Risky Investment

by Beth Moore

  “Let me think about it for a little bit, okay?” she asked as she turned around.

  Matt nodded and watched her disappear into the house.

  Lynn walked down the hail and into her bedroom. Glancing over at her computer, she saw the small envelope on the corner of the screen signifying that she had awaiting e-mail. She clicked on the envelope, which brought up the message: Funds sent to Mercy Hospital in the amount of $5,000 as per your instructions.

  The message brought a smile to Lynn’s face. She knew these funds would lighten the financial burden of a very dear man and his companion. Curling up on her bed and pulling a blanket over her weary body, Lynn felt a deep sense of contentment. She learned during the past year that her greatest happiness came from sharing her newfound wealth with those in great need, and remaining anonymous was important to her.

  Several hours later, after a nap and a shower, Lynn reappeared in the living room. Leaning over the back of the couch to look Matt in the eye, she conceded to the arrangement. “When do I meet her?”

  Matt sat up with a smile in his eyes. “Tomorrow at four.”

  Lynn nodded, grabbed her keys, and headed out the door to the long night ahead.

  Arriving a half-hour ahead of the band’s scheduled starting time, Lynn slid onto a bar stool and scanned the dimly lit space.

  “Looking for your next conquest?”

  Lynn turned to find Sam, the owner of the bar, who also doubled as her good friend.

  “Anyone interesting?” Lynn asked.

  “Since when did you care about interesting?” Sam kidded. “You’re not exactly looking for a good conversationalist, are you?”

  Lynn laughed. “You know me, as long as she can pronounce my name…”

  Sam shook her head and leaned on the bar. “When are you going to settle down?”

  Lynn’s face sobered. “I tried that already, remember?” Finished with scanning the room, she turned on the bar stool, grabbed her bottle of beer, and stood. “Oh well, I need some sleep tonight anyway. Early shift tomorrow.”

  Sam reached for Lynn’s arm as she began to walk away. “Why do you do this to yourself? You could have such an easy life.”

  Lynn turned back toward Sam and looked her in the eye. “Sam, remember, you’re my friend, not my mother.”

  “Hell, I remember! I’m too young and too beautiful to be your mother!”

  Lynn smiled as she made her way to the stage. “I’d have to agree with you there!”

  Chapter Two

  Pulling into the driveway, Lynn saw Matt’s El Camino parked alongside what Lynn recognized as the loaner car from the garage. She remembered their discussion last night, and decided that this must be the woman he told her about. Taking in a deep breath, she got out of her truck and made her way to the door.

  Lynn unlocked the door and stepped into the living room. Matt stood near the fireplace with a young woman. They were looking at the photographs displayed on the mantel. The woman was thin, with straight shoulder-length brown hair. Lynn guessed that she was about five feet four. She was clad in a white V-necked T-shirt, button-fly jeans, and white tennis shoes. All in all, pretty attractive. Lynn guessed Matt’s parents would believe the two as a couple, a very cute couple.

  “Chris, this is my roommate, Lynn,” Matt said, motioning to Lynn.

  The woman had a surprised look on her face. “I thought Lynn was a man. I mean, I thought you were living with a man! Why can’t she pretend to be your fiancee?”

  Lynn answered quickly, “I’m a lesbian.”

  “So let me get this straight—no pun intended. Your parents think that you’re straight and that Lynn is gay?” Chris asked.

  “No, they think Matt is straight, and they know that I’m gay,” Lynn responded before Matt could answer the question.

  “And what makes you think they know you’re gay?” Chris asked suspiciously.

  Smiling, Lynn met eyes with Matt and answered, “Well, it might have something to do with finding me and Shelly half-naked on the couch one night.”

  “So, does your girlfriend live here too?” Chris asked curiously.

  “My girlfriend?”

  “Shelly.”

  Matt chuckled. “No, no, Shelly isn’t her girlfriend. Shelly was just one of many in a line of Lynn’s endless one-night stands.”

  Lynn acted astonished. “You make me sound like a slut! There haven’t been that many.”

  Matt raised his eyebrows, mocking Lynn’s statement.

  Lynn reacted quickly. “Besides, Matt’s just jealous. How long has it been since you’ve been laid, Matt? The truth is, Matt is just too picky!”

  “They’re called standards, Lynn! I’m sure you don’t know the meaning of the word!” Matt snapped back,

  Chris, who had been following the conversation much like a tennis match, finally broke in, “Excuse me! Are you sure that you’re friends?”

  “We’re sorry Chris, what bad manners we have,” Matt responded. “We are friends. We just seem to argue a lot.”

  “The bottom line is this.” Lynn ran her fingers through her hair, then continued, “I know it sounds odd, but it is on the up-and-up. Chris, Matt really needs you to do this.”

  Chris nodded, sat down on the couch, and put her head in her hands.

  “Who wants a beer?” Matt called on his way to the kitchen.

  After both women responded positively, Lynn sat down next to Chris. “You would be doing us a big favor,” Lynn said quietly.

  “Us” Chris took her hands from her face and looked Lynn in the eyes. “What’s in it for you?”

  Still seeing the suspicion in Chris’s eyes, Lynn decided that honesty would be the best policy. “Look, I know we argue,” Lynn explained. “But the fact is, Matt is my best friend, he’s like family to me, and although I don’t necessarily agree with what he’s doing, what makes him happy, makes me happy.” Lynn paused, then whispered, “And if you ever tell him I told you that, I will adamantly deny it!”

  Just as Lynn finished her confession, her stomach rumbled, breaking the silence. “I’m sorry,” Lynn apologized as she clutched her stomach. “I haven’t eaten all day!”

  Chris smiled softly as she tucked her hair behind her ear. “I’ve been so nervous about this whole thing, I haven’t either.”

  “Hmm, maybe I could sway your decision…”

  “Lynn!” Matt glared at his roommate as he came into the room without hearing the entire conversation.

  Lynn glared back as she accepted the bottle he had thrust at her. “Matt, I was just going to suggest that we talk a little more over Chinese food.”

  “Yeah, right,” Matt said suspiciously.

  “Actually, Chinese food sounds great!” Chris said, not quite understanding the tension in the room.

  Lynn headed toward the kitchen to retrieve the menu, with Matt on her heels. Matt waited until they were out of hearing range before cornering Lynn.

  “You do realize that she’s straight, Lynn?” he questioned. “I mean, you’re not going to try and make a move on her are you?” Then folding his hands together in a praying position, he went on, “Please, Lynn, she’s my only hope, don’t mess it up.”

  “Matt, I never make a move on a straight woman, you should know me better than that! You’re acting like I’m a letch or something!” Lynn answered, her feelings hurt.

  “I’m sorry. I know you’re just trying to help,” Matt replied, sorry to have said what he did.

  Chris wandered over to the mantle and took another look at the photographs. Upon second glance, she noticed that Lynn had been in all the pictures. She had somehow overlooked the woman before. Chris smiled at the photographs. Each had captured friends in what seemed like special, joyous moments. Everyone was laughing or smiling. The pictures showed dozens of different people, but Chris’s eyes kept coming back to Lynn. There was something about her. The warmth in her eyes, the sincerity of her smile, yet, a certain sadness.

  “What do you want?” Lynn had grabbe
d the menu, and walked out into the living room calling out to Chris.

  “What do you guys usually get? I like just about everything, except anything fishy,” Chris answered.

  “We usually get the number ten dinner. Sweet-and-sour pork, orange chicken, egg rolls, pork fried rice…”

  Chris interrupted Matt, “Sounds yummy! Stop talking and start dialing!”

  Matt chuckled, dialed the restaurant, and ordered the food.

  “Twenty minutes!” Matt said to Lynn. Lynn grabbed her keys and headed out the door.

  Lynn returned an hour later and found Matt and Chris out on the deck discussing a rather intriguing subject—auto mechanics. Chris looked relieved as Lynn stepped out onto the patio.

  “Gee, Matt, sounds like a real entertaining subject,” Lynn said sarcastically.

  “Hey, she was interested,” Matt answered.

  Lynn looked at Chris, who yawned, then back at Matt. “I think she was just being polite Matt.”

  Chris smiled and changed the subject. “You need any help there?” she asked as Lynn unloaded the cartons on the table.

  “No, Matt will go get the paper china, won’t you Matt?”

  “Like I have a choice!” he said as he scooted his chair back, stood and headed into the house.

  Plates overflowing, the three dug into the awaiting noodles, rice, and other delectables. For several minutes all anyone could hear through the still evening air was the rolling waves, the crunch of egg rolls, and the slurp of noodles.

  Chris finally broke the silence. “So how often do your parents visit?”

  “Too often,” was Mart’s response as he refilled his fork with rice.

  Lynn gave a more complete answer. “Several times a year. Do you see your parents very often?”

  Chris lowered her eyes as she finished chewing. “My parents died several years ago in a car accident.”

  “I’m sorry,” Lynn apologized. “Were you close?”

  Chris nodded. “Very close.”

  “That must be hard. So do you have any other family around here?”

  “No. I have some family back east, but none out here.”

  “How did your family end up in California?”

  “Well, my father was in the military. We moved around a lot. When I was accepted at the university, my dad decided to retire from the service, take a job in the private sector, and settle down near their only child. Unfortunately, they died soon after that.” Chris paused, and wanting to get the focus off of herself turned to Matt. “So if your parents are visiting, you must not be from around here either?”

  “No, actually I grew up in this area. My dad is a retired judge. Now he owns a string of car dealerships across the country. When I graduated from high school, they decided to uproot and move to a more central location, Florida. My dad expected me to attend college and go into the family business, but I had other ideas.”

  Chris nodded and took a drink from her bottle in order to clear her mouth for another question. “So how long have you two lived together?”

  “Umm… about a year, I guess,” Matt replied, then looked at Lynn for confirmation. Lynn nodded.

  “And how did you guys meet?”

  “Pretty much how you two met,” Lynn answered, then smiled at Matt. “I guess your shop is a pretty big pickup place for women, huh?”

  Matt laughed. “Too bad it doesn’t work equally as well for men!”

  “So here’s the story. My car broke down and for the first time, I couldn’t repair it myself.” Lynn paused and then explained, “I really can do a lot of the repairs myself.”

  Matt rolled his eyes and Lynn slapped his arm. “I can!”

  “Yeah, then why have I done all the work on it since we met?” Matt questioned.

  “You don’t usually give me a choice. Usually I tell you something is wrong and the next thing I know, you’re out there tinkering with it!” Lynn argued.

  “Could we get back to the story?” Chris interrupted.

  “Sorry,” Lynn apologized, and continued the tale. “So anyway, I had it towed to the closest garage, which was Matt’s. I walked into the shop office having survived the worst tow truck drive ever…”

  “Big fat guy, greasy hair?” Chris cut in.

  “No. Exactly the opposite, nice looking, buff guy. He’d brought his girlfriend along,” Lynn answered.

  “So what was the problem?” Chris asked, confused.

  Matt laughed and struck his hand on the table. “Yeah Lynn, tell her why the guy practically threw you out of the cab of his truck, go on, tell her!”

  Lynn felt her face turning red. “I don’t know, something about me flirting with his girlfriend…” Placing her hand over her heart, she continued, “I swear I wasn’t flirting. I merely admired her blouse.”

  “And…” Matt prompted.

  “And… I admired the way that she filled it out,” Lynn said with a mischievous smile.

  “That would do it!” Chris laughed. “Are you always that forward?”

  Lynn shook her head as Matt nodded his in unison. Lynn reached over and slapped him again. Then Matt admitted, “No, she’s not. She was just having a bad day.”

  “To get back to the story. I walked into the shop office and found Matt on the phone, shouting then pleading, then shouting again at Peter, his lover at the time. Anyway, he started telling me how Peter had done him wrong, and he said to me, ‘You know how guys are’ and I said to him, ‘No, I really don’t,’ and we just hit it off.”

  Matt finished the story. “Then Lynn found this great place, I needed a place to stay, and here we are a year later.”

  Chris nodded and as the conversation lulled, heard music in the distance. “Where’s that coming from?” she asked.

  “Oh, on Sunday evenings they have kind of a farmers’ market thing out on the pier. Wanna go?” Lynn offered.

  Chris looked over at Matt, who shrugged.

  Chris accepted, “Sure, sounds like fun!”

  “But first, open your fortune cookies!” Lynn directed.

  Matt broke open the hard shell and straightened out the small piece of paper. ‘”Find release from your cares, have a good time.’”

  “Wow, that really fits!” Lynn remarked then turned to Chris. “Your turn.”

  “You will win success in whatever you adopt,’” Chris read.

  “Hopefully that means we’ll be successful in our little charade,” Matt mumbled.

  Lynn cracked her cookie, silently read hers, smiled and handed the paper to Matt. “If you continually give you will continually have,’” he read, then turned to Lynn. “That’s eerie.”

  Chris didn’t understand but felt uncomfortable asking what was meant by the remark. Instead, she stood and started gathering the paper goods on the table. The other two joined her, and soon everything was cleaned up and they were ready to head to the beach.

  “You might need a jacket for later. Would you like to borrow one of mine?” Lynn asked as she tied a windbreaker around her waist.

  “No. I’m pretty warm-blooded, I’ll be fine,” Chris replied.

  The threesome left the house and began walking along the beach toward the pier. Lynn looked out at the horizon, where the deep blue sky sank into the dark green water. She squinted, watching the last few surfers trying to catch the now small rolling waves. There was no doubt about it: she loved this place.

  “Hey! Watch out!” they heard voices screaming from behind as a football crashed into the water beside them. Lynn waited for the tide to bring in the object, then snatched it up off of the wet sand.

  “Hey! Throw it here!” a voice again shouted from in back of the group. Lynn gripped the ball, drew back, and fired the ball back down the beach directly reaching the young man whose arms were waving.

  “Hey! Good throw!” the voice yelled back.

  Matt turned to Lynn and gave her a light shove. “Show-off!”

  Lynn shrugged her shoulders and the three continued along their way.

&nbs
p; Chris watched as Lynn picked up the ball and drew back to throw. She hadn’t noticed the muscles in Lynn’s arms before, her biceps flexing as she released the ball into the air. Chris reviewed Lynn’s legs and found the same muscular tones. She admired the strong thigh and calf muscles as Lynn stepped into the throw. Chris stopped and looked around to make sure that no one had seen the way she was admiring the muscles within the tan, smooth skin. For a moment the feeling made her uncomfortable. Then she shook it off by telling herself that for a physical therapy student it was perfectly natural to be interested in the muscle tone of someone’s body.

  As they approached the pier, a familiar Neil Diamond tune floated through the air, Lynn began humming. Matt joined along with the words. Soon all three were singing at the top of their lungs.

  The song ending, Lynn turned to Chris. “How would you know that song? Isn’t that a little before your time?”

  Chris shrugged. “My dad was a big Neil Diamond fan.”

  “Her dad,” mumbled Matt as he elbowed Lynn, signifying that their age was showing.

  As she climbed the stairs up onto the pier, Lynn felt the rhythm of the music run through her body. She began swaying her hips and moving her body to the beat as they walked into the crowd.

  Matt stopped and called out, “Singing is one thing, but if you’re going to do that, I’m not going to be seen with you.”

  Chris laughed, glad that she had controlled her urge to move with the music. Lynn however ignored Matt’s sarcasm and continued on her way through the crowd. Matt shook his head, placed his hands on Chris’s shoulders, and prodded her to follow the bouncing body ahead.

  The threesome moved along until they came to a stand selling fresh eggplant. Matt stopped and began speaking with the man behind the table.

  Lynn put her hands on her hips and turned to Chris. “Why did he want to stop here? He doesn’t even like eggplant!” Then eyeing the man selling the vegetables, she nudged Chris, and smiled. “Oh, that’s why. Come on, let’s let him flirt awhile.”

  Chris followed Lynn through the booths of fresh fruits and vegetables while Lynn paused, examining the contents on each table. Finally, Lynn found some items worthy of her purchase.