Forever Young: Blessing or Curse (Always Young Trilogy) (9 page)

By
Friday, she again sat at her desk in the office, trying to handle the dictation
while constantly interrupted by eager callers begging to hear details about her
experience. Side effects seemed to be the major concern, and she hastened to
reassure everyone she’d not suffered any. If her calls were any indication, the
waiting list with accompanying deposits had to be elephantal.

Dorie
had just hung up from another call when she glanced up to find Roman leaning
over her desk with a light in his eyes. “Our New Mexico trip was a crowning
success. Judging from the stats, as soon as the pill’s available, Albuquerque’s
entire senior population will be gone.”

She
cast a mock frown. “Oh, dear, what about the retirement homes and AARP?
Whatever will they do?”

“They
can peddle sex toys and birth control pills.” 

Warmth
spread over her face. She quickly glanced away from Roman’s perfect features.
She didn’t want to think about sex, especially in the vicinity of such a virile
male, yet her new body had a way of testing her resolve. From the way Roman
looked at her, she had a feeling a simple yes could lead her down the path of
no return, a place she did not wish to travel.

She’d
not enter into any relationship lightly, since it would be a betrayal of all
she’d held dear with Larry. Sex had been beautiful and special with them, and
that’s the way it should be.

***

Roman
didn’t miss the blush. Though he knew Dorrie had been married for years, she
still seemed an innocent. Her naiveté charmed him, making him want her all the
more.

Too
bad her heart still centered on her dead husband. Whenever she spoke of him her
eyes softened and a shadow crossed her face.

Witnessing
the depth of her emotions amazed him, making him ponder the meaning of love.
He’d heard of it, but not witnessed it. His father had knocked up his mother
and fled, without sticking around to see what his seeds had sown. His helpless
drunken bitch of a mother had accused Roman of taking after his father.
Accepting the challenge, Roman had done his best to live up to her
expectations.

When
he so much as glanced at Dorrie, with her full breasts, tiny waist, and
innocent brown eyes, habit reared its head. It would be simple to break her
down. Not only that, it was his job. The longer he delayed, the more the
operation remained in jeopardy.

“By
the way, Dorrie. We’re leaving again. Next stop, Hollywood, so pack your bags.”

“How
soon?” 

“I’ve
booked a redeye for Monday night.”

***

Only
a short while to get ready. How exciting, to take off again on short notice.
She loved her new job and her new life, though sometimes she felt guilty about
being happy so soon after Larry’s death. When the melancholy hit, she told
herself to be practical. She had no means to bring her husband back, so she may
as well live life to the fullest. It’s not like she’d been given a choice in
the matter.

“I’m
off to Hollywood Monday,” she told Kelly at lunch.

At
first her friend had been aloof when she’d discovered Dorrie’s deception over
her age. She’d caved in after learning the heartbreaking circumstances behind
it, and they’d remained fast friends as if there were no difference in their
ages. Practically speaking, Dorrie found it easier to relate to people in her
present age group, than the older one.

With
news of Dorrie’s new trip in the offing, Kelly almost choked on her hot dog.
“I’m so jealous. While you’re flitting about on grand tours, here I am stuck in
Dullsville entering boring numbers into a never-ending database.”

“Think
of what the numbers represent. All those people will get a new lease on life
because of one man’s marvelous invention.”

Kelly
sighed. “I know you’re right. And, really, my job’s not that hard to do, and,
it does pay the bills. Doug’s such a darling, but his policeman’s salary is
peanuts.”

“Money
shouldn’t matter. Your husband’s a good man and you love him. Larry never made
much either, except near the end, but we were so much in debt by then his new
salary didn’t make a dent.”

Dorrie
frowned and set down her suddenly dry sandwich. She couldn’t eat another bite,
not with the awful memory of Larry sprawled on the asphalt flashing through her
mind. The thing about sadness was it obeyed no timetable, striking at any given
time, even in her happiest moments. She could never blot out memories of her
husband and didn’t want to. He’d been too much a part of her life to forget
he’d been there.

Kelly
gave Dorrie a telling look. “You’re right, of course. I should be thankful for
what I have. It takes a tragedy like yours to remind me of my good fortune. I
do love my husband. Also, Doug’s a saint for serving people. I only wish he
were home more often to service me.”

“I
know what you mean,” Dorrie said, blinking back a sudden tear.

It
had been way too long since she’d made love to Larry. God, she missed the feel
of his arms around her and the oneness of being joined together. If she hadn’t
known how good it could be, she’d not know what she was missing. Some women
never experienced such closeness, and had no idea what it could mean. At times
like this, she knew she should be grateful for the love they’d shared, but
still it slashed her heart to know she could never get it back.

“Sorry,
I shouldn’t complain. Your situation is much worse,” Kelly said.

“That’s
okay, Kelly. You have a right to your feelings.”

“Thanks,
friend. I know it’s way too soon for you to even think about such a thing, but
I hope someday you’ll find someone special again.”

“Larry
would be a tough act to follow. When you experience love like that, you can’t
settle for less. Right now all I can do is take it one day at a time, and try
not to think about sex.”  

Dorrie
picked up her tray. “Well, I better get back to my desk. I’m sure I’ve got a
pile of dictation waiting, not to mention countless telephone calls from
prospective customers. We’ve been really busy lately, with all those
reservations pouring in.”

After
a few hours of alternating between telephone calls and transcription, the
intercom rang, with a call from Roman to come into his office.

“Dorrie,
you’re doing a terrific job. Why don’t you sit down here and rest for a minute.
I have a few items to go over with you before you get back to your desk.”

The
words were casual, but something in the way he said them didn’t sound right.
She braced herself for what might follow.

“I
know anything to do with your husband is a sensitive subject. I’m sorry to
bring this up again, but I need to know if you have any idea where his iPhone
went. It hasn’t turned up anywhere on the Institute’s grounds, and we’ve
scoured them thoroughly. That phone contains sensitive data belonging to the
Institute, and it’s essential I get it back. If such information got into the wrong
hands, you can imagine what a disaster that would be, especially at this stage
of the operation.”

Dorrie
swallowed hard. Should she tell him the truth? No, it wasn’t as if she’d give
the phone up to anyone who’d harm the Institute. Besides, it would be way too
embarrassing to admit now that she’d lied in favor of keeping the phone for
sentimental reasons. She’d have to brazen it out.

Evading
his eyes, she shook her head. “I wish I knew where it went. After you mentioned
the phone was missing, I searched the house, even under the beds, and between
the couch and chair cushions, in case Larry might have dropped it in any of
those places. It still hasn’t turned up. I would have told you if I’d seen it.”

Did
he suspect she was lying?

Roman
frowned. “That’s a shame. I was hoping you’d found it and forgotten to tell me.
Well, all right then, we better get back to work. Let’s hope it turns up
somehow.”

Mixed
feelings of guilt and righteousness made it hard to concentrate on her duties
the rest of the afternoon. Dorrie sighed with relief as she stepped from the
Institute into the bright June sunlight. The hundred plus Arizona temperature
coupled with nervous guilt proved especially stifling. At times like this, she
longed for a magical transport to the cooler clime of her native town of
Tomahawk, Wisconsin. Since that was impossible for now, the artificial coolness
of the air conditioner in the Hyundai would have to suffice. Maybe someday
she’d revisit Tomahawk or even live there again, but for now her agreement with
Roman obstructed her from doing so.

Stepping
into her hallway from the garage entrance, she thought again about downsizing
if the market picked up. The large empty house seemed doubly lonely with only
one person to fill it.

Dorrie
reached into the refrigerator for the pitcher of ice tea and poured a heaping
helping into a tall frosted class, before retreating to the wrought iron chair
on the patio near the rose bush. Swallowing the cool, unadulterated beverage,
she enjoyed its bittersweet taste. A breeze stirred, offering a brief respite
from the heat. The relief did little to dispel the wave of homesickness hitting
her, not so much for a place, but for the way things used to be.

Fiddling
with the condensation on the outside of her glass, she realized she may have
turned back her body’s clock, but could never turn back time gone. She’d carved
a new life for herself, offering bursts of happiness, yet still couldn’t shake
off thoughts of what might have been. 

Roman’s
mention of the iPhone might have something to do with such morbid thoughts. The
phone still sat in her safety deposit box, except for the times when she
brought it to the café near the bank to charge the battery while she ate. One
of these days she’d get up enough courage to actually open the picture and
music apps, but couldn’t handle the hurt yet.

Dorrie
set the glass down on the matching table beside the bench, and closed her eyes.
Before packing, she’d try to think good thoughts and relax. She had much to be
thankful for and shouldn’t live in the past.

Easier
said than done, with her thoughts instead drifting to the conversation with
Kelly about the near impossibility of falling in love again. The idea seemed
utterly foreign. No one could replace Larry. Sure, she enjoyed the sight of her
hunky, sexy boss, but more in the context of gazing at a work of art than
anything else. She had no real feelings for him, except admiration at his
brilliance.

Though
she and Larry had enjoyed an active and satisfying sex life, that had been a
side benefit. Love and commitment had always been the bond that kept them
together.

When
they’d moved out here, she’d envisioned barbeques and patio parties with
friends, but the two of them had been so busy settling into their jobs they’d
not had many opportunities to mingle with the neighbors. Her life had been full
anyway, since all she’d needed was Larry.

Now
she felt lost and alone, almost as if their marriage hadn’t happened. Some
women would say get over it and be happy she hadn’t a man to account to, but
after so many years of being part of a couple, she couldn’t grasp the single
concept.   

In
this state of mind, she sure couldn’t rest. Sighing, Dorrie got up and reached
for the half-finished glass of iced tea. Some might call it half full, others
half empty, kind of like life. It would be her call what she made of it. Time
to pack for Hollywood.

***

The
publicity machine in California rolled steadily along. Accompanied by his
wide-eyed secretary, Roman swept through the Sunshine State, making early
morning guest appearances at radio and television stations, as well as at
shopping malls.

After
that, he employed the overused gimmick of standing atop Mt. Lee beside the
decades old, thirty foot wide and fifty foot tall letters of the Hollywood
sign. Because of the height danger, he didn’t include Dorrie in the shoot.

When
he met her later for further shots at the bottom of the mountain, that
unaccustomed feeling of warmth again stole over him, making him frown. She
already meant more to him than she should. What he did possess of a conscience
chided him at thought of the pleasant, yet unpleasant task awaiting him.

From
all indications, Dorrie wouldn’t welcome sex for a long time. Unfortunately,
waiting for her libido to catch up was not an option. The iPhone must be
accounted for.  

His
bikini clad assistant prancing in the ninety-degree heat spiraled his desire.
 By four o’clock, they were done shooting. Plenty of time to accomplish
his mission.

“Let’s
get back to the hotel,” he told his now modestly clad assistant.

As
he held Dorrie’s elbow to help her into the limousine, her soft skin begged to
be explored. He knew part, but not all, of what lay beneath the proper peach
suit and creamy silk blouse.  

Once
inside, they sat on the cool leather seats across from each other. Her warm
doe-colored eyes stared back at him innocently, making his guilt, along with a
certain portion of his anatomy, rise. Maybe if he asked her again, she’d come
up with the iPhone, and he’d summon enough willpower to resist his plan. “No
luck on finding that iPhone, Dorrie?”