Chapter 36: Ellie
I was a schoolteacher and she was a high-powered lawyer. I was a good listener, polite, semi-handsome and a patron of the arts.
She had just accumulated her tenth million when we became friends at a theater but I had no clue of that although I was fairly sure she made more money than a teacher.
Her name was Ellie.
She was very cute, small, a brunette with a very nice smile.
She had apparently assumed I was gay at first but never asked and I never said. Apparently that most guys that go to symphonies, musicals, and operas by themselves must be gay has become an entrenched urban legend.
Over time she had decided I was not and had just asked me to be her date at her firms Christmas party. Oddly she offered to pay me for my time.
Our conversation began at the intermission of Wicked and had continued at a nearby restaurant. We had agreed we loved the play. We were sharing calamari appetizers and drinking Asahi beer at a Japanese place across the street from the artist venues when she asked.
I answered her proposal by saying, "Actually I noticed that there is always an empty seat next to you at each theater. I would prefer you take me there each time you need company."
"That would be even better, it would save me from having to coerce someone to come along with me. Mom has a boyfriend now so my usual date is not available."
"I am sure you can get any date at any time you want, what's the catch?"
"Thank you. How old are you?"
"Thirty-nine."
A brief silence ensued before she said, "I am forty. OK, forty one. I have never been married and although I enjoy men I seem to prefer women, but I do not want either. I am married to my career.
I do need to be seen with a companion at events, which is why when you passed my drink to me at intermission and paid for it seven weeks ago I decided to hang around with you and invite you to sit with me. I can pay you a salary to be my boyfriend."
"Wow, kinky. What firm do you work for?"
"The Spencer-Davis Firm."
"The most conservative bastion in the city. How did you end up there?"
"My father was an original member of the firm but he never advanced much. He was handed most of the pro bono cases. I am in corporate law.
The truth is I am tired of the proposals and the pressure to marry. 'We Are A Family Firm' is the corporate logo and I don't have a family except for Mom."
"I will be happy to be your date at the company party but you would have to be my date at our school party. Don't worry; everyone you will meet will be happy to see you. They think I am still in mourning over my failed marriage."
"Are you?"
"No, never have been more than mildly disappointed."
"I accept, if it's not the same night as my party."
"It is next Friday at a banquet room by the bay. Yours?"
"The Friday after that at the Marriot downtown. We have a deal. What should I wear to yours?"
"What you are wearing now would be fine. And yours?"
"Black tie. I will get you a tux."
"No need, I have one. Let me write down where the place is, we can meet there."
"Third floor at the head of the boardwalk?"
"Yes, I'm glad you know the place. Dinner will be fried seafood but you can get it grilled or a vegetable plate. I have to tell them by Tuesday."
"Grilled. We are having a seven-course dinner with three choices for each. I will bring you the request form. Right now I want more calamari and another beer."
I ordered two of each and we talked for another hour.
During our nearly two year history of running into each other we had nodded to each other for some time then said hello for sometime but the last four months we have spent intermissions chatting with each other. We both had season tickets to each of the art venues and a couple of times we had run into each other at the baseball park or a classic rock concert. We were acquaintances.
On that early December Day we had become good friends.
After we finished the calamari and beer I walked her to her car and kissed her cheek before she drove away. I was about to back away in mine when she pulled up behind me, walked to my window and handed me her card. She had written her personal number on the back.
I asked her for another card explaining that teachers don't have them, and wrote my full name and cell number on the back. She leaned into my window and gave me a kiss on the cheek. As I drove home it came to me that had been my most enjoyable evening in years.
She called me the following Wednesday and asked me if we still had a date.
"Hell yes," I answered.
"Well OK then," she said. "I'll be there at seven."
"I will be by the door," I said.
When she came in we hugged. It was a real 'I am very glad to see you' hug. Once upstairs I introduced her to my friends and they immediately interrogated her.
All liked her and some of my lesbian friends really liked her. She was soon at ease with all of them and had a great time.
As we visited with others around the room she held my hand. I wondered if she just wanted to present a positive image or was nervous to be in a room in which she knew no one but I could not figure that out.
I eventually decided that she simply wanted to hold my hand. I was more than happy about that and I made sure we held hands at all possible times.
Dinner was good and the Secret Santa exchange was a lot of fun with many risquΓ© presents. Ellie got an electric massager that could be used anywhere on her body, anywhere. She told everyone she already had the industrial strength version of the unit and offered to swap it. After the hoots and risquΓ© remarks calmed down she swapped it with Lara, our school librarian, for an afternoon sailboat cruise with cheeses and wine on the bay.
Lara then received the brunt of the verbal abuse, which she really enjoyed.
The gift I had purchased for Ellie to give as a secret Santa was a DVD package of the Pink circus show that went to my best friend Angela, a lesbian.
Angela kissed Ellie right on the lips to the hoots of everyone.
My mentor and good friend Fay showed shock and displeasure at the kiss. She saw the disappointment on my face and we stayed away from each other for the rest of the party.
As we were all getting ready to leave Fay came up to Ellie and told her how happy she was the I had chosen a pretty and intelligent woman then kissed her softly on the lips.
As surprised as I was by that kiss she surprised me even more when she kissed me on the lips; our first kiss.
She whispered in my ear, "I'm sorry. I'm an old woman. Please don't stop loving me."
"No chance of that," I said then gave her a soft kiss on the lips and a warm hug.
Fay then walked over to Lara and put her arm around her waist and kissed her cheek as she pretended to steal her vibrator. Everyone laughed at the very surprising stunt.
Fay then turned and winked at me.