A Small Town Dream (23 page)

“Well,” her satisfied mother said as she rose from the table and headed back to the stove, “you have fun tonight. But, not
too
much fun, if you know what I mean, missy.” Annie laughed.

“I won’t end up in jail,” Annie said, “and that’s all I am going to promise.” Her mother watched her leave the house, not terribly pleased with the response.

Annie was not going to be the same any longer.

Paul Jenks parents went away for the holiday weekend and gave him permission to have a party. Annie had not initially been invited, but it wasn’t a social snubbing. They just hadn’t known each other that well in high school and he assumed she would not want to hang out with a general gathering of geeks.

But over the summer, and into the fall, after he told her bluntly that he had not liked her graduation speech, they’d been friendly. Not friends, maybe, but friendly. He had gone off to MIT in September, but they had run into each other occasionally in town when he was home for the weekend. And the weekend before, Paul had invited her.

When she walked up to the front door, she was surprised to find no loud music, no screaming girls, no jocks yelling
chug
. Had the party been canceled? She tried the door, and it was locked. Who locks their door when they’re having a party? She was about to turn away but decided to knock, just in case. After a moment, Paul came to the door. He was in a jacket and tie, his hair neatly combed.

“Hi,” she said, giving a little, self-conscious wave, “heard you were having a party, thought I would just drop by.” He laughed at her joke.

“I wasn’t sure you’d come, but I’m glad you did. Come on in.” He opened the door wide. Annie stepped in
,
and everyone in the room turned to her. They were all in jackets and ties, some in jeans and sneakers but still, jacket and tie. The girls had on skirts or dresses with their hair done up.

“Everyone,” Paul got their attention, “please welcome Annie Stewart, a friend of mine.” The room said hello. Someone handed her a glass of wine. She walked slowly, holding Paul’s proffered arm.

It was formal but relaxed, nothing like what she had expected. Paul brought her to the backyard, by the pool where there were more people and cocktails from a bar with a uniformed bartender. Classical music wafted gently through speakers. He introduced her around again, then led her to a bench near the edge of the yard.

“Like the wine?” Paul asked. She nodded.

“It’s probably the best I’ve ever tasted.”

“Good,” he said. “It’s supposed to be good. I am not a wine drinker, but I am learning. For now, I still drink beer or bourbon.” He excused himself and walked to the bar. She looked around. She had expected loud music, and geeks on computers, eating pizza. She hadn’t expected any girls at all but there quite a few. It all boggled her mind. Paul returned with a cocktail.

“My folks have a great house, don’t they?” She was unable to respond, she was so struck by the moment. “I know,” Paul said, apparently used to the observation. “No loud music, no video games. And girls. Real live girls who talk to us.”

Annie finally spoke. “I know none of these people,”

“You know some of them from high school. Most are freshmen at the university.”

“How do
you
know all these people?”

“I’d been taking classes in Davenport all senior year. When I got admission to MIT in Boston, I was already a year ahead.”
So these college kids are his social circle
. Annie was impressed. Paul had seemed friendless and lost in school, but the reality was, he had advanced beyond high school and didn’t care about its social side.

He raised his glass. “Tutor them in physics and math and they teach me about music and wine and culture.” He clinked his glass with hers. “I love being in and among teachers of any sort.” He excused himself to greet a new couple that had arrived, both older, very attractive. He greeted them with hugs and kisses on the cheeks. He seemed, to Annie, much more grown up than anyone she knew. She watched him play host. She watched him make people laugh. She watched him run a beautiful, elegant, utterly unpretentious grown-up party.

He returned, bearing another glass of wine for her. “You know, there’s a game room downstairs, if you need to see geeks playing video games to calm your nerves.” She laughed at that then abruptly changed the subject.

“Why did you lecture me?” She sipped her wine.

“About what?”

“Why did you chastise me for not addressing you or your friends with my speech? You made it sound like you were this lonely misunderstood loser, and that’s just not true.”

“No,” he said, very matter of fact, not defending himself at all, “you asked what I
thought
of your speech and I told you what I thought it lacked. I said our lives were different and that I didn’t think you had time or interest in me and my friends,
but
that’s just high school, isn’t it?” Annie thought about this.

“Maybe I attached too much importance to it.” They clinked glasses again, and Paul invited her to the hot tub.
She begged off saying she had no bathing suit.

“That’s no big deal. Underwear is fine.” With that, Paul draped his slacks and shirt on a nearby chaise and joined two other girls in the bubbling water. After a moment, Annie stripped down to bra and panties and slipped in as well.

She sat across from Paul. She and the college girls exchanged general chit chat. It turned out they all loved Paul, thought he was a genius and were bummed he had gone east for college so they didn’t see him as much anymore. Paul smiled, seemed a little shy about the praise, but didn’t exhibit any false modesty.
He really is very grown up
, Annie observed again. Then, with the girls still in the tub with them, he addressed Annie.

“Why did you decide to come, Anne?” The girls got quiet. Annie blushed.

“I thought you invited me.” Paul shrugged.

“I did in a casual way, but I’m still curious. It’s not exactly the kind of party you’re used to. Also, you’re obviously shocked that I am hosting it.” Paul’s tone was gentle, but Annie felt trapped. He laughed gently.

“You know, Anne, this is turning out to be like a romantic comedy. We spend four years together, get high a couple of times then you show up at my place, on the wrong side of the social tracks. Crazy. What happens now, Annie? Do we make out, fall in love, realize how similar we are despite the differences, you follow me to Boston, and we get married and live happily ever after?”

“That would be awesome,” one of the girls said. He splashed her and set them all to laughing. Annie laughed as well, but hers was an uncomfortable one.

“What if I said yes,” Annie asked and the girls went silent. They looked back and forth between her and Paul and then began to climb out of the tub. “You can stay,” Annie protested but they left just the same. “Sorry,” she said to Paul and he shrugged. She moved across the tub and sat beside him. They were silent for a while. Annie gathered her courage.

“What would you say if I asked you to take my virginity?”

“I would say no,” he answered without hesitation. She was surprised, then deflated.

“I’m not attractive.” A statement, not a question.

“You are, very much,” he replied, and she believed him. “But I have no desire to take someone’s virginity. Believe me, when I lost mine, it was awkward, and uncomfortable… I was lucky the woman I did it with was older and patient, but, I wouldn’t want to take someone through that experience.” She was about to protest but then, realized she had nothing
to
protest. She couldn’t promise him it would be different with her. She couldn’t say she knew what she was doing, or that she had been reading books about it.

But before she could answer, a woman appeared, leaned on the edge of the hot tub and asked her, “Are you the young lady who’s trying to steal my man?” She was blonde, curvy, and beautiful, with a white and perfect smile. She looked at Annie and then at Paul.

“Also,” he said, waving a hand in the woman’s direction, “I have a girlfriend.” He slid across the hot tub. “Anne,” he said, kissing the woman, “this is Tasha. Tash, this is Anne, our valedictorian.” She extended her hand and Annie shook it.

“Nice to meet you,” Tasha said. “Seriously. You’re very pretty and Paul has said great things about you. He said your speech needed some tweaks but overall, you speak very well.”

“She does,” Paul said looking at Annie, making sure she heard the compliment.

Then Tasha said, jokingly yet with a slight edge, “But don’t you try to take my man.” Then Tasha turned to Paul. “Pretty soon you’re going to have to stop lazing around and feed these people a real meal.” She tugged on Paul’s ear.

“Give me fifteen minutes, honey,” he said, “then I will fire up the grill.” Tasha kissed him again.

“Pleasure to meet you, Anne,” she said. Annie said the same and Tasha moved back into the party.

“She’s beautiful,” Annie said.

“You are leaving,” Paul said. Annie froze.

“I’m sorry,” she spluttered. “I guess I shouldn’t have come after—”

“That’s not what I mean, and you know it. You’re just not admitting it. You’re looking for your answers in the wrong place.” Annie still didn’t understand. Paul sipped his cocktail. “OK. I like you, even though sometimes you can be a little dense.” To prove he was kidding, Paul splashed her, then said, “Have you ever seen the movie
Sleepless in Seattle
?”

Annie shook her head. Paul made an
ah-ha
noise, then said, “I thought not. OK, I’ll give you a little synopsis. Then Paul Jenks proceeded to change Annie’s Stewart’s life.

He told her the basic premise of the movie. A couple from opposite sides of the country meet due to a coincidence based on his misfortune. Then, over a short time, even though the woman didn’t believe in “signs,” all signs pointed toward them being the perfect couple. Annie listened, at first entertained by the sweet love story. But when he reminded her of how she met Dean Moore, and the beginning of the Parker’s book,
On the Road
, Annie’s déjà vu feeling rushed back. A man named Dean, meeting because of a disaster from which she needed to recover, and most importantly, the feeling that she would go on an adventure with him, even knowing nothing about him.

“I’m surprised you didn’t see it,” Paul said, wrapping up. “There’s even a connection between the names. Dean
Mor-
iarty,” he accented the first syllable, “and Dean
Moore
.” She sat wide-eyed. “Oh, sorry. I forgot to tell you the name of the lead female character. Her name is
Annie
.” Annie looked like she’d seen a ghost. Paul shook his head in wonder. “I thought you’ve been meeting with that psychoanalyst.” At first Annie nodded, still in shock over Paul’s astute observation, but then she shook her head.

“I’m not in analysis with him, Paul.”

“But you talk about your dreams, don’t you?” She nodded. “And synchronicity?” She frowned. “None of these coincidences ever came together for you?” She shook her head.

“You just don’t see enough good movies.” With that, Paul drank off his cocktail, stood and got out of the tub. As he wrapped a towel around himself, she noticed that he was very muscular and well-built, something previously hidden under his overly large black T-shirts. “Well, now you know who you need to talk to,” he said. Annie did indeed, still she wanted to tease Paul.

“Who?” she said, feigning mystery and seduction. Paul just winked and turned to go. “Thanks, Paul.”

“You’re welcome,” he said over his shoulder.

“There’s just one little problem, though.” Paul turned back.

“What’s that?”

“He’s not returning my calls.” Paul chuckled.