Weekends, p.3
Weekends, page 3
“I don’t do it because of stress. I do it because I like it.”
“Ok, that’s fine; no problem with me. Are you going to light it up?”
“No, I can wait for Tory. So how is everything else going in your life?”
“Quiet. I am relaxed and I am just enjoying life. I go for walks or jogs and I read. My biggest frustration is getting to and from work due to the tourist traffic.”
“So, you don’t miss it or regret it or want to go back to it?”
“HELL NO.”
“Ok, so how was it seeing Linda today?”
“She looks good. I’m happy for her. I have no ill will toward her. We ended and went our separate ways. She looks happy. Did you talk to her?”
“Yes, we chatted for a half hour or so. They will be at the dinner and plan on going out with us tonight.”
“That’s great. What about the few that didn’t make it today? Do you know why?”
“I know Steven is in jail again. I know Derik is in Alaska so too far to make the trip this time. Tina is working on a cruise ship singing and playing her piano in one of the bars. Sonja said she loves it and travels all over the world. I think those are the only ones that didn’t make it.”
“Bobby wasn’t there.”
“He died two years ago. It was a really bad car accident I understand. He was living in Chicago and it was an ice storm.”
“Oh, I didn’t know that. Did he have a family?”
“No wife or kids, just his brother and parents.”
“Wow, it can happen any time to any of us.”
“Yup. So, anyone in your life, romantically.”
“Please, I’m too set in my ways for that. No one would want to put up with me. How about you?”
“Same answer. Guess it’s just not in the cards for me either.”
“Alright, you two are depressing. I couldn’t sleep for fear I wouldn’t wake up.” Tory made her way into the room. “This is supposed to be a fun weekend.”
“We were holding all the fun for when you woke up. Let the wildness begin.”
She grabbed a glass of wine then sat. She was laughing. “I was looking at all the different groups there today. I think ours had the most single or divorced members. The older groups seemed to be more happily married.”
“Yes, I noticed that as well. Why do you think that is?”
“I don’t know. I think we are a fickle generation.”
“On that note, time to fire up.” Rick lit the bowl.
I know he had been just waiting to do that.
He was passing it around when Jen and Tim walked in the door. “Good timing guys. Grab a beverage and join us. How are the boys doing?”
“They’re great. They have decided not to go to the dinner with us; instead opting for burgers and dogs. Cindy will build a fire in a minute so they can get started.”
“Cool, burgers and dogs sound good.”
“No Dana, you are going to the dinner with us. Got it?”
“Yes ma’am. Are you all changing before dinner or after, before going out to the bar?”
“I’m wearing what I have on to both.”
“Me too, the dinner is casual.”
“Tim and I are going to change right now to jeans so won’t come back between before going out.”
“Ok, I’ll go and change now as well.” I got up and headed to the room.
When I came back out, I was in jeans and a tee shirt. I had tied my hair back into a pony tail and I had applied a smidgen of makeup. I walked over and sat back down. They were all looking at me. “What?”
“You look great.”
“Ok. Are you sure I don’t have a stain or something?” I was looking at my top.
“No Dana, really, you look great.”
“Thanks. So, I am going to bring my vehicle if anyone wants a ride.”
“Yes, we are going to bring ours as well tonight.”
“Cool, are we all ready to go?”
“Let’s boogie.”
Sonja had reserved a room for us at one of the restaurants so that’s where we were heading first. There were baskets of bread and appetizers already being placed when we arrived. The waitress took our drink order as we were taking our seats.
The chit chatting was constant and I was just sitting back watching all the mayhem. No one brought their kids tonight so the conversation subjects were open. Linda and her partner sat on the other side about four people down. There was no way to hear all the conversations but I tried to answer when asked a question. Tim and Jen had sat at the other end of the table so we could hear all the news and we could fill each other in tomorrow. Rick sat next to Sonja and Tory was about half way down on my side. When all the dinners had been delivered to the table, Sonja stood to make a speech.
“I just wanted to thank you all for coming today. It has been so great to see so many of you again after so many years. Enjoy your dinner and all the great company.” She sat down to applause and cheers.
Once we had finished up, some remained and gabbed and others started to head out to the bars. It was agreed that we would all meet at the bar by ten pm since Kevin would be the DJ tonight. We knew the other groups were planning on going out as well but we figured they would turn in early.
**
We were wrong. When we got to the bar, it was packed. The deck was packed; the dance floor was busy. Kevin was filling requests as quick as he could. We stood around the DJ area for a bit trying to figure out what to do. Finally, we saw a group was headed out so we grabbed the table quick. It wasn’t enough for everyone but it was a start. I let them have my seat and said I would be back. Tory went with me and she was going to get a couple pitchers of beer. I grabbed a stool at the bar and ordered the drinks.
“Hey I’m going to stay here for a bit so it can clear out a little more. It’s just too crowded and loud for me over there right now. I’ll be back over later.”
“Ok, you’re not leaving though right?”
“Nope I’ll be right here.”
Tory grabbed both pitchers and balanced the plastic glasses against her chest to slowly make her way back.
Marty slid a glass of water with lemon to me on a coaster and I thanked her. I was just about to take a sip when someone tugged on my pony tail.
“Hey.” I turned to the right and no one was there. I turned left and there was someone standing there but I didn’t know her. “Did you tug on my hair?”
She turned her eyes to me. “Maybe.” She grinned big.
“Any particular reason why?”
“Because it was there. I like your hair, the way you keep it very short underneath. I’m Candice by the way.”
“Dana”
“Man, it is packed in here tonight.”
“Yeah it’s the alumni weekend.”
“Ah, that would explain it all to me. So, you are alumni I take it.”
“Yes”
“Sorry Candi, what can I get you?” Marty was busy.
“No problem. How about a Mich and one for her as well?”
“Oh, I’m fine, but thanks.”
“What are you drinking?”
“Water and lemon.”
“You don’t drink?”
“Occasionally.”
“Not much of a talker, are you?”
“No sorry.”
“I saw you here last night. Why aren’t you with your group?”
“It’s just so crowded out there right now.”
“Want to get out of here for a while?”
“No, I told them I would be over a little later.”
“Do you have a girlfriend over there?”
“No”
“Do you have a girlfriend at home?”
“No”
“It’s very hard to have a conversation with you when you give me one-word answers.”
“Are we having a conversation?”
“I’m trying.”
I chuckled to myself.
Finally, the stool next to me cleared and Candi took the seat. “Ah this is better. So, what do you do for a living?”
“I work for a charity. I write grant applications and hit up corporations for money.”
“Cool, what charity?”
“LGBTQ”
“Double cool. Where do you live?”
“Jesus, is this an interview?”
“No, I’m just trying to get to know you.”
“Why?”
“I like to know who I’m hitting on.”
“Let me save you the trouble. I’m going home tomorrow morning and I don’t one-night stand.”
“Ok, but you do talk so we can get to know each other.”
“For what purpose?”
“Life or love, or romance, or friendship. Pick one.”
I looked at the table, Linda was looking over at me. “I’ll be right back.” I got up and went to the bathroom.
When I came back Linda was standing at my seat. She was talking to Candi. “What the hell?”
“I’m just waiting for a couple of pitchers. I wasn’t taking your seat.” Linda stepped back.
“That’s not what I meant. What are you talking about?”
“You, I was hoping for information to help my case.” Candice smiled.
“I’m outta here.” As I made the way around the bar to get to the other side for the exit, Tory waved me over.
“What’s going on Dana?”
“Nothing, it’s just too crowded for me. Sorry guys, have fun ok.”
“Dana, who is Linda speaking with?” It was Cathy asking.
“Her name is Candi, but I don’t know her beyond that.”
“Oh, ok, thanks.”
I headed for the door.
**
I got outside and took a few deep breaths. I was not a fan of crowds. Looking over the parking lot I could see my vehicle and it was blocked in. “CRAP”
Walking over to my car, I unlocked it and climbed inside. I opened the window and could clearly hear the music and chatter inside. Closing my eyes, I leaned my head back on the seat to rest.
“Hi”
“Grrr. What do you want?”
“You”
“Not going to happen.”
“Why are you sitting out here?”
“I’m blocked in. I can’t get out.”
“You can ride with me.”
“Why are you leaving early?”
“Because the person I wanted to see is leaving early.”
“Don’t waste your time Candi, really. I won’t be back for probably twenty years for the fifty-year alumni.”
“Don’t you have any family up here?”
“No, I don’t.”
“Where do they live?”
“Who?”
“Your family, mother, father, siblings?”
“Don’t have any.”
“Come on, you must have someone.”
“No, I don’t. Now drop it.”
“How about you walk with me and we can come back later for the vehicles, or you can ride with me in my Jeep.”
“I don’t think so.”
“I have a very nice deck we can sit and relax on. I promise no funny business. I just want someone to talk to. In case you didn’t know, there are not many lesbians living in this town.”
“Yeah I hear you on that one. I know there weren’t when I was living here.”
“I think you found one, didn’t you?”
“What the fuck was up with that. That shit was thirty years ago.”
“Wow, calm down. She didn’t give out state secrets. I just asked her if she knew you well. She said you dated in high school. That’s all Babe.”
“Don’t call me that.”
“Sorry, so can we spend some more time together?”
“Fine” I put up the window and pulled the keys. She stepped back so I could get out and lock it up. Then I followed her to her Jeep. “Where do you live?”
“I live a few places down from where you’re staying. I have a place on the lake.”
“Own or rent?”
“Rent”
“What do you do for a living?”
“Is this an interview?”
“Tit for Tat”
“I work for the government.”
“Ours”
“Yes” She chuckled.
“Where are you from?”
“New Mexico”
“Your family still there?”
“Yes”
“Where’s your girlfriend?”
“Which one? Kidding, I don’t have one.”
“Why”
“That is more than a one-word answer.” She was pulling into her driveway and I could see it looked like a cute place.”
“Do you want to come inside or stay outside?”
“Outside”
“Ok what would you like to drink?”
“Oh, it doesn’t matter. Water is fine for me.”
“How about a nice brandy?”
“Sure”
I was sitting on the steps when she came out with two brandy snifters. “You did a really nice job with the lighting here.”
“Thank you”
“Don’t you think we will be inundated with bugs or bats?”
“No, I have bug attractants on the edges of the property and bat houses near them. Everybody’s happy. Now follow me and watch your step.”
She led me down to the dock with the big Adirondack chairs. Once I was seated, she handed me the glass then she sat in the other chair.
“Thank you.”
Candi looked over at me and smiled. “You’re welcome. Now fess up. I want details about your life and not one-word answers.”
“I thought I told you everything already.”
“No family?”
“Have you ever heard of drop off babies?”
“I don’t think so.”
“You know, an unwanted child is dropped off at the police station or fire station or a church.”
“Oh yeah, I know what you mean now.”
“I was a drop off baby. I was left on the steps of the church and was raised by the minister and his wife until I was seventeen.”
“Are they still here?”
“Don’t know.”
“Come on, I hate having to pull every answer out of you.” She was quiet for a minute and she took a sip of her brandy.
I took a sip of mine as well. “Mm, this is nice. I was kicked out at seventeen. It was April, they came home early and caught me with my girlfriend on the couch with a blanket over us. Yes, Linda was my girlfriend. I slept in my car for the remainder of the school year. I took my shower at school in the morning early. I had a job after school so I had money for food and gas. After graduation, I cleaned up in the lake. We slept on the beach together most nights or in my car. At the end of summer, we said good bye. I went to college and she went into the service. There were no future plans made or expected. After college I was head hunted by a corporation that I worked at for many years. When I couldn’t stand it anymore, I quit and went to the charity work. I’m happier doing that, but poor. Is that enough words for you? Do I need to write an essay?”
“No essay required smartass. So, no girlfriend since high school?”
“A few. No one really serious. I didn’t live with anyone for more than a few weeks. My job was too stressful and I wasn’t easy to be with. Your turn.”
“Well I grew up in New Mexico. My dad was with the border patrol. I followed in his footsteps. I went into the border patrol as well but I wanted to be somewhere other than the hot southwest. When the chance came to work here, I took it. That job down there was very dangerous and stressful. Working up here is like a vacation. It was way too dangerous to even think about having a relationship back there. All of my family’s emergency procedures were practiced all the time. We knew what to do in any situation under any circumstances. I would be more willing to try at a relationship living here.”
“How long have you lived here?”
“Two years so far.”
“Well I’m sure you’ll find someone…” I was interrupted by my phone. I looked at it. “Sorry hang on a second.”
“Jen, what’s going on?”
“We are getting ready to head back to camp but saw your vehicle still in the lot. Are you ok?”
“Yes, I’m fine. My car was totally blocked in and I couldn’t take it, so I got a ride from a friend.”
“Ok, great. We’ll see you soon at the camp then.”
“I’m not at the camp now but I will be later. Thanks for caring. Is it still totally crowded in there?”
“Yes, it is, but they are starting to clear out. Our crew is still there though if you want to go back.”
“Maybe, see you later. Good night.”
Candice had been sitting back quietly while I was talking. Now she spoke. “Party breaking up?”
“Not even close it sounds like. Jen and Tim are calling it though. They were worried because my car was still there.”
“That was nice of them. I don’t want you to leave. Will you stay longer please?”
“I can stay for a while longer. What would you like to talk about now?”
“I don’t really want to talk now. Will you come inside with me for a while?”
FOUR
Candice had a beautiful little home. She didn’t have a lot of stuff. Most of the decorative items where from New Mexico. She hadn’t been here long enough to buy many things from the north.
“This looks like a very comfortable home Candi. You should be proud of your accomplishments.”
“I am. I like it here. But I like where I’m from as well. Would you like a coffee or tea? I know you’re not much for drinking.”
“Yes, coffee would be great; it’s still early enough for one.” I stepped over to the kitchen where she was.
She started the pot then turned to me. Her deep brown eyes were penetrating. When she ran her hands up my arms, it tingled. Candi leaned in and kissed me. It felt nice and I didn’t stop it. I kissed her back. We stood there as the coffee and our feelings of desire brewed. How was I going to get out of this mess? I couldn’t start a relationship with Candi. I don’t even live here. I stepped back from her.
