Finale
Chapter 7 - The Next Day
Joe awoke the next morning feeling rested. He was aware that he wasn't lying on the examination table anymore and he couldn't believe that Tia carried him into the bedroom without waking him! Yet she had already demonstrated her strength and fighting skills yesterday. He reflected that she took it easy on him, until the end of their contest. He thought about her for a second and realized that it was too early to ponder his situation too deeply. He had to admit that he was excited about what she might do today. It was Saturday and he didn't have to go back to work until Monday.
He was not surprised at his own reaction to Tia. Joe was popular and charismatic, but very passive so he usually just took things in stride and often just let things happen. That's why he was only a manager at a struggling video store, but had the skills to overhall a car engine.
Soon Joe heard a knock at the door and he felt butterflies in his stomach from excitement. In fact his body was having tremors from anticipation.
When he opened the door, it took a few seconds for him to process what he saw. He realized that it was Tia, but she had long blond hair and blue eyes. She was the spitting image of how he remembered her mother Evelyn, nearly 20 years ago. All her could stutter out was, "HHHHHi Tia." She was wearing a pink tank top, short enough to reveal her sculptured abs and a pretty ruffled jean skirt. On her feet were a pair of very tall white buffalo boots, with a chunky 5+" heels and rounded by the toes. They were high enough to disappear under her the hem of her short skirt. Joe could see that Tia made the effort to resemble her mother, in earlier years, because she knew about the crush he had on her, from the beginning. He was transfixed, but embarrassed. She knew how to play with his mind!
She gave him her tentative smile, which also resembled one her mother's expressions. Tia handed him a massive shopping bag and said, "Please wear this! I'll be waiting for you." She observed Joe for a few seconds and left wearing a familiar smirk. Joe recalled that Tia's mother had Russian ancestors and her father was Dominican. Tia had slightly tanned skin, but had her mother's facial features, so the new hair and contact lenses transformed her into a tanned California blond. Her slight Hispanic accent was inherited from her father's parents who helped raise her, after the divorce.
Joe opened up the bag and first noticed a pair of black long underwear. It felt heavier than normal and he hoped that he wouldn't feel too warm here, in the desert. He put on a pair of tight black jeans in exactly his size and a comfortable flannel shirt. He looked in the mirror and approved of what he saw. Joe reached into the bag Tia gave him and pulled out a large shoe box. After opening it, he found a pair of macho glossy knee length Chippewa biker's boots. He decided to tuck his pants into the boots.
Joe left the room and Tia was waiting for him by the front door, holding his car keys. She had slipped on a white turtleneck sweater and a pastel scarf, which displayed her assets rather than hid them. She opened up the door to the house and Joe stepped outside. She gave him a quick smile and Joe noticed that her eyes lingered for a moment on his boots. Tia locked her arm in Joe's as they walked to the car.
Once in the car, Tia reached into her pocketbook and pulled out a gorgeous pair of elbow length bone colored fashion gloves made of fine leather with ornate seams. She took her time putting them on, smoothing out each finger before slipping them under the sleeves of her sweater. Not wasting any more time she pulled out of the driveway and Tia was once again taking him to some unknown destination, as she drove in silence. Joe instantly became transfixed with the exaggerated way that her seemingly endless white boots controlled the pedals. He loved the delicate way that she touched the controls with her gloved hands and that several inches of her long glove would slip out from under the sleeves as she reached for the stick shift. Despite her considerable physical strength, Tia's hand gestures were extremely feminine. Yet he could tell that she was in one of her bluer moods.
Joe remembered from years ago that Tia could be very quiet, especially when she was uncomfortable. They had a lot to talk about, but it wasn't time yet. You couldn't force her to speak when she was like this, especially because she was used to being the initiator of conversations. He just looked at her and smiled. Tia glanced back at him with an unreadable smooth face and rested her white glove on his thigh for about 30 seconds and then focused on her driving. It was her way of showing that they were connected even though her thoughts were far away.
Chapter 8- Tia Takes Joe to New Heights
It must have been close to 80 degrees already and Joe couldn't figure out where they were both going, dressed as they were. Soon the road began to climb, when he saw the sign to the Aerial Tramway.
Tia spoke for the first time in a while, "I dressed us warmly because we're going up to 8500 feet. Her voice was distant and purely informational."
She parked the car and the temperature already felt a bit cooler at the 2500 feet elevation, where the tram began. They walked to the tram and the facility was nearly empty at 8 AM on a Saturday. Tia produced 2 tickets from her hand bag and they stepped onto the large tram, which was empty. She glided over to one of the large windows and Joe followed. When the tram was about to leave, an older couple got on. The man had to be 80 and the woman was about 60.
As the tram began its 15 minute ascent Joe stepped closer to Tia as she continued to stare out the window quietly. The view was gorgeous as they rose above the desert floor, toward the alpine forest. The tram rotated, so you could see the views, from all sides. Joe took some initiative and put his arms around Tia's waist and felt her lean back on him. First he could hear a relieved sigh and then she began to sob. Joe nuzzled her neck and Tia clutched his arm affectionately. After a minute or so she faced Joe and they kissed passionately, as time stood still.
When their lips separated and they each took a breath, both of them noticed the hunched old man standing right in front of them. He spoke to them is a thick NY accent, "Sometimes making up is worth the fight. Isn't it? If you don't mind me saying, you're about the most attractive couple I've ever seen next to the Mrs. and me, of course." He smiled at Tia and had a twinkle in his eye.
Tia flashed him her special smile and gave him a huge hug and a kiss on the cheek. When she was done she realized that she had picked the small man off the ground, but by his shocked and extremely pleased expression, it had to be the ride of his life!
Tia faced the man's wife, who had a scowl on her face. She had her auburn hair pinned up and wore and glasses, she resembled a librarian, but she was very attractive and quite fit. The woman was at least 6 inches taller than her diminutive husband and looked quite fetching in her jeans, sweater and knee height white cowboy boots.