Laura spent the next couple of days lounging by the pool or visiting some of her favourite attractions. She went to the aquarium mid day on the sunniest of days. She had learned this was the quietest time there and she could sit back and enjoy the fish better. Finding a nice spot in front of the large shark tank, she sat and just watched them swim and go on with their lives in such a small space.
Oddly she pondered the where about of each fish. Were they bred in captivity or caught in the wild? Had they been injured and unable to return back to the ocean? This particular display only housed animals that were local, right off the coast of the aquarium. Scary thought when one saw the hideous teeth of the sand tiger shark; not that they were any danger. No, it was those bulls that pulled swimmers under. Funny, they didn't have any bull sharks here, and the coast was loaded with them.
Laura's thoughts were pulled from the fish when she saw a young couple walking through the exhibit. They were wrapped up in each other and other than her and maybe five other people, the large room was fairly silent. Laura took quick notice of several employees standing at the two entrances of the exhibit, keeping watch and asking people to stand back.
Laura smiled and watched as he brought her to the middle of the tank and dropped to one knee. The girl began to cry immediately. Laura couldn't hear exactly what he was saying, something about meeting there, and needing her for all eternity.
The girl nodded through sobs and they kissed; everyone applauded. After some pictures, the couple and what looked to be their parents headed off.
Laura thought about Brad. She thought sure he would have been the one. It had gotten to the point that she was hinting at rings, looking at them. Hell, he had even looked with her, let her try on a few. Then every special date, every weekend away, she was waiting for it, but nothing.
Finally, after over hearing a conversation he had with his mother, about needing to travel and see places; that he was too young to settle down, Laura sat him down and ended it. In a need to drive a point home, she used his own excuse on him. That she wanted to visit far off worlds and meet people she would never have known otherwise.
Laura had said it all with a straight face and held her breath when he had begged her to reconsider, that he loved her and they had bright future together. She walked away; spent the next few nights crying and almost ready to go back to Brad, but then a friend called her about going to Vegas, so she did. It was wonderful. Just five girls out to have a good time and leave all their dirty little secrets behind them, and Laura had left several of those secrets back in that town.
It was a week after coming home that she got the phone call from her father, an odd phone conversation at that. He was usually so reserved with his emotions, the one in the family that held himself together and got things done. This time however, he was a wreck. The words were jumbled and she barely made out, "she's dead." But that was all she needed to make out. Laura had then told him to call her uncle, and just sit tight till she could get there. As her father broke down, she calmly explained what would need to be done, and that she would handle several things before coming to the house.
When Laura hung up the phone, her hand was shaking and she quickly went into the bathroom to vomit. It took her almost three hours to get herself composed enough to drive to her dad's house....her home. She was a Daddy's girl, but she and her mother were always close, and their relationship had gotten closer as Laura continued to age.
The week following was a blur, visitors, cards coming in, settling papers; and the food....so much food. She had made her mind up the day of the funeral that she would go away for a few weeks; something her mother had said kept ringing in her head.... "find time for you."
So here she sat, watching the sharks and fish swim in their fake world quite content to be boxed in and accept what was handed to them in life.
The ringing of her phone brought her back to reality.
"Hello?"
"Hey girl, we're on our way."
"Ok, see you in three hours or so."
Laura stood and stretched and headed off to drive back to the house.
As she climbed into her truck, the phone rang again; it was Jesse. They had talked on the phone and had ice cream one night, but otherwise she had kind of kept her distance. Thinking about her friends though, she answered it.
"Hey there."
"So, what are your plans for tonight?" He asked.
"My girlfriends are on their way. Think we will just relax when they get in, but I was thinking about a nice pool party tomorrow night. Ya know, hamburgers, hotdogs kinda thing. Got some friends you could bring over?"
"I sure do. What time?"
"Maybe two or so?"
"Sounds perfect. I will see you then."
Once home, she stared into the fridge and opened and closed cabinets, she just wasn't in the mood to cook anything.
"I shoulda picked up a burger or something."
With car keys in hand she headed back out the front door.
"Where ya headed?" The question echoed over from behind her.
It was David. He too was standing by his truck.
"Not in the mood to cook. I was gonna get a burger."
"Do you like Mexican? I was off to eat and would rather not sit alone."
She laughed at his phrasing.
"Ok, sorry, that came out completely wrong. Would you like to join me?"
She was already crossing the small grass strip, "I sure would."
He again opened the door for her.
"So where have you been most of the day?"
"The aquarium."
He looked over shocked, "It isn't that big of a place."
"I relax there. Watching the fish is soothing."
"Well, I agree. You know, I could call Emily, get you in behind the scenes."
"Really?! Oh David, I would love that!"
"Sure, maybe one day next week."
Laura was beaming from ear to ear.
It was a short ride to the little restaurant on the by pass, several people were seated outside, margaritas in hand waiting for tables.
"Must be good food."
"It is."
David opened the door and took her arm gently. He would start his slow seduction now, during dinner. He knew with a girl like her, and of such young years there were two ways to do this. The easiest way would be to get her drunk and just fuck her; knowing full well that in the morning she would hate herself and him, and that she would probably run home early. The second way, the way he intended to win her, was just to be her friend, with subtle hints of attraction; let her figure it out on her own that he wanted her, and then she would realize too that she wanted him.
Most young women craved older men; they only had a hard time getting past the age, or the "Daddy complex." Older men had better knowledge of what felt good to a woman, and how best to treat them. It was about bringing her pleasure, not how many times he could get off.
"Mr. Ross, so good to see you. Come, you needn't wait for a table."
Laura looked over to him smiling; she had that funny look on her face. David only winked and put his hand softly at the small of her back as they walked to a back room.
The gentleman sat them at a small table, and David offered a chair; then conveniently sat to her right, instead of across the table from her. This put him slightly closer to her, allowing for subtle touches that may seem accidental.
"Drinks?"
"Jack and coke, please."
