Favors

Trudy paced the floor and rung her hands in agitation. How had she allowed Cindy to convince her to go on this date? Twenty-two years. That’s how long it had been since she was last on a date and that had been with Charlie. She still missed him, thought of him constantly and wished she could miraculously bring him back. The heart attack had been so sudden, so unexpected. She still reeled from it two years later. One doesn’t easily get over the death of their soul mate and Charlie was definitely her soul mate.

No matter what Cindy said, this was a blind date. A blind date! What was she thinking?

“You know my cousin Mark. He’s a resident at Formosa medical center where I work now,” Cindy told her.

“Who?” Trudy asked.

“Mark. You met him at Frankie’s birthday party last year. Remember? Tall, with medium brown hair, hazel eyes, real cute.”

“You just described your Dave,” Trudy said. “I don’t remember anyone named Mark.”

“Sure you do. He was married to Patty. She had you in stitches you were laughing so hard,” Cindy insisted.

“Patty Donovan? They’re divorced?” she asked suddenly interested.

“No, Sweetie. Haven’t you been listening? Patty died almost two years ago. I told you. It was just shortly after Charlie went,” Cindy said, her voice full of compassion.

Well that explained everything. Trudy hadn’t been able to think back then. Charlie, or rather the loss of him, made her almost catatonic. Nothing penetrated her skull then even though she went through the motions of every day life. She noticed nothing, not even the death of someone as lively as Patty used to be. Trudy very clearly saw Patty’s bright red hair and shining brown eyes. Her freckled nose and cheeks simply made her more adorable. What a joy she was, finding humor in everything, even making fun of herself. A sadness washed over Trudy thinking about it. Why was life so cruel?

Patty and Charlie were such wonderful people and yet there were hideous murderers and thieves running lose, wild, free and very much alive. How was that fair? It was no use asking. No answer would be satisfactory anyway. Her Charlie was gone and now there was a tiny hollow spot where Patty used to be too. She blinked away the tears that welled in her eyes.

She wracked her brain trying to picture Patty’s husband but she drew a blank. She was almost certain she had seen him, possibly even talked to him, but there was simply no memory of it. He just didn’t leave a mark. Ironic for someone named Mark.

As she continued pacing she had half a mind to call the whole thing off. More than half a mind if truth be told. She dreaded this worse than a root canal. She knew what the dating scene was like now. People jumped into bed without even knowing a person’s first name let alone a favorite color. Trudy wasn’t ready for that. She’d never be ready for that. How had Cindy talked her into this?

“Mark’s been miserable, Trudy. All he does is work too much and sit around at home watching sports. He barely even comes to my house anymore and he almost used to live there when Patty was alive. I thought, maybe, you could cheer him up by accompanying him to a play or movie or dinner. It would be a huge favor to me. He’s more like a brother. I love him so much and I want him to be happy again,” Cindy had said earnestly.  “This might break him out of this funk. You'll do this for me, won’t you?”

Cindy tugged at her heartstrings with that story. Trudy knew what it was like to be totally miserable, in complete despair. Several dozen dinners, movies and plays wouldn’t even begin to do anything to remove her sorrow, but men were more resilient. Perhaps just once would be the trick for this Mark guy. She certainly hoped for it. She didn’t want anyone, least of all Cindy’s cousin,  thinking she wanted a romp in the hay just because it had been a while since she was in anyone’s company other than her books at the library and the occasional bookworm.

Books she could handle. Men on the prowl, not so much. Just thinking about it made her start to hyperventilate. She tried to calm her wandering thoughts and just as she forced herself to sit in her usually comforting rocking chair the soft knock on the door made her jump as if she had sat on pointy nails.

“Oh, dear God, help me,” she muttered as she flung open the door.

She stared up at him. Yes, indeed he was tall just like Cindy said, but cute? Definitely not. He was knock-your-socks-off handsome. Mel Gibson came to mind. She was shaking, actually shaking! She felt an absolute imbecile staring at him mutely.

“Um...Mark?” she asked cautiously. Even her voice trembled.  All he did was nod. That wasn’t reassuring.  “You’re Cindy’s cousin?” she continued . Again he merely nodded.  Perhaps he was nervous too? “I’m sorry. She said we had met before but I don’t remember,” she told him apologetically.

He seemed to finally snap out of his trance. She wondered if he might have been less scary that way.

“I met Charlie. I was so sorry to hear he’s gone. I really liked him,” he said sympathetically. “Cindy said you knew my wife.”

Trudy attempted a smile. It looked more like a grimace. “I liked Patty. She was so funny. I’m so sorry.” she said sadly. They stared at each other in silence. She marveled that he could be lonely when he must have a dozen women coming onto him everyday.

“Well, I thought we could go to the French Manor for dinner and...” he started to say.

Panic seized her. “I don’t have sex,” she blurted out. She closed her eyes wishing the floor to swallow her whole. She then blushed scarlet, twisted her hands and bit her lip. What an idiot! She had done it now. He’d run for the hills before she could close the door. Cindy would hate her for ruining this for her favorite cousin. She had no idea how to fix this unless she tried good old-fashioned honesty. Unheard of, yes, but it might be the better way to go. Lies didn’t suit her nor was playing mind games. She chanced a glance and she saw him smiling indulgently.

 “Good to know,” he said. “ I once got my arm twisted until I promised I would. Luckily she may have forgotten about me by now.”  

What in the world did that mean? She gaped up at him, confused. He waved a dismissive hand and added  “Long story.”

Twisting arms aside she knew she had to explain herself. “I....I haven’t dated in twenty-two years. I don’t know anything about what’s expected and even if I did I still won’t do it. I’m very old-fashioned,” she said sternly.

His grin broadened making her breath catch in her chest. Even Mel Gibson never looked that good. “Finally a woman I can handle. No pressure. I like it already,” he replied, looking relieved.

She stared at him aghast. Was she hallucinating? He was okay with her severe declaration of no sex? And welcomed it? She must be dreaming.  Men like him supposedly don’t exist anymore.  Relief so great flooded through her she almost felt faint. She grabbed the door for support and tried to calm her breathing only to realize she had forgotten to breath. She sucked in some well-needed oxygen and concentrated on what he was saying.

“So...is dinner okay?” he asked tentatively.

She watched him hold out his hand. She stared at it mesmerized. It wasn’t at all calloused as Charlie’s were from rigging boats in and such work which went with owning a marina. Then she remembered Mark was a doctor. Not much chance of getting callouses working at a hospital.

 “I promise. I won’t bite. Cindy would kill me if I even breathed too hard around you. And she’ll know too without anyone telling her. She’s kinda spooky that way,” he said.

Yes, Cindy. Trudy had almost forgotten this was  supposed to be a favor for Cindy. She had her doubts now. It seemed more a favor to her. Mark gave every appearance of being Prince Charming. She suddenly felt like Snow White awakening from her deep sleep. A tiny drop of warmth entered her heart and slowly expanded. She smiled,  giggled nervously and shyly took his hand.

Before closing the door behind her she grabbed her shawl and purse. Then she turned to him and followed him to his expensive car where he helped her into it. A perfect gentleman. Anticipation made her nerve endings frightfully acute. Just the gentle brushing of his hand on the small of her back caused tingles to spring into action. She had no idea what to expect from her first date in over two decades, but she knew this was a good decision. More friends should do huge favors for their friends.