by Lonz Cook
“As long as we’re together Dad, I’m okay. I love being with you.”
“It’s why I asked about spring break. Do you have plans?”
“Well, to be honest,” Suzie sighed, “I don’t think we should go.”
“You don’t want to go?”
“Dad I’m saying we, as in you and I, should not go.”
“Oh, so this year it’s going to be your week of independence?”
“I’d like to at least try. I think you should find someone to hang out with during that week.”
“I thought I did, with you, but don’t worry about me. I’ll find someone, but like I promised you long ago, it’s got to be someone you can relate to.”
“For a week’s vacation?”
“Well, I’m thinking it’s time I got serious with someone, but I have stipulations.”
“I’ve always wanted you to be happy. I didn’t want to be your reason for not having a wife.”
“You aren’t my excuse, but you are a reason and I’m extremely selective.”
Suzie sat forward with her elbows on the table, holding her soda pop in her hands. She took a sip, then looked at her dad. “You know Dad, it’s your happiness that’s important. You shouldn’t wait for my approval. I’m sure you’ll choose the right woman. Wait, let me think about that before I put my foot in my mouth,” Suzie giggled. “I mean, outside of those crazy dates and the women you’ve been running into, you usually don’t get serious with a woman unless you think I can deal with her.” She sipped her soda, placed the can on the table and sighed, “I honestly believed Camille was perfect, but I didn’t know she had a controlling boyfriend about six months ago. She didn’t mean to be hard on you and I’m so sorry, Dad. I had no idea. She said you were sweet, but she wasn’t over her last dramatic experience like she thought. I guess she started dating too soon.”
“No wonder that was a date from hell,” Manny sighed with relief. “I would have never known.”
“Yes, she told me about that guy after she returned your coffee gift.”
“Now it totally makes sense. Thank goodness she said no or it would have been hell trying to prove I’m not like that guy.”
“As for other women, Dad you’ll have to live with the one you select, not me. I’m only a visitor in your home.”
“But a very important visitor.”
“I understand that, but again, I can adjust to deal with whomever you get involved with as long as I know you’re happy.”
Manny paused before he responded. He looked at Suzie, gave her a warm smile and touched her arm. “You’ve grown into a wise woman. I’m sure you’ll love whoever I select.”
“That’s it, Dad. So when are you going to introduce me to her so I know you’re okay.”
“I don’t know.”
“Are you interested in someone who talks with you about anything and everything? I’ve read that’s the type of person you need in your life.”
“Where did you read that?”
“Some women’s magazine.”
Chapter 27
Valerie went to Tiffany’s apartment and with the key Tiffany had given her, she opened the door and walked in. “Yo Tiff, where are you?”
“I’m in the bedroom. I’ll be right out.”
Valerie sat on the couch and waited, she picked up a magazine and was surprised when Tom walked out first.
“Pardon me, I was just leaving.” Tom said.
“Hope you have a nice day.”
“I plan to,” replied Tom. He exited through the front door. Tiffany came out and laughed at the expression on Valerie’s face. “Surprising, isn’t it?”
“No kidding. How the hell did you get him in your bedroom?”
“It’s not what you think. I was just helping him get out a deep splinter, so instead of going to the emergency room, he came to me for help. He lives close enough to make it convenient.”
“Sure, tell me anything Tiffany.” Valerie chuckled. “You’re a slut.”
“Not even close. It isn’t what you think.” Tiffany went into the kitchen and poured a glass of orange juice. “Would you like some?” she asked.
“No, but I do want to know more about this relationship with Tom.”
“Friends, strictly friends, nothing more. How are you and JT?”
“Don’t change the subject. What’s going on with you and Tom?” Valerie persisted.
Tiffany went to the couch and sat next to Valerie. “Girl, you know I don’t mind sharing something worth boasting about, but there is nothing going on between us. I wanted to, but he’s not interested. Well, not interested in being lovers. He’s a friend who I can help or who can help me occasionally. That’s all there is to it.”
“Are you serious? After everything you’ve done to chase that man, you’re willing to accept him as a friend — not even a friend with bennies.”
“Strictly friends and that’s it. I can’t change what happened, but what I’ve learned from the widower is he’ll be a great catch whenever he gets over his grief.”
“I hear widowers can sometimes be great, but they can also be horrible. I guess you know your limits. Are you sure there’s nothing more?”
“Not with Tom, but with Manny, maybe.”
“Manny? You mean the guy online?”
“The one and the same.”
“Are you’re going to tell me or make me beg?” Valerie glanced at her watch.
“Do you have to go? I don’t want you to be late,” Tiffany said. “I can share my wonderful online experience later.”
“I was just thinking about checking on JT.”
“How’s that going?”
“Awesome, but let me hear what happened with Manny.”
Tiffany smiled with excitement. “Now you know I’m not one to get crazy on the Internet - especially since it’s not likely we’ll ever cross paths —I mean, it’s hard to meet with a guy who lives near Miami, but this guy is special. We’ve talked for months, at levels I wished I had with men here in San Fran. He’s charming, smart, and aggressive, yet he’s sensitive because he listens. These last two weeks we’ve Skyped for hours and I’m sure this guy is the one. Out of all the fears and considerations we’ve discussed about us finally meeting, the greatest concern for him is that his future partner embraces his daughter from a previous marriage.”
“How old is she?”
“She’s about nineteen or so, a college sophomore.”
“That shouldn’t be too difficult. So, what was the most profound conversation you’ve had with him?”
“We went to a point where I wanted to strip my clothes in front of him and if I could climb through the computer screen, I would have jumped his bones. I wanted to be close to him and feel him inside of me.”
Valerie couldn’t believe her ears. The toughest woman she knew when it came to men was falling for a man across the country. “Are you telling me the truth?”
“About what?” Tiffany asked and looked with confusion.
“You’re excited over a man who is three thousand miles away. What happened?”
“Manny happened. He seems to say all the right things and his comments have substance. He didn’t just say things, he says things if you know what I mean.”
Valerie shrugged her shoulders. “I guess it’s like JT knowing how to get my blood going. He pushes all the right buttons and I can’t say no, even if I wanted to, I couldn’t.”
“You’re in love and you should just admit it,” Tiffany suggested.
“Okay, I admit it, but still he’s not what I expected. At the same time, he’s funny and caring and girl, he’s just what the doctor ordered.”
Tiffany agreed with Valerie’s enthusiasm and identified with the attitude.
“Now you know how I feel about Manny. He has those same qualities. I mean, those deep conversations we shared gave us a stronger connection. It wasn’t that way until Tom gave me a little insight. He told me to
go after the guy I could share anything with. I realized that’s Manny. And I took a chance. Once we got there…wow! Manny blew me away and if he’d been here, I don’t think you would have gotten into the apartment with your key. I would have used the chain bolt for good measure.”
“You mean to tell me, with all the men you’ve gone out with, Manny, the man who’s over three thousand miles away, has you melting from a video call. A video call?”
“Our conversations go on for hours. Like I said before, I’m damn near naked when I’m talking to him. I considered doing it, but caught myself. You know, we have that weak-in-the-knees type of connection.”
“I know that feeling. Last night, I experienced it firsthand. JT had me screaming. I swear one day his neighbors are going to complain about my visits.” Valerie dramatically held her hand on her forehead like an actress feeling faint. She flopped back on the couch and bounced back. “I get weak just thinking about it.”
Tiffany laughed at Valerie’s antics. She shook her head. “You’re still my girl, crazy as hell, but my girl. Tell me, what are you going to do about JT? I mean, he’s showing you so much.”
“He is, he is. I guess I’ll let him continue to do what he wants. I get the best feeling, well…I think I do.”
“JT is crazy about you. I know it, for sure.”
Valerie left Tiffany’s apartment. She hadn’t invited Tiffany out for a night of fun.
Tiffany was happy her friend approved of her enthusiasm and it motivated her to write an email.
Manny,
We had another night of great conversation. Who knew we had so much in common, and would feel like we lived around the corner from each other? I love how we connect. You say one thing and even though I’ve heard it from other men, it’s not a deal breaker with you. I see it as your honesty because I feel you’re open with your thoughts.
I’m not sure I’m giving you everything you need from a woman. But, right now I feel I am. I’m giving you the power and ability to create an immediate impact on my life. I’m not trying to rush you or make it easier for you, actually we’re too far apart for that, but I am opening up more to the idea of one day seeing you. The reason I feel so compelled is because you’re a unique man. We’ve connected and you know how to entertain my mind and to me that’s dangerous. Maybe we should talk by cell 415-990-0010.
I look forward to your response and I’m sure it’s going to be something worth reading or surprise me with a call.
Tiffany
Chapter 28
Manny ran on the treadmill at the gym and allowed his mind to roam. It had been a week since Manny and Suzie met for dinner. He had shared his dating ideas with Suzie and how success in selecting a woman for his wife was his goal. His thoughts visited his first true love. His dating experience with Cheryl, his ex-wife, had been a dream romance. Manny recalled their first date, how nervous and awkward it was, and how he was embarrassed when she refused to ride on his motorcycle. Cheryl gave him a run for his money, determined to make him earn her heart, and kept just enough distance to reel him in with the antics of seduction. She enjoyed their nights together but would run back to her dorm for protection. She toyed with Manny’s emotions when he had to deploy. Manny remembered his first homecoming from their official separation as a newlywed. That was the night they created Suzie.
A runner moved next to Manny and it startled him. He looked at his watch and realized he’d run an extra ten minutes. When he stopped the treadmill, he walked to the weights and began his routine. Before his first lift, he replayed his daughter’s comment during their last conversation, “…you’ll have to live with her, not me…someone who talks to you about anything and everything...” He pushed on the weight and pondered Tiffany’s responses on Skype. She can hang with the best, a heavyweight contender, he smiled, I can’t believe I can talk to her about anything and she has an opinion, or a sharp joking come back. He finished one set in his routine and worked on another, which made his body ache. No pain, no gain. He pushed and pulled through various machines, finished his workout and relived his many discussions with Tiffany.
On his drive home, he stopped at the light and pondered the importance of feeling Tiffany in his arms. He drove into a strip mall parking lot and retrieved his phone. With multiple strikes of his cell phone keys he wrote:
’Tiffany, I want to know you like a lover knows his woman. I want to spend my Saturdays learning everything about you. Will you teach me?’
He hesitated before pushing send realizing he didn’t have her number. Of all the Skype video conversations we’ve had, I never once shared my cell phone number and she didn’t give me hers, Manny looked up from his cell into the parking lot. Maybe it’s good because I’m being too forward? He stared into space as if trying to connect with his ego while battling his desire for a serious relationship. No, I’m not. I wish I had her number I’d send my text right now….damn it. Manny saved the message on his notepad.
Manny returned on his drive, thinking how a person’s appearance can be deceiving. He hoped his intuition, trust, and feelings were in line with his perception of Tiffany. When he arrived at his place, he booted the laptop and scanned Tiffany’s profile for every picture she had shared. He shook his head for doubting his confidence that Tiffany is exactly as he’d seen on Skype video calls. But his Navy’s stern validation training took into effect. He looked for details of anything out of place. He reviewed his Skype account for her image and searched for confirmation of anything that looked false or a hint of any Photoshop adjustment. Manny took time and reviewed the videos he captured in his subconscious. His desire to see Tiffany grew and he wondered if their chemistry would complement their mental attraction. He remembered that meeting would be difficult because she wasn’t interested in cultivating a long-distance relationship. And it was surely a fact that he didn’t want to move away from his daughter, now that their relationship had finally come together. He knew Tiffany didn’t like the idea of moving to Florida. They had discussed why living where they did was important to each other, but Manny had the urge to revisit that subject if there was a chance she wanted to meet. He wrote:
Tiffany,
I know we chat nearly every night, but I wanted to write you about my thoughts. Maybe we should discuss meeting. I’m on the verge of flying to San Francisco out of curiosity, just to connect with you and confirm my assumption. You see, we’re (well, I am for sure) enjoying our evenings on the video calls. Our time spent together keeps me going all day until we talk again. I dare not call you on the cell because I don’t have your number, even though we may start talking for hours. Don’t get me wrong, I love that about us.
You have impressed me and I want to see if we have the total package. I know you aren’t serious about long-distance relationships, but can we just meet and enjoy being true companions for a few days? We may find a different path to travel in the future.
Let’s talk about it and, of course other subjects, as we continue to enjoy sharing our lives. I can’t wait to discuss the possibilities with you. Here’s my cell 561-045-9771.
Manny
He sent the email before he checked his inbox. When he scanned down the list, he found a notification from Tiffany. He read it and smiled since it answered his question. In an instant he recorded the cell phone number, sent a text message from his notepad, and Skyped her in hope she would respond. Unfortunately, there was no answer He surfed the web and periodically looked at his cell phone anticipating her response.
Chapter 29
Tiffany heard a car horn in front of her apartment. She looked out of the front window at the curbside and saw Tom dialing his cell phone. When she answered he said, “I’m here.”
Tiffany walked towards the car after locking the door to her apartment. When Tom saw her approach, he jumped out from the driver’s seat, ran to the passenger side and opened her door.
“Always the gentleman,” Tiffany said.
“Thanks for inviting
me,” Tom said. He closed her door, returned to the driver’s seat, and they took off for JT’s Appreciation Party. Tiffany ensured he drove the specific directions JT had provided because she wanted to be one of the first to arrive.
“Turn left at the next road,” she directed. “Turn right at the light ahead.”
“Is there a problem? I’ve been there before,” Tom said after he made the turn.
“I didn’t know, but I’m making sure you take the shortest route. It’s important I get there before everyone else so I can see who arrives.”
“Expecting someone important?” Tom asked.
“Everyone and besides, I don’t want any drama with this one guy named Bobby who used to date Valerie.”
“Are you kidding me? Who’d invite an old boyfriend to a party she’s attending? Talk about unpleasant surprises.”
“I know, right! I gave JT his contact information and since he’s not aware of their background, I’m sure he probably invited him.”
“Didn’t you try to warn him?” Tom paused then shook his head in disapproval, “It would have been nice if you had.”
“I didn’t because at the time I didn’t realize how important JT is to Valerie. But now, I’m afraid I made a mistake.”
“Do you think he’ll show?”
“Of course he will. Bobby loved Valerie, but the feeling wasn’t mutual.”
“Ah, one of those relationships where the guy gets taken for granted.”
“You know of those or are you assuming? It’s the type of deal where she controlled the situation.”
“I wasn’t always a married man. Of course, I experienced the worst before finding my Mary.”
“Tom you amaze me, you really loved Mary.”
“I did,” Tom looked at Tiffany, “I still do. Thanks for noticing.”
“Aw, you’re always welcome.” Tiffany pointed, “Turn left at the next road.”