Author's Note: I was both surprised and flattered to be invited to participate in the "Legends" contribution for the July 4th holiday. Although I am a "Canuck," and often write stories based in Canada, I chose to use the USA as a setting for this yarn. This is not a hard core Loving Wives contribution, but it is typical of my type of story. I hope some of you enjoy it.
Trust Me: A Story for Legends Day
Chapter 1 Antoinette Betancourt
At age twenty-eight, it wouldn't be uncommon for an attractive young single woman to suffer angst about finding a life companion ... specifically in her case, a husband. Time had already marched on, leaving in its dust a collection of men who simply didn't measure up to Miss Antoinette "Toni" Betancourt's expectations. However, she wasn't about to accept Mr. Right Now in place of Mr. Right; ticking biological clock or not. She'd had a few boyfriends and was intimate with a couple of them, but none were really what she wanted.
Toni freely admitted that she was quite fussy about what type of man she was interested in. She should have some choice, after all. She was attractive, if not spectacular. Five-foot-six, one hundred and twenty-five pounds, a nice, fully developed body, regular facial features, dark chestnut hair cut short at the neckline, and dark brown eyes. Her teeth were even and her smile displayed them nicely. She had a very good, responsible job, and a nice place to live.
Toni was not a virgin ... not by any means. She'd been deflowered at age seventeen at her high school junior prom by a rather arrogant young man who, having had is way with her, wanted no more to do with her. It was a demoralizing lesson to be sure, and she decided she would be much more careful choosing a boyfriend in the future. That caution had continued through her remaining year of high school, four years of college, and now her business career.
It wasn't that she was without male companionship. It was just that she was very cautious of whom she allowed into her bed. But none of the men she associated with were marriage material, and thus their relationships were short-lived. She could count on one hand those who she allowed to become intimate with her, and now, as time ticked away, she was still without a likely candidate for a husband. She was looking for something in a man that she couldn't yet define; a something that would tell her that "he" was the one. The thought of children had been pushed back into the recesses of her mind. She wasn't depressed, but she longed for excitement, companionship, and love in her life. At some point, everyone longed to be truly loved. A successful career wasn't enough.
~*~
Jennifer Terrell was her best friend. She worked in the accounting office of the dairy plant where Antoinette was the Assistant QA Manager.
"Are you going to the street festival, Toni?" Jennifer asked as they enjoyed their morning coffee break.
"I haven't decided, Jen," was Toni's vague answer. Her friend was distracted, Jennifer realized. This wasn't something new. She knew Toni was still searching for something ... or someone.
"A nice hot summer day, lots of young hunks around to seduce, a chance to wear some scanty summer clothes. You don't want to pass that up, girl."
Her friend and co-worker looked at her with a puzzled smile. "When was the last time you saw me seduce anyone?"
"There's always a first time, Toni. It'll be a real 'meet market' on Saturday. Then there's the outdoor dance at the plaza. A hot looking number like you should have no trouble finding a suitable male. In fact, you'll probably have to fight them off when they see you in that new summer dress."
"I don't know whether I've got the nerve to wear that thing in public," Toni admitted.
"Hey ... it's not like it's indecent. It's just sexy. You won't be the only woman displaying her wares," Jennifer laughed.
It wasn't as if Toni had something better to do, so she allowed Jennifer to talk her into attending both the street festival and later, the dance at the town plaza. She cautiously accepted Jen's dare and wore the new, revealing summer dress her friend had talked her into buying, along with a wide, floppy, straw hat, some oversized sunglasses, and plenty of sun block for her exposed skin. Her Mediterranean complexion gave her some protection, but nonetheless she was still guarding against sunburn.
When she looked in the mirror before Jennifer arrived to pick her up, she worried that the dress was too risqué ... showing too much cleavage and a good deal of upper thigh. But when she heard her friend's car horn, she had no time to pick an alternative. It was the new yellow outfit, like it or not.
"Wow! Toni! You look fabulous. New sandals, too," Jennifer beamed as she surveyed her best friend.
"Thank you. I'm still a little nervous about this dress, but ... I guess it's too late now."
"Don't be so worried, girl. You look amazing. You are going to have to beat the guys off with a stick."
"I hope not. I'd rather find someone I can relate to, not just some horny guy."
"Good luck with that," Jennifer laughed as she pulled away from the curb. "I feel like a frump next to you."
"Oh, come on, Jen. You look great in that tank top and shorts. Besides, guys go for busty blondes. That's always number one on their list. Also, you're five years younger than me. They will definitely go for you first."
"Will you cut out that stuff about how old you are? You're exactly the right age to catch the right kind of man. I'm not ready for a permanent relationship. I'm going to enjoy myself for a while longer before I get serious about some guy."
"Yeah, sure," Toni laughed. "That will last just as long until 'Mr. Wonderful' comes along, regardless of your age."
"Maybe, but I'm in no rush, so if and when he does come along, I'm going to be sure he's the one."
"Good plan girl," Toni grinned, thinking Jen was mirroring her own thoughts.
They found the festival's temporary parking area laid out in a vacant school yard and prepared to board the shuttle bus. The passengers on the shuttle were in a good mood, anxious to see what the various booths and entertainers had to offer. The youngsters were asking all sorts of questions about what they would find to see and do. It was a short five minute ride before everyone stepped down onto the riverside walkway that marked the north end of the festival area. A few steps toward the town center and they could immediately feel the heat of midday radiating from the pavement.
The two women looked around, seeing most people walking up the rise of the main street. They could hear music among with the noise of people and activities. The festival was contained within a rectangle of a four block square, with craft and art exhibits, local store displays, a car show, an antique tractor display, carnival rides for the kids, and a mini farm market with a variety of food and other homemade items. The smell of cooking food was pervasive from assorted vendors throughout the area. They continued to walk up the incline toward the town plaza in the center of the festival area.
~*~
They'd been walking around the perimeter of the plaza, stopping to gaze at various exhibits and, from time to time, listening to one or another of the street musicians.
"It's really warm, Jen. Let's find something cold and sit in the shade for a few minutes."
"Sure. You want a soft drink or a beer?"
"Soft drink. I'm sure there'll be plenty of alcohol at the plaza tonight. I'm in no rush."
"Yeah ... I think you're right. We'll pace ourselves, then let loose tonight," Jen laughed.
"Just remember, you have to drive," Toni warned. "You don't want a DUI on your record."
"Don't worry," Jen assured her. "I'm not one to drink too much, as you already know. Neither of us would consume enough combined to get drunk."
"True. We really are a couple of stick-in-the-muds, aren't we?"
"Well, maybe we can break that pattern tonight without getting stupid. We'll dance off any alcohol. We won't have any trouble finding willing partners," Jen assured her friend.
They found a nearby bench that was shaded by one of the mature cherry trees that framed the plaza.
Jen walked over to an ice cream vendor and on impulse, bought two cones and two lemon-lime sodas. The recycled paper tray held the four items securely and she returned to the bench where Toni was seated, only to find her in conversation with a rather attractive man. She smiled to herself, thinking that it didn't take very long for someone to notice her friend.
"Here you go, Toni. I see you've made a new friend already."
Toni seemed a bit flustered, but the man stepped in adroitly to ease her discomfort.
"Hi, I'm Marshall Tomlinson," he smiled, holding out his hand. "My friends call me Marsh. Is Toni short for Antoinette?" he asked, turning his attention back to the woman seated beside him.
"Very good guess, Marsh," Jennifer grinned. "You are quite correct. I'm Jennifer. Are you a local resident?"
"Uhhm, sort of. I live up river in Sandy Bar. Almost local, I guess," he smiled.
"We're both townies," Jennifer admitted.
