Authors: Joan Early
“I haven’t seen a great deal of the city, but I’m not too fond of the heat and the terrible traffic.”
He laughed. “Please allow me to acquaint you with some of our more favored attractions, beginning with our superb restaurants. This weekend, if you’re free.”
“I’m free and I’d love to see a little more of the city.” She scribbled her cell phone number on the back of a business card. “I’m staying at the Executive House.”
* * *
Susan’s first date with Marc was a quick lunch on Tuesday, but the second was an enjoyable dinner on Friday night. She learned he was a wine buff with a big appetite, and she delighted him with details of her kitchen skill.
“You make biscuits from scratch? I don’t know anyone who does that. I’d love to have breakfast at your place.” The lilt of his voice when he said the word
breakfast
suggested his intended direction for their relationship.
Susan was on guard when he took her home, but was almost persuaded by his probing goodnight kiss.
“I enjoyed dinner.” She eased from his arms. “See you tomorrow.”
She dressed in jeans for a concert in Herman Park on Saturday. Marc was laid back and humorous and Susan enjoyed the outing. This time the goodnight kisses continued until his hand snaked under her top.
“It’s a little late, and I’m a lot tired,” she said, removing his hand.
“He’s slightly aggressive, if you know what I mean,” she told Angie the following afternoon. “He’s entertaining and has a high level of confidence, but he’s not a braggart. He plays classical piano and violin and competitive chess. I’m a pretty good chess player myself, so we do have a great deal in common.”
“I’m glad,” Angie answered. “See, there are a few good men in this city. I found one, and I’m sure you will, too. Maybe you already have.”
By the time of their lunch date on Tuesday, Marc spoke with ease about his life.
“My ancestors were able to prosper in spite of the obvious obstacles. My great-grandfather owned a cotton gin, my grandfather acquired a lot of property and owned a general store in the Fifth Ward, and my dad was the first attorney in the family. I followed his lead.”
Susan told him of her initial goal of pursuing a legal career. “I’m not taking any classes now, but I fully intend to continue, hopefully, next semester. I enjoy law very much.”
“You also must enjoy a good battle if you took on Willard Cartwright. Most people shake when he walks into the room.”
“Are you speaking from observation, or are you acquainted with Willard Cartwright?”
“We’re well acquainted. My father and the senior Rev. Cartwright are good friends, and I dated Will’s sister Terri years ago.”
Susan was completely attentive. “Are you members of his church?”
“No, we’re Catholic, but my dad has a lot of admiration for Rev. Cartwright as a minister. They’re very nice people. Will is a genuinely concerned and compassionate man, not a grandstander. He’s also a damn good racquetball player. Beats me every time we play.”
Her relationship with Will was over and she had vowed not to second-guess her decision, but soon realized she was more interested in Marc’s conversation now that Will was the subject. Hoping that Marc would be more than a distraction from her memories of Will, Susan met him for lunch on Thursday and accompanied him to a poetry reading at a club in the trendy Westheimer section of the city on Friday night.
In a conversation with her mother, she defined him as a bohemian intellectual with highly refined tastes. “That’s a contradiction, but a nice one,” she told Tammy.
She met Marc for Sunday brunch and he described himself as an odd duck.
“My mother was the disciplinarian in our family. She is Asian and very strict. I enjoyed things from my parents’ world. Even as a child, I liked classical music and theater, which made me somewhat of a social outcast among my peers. I had a close-knit family, so it didn’t bother me too much. I still find it difficult to find dates with similar interests.”
“I understand. I’ve always been told that humans are paired by nature, and it’s a simple matter of crossing paths with your predestined mate. I think that concept worked better when there were fewer people in the world. With the population of Houston alone, we might have a very hard time connecting, but I think we finally meet the right person.” She smiled sweetly.
Marc was relaxed and enlightened, and easy to be with. Susan also relaxed and prepared to be swept away by his charm, but hesitated about taking the big step. He took one she didn’t expect and invited her to his parents’ home for dinner.
“They really liked you,” he said when were back at her apartment.
“I like them, too,” she answered, smiling. “And I like you.”
“But?”
“But what?”
“You know what I mean. There’s some kind of wall between us when it comes to intimacy. I’m not looking for a quick roll in the hay, but I sense hesitation on your part. Is it me?”
She knew what he meant and searched for an acceptable answer. “No, it’s not you. I like you a lot; I’m just not into casual sex. I like moving slowly so I can sort of see where I’m heading.”
He reluctantly accepted her answer and invited her to a gospel concert the week before her trip to Canton. He was on time and, as usual, very complimentary.
“You’re beautiful. If our relationship doesn’t work out, you’re going to be a hard one to forget.”
Susan wanted to want him, but Will was still very much on her mind. A determined Mrs. Whitehead had sent her photographs taken at the convention. At first she placed them in a drawer, but after rethinking her decision, she framed one of them and placed it on the nightstand next to her bed. She reasoned that she had to forget him with his face in full view, or suffer each time she saw him or his likeness.
They met Angie and Carl at the concert and the two couples sat in the center orchestra section of the theater. Susan’s eyes almost immediately fell on a pair of broad shoulders sitting in the front row, two seats ahead. Shifting a bit to get a better view, she saw that it was Will. Sitting next to a handsome and refined gentleman should have been enough, she thought, but seeing Will made her realize anew that she was not close to forgetting.
The crowd turned when the opening act walked down to the revolving stage, and Susan’s eyes collided with his. He nodded and smiled, lifting his eyebrows when he recognized the man at her side.
Susan did not enjoy the concert. It was difficult enough putting him out of her mind with no contact, but seeing him rekindled every vestige of the feelings remaining in her heart. And there was no escaping him at the end of the show, as Will’s party blocked their exit.
She smiled and gripped Marc’s arm for support.
“How are you, Will? Hello, Terri.” She felt strangely relieved that he was not with another woman, even though she was holding another man.
“Hello, Susan.” His smile was clearly forced. “It’s good to see you again, Marc. How are you, man? How’s your dad?”
“As ornery as ever. How is Rev. Cartwright? Dad said he’s recovering nicely.”
“He’s much better, thank you. I’ll tell him I saw you.” His words were directed at Marc, but his misty eyes were fixed on Susan’s face.
Marc greeted Terri, and Mrs. Whitehead came over to Susan.
“Hello, Miss Cross. How are you?” she asked with a motherly smile.
“I’m doing well, Mrs. Whitehead,” she replied, accepting a quick embrace.
Will’s eyes had not left her face. She blushed, wanting desperately to go to him.
“I know things are hectic this time of year, but after the holidays, if you’re available, I’d like to plan that home buyers’ seminar we discussed,” Will said softly. “Is the offer still open?”
“It certainly is. As a matter of fact, I have already counseled three of the borrowers who attended our meeting.”
“Yes, I know. I understand Sealand gave them preferred rates, and that you wrangled several builder upgrades for Mrs. Parker. She thinks you’re a saint.” He focused on her as if no one else existed. “I appreciate your working with them. Thank you.”
“I want to thank you, too,” Mrs. Whitehead added. “I don’t know you very well, but I have a lot of respect for the way you handle yourself. You’re a very special young lady.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Whitehead.”
They said their good-byes and she guided Marc around the crowd who had gathered to purchase CDs. Stealing a backward glance and finding Will’s dejected look hard to take, she gripped Marc’s arm, knowing she had to get past her feelings.
* * *
Over coffee at her place, Marc invited Susan to a special showing of Renaissance art.
“I don’t know a lot of people who share my interest in art, and certainly not many who are familiar with paintings from that period.”
“I’m sure I’m not as enlightened as you are, but I do enjoy art. The first painting that caught my eye from that movement was a Giotto. I don’t remember the exact date of the painting, but I spent a lot of time studying the peak of the Renaissance.”
“Maybe you’re better acquainted with art than I am. Are you interested in other periods, or just the Renaissance?”
“Once I became interested I followed the artistic movements through history, but I’m not very knowledgeable about modern painters.”
With Will’s face popping up before her, Susan managed to stay focused until Marc mentioned something he observed earlier in the evening.
“Maybe I’m out of line here, but I detected a great deal of tension between you and Willie Cartwright. Was this all about the Cedargrove mess?”
Susan thought of what Will meant to her, even now. He was not just on her mind, but in her heart. His touch, his smell. The wonderful joy he brought to her life.
“Will and I could have had a relationship, but the Cedargrove thing destroyed that possibility.”
“I don’t mean to doubt you, but neither of you seemed to have moved past that relationship. I’m not trying to nose into your private life. I’m just thinking of what I would like to see happen between us, and that’s not possible if you’re still hung up on him.”
She repressed her pain. “Will and I were just getting acquainted, but the feelings were intense. The fallout from the Cedargrove incident made me realize having such a high-profile person in my life would threaten the things I value.”
“Such as?”
“I value my privacy, and I’m a creature of habit. I need to have a certain measure of control over my daily life, and not live waiting to run to someone’s aid when the phone rings. There may be feelings left on both sides, but it could never work.”
“I’m sorry if you were hurt,” he said, tracing her cheekbone with his fingertip. “After meeting you, my family keeps quizzing me about our relationship. I hope to tell them, very soon, that you and I are a couple.”
She smiled wistfully. “I hope so, too.”
The music was soft and relaxing. Susan rested her head on Marc’s arm and felt her fatigue turn to pleasure. Will was gone and Marc was there beside her. Even with Will in her heart, her body responded to the man whose arm encircled her waist and drew her close.
To hell with it! I don’t have time for backwards thinking. This man is gorgeous.
Marc lowered his face to hers and she leaned back expectantly. But instead of feeling his mouth on hers, she heard a shrill scream.
“You have a cat!”
He pushed her away, jumped up and backed against the wall. A terrified Dino scampered under the coffee table.
“That’s Dino. He’s perfectly harmless.”
“Can you get him out of here until I leave?” His voice trembled. “I hate cats.”
Susan took Dino into her arms and carried him to the bedroom. She tried not to laugh at the terror on Marc’s face.
“They are the kindest and cleanest creatures in the world,” she said, no longer able to repress her laughter. “I’m sorry. It’s just that you look so…so ridiculous. He’s just a cat. Domestic, not a wildcat.”
“I was unaware that you had a cat. He caught me off guard.”
The mood had soured. Marc left and Susan lay down on the sofa next to Dino until the phone rang. It was Angie.
“I hate to keep bringing this up, but unless you have a strong attraction to Marc, which I doubt, I suggest you call Willie Cartwright now. That man is head over heels in love with you.”
“Why are you bringing this up now? I thought you wanted me to hit it off with the handsome Mr. Paxton, who, by the way, is ridiculously afraid of cats. ”
“The obvious feelings between you and Will are hard to ignore. Besides, you and Marc have been going out together long enough for you to know if he’s the one, and he’s obviously not. If you felt the same attraction for him that you felt for Will, you wouldn’t be alone right now. I know you’re still hung up on Rev. Cartwright, and from what I saw tonight, he’s still hung up on you.”
“Okay, Angie, what did you see tonight?” She was assuming Angie had read the same pain on Will’s face she had seen, and hoped neither of them could read her thoughts of falling into his arms.
“That man had tears in his eyes when you walked away with Marc. Carl saw it, too. His face was lined with love when he looked at you. I know how you value your pride and being in control, but those things don’t keep you warm at night. If you don’t want to call him, just go over and visit his church. I’ll even go with you. That’s how strongly I feel about the two of you.”
“Okay, I’ll go to his church the first Sunday after I get back, so plan to go with me. I don’t know how he feels about me, but you’re right about my feelings. Seeing Will made me realize just how much I love him. It’s all still there, Angie, even stronger than before. It took all the strength I had to let him walk out of my life, even when I wanted to wring his neck. Later, I realized how difficult a life with him could be, and decided it would never work. Now, I think I’ll spend eternity wondering if I was wrong. Maybe I should run to him. That is, if he’ll let me.”
“Take it from me, he’ll let you.”
* * *
The holiday slowdown at Sealand began the week before Thanksgiving. Travis was spearheading the company’s Adopt a Family for the Holidays drive, and Susan assisted in organizing the donations. They worked side-by-side, sorting and bagging clothing and labeling each bag according to age and gender. The hostility between them had vanished, and Susan was glad.