I didn't think that Kayla was going to be easy to reach, but she was a much tougher nut to crack than I'd expected. The main problem was the number of subjects she just didn't want to talk about: her family, her home, college, her friends, her teeth, or the traumatic event in her past that had to be somehow connected to some - or all - of those topics. Kayla was somewhat like Gabrielle, except that I had a feeling her secrets were much worse.
We talked about the restaurant, and compared it to her workplace. I asked about her impressions of Guelph. But Kayla turned the dating tables on me by asking me questions. She wanted to know why I was with Tansa, of course. I assured her that it was all confidential - just as private as her own dealings with Tansa.
She got me talking about my life before my own bargain. That wasn't what we were there for, but it seemed to be safer ground. She even volunteered a few stories from her own childhood and youth - though I did notice that none of them dated from any later than high school.
I ended up doing most of the talking, which was obviously what she wanted. I didn't feel that we were all that much closer - she certainly wasn't ready to open up to me. But we'd made one important step: I'd showed up. Kayla knew what town I lived in, now, so she also knew that I'd driven two hours (one way) just to see her.
We made plans for a third date. I walked Kayla to the door of her building. She surprised me by giving me a little peck on the cheek.
For my part, I think I was still happily digesting the fact that Tansa wasn't who I'd thought she was, and that working for her wasn't just about seducing people to the dark side. It wasn't all about sex, either. Since I wasn't doing runs with Terry and Nick, Tansa had me make two more deliveries that I imagine might otherwise have fallen to Matt or Igor.
I was busy, too. I had to move things in the house around, as Alanna advised me on how best to get it ready for showing. Then she put it on the market in mid-July.
Five days later, it sold. Alanna had to cancel the open house she had planned. The second people to see it made an offer: $10,000 more than the asking price. Alanna was ecstatic; I was stunned.
Suddenly, I had a million things to do again. I had to find a place to live. Then I had to downsize; I wasn't going to take even half of the stuff in the house with me. Home inspection, lawyer, Goodwill store ... and Kayla.
I did some research, and went to our third date well prepared. She was happy for me that the house had sold, so quickly and at such a good price. She also wanted to know what kind of place I was going to move to.
- "An apartment." I said. "Maybe a condo. Something where I never have to cut the grass or clean the pool."
- "Did you bring pictures of your house?" she asked, pointing at the laptop I'd placed on the seat next to me.
- "Umm ... no. I wanted to show you ... something else."
I showed Kayla the homepage for Kickstarter. She was amazed (just as I had been). Then I showed her GoFundMe. The first one she saw was for a wife who'd lost her husband and two of her children in a car accident. The woman and one surviving child were still in hospital, and someone had arranged a GoFundMe fund for them. Funeral expenses, medical bills ... people were donating generously. In three days, they'd already been pledged almost $30,000 dollars.
Kayla was no dummy. She soon realized why I was showing her this.
- "Dan," she said, with a trace of anger, "there's no comparison."
- "Check these out. Please - just take a look." I showed her funds for people dealing with cancer, but also projects to preserve or save 'heritage' buildings. "Kayla, you're more important than a stone column."
I had her there. Then I returned her to the Kickstarter page, and showed her how people had pledged tens of thousands of dollars to support writers, game designers, and something that looked like an updated lava lamp.
- "I couldn't do that, Dan." she said.
- "You wouldn't have to, Kayla.
I would
."
- "What? No - you don't understand. I don't want pictures of my teeth all over the internet."
I didn't want to be brutal, but I had decided to be direct. Otherwise, it might take me a year - or years - to win Kayla's confidence and trust. I figured that she had met with Tansa for a reason. She must want some kind of change in her life.
- "Forgive me, Kayla. I have to tell you the truth. There are probably hundreds, if not thousands of people who have seen your teeth. It's not a secret. And it will take you years -
years
- to save enough money to fix your teeth. I would offer you that money right now, if I thought that you might accept it."
- "I couldn't."
- "I know. But what if complete strangers - and maybe a few people who know you - wanted to help? Wouldn't that be different?"
- "I don't ..."
- "Why did you meet with Tansa?" I said. "Don't tell me - I don't need to know. But
you
know."
She fought me. Her arguments were I can't, I don't, and No. I didn't let up, though. It wasn't so much a date as it was a sales pitch - and hard sell.
"Two pictures, Kayla. One of your lovely face. Then a close-up of your teeth, but nothing else."
- "I couldn't!"
- "You could, you know."
- "Why are you doing this to me?"
- "Because I care about you." I said.
It was the truth. Kayla heard it. She recognized it. I'd driven two hours to see her, and I wasn't asking her for anything. Instead, I was offering my help.
- "Why?" she asked.
- "Because you're lovely, and charming, Kayla. And because you remind me of me."
It wasn't that easy, of course. She argued against herself like a lawyer, and questioned my motives as if I was a hired hit man.
"It isn't complicated, Kayla. It really isn't. Someone did me a good turn, and I wanted to return the favour. Then I met you, and ... I choose you."
- "I need time. To think about this."
- "That's fair. But ... can I see you again? Either way?"
***
My next date with Kayla was ... difficult. She didn't want to talk about her teeth, or GoFundMe. She still wouldn't open up about her past. I couldn't ply her with liquor, to loosen her inhibitions, because she didn't drink.
At that stage, the difference in our ages was all too evident. We didn't have similar interests, or music and television in common. We didn't have any mutual friends or associates, and no shared experiences. Conversation between us was sometimes quite stilted. Once or twice it just stuttered and died.
The bond between us was simple: I wanted to help her, and she knew it. Kayla needed someone on her side, but she was still unwilling to let her defences down.
- "Can I see you next week?" I asked her.
- "Really? You still want to see me?" Kayla knew that I was travelling four hours to come see her. She also knew how little she was giving me in return.
- "Yes. I do."
***
I went apartment hunting. In some strange way, I was still thinking like the 25 year-old version of me, looking for something affordable, and not too far from work. The rents they were asking were astonishing. No wonder the Bennetts had been so happy renting my house when I went to live with Mom.
There was no need for me to get something cheap, or to settle for convenience. I didn't plan to work forever. But I also thought in terms of having a place that I could bring a girlfriend home to. I didn't know who she was, yet, but I was looking for her.
Meanwhile, I'd been to see Kayla again. I was going to take her out for a meal (I wasn't all that certain how often she ate well), but she called me to suggest a change of plans.
- "Would it be okay if we just had pizza at my place?" she asked. "And ... could you bring your laptop again?"