Charmed Life (21 page)

“Hey.”

“Hey, come on in, you’re getting all wet.” She opened the door wider.

“Thanks.” Bobby stepped inside, wiped his feet and flung some water off his hair.

“I was just getting ready to call you.”

“Really?” he asked with surprise.

“Yeah, Marybeth got stood up. Freddy is giving her a makeover right now and they’re heading down to the Hubba.”

“Are you going?”

“Only if you would go,” Grace said. “I was calling to ask.”

Bobby smiled. “I was stopping by to ask you the same thing.”

“So I didn’t blow it tonight?” Grace asked.

“You blow it? I thought I blew it.”

“How?”

“By exposing you to too much too fast.”

“No, it was different. Your kids are different.” Grace smiled. “And since neither of us blew it, I’m gonna go get ready. Wanna have a seat?”

“Sure.” Bobby walked to the couch.

Grace lifted the phone. “I have to call Freddy and tell him we’re going.”

“Where is he?”

“In the bedroom.” Grace began to dial. “Oh Bobby before I forget. I loved your painting of the dogs. Clyde showed me. I was so impressed.”

Bobby’s mouth just dropped open. Grace turned and walked away. He could only laugh at her remark, and at her phone call to Freddy who was only a few feet away.

+++

When they finally left the house, it was close to eleven. Grace and Bobby followed Marybeth and Freddy to the bar. Bobby wanted to stop and check on the kids. Grace didn’t mind. They didn’t have to do much. Polly was awake and on the computer, the kids tucked in for the night.

They headed into Medina.

The Hubba Baloo Saloon looked packed, and Freddy paid two young men ten dollars each to give up their table. That was how they got the one where they did.

Marybeth kept looking at herself in the mirror, and Freddy kept reassuring her. They’d wait for Bobby and Grace to arrive, before getting anything to drink.

Finally they did.

The music was loud and so were the patrons, but they managed to finagle was further back from the dance floor. The only downfall to that was the fact that they had to walk quite a distance from the bar.

Marybeth and Freddy picked up the first round.

From the bar, they kept an eye out on Bobby and Grace. They didn’t seem to be speaking much, but then again, they did drive out to the bar together. Freddy and Marybeth made it a point that they would have to invoke conversation, possibly play some conversational games to get those two moving in the right direction.

They ordered the beverages and each carried two.

Marybeth set down the two drinks she had with a ‘whew’, “I feel so different tonight.”

Grace said, “You look different.”

“Wonderful’ Freddy added.

“Thank you, Freddy. Just a part of me feels naked without my hairspray.”

“But it works for you,” Freddy said. “Now a man can run his fingers through your hair without getting stuck.”

Marybeth giggled.

“Imagine, the passionate sexual moments now. And you’ll get out of bed without the wild woman look held in place, courtesy of Aqua net.”

Bobby groaned.

Craig Barnet approached the table. “Marybeth is that you? Wow.” He cased her. “You are looking hot.”

“Thank you, Craig.”

“Would you like to dance?”

Freddy extended his arm. “Not tonight gigolo, she’s my date.”

“I thought you were gay,” Craig said.

Freddy gasped. “Gay? Me? Please. If I weren’t such a gentleman, I’d slap you. But, not in front of my lady.”

“Sorry.” Craig lifted his hands. “I’ll let you two be.”

Marybeth’s eyes widened. “Craig Barnet just checked me out.”

“And once we get you in that playing hard to get phase,” Freddy waved out his hand. “You’ll be the bell of the Baloo.”

Marybeth giggled. “Did you all see who else was here?” She dropped her voice. “Theresa the cop.”

Freddy looked “Where?”

“Over there. Don’t look.” Marybeth shook her head. “I don’t know how she does it with all the scandal.”

Bobby, who had been silent, spoke up. “She’s probably used to it.”

“Scandal?” Freddy asked. “What scandal?”

Marybeth explained. “There’s always scandal about her and the Chief. She was his secretary and suddenly she’s his head deputy. Didn’t even go to police school or anything.”

“The latest one,” Bobby said. “Is she was having sex in the cell with the Chief.”

Grace’s eyes widened. “There are only two cells. Which one?”

Bobby shrugged. “They supposedly got it on video tape. Who knows? And I don’t know which cell.”

“I bet it was the one I was in,” Grace said and shuddered.

“Don’t forget about the one with the Chief and the Rite Aid girl,” Marybeth said.

“Or the teacher.” Bobby added.

“Wow,” Freddy commented. “The Chief is a sexual beast.”

Bobby laughed.

“This is so much fun,” Marybeth gushed. “It’s like a double date. Grace, can I ask you a personal question?”

“Sure.”

“Bobby, hold your ears.”

Bobby laughed.

Marybeth asked. “If this is too embarrassing, don’t answer. But with you being allergic to yeast and all, what happens if you get an infection.”

Bobby winced. “Guys.”

“Cover your ears.” Marybeth told him. “You don’t want to hear. Cover.”

Bobby took a drink of his beer.

“Infection?” Grace asked. “You mean like yeast infection.”

Loud, Bobby whined.

Freddy replied. “It’s her biggest fear. Can you imagine such a terror breading within her own body. If a little bear and bread made her nuts. Imagine…. That’s why Grace never changes up her laundry soap or has sex.”

Bobby hesitated before drinking. “Is that true?”

“A-ha!” Freddy pointed. “There goes your plan, huh?”

Bobby just looked at him.

“He’s lying,” Grace said.

Marybeth asked. “Which part? The infection fear? No sex?”

“I don’t fear getting an infection; it’s a different type of yeast.”

Bobby cringed.

Freddy spoke up, “But she doesn’t have sex. Not by choice.”

“I have another question,” Marybeth said. “You don’t need to cover your ears on this one, Bobby.”

“Go on,” Grace said.

“If Bobby is drinking beer and it has yeast, and you’re drinking alcohol which works badly with yeast. What happens when he kisses you? Will you get a bad reaction?”

Grace titled her head. “I don’t know.”

“You all should experiment just for future references.”

“I’ll remember that for when we kiss.” Grace smiled.

“You all haven’t kissed yet?” Marybeth asked.

Both of them shook their heads.

“Oh. You have to kiss. Kiss her, Bobby. Why don’t you get that awkward first kiss moment over with?”

Freddy added. “Yes, I’d like to see Grace’s lips on a man or even a woman. It would prove to me she’s not asexual.”

Grace’s mouth dropped open in shock.

“No, no, princess,” Freddy said, pushing her mouth close. “You have to wait for him to approach you with his mouth before you open up.”

Grace huffed.

Bobby stared at Grace, smiling. “Ok, why not.” He leaned to her.

“Wait!” Freddy called out. He slid from his stool with a beverage napkin and walked to Grace. He proceeded to wipe off her lipstick. “Don’t want you two looking like something out of Texas Chain Saw Massacre.” He stepped back. ‘Go on.”

Bobby slowly leaned to Grace. He caught fro the corner of his eyes, both Freddy and Marybeth staring. “You know what?” He grabbed Grace’s hand. “Let’s dance.”

Grace listened, a slow song played,and without reluctance, she agreed, following Bobby to the dance floor.

“God, the pressure,” Bobby took Grace in his arm, keeping a semi safe distance, as he cupped her hand.

“Sorry about that.”

“No, I’d like to kiss you. But not... like that.” He moved with Grace to the music. “So I think Marybeth likes Freddy.”

“I do, too. I don’t think she gets the gay thing.”

“Me either,” Bobby said. “It’s her naivety.”

“Speaking of which. Is it true, you married your high school sweetheart?”

“Yes. Bobby said. “Kind of geeky, I know.”

“What? No. God. I find that a very attractive quality about you.”

“Does it offset the unattractiveness of my girls?”

“Bobby, that’s wrong,” Grace said. “They aren’t that bad.”

Bobby stared at her.

“Seriously, they’re just ... different.”

“And I’m glad they aren’t different enough to keep you away.”

Grace shook her head. “It’s a way of life that I find interesting.”

“In all seriousness, Grace …. They’re my life. I want to have someone in my life, but I want to have them in my life with my kids without a problem.”

“You don’t think I know this?” Grace asked. “Bobby, my dad was a widower. He raised me by himself. I know how it is, from both ends.”

“But my girls …”

“Your girls are who they are,” Grace said. “Whoever you choose to be in your life will know that. And it will all work out.”

Bobby smiled. “You’re pretty special, Grace.”

“So are you, Bobby.”

“And …” Bobby nodded. “You liked the velvet painting.”

“Oh, Bobby, you have so much talent.”

Bobby laughed.

“What’s so funny?”

“Nothing.” He shook his head. “Nothing at all.” He kissed the top of Grace’s head, and brought her into him closer.

He wanted to tell her she was wrong. That she was the one with the talent. Not writing, not dancing, but a talent for seeing a different side to things and people. Maybe, just maybe Clyde was right. Maybe Bobby did need someone different to fit into his life. Someone like Grace. Thinking that, he danced more relaxed and with Grace a bit tighter to him.