That’s what I was doing when you came in last night.”
She kind of looked at me as if she were waiting for me to
explain what my problem was. I mumbled off, “I kind of had a
problem with my…zipper.”
“And you were lit. I could smell the alcohol on your breath a
few feet away.” She laughed heartily then. “You really shouldn’t
drink and zip, it’s not safe.”
I scratched at my chin. “I think I would’ve found that funnier
when I was drunk.”
“Oh, stop it. It was corny, but you know you want to laugh.”
And I did. She made me feel relaxed, and that was big since
I hardly knew her.
“Your phone has one hell of a vibrator on it. The change in
your pocket was rattling.” Hailey began to laugh, then her face
reddened when she seemed to realize what she’d said.
My face colored, as well. There was no way I was going to
admit that I had pants full of bullets going off.
“Okay, Fuzzy,” Hailey said when the dog began to yip. She
looked at me apologetically. “It’s dinnertime for her. She keeps a
tight schedule.”
“Chicken on a stick again?”
“Actually, that was for me, but I did share.” Hailey stood. “It
was a pleasure chatting with you, Shannon.”
“You too.”
Our conversation truly had been a pleasure, brief as it was. I
had to admit that I’d had a good time talking with Marvin and his
friends the night before, too. I was meeting people on my own.
Not on the arm of a girlfriend who did all the talking or with
40
Pitifully Ugly
Kalen taking the lead. I found it refreshing and a little exciting.
I was reminded of grade school. As long as Kalen was around,
I had friends, but when she was out with the chicken pox one time,
no one talked to me. That was the loneliest week I’d ever had
then. In a way, I always sort of resented her for being so outgoing
and forcing me into the background. But the truth of it was I
never would’ve met anyone if it hadn’t been for her. I was always
clinging to her and hiding in her charismatic shadow, afraid to
speak up and make myself known. The really pathetic part of it
was I’d not only done it as a child, but as an adult, as well.
41
Robin Alexander
Chapter 6
Not meant to be.
At ten thirty, I walked into Café Du Monde. Satisfied that
there was no blue peacoat in sight, I took a table on the patio next
to one of the heaters. I needed a few minutes to calm my nerves,
but of course, the café au lait did nothing to ease the jitters. I was
celebrating the loss of four pounds, and with that, I found the
resolve to resist the lure of beignets.
At five till, Charity arrived. I saw her first. Her dark hair
was cut short in an inverted bob, heavily highlighted. She was
thin, and that made me a tad self-conscious, even though I was
wearing a pair of jeans I couldn’t get into a month ago. She had a
beautiful smile that lit up her face when she noticed my wave.
“Hello,” she said as she extended her hand. “My real name is
Stacy.”
I stood and took her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, I’m
Shannon.”
“You’re definitely not pitiful y ugly,” she said as she took a seat.
“Thank you,” I said, flattered by the compliment.
“I’m so glad you managed to find a spot near one of the
heaters. The wind is really chilly out there.”
“I have on flannel-lined jeans.” Oh, my God, what a dumb
thing to say. My mind scrambled for something intelligent to add.
“I know that’s ridiculous to admit living in the South, but I can’t
stand the cold.”
“That’s brilliant. I’ll have to invest in a pair.”
42
Pitifully Ugly
I wanted to get her talking so I wouldn’t have to. “So what’s
it like working at Charity?”
“It’s often sad but extremely rewarding, too. I love working
with babies. They don’t argue, and they’re always happy when
you show up with a bottle.”
“I imagine it gets pretty stressful.”
Stacy nodded and ordered a coffee when our waiter appeared.
“It can be, yes. That’s why I love gardening. Everything slips
away when I’m working with my plants and flowers. Accounting
can be stressful, too, I’m sure.”
“It is sometimes, but for the most part, what I do is simple.
Payroll is done by another company, so I mostly manage the
money, pay a few bills, and fill out loads of tax forms. The rest of
the time is mine.”
“So aside from reading and movies, what do you do with the
rest of your spare time?”
Nothing was the truth, but I wasn’t going to admit that. “I
sometimes fish with my brother-in-law. The rest of the time, I’m
shopping with my sister. She has a passion for antiques, so we’re
often muddling through shops.” I sounded like I was ninety. I
should’ve added cross-stitching and shuffleboard.
“Do you like horses?”
“I don’t know any personally, but I think they’re generally
okay.”
“I love to ride,” she said, ignoring my stupid joke. “When I’m
not in my garden, I spend a lot of time with a friend who has a
few.”The conversation seemed to flow well after that. We talked
about growing up in New Orleans and shared silly stories
about our childhoods. I found myself relaxing and enjoying her
company, until…
“So…” Stacy leaned in closer. “Let’s talk about things of a
more personal nature. I like to get this out in the open because it
spares embarrassment later. How many dates do you like to go on
before things get intimate?”
What happened to I’m looking to make a friend first, and if
that develops into something more, that’s fine by me?
4
Robin Alexander
“I…uh…”
“Don’t be bashful,” she said with a grin. “We need to know if
we’re compatible, right? We’re adults, and adults have sex.”
I had no problem with sex, although I didn’t care to discuss it
when I wasn’t doing it. But I did have a problem with her bringing
it up at our first meeting. “I guess your question just took me by
surprise.”
Stacy aka Charity leaned even closer to me and stroked the
back of my hand. “I’m a cut-to-the-chase kind of girl.”
I watched her fingers and noticed the indention on her left ring
finger. Somewhere in her pocket was a gold band that probably
matched another worn by a girlfriend who had no idea her lover
was meeting me for coffee, or worse, a husband waiting for her to
bring home an extra plaything.
“How do you feel…” she lowered her voice, “about anal
sex?”“What?” I practically shouted. “Oh, my God! You touch
babies with those hands?”
“Don’t get all prudish, and lower your voice.” Stacy looked
over at a few stunned onlookers and smiled. When she looked
back at me, the smile dropped from her face with what little
charm she had up until that moment. “Look, I don’t think things