by Tim Smith
“What did you do?”
“The first thing I did was accept all the overtime I could so I wouldn’t be home alone. That didn’t really solve anything so I volunteered at a local homeless shelter, serving meals to those in need.”
“Did that help?”
She looked at him. “Actually it did, giving my time to those who appreciated it. Made me feel good inside, at least temporarily.”
“What about afterward?”
“I learned to enjoy the solitude and how to entertain myself.”
Tom chuckled. “Funny you said that. Over the past few weeks I’ve noticed that I actually enjoy a little peace and quiet, too.”
“Things were chaotic before?”
He smirked. “That’s putting it mildly. I think Afghanistan was probably a calmer battle front than our house.” He sipped his wine. “One of the first things I learned to appreciate was a little me time.”
Jessica laughed and ran her fingers along his shoulder and arm. “I don’t know what it is about you, but there’s definitely something I like.”
He gazed into her eyes. “Thank you. There’s something I like about you, too.”
She tucked her leg under her. “Care to share what that might be?”
He turned to face her and put his palm on her shoulder. “You’re really easy to talk to and you don’t judge.”
“That’s my liberal upbringing.”
“Your turn.”
She giggled. “Okay. You seem pretty laidback and I get the feeling that if the room were invaded by a herd of angry buffalo, you’d just take it in stride.”
“Yeah, that’s me—play the hand I’m dealt.”
“You never get mad?”
“Sometimes, but I reserve my wrath for those who really deserve it.”
“Like your ex?”
Tom thought. “Not even her. In looking back, I realize that she is what she is. I did the best I could with the relationship but the deck was stacked against me from the start.”
“How so?”
“Are you sure you want to hear this?”
“Yeah, I’m interested.”
He took another sip. Why not? Just don’t share too much. “Her old man made a killing in tobacco. Has a couple hundred acres up in Darke County. She was an only child and accustomed to pretty much getting her way and she never wanted for anything. I’m sure you know that college grads starting out in the financial industry don’t rise to vice president overnight, but what should’ve been a good starting salary for most newlyweds fell short as far as she was concerned.” He paused. “Plus our backgrounds and lifestyles were polar opposites.”
“How so?”
He sipped his wine. “Let me put it this way—she was champagne, I was beer.”
She traced her finger over his arm. “Is that what you meant about fitting in with the dress-up crowd?”
“Yeah. Her idea of a typical Saturday night was going to the theater or the country club where her old man bought her a membership. It wasn’t really my brand of scotch.”
Jessica drank some wine. “That’s interesting. I had a similar experience but in reverse. My family was typical middle-class, like yours. My dad worked for the gas company his entire life and made a decent living. There were four of us kids but he always managed to provide for us.” She hesitated. “My first husband had a different background, sort of like your ex.”
“Spoiled?”
She gave a smirk. “And demanding. All that privilege went to his head.”
Tom’s eyes narrowed. “Was he abusive?”
She cast her eyes down and nodded. “Not bad, but he just couldn’t see why I wanted my own life outside the home when I had such a perfect specimen to wait on hand and foot. It rubbed me the wrong way.”
Tom looked at her for a moment, then placed his fingers under her chin, raising her gaze to meet his. “I don’t understand how any guy in his right mind could ever take someone like you for granted like that.”
She smiled her warm smile. “Tom, that’s that nicest thing I’ve heard in a long time. Thank you.”
He set his glass on the table, then pulled her face to his. Jessica closed her eyes and embraced his lips while rubbing the back of his neck. Tom ran his hand along her back, then rested it under her long mane of red hair, caressing her while getting more into their kiss. Jessica slid her tongue into his mouth and massaged his lips with hers. Her scent was a pleasing combination of fruity muskiness, one that was sensual and welcome.
Tom took in a sharp breath when he felt her hand on his thigh. She kissed him with more hunger as her hand slowly traveled up higher. He instinctively moved his hand to fondle her breast and Jessica moved closer.
He broke their embrace and looked into her eyes, taking short breaths.
“Something wrong?” she whispered.
“No, nothing’s wrong.” He hesitated. “Jessica, I don’t want you to think this is what I expected tonight.”
She placed her fingertips on his lips, then whispered, “Shhh. You aren’t seducing me.” She planted a kiss on his lips. “I’m seducing you.”
Tom resumed kissing her with more intensity while she ran her hand along his leg. He gently massaged her breast and she pressed into him.
Jessica planted kisses along his cheek, then whispered. “Oh, Brad.”
Tom instantly froze. Who the hell is Brad? He pulled back and looked into her eyes. “What did you call me?”
Jessica’s face took on a look of panic and drained of color. “Uh…I’m sorry, Tom.” She shook her head. “I-I don’t why I blurted that out.”
I think I do. Must be the boyfriend. He disengaged from her. “Look, Jessica, perhaps you aren’t ready for this.” He hesitated. “I should go.”
He stood and retrieved his coat. He took a step for the door, but was stopped when Jessica grabbed his arm. He turned to look at her.
“Tom, I’m really sorry.” She looked down. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe it hasn’t been long enough for me.” She raised her gaze to meet his and offered a slight smile. “But I really did have a nice time tonight.”
He cupped her cheek with his palm. “Thanks. So did I. Maybe I’ll call you sometime. Goodnight, Jessica.”
Tom slammed the door to his apartment, then flung his coast across the room. Helluva way to start my new life as a bachelor. I land a date with a woman I really wanted to get to know better and she confused me with her dead boyfriend. You really can pick’ em, Harris, you know that? Asshole.
He got a glass of scotch from the kitchen and took a couple of long swallows. Too damn quiet in here. He crossed to the stereo and loaded it with some jazz and big band CDs, something to brighten his mood. Tom plopped onto the couch, then put his feet on the coffee table. He rested his head on the back of the couch, closed his eyes and exhaled a deep breath. Don’t let it get you down. Plenty of other women out there. Maybe this was too soon for me, too.
He opened his eyes when the phone rang, then looked at the caller ID with narrowed eyes when he read “Jessica Mays.” He let the answering machine pick it up. If I answer that I’ll probably say something I’ll regret.
When the machine beeped, he listened to the message. “Tom, this is Jessica. Look, I’m really sorry for what I said. I—I don’t know what came over me and I hope you can forgive me.” She paused. “I meant what I said about having a great time with you tonight. Call me when you get a minute? Bye.”
He reached over and replayed the message, listening to her voice tone. I’ll give her one thing—she sounds sincere. Maybe I overreacted.
Tom stood up and paced the length of the room. Times like this I wish I hadn’t quit smoking. That was another of my ex’s conditions for happy living. “The body is a temple and we shouldn’t defile it.” Didn’t stop her from swilling wine and Daiquiris whenever we went out.
He downed the last of his drink, then went to the kitchen for a refill. The way I see it I have two choices—I can drown my sorrows or I can get busy finding s
omeone else, someone who isn’t in mourning.
Chapter Five
Jessica worked in the nurses’ station the following morning, but had trouble concentrating on the charts in front of her. Since awakening, her mind kept replaying the disastrous events of the previous evening.
She wasn’t aware that Peggy had approached until she gently poked her in the ribs. “Hey, you’ve been in a fog all morning. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Come on, what’s up? Did you have a terrible time on your date?”
She shook her head. “No, it was nice. Tom’s a great guy.”
“So why are you acting like you just found out that he’s Hannibal Lecter’s twin brother?”
Jessica was silent for a moment. “Everything was going great until I did something really stupid.”
“What?”
She looked at Peggy. “We were necking on the couch, really getting into it, then I lost my senses and called him Brad.”
Peggy groaned and rolled her eyes. “No, you didn’t! What were you thinking?”
She smirked. “I asked myself that same question all night. Maybe this was too soon for me to start dating again.”
“Have you talked to him, tried to apologize?”
“I called and left him a voicemail last night. He didn’t call me back.”
Peggy perched on a stool. “Wow. That’s a problem.”
Jessica dropped her pen on the counter. “I thought I was ready to move on, but maybe not. The hell of it is, Tom’s a nice guy and I really enjoyed myself. He’s funny, charming, laidback and knows how to show a woman a good time without expecting something in return.”
“Sounds positively terrible. I can see why you sabotaged everything.”
Jessica looked at her. “I didn’t mean to, Peg. It’s just that when we were kissing and holding each other, it reminded me of things. It’s been a long time since someone held me like that. It was nice.”
Peggy placed her hand on Jessica’s arm. “Then don’t lose that. If you really like Tom, don’t give up on him.” She paused. “I shouldn’t tell you this, but I know he likes you. At least, he said he did.”
“When did he say that?”
“Last week, to Doug, after you two had your first coffee date. He said he liked you and wanted to get to know you better.”
She was silent for a moment. “And I’d like to get to know him better, too.”
* * * *
Tom ran on the treadmill at the gym, his heart pounding while he breathed deeply and steadily. He looked at the speed, then increased it, pushing himself harder. His pulsed increased and he breathed heavier. Sweat poured off his face and soaked his t-shirt. Has to be some way to work her out of my system. Maybe having a massive coronary is it. My luck I’d wind up at her hospital and she’d be my attending nurse.
He slowed his pace to a fast walk, then stopped. He raised his hands in the air. “Enough!”
He and Doug stepped off the treadmills, then went to a nearby bench. Doug handed Tom a bottle of water and he eagerly gulped it.
“What the hell were you doing?” Doug asked between breaths. “Preparing for a marathon?”
Tom lowered his head and closed his eyes. “Just working out some frustrations.”
Doug ran his towel over his face. “You don’t usually push yourself that hard. What’s bothering you?”
Tom exhaled a breath, then mopped his face with his towel. “Why do you think something’s bothering me?”
“Because I’ve seen you like this before. Remember in college, when you thought you were flunking out of that accounting class? You took up racquet ball and ruined a perfectly good racket, you hit the ball so hard.”
Tom looked at him. “Since you won’t quit bugging me until I tell you, my date last night didn’t go as well as planned.”
“Did the lady turn you down at the moment of truth?”
Tom shook his head. “I pulled the plug before then.”
“Why the hell did you do that?”
Tom hesitated. “Things were going great. We had dinner at Franco’s, then we walked through the Oregon District and she invited me back to her place.”
“Sounds good so far. Then what?”
Tom sucked down more water. “Just when things were getting interesting she called me Brad.”
Doug grimaced. “Ouch!”
“I’m assuming he was the late boyfriend.”
“He was. Sorry about that.”
Tom patted his shoulder. “Not your fault.”
“Have you talked to her?”
Tom shook his head. “She called me after I got home last night, but I let it go to voice mail. I’m not sure what to say to her.”
“So what’s next for you?”
Tom shrugged. “Keep my eyes open for another opportunity.”
Doug nudged him with his elbow. “And it may be knocking sooner than you think. Look who’s here—Karly with a k.”
Tom looked up at Karly Diamond approaching, sporting a friendly smile. He eyed her petite trim physique from top to bottom, which her workout clothes didn’t conceal. Her light brown hair was pulled into a ponytail.
“Hi, Doug,” she said before giving Tom the visual once-over. “Hey, Marathon Man.”
Tom smiled. “Hi, Karly.”
“I was watching you from across the room,” she said. “Never knew you were such a workout fiend.”
“Just trying to stay in shape. Didn’t expect to find you here.”
“Every Saturday morning and a couple nights a week.” Her eyelids lowered slightly. “I’m trying to stay in shape, too.”
“It’s working.”
She ran her fingertips along his sweaty arm. “Maybe we should coordinate our visits. I could always use a workout partner.”
“Yeah, we should do that.”
“I’m meeting a few friends for a little party tonight at Longhorn. Why don’t you drop by, around seven?”
Tom hesitated. “Girl’s night out?”
She laughed. “No, it’s mixed. Will I see you there?”
What the hell. I don’t have any other plans. “I think I can fit it in.”
Her smile broadened. “Great. See you later.”
She swayed toward the locker rooms, but looked over her shoulder and gave Tom a warm smile.
“And you were worried about being out of practice?” Doug asked.
Tom finished his water. “I don’t know, man. Office flings can be dangerous.”
“Come on, it’s just drinks with a group of people. Don’t get ahead of yourself. Besides, you said you wanted to make some new friends. Maybe this is a start.”
“Maybe it is.”
* * * *
Jessica sat in her living room that evening, illuminated by the soft light of a burning candle on the coffee table. She was curled up on the couch, cradling a glass of wine, which she sipped sparingly. Light classical music played quietly in the background. All day long her mind had been pre-occupied with the subconscious blunder she had committed the evening before.
I should’ve kept my mind focused on what I was doing and who I was doing it with. I thought about Tom all week and was really looking forward to our date last night. She sipped some wine, then picked up the framed photograph from the couch. It was a photo of her late boyfriend, striking a dashing pose in his Air Force uniform. Jessica felt a tear trickling from the corner of her eye.
Before you left on that two-week annual training in Texas, you said you loved me, but I didn’t answer you. You said it was okay, then kidded with me that you expected an answer when you got back. Guess I should’ve told you when I had the chance.
She laid the photo next to her and stared at the candlelight reflecting off the snow globes across the room. Her mind was flooded with memories. When I was married my ex didn’t give a damn about what I wanted out of life, as long as he got to do what he wanted. All those football and hockey games he insisted I go to, even though I didn’t really care for the
m, just so I could decorate his arm in front of his friends. I think I was more of a trophy than a spouse. The few times I protested, he managed to make me feel guilty about it. Sure didn’t catch him doing something I wanted to do.
She took a sip and looked at the picture again. How come you were never like that? You actually treated me with respect. What was wrong with you, anyway? Didn’t your parents raise you right?
She rested the photo in her lap. Just makes me feel even worse about last night. I know Tom just got out of a bad marriage and isn’t looking to settle down so soon again, but I really like him. I think he likes me, too. I could call him again, but what’s the point? He didn’t talk to me last night or call me today, and it’s Saturday night. He’s probably out having a good time, trying to find someone else to spend his time with.
Jessica took the photo to a credenza in the corner, then looked at it again. I’m sorry, Brad, but it’s time for me to move on. No matter what happens, I’ll always love you.
She planted a kiss on his likeness, then placed it in a drawer.
Chapter Six
Tom entered Longhorn Steakhouse and looked around. When the hostess approached he asked for the location of the party room and was directed toward the rear of the packed restaurant. He walked in that direction, feeling some trepidation. I know this is something I need to do to get out of the slump I’ve been in, but what kind of friends does Karly with a ‘k’ hang out with?
He soon found out when he entered the room and was greeted by loud chatter and laughter competing with equally loud music. It was a mix of 80s rock and contemporary pop. Tom scanned the room and saw Karly on the far side, talking with two women. She spied him and gave a big smile accompanied by an exaggerated wave of her hand.
“Hey, Marathon Man!” she called out. “Over here!”
Tom weeded his way through the throng of partiers. Karly flashed a wide silly grin and hugged him. Tom hugged back out of reflex, then got a whiff of her breath when she hung her arms over his shoulders. Ninety-proof affection. Wonder what she’s been drinking?