The Heart is a Lonely Hunter (17 page)

Laura Harrington was a dancer he’d met several years ago. Voluptuous and yet still cute, Laura Harrington had a pleasant, if not pretty face and oh yes, legs for days. Close to six feet tall, shapely was neither the appropriate word nor best suited word when one took the liberty of describing her.

When they’d first met and she informed Terrance that she was a dancer, he could for the first time in his life understand why men would go to a club and pay to see a woman dance. He still wouldn’t pay but he could at least understand and it wasn’t long before he found himself picking her up in front of the swanky club after the show.

She, with fists full of dollars soldiers had stuffed in her G-string, would saunter through the parking lot, grinning, grinding, for her adoring fans, open the car door and slide in. Before Terrance could exit the parking lot good, Laura would burst into tears.

In the beginning, Terrance had tried to soothe her bruised ego. But after two or three of these episodes, Terrance stopped buying tissues for the car opting instead to just let Laura direct him to her favorite motel where she could use all the tissue she wanted. The first few minutes there, Laura wanted to do little more than cuddle. The crying would subside after a few minutes and then she would be on him like a fly on slop, passionately trying to exorcise her demons. Still, with all the intimacy they’d never really gotten to know each other. Terrance knew he was partially to blame for this, for wanting nothing more than being this close to a beautiful woman. But after no more than a month he came to the ugly realization that their relationship was nothing more than one of lust and passion. No more than just a physical thing. And for a while it didn’t seem to matter.

Laura Harrington, or ‘Candy’, as she was more commonly referred to on stage, with those long slender legs was a cult figure among strip club patrons but Terrance soon realized after having dinner with Laura and some of her friends that he really didn’t want to be among her circle of friends. To make matters worse the girl was unparalleled in bed. And this was not a good thing.

On stage, Laura could make things move and jiggle that Terrance hardly knew existed. Under the spotlight at the club she undulated like mad bringing the crowd of both men and women to their feet with each performance.

Always the last to go on stage, Candy knew how to work the crowd and was the clubs top attraction. The men would literally fight to be able to shove a twenty in her G-string. But, as talented as ‘Candy’ was on stage, Laura was just that bad in bed.

Their relationship lasted a few months, ending after Terrance grew weary of the relationship which had now become nothing more than a series of half hour stops at the city’s cheapest motels. Tired of the whole charade, one day he simply stopped calling.

Laura hardly took the break-up in stride. And although she must have certainly seen it coming she enjoyed the little time they shared. And yet, the more Terrance tried to distance himself, the more adamant Laura became about keeping their relationship together. It was certainly obvious that she hadn’t experienced anything remotely close to the time and love Terrance had shown her and was content with the way things were. And it was soon pretty obvious that Laura was not going to let go or simply walk away without the situation getting ugly.

Terrance, desperate now for his former lifestyle and some peace of mind, was forced to confess his disappointment in their relationship. When this had no effect, Terrance simply alluded to the fact that he did not find her compatible in the bedroom. Devastated by this revelation, Laura not only left the relationship, she left town.

Most recently, Terrance had the occasion to bump into her at Designer Shoes in the mall. It had to have been at least three or four years since the break up but it was easy to see what had attracted him to her in the first place. Laura had gained a pound or two but was still as gorgeous as ever. Men’s heads turned constantly as they hugged and made small talk outside of the shoe store. There were even a few women who found themselves forced to turn and look at Laura. Seems Laura had done quite well for herself since their last meeting, opening a chain of spas and tanning salons. She was in Atlanta promoting the chain and would be here until she found a relatively inexpensive piece of real estate in which to open another.

Exchanging numbers, as people do who haven’t seen each other and who have shared something intimate and special at one time or another in their lives, Terrance never but never expected Laura to show up at the front door of his townhouse out of the clear blue and without phoning first. After all, years had passed. And although he was still mesmerized by those long, slender legs and more than ample thighs, which Terrance believed, had grown even longer and more firm, it was the same ol’ Laura. Buffed and polished on the outside. On the inside, Laura was still a gem in the rough.

Inviting her in, seated on the pastel loveseat in front of the fire place, Ter-rance and Laura reminisced while they sipped glass after glass of some Merlot he had tucked away for just such an occasion as this. Two and a half carafes of wine later, Terrance learned more of her travels and business ventures than he cared to know. She was still single; still looking for a meaningful long-term relationship but had stopped dating since most of the men she’d met in the last year and a half or so left so much to be desired. Terrence wondered if this last statement about long-term relationship was an attempt to try to work things out after so many years. Glancing down at her shapely legs and thighs, Ter-rance wondered what else she’d learned since she’d been away.

Before he could venture to find out, the phone rang. Excusing himself, Ter-rance caught another glance at Laura’s fine brown frame and at that moment was glad she’d found the courage to stop by. He was almost sure it was his mother who had been calling quite regularly as of late, hoping to get him to commit to attending this years’ family reunion. He hadn’t been to one since he could remember and had no intentions of attending this one either. Both knew it but still she called.
Damn, she was persistent
Checking the caller I.D. and not recognizing the number, Terrance picked up the receiver in the bedroom. “Hello. Terrance Daniels, please.” The voice on the other end was not one he recognized.

“Speaking.”

“Mr. Daniels, this is Sylvia Stanton,” she said. Nervous, she had had mixed emotions about making the call but it was too late now. Embarrassed for having had to make the phone call at all, she was relieved that Terrance had answered the phone instead of a female. She knew she had no right to feel this way. Nevertheless, she did. With nowhere to go, she quickly vetoed her pride.

“Just called to see if your offer still stands,” She was on a roll now. She’d best continue before she lost her nerve. “I was thinking that if you’re not busy then maybe you’d like to meet me at Dante’s for a drink? Say in half-an-hour? That is if your offer still stands.”

Stunned, Terrance was breathless. He hadn’t had a date in more than six months. Now just like that here was Laura looking absolutely delicious almost edible sitting in the living room and Sylvia on the phone requesting they meet for a drink. When it rains it pours. The gods were obviously smiling on him tonight, he thought smiling to himself. Yet, something was amiss.

“Mr. Daniels, are you there?”

“Why, yes, Mrs. Stanton, I’m still here. Are you okay?”

“Couldn’t be better,” Sill lied, masking her voice, pretending to be upbeat, in an attempt to save face.

Terrance was tempted to comment on the fact that it had been quite some time since the offer had been extended making him a wee bit curious to know what had prompted her to call now. No sooner than he thought to ask he heard the toilet flush and remembered that Laura was waiting on him and decided to curtail the conversation. ‘A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush’, Terrance thought to himself as he pictured Laura patiently awaiting his return in the living room.

And then almost as if someone had taken control of his vocal capacities he heard himself ask. “Dante’s on Fifth and Lansing?” knowing full well where it was.

“That’s the one,” Sill replied.

“Give me about forty-five minutes,” he said. “I need to make a stop first. And though there was no longer anyone on the other end, Terrance sat there on the edge of the bed stunned, still clutching the receiver, wondering what had just transpired. Much as he hated to admit it, Laura’s visit was a pleasant surprise. Their past made him comfortable in her presence. And then out of the blue enters a woman he hardly knows and...

Terrance lit a cigarette, took a swallow of wine, lay back on the bed and tried to put everything in proper perspective. His days, which only this morning appeared relatively simple had suddenly become rather complex. Reaching over the side of the bed, Terrance felt around for the bottle of Seagram’s he kept on hand purely for medicinal purposes such as this and poured himself a shot to calm his nerves. The whiskey sent shivers through him.

What could be he possibly tell Laura? He’d waited for Sylvia’s call for months. As sensational as Laura looked tonight, he had no choice but to excuse himself. The only thing that really mattered tonight though was that he be dressed to the nines and on top of his game. The shot of Seagram’s relaxed him somewhat but there was still the matter of Laura.

“Everything alright, Terrance?” Laura asked as she stuck her head in the doorway “Mind if I come in?”

‘”No, not at all, come on in,” Terrance tried to remain cool, somber, unchanged. Lord knows he wanted her to come in. Or did he? A half an hour or so ago, he would have begged her to come in. Now he was torn between meeting Mrs. Stanton and just leaning back enjoying the pleasant glow of the fireplace and Laura in all her splendor.

Laura made her way to the easy chair opposite him. “Is everything okay, Terrance?” repeated Laura. She knew him well enough to know when something was troubling him and this certainly seemed to be one of those times. “Laura, a situation’s come up. I’m afraid I’m going to have to leave for awhile.” Terrance wondered if he was doing the right thing.

“I understand, Terrance. Is there anything that I can do?” She was visibly upset. She obviously had plans too. Plans that included him. “Want me to stick around until you get back? We can order out. Have you eaten? Or I could run out and get us some Chinese, another bottle of Chardonnay some candles while you go out. We could make a night of it. I don’t meet my lawyer until nine a.m. and I’ve got so much to show you, darling,”

“You don’t know how badly I want to say yes, Laura. But with students you never know how long these things will take,” Terrance lied.

“I understand.” Laura drank the last of her wine, fumbled in her purse, kissed Terrance on the cheek and headed for the door. Staggering slightly, Laura smoothed her dress and pulled her pantyhose up just enough to let Ter-rance know what he was missing. “You owe me, Terrance Daniels.”

“I’m already paying,” Terrance replied, sarcastically.

“Dearly and with interest.” Laura smiled, closing the door behind her.

“Need for me to walk you out?”

“No thanks, babe, I’m parked right in front. Call me when you’re free. I should be finished by noon tomorrow. I’ll be looking forward to hearing from you.”

Terrance walked her to the car despite her objections then watched Laura walk the final few feet to her car, thought of the great future she had behind her and cursed himself for letting her walk away. Lord, she was built but Sylvia Stanton was—well—Sylvia. And whereas he knew Laura would be there, Sylvia was unchartered territory. A whole new world just waiting to be explored. He just wished he hadn’t had to accept her one and only offer. Not that he wanted so much to be with Laura though she certainly had matured from her days as a dancer. He just didn’t want to seem too anxious.

Terrance selected a pair of charcoal gray trousers, a black mock turtleneck and a pair of burgundy penny loafers with tassels. By the time he got in the shower it was seven thirty. He took another swig from the bottle of Seagram’s and was gone. Less than five minutes later, he arrived at the ATM machine. He would be late he knew but it would be good to keep the ever so punctual Mrs. Stanton waiting a few minutes. Terrance hoped this would bring her down a peg or two, let her know that she just wasn’t that important in the whole scheme of things. He hoped it would knock her off her high horse and put them on the same plane. After all, she had a lot of nerve calling him after this long.

Easing into the parking space in back of Dante’s, Terrance got out, checked his profile in the side view mirror and headed for the back door. He’d hoped to go in the back and steal a quick glimpse of Sylvia before she had a chance to see him. He was trying to get the drop, size up her mood, atmosphere, and anything else he could use to his advantage. As soon as he spotted her, he was glad he’d done just that. Awestruck, to say the least, he had to admit he’d never seen her with her hair down or in such provocative attire. He stepped into the men’s room to gather himself.
‘Here goes nothing,’
he told himself before making his way to her table directly in front of the three piece ensemble. The trio consisted of a bass player, pianist and drummer, playing Duke Ellington’s,
In a Sentimental Mood.
The mellow music mixed with the Seagram’s and the fine assed woman in front of him made him quickly forget Laura and had him thinking he’d died and gone to heaven.

Sylvia Stanton, on the other hand, sat there drink in one hand, cigarette in the other, nodding her head ever so gently to the music hoping to forget her evening and that simple husband of hers, as Terrance made his way to the table.

“Evening, Mrs. Stanton.”

“Mr. Daniels.”

“I was wondering if you were going to show,” she confessed, self-consciously. “Do you know how difficult it is for a middle-aged married woman to get a date on a Thursday night?”

Now, why did she have to throw the married bit in there?,
he asked himself. Was she setting up parameters for the evening? If she thought this little
tête-à-tête
was going to be purely platonic, she’s sadly mistaken.
Hell, he could have stayed home.
He was in no mood for games. Animosity and anger had been building since he’d asked her for a date months ago and she hadn’t had the common decency to respond and the alcohol made his patience shorter than usual.