by Dee Mann
They traded school stories for the next ten miles or so until Paul asked if the girls at Tufts were still as brainy and beautiful as when he was there.
"They certainly are."
"You go out with any of them?"
"Nah, not really. I go to parties now and then, but studying and work keep me pretty busy."
"Sure, but with all those great women available, how can you pass that up?"
"I date a little, but to tell the truth, I'm sort of waiting to meet the love of my life again."
"Again?"
"Un-huh. A little over a year ago, I was going with this girl, Claire. One Saturday she talked me into taking her shopping at the Gallaria Mall in Cambridge."
Paul nodded. "Girls love that place."
"Sure do. Well, after an hour or so of wandering in and out of stores, I'm getting tired of it but she's getting her second wind. So I told her I'd wait for her in the food court and she promised not to be too long." He grunted. "I knew that would never happen, but I didn't mind. I like sitting around and watching people.
"Well, I'd only been there about five minutes when this big, loud, obnoxious guy and this really pretty girl sit down next to me. She has a small drink and he's pissing and moaning about having to buy it for her, how these places rip you off, and on and on. Then he starts in on her, how stupid she is for buying stuff here, and this fault and that fault. And the girl just sat there, embarrassed, taking it all.
"After about ten minutes of that treatment, during which the girl is looking more and more miserable by the second, he jumps up, literally commands her to stay put until he gets back, and stalks off. No sooner is he out of sight than the girl starts to cry. Not loud, just sort of weeping, like all the embarrassment and shame was leaking out.
"Man, I couldn't imagine why the hell she was with him and I felt so bad for her that after a minute I leaned over and said softly, ‘Excuse me, but I wanted to apologize.'
"She sort of stiffened when she heard me and snapped, ‘For what?' And I told her, ‘For being the same gender as that asshole you're with.' Well, that got about half a smile out of her and we started talking.
"I could tell she was a little shy, but once she figured out I wasn't hitting on her, she warmed up. She was quick, and sweet, and funny, and so easy to talk to that I found myself really liking her. And I definitely had the feeling she was into me, too. Of course, she was only a junior in high school and not quite seventeen, but I didn't care. We were really connecting, you know?"
Paul nodded, not wanting to interrupt.
"Anyway, in the back of my head, I start wondering what Claire will think if she shows up and sees me having a great time talking to another girl. So I checked my watch and forty-five minutes had gone by! And of course, just then Claire did show up. What could I do? I thanked the girl, told her to find a new boyfriend, and said goodbye.
"Well, Claire and I are in the garage walking to my car when I realize I never even asked the girl her name. And suddenly, it was real important to find out who she was. So I handed Claire my keys and told her I forgot a small bag at the table and ran back to the food court."
Gary let out a big sigh, and Paul could tell what was coming next. "She was gone. I was so bummed I almost forgot to stop and buy something so I'd have a bag when I got back to the car."
He glanced over at Paul. "You know how you said that when you met Jillian something seemed to click. Well, that's how it was. When Claire and I were driving home, all I could think about was that girl. We really made some connection." He paused and sighed. "Since then, I've been waiting to meet her again. I figure we were fated to meet so it'll happen when the time is right."
"You have no clue who she is or where she lives or anything?"
"Nope. Not even a hint. So I spend much of my free time in the mall hoping to run into her again." He shrugged. "If it's really meant to be, I'll find her."
"Sure, but how long do you keep…"
Paul's cell phone rang before he could finish. It was Jillian, who wanted them to stop at the convenience store on Main Street to pick up a bottle of orange soda.
"I've been craving it all day and mom doesn't have a drop in the house."
"So, you get cravings for orange soda. Any other potential cravings I should know about?"
"Actually, yes! For three days I've been craving that slice of Zaccotto we left in the limo last Friday! Gary probably tossed it out. What a waste!"
Paul told her to hold on and turned to Gary. "Hey, did you find a paper bag in the limo last Friday?"
"You mean the one with that incredible dessert?"
Paul grinned. "He found it and ate it. And judging from the smile on his face, he enjoyed it as much as we did."
Ten minutes later, the limo turned onto Sears Road, and they were at the house. Jillian was waiting for them and waved as they pulled into the semi-circular driveway.
Gary sat behind the wheel, glancing in the side mirror as Paul and Jillian embraced and kissed. Then she walked toward his window so he rolled it down.
"You know I may never forgive you for eating my extra dessert."
"I'm sorry." He tried to look contrite. "I had no idea how valuable it was."
"Well, I should make you sit out here for punishment, but I forgive you, so come on into the house."
"That's okay. I'm used to waiting in the car."
"Nonsense. They won't be leaving for over an hour, and if you don't come in now, my mother will be out in two minutes to drag you in. I guarantee it. Come on. The parlor is way more comfortable than out here. You can even have some of my orange soda!"
5:10 PM
Priya was wondering if Paul had arrived yet at the Marshall home when Rob voiced the question.
"Unless they hit heavy traffic on the Pike he should have been there ten minutes ago," Tom told him.
"I still can't believe he's really taking her sister to a prom."
"Why not? It's a nice thing for him to do," Priya said. "Proms are important to girls and even if they don't succeed in making her old boyfriend jealous, she'll remember how nice he was to her for the rest of her life. Take my word on that."
Tom and Rob shrugged. Both had attended their high school senior proms and neither understood the big deal. You had to get dressed up to eat rubbery chicken and dance to whatever lame music would be approved by the school. As far as they were concerned, the best thing about their proms had been the all-night parties after.
"I'll always take your word, without question, on any girl thing," Rob assured her. "So what time is Brian picking you up?"
"Seven-thirty. What do you think, should I dress up or dress down?"
"Where's he taking you?" Tom asked.
"I don't know," she replied, then added with a grin, "but it's probably not Casa de Luna."
That drew matching grins from the two guys.
"Just because Paul's nuts, doesn't mean all men are," Tom quipped.
"That's right," Rob agreed. "Brian seemed like a pretty steady sort of guy. Reasonable, you know. Not given to undue extravagance, but he'll want to impress you with his gustatory sophistication. Hmmm. Yes… I'm guessing he's taking to you Sal's"
"Sal's? Where's that."
"You know Sal's."
Priya shook her head.
"Sure you do."
"I'm telling you I don't. Where is it?"
"Right near Park Street station.
She shook her head again, her face blank.
"The sausage cart."
Tom had seen it coming and burst out laughing.
"You moron!" Priya searched her desktop for something to throw at him. Then she stopped and wagged a finger at him. "I'm going to tell Lisa you did that. She'll make you pay."
Rob was about to reply when Priya's phone rang. It was Brian.
"Are we still on for seven-thirty?"
"Absolutely. Do I need to get dressed up?"
"Priya, I can't imagine anything you could wear in which you wouldn't look fantastic. Be
comfortable so we can relax, okay?"
Brian couldn't see her pleased smile at the compliment.
"Okay."
"I, ah, well, I didn't know what kind of food you like, so I made reservations at three places; The Union Oyster House if you want seafood, Little Vietnam over on North Beacon street if you want something Asian, and Giacomo's in the North End if you're in the mood for Italian."
"Are you serious? You made three reservations?"
She grinned as Rob's and Tom's eyebrows shot up.
"Hey, I was a Boy scout who became an engineer. Being prepared is in my blood. Actually, that's really why I called you at work. I didn't want to leave the two losers holding reservations on a Friday night."
Priya laughed. "The two losers?"
"Sure. The two places that won't have the prettiest girl in Boston sitting at one of their tables tonight."
Again, the pleased smile curled her lips.
5:20 PM
Paul, Gary, and Jeff Marshall were seated in the living room. After making introductions, Jillian and her mom had vanished upstairs to assist Joanne and Julia in completing the transformation of Jessie from high school girl to prom queen.
For the most part, Gary sat back and enjoyed listening to Mr. Marshall tactfully but pointedly extract from Paul the story of his life, plans for the future, political and social outlooks, and plans for after the prom.
"Well, sir, I hadn't really thought about after the prom. With your permission, I suppose I'll leave that up to Jessie."
Her father's pleasant smile never wavered.
"All well and good, but please remember that Jessie is not old enough to drink. She's also somewhat shy and given to going along with the crowd, so I'll consider it a personal favor if you would take special care of her tonight and make sure nothing happens that shouldn't happen."
Then, always the good host, he turned his attention to Gary. "Are you happy at Tufts?"
"Yes sir."
"It's a very good school. Their economics program is world class, but I never realized they offered chemical engineering as well."
"So far it's a great program. I don't get heavily into it until next year, of course, but everyone I've talked to in the program had only good things to say about it. They…"
Three sets of feet pounded down the stairs, followed by a fourth at a more leisurely pace. Joanne and Julia both held cameras as their mother stood by, on the verge of tears.
"Ladies and gentlemen," she announced, "may I present Miss Jessica Anne Marshall.
Paul and Jeff Marshall moved to the archway separating the living room and foyer so they'd have an unobstructed view of Jessie's entrance. Gary hung back, but could see the stairs over their shoulders. He remembered being in Paul's position a few years earlier as he waited for his own prom date to descend the stairs.
Paul was amazed at his own nervous anticipation. After all, she wasn't really his date. He was doing the girl a favor. But he realized this is how he would have felt many years ago had pneumonia not prevented it.
His first glimpse of a white-clad foot and slender, stocking-clad calf did not prepare him for the delicate, radiant beauty that followed. Could this possibly be the same, skinny, sullen girl he'd met last Saturday? Jessie looked fantastic!
She was dressed in an ankle-length, silk, one-shoulder white gown. The front had an overlapping slit at an angle from the hemline at her right foot to about the middle of her left thigh, with soft ruffles outlining the hem and slit. The delicate beadwork across the bodice sparkled as she descended. Her hair had been pulled into a French twist in back, then brought up and curled on top. Wisps of her bangs hung down to frame her face. White pearl earrings and a single teardrop pearl necklace completed the ensemble. The only word Paul could think of was breathtaking.
Jessie caught Paul's eye as she descended. Wide-eyed, he- placed his hand over his heart and mouthed the words ‘Oh my,' filling her with pleasure. She returned his appreciative smile with one of her own that seemed to make her face glow. Her mother was weeping quietly now and her sisters snapped photos as fast as possible. Even her father had a lump in his throat and moist eyes as he realized for the first time his baby girl had truly become a woman.
Four steps from the bottom, Jessie noticed someone standing in the living room. Her eyes flicked away from Paul's for a moment, then grew wide with disbelief and she almost stumbled. Her sisters rushed forward, ready to catch her if she fell, but she recovered. Her eyes again looked past Paul and her mouth formed an "O' as her hand came up to cover it. Her sisters hadn't yet caught on, but her parents and Paul turned to follow her stare.
Gary stood there with a look of shock and awe, his eyes fixed on Jessica. Blinking rapidly, he shook his head as if to clear it.
The sisters now realized something unexpected was happening. Julie and Joanne turned to follow Jessie's stare. Jillian put her hand on Jessie's arm, urged her down the last three steps, and asked "What's wrong?"
Unable to tear her gaze from Gary, Jessie couldn't find her voice.
As if choreographed for a comedy routine, heads wagged back and forth between Jessica and Gary, who only had eyes for each other.
Gary recovered a bit of composure and started slowly toward Jessica. As he passed through the archway, he asked, "Is it you? Is it really you? From the…"
"Mall," Jessie said, completing the sentence.
"I can't believe it."
He moved up right in front of her, oblivious to Jillian who was still at her sister's shoulder.
"I've been trying to find you. Ever since that day…I've been back to the mall a hundred times."
Jeff Marshall cleared his throat. "Would someone please tell me what's going on."
Jessica tore her eyes from Gary and faced her father. "Daddy, this is…Oh…" She turned back to Gary. "What's your name?"
"I know his name. It's Gary Wilmore. But how do you know him, and why do you two look like you've each seen a ghost?"
With her focus again on Gary, Jessie told him.
"Daddy, remember last year when you had to drive into Cambridge to pick me up?"
She didn't see her father nod, but continued anyway. "That was the day I left that jerk Byron. I left because a really nice guy felt sorry for me because of the way Byron treated me. That guy talked to me and made me feel better. He was so nice and charming and funny and we talked like we'd known each other for years. He made me feel really special that day just by being kind to me and he never even asked me my name. And when his girlfriend came back to get him, the last thing he said to me was to dump Byron and find someone who'd really appreciate me. So I did.
"Daddy, this is the guy."
Fifteen minutes later, Gary and Jessie were huddled at the dining room table talking. Joanne, Julie and their parents were in the living room, marveling at the incredible string of events that brought the two together again.
Jillian was talking to Paul in the kitchen. He kept glancing into the dining room, only half hearing her as he watched Gary and Jessie become reacquainted. He, too, was nothing short of flabbergasted at this development, and from the bits he caught of what Jillian was saying, she felt the same way. His head was spinning, at first with the improbability of it all, and then with an idea. He turned back to Jillian and the look in his eyes caused her to stop what she was saying and ask, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I had an idea. What do you think of this?"
When he told her, she broke out into a big smile. "That's a wonderful idea! But you'll have to ask my father."
So they did, and to their delight, he needed only a nod from his wife to agree.
Jessie and Gary were seated next to each other, so close their noses almost touched as they spoke in whispers. The conversation came so easily it was like they'd never been apart. He told her about coming back for her that day and she told him how his remark gave her the courage to jump up and leave before Byron returned. He shared his frustration at not finding her at the mall again and she explained she'd
been there only because Byron had taken her to the Museum of Science around the corner but parked in the mall because it was cheaper than the museum garage. They shared tidbits and stories from the past year, neither really noticing when Gary's hands reflexively sought hers.
Each was so into the other they didn't hear when Paul knocked on the doorframe to get their attention. Neither did they hear Paul's soft chuckle as he grinned at Jillian before turning back and loudly clearing his throat. That brought them back to the real world and they looked up to find the pair smiling at them.
"You guys catching up?" Paul asked.
Gary nodded. "I still can't believe this isn't a dream."
"I know what you mean.
"Look, it seems pretty clear you two have lots to talk about, but there is a prom tonight and only a few minutes before we have to leave."
Disappointment at the prospect of having to part so soon after meeting again clouded the young couple's faces.
"However," he continued, "I think I have a solution." Looking straight at the chauffer he said, "Since you're already dressed for it, how'd you like to take Jessie to the prom and I'll be your driver for the night?"
Gary could not have been more stunned. He turned to Jessie and raised his eyebrows, his eyes asking the question she answered by jumping up and shouting, "Yes! Yes! This is perfect!" She was almost dancing with joy.
"I think Jessie likes the idea. But are you sure about this? Is her dad…"
"Okay with it? Absolutely. And I already talked with Davie. He had to hire me for the night for the insurance and liability stuff so I'm now an official, professional chauffer."
He turned to Jessie. "We'll have to fill him in on the Ethan thing."
"Who? Oh, him. Forget it. Forget it. I don't care about him anymore." Then something occurred to her. "Oh, Paul. Now you won't get to go to a prom. And you'll have to sit out in the car all by yourself."
"Don't worry. Jillian will be riding shotgun with me tonight, so it's not a big deal. We'll think of something to keep ourselves busy while you two are inside having fun." His grin widened when he saw the color rise in Jessie's cheeks as she imagined what he might mean. "You two go back to catching up. I'll let you know when it's time to leave." With that, he and Jillian turned toward the living room, but after only a step, Paul felt a hand grab his.