Second Chances (93 page)

He turned and walked toward the front, leaving Sarah dazed and confused.  When he returned a moment later, he handed her a business card.  He flipped it to the back where he had written a name and phone number.  “Call her,” he commanded.  “She will change your life.  I think this is what you need right now, besides me of course.”  He smiled, sighed, and went back to work at a furious pace.

Sarah looked at the card for a minute.  The woman’s name was Brenda.  There was just a name and a number, no address, no job description.  She wanted to ask, but thought better of it.  She would call.   And somehow this would translate into her finding a new direction in her life. 

Moments after she left the salon, she walked through the mall to Nancy’s Coffee and found that she didn’t recognize the woman wearing her clothes reflected in the store windows.  At each window, from each new angle, she would find herself taken aback, and then smile when she realized it truly was she.  Sarah took her coffee and did something that she rarely found time for; she sat down by the waterfront and sipped it ever so slowly, mesmerized by the waves.  She had some time before Brian would pick her up.  Bob had done all the difficult work; she just had to get dressed. 

Just as she was about to get up and walk back to her car, a slip of paper started to fall from her pocket.  It was the business card.  Feeling this must be some sort of sign; she removed her cell phone from her purse and called.  The phone rang three times, and just as she was about to hang up a woman’s voice answered.

“Hi,” Sarah began nervously, realizing she had no idea what to say.  “I, um, had an appointment with Bob today and he gave me your number.  He told me I should call you.”  She was quiet a moment.  Brenda still had not spoken.  “So, I don’t know why, or what you do, but I’m calling you.”  She waited.

“I see,” Brenda said quietly.  “I suppose some would call me a fortune teller.  I think the term ‘witch’ would be more accurate.  I give tarot card readings that are, more often than not, painfully accurate.”

Sarah rolled her eyes and sighed.  “Oh,” she said.

“I take it you aren’t a believer?”  Brenda asked.  She didn’t seem offended, or annoyed, but more matter-of-fact.

“I don’t think so,” Sarah said.  “I mean
, I’ve never had a reading done.  I don’t know much about it really.”

“Well,” said Brenda, “I deal with many different kinds of people in my line of work.  I see the skeptic determined to prove me a fraud, I see the blind believers who are certain everything I say will come true, I even have people who keep coming to me in the hopes I can give them winning lottery numbers.”

“Umhm,” Sarah murmured mechanically, wondering where this was going.

“Here’s a suggestion,” Brenda offered.  “Why don’t you make an appointment, bring a friend?  You can even treat it as a folly.  I don’t mind.  I know who I am and what I can do for you.”

“What can you do for me?”  Sarah was surprised to find herself asking such a direct question.

Brenda laughed.  “Well, for one, I can help those who are lost find their way.”

Sarah was silent a moment.  “Is that what you think you can do for me?” 

“I think that is why Bob sent you to me.  I can feel it in your voice.  When can you come?”

Still shocked, she bit her lip for a moment before speaking.  “Let me talk to my friend and I’ll call you back.”

“Okay.  I’ll expect to hear from you soon,” Brenda said serenely.

A peace came over Sarah.  She knew just the person to call.  She and Jamie had some catching up to do anyway.  And even if this woman turned out to be a fraud, what did she really have to lose?

When she opened the door that afternoon, Sarah took Brian’s breath away.  “Wow, lady in red,” he said admiringly.  The dress had an angled hem that dropped slightly below mid-calf and peaked above her left knee.  The crimson dress was sleeveless and dipped daringly in both the front and back, revealing just a hint of cleavage.  In short the dress was simple, yet elegant.  Around her neck and on her ears she wore matching heart shaped ruby and diamond jewelry. 

Brian just studied her, unable to speak.  She radiated this happiness and sweet sexuality that left him stunned.  Bob had made her even more beautiful than he could have ever imagined.  The long layers fell around her face, framing it perfectly.  Her enchanting emerald green eyes sparkled.  It was all he could do to offer her his arm and lead her to his car.  He was silent the entire ride to the airport, and spent most of his time gazing either out the window or at her.

Sarah caught him once or twice.  She smiled to herself every instance that their eyes met and he quickly looked away.  And yet at the same time it was just a bit unnerving to have him feeling so awkward around her.  One aspect of their relationship that she had always cherished was that Brian had this uncanny ability to make her feel comfortable.  Maybe he just wasn’t used to seeing her all dressed up.

Not soon enough, they were at the airport, their overnight bags unloaded, checking in at the gate.  People were staring at them.  She knew it was because while everyone else was in their comfortable travel clothes, she and Brian were over-dressed for a flight.  Sarah knew that they didn’t have a choice.  They would arrive in New York City with just enough time to check into their hotel, and go out to dinner before the show started that evening.

“Where are we going to eat?”  Sarah asked curiously as they walked through the gate onto the plane.

Brian held both their tickets and was walking down the aisle.  “I thought we could talk about it en route,” he said.  “I have reservations at one place that I thought you would like, but if you don’t want to go there, then we can select some place else.”  He walked through the curtains separating first class from the rest of the plane.

“Brian,” she hissed through her teeth.  He was still walking ahead of her, searching for their seats.  She took a giant step forward and tugged on his sleeve.  He turned his head to see what she wanted.  “We’re in first class,” she whispered.  “You must have gone too far.”  She grabbed his arm and tried to pull him back the other way before an overprotective stewardess arrived to make a scene.

He shook his head.  “Nope, we’re just right.”  He pointed at the number on the ticket and the number above the seat.  “Window or aisle?” He asked gallantly with a smile.

She slid in, hooked her seat belt, and looked at him.  When at last he had settled in and gave her his attention she asked quietly.  “Fly first class often?”

He laughed and shook his head.  “Only the best for you, Sarah.”

The flight was uneventful.  They chatted some, but Sarah couldn’t seem to get comfortable.  She wanted to look and see if she recognized anyone around her, but figured that it would be rude to stare and gape about the cabin.  She decided it would be better to simply settle back into her seat, relax, and preserve her strength, since she was bound to be exhausted later.

At some point she must have dozed off because Brian was calling her name and nudging her gently to try and wake her up.  When she stirred, she realized that she had fallen asleep on his shoulder, with his arm around her.  And while it was not an altogether unpleasant feeling, it did make her feel uncomfortable to wake up in his arms.  Embarrassed, she could barely make eye contact.

Brian gently took her chin in his hand and forced her to look him in the face.  “It’s okay, Sarah,” he said softly.  “I didn’t mind.”  He helped her from her seat, and took her hand as they exited the plane. 
I didn’t mind,
he thought. 
I would gladly let her rest there every minute of every day for the rest of her life.

They had some difficulty with their cab driver.  Brian noticed Sarah giggling as he tried to relay their destination to the man.  He gestured as though to offer Sarah a chance if she thought she could do better.  She leaned back and waved her hands in front of her.  “Oh no, I’ll defer to the expertise of the Foreign Studies professor.”

Soon, they had reached their hotel.  Brian led the way to the front desk.  To Sarah’s surprise, she and Brian were sharing a room.  They walked toward the elevator, pushed the button, and entered as soon as the doors opened.  The doors shut behind and they stood with their backs against the wall.

That’s when Brian noticed Sarah’s appearance in the reflection of the elevator door.  She stood painfully erect with a tight look on her face and one eyebrow arched angrily. 

“What?” He asked, genuinely confused.

She turned to face him.  “One room?”  She queried angrily.  “We’re sharing a room.”

“Come on,” Brian shrugged.  “There are two beds.”   He grew quiet.  This wasn’t right.  What had happened?  Just as he thought they were becoming closer, she was pulling away.  What could he have done?  He replayed the trip thus far in his head.  Was she still upset over the plane ride?

Exiting the elevator, he led the way to their room.  The card lock beeped, and turned green.  He pushed the door open and let her walk in first to examine their temporary residence.  It looked like every other generic mid-priced hotel room in every city he had ever stayed in: two double beds separated by a nightstand that held a lamp, digital clock, and phone.  The beds themselves were decidedly neutral with their two-tone beige striped comforters.  The light oak dresser held the television.  And beside it stood a small writing desk, standard to every room in case the occupant suddenly was struck with the urge to pen the great American novel while in residence.

Brian stood just inside the closed doorway, waiting for her to signal her disapproval or favor.  Sarah had set her bag on the bed nearest the window.  She walked over and looked at the street below teeming with people rushing about.  The skyline was so different from home with its skyscrapers, large sidewalks, and multi-laned streets.

Turning from the window, she moved to the bed and sat.  She was on edge, nervous.  And she was making a mess out of what should be a fabulous getaway.  She looked at the beige Berber floor and sighed.  She saw Brian waiting nervously for her to react in some way, any way. 

Sarah patted the bed beside her, but instead of sitting there, he knelt at her feet so that he would meet her face.  Her eyes were sad.  How had that happened?  “I’m sorry if I’ve done anything to make you uncomfortable,” he began quietly, taking her hand in both of his. 

“Stop,” she said.  Brian stiffened.  “That’s not what I mean.  Ugh.”  She took a breath.  “I mean… you haven’t done anything.  You are the perfect gentleman.  All you wanted was to make today special for me, to be there for me, as a true friend.”  Brian’s shoulders sank.  “I’ve been...ungrateful?”  She couldn’t find the words she wanted.

“No,” Brian began, “I shouldn’t have assumed you’d be accepting of us sharing a room.  I just thought you might be nervous by yourself in the big city, or lonesome.  It never occurred to me it might make you uncomfortable.”  He let go of her hand.

“I’m not,” Sarah said.  “I trust you.  You would never hurt me, Brian.  I know that.”  She leaned over and gave him a hug.  “I’m better now. Are we okay?”  She still had her hands on his shoulders.  Brian struggled to concentrate on the question and ignore that he could feel the heat of her through his shirt.

“Yeah,” he mumbled and pulled her close, welcoming the excuse for a hug.  He righted himself once more then said with a smirk.  “So I guess this means you want the bed near the window?”

Dinner was phenomenal.  Knowing her love for seafood, Brian had made reservations at a nice quiet restaurant with a varied menu that included numerous dishes with shrimp, lobster, and crab.  The escargot appetizer in puff pastry with a white wine and garlic sauce tickled her taste buds.  Brian selected a white wine she had never heard of to compliment the meal.  He pushed in her chair, buttered her bread, and did everything within his power to make her feel special.  It worked.

By the time they hailed a taxi to Broadway, Sarah’s mood had changed completely.  She was glowing and all but floating on air.  Brian had never seen her so relaxed or happy.  “It’s the wine,” she joked, looping her arm through his and leaning a head on his shoulder during the cab ride.  Then, realizing what she was doing, she commented, “This must be how I ended up asleep in your arms on the plane, huh?”

Brian simply rested his head upon hers for a moment and took in her scent.  She still smelled floral fresh from her time with Bob.  Her hair was smooth against his cheek, and for a moment he wished they could just remain like that forever, frozen in a time and place where everything was good and perfect between them.  She was letting her guard down, was letting him be close to her.  That was more than he felt comfortable asking for right now.