Perfect on Paper

by Destiny Moon

  “Rough,” David said taking her hand.

  “Yeah. My parents sold off his shop so quickly that I barely even had a chance to adjust to the idea. It was gone almost as soon as they put it on the market. He had such a great reputation. It’s still a furniture restoration place, actually. Anyway, Buddy went to a new home and I was all excited because the new family said I could come visit him any time, but then they moved a little farther away and I called them about coming out, and they didn’t have time.”

  “That must have been hard on you.”

  “It was. Truth be told, it took me a long time to forgive my parents. I can see now that they were busy with their careers and responsibilities, but the whole experience felt so abrupt and cold.”

  “Understandable. I’m really glad you feel comfortable enough to tell me about this.”

  “Well, you shared.”

  “I feel like I can tell you anything.”

  “It’s mutual,” Nadine said. “David, you know you really don’t strike me as being much younger than me.”

  “Phew. I take that as a huge compliment. I was worried that you couldn’t see yourself with me.”

  There was an awkward silence for a second while Nadine digested what David had just said.

  As though he was uncomfortable with the silence, David added, “I mean, you don’t have to see yourself with me at all. I’m…uh… Oh crap. I was doing my best not to come on too strong.”

  Nadine looked at David’s hand, which still rested on hers. She looked into his eyes.

  “You were? I thought you were all about being yourself completely tonight.”

  “Well, I am. But I still find it hard to believe I’m out with you, so I’ve been trying to play it cool.”

  “You have?” She smiled. It was impossible not to.

  “You couldn’t tell?” He shook his fist in the air while looking out of the window. “Oh, man. I knew it wasn’t working.”

  “You’re wearing your heart on your sleeve, David, and I have to say it is so refreshing.”

  “It is?”

  “Oh yes.”

  “So you can accept that I’m kind of a schmaltzy guy who likes to hang out with dogs and drink hot chocolate?”

  “I think you’re incredibly sweet.”

  “Oh no. Sweet. The kiss of death.”

  “Not in my book.”

  “When a girl says you’re sweet, it means she just wants to hang out and make cookies together.”

  “Cookies?”

  “Tamara Sanders. Freshman year. I was head over heels and she said she liked me too then she invited me over to her place and I thought it was a date, but turned out she just wanted advice from a guy’s perspective on how to get Jared Blackley.”

  “Ugh. Why do they always have names like Jared?”

  “Who?”

  “Those perfect high school dudes.”

  “Tell me about it. We made cookies and did Cosmo quizzes, and it sucked.”

  “I wonder where Jared is today.”

  “Actually they got married. He was all right, as it turned out. I went to their wedding. Told the cookie story. Got some laughs and a pinch on the cheek from Tamara’s mom.”

  David rubbed his cheek like he was remembering. “It hurts being the sweet guy.”

  “Well, you sure weren’t sweet the other night on the phone,” Nadine said. Even in the relative darkness of the car, she was embarrassed, as she could feel herself blush at the memory.

  * * * *

  David pulled the car into the SPCA parking lot. The evening had grown dark in that way that is common in Michigan.

  “Can’t we do anything about Duke?” Nadine wanted to know.

  “You mean to prevent the inevitable?”

  She nodded.

  He told her there was nothing left to be done and when he got the black Lab out of the car and held Duke in his arms, he carried him to Nadine.

  “Feel here,” he said, putting her hand in his and guiding it to a lump on Duke’s left hip. “That’s just one of the tumors. There are more.”

  Nadine began to cry.

  “I know it’s awfully selfish of me,” she said, “but I want him to live. I want him to beat this.” It sounded naïve, even as she said it, especially considering that David had lost his whole family. She felt silly for pointing out the powerlessness in the situation.

  “We have to approach this the way Duke is,” David said. “Look. You don’t see him getting all gloomy.”

  Duke was, in fact, wagging his tail.

  “He’s had a great night,” Nadine said, as though she was making an effort to console herself.

  “I’m going to take him in and have a minute with him,” David said. “I’ll be back for Duchess in a bit.”

  “All right.” She nodded.

  In the parking lot, Nadine let Duchess out of the car. The Irish Setter jumped out, tail wagging and eager. David was right. She was beautiful. She probably could have been a show dog with her silky mahogany coat. Nadine looked into Duchess’ eyes and wondered if she knew what the morning would bring.

  “I want you to know you have a home with me, Duchess,” she told the dog. “I will look after you and care for you, just like Grandpa Winston did for Buddy. We’re going to have a great time together, you and me.”

  Duchess shifted her weight from one side of her seated position to the other and stared back at Nadine.

  “We’re going to go running every morning. I can’t wait to show you the trails by the house.”

  It was like having a new friend—a best friend—and she needed Duchess more than she could even express. Lately, her friends had put pressure on her to make more time for them and to live a more balanced life, but Nadine had goals and plans. What she didn’t have was time. Duchess would force her out into the fresh air each day and the run would do her good. Then they’d go to work and it’d be easier to get through the day with her friend at her feet.

  Just then, David emerged from the building and in the shadows beneath the canopy of oak trees, Nadine noticed that his eyes were red.

  “Let’s give them their last night together,” David said, holding his hand out for Duchess’ leash.

  “Come on, Duchess,” David called, and Duchess ran to him with such enthusiasm that Nadine wondered if she’d listen to anyone. But she understood that Duchess was confused. Life in the shelter was undoubtedly stressful for all dogs being housed there. She probably missed Mrs. Bronstein and was trying to impress everyone in an effort to get back to her. She knew that visits to see Mrs. Bronstein would be in their future.

  “Take good care, Duchess,” Nadine called to her. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  * * * *

  Nadine noticed that this time, when David came out, he looked at peace. It was a relief to see, as she really didn’t like to see him suffer. It had bothered her more than she’d thought it would. She couldn’t believe that this was their first real date. They seemed to know each other so well.

  “Hey,” he said as he stepped into the light of the street lamp from above. “Thank you for meeting my friends.”

  She was still outside the car, leaning up against it in the cool evening air. She put her arms around him. “It was a pleasure to meet your friends.”

  “I hope I didn’t bum you out with Duke.”

  “I am sad, but you’re right about death. People—and dogs—don’t disappear, they just change forms. I’m grateful that I met Duke. He’s a special dog.”

  “He is. He has had a dream life. It’s pointless to make him suffer through all kinds of horrible operations that would prevent him from running and playing and enjoying himself. I’m so glad you get me and get my love for this place.”

  “Oh, David, I do.”

  Nadine examined him with unmistakable compassion in this difficult moment, but there was something else in her eye contact, too. It was a deep longing, an uncontrollable magnetism.

  In the dark parking lot, beneath the street lamp, shade
d by oak leaves, they kissed. David initiated it but Nadine kept it going longer than David had anticipated. Nadine’s urge to kiss him had started around the time he came to her door and it had built consistently for the past two hours. Now she wasn’t willing to wait longer. She wanted more of him. She was able to give in completely

  When they finally tore themselves apart, David said, “I have more planned for us.”

  “There’s more? Really?” Nadine was delighted, but also felt a twinge of disappointment that it wasn’t time to go back to her place yet. She sure wanted more of this physical expression. She was able to tell him with her kiss what she couldn’t seem to say in words.

  “I want to show you something,” David said as they pulled out of the parking lot. “It’s another one of my happy places, but it’s happy for different reasons.”

  “Oh yeah?”

  “It’s another place I like to go a lot. I’m there at least one night a week, but usually there are others there, too. Tonight it’ll just be the two of us.”

  “How mysterious.”

  “Yeah. And you can’t tell people. We have special permission for just tonight. I prearranged it.”

  “Where are you taking me?”

  “Do you want to know? I can tell you if you do, but I was going to surprise you.”

  “Okay, surprise me.” Nadine looked out of the window.

  Before long they were in a neighborhood she didn’t usually come to. David drove through the streets like a pro. It was easy to see that he felt comfortable here. Nadine’s voice was low, like she was reluctant to say anything. “David, you’re really romantic.”

  He glanced over to her for just a second and gave a flirtatious smile. “What did you expect?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “It’s a pleasure to have the privilege of taking you out,” he said.

  She felt like the luckiest woman in the world. His attention was intoxicating. She put her hand on his leg as he drove. He covered her hand with his and held it there, pressing into him. She was in heaven.

  They pulled into the parking lot of a strange place she hadn’t been to.

  “Isn’t this a museum?”

  “Yep. And planetarium.”

  “But it’s closed.”

  “To the public.” He grinned.

  “What?”

  “I told you. You can’t tell anyone. This is a special privilege.”

  “We’re not breaking in, are we?”

  “Would that be romantic? Getting a criminal record together?” His smile was playful and Nadine felt foolish for blurting out the first paranoid thought that had come into her mind.

  “This is an unusual date destination, you have to admit.”

  “I’m an unusual guy,” he said.

  “So I’m learning.”

  They walked hand in hand up the concrete steps. Nadine was surprised that she didn’t feel nervous. This was fun. So far this was easily the most exciting night she’d had in ages. She’d grown accustomed to guys taking her out for the tired old dinner and movie or dinner and lounge. This was the first original date she’d been on since… Well, for as long as she could remember.

  They circled around to the back of the building and climbed another flight of stairs. Then David took out a key and unlocked the door. A beeping sound followed. David bolted inside and Nadine, from outside, could hear him punch a code into the alarm. The beeping stopped. How he had managed to gain access to this place, she did not know, but it sure was thrilling. She followed him inside. There was just a tiny lamp on at the back, where they were. It felt like they had entered a dark theater after the movie had started and that an usher was lighting their steps. But then David turned on the dim overhead lights and Nadine saw that they were actually inside a massive dome.

  “Whoa!” she couldn’t help but exclaim. “This is incredible.”

  She looked up at what appeared to be the night sky, but fainter. They were inside the planetarium, a place she’d never visited before in her life.

  “Just you wait,” David said. “Come. We’re taking the best seats in the house.” David took her by the hand and guided her to a seat in the middle of the room. She took her coat off and put it on the seat next to her. There was really no reason not to spread out. It was the only time she’d ever experienced being all alone in such a huge public space. It was so strange and silent.

  “I’ll be right back,” David said. He ran up the aisle, flicked a switch then the lights went out and, for a moment, they were in total blackness. Then the stars lit up and overhead, it was as though the night sky lit their way. It was completely unlike the real night sky, though. It was so clear.

  David came back and sat down next to her. He took her hand in his as they looked up together.

  “This is incredible,” Nadine said.

  “I thought you might like it.” David leaned back and got more comfortable. He also took his coat off and he put his arm around Nadine’s seat. She felt herself get tingly everywhere. It was like it was the first time a guy had ever put his arm around her.

  “So you come here a lot?” she asked.

  “I’m president of the astronomy club,” he said. “That’s why I have the key and the code. Plus, I know all the security guards. I asked if we could come here tonight and it was fine.”

  “Wow,” Nadine said. Teasingly and flirtatiously, she turned to him and said, “I had no idea you were a nerd.”

  “No idea? Really?” He laughed. “Come on. What part of studying philosophy isn’t nerdy?”

  “You don’t look like a nerd.”

  “I filled out. You should have seen me in high school.”

  “I would have loved to have seen you in high school.”

  “No way. A girl like you. You would not have given me the time of day.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Trust me. I remember girls like you. I wouldn’t have had the nerve to even say hi to you back then.”

  “Well, there you have it. That’s about you, though. Not me. I’m sure I would have thought you were adorable.”

  “Nope, you wouldn’t have. I can show you photos.”

  “I hope you do.”

  He squeezed her close to him and kissed the top of her head. It was a sweet and innocent moment, and Nadine perceived perfectly the kind of guy David had been in high school.

  She looked up again. “So, president, can you point out some constellations?”

  “Sure.” David smiled. “This sky is actually not the sky we see outside. Right now we’re looking at the southern hemisphere’s sky.”

  “It’s different?”

  “Ye-eess,” David said, drawing out the vowel sound. “Were you a cheerleader in high school?”

  “As a matter of fact, I was,” Nadine said. “But I wasn’t a walking stereotype. I got good grades, and I didn’t date jocks. My boyfriend was in the drama club.”

  David nodded knowingly. “This sky image is taken from New Zealand in January, so the constellations are different.”

  “Wow.”

  “Yeah. That’s Taurus right there”—he traced the pattern with his finger—“and over there is Reticulum. And that’s Mensa. Oh, and you probably recognize Orion.”

  “Jeez, no wonder they made you president.”

  “Actually, I think it’s my perfect attendance record. I haven’t missed a meeting yet, except for the two years I spent on the beach.”

  “In how long?”

  “Oh, um, let’s see. Eight years.”

  “Did you say you spent two years on the beach?”

  David nodded. “After graduation.”

  “So, you didn’t go to university right away?”

  “No.”

  “Phew,” Nadine said. “How old are you? I’ve been wondering.”

  “Twenty-one.”

  Nadine was relieved. At least her worst fears weren’t true.

  David reached into his backpack and pulled out another plastic container.

&n
bsp; “You’re like Mary Poppins,” Nadine said. “What have you got there?”

  “I made a couple of sandwiches. These are bocconcini, prosciutto, tomato, basil, caramelized onions and grainy mustard.”

  “Yum.”

  He smiled.

  “I’m impressed.” Nadine unwrapped her sandwich from the parchment paper that enveloped it. She looked at the baguette. It smelled and looked delicious.

  “Incredible!”

  “Glad you like it.”

  “You’re quite the talented guy,” she managed between bites.

  “Thanks. I try.”

  The silence and awe of the overhead view allowed Nadine to probe further into what was truly on her mind. “What do you mean you spent a couple of years on the beach?”

  “Well, I almost didn’t graduate. After I lost my family, I couldn’t concentrate and my grades dropped. I almost left high school, but my grandparents urged me not to. So I got through, but I didn’t have the grades for university and I wasn’t exactly motivated. So I went and lived out of my car for a while because I needed to think and clear my head. Got my grades up by doing some online courses.”

  “Wait, but you lived on the beach. How’d you get Internet access?”

  “Libraries. I only went to town to hand in assignments and take tests. It was great, actually.”

  “So you lived out of your car? The same car you’re driving now?”

  “The one and only.”

  “But it’s so small. I mean, for a home.”

  “Not really. I can stretch out in the back and I kept a cooler on the front seat and had my gas stove and all that in the back beside me.”

  “But where’d you cook and make coffee?”

  “Picnic areas.”

  “Bathroom? Showers?”

  “Rest stops. Community centers. The ocean.”

  “Wow.”

  “I seem like a hippie, don’t I?” David asked. “Well, I’m over it now, but back then I had no idea what direction I wanted to go in. I had to figure some stuff out.”

  “But, how did you get by? I mean, how’d you live?”

  “Oh, I made some money. No big deal. Actually I did some pretty odd stuff to get by.”

  Nadine shook her head. Never before had she met anyone like David. She could tell that he didn’t want to talk about it and she knew that the best people could take a long time to get to know. She didn’t want to push him too hard. This was, after all, their very first date. There was lots of time, she reminded herself as she leaned into his embrace and adjusted herself to the reclining seat. This was so comfortable—resting her head on David’s arm—that she couldn’t think of anything that’d make the moment more complete.