Blind Squirrels (29 page)

Inside, The Coral Reef was
exactly like every other two-bit bar in town.  People were drinking at the bar,
at tables, at the jukebox, while playing pool, and while throwing darts.  Everyone
else was heading to the restroom – some with a drink in their hand.  Olivia and
I decided to join the people drinking at tables.  We found a table in the back
room near the stage, and we order some drinks from a scantily clad waitress.

Before our drinks arrived, Wes
and Gene showed up.  Gene was not at all what I had expected.  He was clearly
from abroad – possibly from the Middle East.  Although his nose was large and
somewhat protruding, Gene was rather good-looking.  His black hair hung just
below his ears and his bangs swirled across his forehead.  Dark brown almond
eyes were deep-set below two black, feathery eyebrows.  He had small, thin lips
and pearly white teeth.  Gene was not tall, and he seemed a dwarf next to Wes. 
He was trim and fit and he looked very sexy in his tight blue jeans and red
polo shirt.

We had one drink, and Gene
suggested that we drive down the beach.  I didn’t really care one way or the
other, but Wes thought it was a great idea.  Olivia reluctantly agreed. 

Outside, Gene approached a brand
new cherry red Firebird.  He and Olivia slid into the backseat while Wes and I
took the front.  We drove towards the beach and everyone was quiet.  Wes kept
trying to take hold of my hand, but I cleverly stayed just out of reach.  I
wondered what was going on between Olivia and Gene.

Just then, Olivia said, “Leave me
alone.  Don’t ever touch me there again.”  She sounded angry.

Gene said, “What’s wrong with
you?  Don’t you,” (with Gene’s accent, this was more like Don chew), “have any
feelings?”

“Yes, I do,” Olivia answered. 
“But I left them at home – under my pillow.”

“Under your pillow?  Why didj yew
do dat?” Gene asked her.  Then he said to Wes, “We must turn round.”

“Why?” Wes asked.

“We must go back and get Olivia’s
feelings.  Turn round.”  He sounded as though he really believed that Olivia
could have left her feelings somewhere, and
Olivia and I burst out laughing.

Gene suddenly became angry. 
“Turn round, Wes.  I want to go home.  I no like these bitches.”  With his
accent, it sounded like he said that he didn’t like the beaches, so Olivia and I
burst out laughing again.

Even though it was funny, Gene’s
anger concerned me.  I was ready to turn and go back now, and I felt certain
that Olivia was, too.  “Take us back, Wes.  This is not working out.  I didn’t
realize that this was
that
kind of date.  Olivia hardly knows Gene,
and…Well, I don’t really know you either.”

Wes frowned.  “I’m really sorry
you think I was up to something when I asked you out.  I like you.  As for
Gene, he makes his own decisions.  I didn’t give him any ideas.”  Wes seemed genuine. 
I wished I could care, but the more I was around him, the more I realized that
I didn’t.

“Just take me back to the bar,” Olivia
yelled from the backseat.

Gene shouted, “Wes, stop the
car.”  Wes stopped the car and Gene said to Olivia and me, “Get out.”

“Wes, take us back to the bar. 
This is your car,” I said anxiously.

“Actually, it’s not,” he said.  “The
car belongs to Gene.  He wanted me to drive so he could talk to Olivia.”  By
this time, we all knew the kind of talking Gene had in mind.

“Get out of my car,” Gene
yelled.  “I don’t need two fat bitches making fun of me.  Get out.”

Wes tried to soothe Gene, “Come
on, Gene.  We can drop them off at the bar.  You can drive and they can ride in
the back.”

“I want them out of my car, and
you are welcome to join them.  Now, everyone get out!”

“Make me,” Olivia said
confidently.  “I’m not budging from this spot until you take us back to Kat’s
car.  If you think you can haul me out, just try.”

Maybe Olivia intimidated Gene, or
maybe he was all mouth and no action.  Whichever it was, he told Wes to drive and
they delivered us safely back to my car.  No one spoke a word during the drive.
After we got out, Wes followed me to my car and apologized over and over again. 
I told him I wasn’t angry, but I also made it clear that I didn’t want to go
out with him again.  Wes got back into Gene’s car and they drove away in a
cloud of sand, leaving Olivia and me laughing at the whole fiasco.

That was the end of blind dates
and barroom meetings for Olivia and me.  We both continued to date off and on,
but neither of us was ever able to get serious about any of the men we dated. 
The majority of them had limited interest in us, and that interest centered on
the bedroom.  The few that were true gentlemen wanted deeper relationships than
we could give them.  I had sworn off marriage, and Olivia was waiting until
after she got her career in order.   Ten years quickly sneaked past us, and I
feared that true love was going to elude both of us.

Chapter 15

 “Olivia never knew the true reason
that kept me unattached,” I said to Max as I finished my story.  “I couldn’t
tell her that I still longed for you.  I couldn’t make her understand that Max
Savage was the only man I would ever truly love.”

I couldn’t believe I had told Max
this.  The words just tumbled out of my mouth before I realized it.  I half
expected him to jump up and walk – no, run – out of my apartment and never look
back.  How stupid could one woman be to tell a married man – one who has just
confessed his undying love for his wife – that she loves him?

Max was speechless.  He just sat
there on the sofa staring at me – realizing for the first time the true depth
of my feelings for him.  I wanted to take those words back, but it was too
late.  I feared that we had now lost the rapport we had established earlier. 
Max might never speak to me again.

The phone rang.  I almost didn’t
answer it because I thought Max might disappear while I was talking.  Then I
realized that he could leave whenever he wanted – with or without a word to
me.  So I answered the phone.  It was Bridgett.

“Kat?  Where are you?”  What a
dumb question.  She was calling my home number and I was answering.  I must be
at home.

“I’m at home.  What’s wrong?  You
sound upset.”  She didn’t, but I needed something to say.

“Why are you still at home?  Did
you forget about Ginger’s birthday party?”

I had forgotten.  Even before I
ran into Max, I hadn’t thought about Ginger.  After I ran into Max, I hadn’t
thought about anything.  “What time is it?”  I asked, trying to pretend that
I’d lost track of time.

“The party is about to start.  Ginger
is counting on you being here.  Grammy didn’t feel like coming, and it will
really upset her if you don’t show up either.”

I didn’t know what to do.  I
wanted to be with Bridgett and the kids, but Max was sitting right here in my
living room – something that would probably never happen again.  “Hold on a
minute,” I told Bridgett. 

I looked over at Max.  He was
still trying to recover from my earlier declaration.  “Max,” I called out.  He
turned towards me and I continued.  “My niece is having a party for her little
girl.  The children expect me to come.  Would you like to go?”  I knew his
answer, but I asked anyway.  What the heck?  I’d already said more than
enough.  I had nothing to lose.

“A party?”  He seemed to be
recovering from his stupor.  “A birthday party?”

“Yeah.  I guess you wouldn’t want
to go to a kid’s birthday party.  I shouldn’t have asked.”

  “I think I would like to go.  I
need a distraction right about now.  A kid’s party should be a great
diversion.”

Now it was my turn to be
dismayed.  Max really wanted to go to my niece’s party.  Bridgett’s yelling
reminded me that I still had the phone on my ear.  “Kat!  Are you coming or
what?”

“Sure, Bridgett.  I’m coming. 
I’m bringing a friend.  Is that okay?”

“I don’t care who you bring. 
Just hurry.  The other guests are already starting to arrive.”

“I’m on my way.”

Max seemed to enjoy Ginger’s
party.  He helped Ginger pin the tail on the donkey, and he helped her clean
her new doll after it fell in the dirt.  He also gave some of the kids long
piggyback rides, and he joined their games of hide-and-seek and dodge ball.  By
the end of the party, Ginger was in love with Max, and Bridgett was grateful
that I had brought him along.  Of course, she didn’t remember that he was her
old “boyfriend” from long ago.

“He’s great with kids,” Bridgett
said when Max took the kids to eat birthday cake.  “Kip is no good at this kind
of thing.  I’m almost certain that he worked today so he wouldn’t have to be
here.”

Kip was a great guy and father;
he just didn’t know how to act around a bunch of kids.  “I’m sure that’s not
true.  Kip loves his children.”

Well, Max is good with Ginger,
and he even took a turn holding Brucie.  By the way,” she teased, “is this Max
my future uncle?  Or is he just another pal of yours?”

“Max is the one I would marry,” I
said wistfully.  “Unfortunately, he already has a wife.”

“He told me that his wife left
him,” she said.  “He’s fair game.  Go for it.”

“He still loves her.  I’m going
to help him get her back.”  I didn’t know where that came from, but it was
true.  I had decided to help Max win Julie back; it was the only thing I could
do.

“Are you crazy?  The guy must
like you to be spending time at your niece’s kiddy party.  Give him time to get
over her.  After that you can move in for the kill.  Anyone can see that you’re
in love with him.”  Bridgett’s advice was tempting, but I didn’t want Max on
the rebound.  If he was ever to be mine, it had to be completely.  There could
be no question of his love for me.  I wanted all of him or none of him.  I
didn’t want Julie haunting our lives forever.  Better to give him back to her
than to live in her shadow.

“I do love him.  I’ve loved him
for twenty-five years.  And because I love him, I want him to be happy.”

“Come on, Kat.  This martyr side
of you is sickening.  If you love the man, tell him.  He just might surprise
you.”  Bridgett thought that she and I were identical – cut from the same
cloth.  If I started sacrificing my happiness in favor of someone else’s, she
might be expected to do the same.

“Don’t worry, Bridgett.  If Julie
doesn’t want him back, I’ll be there to pick up the pieces.”

“Oh, I get it.  His wife left him
– chances are she won’t want him back.  But you tried to get them back
together, so you look even better to him – like an angel or something.  He
won’t be able to resist you.  You are so smart, Kat!  I should never try to
second guess you.  I learn all the good stuff from you.  I hope it all works out.” 
I wasn’t trying to look like an angel or impress Max, but Bridgett could think
whatever she wanted.  At least she was off my back.

After the party, Max and I drove
back to my apartment.  He seemed pensive for several minutes. Then he said,
“You have a wonderful family, Kat.  Is Bridgett the little girl that called me
her boyfriend?  Years ago – when we were still in school.”

“Yep, that’s her.  Your little
Birdie.”

“Oh, yes.  Birdie.  Now I
remember.  She was a cutie pie.  She wanted to be just like her Aunt Kat.”  Max
had a big smile; he could see little Birdie in his memory.

“She was cute back then.  I loved
that little girl so much.  I still do, but I can’t pick her up and love on her
anymore.  She’d deck me.”

“Well, I guess she did grow up to
be just like her Aunt Kat,” Max laughed.

We pulled into the parking lot. 
Max’s car was waiting for him.  I knew he was going to leave.  I couldn’t let
him go.  Not yet.  As he opened the door and started sliding out, I grabbed
hold of his arm.  He moved back into his seat and looked expectantly at me.

“I want to help you, Max.  With
Julie.  I want to help the two of you get back together.”

“That’s not necessary, Kat.  I
wouldn’t want to put you through it.  Besides, I think Julie has made up her
mind.”  At least he was trying to protect me.  He must care a little bit.

“I insist on helping.  And let me
assure you, I’m not doing this to be a hero or to make myself indispensable. 
I’m doing it because I love you and because I believe that you love Julie.  You
deserve a chance to make your marriage work – a chance to be happy again.”  All
this was hard for me to say.  And offering to hand Max over to another woman
was the hardest thing of all.

“I don’t know what to say when
you tell me you love me.  I know you wish I could return those feelings, but
it’s just not possible.  I think you’re a great person and I’ve always thought
of you as my friend.  But I can’t...”

“I know.  Don’t say it.  Besides,
it doesn’t matter.  I still want to help you.  I’m not going to pretend that
this doesn’t hurt, but remember that I will be spending time with you.  At the
very least, we’ll become great friends.  We might even salvage your marriage. 
Just know that I’m not imagining that you are going to fall madly in love with
me.  It’s been twenty-five years and it hasn’t happened.  I think that pretty
much says it all.”