On a whim, she looked for something to wear Tuesday night and decided on a plain black dress that she bought from Delia’s Boutique. When she returned home and unpacked the dress, Esther wondered why she had bothered to purchase it. There were several dresses in her wardrobe she could wear. Was it was possible she was secretly hoping to capture the interest of the pseudo-angel? She doubted it. However, her curiosity about him was beginning to be aroused.
Tuesday arrived, and the mailman delivered birthday cards from Esther’s four friends and her agent. She received phone calls from her pals, each one offering best wishes for her special day. However, there were no greetings from family members because Esther had no family. As a newborn, she’d been abandoned on the steps of a hospital. Wrapped only in a blanket and wearing a diaper, she was quickly taken inside by a nurse. A doctor established the foundling was less than twenty-four hours old, and so that day, September 24, 1985, became her birthday.
Both the police and social services were informed, but Esther’s parents were never located and she was made a ward of the court. As a newborn, she was quickly placed in a foster home where it was expected that adoption would soon be possible. However, while remaining a baby, Esther was repeatedly moved from one foster home to another. This was not because of health or developmental difficulties but was due to her various foster parents feeling wary of her. It was reported on many occasions how objects were moving, and sometimes even flying around the room where she was resting or playing. Some expressed how they had actually seen sparks flashing in her eyes. No family wanted to keep her in their home for very long, so the possibility of adoption grew less and less as she moved into childhood.
Esther was not a difficult or disobedient child, but she kept herself emotionally separate from her foster parents and their families. They looked upon her as being odd. Her sparking eyes, the disturbance of objects wherever she was, and her precognition of matters and events set Esther apart. Other children, both at school and in whichever home she lived, frequently made fun of her. Even as a small child, she quickly began to feel like an outcast and drew within herself. She spent many hours lost in books and living in her own world of fantasy. Esther bonded with no one. Consequently, when it was time to move a foster child on, for whatever reason, she was usually the first choice.
As she matured, she learned how to control what others saw as her weirdness. She could make objects move by just looking at them, but never did this while in the company of others. When she was angry, her eyes sparked and she eventually gained the ability to hide this phenomenon. Esther also mostly kept her psychic sense a secret, training herself to act as though there was nothing unusual about her. She knew she was different while other people thought she was a pretty girl who was somewhat quiet and withdrawn.
At the age of eighteen she moved to another town and secured a job in a bookstore. The pay was minimal, but the generous store owner offered her free occupancy of the tiny apartment above the store. In this way, someone was at hand to call the police in the event of any attempted break-in or vandalism of the bookstore. Esther also worked four nights each week at a restaurant and saved what money she could in order to pay for night classes in English Literature and Language. It was during these years that she met her four friends. Anna and Celia were students at the college. She met Molly in the bookstore, and Carole waited tables with her. Although she felt close to each one of her friends, she never shared her unusual abilities with them. Eventually, Esther gained her B.A. in English and finally began her pursuit of a writing career.
* * * *
After eating lunch, a tension headache developed and, as the hours ticked by, she was beginning to feel jittery about what the evening would reveal. She sat on the couch and closed her eyes in the hope the headache would ease. The pain began to slowly lessen once she settled herself and tried to keep her thoughts away from the upcoming date. Esther concentrated on the book she had recently finished writing. Her editor liked the storyline and she was definitely happy with the hero. While imagining him as her angel date, she drifted into sleep.
The jangle of the telephone startled Esther awake. For a moment she felt disoriented, and then glanced at the clock on her mantle. Damn! She knew in less than an hour the limo would arrive. Esther looked at the phone and envisioned it coming to her. It lifted up from the base and glided into her hand.
She clicked the button and asked, “Hello?”
“Hi, hon,” Anna said. “Now I know you’re in the middle of getting ready or might even be ready, but I just wanted to tell you one more time to have the best evening ever.”
“Oh, thank you. I can’t really talk. I’m not quite ready yet.”
“No problem. Just know I’ll be thinking about you. If it’s not too late when you get back, or if you’re not too preoccupied, give me a call and tell me what he was like. Have fun!” The phone went dead.
Esther scrambled off the couch. She’d taken a shower that morning, which was good because there was no time for one now. Hurrying into her bathroom, she brushed her teeth and splashed cold water onto her face. That act made her feel fully awake. After dabbing her face and hands dry with a towel she almost ran to her bedroom, opened her closet and took out the black dress. Esther hung it on the outside of the wardrobe and quickly removed her slippers, socks, jeans, and top. Next, she removed her panties and bra, and then quickly pulled on fresh underwear and brand new pantyhose. She slipped into the dress and was soon checking herself in the full-length mirror. The dress wasn’t too tight, but it certainly showed her curves. Maybe Anna is right about cutting down on my sugar intake?
She went back to her closet and grabbed a pair of black pumps with a small heel. Stilettos had never proved comfortable for her. Now, there was only her face and hair that needed attention. Sitting at her dressing table, Esther applied mascara, a little face powder, and lipstick. She brushed her hair and decided to leave it loose rather than fashioning it into the chignon that she usually wore. Her need to rush lessened as she gave a few quick sprays of perfume to the inside of her wrists and just below her ears. Then, the gold watch, silver necklace, and matching bracelet needed to be added. Finally, she was ready.
Esther stood, once more, in front of the full-length mirror and checked whether she looked presentable. In her opinion, she was not particularly attractive, being too short and a little rounded, but her natural strawberry-blond hair was quite appealing and her features were small and even. She shrugged and told herself Angel Zortek would have to settle for a date with a short, average-looking woman who really didn’t want to meet him. Also, he’d be disappointed if he was hoping she would be a gorgeous, willowy brunette or redhead.
As a last minute add-on, she took a mauve shawl with silver threads running through it from the closet and draped it over her shoulders. Celia had given it to Esther for her last birthday, but she’d never found the right occasion to wear it. The shawl was the finishing touch. It brightened the dark tone of the dress and made her feel a trifle glamorous. The late spring weather was unusually mild so a coat wouldn’t be needed. She placed her keys, cell phone, compact, and lipstick into her black clutch bag and gave a sigh of relief because she had managed to get ready on time.
The intercom buzzed. Esther presumed it was Angel Zortek. She moved to the hallway, pressed the intercom button and asked, “Yes?”
“Your limo is waiting outside, ma’am.”
“I’ll be right there.” She switched off the lights, locked her own front door and hurried to the building’s main door.
Chapter Three
A mature man with a friendly smile was waiting at the outside door. It was obvious from his uniform that he was the limo driver. He doffed his cap and expressed, “Date An Angel at your service, ma’am.”
“Oh, I thought the angel guy would be here.”
He gave a crooked smile and answered, “No, your angel doesn’t have the luxury of being taken by me to the restaurant. If you want him to come back here with you
afterward, just let me know. If you don’t, that’s fine, too. I’m Simon, your chauffeur, and I’m happy to be of service to you.”
Esther closed the main door and followed him down the steps that led to street level. A black, stretch Lincoln was waiting by the curb. It looked immaculate and she suddenly felt quite pampered. One day she might have a Simon to drive her everywhere in her own limo if she ever became a world famous author. Anna would be pleased, especially if he was wickedly handsome and she fell madly in love with him.
The chauffeur opened the car door and Esther stepped inside. As she sat down, he leaned in and indicated a shelf that was attached to the partitioning glass. There were glasses, and a bottle of champagne in a bucket of ice.
“May I pour you a glass of champagne, ma’am?”
She rarely drank, but this was a special occasion. “Yes, please. After all, it is my birthday.”
Simon grasped the bottle, held it outside the car, and deftly popped the cork. A small quantity of liquid frothed out from the top and spilled onto the sidewalk. Esther gave him a glass and he generously filled it.
Handing it back to her, he said, “Happy birthday, ma’am. I do hope you enjoy your date with an angel.” Simon placed the champagne back in the bucket, closed the door and walked to the front of the car. He settled himself in the driver’s seat, turned on the ignition and the limo purred into motion.
Esther took a few sips of the champagne and then placed it on the shelf. She felt sure there would be wine with the meal, so not becoming light-headed might prove advantageous if her date was making unwanted advances. The journey took barely ten minutes and, either by design or pure luck, there was sufficient space for Simon to park the limo immediately in front of the restaurant. He hopped out of his seat, moved alongside the vehicle, and opened the door.
Once she was standing on the sidewalk, he said to her, “I’m not allowed to stay here, but I’ll be parked close by. When you’re ready to leave, one of the waiters will call me and I’ll be here waiting for you.” Simon tapped the left-hand pocket of his jacket from which Esther could just see the tip of an iPhone. “Enjoy your evening, ma’am.” He stepped back and a few seconds later she heard the limo pull away.
There were two young men dressed as angels waiting at the entrance to the restaurant. One was of average height with short dark hair and a pleasant face. The other was extremely tall, well-built and his almost-white hair reached to his shoulders. Esther wondered if he bleached it in order to make himself look more angelic. They were not wearing halos, but their wings were large and constructed from white feathers. The pair attached to the tall guy looked more real than the pair worn by the other one. Both men were attired in short white robes that were belted and reached just below the knee. Their footwear was sandals. Well, if angels really exist, who knows how they should dress?
The shorter guy glanced at her, and then looked away. Esther presumed that meant he wasn’t her Angel Zortek. She was right because the other man walked toward her. His expression was solemn as he questioned,
“Esther Nolan?” Nolan Avenue was the location of the hospital where she was found and, when social services registered her birth, someone decided it was appropriate to record Nolan as her last name. As to her first name, Esther had never been able to discover its source.
She looked up at him and answered, “Yes.” He was unbelievably tall and quite muscular; an obvious reason why Date An Angel would consider him appealing to women, but his face belied his angelic appearance. His nose was aquiline and his mouth was large with extremely thin lips. Looking into his eyes was decidedly unnerving. They were brown, with flecks of gold scattered throughout the irises, and they seemed to be staring right through her.
Esther expected him to offer her his arm, but he turned on his heel and began walking toward the restaurant’s entrance. She hurried after him and had to almost run to keep pace with his long strides. He certainly didn’t appear to care about making a good impression. Perhaps I’m not his type? Even though she’d only seen him for a few minutes, she knew he definitely wasn’t hers.
They moved inside the restaurant and Zortek’s wings somehow closed against his back. Esther figured there must be some kind of mechanism in them to create such movement. The maitre d’ approached and smiled broadly. He led them to their table, which was off to one side and somewhat secluded. As he pulled back the chair for Esther to sit down, Zortek was already dragging his chair away from the table. He actually sat down before she was seated. The maître d’ sniffed and gave her escort a disapproving look. Obviously, the pseudo angel’s manners were as equally unimpressive to him as they were to her. Then, looking directly at Esther the maître d’ explained,
“Everything has already been ordered. The wine steward will be here very soon to see if you would like a drink before the meal and your waiter will be serving you in a short while. Enjoy your evening with us.” He smiled at Esther and without even looking at Zortek moved away.
They sat in silence with her angel date staring at her. Esther felt most uncomfortable. She looked around the restaurant and watched a woman with the other pseudo-angel being guided to their table by the maître d’. They were already smiling, and chatting with each other. That meant someone’s date with an angel might not be a total waste of time. Esther looked back at her date and he was continuing to watch her. If he didn’t stop staring, she knew she’d be telling him to quit because it was most unnerving. Before she had a chance to do this, the wine steward arrived. He asked what they would like to drink. Esther declined and Zortek ordered a beer.
Once it was brought to him, he swallowed the drink in a couple of gulps. She wondered if he could be feeling nervous. If so, the beer might help his attitude, but the staring hadn’t stopped and now there was an unpleasant smile keeping company with that stare. Is he going to say anything?
Esther attempted to break the ice by asking, “Have you played the part of an angel on many dates?”
“This is my first.”
That probably meant he had no idea how to behave in this make-believe situation. Yet wouldn’t the dating company have given him some guidance?
Grasping for something else to say, Esther asked, “Are those wings uncomfortable?”
“No.”
He was a man of few words, but she’d try one more time.
“They look real and they must be expensive to make what with all those feathers and their maneuverability. I guess Date An Angel doesn’t want you to damage them?”
“They are my wings so why should they care?”
Just then their waiter arrived with two prawn cocktails in hand. He said, “Good evening. My name is Clay and I’m your waiter for this evening. Enjoy your appetizers.” He placed one dish in front of Esther and the other in front of Zortek.
She unfolded her napkin and placed it on her lap. Zortek left his beside his dish. He grabbed one of his forks and started digging into the prawns, two or three at a time. They went straight into his mouth and he barely chewed before he swallowed them. He repeated this action, over and over, and soon they were all gone. He also devoured the lettuce. Perhaps he’s really hungry? If this is his first opportunity for paid employment, maybe he’s strapped for money? Esther suddenly felt almost sorry for him as she slowly, one at a time, ate her prawns.
The dishes were cleared away and the steward brought a bottle of zinfandel to the table. He uncorked it, poured a small measure into Zortek’s wine glass and waited for his approval. The pseudo-angel looked disgruntled, but downed the wine in an instant and grinned. The steward poured generous amounts into both her glass and Zortek’s. He left the bottle on the table just as their waiter arrived with the main meal. He served Coq Au Vin to Esther and a T-bone steak to Zortek. There was also a large dish of grilled vegetables and one of Dauphine Potatoes set in the center of the table.
The waiter told Esther, “When your meal was ordered, we were told that the only meat you eat is chicken so the chef made this Coq Au Vin without l
ardons especially for you.”
“Please give the chef my thanks.” Recently, she’d also stopped eating chicken, but she hadn’t yet told Anna.
“Help yourselves to the vegetables and potatoes. Just call me if you need anything.” He walked away.
Zortek asked, “What are lardons?”
“They’re strips or cubes of pork fat. I don’t eat red meat and rarely have chicken. I prefer fish.”
“You are strange.”
Well, not nearly as strange as you, Angel Zortek. Esther picked up one of the large serving spoons and helped herself to a small portion of vegetables. She didn’t want the potatoes. He took a generous amount of vegetables and with the same spoon piled a large amount of the potatoes onto his plate. Then he deftly cut his meat with the knife, put it down and began feeding himself with the fork. He either dug the fork into the pieces of meat or awkwardly scooped up the vegetables and potatoes with it. Zortek appeared to be thoroughly enjoying his meal. Esther ate her food while trying not to watch his unusual way of eating. It looked as though he wasn’t used to handling a fork, and he certainly had an appetite. He kept helping himself to the vegetables and potatoes until they were all gone. The T-bone was eaten very quickly and he even picked up the bone and scraped the last morsels of meat off with his teeth. While watching him do this in disbelief, she noticed all of his teeth were pointed. He also downed his wine in almost one gulp, filled the glass again, and drank it just as quickly. Finally, he poured whatever was left in the bottle into his glass and finished all of it. Although she wasn’t a lover of wine, Esther felt annoyed. He could have asked her whether she wanted some more before he emptied the bottle.
The waiter cleared away their plates, the empty bottle, and large dishes. Then he returned with a tray that held a container of Cherries Jubilee and two small dishes, each one containing a scoop of vanilla ice cream. He set the tray down, flambéed the cherries, spooned them around the ice cream and put the dessert dishes in front of Esther and Zortek.
Stolen Away Page 2