveway and switched on the inside light. Cinnamon followed him inside.
Rollin’s house was simple yet, masculine in flavor. They passed the small but immaculate kitchen and breakfast counter and moved into the living room. A fireplace was surrounded by a sofa, chair and coffee table that was covered with scripts
“Homework?” She asked.
“Well, I had to leave in a hurry didn’t I?”
She continued her tour, noticing a number of framed acting awards that covered a wall near his small desk. “What’s all this?”
Rollin chuckled, “The ‘I love me’ wall.”
Cinnamon laughed as she perused the different awards. “Very impressive.”
“Thank you.”
“Let me show you the best thing about this place.” He said, reaching for her hand.
He led her to the glass doors that led to the outside deck.
He pulled the doors aside and stepped out onto the deck. There was a pleasant breeze blowing and it moved through her hair. “Lovely.”
He moved to the rail. “Yeah, it’s beautiful here. The evenings are especially nice.”
He reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes, offering her one. She pulled it from the pack, as did he. He lit hers, then his.
They stood at the rail looking out over the water.
“Feel like a walk?”
“That would be nice,” she responded.
Rollin slipped off his loafers and Cinnamon slipped off her heels. Together they started down the steps for the beach.
They walked along the water’s edge, enjoying the rush of the water against their feet. The stars were bright above them. He took her hand as they walked.
They walked for a long time without talking, just enjoying the evening and the stars above them.
As they turned back for his house, Rollin drew Cinnamon into his arms and kissed her softly.
“What was that for?” She asked, as they started walking.
He laughed, “I have to have a reason?” He said moving his arm about her waist.
She chuckled as she leaned against him.
The moon appeared in the night sky and shone down on the water, making it sparkle.
They moved up the stairs to the deck and back inside. He left the door to the balcony open so they could enjoy the sound of the waves.
“Would you like a drink?” Rollin asked, moving into the kitchen.
She moved to the sofa where she perched, pulling her legs under her. “Sure, whatever you’re having.”
He knew Cinnamon preferred bourbon and had purchased a bottle, just in case. He fixed them each a short drink. He turned out the lights, stopped at the stereo and turned on some soft music for them to enjoy.
“There you are.” He said handing her a glass.
“Thank you.”
He joined her on the sofa and pulled the pack of cigarettes from his pocket and offered her one. She put it to her lips as he lit it for her. He lit one as well. She took a sip of her drink.
“Bourbon?” She asked.
He smiled. “Just for you.”
She returned his smile as she took a drag on her cigarette.
“It’s very peaceful here, Rollin.”
“Yeah, makes me feel a million miles from the city.”
“I imagine it would,” Cinnamon said looking out to the deck.
He moved his arm behind her. She moved her legs from under her and moved closer to him. His hand caressed her shoulder and he leaned to her and kissed her softly.
He leaned his head back against the cushion and looked at her.
“You know we’re breaking all the rules.” She said meeting his eyes.
“I never have understood why there was a rule about involvement among agents.”
“To keep us from becoming involved like this, I would think.”
“But why?” He sat forward a bit. “Think about it. We can’t talk about what we do with anyone else, so how can we have a meaningful relationship with anyone without telling them something.”
Cinnamon watched him. He’d obviously thought about this.
“Well I do have to agree with that to a point. Bennett always thinks it odd when I’m gone on a moment’s notice.”
“That’s what I mean. How long can we really keep it up without eventually blowing the cover?”
Cinnamon set her glass aside and crushed out her cigarette. “Well you’ve been at it a little longer than I. What do you do?”
He smiled. “I always have a bit part come up somewhere. Has worked so far.”
“See, basically my bit too.” She said lightly.
He moved back beside her, his hand going back to her shoulder. “See, we are two of a kind.”
She smiled as his lips touched hers. Her hand went to his neck as they kissed.
Rollin looked into Cinnamon’s eyes and smiled. “Come on.” He said, reaching for her hand.
He pulled her from the sofa and into his arms. He held her tight as he began to dance with her. “Much better than your go-go dancer bit.” He said.
“I thought you liked it?” She said leaning away from him.
“I did, but I prefer this.” He said pulling her back to him.
He moved with her to the romantic rhythms of the music.
They danced until Rollin’s lips found their way to her ear. “Stay with me tonight.” He said softly.
She sighed as she leaned against him. “I have an early shoot.”
“What if I have you home by midnight?”
She sighed. She wanted nothing more than to be in his arms all night. She looked at him.
“Eleven?” She negotiated.
He smiled. “You have a deal.”
He took her hand and led her to his bedroom.
THE END
December, 2000
Elena Vorska