I was a happy dad because my daughter Cynthia decided to spend time at home this spring break rather than go off to the beach like she did last year. I know it will only be a week, but still, a dinner here, movie there, just feeling her presence in the home again makes it feel like a home again.
We had enjoyed some tasty Chinese take out on Monday, and pizza on Tuesday, but for Wednesday she wanted to make a home-made meal for me and decided to invite one of her friends over, Stephanie. I had not seen Stephanie in quite awhile. She and Cynthia were practically joined at the hip during high school but ended up attending different colleges, so this dinner was important for them to spend some time together as well.
Stephanie arrived promptly at 7 PM. After the doorbell rang, I began to make my way to the front door when I heard Cynthia yell from the kitchen, "Come In Stephie! The door's open." I saw the knob turn and our mahogany door creaked open, with Stephanie on the other side. She was quite a sight. No longer the cute friend of my daughter, rather, a vision. She was dressed in something I can only describe as college-girl casual - a tank top and some type of hybrid sweat-pants/pajamas and sandals. Her hair was wavy, shoulder-length brown hair, with full red lips that curved into a magnificent smile, light brown eyes, soulful eyes... those eyes...
"Hey girl!" Cynthia said loudly, making her way from the kitchen. It startled me, I was transfixed on Stephanie. "Steph, Its been too long!" They embraced, the kind of embrace where you know people mean it, not the cheap little fake hug I see so often these days. "Both of you come and sit down, dinner's ready!" Cynthia said with a bright, proud smile.
We had some pleasant small talk during dinner, "How was school?", "What are you studying?", "Ever keep in touch with so and so?". The dinner was delicious. I could swear I noticed Stephanie looking at me differently though. Nothing obvious. A glance every now and then. An extra chuckle after one of my silly dad jokes. I could see her fidgeting with her napkin. A little nervous I guessed. Surely I was imagining...
Cynthia said she picked up some pie earlier and was going to warm it up and cut up some pieces for us. As she got up from the table and turned toward the kitchen, Stephanie got up and said she would help out. Instead of taking the direct line toward the kitchen, Stephanie walked around the table to my side. As she got closer to me I turned and smiled at her, she got surprising close to me, close enough that her hair brushed past my face... that smell... the smell! That incredible smell. Something so simple as her shampoo and a light mist of scented spray. That smell! It was as if a ton of bricks fell on me. By the time she turned around she was at the door to the kitchen. She took the napkin she had been fidgeting with earlier and brought it up to her eyes, forming a mask. A simple mardi gras style mask. She said something, almost a whisper, "I wont be far away." The smell of her hair... those soulful eyes behind a mask... It was her! Oh my gosh - its her! She vanished into the kitchen leaving me with my thoughts.
About a month earlier, I had been so incredibly lonely. I decided to try an escort service I saw advertised in one of those weekly event newspapers. To a hotel I went, pretending to be some guy visiting on business. I called the escort service and fumbled my way through - what type of person was I looking for, age, description, etc. They made sure I understood, that this was just for companionship, no sex for money. 45 minutes later there was a knock on my door. Looking through the peephole I could make out a woman with glasses saying she was from the service. As I opened the door, before we saw each other face to face, the first thing she said was that to ensure discretion she would wear a mask. I was so nervous and lonely I would have agreed to anything. So she wore this simple white mardi gras mask. As she looked up at me I saw her eyes widen under the mask, those eyes... then I saw smile come to her face, a genuine smile. I suddenly felt very much at ease.
She dressed so "normal", not like I imagined at all. Cute, tight top. Low rise jeans. Sandals.