by Pike, Leslie
The Dubai offer of working in the Arab Emirates ended up going in another unexpected direction. Instead of living there and having an on-site experience, the developers and I came to a new agreement. They wanted my expertise and client referrals and I wanted the cache and cash of being involved with such a world class project. So we came to an agreement. I’d work from Los Angeles and educate my international clients on the wonders of Dubai’s luxury real estate. Specifically this project. It has worked beautifully.
The very best of all the changes to my life was moving to San Juan Capistrano to be with Parker. It’s been a revelation of love to be with a man who cares the way he does. My expectations for men and romance had been based on the one who lied and cheated. What flawed logic that was.
The day Parker and I moved into his new house will be forever etched in my memory. Of course I’d seen other people’s reactions to finally achieving their goal of home ownership. But never had I seen it up close with someone to share the beauty.
That first time you open your own front door. The first night sleeping in your house. The first time you sit in the backyard looking at a glorious sunset. It was a beautiful, meaningful experience. I would watch Parker as he hung pictures or organized his kitchen and think, ‘It can’t get sweeter than this.’
And within a few months I felt like it was my home too. He made me feel like that.
We relish the small things. Although we never know where Parker’s jobs are going to take him, the locale can never beat being in the small home, on a quiet street. Dinner parties with our friends, or holidays with our families, are important moments in time. When we are there the happiness sits with us.
I’m seeing the depth and scope of love. How just being together makes all things palatable. That body in bed next to yours, the conversation around the dinner table. Like the song says, it’s not the moon that excites me. It’s the nearness of him. The big moments ended up to be the smallest ones. Love does that. It permeates your cells and bolsters you in every way. It’s all beautifully emotional.
It’s undeniable that we should be together. He’s for real. Like my dream come true. My perception of what love can be has been changed in every way. It’s bigger and deeper than anything I imagined. Sweet destiny.
* * *
I step into my heels and grab my evening purse, checking to see if I put my cell inside. Okay, ready. One final look in front of the mirror tells me I don’t have toilet paper on my shoe or a hair out of place. Parker loves me in a braid so I’ve worn it tonight. Images of his pulling it in Cancun appear in my mind. Wow, that was an unbelievable night. The first of many.
“You almost ready?” I call through the bathroom door.
“I’ll be out in a minute.”
“Do you have a stomach ache? You’ve been in there for twenty minutes!”
“No. Just looking over my messages.”
“Okay.”
Weird. He’s a man who doesn’t like to dilly dally in the bathroom. In and out. That’s his style. Oh well, maybe it’s about work.
I walk into the kitchen and get a glass of water. The music playing moves me to do a little dance. After a minute I feel someone watching.
“You are so fucking sexy,” he says, standing in the entry.
When Parker walks in he owns the room. I haven’t gotten used to looking at him. It’s a ridiculous thought, really. A man in a tux is such a reliable pleasure. But tonight there is something extra about the look. Think it’s this expression. I see happiness.
“You look so handsome, baby. Is it absolutely necessary we attend tonight? Come on. I know you’d rather stay at home, and I wouldn’t be opposed to sending our regrets,” I say.
Parker strikes a pose. Arms crossed, gazing up. It’s his Model Man stance. It always makes me smile.
“I have people to see. A red carpet to walk.”
“Oh, well you can’t keep your fans waiting.”
“We can’t stay home when you look like this, Natalie. It would be selfish of me to keep you to myself. Besides, Steven and Jack are expecting us. It’s important to support their films.”
“Alright, but let’s make it an early evening.” I flash an exaggerated air kiss and a shoulder roll.
“Hmmm. Woman, are you saying you want to take advantage of me? Because I’ve already imagined peeling that silver dress from your shoulders. You sexy thing.”
“For you I am.”
He takes me in his arms and looks in my eyes.
“Did you bring tissues? Jack said this one is a tearjerker.”
“I did. I meant to ask you, is it strictly for cast and crew?”
“Not really sure,” he says, letting go. “We better go before it gets too crowded.”
“Should I call Bliss and ask her to save us seats? Those screening rooms aren’t that big.”
“NO!” He says it way too loud, which makes me start laughing.
“What the hell was that? Did you just get goosed?”
“Uh, I don’t know why I did that!”
How weird.
He waves it off. “No, I just don’t want to interrupt them. You know how Jack can be. These things make him nervous.
My doubting eyes question the statement.
“They do? I never would have guessed. He’s such a cool even tempered guy. That’s a surprise.”
“Ready?” he asks, ignoring my last comment.
I look him over as we walk out. “You’re the one who looks nervous,” I chuckle.
* * *
We easily find a space in the lot. Which is a shock because Parker forgot his cell and we had to go back to the house.
“I thought it would be crowded. We’re ten minutes late you know,” I say.
“Fucking Los Angeles traffic.”
The car at the end of the aisle looks exactly like Matt’s mustang. No. He doesn’t have anything hanging from the mirror like that one does. Or the figurine of a saint on the dash.
“Doesn’t matter. I got a text from Steven saying they’re a little behind. You know how it is.”
Parker exits and comes around to my door.
“Thank you,” I say, getting out.
He adjusts his collar and waistband. He looks uncomfortable as we head for the entry around the corner.
“Take my hand,” I say, reaching for his.
“Oh! Sorry. Yeah, of course.”
I’d swear there was something afoot. Parker never looks anxious. Except for tonight.
“You have a very strange look on your face,” I say.
He licks his lips and reaches in his pocket for the breath spray. “What are you talking about? Nothing’s wrong.”
Now I’m certain.
“I didn’t say anything was wrong. What’s up?”
As we round the corner I’m met with the smiles of two uniformed ushers standing at the door. Like they used to have in the fifties. My dad’s first job was as an usher in a theater in Santa Monica.
“Oh look! That’s so cool.”
“Yeah. Nice touch.”
“Everyone must be here already. I don’t see any other people.”
“Evening,” Parker says to the two boys.
They don’t respond, but as if on cue, swing open the double doors.
As we pass inside, I see a red carpet leading to one of the theaters. A man stands guard at the beverage counter.
“Fancy! I’ve never seen the red carpet here for any other film preview we’ve been to. This is very strange. It’s so quiet in here.”
Just as the words leave my mouth, the man comes around the counter and approaches.
“Good evening. We’re having a lighting problem in theater three. Let me accompany you so I can help with finding your seats.”
Parker doesn’t skip a beat. He’s acting like this is all perfectly normal. I guess it is, but something’s off.
We follow the man into the theater. He wasn’t kidding! The place is pitch black, and I can’t see two feet in front of me.
/> “Let me have your hand,” Parker says, wrapping his around mine.
“This is crazy! Are there any people in here?” I say.
A woman’s giggle pierces the utter silence.
“Well, that answers my question.”
“Yes ma’am, we have a few guests tonight.”
He directs us to our seats on the first tier. The row is completely empty. What the hell is happening?
We sit.
“This is the strangest thing I’ve ever seen,” I whisper to Parker.
The sound of the curtain opening and the light of the screen pull my attention.
GREASE 2020
FOR NATALIE
The words come on the screen in big bold letters. I look at Parker, who wears the biggest smile I’ve ever seen on him. Are those tears in his eyes? That’s when it hits me. This is no film preview. Not of Jack’s or Steven’s anyway. This is for me. I look around to see the familiar faces now visible in the screen’s light.
My parents! His parents! Our siblings! Jack and Nicki, Bliss and Steven. Matt and Maggie and every one of the Cancun revelers! Family and friends wave hellos and call out their love. My mother blows a kiss. My hand goes to my mouth as the music swells and the movie begins. The first notes of “Summer Nights” play.
Parker appears in a close up of him combing his thick black hair. He’s playing Danny Zuko, John Travolta’s part! Leather jacket, greased pompadour, and tight white T-shirt and black pants. He remembered this was my favorite film when I was a girl.
“Parker! You look great!” I yell for all to hear.
The laughter and joy of our friends fill the room. I hear Jenna whistling a cat call.
When the camera pulls back, Danny’s crew come into the picture. They’re sitting in the high school bleachers listening to Danny tell them about his summertime romance. Oh God! Elliott, James, and Parker’s father are beat bopping teenagers in pitch-black hairpieces. A few have no rhythm but they all can lip-sync. Where’s Matt I wonder?
The thought hasn’t even left my mind when the question is answered. The screen splits and we see the back of a blonde wig on a big head. When it turns the theater erupts in laughter. Matt is playing Sandy, Olivia Newton John’s role, complete with short bangs, pink lipstick, and a sleeveless summer dress!
There’s so many comments in the room and bursts of laughter.
Sandy’s friends consist of Maggie, Jenna, Elizabeth, and Holly. Maggie plays the wise-cracking Rizzo, complete with a cigarette hanging from her mouth. Virginal Sandy, aka Matt, is sweetly telling the story of how she fell for Danny.
It’s hysterical to see our friends and families trying to portray iconic characters. Matt’s huge hands have delicate rings on them and he has all the gestures of a girl down pat. Eyelash batting, pinky finger lifting, head tilting girls.
Parker’s father is the oldest teenager at the school! The black wig against a sixty-year-old face is definitely funny. Danny is being macho as he lets his friends in on his version of the summer nights. “I met this girl, she went crazy for me.”
Matt’s Sandy tells a different story. She saw it as innocent and romantic. The poodle skirted girls listen intently at the lunch table. “I met a boy he was as cute as can be.”
The details Parker included are unbelievable. I’m crying tears of happiness and I’m touched beyond words. He squeezes my hand, as the song comes to an end. But it’s not over. The scene comes to an end as both Sandy and Danny tell us at summer’s end they made one true vow. Fade out.
Fade in to a long shot of the back of a house. It’s night. Stairs lead from the back door to the small yard. Another house can be seen over the fence. My God, Parker recreated the scene I know from the film. As the music starts, I know I’m right. Out from the house comes Matt. Sandy. Oh Jesus! He’s dressed in a long white nightgown with a white headband to match! There’s so much laughter coming from the rows behind us it almost drowns out the lyrics.
Matt slowly moves down the steps as he sings. At one point he holds on to the post and looks up at the sky. He’s so friggin funny. He lip-syncs the words and puts himself in one hundred percent. Other than him being a two hundred and fifty-pound redheaded man in real life, you’d swear he was a seventeen-year-old girl.
He sings about Sandy’s heartbreak and when he says there’s just no getting over Danny, big tears are in his eyes! Method acting at its finest. The lyrics build to a crescendo and he puts his entire body into it. Opening his arms and making a crestfallen expression. It’s both humorous and impressive.
“I’m out of my head, hopelessly devoted to you!” he cries to the heavens. As the song fades, the audience claps their approval. Three rows back Matt hollers, “Are you not entertained?”
The new scene fades in and it touches my heart before I hear one note. I recognize it by the setting. Danny stands with his boys, hanging out at a carnival. They’re acting like tough guys when one of them spots someone approaching. Parker’s father gives a wolf whistle, making Danny turn and look.
It’s Sandy, aka Matt, dressed like a real bad girl. Black leather jacket and pants. Blonde hair wild instead of slicked down in a nineteen fifties flip. High black boots and a cigarette dangling from her mouth.
“Sandy?” Parker says.
Matt gives him a long slow burn of a look before saying, “Tell me about it, stud.”
The theater erupts. People can be seen in the background dancing. Oh! The carnival riders and the backup dancers are made of every one of the people I’m sitting in this audience with. My eyes well with tears. When I look around me I’m greeted with their lovely and happy expressions.
Danny sings about the chills Sandy’s giving him. They’re multiplying. And he’s losing control! He removes his jacket and starts to dance to her.
This is where Parker shines. He’s awesome! The theater is rocking with the singalong that just springs up. We all know the lyrics and the women especially are most definitely entertained. When Parker falls to his knees in front of Sandy and she places her foot on his chest and pushes him over, they go wild.
She tells him to shape up because she needs a real man.
“You tell him!” Jenna yells.
Then things start to get really funny. Matt and Parker get inside the carnival’s slow spinning tube, recreating the famous scene. But it quickly goes wrong. Matt takes a hard fall and keeps spinning, knocking Parker on his ass when he comes around. Matt’s blonde wig falls half off. It’s hanging by a clip. One of his boots flies to the cement walls and drops onto Parker’s head.
“That hurt like hell,” Parker says laughing.
“Is that how you got that lump you showed me? I thought it was from a fight scene!” I say, punching his arm for emphasis.
“I had to lie, babe. But it was for a good cause.”
“You weren’t the only one hurt! I pulled my vagina!” Matt adds to everyone’s amusement.
Onscreen, Danny and Sandy crawl out of the spin. Trying to get back into character is tough. They’re laughing and straightening their clothes. Sandy adjusts his balls. Or maybe it was his vagina. Parker hits him on the arm to stop him from continuing.
“Got an itch there, Matt?” James says from the back rows.
“You try wearing leather pants.”
The scene fades and another takes its place. A close shot of Parker and Matt in the front seat of a nineteen fifties convertible. Just like in the original film, Sandy and Danny’s heads lean together as they drive off into their happily ever after. Sandy waving at the screen and puckering her lips to the camera in a kiss.
Applause rises in the theater as the image fades, but it’s not the end of the film. The next image is of Parker, dressed in the tuxedo he’s wearing now. He’s relaxed in front of the camera, and for the first time I wonder why he didn’t become an actor. He’s handsome enough.
“I want to tell you about the woman I love,” he says, walking toward a steadily retreating camera.
I turn and look in his eyes. Th
ey’re full of tears.
“From the first day, I couldn’t keep my eyes off her. But an hour after meeting she was sure we were going to plunge to our deaths. It was just turbulence, but when I saw the fear on that beautiful face I had to protect her. Comfort her. She made me feel more like a man in that moment than any fiery stunt could ever do.”
At least three different women in the audience sigh in response. I link my arm in Parker’s and lean my head on his shoulder.
“It’s Natalie who is the strength of our relationship. She’s steady and true. I’ve never met a kinder person, or a smarter one. You can’t imagine what it’s like to have her love.”
Then the world stops spinning. Onscreen, Parker reaches into his pocket and brings out a beautiful square cut diamond ring. The camera steadies, as he holds it up.
“So what I’m trying to say is, Natalie, will you marry me?”
There’s an intake of breaths all around us and a sense of contained excitement for Parker and I. Me? I throw my arms around him and kiss my answer.
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Acknowledgments
Writing seems like a solitary art, but that’s not strictly true. There are silent partners in my vision, helpers in league with the dreamer. Invisible hands lift an author so she can have a better view of herself, and sharp eyes read early efforts of every story told. There are shoulders to stand on so I can see what’s possible, letting me know what to aim for. So, to all the good-hearted companions in the dream, I say thank you.
To my beta readers Lara Petterson, Misti Sonntag, Jamee Wick, Felicia Scammell, Letty Sidon and Krisztina Hollo’ for your sharp eyes and study support.