The Job (Volume One) (4 page)

The first few e-mail replies I receive are men looking to meet up tonight. As in a couple hours from now. I’m not sure if it is nerves or what, but I want nothing to do with any of it. Then comes the e-mail I never expected.

Dear Desperation,

I am sure you have had a lot of replies to your ad this evening. I’m not going

to be like those men and ask how much for a blow job or whatever crass wants

they have tonight. I’ve been in your position once upon a time and I want

nothing more than companionship. Can I pay you to come have a drink with

me on the beach and see what goes from there?

I’m a 45 year old widow. My wife passed away from cancer nearly a year ago

and I have this big home to myself. It gets lonely and night after night I

cruise through these ads hoping to find a genuinely good person. Someone

real with a good head on their shoulders. Would this be you?

No sex. Nothing creepy. $300 for a few hours of your time tonight.

If we hit it off, and want to take it to another level, I’ll compensate you generously.

Signed,

Lonely on the Beach

Also known as Brian

I re-read the email a number of times wondering if something like this could actually be for real. Everything about it seems like a scam. The picture attached is an older gentleman with the beginnings of grey around his sideburns. His dark hair is neatly trimmed and he is wearing a light button down shirt. He had the perfect smile and everything about him screams professional. This is the part where my own judgment is a problem because I feel like
Lonely on the Beach
is just too much of a good guy. I’m not that lucky by any means.

I click on the email reply button and begin my brutally honest reply.

Dear Lonely on the Beach,

I’m new to this whole thing, as I suspect you are not. My initial instincts tell

me that this isn’t an honest email. Even though I feel doubt, my heart

aches if you are being honest with me. I can’t imagine being in your shoes.

If you send me an address as well as a few more pictures, I will meet you

tonight.

-Desperation

Also known as Madeline

A few minutes pass and I delete a couple of the e-mail from men I would never consider. Or those who simply say some bullcrap like
send me a picture of your face.
No thank you. If you can’t follow the simple directions of my ad, I don’t want to be bothered with you. Period.

Lonely on the Beach replies to my email quickly.

Desperation,

I can’t blame you for being cautious, but I am the real deal. I have no big

secrets to hide and no shame in my story. My address is 3400 Atlantic Avenue,

I’m on the ocean side of the beach as I am sure you can tell from my address.

A quick property records search will show my name to be Brian Thompson and if you Google me, you can find several of my pictures associated with my

name as well as local charities. My wife, Audry Thompson’s obituary can also

be found, not to be morbid. I hope to see you tonight. 6pm sharp.

Lonely on the Beach

I take his advice and Google his full name and look for the obituary of his late wife. Finding it comes without much effort when I see the articles about the local doctor and the loss of his wife. My heart breaks for him realizing just how lonely he really is and tears begin to pool in my eyes while I read line-by-line about the life that they shared together and the children that she left behind. I can’t imagine being taken so early in life and not being able to see simple achievements of my children, like graduating college or getting married.

Instead of e-mailing him back, I look at the clock and begin to get ready for my date. If you would even really consider this a date. My quick shower this morning wasn’t enough to be date worthy, so I decide on another; this time, complete with shaving all kinds of places I’ve left neglected like my legs and my poor vagina. Better to be prepared than scare this guy away for good; because from the sound of it… I may need him just as much as he needs me.

Considering I’ve lived in this area my entire life, I know exactly where Atlantic Avenue is. I also know that there is a huge stretch with giant homes that I’ve dreamed about owning since I was a young girl. Million dollar beach-front mansions right on the water where your only backyard is the beach. I type the address into my phone for mere guidance to the number and start the short drive. Barely five minutes later I am looking at this giant house, lights on, front gate open and welcoming. As if he was waiting for me to come. Or at the least, hoping I would join him for the evening.

Conflicted on what to wear when I started to get dressed, I opted for a simple, long sundress that would be comfortable for a warm Florida spring evening. Something I would wear to dinner or for a late night walk on the beach. I pull my car in the driveway and park next to the small silver sports car occupying the massive parking area. Hell, who knew people had parking lots in their front yard? Then again, I’ve never really had the opportunity to
hang out
at one of these beautiful homes before either.

I take a deep breath and send up a silent prayer to Jesus, hoping this isn't the worst mistake of my life and open the car door. My flip-flops hit the fancy red brick driveway at the same time as the front door to the beautiful ocean-front home begins to open. His voice scares me and I’m half tempted to jump back in my car and peel out of the driveway, only leaving skid marks as a memory.

“Madeline, you came?” His deep voice makes my body tremble. It reminds me of the old musician Barry White. Smooth and intimidating at the same time. I can only nod in reply to him because the lump in my throat is so big I’m afraid I could actually choke on it.

“There is nothing to be afraid of, Madeline. You’re new to this, huh?” Is it that obvious? I want to ask him that, but I just nod again. Hours ago I was this strong woman looking to take her life back into her hands. Now, I am a mere child. It is astonishing how I could have such big balls about this and be cut right down to size in an instant.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come.” I choke out and turn for the car. One step, two steps, three steps, and his hand is gently wrapped around my upper arm stopping me. I’m paralyzed by his touch.

“Just come inside. I have dinner waiting for us on the deck. My offer still stands. Nothing has changed. Join me for a meal and then you can go, if that is what you want.” I can’t even listen to his words because my own conscious is arguing so loudly. My ears are ringing and confusion has set in. I knew from the get go that this was all a bad idea, but right now that three hundred dollars could turn my cable back on and buy at least two weeks worth of groceries. Could a meal actually be that bad?

“Okay.” I say. His fingers release his slight grip on my arm and slowly fall to his side, fingertips caressing my bare arm on the way down.

“I promise you, Madeline I won’t overstep my boundaries.”

Looking around the back deck of Brian’s home, I find myself becoming increasingly jealous. Not in a nasty way, but man… I could only imagine waking up to the sun rising over the beautiful waves every morning. To the left of the small glass table for two is a set of stairs that brings you right down onto the shore. The back wall of the home is almost completely made up of huge windows that make me feel like an ant. When you think of beach-front home, Brian’s home is the first vision most people would get.

“Living here alone, now that all the children are away, is lonely. Can you see why I look for companionship?” His words continue to run through my mind while we eat some fancy takeout I am sure he had delivered.

The bleak silence between us didn’t last long because Brian quickly began a great conversation. I almost wished he would have been one of the men that actually replied to my dating ad because we quickly learned how much we truly had in common.

“Madeline, honestly. Why the ad?” His question took me off guard and I wondered if I should give him an honest answer.

“I need the money.” I try to keep it short and to the point, but I know after the flowing conversation we had, he won’t let me stop there. Brian comes off as one of those smooth, romantic men, but on the inside I can see a fiercely protective alpha male residing in his bones. He is the caveman type that can show a woman who they really belong to. The kind of man we all want in the bedroom and in our love lives.

“Is this your first
trick
?” He says with air quotes and a smile.

“Yes, I didn’t answer any of the other replies I got tonight. You were by far the most appealing. To be honest with you, I didn’t think you would be the real deal.” Maybe it is the glass of wine helping me to open up a little bit more about the situation; or maybe it is just that I actually feel comfortable with him.

“Would you like to go for a walk on the beach?” Before I can answer him, he pushes his chair back from the table and makes his way to my chair, slowly pulling it out and extending his hand. A true gentleman, I think.

“Do you miss your wife, Brian?” I don’t want to bring her up, but my curiosity gets the best of me. A bad trait that I’ve battled with most of my life.

“There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t miss Audry. She was the love of my life. She gave me three beautiful children and doted on me just like a wife should for all those years. I was so blessed to have her for the twenty five years we had.” He pauses to look at me and back to the moon dancing across the waves. “We had our ups and our downs, as all couples do. Now, she’s been gone for almost two full years and I just can’t live without companionship in my life. Even if I have to pay for it.” I hate that I spoiled his mood.

“I’m sorry for bringing it up. I just never thought a man like you would have to pay for company. You clearly are a very well to-do man. You could have anyone.” My own self-conscious issues begin to float to the surface, even though I’m trying to put my best foot forward.

“Madeline, the problem is…” he pauses again and lets out a deep breath. “Those women know who I am. They want me for one reason and that is my money. With you, I know from the get go you aren’t here trying to marry me and take my money. You aren’t someone who is here trying to replace my wife or be some kind of socialite trophy. It’s an up front agreement. It’s no expectations of a happily ever after or more children.” Thinking about what he is saying makes sense. He wants companionship in his own private way. Which I don’t blame him for, by any means. I can’t imagine having woman after woman trying to constantly replace the woman he spent his life with.

“You seem like a really great guy, Brian. And you deserve to be happy.” I smile and think of my own happiness and finally going after what I want in life. Just like he is, even if it is in a strange way.

We walk up and down the beach, holding hands and talking about everything from his son’s Ivy League education to my own ex-husband. I never thought when I put that ad up I would end up in this position. And if I am being completely honest with myself, I prayed for some kind of raunchy sex out of the deal. I can’t remember the last time I had a man throw me against the wall and nail me like a barely legal co-ed.

As we make our way to the back stairs leading to his deck, Brian pauses and faces me. He’s a tall man, standing well over six feet. I glance up at him waiting for him to spill whatever it is he’s been distracted about during our walk.

“I really enjoy your company. I think our evening together has been absolutely amazing. This is the first time I’ve actually wanted to say this to a woman I’ve paid to spend time with me, but never once has it gotten to this.” His tongue glides across his bottom lip and his hand rests on my hip. “I’d like to spend the rest of the evening with you. Upstairs in my bedroom. I don’t care about the money or the cost, I just want you, Madeline.”