This revision is 40% longer than the last. Many of you commented that the ending needed to be more complete.
I hope this is closer to your expectations.
It was nearly 10 p.m. and they were finishing up a nice evening. Kath and Joyce often visited this restaurant and liked sitting at the bar, watching people and interacting with others also sitting at the bar.
Joyce, a very attractive shapely late 30's married woman, had just asked for the check as it was time to get home to their respective families.
The bar tender approached them with a small envelope, handed it to Joyce and said that their bill had been paid.
This was not something that they had expected. They had not spoken to anyone who, in their opinion, would pay the bill.
A curious Joyce took the envelope and, with Kath, a stunningly fit and beautiful late 40's married woman, opened it, took out a folded 5x7 sheet of paper and unfolded it. It read:
"Lovely Ladies,
Thank you, for the most pleasing view to have dinner by.
You are both stunningly beautiful.
Hoping to have the pleasure of seeing you both again.
Thank you!"
They looked at each other and called the bar tender over and asked who had given him the note. He replied that he did not know the patron so couldn't say. He showed them a note, attached to the envelope that had been left by a patron on the way out. It had a diagram of the bar with 2 circles indicating were Kath and Joyce were sitting with instructions to pay the bill in full, give the note to the women and for the bar tender to keep the change for his efforts. Apparently, cash well in excess of the bill had been left with the note.
Wow, this was something that they had not seen coming. Usually, some guy would try to buy drinks and they would politely refuse. They knew, and the guy knew, that he was trying to make contact so that he could hit on them or try to establish a relationship with the ultimate goal, sooner or later, of sex with one of them.
This was different. What should they do? Drinks and dinner, some $150.00 plus tip, were paid for. The content of the note indicated that they weren't being asked for anything. Indeed, the patron had already left the premises. It seemed that the patron just wanted to show appreciation and nothing more. Should they insist on paying? What would that achieve? Joyce, always the one to look for a bargain, was happy to have the bill paid and leave it at that. Besides, it may never happen again. They both agreed on this. Further, they agreed that it would be best if they did not mention this to their respective husbands and went home.
Over the next few weeks, they talked about the note as they were curious who would have done such a thing. If nothing else, they were flattered that it had happened.
It was a month or two later, after one or more uneventful visits at the same restaurant, when it happened again. Time came to pay the bill and again the bar tender, a different one, informed them that the bill had been paid and handed them a note. The note read:
"Lovely Ladies,
Seeing you both again is a gift from God. So beautiful!
The food may be good here, but your presence is what makes dinning here great.
Would appreciate seeing you in dresses, if that's possible?
Thank you!"
This bar tender had not taken the note so had no idea who had handed it in. He asked a couple of the waitresses, but no one knew. Again, cash well in excess of the bill had been left.
Their curiosity was now peeked. Who was this person? Whoever it was seemed to have money. They now assumed that it was a man as a result of the request for dresses. It appeared that this person enjoyed their looks and was indicating appreciation for the same.
Again, they decided that they may as well accept the payment of their bill. They again agreed not to say anything to their husbands.
They now had two free outings with no incursion on their privacy. Over the next two weeks they debated whether or not to wear a dress the next time they went. They had the additional dilemma of not knowing if he was going to be there or not, so might be doing this for nothing. Finally, they agreed that they would, but that they would wear long dresses or skirts. Doing this was safe, as it would not be too revealing so should not raise the suspicion of any of the other patrons.
When Kath left the house that night, she thought that her husband gave her a look of "you usually wear jeans". But he didn't say anything.
Their visit passed and no note was forth coming so they assumed that the mystery man was not there that night or was disappointed. In any event, they decided that the next time they went they would again wear a long dress or skirt, which they did.
This time a note did appear and read:
"Lovely Ladies,
You look even better tonight. Impossible but true. Such beauty.
So pleasing to see. You look exquisite in your dresses.
Thank you for your effort, it is appreciated.
Would love to see you in something much shorter,
if you dare
.
Thank you!
P.S. Back in two weeks."
Once more, the bill was fully paid for and again Kath and Joyce asked the bar tender who the person was. No one was able to assist. Kath asked the bar tender if he, or someone authorized, would review the camera video to try and ascertain who the mystery patron was, and he agreed he would ask.
It appeared, to Kath and Joyce, that this patron appreciated looking at Joyce and Kath as beautiful women who's presence he wanted to encourage as pleasing to the eye. Paying their bill was his way of showing his appreciation. What was the harm in that? They accepted the paid bill and left.
They were dying to know who this patron was now. It had been several weeks since he had paid the first bill and the mystery of his identity had become an obsession. They decided that they would definitely wear short dresses in two weeks' time.
Later that week they checked with the bar tender who informed them that the security cameras in that section of the restaurant had been inoperable for three days last week, including the night in question.
Two weeks later Kath left home dressed in her jeans to make sure that her husband suspected nothing. As usual she told her husband that she was on her way to Joyce. Her husband knew that they would usually go in one car from Joyce's house.
Earlier that day she had packed a short black dress, high heal shoes and matching jewelry. Once at Joyce's they both dressed in their short dresses, applied their make-up and jewelry. They hoped that this time he would surely reveal to them who he was.
The evening went as usual except that one of the regulars asked why they had dressed up. They stated that they were going out to a special event later.
Kath and Joyce ate dinner and drank as they usually did. Time went by and still no mystery man. Maybe he had not gone to the restaurant that night, but he had clearly stated, in the note, that he would be there.
They decided to call it a night and asked for the bill. Once again, the bartender said that it had been paid and gave them yet another note.
Kath quickly opened the envelope and she and Joyce read it.
"Lovely Ladies,
You have surpassed everything that one could possibly imagine.
Are you sure you are from this world? Don't think so. You are both so stunning.
Please come for after dinner drinks tonight 9:30, the bar, The Grand Hotel.
Thank you"
It was already 9:30. Their curiosity was driving them insane. They decided that they had to go as this would be the only way for them to find out who this mystery man was.
When they arrived at the bar, nobody greeted them, and they did not see anyone who appeared to be their mystery man. The bar tender welcomed them and told them that they were to have a drink before their meeting. When asked about the mystery man he said that he was not in a position to say anything more.
Kath and Joyce discussed the fact that they were being quite daring and kept looking around to see if they knew anyone who was friends of them or their husbands. There were not that many people around but still they were nervous as they knew that neither of their husbands would approve of what they were doing, but they had to find out who this man was. The mystery had been going on for nearly two and a half months and the suspense was killing them. Finally, they were on the brink, only minutes to go, of discovery and were determined to see it through to its conclusion.