by J. A. Rawls
Martha took a deep breath. She hadn’t realized she’d stopped breathing during Susan’s account of her sexual exploit. “So what do you intend to do about it? Do you want to take this to the next level?”
“No, I don’t think I do. We messed up what was a pretty good friendship by putting sex into the equation. Don’t get me wrong, the sex was fantastic and if I ever need just sex I might call him. But he wants more than I’m ready to give, and I don’t love him. I know that for sure.”
“Then you need to let him go. You’ve both stepped over the invisible line in the sand and you can’t go back. Kick this one to the curb too.”
“Great! In less than two hours you’ve made me alone again. Thanks a lot for nothing.”
“But you have hope. You have a date tomorrow with Mr. Sam Thompson. He’s a hunk. See where that takes you.”
Susan’s cell rang and she looked at the caller ID. “It’s Mr. Thompson,” she whispered to Martha. She answered, “Susan Masters.”
“Susan, its Sam Thompson. Sorry to bother you this evening but I had a question. I know you said you had plans.”
“It’s okay sir. My friend and I are having dinner and drinks at my place.”
“Oh well - I didn’t mean to interrupt. Do you want me to call back tomorrow?”
“No sir now is fine. Martha won’t mind.”
“Okay, Martha, yes she works for us right?”
“Yes, sir she does. So what’s your question?”
Sam hesitated, and then responded, “I’m truly sorry to have bothered you. The questions I have can wait until tomorrow. How about I pick you up around eleven and we can start our day with brunch? Would that work?”
“Yes, sir, that would work. Do I need to dress up or are we going casual.”
“Let’s do business casual. It will cover most of the options available to us.”
“That works sir, see you then.”
“Susan?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Please call me Sam.”
“Yes, sir, uh - Sam. See you tomorrow.”
Susan closed her phone and looked at Martha, “I wonder what he truly wants.”
Martha rolled her eyes to the ceiling. “I think he wants you.”
“Don’t be stupid? I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I’m scared. I have no idea where this is going. I need another margarita. Do you want another?”
“I’m game. I’m sleeping here so I don’t have to drive anywhere. Getting together has been good. We could have saved ourselves the hangovers we’re going to have in the morning if you’d just taken my advice earlier.”
“Probably true, but I needed to talk it through. When I put it all out there it’s actually uglier than I thought. In fact, it’s depressing. My personal life is really messed up, isn’t it?”
“It’s not that bad. You’ve moved past James, which is good. But you need to find a man who wants a relationship as much as you do. Wanting sex is one thing, but having sex and then trying to regroup is hard to do. It’s hard to back up and start over. Keep that in mind with Sam will you please.”
“Yes, mother,” Susan laughed as she rolled the rim of the glasses in the sea salt.
Three
Sam Thompson approached the door to Susan’s condo; saw his reflection in the glass and nervously ran his hands through his hair. He rang the door bell. I hope I’m not too early. I’m excited because she finally said yes to a date. I don’t know how many times I asked Stevens to see if she was interested and she wasn’t. But now she is and that’s great.
“Mr. Thompson, you’re a little early.” Susan backed up and gestured him into her condo. “Please, come in and have a seat while I finish getting ready.” God, he smells good. She closed her eyes inhaling his scent.
“Is something wrong?” he asked.
“Oh no, you smell good,” she smiled shyly. “Please have a seat, make yourself at home. Can I get you anything, soft drink, water?”
“No, I’m fine. Go ahead and finish, I’ll wait. And please, call me Sam.” He walked into her living room, it looked comfortable. A handmade afghan lay across the arm of the chair. On the corner table was a crocheted scarf, a very delicate design. Sam recognized these items because his mother had them in her home. In fact Susan’s home reminded him of his parent’s house. It was a home and he truly missed that.
“I’m ready,” Susan announced as she entered the room. He didn’t sit down. I wonder if something’s wrong.
He had to keep himself from staring at her. “I know this place that serves a mean Mexican brunch if you’re interested.”
“That sounds wonderful, I love Mexican food. I have to admit sometimes it doesn’t like me so much, but I love it. Let’s go.”
When they left her condo they were holding hands. How that happened she didn’t know and she wasn’t going to question it either. It felt right.
Sam helped her into his car. “I thought we’d go to the Barrio Café. I try to go there whenever I’m in town because the chef-owner Silvana Salcido Esparza has some of the best and most creative, contemporary Mexican fare. She serves some really distinctive dishes for brunch like crepa de chorizo a concoction, with spinach, spicy sausage, and queso fresco rolled up in a hollandaise-covered crepe.” He brought his finger tips to his lips in a kiss of gratitude for the delicacy of the food he was describing. “She also specializes in this vegi-stuffed omelette slathered in spicy tomatillo sauce that is guaranteed to wake up any taste buds. The sangrita, a tequila-soaked version of the bloody Mary, is real nice if you’ve over-indulged the night before. I had wine last night, probably too much to be exact, and I could use one of those. How does that sound?”
“It sounds great.” Wow, I’m impressed, he really knows his food. Can he cook as well? “I’ve been trying to get Mr. Stevens to do some of our leadership development breakfast events there and he’s always declined.”
“Really? He’s been there several times with me. I’ve asked him to invite you on numerous occasions and he’s always told me you were busy.”
“Sir - Sam - he’s never asked me to join you two for anything.”
“That can’t be.” His eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “I’ve asked him on at least four different occasions to invite you to dinner or to breakfast, and he’s always told me you had other engagements.”
Susan didn’t know what to say. She hated to get her boss in trouble, but he’d never extended an invite to her for anything. “Sam, I’m sorry, I don’t know what to say. I will tell you that if Mr. Stevens had asked me I would have gladly accepted. I hate to eat out alone, and when I get an invite I usually go, especially if it’s to a place I’ve been dying to try.”
“Has Stevens ever told you that I’d asked him to see if you’d be interested in going out with me?”
Her mind raced to take it all in, consider all the implications. “No! Never! Did you ask him to ask me that too?”
“I did, and I feel stupid because I believed he had asked and you’d said no.”
“Sam, I’m really sorry.” Susan bit her lip, “Why didn’t you ask me yourself?”
“I know I should have. But I wanted him to test the water. I know you went through a divorce and I didn’t know if you were ready to date yet. Stevens was supposed to find out for me. I guess he decided we wouldn’t be good for each other.” His hands gripped the steering wheel, as if it were a living thing, some living thing. “I can’t figure him out.”
“Frankly neither can I.” Susan leaned back against the soft leather seat. Wow, he wanted to date me. I can’t believe it. This is definitely not what I expected. “You called last night with questions about the merger. What were they?”
He laughed, “I didn’t have any questions. I was just trying to see if you went out or stayed home last night. I was pretty obvious, right? Like a love struck teenager.”
“I guess not too obvious because I didn’t get it. Let me get this straight; you came to my office yesterday and the invite today was becaus
e you’ve wanted to date me?” Susan paused to consider her next statement, “And finally decided to take matters into your own hands?”
“Pretty much; I’ve wanted to do this for a long time, but you were married and so was I. When Stevens told me you were going through a messy divorce I decided I should wait for a while and let the dust settle. Is it better now?”
“The divorce is the divorce.” She shrugged her shoulders, “It wasn’t messy. It only cost me $5,000 to get rid of the worst mistake in my life. It’s just sad it took me fifteen years to realize it was a mistake.” She laughed, “You seem to know quite a bit about me, how about you? I understand your divorce was costly and ugly.”
He laughed too, “Yes it was both. I need to give you some background so you understand what happened. I’ve been married twice. My first wife Nancy, after being ill for almost a year, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Though they started chemo treatment it was too late. She lived only a month after she was diagnosed. The good news I guess was that she didn’t suffer, the bad news was we didn’t have any time together once we knew what we were facing.”
“Sam, I’m sorry.” She put her hand on his arm. “I didn’t realize you’d gone through that. But they said you had an ugly divorce.”
“There’s the rub. Nancy had a best friend who stayed by us through all of this. Mary was the best. She took care of Nancy, she helped me with the funeral; she was indispensible. Within three months of burying my wife I married her. I can tell you from day one I haven’t had any peace. She didn’t like how Nancy decorated the house so I let her change it. She wanted to travel, so I let her travel. She wanted some elective surgery done and I paid for it. Mary was always complaining I didn’t take her anywhere. So one day I bought her this Vera Wang dress; a beautiful slinky red design and had it sent special delivery to the house. I left work early to get dressed so we could attend a function at the Country Club she’d been pestering me about. When I drove up there was a car I didn’t recognize in the driveway. I let myself into the house, looked around for Mary and couldn’t find her downstairs.”
“Oh no, I know where this is going.”
“Yes, exactly; I found her on our bed, with her tennis pro, in the dress I’d sent her, and it was pulled up to her naval. They were doing their rendition of ride a cowboy.”
Susan brought her hand to her mouth to stifle a laugh. She knew it had been a painful incident for Sam, but still, the image he was painting was humorous in its own way. “What’d you do?”
“I’d already filed for divorce, and all I needed was her signature to make it final, part of me hoped I’d never have to do it. I called my attorney, and pulled up a chair outside the bedroom door and waited for them to finish. When the young man came out and saw me I thought he was going to have a heart attack. I shushed him and sent him out the door.” He shook his head and laughed, “When Mary came out of the room calling his name; she saw me, stopped short and asked me what the fuck I was doing there.”
“You sure she isn’t a man?”
“Why?”
“She has balls.”
“True; bigger than grapefruits and made of steel. I told her I wanted a divorce and if she signed the papers right there and then she could walk away with $2 million in her bank account. If she refused to sign she’d walk away with nothing, as I’d drag her and her tennis pro through the courts for adultery.” He turned to look at Susan and the charming smile and twinkling eyes were now hardened. “She told me I wouldn’t, that I wouldn’t like the publicity it caused. I told her to try me; she folded and opted for the easy money. She signed the divorce papers; my attorney, who was waiting downstairs, witnessed her signature and our marriage was over.”
“That’s beyond awful. You just never know about people, do you?”
“What’s really sad is Nancy told me to watch my back with her. They were friends, but Nancy really knew her and knew what she was capable of. She said the woman was a money hungry, status seeking bitch. I should have listened.”
“It cost you $2 million to get rid of her. It only cost me $5,000 to get rid of my husband. I got out easy. I never asked for child support and he never asked for alimony. My daughter told me recently that her father was still pissed about it and continually went on about how I screwed him out of what was rightfully his. I guess when you compare our net worth the payout is proportionate. It’s sad to think you can quantify a screw up like that.” She turned to look at him, “So what are you doing giving me the bum’s rush?”
“I wasn’t looking at it like that. I’ve known you since you started at the firm. When dad was still at the helm, I watched you. Dad told me you were off limits because you were married and had a child. But you seemed so young.”
“I was young.” She looked vacantly out the window, as if watching her life play on a screen in front of her. “I was forced to get married when I was fifteen; we thought I was pregnant. I wasn’t at the time, but was within a couple of months. My problem, as my ex-husband James explains it, is that I’m too uppity. I want to be something I’m not. Unfortunately for us I didn’t agree. I got my education while raising my daughter and taking care of him. When your dad offered me an intern program and assistance with my education I was the happiest person in the world. James, not so much, he was mad, felt we were growing apart.”
“Did you realize that at the time?”
“I think I did, and in my own way I began to prepare myself for that eventuality. I took half my gross check every pay day and put it in a retirement account, something your dad told me about. He helped me pick something with a good return if I just left the money alone. James never realized what I did; he never asked and I never told him. When he said he wanted a divorce and would take $5,000 to leave us alone, I had him put it in writing and I walked away.”
“You were lucky.”
“But I had one advantage. I’m smarter than he was.” They looked at each other and started laughing. “Today he spends time with Sara and that works. He’s grown up and we’re at least cordial to each other when we’re in the same room. I bought my condo with some of that money.”
“You made a wise investment. You own some prime real estate.”
“Yes, and again I can thank your dad. He helped me find a place where I was close to a school for Sara and where the neighborhood was safe.”
“I never doubted Dad’s judgment in business or personal matters. Even today, when I told him I was taking you to brunch he said it’s about damn time I got it right.”
“Why would he say that? All the time he ran the firm I was still married.”
“True, but he knew of the divorce; in fact, I think he told me.”
Susan smiled. That old goat is playing matchmaker. “I’m hungry; are we almost there?”
“Another mile or so I think.” Sam looked at her and smiled, “Susan I’m glad I stopped by your office yesterday.”
“I am too.” She returned the smile. Slow down girl. Don’t scare him away.
*****
“Now I need a nap. That was delicious but I’m beyond stuffed.” Susan sat back in her chair, placing her napkin on the table.
“You don’t look stuffed. You look beautiful.” Sam’s eyes never lost contact with hers.
“You sweet talker you; I bet you say that to all your dates. Wait, I know; you have a plan to make me so big no one else will date me, right? I have you pegged mister.” She laughed as she ran her hand across her stomach.
“You caught me. I confess.” He paused, considering the next move. “To prove that point I have another great idea. I’d like to take you somewhere, but it’s a surprise. Are you game?”
“Is it far?”
“Not too far; why is that a problem?”
“No, I just need to let my daughter know that I’m not going to be home. She’s spending the night with her dad so she won’t be too worried, but in case she needs me I need to let her know to call the cell; which reminds me I need to turn it on.” She checked her
cell and immediately a voice mail was shown. “Let me check this.” She pressed voice mail and listened to Sara give her a hard time about not having it on. “I need to call my daughter. Do you mind?”
“No, go ahead, I’ll take care of the check.” He signaled to the waitress as Susan made her call.
“Sara, hi honey how’s it going - yes I got your message - no I didn’t have it on I’m in a restaurant having brunch and I hate when it rings and disturbs other people - yes I promise I’ll leave it on - no I’m not home I’m on a date - behave yourself - yes you can call if you need me but you better be bleeding - I love you too sweetheart - Sara wait, when does your dad plan to bring you home - around dinner time on Sunday - okay love, see you then - have fun - bye.”
She looked at Sam and saw his questioning look. “She’s like a mother to me. Sometimes I think our roles are reversed. I’d say she’s a typical teenager - you know fifteen going on twenty.”
He laughed, “You two sounded more like friends than mother and daughter.”
“I guess we are. Sometimes she’s my little girl, but mostly she’s my friend. I’ve been warned that in a year or so she won’t even speak to me; she’ll think I’m as dumb as a rock. But for now we get along well and I thank my lucky stars for that. She’s a good kid, in fact she works part time at a soda fountain in a small pharmacy. You know the one about a block and a half from the office?”
“Yes, I know it well. My dad owns it. In fact I think he told me she was working there this summer. He said she’s smart and he’s showing her how to keep the books.”
“She told me that too, but I didn’t realize she was working for your dad. I never asked who her boss was by name; it’s a small world. So where did you want to take me?”
“To get a chocolate phosphate at my dad’s place. He hangs out there since he retired from the CEO position.”
“Really? That’d be great. It sounds decadent, but I’m game. I’d love to see your dad too. He was always good to me; he was a great mentor.”