Center Courtship (15 page)

Elsu shook hands with the two men, then looked to the young woman he had rescued. “And who is this lovely creature?”

“This is my sister, Emma,” said Junior, pointing to her. He looked back to me and I thought he waggled his eyebrows at me.

Elsu shook her hand as well and she blushed. She was young, probably eighteen tops. She was dressed in sweat pants and a
dingy t-shirt. It looked like she chose her clothes because she wasn't expecting to be seen by anyone important and knew she'd be getting dirty while helping empty her grandfather's house.

“Well, you ready to talk numbers?” asked Quentin as he continued to gawk at Elsu.

“That I am,” I said, as I followed the two men around the house to the building with the cars.

We stepped into the brightly-lit room. More things had disappeared from the walls and the work bench had been removed. I actually was thinking about asking him for that. Anyway, I heard a strange sound from above me. I looked to see Elsu with his knuckle between his teeth. “Holy mother of Fu…” I elbowed him before the whole word came out. “DUDE! I saw the pictures, but they don't do any of them justice!” He rushed around the room looking in each car's window. He was being extra careful not to touch them.

I had to laugh, his enjoyment was so innocent and pure.

Quentin reached into his pocket and as before, retrieved the folded piece of paper. “Tell me what you're offering, I'll show you what's written on this paper. We can see how far off we are.”

I walked to each car and lifted the hoods. “I need the keys,” I said. “I'm not buying anything that doesn't run.”

Junior quickly plucked all of the keys from the peg board. When he piled the keys into my hands, he ran his fingers along the backs of mine very intentionally and made a point to look me straight in the eyes. I cringed but turned to the cars. One by one I started each engine, watched the engine work, and then turned it off. Quentin lifted the garage door to get rid of any poisonous gasses that might have been filling the room. I had secretly hoped they wouldn't all start. I wanted a reason to not buy them.

I looked at the cars again, trying to figure out what I was doing there. I wanted them so bad I couldn't stand it, but I knew I was eating into our car compressor money, and they probably would never sell for what I thought they were worth. So, I decided to start low and go from there. I swallowed hard. “Fifty thousand,” I said, finally. Resigning myself to the fact that I was just wasting everyone's time.

Elsu stopped looking in the Corvette's window and looked at me. His eyebrows high on his forehead. I knew my number was low, but I was prepared to barter. Plus, if this guy really wanted to just get rid of them, maybe he'd meet me lower than higher.

Quentin unfolded the paper and looked at me and the number on his paper. “Hmm,” he said quietly, not revealing his number.

Elsu came to stand beside me, his presence made me feel almost safe.

Quentin looked at his son who stood with his arms crossed next to him but hadn't seen the figure. His eyes darted suspiciously back and forth between Elsu and me. Elsu also had his arms crossed, his stance wide. I felt like I was standing between a duel, but the guns were the muscular kind and I was pretty sure Elsu would win. “Whatcha got?” I finally said before shots were fired.

“You know what? Screw it.” He eyed Elsu, as he crumpled the paper into a ball and threw it over his shoulder. There was a look of possible fright in his eyes. “I'll take the fifty.”

What? Did he just take fifty thousand for the cars that had a combined value of more than three hundred thousand?

I was in shock. Why was he being so nice? I felt like I was stealing them, but he was agreeable and I wasn't going to argue. “Ok then.”

We discussed the finances, shook hands again, and said our goodbyes. Once in Little José I looked at Elsu who looked at me. “You got a deal!” he said finally.

“I know, right? I'm not the only one thinking that was weird?”

“No, you're not. By the way, that whole thing was impressive. You had a contract in your purse. Who does that?”

“Someone who's done this before, that's who. Of course, having a brother who's a lawyer helps. I've never gotten a deal like
that
, though.” I smiled at him.

Elsu reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to me.

“What's this?”

“Quentin's offer.”

“You took it?” I was surprised, but loved it.

“While you were signing stuff, I grabbed it. No one saw.”

“Did you look at it?” I asked.

“Nope, thought you'd like to see it first.”

I could have kissed him.
Woah, Mae!
I carefully unfolded the paper which was still balled up and flattened it upside down. “What do you think it says?” I asked him.

“I know what
I
would have put on that paper,” he said.

I flipped the paper over to reveal the amount. “Three hundred thousand?” I nearly yelled.

We both sat stunned at the amount. “Yep, that's about what I would have put, Mae.”

“So why did he take my initial offer? I was prepared to barter. I was willing to go up.”

“I don't doubt that. Don't question it, just grab it and go!”

After a few more minutes of disbelief, I pulled out of the driveway.

“So, Mr. Tourist what would you like to see first?”

Over the next two hours I took him on a tour of the city. We went to a small, old cemetery on Seneca where the founders of the original city of Kendall had been laid to rest. I took him to Spring Hill which was the home of the city's founding family and was also a stop in the Underground Railroad. I took him by the one thing the city had been known for before the new team came to town; the high school and the Paul Brown Stadium which is home to the football team. I took him down Fourth Street which was prized for being part of the National Register of Historic Places. Huge antique homes representing different periods of architecture were being kept in as original condition as possible. The road was still paved in brick and the cement slabs people once used to exit their horse-drawn carriages still stood at the street side. I loved taking detours down that road, and Elsu seemed impressed.

“Well, that's about it. We
were
a small town with not a lot of excitement. Then that Jonathan Brothers came along and bought the team, sponsored the arena and everything new has been added within the last few years. He's really helped to build up the city. Whether it's a plus or not is dependent on who you ask.
We
do
have a nice museum and the library is a cool old building. I could take you to see those.”

“Nah, I'm hungry. Let's eat.”

“You got it, big guy.” We went to Smiley's, an Italian restaurant run by a super friendly local family. It was situated in the heart of downtown Massillon. “Hope you have a big appetite.”

We sat across from each other in a booth and Elsu's long legs touched mine under the table. I quickly scooted away to avoid the unwanted touch.

We ordered our drinks and while Elsu perused the menu, I made a phone call to a friend who owned a vehicle hauler to line up the moving of all of the new classics at once. I also called Bonnie to get some of the mechanics to make room in the showroom for the new inventory. “That should do it.”

“Cool! I must say, your control over everything is quite impressive.” He smiled at me warmly. “Hey, where are the restrooms?” asked Elsu.

I turned and pointed to the hallway behind me. “Just follow the signs.”

“Be right back. If she comes back, can you order me a meatball sub and some fries?”

“No problem.” I smiled.

I looked at the menu even though I knew what I was getting. One thing nice about small towns is you got to know the menus of the local joints and you really didn't have to look at them anymore.

As I waited, my mind went to Elsu. What was I getting into? What about Carl's warning? What did it really matter? He had a girlfriend.

“Well, well, well.” Said a voice from behind me that went through my spine and scratched my heart. I turned to see Jeremy, Bart's older brother standing with a hip on the back of the booth I was sitting at. He sat down, forcing me to scoot over. I just wanted him to leave.

“Please go away, Jeremy.”

“Oh, you remember my name. Charming.” Dark black hair, dark black eyes, a face full of freckles. He looked like Satan. Ok,
back when I had first met him I might have thought he was good looking. Now he was the devil's brother.

I closed my eyes, willing him to disappear. When I opened them, regretfully, he was still there.

“You know, my brother said he saw you the other day. With Elsu.” He snarled close to my ear.

“Please leave.”

“I see the rumors are true.” He leaned in closer. “My little brother's ex is hot and heavy with the big basketball star.”

“Shut up, please leave.”

“See, he always said you were a frigid bitch, I guess he just wasn't your type. You like the tall, tan ones, huh?” He ran his thumb down my cheek and to my neck. I cringed at his touch. A tear dangled from my eyelashes. He looked so much like Bart. Even had a similar voice. “You just never gave Bart a chance. But since you don't want to be with him anymore, maybe you could take a chance with me.”

The tear finally let go. “Leave me alone.”

“What's to stop me?” He laid his hand on my knee and I scooted away to the wall, pushing his hand off me.

He scooted further in. “You can't escape me, bitch. You ruined my brother's life. He has to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life because of you. You took him away from me for five years. I didn't like that.”

“It was supposed to be longer, Jeremy. PLEASE leave.”

“Look at you and this pretty hair. Where's that bandanna you always wear?” He twirled a ringlet around his finger. He put his hand in my hair and started to pull me towards him, his lips just inches from my mouth. I pushed at him and started scratching his face just as he was unceremoniously lifted from the booth.

“I believe you were asked to leave.” As if Elsu was holding a dirty old alley cat, he carried Jeremy out the door by his shirt collar and a belt loop. From my angle I couldn't see what was happening outside, but I had a feeling it wasn't good for Jeremy.

Elsu returned and looked at me. My face had to be puffy and red with tears. I got up and rushed to the bathroom. I needed to regain my composure before returning to face him.

After a few minutes of near-hyperventilation I decided to return to Elsu. I had kept him waiting too long. I sat down across from him and he stared at me. “Are you ok?” He asked.

“No, no I'm not.” I looked around the room and saw eyes on me. “This is what I didn't want to have happen. The stares, the…that!” I motioned towards the door indicating Jeremy's presence and exit.

“Who was that, anyway?” Our waitress came and took our orders.

“That was Jeremy, Bart's brother,” I sighed.

“Shit,” he said. “I'm sorry.”

“It's not your fault, but thank you for saving me. I didn't want to make a scene, but when he went in for the kiss I think I scratched his cheek.”

“Good,” he said. “When I came out I saw him sitting with you but I couldn't tell what he was saying. Then I realized you didn't want him there. Had to step in.”

Our food came and I looked at my salad. “Can I have a box?” I asked the waitress. “And an iced tea in a to-go cup?” She nodded and started to walk away.

“Me too,” said Elsu.

“You can eat, I'm just not hungry anymore.” I said.

“I'm not comfortable if you're not comfortable. We can go back to your office and eat.”

Once back in Little José, the smell of the food began filling up the cab. It smelled so good. Little José had a way of calming me down. I was relaxed again, and suddenly starving. “I have one more place to show you. But you have to promise not to judge me. Or stick your nose up at it,” I said as I pulled out into traffic and headed down Erie Street.

“I promise,” he said.

“Maybe we can find a place to eat while we're there.”

A few minutes later we were pulling into the Massillon Cemetery.

“A cemetery?” he sat up and looked over the dash.

“This is one of my favorite places to come to when I'm well…not feeling all there.” I wanted to say ‘depressed' but I didn't want to upset him.

“Wow,” he looked around at the old tombstones and memorials.

“I come here to walk, sometimes I'll pick up trash. Other times I'll just find a place to sit and think. Some of these go back to the early eighteen hundreds.”

I drove slowly so Elsu could take it all in. He wasn't creeped out, or at least he didn't say he was. I followed the drive as the road took a sharp turn and headed down a hill to a second level of graves. “These graves back here are newer than the ones on top. But it's more open, fewer trees, more sun. Usually there are deer back here.”

I pulled up to a spot I knew well. “I know it's a little nippy, but I have a favorite place, come on,” I grabbed the food, Elsu grabbed the drinks, and he followed me to a family's plot. “Meet the McGritters,” I said.

“Who are the McGritters?” he asked.

“I have no idea. But whoever put this area together for this family was nice enough to include a bench. I've eaten many lunches here.” I sat down and patted the bench beside me.

He sat down, his ankles crossed as he stretched his legs out in front of him. “Being tall sucks.”

I laughed. “Hey, if you weren't tall, you probably wouldn't be the awesome basketball player that you are, and you wouldn't be having lunch in a cemetery right now. It's not all bad.”

“You forgot something on your list,” he said as he looked at me.