Turnabout Is Fair Play

by Bill Willoughby

  We finally got to the Chrysler Museum and I parked in the side parking lot. We walked to the door in silence.

  “Look, Leigh Ann, I’m not an art expert I just enjoy seeing art. I actually like the older paintings on the second floor from the 17 and 1800s. Some of those paintings are huge! A lot have religious themes too.

  There’s a glass exhibition on the first floor and some of that is pretty amazing. They always have special exhibitions too that change from time to time.

  We’ll walk around and if there is something either of us wants to look at just say something. Is that okay?”

  “Fine with me.” She smiled. That smile again. It sent electric shocks through me every time she did it!

  We took our time walking through each gallery. She was fascinated by the Egyptian gallery and we lingered awhile there. Like me she was amazed at the European art. She studied the paintings in detail. She made comments and asked questions occasionally and I’d answer when I could.

  Somewhere along the line we began holding hands. I don’t know when it had happened. It wasn’t a conscious movement on my part though.

  Her hand felt so small in mine and was warm. Her skin was so soft. It reminded me of Miranda’s hand. Oh crap, I didn’t want to ever compare Leigh Ann and Miranda. I wanted them to be separate people but I guess I wouldn’t be able to avoid doing that. I had been with Miranda for over twenty years. I’d have to be careful though and not make any comments out loud.

  “What are you thinking about?” she asked.

  “Do you really want to know? It’s complicated.”

  She let go and stepped back from me.

  “Is it bad? Are you ending the date and leaving me here?” Tears actually came to her eyes.

  “Oh god no!” I grabbed her arm and gently pulled her over to a bench and we sat down.

  “Did your husband do this to you? Did he hurt you this bad?”

  She covered her face with her hands and sobbed and nodded her head.

  I put my arm around her and pulled her in close. “Oh, baby,” I said, “I’m so sorry. I would never do anything like that to you. I swear to you.”

  She looked up at me with tears on her cheeks.

  “Stay right here,” I said. “I’m going to the bathroom and get you some tissues to dry your eyes. I’ll be right back. I promise.”

  I stood up and turned to go but turned around, leaned down and kissed her on the forehead.

  When I got back with the tissue paper she had stopped crying. She wiped her eyes and blew her nose.

  “You probably think I’m a fool don’t you?”

  “No! I understand. Do you want me to go find your husband and beat him up? I can do it you know; I’m kind of a cop. I’ll put him in handcuffs, take him into a room with no windows and beat him with a rubber hose. All you have to do is say yes and I’ll be gone. Oh wait, if I did that I’d have to leave you here and I just promised you I wouldn’t do that!”

  She laughed out loud, leaned into me and kissed me. Now that was a kiss!

  “She looked at me. “You called me baby earlier. Did you mean it?”

  I thought for a moment. “Yeah, I guess I did. Is that okay?”

  She nodded her head.

  I stood up and put my hand out to her. We finished touring the museums with our arms around each other. It felt right.

  “You never told me what you were thinking about.”

  “It’s not important.”

  “Yes it is. Tell me please.”

  I took in a deep breath.

  “I was thinking how perfectly your hand fit into mine. How soft and warm your skin is. It all just felt right. Does that make sense?”

  “Yes it does,” she said softly.

  “Can I tell you something now?” she asked.

  “Of course. You can say whatever you want to me.”

  “I think you are the most perfect man I have ever met. It has only been a short time but we just seem to fit together perfectly. Of course there’s a lot more to explore with one another. I’m not trying to force you into anything but I always speak my mind and I wanted you to know how I feel. Is that okay? What I said I mean.”

  “I think I feel the same way. The difference between you and I is that you have had time to process your breakup. I assume it was pretty much mutual after what happened. With me my wife was violently ripped away from me and just over a year ago. I know what I want. I really do. I’m just not sure how to get there. Does that make sense?”

  “Yes, Don, it makes perfect sense. Like I said I’m not trying to force you into anything or hurry you into something you’re not sure of. But I feel really good about this and I think it is worth waiting around to see what happens. I hope you feel the same way.”

  I felt tears come to my eyes but thankfully I was able to hold them back.

  “I do, Leigh Ann. I really do.”

  We kissed again but not so long or as passionately as I think we both wanted to since there was a tour group entering the room. We giggled like teenagers and got out to the truck as quick as we could. And then we kissed. Long, hard, passionately. And it felt right.

  I asked her if she was hungry and she said she was. I asked her if she liked country cooking and fried chicken.

  “Are you talking about KFC? If so I’ll have to decline.”

  “Oh no,” I said. “Have you ever heard of Pollard’s?”

  She thought for a moment. “I think I’ve seen their commercials on TV. Yes, let’s try that!”

  I got onto I-264 headed towards the beach. We got off on the Witchduck Road exit where there was a small Pollard’s. I ordered a three piece thigh and legs meal with fried okra and sweet potato fries and sweet tea. Leigh Ann got the two piece meal with the same sides and fruit punch to drink.

  We took our time eating and talking. We talked about our high school years. She, of course, had been a cheerleader and one of the “popular girls.” She had a date every weekend.

  The high school I had gone to had a radio station. I worked there and spent most of my free time there during the week. I don’t know what we were called back then but now we would be called nerds I guess. I had a steady girl.

  We were going to ride down to the beach and walk around but it was too cold. Instead we took I-264 all the way to the beach, followed Pacific Avenue to Shore Drive. When we passed the Navy base I showed her where I worked. Or at least the gate I went through to get to work.

  We continued down Shore Drive until we got to Ocean View and then got back on I-64 and back into Hampton.

  “Is there any place you’d like to go in Hampton?” I asked.

  “I thought you were planning today? I’m up for anything you want to do. I’m not ready to be alone. If that’s okay with you of course.”

  “Well, let’s go see what we can find. If anything strikes your fancy let me know and I’ll pull over. But give me time to turn and not when we’re right up on that. Miranda used to do that to me.”

  I could feel my face turn red. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to do that.”

  “Do what?” She asked.

  “Say anything about Miranda. I had promised myself I wouldn’t do that. I don’t want you to think I am comparing the two of you.”

  “I don’t mind, Don. It’s understandable. I know this is all new to you. It is kind of new to me too. I have had a few dates but nothing serious. None of them ever felt like this. If you need to say things about Miranda then that’s okay. Really. I can understand if you compare the two of us. It’s natural. Just don’t do it in bed!”

  She clapped her hand to her mouth and blushed bright red.

  “I, I, I didn’t mean that! I wasn’t implying that we were going to end up in bed. Well, maybe someday but I didn’t expect it to happen right away. Oh, I’m so sorry.”

  I had pulled the Tahoe into a parking lot and shoved it into park. I thought I was going to die I was laughing so hard! I couldn’t catch my breath.

  She slapped me on the arm.
>
  “Stop it. You’re laughing at me!”

  I nodded my head and continued laughing. Soon she had joined me and we were both laughing as people drove by in cars staring at us. I figured sooner or later someone would call the cops so I got ahold of myself and got back on Mercury Boulevard.

  We wiped the tears from our eyes as I drove.

  We spent the rest of the afternoon going to thrift shops. I found a shirt my size and bought it. It was in my favorite color, orange. This would make an even dozen and probably not my last.

  Leigh Ann bought a dress but only after trying it on for me. I usually hated shopping but I was having fun now. She also bought some books. A book of poems and some trashy romance novels. I laughed at her for that.

  “So what do you read?” She asked.

  “Mostly the classics, I read the Bible through twice a year and I read a lot of advanced physics books.”

  “Yeah, right. Really what do you read?”

  “Mostly mysteries. I read some vampire books and historical novels. Oh, and I’m a big Western fan.”

  “Westerns! Really? I used to watch them on Saturdays with my daddy. Maybe we can start doing that. But that’s only if you want to see me again. I guess I’m taking that for granted.”

  I put my hand on her shoulder, “I never want to take my eyes off of you ever again.”

  Chapter 16

  It was getting close to dinner time and we discussed what we wanted to eat. She lived on Park Lane in the Hilton section of Newport News. We decided on barbecue at a place on Warwick Boulevard near her house. Neither of us had ever been there.

  We split an order of the fried pork rinds for an appetizer. We decided to order a family sized mixed platter and share. It came with baby back ribs, smoked brisket, pulled pork and a half chicken. That was a lot of meat! For our sides we got mac and cheese and grilled vegetables.

  We both agreed it was not the best we’d ever had.

  Leigh Ann said, “Well, there’s a lot of meat left, we can have it for lunch tomorrow!”

  I guess we would make it a weekend date. I didn’t think I was ready to sleep with her. I’d never been the kind of guy to sleep with a woman on the first date. I guess I was just old fashioned like that.

  Then she said, “Did I step out too far? I was just assuming we’d spend the day together tomorrow. Is that okay?”

  Well, that answered that question!

  “I’d like that,” I said as we got our boxed up leftovers and got ready to pay the bill.

  “Oh, no!” She said, “Dinner is my treat.”

  “You don’t have to do that,” I said.

  “I know I didn’t. I wanted to. Are you that old fashioned that you’d be uncomfortable with a woman paying for your meal?” She asked as we got into the Tahoe.

  “What makes you think I’m so old fashioned?”

  “Really? You’ve opened every door for me, when we walked down the sidewalk earlier you walked on the outside, you asked me what I wanted to eat in the restaurant and then you ordered for me. Shoot, when you ordered you said, ‘the lady will have…’ Do I need to go on?”

  “Just one question, do you mind that I do those things?”

  “Mind? I absolutely love it! It has been a very longtime since a man treated me the way you do. You make me feel like a princess! I never want this date to end!”

  I didn’t know what to say to that so I drove. I watched her glance at me out of the corner of my eye. Was I wrong in not saying something? I didn’t want to hurt her feelings.

  “Leigh Ann?”

  She looked at me with expectant eyes. “Yes, Don?”

  “I’ve told you before that I am unsure of myself. I know you speak your mind but growing up I was never allowed to do that and I guess it is still ingrained in me to not open up. I used to be able to talk about anything and everything with Miranda. (There I went bringing her up again!) I hope someday I can get that way with you. Please be patient with me, I am really trying.”

  She reached across the console and put her hand on my arm. “Don. I don’t want to pressure you into anything. We’ll move at whatever pace you want to go. I understand your feelings. I really do.”

  She let go of my arm. Uh oh.

  “I just want to ask you one thing. I’d kind of like you to promise me but that’s probably too much to ask.”

  “What?”

  “If you decide to end it please let me know. You don’t have to tell me why but that would be nice. I just ask that you don’t disappear. Say something first. Is that okay?”

  I nodded my head, “ I promise. “Baby.”

  She smiled a tight smile with tears in the corners of her eyes.

  “Oh, Don. What am I going to do with you?”

  I laughed. “What do you want to do with me?”

  I immediately wished I hadn’t said that.

  “I can think of a lot of things, mister. But because I’m a lady I will keep the dirty ones to myself.” She blushed. “How about if I just tell you the nice ones?”

  We pulled into her driveway.

  “I’d like that.” I said. “Do you want to talk here, on the phone or by email?”

  “Or,” she said, “You could come inside. But only if you want to. The night is too young for it to be over, in my opinion anyway.”

  “I’d like that,” I said. I grabbed the take out boxes off of the back seat.

  We walked to her door as she searched for her keys.

  “You know what?” I said as I turned back and looked at the Tahoe. “Maybe I should trade that thing in on something more economical. I can afford it okay but why spend the money if I don’t have to?”

  “Do you want my opinion?”

  “Yes, of course.” I said.

  “I’d like you to keep it. I love being way up there and looking across traffic. I feel safe in it. But of course it’s your truck and your decision.”

  I thought a moment, “Do you think you could drive it?”

  Now it was her turn to think. “I don’t know. I’d like to try if you’d let me. You don’t yell when you teach someone to drive do you?”

  I shrugged my shoulders. “I don’t know, I’ve never taught anyone to drive before. Of course I wouldn’t really be teaching you to drive. But I can’t see myself yelling at you. Well, unless you were headed for a crash or stopping to talk to another man.”

  I paused, “Did you husband yell at you?”

  She nodded her head.

  She opened the door and I followed her inside. Oh, man, her house was beautiful! It was nothing like mine. I guess this was the difference between when a woman decorated as opposed to a man doing it. Mine was sparsely utilitarian with things I needed within easy reach. Hers was open, roomy, bright and colorful. I was jealous.

  And then I thought to myself, ‘I could live here and be comfortable.’

  “What?” She asked.

  I turned red. “Oh gosh, I don’t know if I want to tell you or not. It seems awful forward for me to say what I was thinking.”

  “Look,” she said sternly. “It’s obvious we need to set some ground rules. If we’re going to hide our thoughts from one another we’re going to move forward very slowly. No, forget I said that! Let me say it a different way.”

  She thought for a minute. “Okay, we’ve agreed we’re going to move at a pace that is comfortable for the both of us. Right?”

  I nodded my head.

  “But we need to be open with one another. Do you agree?”

  I nodded my head again.

  “I don’t know where this is going and neither do you. I have an idea where I’d like it to go but I also know we have to let things fall into place when they are supposed to. Do you agree and do you understand what I am trying to say?”

  “I think I do and I agree. I have had thoughts about the future too and what I was thinking probably goes into that category. Thoughts about the future I mean.”

  “So tell me.”

  I took in a deep breath. �
��I was thinking about how beautiful your house is. It is nothing like mine.”

  “Well, thank you but I think there was more that you have to say. Am I right?”

  “Yes.” I felt myself turning red again. “Well, I was thinking I could live here and be very comfortable.”

  She stared at me and then stepped towards me and jumped up. I caught her in my arms and we kissed. We hugged tight for a long time while we kissed. She was light in my arms. She had her legs wrapped around my waist and her arms around my neck. I never wanted this to end but I knew it had to sometime.

  Suddenly she dropped her feet to the floor and loosened her arms from my neck.

  “Oh Don, I’m sorry. That was very unladylike of me. Do you forgive me?”

  I tried to catch my breath so I could speak. It was like someone had punched me right in the gut. My heart was beating fast and my knees were weak.

  She put her hand on my forearm. “Are you okay?”

  I nodded my head and took in a great breath of air and let it out. “That was the most, um, how do I say this?”

  “Just say it! Isn’t that what we just talked about?”

  “Okay, here goes. Leigh Ann, that was the most erotic, sexy hug and kiss I have ever had.”

  She smiled a wicked smile, “And that’s just the beginning big boy!” She burst into a gasping fit of giggles. I joined in her laughter.

  She showed me around her house. I stopped outside of her bedroom and looked in.

  “Oh, stop being silly. I’m not going to rape you…”

  Tears came to her eyes, “I’m so sorry, Don, I didn’t mean to say that. Did I hurt you?”

  “No, I’m fine. I’m not real sensitive to words like rape and murder in everyday use. It’s okay, really it is.”

  I walked into the room and hugged her. It was different this time. I could swear I felt our souls touching and it almost seemed like our hearts were beating in sync. I loved this feeling. It had been so long since I had hugged a woman like this.

  Was I falling in love? No, that couldn’t be happening. People didn’t fall in love after knowing one another such a short time. But then I thought about the day I had first seen Miranda. I had instantly fallen in love with her. So why not with Leigh Ann? Would it be so bad?