A Cyber Affair

by Lonz Cook

  “You’ve got it,” Manny waived at the waiter and exited the building. Before he mounted his bike, he called Camille at the coffee shop, “Hi, Camille.”

  “Manny?”

  “Yeah, look I know you’re busy so I’ll get right to the point. I was hoping you’d be free to go out to dinner with me on Saturday?

  “Saturday is perfect. I’m so glad you didn’t ask for Friday.”

  “Suzie warned me.”

  “Good. I love your daughter.”

  “She’s fond of you, too. So Saturday night I can pick you up around 6. Is that okay?”

  “Early dinner?”

  “No, there is a special place I would like to take you, and it’s about an hour’s drive from your shop.”

  “Six is good. I’ll be ready.”

  “Awesome. Talk to you later?”

  “Please, and I hope you don’t wait until Saturday to chat again.”

  “I don’t plan too, I’ll call you again soon.” Manny ended the call and smiled as he returned to the restaurant. He went back to the bar and asked the bartender to give Rick a message. “Tell him Manny said it’s on for Saturday night at seven.”

  Camille stayed on his mind the entire ride home. He planned activities they would do that Saturday night and pondered how they could spend future extended weekends together. His mind jumped to eventual arguments he usually got into with women. Manny knew that sometimes he wasn’t too quick to trust women, and by doing so, he frustrated them with his short temperament. He vowed to watch that behavior this time. He arrived home, booted his laptop, got a beer and sat at his desk. He logged in and surfed websites he routinely visited. Manny checked his email and saw a note from Tiffany, he clicked on it.

  Manny,

  It was a lovely email you sent. I’m glad you decided to see Camille. Maybe it’s only me, but today was different. I didn’t mean to, but when I met this guy on the bus I was aggressive. No, I’m not always aggressive so don’t ask. LOL. He was kind of cute. I started a conversation and discovered that he’s married. From the way he joked about being married, it didn’t sound like it was in the best.

  What bothers me about Tom is he visited my job and asked me out for coffee. I didn’t think I led him on, so he surprised me. I didn’t go with him and reminded him that he’s married. I had to let it go because a woman has morals; I don’t date married men. I don’t want to cause any drama in anyone’s life, especially mine.

  Why do you think he asked me to lunch? He claimed it was to start a friendship. I’m uncomfortable becoming his friend so we only talked while riding the bus to Union Square. I would be glad to be friends, but only if it were with both him and his wife. Just being with him could be dangerous and even more so since I enjoyed his conversation

  I know I did the right thing by not going for coffee with him today. Should I cut all ties including conversation? I’d like your take on it.

  Looking forward to your response,

  Tiffany.

  Manny laughed and contemplated his response. Why would Tom press Tiffany? He’s looking for one of two things: a sexual excursion or a true friend. Manny pushed his chair back from his computer desk, looked around the room and saw a photo of Suzie as a child. He traveled everywhere with that picture-- every deployment, every OCONUS (Outside of the Continental United States) base. He kept the picture in his sea bag; a reminder of happier times. He would stare at her face as if she was the angel of wisdom, and usually she was. Manny rolled his seat back to the desk and typed:

  Tiffany,

  Glad you asked about Tom’s intent. It seems he’s being honest with you. A man with dishonest intentions wouldn’t share the fact that he is married, unless he’s looking for sympathy. Then he would tell you his marriage was failing or list their hardships. Was he asking for a date? Has he talked about introducing his wife to you? If so, it’s probably just a friendly effort.

  I decided to ask Camille out for dinner this Saturday .Suzie suggested Saturday as it’s a slower night at the coffee shop. I will share what happens after it’s over.

  Good luck with Tom. I’m sure he’s just being kind and if he isn’t bringing the wife, stand clear of the fodder.

  Manny

  After clicking send he left his desk, grabbed another beer from the fridge, popped it open, took a sip, and went out to his patio. He watched the day end with a flashback to his naval experience where he’d watched sunset turn to darkness on the main deck, aft. He remembered how the ship’s propulsion gave him comfort and provided a moment to escape in his solitude. Those were times when his mind was clear. Even though he loved the life he had with Suzie, he admitted missing the camaraderie of his shipmates. He always said sailors were more like family than working compadres. Those guys helped him through his divorce. It was during a long deployment in the middle of the Atlantic, after a mail run when Manny received a confirmed delivery package from Cheryl’s lawyer. That’s the moment he learned that the adage, ‘absence makes the heart grow fonder’ wasn’t true. Manny had seen other sailors go through breakups, but he never believed it would happen to him. When he was promoted to Chief without a pay raise, he achieved a naval milestone. But his military investment didn’t help him avoid being lonely and his promotions didn’t measure up with increased financial support to assist her in raising their only child. In Cheryl’s explanation letter outside of the lawyer’s package, she complained about raising Suzie alone. It was too much work for one person. In the same letter she mentioned George. It was her way of saying she wasn’t alone anymore.

  He sat on the patio, staring into the darkness, and listening to the night. He heard laughter and conversations. He finished one beer and drank another. Manny allowed his mind to wonder about many nights when he had liberty in various ports. He envisioned Saturday night’s dinner and imagined what he could do to impress Suzie since she made such an effort to introduce him to Camille. It wasn’t like she hadn’t set him up before, but this time she had actually introduced him to a woman he felt had some substance.

  Manny pondered about the importance of keeping his daughter in his life, especially after they rebuilt a connection when the divorce became final. He had watched his peers struggle with kids, and saw some of the sailors with ideal marriages, but was sad to admit that most other men and women in his crew, were estranged from their children. He was keen on those who somehow kept it together. Manny supported Suzie at every opportunity the last years of his naval career. He did everything he could, attending shows, watching her practice gymnastics, or attended sporting events to watch her cheer lead despite Cheryl’s constant attitude and her attempts to block their bond. She was always negative and discouraging. It wasn’t until Suzie’s senior year of high school when their bond finally came together. His daughter recognized her mother’s blocking behavior and how she tried to make her step-dad the only man in her life. Suzie fought her mother’s attitude and actions making her dad the highlight of her life. She told her mother about living with Manny which caused a breakdown of their relationship.

  If it weren’t for changing schools, restructuring her after school activities, and new friends, she would have moved immediately after prom. Fortunately, her growing independence trumped her mother’s ploy as she drove her car to see her father more often until graduation. From then on, both Manny and Suzie continued nurturing their relationship.

  Manny decided to turn in for the night. He went inside, straightened up his apartment, turned off his laptop and went to bed happy. He felt wonderful about how he and Suzie had overcome obstacles and remained close. Manny acknowledged that only one more thing would make his life complete and that was finding his true companion.

  ***

  It was Saturday afternoon when Camille looked at her watch and realized Manny would be there before long. She yanked off her apron and handed it to Suzie.

  “It’s all yours,” she girlishly giggled.

  “I figure Dad was picking you up a
round five or so.”

  “Yes, he is, but I’m going to get ready.”

  “It’s only 1. Don’t you think it’s a little early?”

  “No, not for the pampering and preparation I want to do.” Camille winked and smiled as she started towards the door. “Call me if anything unusual happens.”

  “Okay, I will.” Suzie finished serving customers, and during a slow period, she called her dad. When Manny answered the phone, Suzie didn’t even have time for a hello. “Dad, you can’t blow this date tonight.”

  “Suzie, come on. I’m an adult. I think I can handle Camille?”

  “Dad, she’s so excited, and I don’t want her to be disappointed. She’s getting ready now. She left the coffee shop nearly an hour ago.”

  “She’s excited,” Manny smiled and said, “Good, because so am I.”

  “No, you don’t. Not tonight Dad.”

  “What?”

  “You know, come on…be a gentleman and leave those crazy port stories out. She’s a nice woman. Don’t do those crazy Navy things you told me about.”

  “I told you about those events for your protection. You know even old men can be mischievous,” he laughed.

  “Still, it’s Camille. Just don’t get crazy or overdo it. Dad I really like her.”

  “I like her too. I asked her to go out, didn’t I?”

  “Okay, you asked her out - just don’t want you to blow it.”

  “Did it ever occur to you that she may blow it with me?”

  “That really hadn’t crossed my mind Dad. I hope you two have fun tonight. Love you!”

  Suzie disconnected before Manny responded. He reflected on the time he dated the teacher his daughter was fond of. Manny and the woman had gone to a pool hall, the kind that seemed okay on the surface. During the pool game, he noticed guys gawking at his date and Manny, in a huff, asked if they would like to buy her time. Of course, the date didn’t like his comment and when one guy approached and touched her, Manny punched the guy and swung his cue hitting another man standing nearby. The cue broke across the guy’s body and a splinter jammed into his date’s thigh. He heard her painful scream, but did not respond to her cry. He kept his attention on the fight, and swung his fist as if their lives depended on it. Manny had hoped someone would join him against a greater number of foes. The crack of a pool cue over his back, signaled the painful realization that he was alone. He realized there were no other sailors or shipmates around to jump in and assist. When the police and ambulance arrived, Manny and his date were outside of the club and both of them appeared to have gotten the worst. The woman had to get stitches after having the broken cue splinter removed, and she never spoke to Manny again. Suzie was embarrassed and apologized for her father’s behavior. She didn’t speak to Manny for a week, because his date was the first of his girlfriends that she had liked.

  Manny laughed at this memory then looked as his watch. He wanted to make a great impression on Camille, so he walked to his closet and gathered his coolest jeans, a stylish shirt and a leather vest. He placed those items on his bed and imagined how he would look. While he envisioned his look and pondered his selection, reality sank in, and he knew Suzie was right. He put those clothes back in the closet and started over. He reminded himself that he was no longer a young, wild man who sailed the seven seas. He pulled a cotton blazer from his closet, a nice plaid patterned V-neck shirt, and a pair of nicely creased black pants and laid them on the bed. He grabbed a black belt and socks that matched his pants. Manny looked down at the classy loafers he occasionally wore, and decided to sport them tonight. Satisfied with his choices, he hopped into the shower. By the time he’d gotten dressed, he was surprised at his own transition from biker to gentleman.

  Manny walked to his living room, glanced into the office, and decided to share his experience with Tiffany. He sat at his desk and waited for his desktop to boot up. He clicked on his homepage and logged in to his email account and wrote:

  Tiffany,

  I hope you’re doing okay. I was getting ready for my date with Camille and decided to write. I had forgotten that making a good impression was such a serious job! I mean, what I did getting ready for this date was like preparing for an admiral’s inspection. I would guess the detail will make the difference between a great evening and just a good evening. I am eager to get there, so wish me luck. I’ll let you know what happened when I return.

  Enjoy your night,

  Manny

  Manny clicked “send” and shutdown the desktop. He looked at his watch and decided the slow drive to Camille was worth it. He walked to his bike and pushed it lo the garage and stepped into his Dodge Ram-Charger truck. He drove to south Miami, arriving a half hour earlier than planned. Manny called the chef at the restaurant to make sure of his timing and reconfirmed their plan. It was a habit from his Navy days to always check on the details of any plan. Perfection was his goal when impressing a woman. When he parked the truck, he sat in front of the coffee shop surveying patron traffic and watching Suzie through the window. He was proud of his daughter. She had become a responsible young woman. He got out of his truck and approached the door and smiled before Camille recognized him.

  “Are you coming in or are we leaving early?” Camille smiled as she stood in his path.

  Surprised by the question, Manny looked at his watch and said, “I can come in.”

  “Good, I need a few more minutes before I’m ready.”

  “You look great to me.” Manny grinned with intent and watched her walk to the coffee shop counter. He followed her and took a seat at a nearby table. Suzie, hearing her father’s voice, prepared a cup of coffee and brought it to him. She sat across the table, and gave him the eye. “Dad, remember she’s special,” she whispered.

  “Suzie, are you going to coach me on dating?”

  “I know you, Dad, and I know how you can get. She’s special, so please be on your best behavior. Save the wild stuff until after she’s gotten to know you.”

  “We’re not going to do anything wild tonight. Look, how I’m dressed and I picked a fancy place too.”

  “I feel a little better knowing you aren’t going to a bar.”

  “Who said we weren’t going to a bar?” Manny laughed. He touched Suzie’s arm, “Stop worrying – there are classy bars you know.”

  “Yeah, well promise you’ll let her choose the bar. Please, Dad?”

  “Okay, okay, I’ll let her choose the bar.” Manny sipped his coffee and winked as he sat the cup on the table.

  “Nice.” Suzie rose from her chair and stood next to Manny before kissing him on the cheek and returning to work. She smiled at the next customer and took his order. Manny stood from his chair when Camille approached.

  “Okay,” she smiled. “Are we ready for a good time?”

  “You look gorgeous. I love your style, it’s real classy.” Manny took her hand and spun her around as if swing dancing, “If only I had known earlier, I’d have worn something more appropriate, maybe put on a tux.”

  “No silly, you look handsome,” Camille blushed, “I see where Suzie gets her good looks.” She turned to the door leading Manny for an escape. “I hope we’re not riding your bike.”

  “I didn’t think the bike would be fitting for our date.”

  “I’m glad. Suzie told me about the wild streak you’ve had. I’m not afraid, but you know, first impressions without a chaperone are just as important as with one.” Camille chuckled.

  “Well, let’s get the impression started. Please, after you.” Manny waved his hand towards the exit. They walked to his truck, and he opened the passenger door. He secured her door and quickly went around to the driver’s side and got into the driver’s seat. He smiled at her as they started on their way. After a few miles of silence, Manny asked Camille about some of her likes and dislikes. Camille answered candidly until they found a common subject of conversation for the remainder of the ride. He parked in front of the restaur
ant.

  “I hope you like Italian.”

  “I do.”

  “Good, I gambled on this cuisine. I know you’ll enjoy it.” Manny got out and opened her door. He offered his hand to help her out of his truck. “Did I tell you how lovely you look tonight?”

  “Yes, you did, for the third time,” she chuckled.

  “Good, I want you to know how much you impressed me the first time we met.”

  “Was it?”

  “Of course, but I didn’t tell you because we had company.”

  “I remember.”

  Manny pointed to the front door of the restaurant, and before he stepped towards it, he signaled for her hand and slowly pulled her closer. “I want everyone to know you’re with me,” he smiled looking into her eyes.

  Camille returned the gesture and tightened her grasp of his hand. She moved closer to his ear and whispered, “I am.”

  They entered the restaurant, and Manny gave the hostess his name.

  “Come with me,” the hostess led them to their table. Manny pulled out Camille’s chair before taking his. He sat down as the hostess introduced their waiter who handed them their menus excusing himself for another table. Camille looked around the restaurant. “This is nice, very nice.”

  “I’m glad you like it. I hoped you would because it impressed me. Wait until you get a chance to try the food.”

  “What’s on the menu?” She opened it and quickly scanned the first page.

  “Actually you don’t need the menu. I placed a special order with the chef. He and I attended the same cooking school near Naples, Italy. I asked him to make a very delicious dish for us, local to the region.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes, really. I hope you’ll like it.”

  “I do, too. I’m famished.”

  The waiter returned with a wire basket of bread and placed it on the table and asked for their drink orders. Before Camille could order, Manny asked for a bottle of Greco di Tufo, a white wine from Naples and then told the waiter to tell the chef his sailor buddy was here. The waiter left.