by Laurie Graff
“That’s probably good.”
The cab stopped in front of CLUB ERRATICA. I opened my purse to get my wallet to pay.
“I got it.” Gary’s hand pushed mine away.
“Do you—” “Could I?”
We both talked at the same time.
“Sure!” “Great.”
He opened the cab door and offered his hand to help me out. I pressed down on it for balance as I stepped on to the curb over the piled high slush. He was strong. I looked up and grinned. I felt good standing next to him, suddenly enamored with his physique and height, which was probably about five foot ten. We walked up the stairs to enter the club. The owner was waiting for me at the door.
“Sorry I’m a little late,” I told Bobby. I glanced at my watch. It was coming up on ten-thirty.
“Can you start in about five?” he asked. A nervous leather-pants, blond Bobby looked over to Gary. “You have a ticket?”
“Oh. He’s with me,” I said, taking off my coat, scarf, hat, sweaters and gloves and handing it all over to the coat check.
“Whoa!” said Gary. “Look at you! What is this dress?”
My eyes locked with his and my head flew back when I laughed. Elated.
“Take a seat in the back,” Bobby instructed Gary as he took me by my arm to bring me to the stage. I mouthed the words “see ya after” over my shoulder, as Bobby led me away.
Inside me I could feel it was all systems go. Ready. For this event, my work, my life and my love. For everything bashert for me. And everyone.
Gary’s situation was unclear. It would remain to be seen. We’ll talk, he had said. We would. Yes. After. But now. Now I felt filled up with the fluidity of life.
I was a teenaged girl. I was taking a walk. A boy jumped off his bike. He kissed me. I felt something new. Anything was possible.
I was a grown woman. I was rushing to an event. A man left me a note. He held my hand out of the cab. I felt something renew. Anything was possible.
It’s not just where you start, and it’s not where you finish. It’s where it keeps going. And how.
Every person and every event counted. Every success and every failure was important. The feelings of youth did not fade away. They continued to revisit, in packages that may be new and improved. We were where we’re supposed to be, while we strived to get where we wanted to go. It’s never too late.
I stepped out on to the small stage, pulling the microphone off its stand as I looked out to an expectant audience.
“Happy Valentine’s Day!” I shouted.
“Boo! Yuck! Growl! Hiss!” cried the happy, hapless crowd.
“Oh come on!” I said over the mike. “It’s not so bad, is it? At least we’re still able to swim in this crazy pond of dates.”
I clapped. Everyone followed. Soon everyone was up on their feet clapping. Cheering and swimming, upstream and down. I saw Gary stand up in the back, his hands clapping overhead as he cheered the pond on. Gary Waks. Who’d have thunk it? I wondered what that story would be. I hoped it could have a happy ending. After all, that’s what kept people in the dating pond.
* * * * *
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ISBN: 9781459248991
LOOKING FOR MR. GOODFROG
© 2006 by Laurie Graff
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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