Appointment with a Smile (9 page)

“Thanks. It’s pretty much an average home by U.S. standards. Bi-level, with a huge backyard. Two acres. Apple trees, a locust tree, and crab apples. Also, a large garden, and some sheds where I keep gardening equipment. There’s a double-garage-sized art studio on the side of the house.”

“It sounds lovely.”

“Thank you.”

The waiter appeared, and we ordered. Carrie continued to keep us entertained and seemed very smitten with Esther.

The cuisine was modern European. The aromas in the warm, intimate setting were extraordinary. I ordered cottage pie, and Bethany ordered stuffed trout in wine sauce. We then split them so we could sample. Both were delicious, and the accompanying pinot grigio was excellent.

In between bites, Bethany said, “May I ask why it is you prefer staying only in Colorado?”

“I strongly suspect it’s from my childhood.”

She leaned nearer with a look of interest. “Why is that?”

“I spent my childhood traveling from one parent to the other. They were divorced when I was four. I went from Texas with my father to Kansas with my mother, and the wonderful interludes between were spent with my grandparents in Colorado. I attended college in Colorado and decided to live there.”

“Esther told us you live in a suburb of Denver, the foothills.”

“My maternal grandparents resided in Littleton, Colorado. I stayed with them so much as a child that I came to love the area. My brother and I went to school there. After Molly left, I moved from Denver to my current home.”

Bethany raised her eyebrows. “Molly? The woman Esther says you’re still intrigued with?”

“She’s the one. And Esther has a big mouth.” I spoke loudly enough to get Esther’s attention.

Esther bristled and said in a mocking tone, “That’s right. I told her every little boring detail of your life.”

“Esther, what crawled up your trouser leg?” Carrie asked.

“I knew Danielle would complain.”

Carrie was an attractive woman with exaggerated gestures and a loud, showy exterior. But one sensed that down deep she was extremely sensitive. She dressed with a youthful, urban look. She wore a pale jade top with an exotic print. Gold-tone designer embellishments studded her cognac-colored skirt. Gold bangles lined her arm and jangled when she lifted them while she talked.

In short, she was larger than life. Her rust-colored, stylishly trimmed hair rested on her shoulders. Her eyes were blazing and sorrel. Her makeup was perfect for her light complexion. And she was as funny as Esther had advertised.

Carrie shrugged at Esther. “There are times I’d like to send Esther on an all-expense vacation to the ASBO.”

“ASBO?” I asked.

“Anti-Social Behavior Order. It is not a good thing.”

Both Carrie and Bethany chuckled at the comment.

“Sounds perfect for Esther,” I agreed.

“That’s why I love the travel industry,” Carrie said. “I can send the doolally arses on their way. The farther the better at times.” She patted Esther’s shoulder. “You, my little sunbeam, are hard work in the best of times.”

I looked at the smiling faces around the table and found that, much to my surprise, I was very much enjoying the evening.

“Molly looks like a lovely woman,” Bethany told me.

“How do you know?”

“Esther told us about your exhibit. I dropped by the gallery on the way here. I noticed a couple of paintings of a woman. One was titled
Reunion’s first Glimpse
.” Her gaze followed my every move, as if she were closely scrutinizing my reaction. “And I’m guessing that would be Molly.”

I sipped my wine. “Yes.”

“You painted it with immense love.”

“Certainly it’s painted with immense something.” My voice trembled a little.

“Your eyes show how wounded you are.”

I couldn’t deny her guess. I glanced away and took a quick bite. “This cottage pie is delicious. Are cottage pie and shepherd’s pie the same thing?” I’m sure it was painfully obvious I was moving the conversation to safer ground, and Bethany let it go.

“Cottage pie has beef in it, and shepherd’s pie is from lamb.”

“I love the Brits for their precision with the language,” I said.

“I’m in hopes you also love Canadians. I’m from Canada originally.” Bethany handed me a dessert menu. She recommended we sample the various desserts, and all four of us agreed. We would order the chocolate orange soufflé, lemon geranium ice cream, redcurrant cheesecake, and a chocolate cake lathered in raspberry and rum sauce.

With desserts, Bethany had also ordered an array of after-dinner drinks that perfectly paired with and complemented each dessert. As we sampled dessert, we sipped drinks. At one point Bethany lifted her glass and tipped it toward my lips.

“Yum.” I gazed into her eyes. “You know your way around good dining.”

“Lots of travel. And good taste.” When I didn’t respond, Bethany asked, “Aren’t you going to question why I think I have good taste?”

“Okay. Why?”

“Because I’m going to ask you out tomorrow night.”

Laughing, I replied, “And my taste is exemplary as well. Because I plan on accepting.”

“As soon as we finish up here, I’d like to introduce you to a special club called Sophie’s. It’s comfortable, easy listening music, and homey. Dancing if you like. If not, we can sit in a booth and get to know one another better. Sophie’s Hideaway is terribly British.”

“I’ve heard of Sophie’s but have never been there. It’s highly recommended. Not your standard pickup joint.”

With a hint of her magnificent smile, Bethany whispered, “Rest assured, I won’t behave badly. That doesn’t mean I wouldn’t like to hold you throughout the night and try to heal your hurt.”

When the bill arrived, Carrie immediately snatched it. Although I attempted to retrieve it, she was insistent. “You’re our guests. And besides, I’m well-minted. And well-comped.”

“She is,” Bethany said. “She is indeed toffee-nosed. And also owns a travel agency where she gets complimentary passes to everything imaginable. So, it’s on the house. Quite literally.”

“Freebies are my big draw with women.” We all joined in Carrie’s howling laughter. “There’s truth to that statement.”

We’d called for a cab. While we waited, Bethany said with a smirk, “After a couple of drinks, Carrie likes to snog in the backseat of the cab. Just warning.” She took my hand in a nonchalant gesture. “Act like we don’t know them.”

“Snog?” I asked as we entered the cab.

“Make out,” Esther answered. “Interchangeable with canoodling.”

“Well, let’s canoodle our way to Sophie’s,” Carrie said.

The short trip by cab was riotous, exciting, and agreeable.

“Love a slap-up meal, then a little dancing,” Bethany said as we entered the club.

Sophie’s Hideaway was dim-lit and filled with women of our persuasion. The dance floor was surrounded by tables, and a wraparound bar ran along two sides.

Esther maneuvered herself beside me. “What are you thinking?”

“This is terrific.”

She gave a nod in Bethany’s direction. “And?”

“And she’s nice.”

“Nice? Carrie calls women like you custard brain. Bethany is beautiful, in case you haven’t noticed.”

“Oh, I’ve noticed. And quit calling me custard brain.”

“Well, what am I supposed to say when it seems you’re not getting the picture? Amazingly, she seems to be impressed by you and seems to find you somewhat agreeable. I’m very proud of you, Danielle. So try not to botch it.”

As Bethany approached, she asked, “What are you two plotting? An early escape?”

“Absolutely not,” I said, although the thought had crossed my mind. I wasn’t sure how I wanted the night to end. She put her arm around my waist as we walked toward a table. “I’m truly enjoying the evening.”

I realized I hadn’t honestly given anyone a chance because I’d been waiting for Molly. Bethany had so many qualities I admired. She was jovial, and yet I imagined could be formidable. She had a strong confidence, a humor, and she was more than attractive. Esther was right. Bethany was indeed a catch.

After two more glasses of wine, I agreed to a dance. When we entered one another’s embrace, our eyes locked for a moment. I was the first to break from our gaze. Bethany’s touch was warm and tender. We moved well together with the music.

Esther and Carrie danced, cavorted, and laughed. I was happy to see Esther so enthralled. We stayed long enough to close down the bar and then found a cab. Carrie suggested we go to their apartment.

Bethany glanced my way for approval.

“I’d really rather get back to my hotel, if you don’t mind.”

“Make the first stop the Marshall Hotel,” Bethany told the driver.

“Sorry.”

She patted my hand. “It’s okay. I don’t have expectations. Maybe hopes of a goodnight kiss. But if you’d care to save that for”—she looked at her watch—“tonight’s date. That’s fine.”

“I didn’t say I wanted to be alone in my hotel suite.”

Staring down at my mouth, she caressed my chin. She guided my lips toward hers. And toward our first kiss. She whispered into my ear, “Danielle, may I accompany you to your hotel?”

“I’d like that very much.” Our lips gently met again. Her kiss was soft and sensuous. “Very much.”

Chapter 16

Although Bethany came to the hotel with me under the ruse of continuing our conversation, we both knew there would be more. She enticed me by saying she gave the best backrub in the world. It was divine, as was her prescribed remedy for my happiness. She said I needed to be held in her arms.

Of course, it didn’t end there. We made love. No promises, no commitments, and no other incarcerating words were spoken, nor were needed. We talked afterward into the early morning hours, sharing bits and pieces of our lives. It was simply a night we both wanted to share. And had.

Now, as I stood near the bed and watched her waking, I thought it had been one of the most divine adventures of my life. Although sex was better understood with age, it was nearly as confusing as when I was younger. The novelty of sexual encounters had gone, but its mystery endured. It had been an amazing exchange of tenderness and passion. It had also been, as promised, medicinal.

I had awakened with happiness. Or perhaps I awoke beside happiness. For Bethany’s upbeat demeanor had an impact on my previous gloom. Even her smile as she was waking told me of her blissful spirit. So much of a person was written on their face, I mused. Bethany’s morning face was lovely. Her sensitive nature, her humor, and grace made her shine.

“Good morning,” she said softly. “Nice celebration.”

“Very nice.” I returned to the bed and kissed her forehead. “I was about to call room service for breakfast. What are you hungry for?”

Her laugh was low and sexy. “Would you like to make that order specific to brekky?”

“Coffee or tea? And breakfast?” I asked with a smile of satisfaction.

“Coffee. Ham, eggs over easy, and wheat toast.”

I ordered breakfast and sat near her on the bed. “Last night was wonderful.”

“Yes, it was. Danielle, I hope you haven’t gotten the wrong idea. To be honest, I don’t sleep around. I’ve had to know someone extremely well before. I’ve never shared love with anyone after first meeting them.”

“I thought I had retired from Sapphism altogether.” I ducked my head, suddenly feeling a little shy. “Before what I believed to be retirement, I had only slept with someone I’d just met once. And that was Molly.”

Bethany raised my chin with a touch. “I suppose that means I’m in good company. But for what it’s worth, I didn’t view you as a stranger from the moment Esther introduced us. I’ve told you so much about myself, and learned so much about you, that it’s difficult to think we’re in any way foreign to one another.”

I nodded. “It’s as if I really know you. You told me about your parents and your siblings. Your life in Canada and moving to London. And your degree from Oxford University. How impressive.” I leaned over and kissed her. “Lucky for me, you stayed on in London, or we never would’ve met.”

She returned the kiss with a little more ardor. “And you told me about your brother, Dylan. About how we share the love of art, our other likes and dislikes. I think if we’d signed up for a dating service, we’d have been paired together, don’t you?” She noticed one of the sketches on the bedside table and reached for it. I’d drawn the sketches of her before she awakened. “It’s me. How did you capture me so quickly?” She flipped through the other drawings.

They were striking resemblances of her while we were at the club last night.

“I’m fortunate. For whatever reason, it’s as if my mind takes a photograph of people and things I’d like to paint. Moments captured in time. This morning, I did some drawings of you from our date. Especially your smile.”

“Amazing. They’re lovely.”

“I first realized I could memorize what I saw when I was staying with my mother in Kansas. There was a bison reserve not far from her apartment. I would trek to the reserve and sketch. I tried to picture the bison so I could paint them. I can close my eyes, even now, and see them clearly. I think all people can recall images. See in the mind’s eye. My visual recollection seems to be very accurate.”

Bethany closed her eyes. “I can see my family. Not well enough to paint them though.”

“You don’t object to my sketching you, do you?”

“Not at all. As long as I’m fully dressed, I’m honored,” she joked. “Lovely.”

“You’re lovely.” Glancing at the few sketches, I picked one out. “You can have the others if you’ll allow me to use this one to paint your portrait.”

“You mean do a painting of me?” she asked with a note of wonder in her voice.

“If you don’t object. You would need to sign an artist’s release form that Fiona makes me present with my work. I even made Molly sign one years ago when I was still in college. We were together, so it was a joke. One of my art instructors had told me my portraits were too realistic for me not to always make certain I had a release. Molly signed it as a lark. I’m fortunate that she did.”

I took a preprinted form from my art case. Bethany signed, adding a happy face at the end of her name. “I’ll bet your other models didn’t draw you a happy face.”