Now Wouldn't You Like to Know (4 page)

“You’re probably right.”

Stepping out of the Navigator, I collected her luggage and put them together, then secured the SUV. Together we entered what just happened to be the most nationally recognized bus terminal in the United States and long before I was born.

After waiting our turn in line at the crowded ticket counter, Diana discovered that she had been given the wrong departure information. Cellphone interference perhaps. The bus she thought was scheduled to leave at 4:30PM actually left at 3:30PM. The next bus scheduled to depart on that route was 9:55PM that night, almost five and a half hours later.

After some hesitation, and disbelief, she purchased the ticket and checked in her baggage. She was not a happy camper. Sensing she needed someone to talk to, I hung around for a few minutes before announcing that I ought to be getting back on the road. Though she had grown quiet, she was kind enough to escort me outside of the terminal where we talked, though briefly.

Dressed in a form fitting skirt and blouse that revealed ample cleavage, Diana looked stunning. And it did not escape my attention that a few unkempt loners were eyeballing her in passing. Some stood near the entrance like vultures perched above a potential prey, ready to pounce on a moment’s notice. I honestly felt bad about leaving her in this murky situation but I had a potential overnight visit with a family member lined up and a long drive ahead of me.

“Well, you have a nice visit and safe trip up to Philadelphia,” she said as she rose up on her toes and planted an appreciative kiss on my cheek.

“I will, and the same with you,” I said, concluding our journey together. “Listen, let me write down my cellphone number just in case you need someone to talk to during your ride.”

“I would like that very much,” she said looking into her purse for a pen and piece of paper. In the meantime I continued to survey the area. Once she recorded my number, we hugged for the first and the last time, then parted ways. Life, we make friends and sometimes we have little choice but to leave them.

Chapter 3

S
everal miles later, I steered the Navigator back onto I-95 and away from the downtown skyline and headed north. My next exit would be Dunn Avenue, just twelve miles away. My aunt and uncle lived just a block or two from the exit. It had been over a year since I last visited with them. Though traffic was heavy I forged on.

As I drove, I couldn’t help but think about Diana sitting around at that crummy bus terminal with all sorts of derelicts, perverts, hustlers , malcontents, and womanizers, all sharing the same space with her, at least in my mind. No, I didn’t know her that well but I knew her enough to know that she deserved better than the crappy scene I had imagined.

Unable to quiet the guilt I felt, I exited the interstate, turned left, and drove under the overpass and made another left turn which put me right back onto the interstate, this time heading south. Twenty five minutes after I had left her side I returned to the bus terminal.

After parking the Navigator, I hurried over to the entrance. I wasn’t sure if she had decided to walk about in search of a restaurant or store just to pass time. Entering the terminal, I was relieved to find her still inside. She was seated at one of those portable televisions that you put quarters into every five minutes or so until you run out of change. I really thought they had gotten rid of those. Next to her sat a gruffy looking desperado, with salt and pepper hair, who was leaning towards her, probably in an attempt to engage her in conversation. She didn’t appear put off by him, though.

Walking towards her I watched as a thousand watt smile spread across her face. Apparently she was happy to see me again. Her shapely legs were quite the eye pleaser, as well.

“Hey, you forget something?” she chuckled, her eyes flashing a sigh of relief.

“Matter of fact, I did,” I answered.

“Well, before you tell me, let me introduce you to my friend, Bruce,” she said, regarding the gruffy looking desperado.

“Hello Bruce,” I said extending my hand to shake his.

“And Bruce, this is my good friend Sheldon.”

The old man nodded his head and offered me a friendly smile.

“Listen, can I talk to you outside for a moment?” I said, turning my gaze back to her.

“Sure,” she said, rising up and glancing back at the man seated next to her.

Once outside I turned and faced her.

“What’s on your mind Sheldon?” she asked.

“Listen, I’m headed up north and so are you, right?”

“Yeah, that’s right,” she answered.

“And you have no set time to be in Brooklyn, am I right?”

“That’s right,” she answered, seemingly pondering the meaning behind my words.

“And you have no problem being in my company, right?”

“No problems, yet,” she said.

“What do you mean, yet?” I quipped.

“I’m just teasing Sheldon,” she came back with a disarming smile.

“Look, what I am thinking is that I can take you as far as Philadelphia and from there you can catch a bus to New York, that is, if you don’t mind a few stops along the way. How does that sound?”

“Well, are you sure you want to put up with me for that long of a period? Besides, like you said, you have a few stops to make on the way up with family members.”

“True, but so what?” I said, squinting occasionally in order to shield my eyes from the sun above. “Anyway, the decision is yours to make.”

“I know. And your offer is quite tempting.”

“Look, I know we just met but so far, I’ve really enjoyed your company and I consider us friends? Do you?”

“So far, yes,” she replied.

“Then what do you say we pool our resources and head on up the north I-95 corridor together. Besides, I could use the company.”

“Well, I have to admit you’re different from other men I have met,” she began. “For some odd reason I trust you and believe me; I don’t trust men this easily and this soon. You are the rare exception.”

“Then it’s a done deal.”

“Sure, as long as there are no strings attached.”

“Strings? There are no strings attached,” I replied with a mischievous smile, then more seriously added, “Straight up.”

“Okay, it’s a deal.”

“Well, we better go and get your luggage and a refund.”

“Sounds like a plan,” she said with a toothy smile.

The two of us returned inside of the terminal and made our way towards the ticket counter as she struggled to keep pace with me. I was anxious to get back on the road and without unnecessary delay.

“So, you missed me, huh?” she said, glancing up at me smiling.

“Sort of,” I replied. “Actually, I felt bad about leaving you here.”

“Well, I am glad you decided to return for me. Though Bruce and I hit it off conversationally speaking, God, his breath was nauseating. Man, I came close to passing out twice.”

“Why didn’t you just move away?”

“Look, I had put nearly two dollars’ worth of quarters into that television and I wanted to get my money’s worth of viewing. And like I said, he was a good talker. But I was tempted to move.”

I chuckled as we arrived at the ticket counter.

Fifteen minutes later Diana’s personal belongings were back inside of the Navigator and she was seated beside me again with a refund on her ticket in hand. Buckling up, I took off.

Driving several miles west on State Road, the northbound ramp onto I-95 came into view. Steering the SUV onto it we merged with oncoming traffic and continued on our northward heading. Cruising at 65mph we continued on until we arrived at the exit to my relative’s house just off of Dunn Avenue in north Jacksonville. In a short while we were parked outside of their suburban house.

M
y Aunt Laverne and Uncle Ernest had been married well over forty-two years. She was my deceased mother’s youngest sister. And like my mother, was born in Columbus, Ohio. Uncle Ernest was serving in the army when they met and fell in love and married. Shortly after he retired, they relocated to Jacksonville, Florida, the place where he was born and raised and had family. The two raised two children of their own, my cousins Judy and Julian, who went on to become productive citizens. Both lived out of state.

Unpacking only what we needed for an overnight stay, I led the way up to the door, with Diana in tow. I rang the doorbell. Within seconds, my aunt greeted us cheerfully.

“Well hello, my nephew,” she said beaming as we embraced. “How are you? Boy, it’s so good to see you.”

              “I’m fine,” I said, my arms wrapped around her. “It’s great seeing you as well.”

“And who is this young and gorgeous looking lady you’re hiding from me?” she asked peering over my shoulder at Diana.

“Oh, she’s a very good friend of mine,” I answered. “She decided at the last minute to catch a ride with me. She’s heading to Brooklyn, New York. Once we arrive in Philly she’s going to take a bus the rest of the way to Brooklyn. I know it’s a last minute thing and I should have alerted you but I hope her presence isn’t a problem.”

“Oh no, don’t you even go there,” my aunt scolded me humorously. “Your friend is quite welcomed and can sleep in the guest room. You, nephew can sleep on the sofa.”

“I appreciate that auntie,” I said.

“Well, does your good friend have a name?”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” I quipped. “Please forgive me. Diana, this is my Aunt Laverne. Aunt Laverne, this is Diana.”

The two women embraced and exchanged greetings. By now Uncle Ernest had appeared at the entrance. We hugged, his unshaven beard scratching the side of my face. I turned and introduced him to Diana.

“Come on inside, folks,” my uncle said with a toothy smile. Picking up a handful of things I followed my relatives and Diana inside.

While my aunt showed Diana to the guest room, Uncle Ernest and I sat down in the living room and got caught up on family matters. He wanted to know what my chances were of getting the job up in Philadelphia or any other job for that matter, and I told him that my prospects looked very good. We then talked about the Orlando Magic basketball team, the Gators, and the Jacksonville Jaguars. By then the two women had rejoined us.

To my delight, the two seemed to have hit it off well. Of course my aunt felt it her self-appointed duty to share a few embarrassing tales with Diana about my childhood past, like the day I was in school and bent over to pick up something I had dropped and split my pants. Fortunately, my teacher at the time was kind enough to lend me her sweater to wrap around my rear end until my mother could arrive with a fresh pair of pants. Then, of all things, my aunt would have to mention that I was slightly overweight in those days.

After several other embarrassing tales, and thankfully, a few not so embarrassing tales, my aunt said that she needed to go and check on the food she had cooking in the oven. Believe me, whatever she was cooking, it smelled absolutely delicious. A short while later we had dinner and dessert.

Afterwards, we returned to the living room to converse. At some point, I left Diana in the care of my uncle while I grabbed two empty glasses and headed into the kitchen to assist my aunt.

“You know, Diana’s quite a catch,” my aunt said upon my arrival. “And stunningly beautiful.”

“She’s engaged, auntie,” I replied, sitting down at the table. “Or was.”

“Yes, she told me about her abusive fiancé a short while ago,” she added. “But if you want my opinion, that woman in there has eyes for you, nephew. Trust me.”

“I don’t know about that,” I replied, downplaying any romantic interest between the two of us. “I’m just someone she can rely on being there when she needs a friend.”

“I understand all of that, but listen young man,” my aunt urged as she placed a container of food away in the refrigerator. “That woman thinks the world of you and whether you want to admit it or not, you are just as attracted to her as she is to you.”

“Huh?” I quipped incredulously.

“That’s right; I watched the way you two looked at one another, even when you didn’t know the other was looking. There’s definitely something going on between you two.”

“Auntie, like I said, we’re nothing more than friends,” I insisted as I handed her the two empty glasses. Lord knows what she would have thought or said if I had told her that Diana and I had only met earlier that morning.

“Whatever you say, nephew,” she said smiling. “Just the same, and for all it’s worth to you, I like her very much. I really do. I mean, look at Tiffany. She’s gone on with her life. And you, you’re living with your cousin, an unrepentant playboy.”

“Auntie, I am happy for Tiffany. Though it didn’t work out between us, down inside I’ve always felt she was a nice person, very loving and as sweet as they come, especially when we first hooked up. I’m sure Diana is just as special as Tiffany.”

“And that’s what I’m trying to get across to you, nephew.”

I stood there pondering her words but made no comment.

“Sheldon,” she continued. “Mark my words. Before you get anywhere near to Philadelphia you’re going to realize how right your auntie was. And to be honest with you, I think you’re going to feel a whole lot different about that gal before you even get there. Trust me on that. Now go on back out there with your uncle and your
friend
. I’ve got things under control in here. Go on now.”

“Okay, I’m out of here,” I chuckled, kissing her on the cheek. Turning, I headed back into the living room. Though I downplayed what my aunt had said, her words reverberated throughout my head. Still, I had no interest in getting involved with anyone at this time. And Diana, as nice and as attractive as she was, was no exception.

After my aunt rejoined us we played a couple of games of Scrabble. Once in a while I’d catch myself studying Diana in silence and when I did, I’d look over and see that my aunt had been studying me studying Diana. We’d both break out in a faint smile at that point. I knew that my aunt thought she had my number. But, I wasn’t having any part of this attraction thing.

After a while my aunt and uncle retired to their bedroom. Diana and I talked for a brief spell before she headed off for the guest room to turn in. My plan was to get a good night’s sleep and get back on the road by 8:00AM the following morning.