Destination D

by Lori Beard-Daily

  “And you’re right. I’m not getting in the car with someone I hardly know.”

  “Well, I thought it would be nice to pick you up so that you could get to know me better as we go on our first date.”

  “Ahem…”

  “Oh, yes, forgive me. I forgot. We’re not dating.”

  Pam was amused. “I’m glad you remembered.”

  “Hopefully that will change soon.”

  Pam shook her head and remained silent. “I’ll call you around 5:00 on Friday and let you know where to meet me,” Marco said fondly.

  “Sounds good, Marco. Until Friday.”

  “Arrivederci.”

  “Arrivederci,” Pam said as she hung up the phone and looked in the mirror. She was bemused at how funny she looked. She went over to the sink and rinsed the cold cream off of her face, wishing her internal scars could vanish as easily.

  Bumpy Ride

  It was 7:00 p.m. and Marco Grimaldi was seated at a corner table, looking very debonair. He was dressed in a black suede sports jacket, taupe crew neck shirt, and a pair of black, pleated wool pants. A gold candle twinkled in the dark room, flickering against his handsome face. He took a sip of his cognac and looked up as a striking woman walked toward him.

  Pam glided around the tables like a swan. She wore a cranberry knit dress that cradled her hips. It was slit at the shoulders with a low neckline that revealed just enough of her bust to make Marco envision the rest.

  “Good evening.”

  “Wow!” he said, as he stood up. Pam extended her hand. He gave her a light kiss on her fingers that sent an unexpected flutter throughout the pit of his stomach. He pulled her chair out and motioned for her to sit down.

  She had a small smirk on her face. “Should I take that as a compliment?”

  “I’m sorry. I’m just a little stunned. Of course it’s a compliment, I just had no idea you could…”

  “Could what?” she said egging him on.

  “Oh, nothing. You look radiant.”

  “Oh, come on, now. Surely you were about to say something else.”

  Marco grinned, flashing his dimple again. He was smart enough to change the subject and Pam decided to let it go…this time.

  “I took the liberty of ordering us a bottle of champagne,” he said as he lifted the bottle from its chrome bucket, turning the label toward him. “I hope you like Dom Perignon.”

  “I love that champagne. How did you know?”

  “I didn’t. I just assumed that with a woman of your elegance it would only be fitting,” he said as he signaled the waiter to pour the champagne into their glasses.

  Corny, corny, corny, Pam thought as she smiled slightly. As the waiter poured the champagne they watched the bubbles rise to the tops of their glasses. A jazz trio featuring a singer, a keyboard player, and a bass player took the stage.

  Pam laid her head back into the warmth of her black velour chair. She closed her eyes as she listened to the band’s smooth melody. “This place is so relaxing.”

  “Good choice. I love jazz, too,” he said as he leaned forward to clink her glass with his. “It’s good to see you so relaxed.”

  Pam smiled. “I’m usually not. My work leaves very little time for me to unwind, but when I do, I love to listen to David Sanborn, Grover Washington, Miles Davis, and just about any other jazz artist. I come by here every now and then and check out who’s playing,” she said, lightly tapping her fingers on the table to the rhythm of the soulful sounds.

  The tall, lanky waiter made his way through the crowd again. His long curly blond hair was pulled back in a ponytail and his face was covered with acne. “Good evening, I’m Mitch. Hey, aren’t you that lawyer that just won that huge lawsuit?” Pam nodded politely as Marco looked at her proudly.

  “Man, if I’m ever in trouble, I’d sure give you a call,” he said admiringly.

  “You and me both,” Marco joined in.

  He nodded, acknowledging Marco’s comment and turning back to Pam. “Do you have a card on you?”

  “Sorry, not tonight. I’m just here to have a good time,” she said, trying not to sound impolite. “But the firm is Sterling, Mathis, and Silverman. Feel free to give me a call if you need a lawyer.”

  “All right, I’ll do that. Thank you,” he said as he handed them their menus. “Your name is Pam Mathis, right?”

  “No, it’s Madison.”

  “The one and only,” Marco interjected as he raised his glass in the air.

  “All right, guys. Enough already,” she said, trying to deflect the praise.

  “Well, I’ll give you a minute or two and come back and take your orders,” Mitch said, turning away.

  Pam browsed the menu. “Hmm, let’s see here. I’m going to have the prime rib tonight.”

  “So, you’re a carnivore?” Marco said, sounding somewhat pleasantly surprised.

  “Big time carnivore.”

  “I wouldn’t think that just by looking at you.”

  “I know many people make assumptions about me because of my size, but I’m a meat-and-potatoes woman. I can eat all day long and not gain a pound,” she laughed.

  “Here’s to good genes,” Marco said, playfully raising his glass.

  “Here! Here!” Pam joined in while touching his glass with hers. “What about you? Are you a vegetarian?”

  “No, I wish,” he said as he looked at her like he wanted to drink her up like an expensive glass of champagne. “I’m a meat eater, too.”

  “I think we’re both having the prime rib tonight,” Marc told Mitch when he came back over to their table.

  “How would you like it cooked?”

  “Medium,” they answered in unison, laughing.

  “Excellent choice,” he said as he jotted down the orders. “I’ll be right back with some warm bread.”

  “So, Marco, how long will you be in Atlanta?”

  “Call me Marc. It sounds more American,” he laughed.

  “Okay, Marc. You didn’t answer my question.”

  “How long would you like for me to be here” he asked flirtatiously.

  “You’re too funny.”

  “Would you like to dance?”

  Pam looked at him suspiciously and a little apprehensively. After all, Greg was the last man she had danced with up close and personal. “Sure. I’ll give it a try,” she said guardedly as they walked to the dance floor.

  Marc slowly moved his hands around her waist and cautiously pulled her toward him. His smell was intoxicating. It felt so good to be held, Pam thought as he pulled her closer. Too afraid to let herself feel again, she suddenly pulled back.

  Marco looked at her intensely “Is everything okay?”

  “Yes, I’m fine.”

  “Are you sure? Because you seem a little tense all of a sudden. I don’t bite, ya know? Well, actually, I do a little bit, but not on the first date,” he grinned.

  Pam smiled as she looked at his cute dimple that appeared each time he smiled. She wanted nothing more than to let go of the pain she felt every time a man looked into her eyes. Damn you, Greg.

  Marco could feel her body continue to stiffen. He slowly removed his hands from her waist. “Pam, why don’t we just go back to our table?”

  “No, please. Let’s continue.” Dee’s right. I have to let go. “I’ll be all right,” she said as she let her body relax again, allowing herself to flow with the music.

  “You’re a pretty good dancer for a lawyer,” he said playfully.

  “Is that supposed to be a compliment?”

  “Of course. What else would it be?” Marco teased.

  “A girl can’t be too sure with you. I’m still sensitive from the first questionable compliment that you gave me when I first got here,” Pam jibed as he suddenly spun her around and pulled her back into his arms.

  “Wow! I haven’t done that move since I was a little girl.”

  Marco twirled her around again. “Really? That long ago?” She laughed as he unexpectedly pulled her
so close that she could feel the firmness of his chest and his inner thighs. His touch was making her weak.

  “So, tell me more about when you were a little girl.”

  “My sisters and I used to take turns with my father dancing to some of his favorites, like Miles Davis and the good ol’ sounds of Duke Ellington. That was a long time ago, though.”

  “Is your father still alive?”

  “No, he died when I was in college.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry.”

  Pam placed her finger over her lip, signaling for him to stop. She lowered her head, attempting to hide the hurt look on her face. She couldn’t believe that Marco brought these types of feelings out of her. It had been years since she’d danced like that with her dad and a long while since she had felt like crying about it.

  “It’s okay. I’m fine,” she said as she got her rhythm back.

  “Hey, it looks like our food has arrived,” he said, hoping to get her out of her somber state.

  “So, tell me about you, Marc,” she said.

  “My life’s an open book.” He pulled out her chair and felt Pam’s dubious stare. Pam was apprehensive and he didn’t know whether she was always this intense or just cautious because it was their first date.

  “Thanks.”

  “You are very welcome. Seriously, now, what is it that you would like to know?”

  Pam laid her napkin in her lap and waited for Marco to sit down. “Okay, for starters, how did you end up in America? I’m assuming you’re Italian?”

  “Your assumption is correct. I moved to America as a young man in my late teens, early twenties. I can remember my brother and me sneaking in the back doors of clubs to watch the band set up. I always thought I’d be a musician,” he said, looking over at the band reflectively.

  Pam began to cut her prime rib, listening intently to his story. “So, what do you do?”

  “Aha! She’s interested enough to ask me about my occupation,” he laughed. “That’s a good start.”

  Pam grinned. “So, what’s the big secret?”

  “It’s not a secret. I usually like to get to know someone first before I discuss what I do for a living.”

  Pam turned up her eyebrow and looked at him pensively. “Well, is it legal?”

  “Extremely.”

  “Hmm…interesting,” she said, contemplating her next thought. “So, if you won’t tell me what you do, can you at least tell me what school you went to? Or is that something that I have to find out later?”

  Marco smiled at her inquisitiveness. He could see what Gerald was talking about. Pam was definitely a force to be reckoned with. She was determined to get him to tell her what he did one way or another and he was enjoying her twenty questions.

  “Harvard.”

  “What a coincidence. My twin sisters went to Harvard,” Pam said, delicately nibbling on another piece of meat.

  “You have a twin?”

  “They’re twins.”

  “I was about to say, there’s no way there could be two of you running around,” he said as he wiped a piece of food from the corner of her mouth.

  “Well, I don’t know what to make of that comment.”

  “It’s a compliment, I assure you. So what are your sisters doing now?”

  “Pauline is married to a pro-basketball player over in Europe and doesn’t work,” she laughed. “And Priscilla teaches third grade.” Pam shook her head at the thought.

  “You seem disappointed at their career choices.”

  “No, I’m actually very proud of them. They’re both just like my mom.”

  “Really? In what way?”

  “They both have families and place them above anything else. They just do what makes them happy.”

  “The three P’s, huh? Pamela, Priscilla, Pauline.”

  “Yes, start saying those three times fast,” she laughed.

  Marco loved to watch her lips move. He had an insatiable desire to touch them with his own. “I bet your mother got tongue twisted all of the time, heh?”

  Pam became silent as she thought about how much she missed her family. Their relationship had been strained since she and Greg had broken up.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Oh, I apologize. I was just thinking about what I said. My mother would just expect all three of us to come running when she called one of us, because she would always get our names mixed up,” she laughed fondly.

  “And who are you like?” he asked as he poured some more champagne into their glasses.

  “Most definitely my dad,” Pam smiled again as she thought about her father. “Chief Madison,” she said, raising her glass toward the ceiling.

  “What was he chief of ?”

  “Chief of Police for Chicago. He always stood strong no matter what the odds were. My brothers Gerald and Michael both followed in his footsteps.”

  Marco sipped another glass of champagne. He wanted to know everything about her. “So, your brothers are police officers?”

  “Gerald is a firefighter and Michael is a police officer.”

  “So, one brother fights fire, the other fights criminals, and you fight for justice.”

  “Now, that’s an interesting way of putting it. No one’s ever quite said it like that,” she said as she gazed into his eyes, feeling his warmth run through her body.

  Marco laughed. “It’s just pretty amazing when you think about it. You’ve got a big family. Let’s see,” he said as he started counting on her fingers, kissing each one at a time. “Two sisters and two brothers. Five of you. I never would have thought,” he said, ending with a final kiss to the back of her hand and folding it into his warm palm. Aroused by his touch, Pam gently pulled her hand back.

  “I’m sorry. I’m making you feel awkward. Look at me kissing your hand in public. I apologize. I got a little carried away.”

  A statuesque blonde woman, wearing a fitted three-quarter length black sequined dress, appeared out of nowhere and walked behind Marco’s chair. The look on her face made Pam feel very uncomfortable.

  “Yes, look at you getting carried away. Until it suits you, and then look out! He’ll drop you, girlfriend, after he gets what he wants.”

  Still holding his steak knife, Marco turned around quickly to find his worst nightmare standing in front of him. “Sharon?”

  “Yeah, it’s me. In the flesh. Bet you thought you’d never see this body again, huh?” Sharon mocked. She looked like she wanted to jerk the steak knife out of his hand and stab him. Her face grew red, and her hands shook as she pointed her finger directly in Marco’s eyes.

  “Sharon, you are way out of line. I’m sorry Pam.” He turned toward her. “Would you excuse us for a minute?”

  “Don’t try and use some of your psychobabble psychology on me!” she screamed before Pam could answer him. Everyone in the restaurant turned to look at her. “You are such an act. I’m telling you, watch him, girlfriend, or you’ll end up miserable like me. He’s a chameleon clad in a $4,000 suit!” She threw his glass of champagne in his face and hauled off and smacked him.

  Marco was stunned. He jumped up and grabbed Sharon by the arm and escorted her from the restaurant. The young waiter immediately came over when he saw Marco leave the restaurant.

  “What the heck just happened?”

  Pam had a blank stare on her face. “I don’t know. We were having a nice conversation and then suddenly out of nowhere this crazed woman appeared and starting shouting at him. I don’t know whether to leave or wait for him to explain himself.”

  “I was just coming by to see if I could get you some dessert, but considering what just happened, I guess dessert is not such a good idea.”

  Pam chuckled. “You know, Mitch, I think I will be skipping dessert as well as this whole scene. But I’m leaving the bill for him,” she said, placing her napkin on her plate and walking swiftly toward the door.

  “I heard that, Counselor!” Mitch chimed in.

  As Pam set out to open the door, a young cou
ple walked in. She looked at the young man as he turned around to hold the door open for Pam.

  “Why, thank you.”

  “You’re welcome, ma’am.”

  The girl he was with stopped in her tracks, and she and Pam recognized each other immediately.

  “Tracey?”

  “Ms. Pam?”

  Pam felt a little uncomfortable with the surprise encounter from Tracey, but nevertheless she didn’t show it. She gave Tracey a half hug.

  Tracey stepped back. “Ms. Pam, please. I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but please don’t put your hands on me.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Tony, this is Ms. Pam Madison.” Tony extended his hand and Pam shook it cordially.

  “Hi,” Tony said with a clueless look on his face.

  “Nice meeting you, Tony.”

  “This is the woman I told you about that had it in for Mama.”

  “Oooh, that Ms. Pam.” Tony tried to stop the flow of his words before they came rolling out.

  “Tracey, it’s obvious that you are upset. And it is also obvious that you don’t know the entire story.”

  Tracey’s voice began to rise, “I don’t. But, I know enough. You and my mother were good friends at one time, and you tormented her until she had to quit her job.”

  Tony placed his hand firmly on her shoulder to quiet Tracey, who obliged by lowering her voice. “If it weren’t for you coming down on her so hard every day, she would still be there. What kind of person does that to someone who is supposed to be their friend?”

  Pam raised her hands in a surrendering gesture. “I’m not going to stand in this restaurant lobby and argue with you, Tracey. I’m going to save you and your friend here from embarrassment and be on my way.”

  “I see, so you think I’ll be embarrassed, huh? Or is it that you’ll be embarrassed?”

  Tony pulled Tracey’s arm. “C’mon baby, not here. Let it go.”

  Pam turned to Tracey. “Listen Tracey, you are too young to understand the history between your mother and me, but I can tell you this—if you raise your voice to me one more time, then I will give you one embarrassing moment that I promise you will never forget. Now, take your boy friend’s advice and let it go! And take some of mine, too. Go and have a real chat with your mother and get the entire story, okay? Have a nice evening,” she said, as she sashayed out of the door.