Authors: Johanna Bock
“Only if you promise to tell your dad I am sorry for the scene we caused last night. I really had no control over what happened,“ Annie confessed. Leah promised to pass on Annie’s apology to her dad.
Feeling some relief, Annie suggested they get comfortable. “Have a seat. I’ll take your suggestion and start when he came back to the club. Besides, you know what happened prior to that point,“ she began. Annie paced the floor in front of Leah as she related the activities of the night. While Annie talked, Leah only interrupted her a few times, wanting clarity or additional information. Annie ended her tale at the point where she had entered the house.
“Annie, why did you leave him that way?“ Leah inquired. “It sounds as if you were getting along great.“ Annie was about to answer her when Leah stopped her. “Never mind, I believe I know the answer. You really didn’t have any other options. Did you?“ Leah asked.
“No,“ Annie agreed. “You know me, Leah. I am really not that experienced in this sort of thing. I might be chronologically twenty-three, but I am an infant at this love stuff. I didn’t want to make a spur of the moment decision in that state of mind -- one which I’d regret for the rest of my life,“ Annie stated firmly.
“I see your point of view,“ Leah responded, after thinking a moment. “So, what is this plan you have where you need my help?“ Annie explained her plan about going to the car dealership. “Annie, do you really want to press this issue?“ Leah asked, frowning at her suggestion.
Annie had to laugh; Leah was always her devil’s advocate. “I really feel strongly on this matter. I have this need to know if what I experienced last night was real or exaggerated due to the excitement. I figure if we see each other at a neutral place and don’t feel the same way, we have an out. We wouldn’t be committed to a quote/unquote date to survive. Yet, if we still have the same feelings, then we could set an official date,“ Annie explained.
“That does sound logical, but do you want to interrupt him at work?“
“Yes! If he is busy, I will wait,“ Annie responded.
“Let’s go then. I see your side of things. I just wanted to make sure this is what you really wanted,“ Leah offered.
As Annie grabbed her purse and keys, she had second thoughts about the plan; it might not be a good thing. Yet, she felt she was doing what had to be done. Her sanity was at stake. If he were helping a valid customer, they would wait until he was done. If he wasn’t on the lot, Annie would go in and ask for him. Her hopes were on the first option. It would give her the chance to observe him without having to talk to him.
***
Arriving at the dealership, Annie’s hopes were dashed. He was nowhere in sight. In fact, for being a Friday morning, there was not even a customer on the lot. Swallowing her pride, Annie approached the receptionist counter to ask for him. To her horror, the receptionist was a girl who had been a high school classmate of hers. After they exchanged greetings, Annie asked for Jeff. The receptionist asked if she was buying a new or used vehicle. Quickly thinking, she said, “Used.“ The receptionist called his name over the intercom system, announcing to all that a customer was waiting. Boy, did she feel exposed. Hiding her embarrassment, she thanked and said goodbye to her fellow classmate and headed to the door of the showroom.
As she pushed open the glass door, she heard his voice behind her. “Annie?“ he asked surprised, but pleased.
Turning, she knew this moment would determine if she had been correct coming here. The look on his face was the same as the previous night. She had been correct, she thought as her heart started pounding hard. “Hi, Jeff,“ she said, smiling.
He reached her with just a few easy strides. He stepped into the open doorway and held the door for her, placing his other hand on the small of back, guiding her out to the lot. Behind them, exiting the showroom was another man whom she soon learned was the ’Jerry ’ whom Jeff was with at the club.
“Jeff, I hope you are not uncomfortable with me coming here?“ Annie asked.
“No, not at all,“ he responded, smiling. “I am glad to see you.“
“I don’t want you to get into trouble due to my visit,“ she continued.
“Annie, don’t worry. As you can see, we are not busy at the moment,“ he remarked.
Annie relaxed and reintroduced him to Leah. He introduced them to his friend, Jerry. Annie told him about her encounter with the receptionist. Hearing her words, he suggested they move over to the used cars section to ward off any curious questions which could arise.
As they walked, Jeff asked, “Annie, why did you run off last night?”
She had a feeling he would ask this very question. “Jeff, what else was I suppose to do? I couldn’t invite you into the house,“ she explained, looking directly at him.
He thought about her answer for a few moments, then nodded and smiled at her. “You are right. I didn’t think about it that way. I thought maybe you were mad or upset with me,“ he stated.
“Jeff, don’t be silly. If I was upset or mad, I would have never given you the paper with my phone number on it.“ She shook her head as she spoke.
“I was going to call you this afternoon.“
Her blood started boiling. “Oh, Jeff. I didn’t know if you wanted to see me again,“ she managed to get the words out.
“Yes, I very much want to be with you,“ he said frankly.
They started walking again; he held her arm possessively. Approaching the row of van conversions, he opened the side door of one of the vans and directed for her to sit down in the doorframe. She sat as directed, and he sat down next to her. From this position, no one in the showroom could see them. Leah and Jerry moved down the row of cars, talking.
“Jeff, I couldn’t sleep last night,“ Annie confessed. “I just couldn’t stop thinking about you.“
“That is strange,“ he responded, grabbing her hand. “The opposite happened to me. It was probably the first night in a very long time where I slept like a baby. I must admit it did take me quite some time to fall asleep. I was trying to figure out why you darted off so quickly, but once I had decided I would call you today, I went right to sleep.“ She clutched his hand tighter.
They sat there several moments, not saying anything. Jeff broke the silence. “Annie, do you want to go out tonight? I’d like to go back to that club we were at last night. Would you like to go there for dinner?“
“Yes!“ she responded, a bit too quickly she felt.
They set a time for him to pick her up. Wanting to avoid the rush, they were going to meet early. Saying goodbye with a quick kiss, they went in search of their friends.
Minutes later, as Annie drove away from the dealership, her heart was singing.
***
Annie spent the rest of the afternoon getting ready. She showered again, shaved her legs, curled her hair, did her nails, applied makeup and decided on what to wear. Sleep never entered the picture.
When her parents arrived home from work, she finally broke down and talked to her mother regarding Jeff, telling her she had met someone special. She chose to leave out the details about the inner feelings she was experiencing about him. She explained to her mother that he was arriving soon.
Her mother sensed her excitement, but also knew her daughter was reluctant to say much. “Annie, are you sure you know what you are doing?“ she asked with concern in her voice.
“Yes, and no,“ Annie answered truthfully. Her mother gave her one of those questioning looks which are reserved only for mothers. “Mom,“ she began, “please don’t give me that look. I don’t know what direction this is going, but give me the chance to enjoy the experience without feeling guilty. Listen; you and Dad raised me. I am a smart girl. You have always trusted my instincts in the past. If I run into problems, I will call you. I promise. Don’t worry; I will be fine.“
Her mother digested what she said and smiled. “Of course, you’re right, honey,“ her mother finally remarked. “I want you to have a good time.“
“Thanks, Mom. I know I will,“ Annie said, smiling. Then, she kissed her.
Annie was putting on her shoes when the doorbell rang. She hurried to answer the door before anyone in the house got there, but she was too late. When she rounded the corner of the living room, her mother and Jeff were exchanging greetings. She had invited him into the house. He glanced over and saw her as she slowed her pace into the room. His face lit up into a huge smile.
Smiling back at him, Annie made her way to his side. “Mom, I would like you to meet Jeff,“ Annie started to introduce the two.
“We have already introduced ourselves,“ her mother reported. Feeling a little silly, Annie laughed nervously. Jeff felt her uneasiness and rescued her by stating their reservation were for 6:30 PM and they had better be on their way.
Annie smiled her thanks to him and told him she needed to get her purse and would be right back. As she dashed back to her room, she felt guilty at having to abandon him with her mother. Grabbing her purse off her bed, she returned back to the front of the house. As she approached the family room, she heard her father’s voice.
God
, she thought. Mom was introducing Jeff to DAD. Her feet took flight. Her father, who they lovingly called the ’Giant’, was the supreme ruler in her house and a very imposing person. She knew his bark was far worse than his bite, but he could be intimidating to those who didn’t know him. She hadn’t warned Jeff about her father.
She had just entered the family room when she heard Jeff say the worse thing he could to her father. “It is nice to meet you, Mr. Downs.“ She rolled her eyes and braced herself for her father’s response as she walked over to Jeff and placed her hand on his arm.
“Young man,“ her father started, “I am a doctor. I spent many years of my life to achieve this status and I expect respect where you are concerned.“
Annie felt Jeff tense and her heart went out to him. She looked at her mother, pleadingly. “Dad!“ she said before he continued. “Jeff had no idea.“ Annie knew it would be a very long time before her father would alter his current feelings of disdain for Jeff. That one, single, innocent misstep by Jeff, meant as a genuine greeting to her father, had established the rocky road ahead between the two of them.
Annie figured the best thing to do would be to exit the house now before either one of them said anything else. “We better get going if we are to make our reservation for dinner,“ she said, pulling Jeff to the door as she spoke. “Goodnight, Mom and Dad.“
Annie sensed Jeff’s confusion as they walked to his car. “Jeff, please don’t be upset,“ she spoke quickly as they approached his car. “Dad is just a little overpowering. Please don’t let him ruin our night.“
“Overpowering is an understatement,“ he said. “He really put me in my place.“
“Jeff, you had no idea. It is not your fault. Please don’t worry about it,“ she pleaded. For a fleeting moment, she saw hurt and confusion flash across his handsome features as he handed her into his car and shut the door.
Annie glanced back at the front door of her house. Her mother was looking out the window, as Annie knew she would. Annie gave her a thumb up signal.
Jeff got into the car and started the engine. As they drove off, his right hand again found her upper thigh and he gently squeezed it. Annie looked over at him. “You look great,“ he said, smiling. All tension had dissolved from his features. He removed his hand from her leg and reached behind her seat. When his hand reappeared, it held a single, long-stem, red rose. “For you, my beauty,“ he spoke in a silky voice which caressed her body.
Annie took the rose and drank in the aroma it gave off. She leaned over and kissed his cheek, noticing he had been thoughtful enough to shave. She savored the scent of him. “Thank you,“ she bubbled. “For the rose and for understanding.“
***
Chapter Seven