I arrived at the Valentine's Day party late. I hadn't even planned to go out to tell the truth, but memories of the year before drove me out of the house finally. My wife had been killed two days after Valentine's Day the year before and I was missing her terribly. She had been the center of my universe for more than twenty years and I was lost without her.
As I walked into the Country Club, I wondered why I had kept a membership here. Karen had loved the tennis courts, the spa, and the gym but I didn't play golf or tennis for that matter. I had broken a knee and an ankle in a motorcycle accident many years before. I did use the spa and the gym with Karen but had not been since she died.
"Mr. Kemp, long time no see," the man behind the desk inside the door said.
I had to think a moment and then it came to me, he was the assistant manager. I replied, "It has been a while hasn't it. Is there a cover charge tonight?"
He glanced at his watch and said, "There is supposed to be but seeing as it's late and you're alone, don't worry about it."
"Well, thank you. I hadn't meant to go out tonight. It was a last minute thing. Without my wife...." I let the sentence trail off.
"I understand, sir. Tell Woody, the bartender, I said your first drink is on me."
With a sigh, I nodded as memories of the year before flooded in. "Thank you," I told him as I turned toward the banquet hall. I felt like turning around but I needed company. At least some sort of distraction from.... I clamped down on the thought sharply.
*****
The place was not packed but there were a good hundred people in the large room. The lights were dim and the band was playing a slow song. I smiled as I remembered how Karen always took her time in wanting to dance and always picked the slow songs. I knew how to dance but my bum leg and ankle refused to relearn the steps of anything faster than a slow waltz.
I found a stool by the wall at the end of the bar. I ordered a drink and leaned back, turning so I could watch the dance floor and the crowd. I loved to people watch. Karen always said that was why I was so good at my job, I observed people and understood them.
The bartender sat my drink in front of me. "Uh, the assistant manager said this one was on him."
Woody grinned and replied, "We don't have an assistant manager."
"He used to be the assistant manager. I just haven't been here in a while. He might be manager by now, for all I know. He was at the front desk when I came in."
With a nod, Woody said, "He's the manager now. Old Man White finally died."
"I didn't know that. Mr. White was a fine old man from what dealings I had with him."
"Yeah, he was a fair boss as bosses go. Hadley, the guy you know as the assistant manager could take some lessons from the Old Man. He has a lot to learn, he takes being boss way to seriously."
"I know the type," I said with a grin.
Woody hurried off to fill a drink order and I turned back to the crowd. After a while, I hadn't seen anyone I knew, so I figured the evening was a bust as far as someone to talk with. Since my wife died, I worked, came home, I had a few drinks, and I went to bed in the spare bedroom. I couldn't sleep in the master bedroom. There were just too many memories.
I continued to people watch until I finished my drink. I considered ordering another but I had already had two earlier at home. I shrugged, it wasn't even eleven yet and I didn't have to be at work until noon tomorrow. It was one of the rewards for being the top salesmen in the company. Monday mornings were always slow and boring.
A flash of a camera caught my eye. A young woman was taking pictures of two older women. The two older ones were mugging and making faces at the camera. All three were laughing and having a wonderful time. One of the older women looked familiar but I couldn't remember from where, which is unusual for me. People are my business so remembering names and places is something I have schooled myself to do.
It was bugging me that I could not remember the woman's name. Finally, I turned and waved at Woody to order another drink. I considered asking him who she was but figured he wouldn't know.
He sat my drink down and looked over my shoulder. "Yes ma'am, can I get you something to drink?"
"No, not right now," a female voice, said from behind me.
I turned and the woman whose name I could not remember stood there looking at me. She smiled and said, "You don't remember me do you, Carl?"
"You look familiar but I can't for the life of me remember who or even from where," I admitted.
She laughed and then said, "It's only been twenty years and I know I've changed a lot. You on the other hand look very much as you did back then. A little gray in the hair but it looks good on you."
Even with those hints, I could not remember. I shook my head. "I'm sorry but...."
She laughed again. "We only met once. It was at Karen's mothers house a few months before you two got married. It was July the fourth and there was a swim party although I didn't swim back then." She paused to chuckle. "I didn't even own a swim suit back then. They didn't make one in my size."
Then it snapped. "Lisa? No wonder I couldn't remember. There's only a third of you to remember," I said with a big grin as my mind supplied the very overweight teenage cousin I had been introduced to that afternoon.
"Yeah, I had to lose the other two people in this body or die." She paused a second and then whispered, "I'm sorry about Karen, I loved her like a sister."
I nodded and took a sip of my drink. There was an awkward silence and then I asked, "So how did you make this amazing transformation?"
"A good doctor and several surgeries, to keep it short. That and a strict diet and exercise. The doctor knew a personal trainer that donated his time to a worthy cause. I guess I was worthy enough because he ended up marrying me."
"So, where is the lucky fellow?"
She sighed and shook her head. "He stayed around for a while. I was the naive, shy, virgin that all men dream about but he ended up leaving with a lady bodybuilder. I'm not complaining, he taught me a lot about getting in shape and staying that way. Not to mention he paid for quite a bit of plastic surgery to trim things up shall we say."
"Well, you do look fantastic," I said with a smile. She did look good. The little black dress she wore, showed nice cleavage and even nicer legs.
"Thank you kind sir," she said with a grin. "You're the main reason I lost all the weight you know."
"I am? In that case, I'm glad I could be of service."
Lisa laughed and then whispered, "You've been a lot of things to and for me. Some I could say and some are best left unsaid."
I looked at her questioningly but she laughed and shook her head. "I'd just embarrass myself, so don't ask."
"Okay, in that case, can I buy you a drink?"
