Author's Note: As usual, lots of talking before the sex between two consenting people of legal age. There's some French but knowing it is not essential to the story and, because I'm drawing on half-remembered high school classes anyway, it's probably not terribly accurate. I hope people find this story sexy, respectful and that everyone who served their country gets a similar treat one day.
2005:
It was the day after Halloween when Danielle Mackenzie walked through the Maple Valley retirement community, clutching a small tin in her arm. Danielle had lived nearby all of her life and had driven past the sign proclaiming "Welcome to Maple Valley Oaks." hundreds if not thousands of times but, as she realized as the security guard waved her through the gates, this was the first time in her life actually stepping onto the property. It was nothing like what she'd expected. She'd expected basically one big, hospital looking building. Not a winding road leading her past 15 or so little Bungalows and dotted with gardens and trees. It just looked like an odd little gated neighbourhood.
It was unusually mild for a Canadian November, so she'd walked from her parents house and hadn't even had to wear a jacket. The loose necked black sweater and jeans she had on had even made her a little warm, she noted, as the road led past the last of the bungalows to what appeared to a large, recreation centre. However the sign outside of it did say "Maple Valley Administration Offices and Community Centre" so she knew she'd found her destination. The glass doors were heavy and she strained ever so slightly to open them before walking inside, finding a red-headed, heavy set woman behind what what looked like some sort of reception desk. The receptionist looked up as the door shut softly behind her and gave Danielle an inviting smile.
"May I help you, dear?" She asked sweetly. Danielle gave her a weak smile back as she approached the desk.
"I'm Danielle Mackenzie." She said cheerily
"Well, hello Danielle." She smiled again "What may I do for you?"
Danielle frowned. She thought they'd be expecting her.
"I'm from Richmond?" She said, in reference to her high school "I called about volunteering?"
That did get a look of recognition from the receptionist, recognition leading to a little embarrassment.
"Oh goodness, did I tell you to come in today?"
Danielle nodded. The receptionist continued.
"I'm sorry dear, I couldn't have told you a worse day. There was a organized trip and everyone left for the weekend," She said before adding unnecessarily "At the Casino of course."
Danielle frowned a little. She'd wanted to get started today. They'd had a half day of school because of a teacher's conference and Danielle had thought she not only could have gotten started today but could have put quite a bit of time in.
"The confusion is my fault, I'm afraid, but we don't get many volunteers here." The receptionist said in her defense "We're not exactly a charity."
"No, but they said it'd be alright if I helped out." Danielle said, worried she'd have to volunteer somewhere else.
"Oh it is, it is, darling." She said to assure her "It's just that there's not too much to do with all of the, oh that's right."
Danielle was confused.
"You know Danielle, not all of our residents have gone. Mr. Keith is around. He came in for lunch and then he went to the community room. So you can probably still catch him and see how he's doing. Watch yourself though, he's a bit of a charmer." She added with a smile
"The community room?" Danielle asked, paying no mind at all to the warning.
"Down the hall and to your left." The receptionist added. Danielle thanked her and nodded before taking off down the hall. The community centre was, Danielle noted, as different from her expectations as the rest of the place had been. It was tastefully decorated and done up like a lodge. It had a warm, lived in feeling as opposed to the austere, sterile environment she'd been expecting. After a few minutes of looking, Danielle found the door labelled "Community Room" and saw that this too was not as she expected. There were plush chairs assembled around a flat-screen TV and what looked like fancy card tables and on some sort of stereo system was some fairly up-beat jazz piano. To her dismay, though, Danielle did not see anyone else in the room. So it was when she heard the voice, it startled her a second.
"And, who exactly, may you be." Came the pleasant male tones. Danielle looked around and saw, in the corner, was an grey haired man sitting alone, a book in hand. Danielle smiled and approached him.
"I'm Danielle, I'm volunteering here." She said finally, happy that she'd found Mr. Keith. He nodded and closed his book, making sure to save his page.
"And, what, exactly are you volunteering to do?" He asked, clearly amused by the idea. Danielle stood and thought about it for a second.
"I have no idea." She admitted with a laugh, but she pointed to the tin she was carrying "But I made brownies."
"Well, then, Danielle, you are going to have to sit with me a while and let me try them." The man stood up from his chair, placing his book on the table beside him. She got a better look at him as he moved towards her. He was tall and broadchested, probably 6'2 or so, with a fairly thick head of grey hair that was neatly combed and thick eyebrows. His eyes were brown, behind very thin-framed glasses that he quickly removed and tucked into the breast pocket of his suit jacket as he walked towards her. His skin was creased but still a healthy tan and his movements were in no way frail or feeble. She opened the tin as he approached and he stuck his hand inside, removing one of the dark chocolate treats. He gave her a warm smile.
"You really do look like her, don't you?" He said, somewhat in amazement.
"I look like who?" She asked, puzzled.
"That little French blonde. What was her name. The actress." He continued, his eyes looking at hers but his memory clearly going back some time before remembering. "Bardot, that's it. Brigitte Bardot."
This was true.
"I don't know who that is, I'm afraid." She said apologetically. "Is it a good thing to look like her?"
"It's not a bad thing, that's for sure. And you are just a dead-ringer for her." He said, taking a bite of the brownie.
Danielle smiled. Even if she didn't know it, what he'd said had been true. Danielle was short, with long, rich sandy blonde hair, big, expressive, almond shaped eyes and full, soft lips. When Danielle googled the actress later that evening, she'd have to admit that the older gentleman was right. Still, she knew how to take a compliment.
"Flatterie?" She said, her cheery tone going softer and her language going from English to French, hoping she'd better approximate the woman she'd just been compared to "Je vais rougirai, M'sieur."
She received an encouraging smile for her efforts.
"Careful, look like that and talk like that around any fella old enough to remember her and you'll have coronaries on your hands." He said, taking another bite. Danielle laughed at this. The woman at the desk was right. He was a charmer. Danielle smiled as she looked up at him, imagining for a second what he must have looked like when he had been a younger man. He must have been something. Heck, he still was something. This was interrupted by his extending his hand to her. "Name's Jack."
"Enchante" She continued.
"Well, Miss. I am the only one here I'm sorry to say." He said, finishing the brownie.
"I'm sorry. I can leave you to your book."
"I'll spend some time with a pretty girl over a book anyday." He shook his head "So what do you say we get out a deck of cards and play a little something and I will do my very best to eat the rest of your delicious brownies."
