You don't often run across really beautiful women that are attached to soldier boys, especially in Germany, but Kelli was definitely the exception. She was runway model material, and before marrying Rob, she had planned to get into modeling. She had a few head shots done but had never really pursued it.
Kelli also attracted a lot of unwanted attention from horny soldiers and this often became a sore spot between her and Rob because he would sometimes accuse her of flirting and egging things on. This usually occurred after he had a few Stuttgarter Hofbraus and let the alcohol do the talking. For the most part she never seemed to make it a point to try to garner any more attention that her stone good looks would gather without effort.
They partied at my apartment occasionally, and Mandi and I had partied at theirs, usually with 3-4 other couples. Kelli would drink her share of beer, and sometimes they would split a bottle of Jagermeister (long before it became cool in the US). But Kelli always seemed to stay just short of getting drunk, always coolly in control, while Rob would get "puke on his shoes" drunk.
Kelli had long, wavy blond hair that framed a face that was acutely feminine, soft but with a noble nose and jaw line. She had a slender model's body, little in the way of breasts, just slightly more hips that one would expect from a runway model, but she was definitely a doll. Once while we partied at their house, I had a few moments to talk to her, and broached the subject of modeling.
Kelli had actually talked to Mandi about the same thing, and Mandi had offered me as a potential photographer. At the time, I had been into amateur photography for about 10 years, and not only had 4 really nice camera bodies in 35mm, I had acquired a medium format Mamiya and did some nude photography of Mandi in black and white that she kept hidden but adored.
Kelli was more or less flattered by the offer but also blew it off. She seemed preoccupied with Rob and his childish games. It was the first time I got the impression that they could be having trouble. Rob had taken German in school, and got along well in the little village where they lived. They often had meals with the landlord or other neighbors. She always felt left out like a third wheel since she spoke little German and Rob didn't seem to care if she learned anything or not.
One afternoon, Rob had to pull 24-hour duty at the kaserne, and asked me to take some of his equipment and things to his apartment so Kelli could start cleaning it. It was about a 30 minute drive to their apartment, but I obliged. When I got to the apartment, I knocked. I heard a short scramble of noise, and then the door opened. I got a glimpse of Kelli disappearing up the stairs in to the apartment. I followed, my arms full of his military stuff, and walked into the living room. Kelli had taken a seat in a large chair near the door to the balcony, and was turned away from me.
"Where should I put this stuff?" I asked.
She just motioned me to put it on the sofa. I looked a bit more closely and noticed for the first time that she had red eyes and a red nose, and it dawned upon me that she was crying. I took a couple of tissues from a box nearby and walked over to her, and reached out to gently dab at her eyes and cheeks. She turned away at first, then slowly turned back. She must have been crying for a while. Her face was puffy and swollen, and her eyes were a wreck. Plus she wasn't wearing make-up and looked terrible. I had never seen her like this.
"So, would you care for a sympathetic ear?" I asked.
She looked down at her knees, then back to me.
"Maybe."
I quietly asked, "Got a beer in the fridge?"
She gave me a Mona Lisa smile and replied, "Sure."
I went over to the refrigerator, got a beer, and asked if she wanted one. She just waved me off. I took my beer and went over to where she sat, and sat down in the floor next to her legs. After a sip of beer, I decided to pry.
"Okay, what is up with you and the crying?"
She looked out the window for a couple of seconds, sighed deeply, and finally spoke in a quiet, small voice, "Do you really want to hear this?"
I shrugged, but answered, "I'm here, aren't I?"
She seemed to ponder things for a few moments before saying, "I know I look a mess, but earlier I just felt so lonely, and wondered what I was doing here in the middle of Germany, with no one who even speaks English within miles. Then I realized that Rob had CQ tonight, and I would be alone even longer. I would rather be fighting with him than sitting here alone."
I wasn't sure how to respond, but told her, "You're not alone now. And you can come stay with Mandi and me if you would like. Why are you fighting?"
She hesitated for a while, and after chewing her lower lip for a few seconds, finally looked at me and said, "Oh, it's just the same old shit. He lives in a beer bottle, and then gets angry and jealous over nothing. He brings his German friends around and then yells at me later because they stare at me and stuff, and say things in German I don't understand. I don't know if they are making fun of me or what, but a lot of times it seems awfully funny to them."
I sat my hand on a blue jean clad knee, and gently patted it.
"You should never feel bad about people falling all over themselves looking at you. You're just flat beautiful! Except for right now, and you look like hell," I teased.
She brushed away some stray hair almost shyly, and then smiled broadly, saying, "Well you're sure a lot of help."
I chuckled and told her, "Just trying to make you smile."
She sighed, and then her shoulders seem to relax. She fiddled around with the loose shirt she was wearing, fidgeted a bit and finally looked out the window.
"Are you sure it would be okay to stay with you and Mandi tonight?"
I softly replied, "You are always welcome, especially now. You don't seem to want to be alone and I don't think I could leave here without you. Mandi would kick my ass."
She chuckled at this, and said, "If you aren't in too big a hurry, I'll get cleaned up a bit and grab some clothes."
"I'll just guard this beer and you can take your time," I joked.
She stood up quickly and off she went, almost bouncing. I sat in her chair, enjoying the view, but a few seconds later she called out to me.
"Hey, I don't want to be alone back here either. Can you drink your beer in here?"
I called back, "Sure," and took my beer and headed toward the back of the apartment.
Kelli was in the bedroom, pawing through some clothes. She selected some things, and then passed me and went into the bathroom across the hall. She grabbed a bag and as she did, began telling me some thoughts she had pondered before I arrived, and began to talk almost incessantly, letting her mind dump all the sad thoughts. She began working on her face as she prattled on.
She seemed quite comfortable just talking away, and didn't seem to care if I was actually listening. I watched as she applied her make-up, noting the differences between her and Mandi when doing the same chore. She steadily talked at the same time. I sat on the end of the bed and made myself comfortable, grabbing another drink of beer.
