by Jonathan Ferrini<\/p>\n
I checked in to the venerable hotel sitting atop Nob Hill in San Francisco greeting the cable car riders ascending California Street. It appeared in many well-known movies and afforded fantastic views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco.<\/p>\n
I make it a point to stay in this hotel as I\u2019ve come to know the staff. The hotel has a rich history and I learn something new every visit. Because of its designation as a historical landmark preventing a major renovation, the hotel interior remains a glorious example of early twentieth century luxury.<\/p>\n
I live in Los Angeles. I\u2019m a single man with no children and semi-retired. I came to meet an intriguing woman I met through a dating App. She insisted upon not speaking and texting only minimally in hopes of keeping our meeting as much like a \u201cblind date\u201d as possible. I inferred from the writing quality of her messages she was an educated woman who enticed me with tasty tidbits about herself to encourage me to make the trip.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m lonely and struggling to conceive my next story.\u00a0 I was leaning toward a detective thriller. I took to watching Raymond Chandler\u2019s \u201cPhillip Marlowe\u201d and Dashiell Hammett\u2019s \u201cSam Spade\u201d adapted movies for inspiration. I never thought my sojourn would inspire a romance story.<\/p>\n
I checked into my customary one-bedroom corner suite with a view of the Golden Gate Bridge. The bellhop, Louis, arrived with my bag.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m happy to see you again, Sir.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCome join me at the window, Louis.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is that beautiful gated property resembling a museum across the street?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s one of the most exclusive private men\u2019s clubs in the country.<\/p>\n
\u201cOld money, Sir.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is \u2018old money\u2019 in San Francisco, Louis?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMining, railroad, and oil wealth, Sir.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo tech dollars and no female members.<\/p>\n
\u201cNeed I say more?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt sounds like a relic stuck in time, Louis.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the exception of a few health and safety code improvements, this old hotel is also \u2018stuck in time\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI love this hotel and call her, \u2018The Grande dame\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you for the history lesson, Louis.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid your granddaughter graduate from law school?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have a fine memory, Sir.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m proud to say she is working as an assistant city prosecutor.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease accept this gratuity and my heartfelt congratulations to her and your family.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re very generous as usual, Sir.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLouis, a lady is expected shortly who\u2019ll be waiting for me in the lobby.<\/p>\n
\u201cI haven\u2019t met her but assume she\u2019ll be very stylish.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll recognize her and text you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease take her drink order and deliver it with a rose.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, Sir.\u201d<\/p>\n
I unpacked my clothes and entered the vintage bathroom to freshen up. It was oversize with floors and walls covered by crisp white tiles. The plumbing fixtures had been upgraded but were retro in design to match the originals.<\/p>\n
My cell phone alerted me to a text message.<\/p>\n
\n
Stunning tall platinum blond in black.<\/p>\n
Sitting in the salon next to the grand piano.<\/p>\n
I delivered her \u201cGimlet\u201d cocktail with the rose you requested.<\/p>\n
The beautiful lobby adorned with a massive floral display was pleasantly unhurried for a late Saturday afternoon.<\/p>\n
The salon was just on the other side of the lobby and resembled a midcentury modern apartment replete with fireplace and grand piano.<\/p>\n
I turned to enter and spotted her immediately. Miriam was in her sixties, slender, and taller than average for women. She wore her beautiful platinum long hair straight which fell neatly around her shoulders. She was wearing a fashionable black dress and stiletto heels perfect for an elegant evening within the \u201cCity by the Bay\u201d.<\/p>\n
Before I could introduce myself, she softly said,<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m happy you found your way to me, Nathan.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow do you know I\u2019m Nathan?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLouis and I go very far back, darling.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease sit.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you don\u2019t object, I ordered you a fine cognac.<\/p>\n
\u201cI find men who sip cognac arousing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m impressed by your drink order, Miriam.<\/p>\n
\u201cRaymond Chandler described the Gimlet cocktail within his story \u2018The Long Goodbye\u2019,<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2026 real Gimlet is half gin and half Rose\u2019s lime juice and nothing else\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe literary reference may tip you off that I\u2019m a writer.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe rose was a nice touch and suggests you may be a romance writer.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope watching you sip the cognac will take my mind off your wardrobe.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPardon me, Miriam?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPreppy casual evening wear is pass\u00e9.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019d look delectable wearing Italian, dear.<\/p>\n
\u201cI adore tall and thin men like yourself dressed entirely in black with a white tuxedo shirt resembling the moon against the black sky over Milan.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease don\u2019t take offense.\u201d<\/p>\n
The date was over before it began. I\u2019d make small talk and suggest we weren\u2019t a \u201cmatch\u201d and make alternative arrangements for my evening.<\/p>\n
\u201cMay I find a copies of your writing at the bookstore?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou may find a published collection of my short fiction stories for sale on the internet.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid your collection make it to a best seller list?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s listed on the \u2018Nathan\u2019s Best Seller List\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cI pride myself on writing from the viewpoint of diverse protagonists inside romance, drama, and poetry.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you make your living from writing?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t make the trip up here to have \u2018Sergeant Friday\u2019 of \u2018Dragnet\u2019 interrogate me!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease don\u2019t be defensive, darling.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat makes you think I\u2019m \u2018defensive\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m simply curious about your background, dear.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI sold real estate my entire career.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you enjoy it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo!\u201d<\/p>\n
I needed another drink and motioned for the waiter. He took the drink order from Miriam as if I didn\u2019t exist.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnother gimlet for me and cognac with a tranquilizer chaser for the gentleman.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course, Madame.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour sense of humor is always appreciated.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was an uncomfortable silence waiting for the drinks to arrive but she motioned for me to move my chair closer and gently ran her long, delicate, French manicured fingers through my hair. It felt good and I began to relax.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour hair is so fine it resembles silk, Nathan.\u201d<\/p>\n
Miriam\u2019s subtle and elegant perfume was intoxicating. It was likely very expensive with hints of indiscernible ingredients only a sophisticate would know. The drinks arrived.<\/p>\n
\u201cMay I sip your cognac, Nathan?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course, Miriam.\u201d<\/p>\n
She palmed the snifter and graciously moved her delicate hand permitting the vintage cognac to swirl while causing the molecules to leap about in exhilaration knowing they would be consumed by this beautiful woman.<\/p>\n
She held the snifter to her nose, then to her lips, and she sipped. It was so graceful I can only call it cinematic. Her red lipstick left a sexy imprint upon on the snifter. I became aroused.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you do for a living, Miriam?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou might refer to me as a \u2018Society Matron\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI take that to signify you\u2019re a wealthy woman with no job except to attend the opera, symphony, meaningless luncheons with society folk, indulge in spa treatments, and travel, correct?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t judge me and I won\u2019t judge you, Nathan.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy family left their homestead in Colorado almost two hundred years ago.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey traveled to California in covered wagons and made their fortune in gold mining, timber harvesting and oil.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s it like to grow up wealthy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTedious.<\/p>\n
\u201cI recall wearing my hair braided with ribbons and wearing frilly dresses.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was dressed like a doll making her way through the cigar smoke filled rooms to sit upon my daddy or granddaddy\u2019s lap when called, speaking only when spoken to, and always displaying good breeding and manners.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow long were you married, Miriam?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cToo long, Nathan.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was married after college in Palo Alto.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did you study?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI enjoyed the study of philosophy and became obsessed by Nihilism which opened my eyes to the meaninglessness of my life.<\/p>\n
\u201cI dropped out of college and fell into an arranged marriage.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had our marriage reception and my husband\u2019s wake inside this very room.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow ironic an entire lifetime can fit neatly inside a single city block.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWould you mind elaborating, Miriam?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy husband died at age forty.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was a corporate attorney for our family\u2019s private wealth office.<\/p>\n
\u201cLike my family, Norman was born to old San Francisco wealth.<\/p>\n
\u201cNorman wasn\u2019t ambitious but smart enough not to squander our family fortune.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy father and grandfather forbade me from working inside the family business empire.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy \u2018job\u2019 of sorts, included sitting on the most prestigious philanthropic boards, maintaining our social calendar and, in return, I was kept in jewels, traveled, and Norman looked the other way knowing I kept a discrete lover.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a loveless marriage.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you have children?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI have a daughter and granddaughter.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey live in New York but we don\u2019t speak.<\/p>\n
\u201cI disappointed my father and grandfather by not having a boy to carry on the family lineage.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re playing chess, Nathan.<\/p>\n
\u201cI made you defensive and now, you are interrogating me.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s consider our game a \u2018draw\u2019 and discuss my plans for the evening, dear.\u201d<\/p>\n
Miriam was \u201cout of my league\u201d. I decided it was time to call it an evening.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m happy to have met you but we\u2019re not a match and should call it a night.\u201d<\/p>\n
She held her delicate hands to her face to conceal her tearing eyes. The diamond tennis bracelet shimmered as did the pearl earrings like beacons alerting me to a tedious emotional \u201cscene\u201d ready to play out.<\/p>\n
Miriam was a spoiled, wealthy woman, who likely had her pick of trendy young studs on speed dial. I stood and turned to leave without remorse.<\/p>\n
\u201cWait just one minute, Nathan!<\/p>\n
\u201cCome back here this instant!<\/p>\n
\u201cI have an apology to make to you.\u201d<\/p>\n
I complied. I found her directness and resolve very sexy.<\/p>\n
\u201cI appreciate the time and effort you have made to meet with me.<\/p>\n
\u201cI live in Pacific Heights which is only a short drive from here.<\/p>\n
\u201cI came on too strong and made you uncomfortable.<\/p>\n
\u201cI apologize to you and hope you\u2019ll reconsider joining me for dinner.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you for the apology, Miriam.<\/p>\n
\u201cSurely, a woman of your breeding, beauty, sophistication, and standing within society should bring many a suitor to your door.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI prefer the anonymity and adventure associated with a man from out of town.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t want to \u2018fish\u2019 out of the same \u2018pond\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought you would bring a fresh perspective like a warm \u2018Santa Ana\u2019 wind with you from Southern California.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease give us another try.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s only one evening, Nathan.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cApology accepted, Miriam.<\/p>\n
\u201cTell me about your plans for the evening.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve made dinner reservations in Napa.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s at an hour away, Miriam.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t have a car and don\u2019t want you to stress out driving for an hour.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe drive is worth dining within a very exquisite French restaurant I trust you\u2019ll enjoy, dear.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve made arrangements for a car service to provide transportation.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you referring to \u2018The French Drycleaner\u2019 which has a waiting list a yearlong?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know if you\u2019re jesting or being sarcastic, Nathan.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not called the \u2018French Drycleaner\u2019 and I know the genius chef.<\/p>\n
\u201cI phoned him just before my arrival this evening and we\u2019re welcome at any time.\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u2019d never get another opportunity to dine at this exclusive restaurant but wasn\u2019t prepared for the \u201csticker shock\u201d when the bill arrived.<\/p>\n
\u201cI read \u2018pensive\u2019 on your handsome face, darling.<\/p>\n
\u201cI will be delighted to pay the dinner check.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI insist on paying half.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m ready when you are, Miriam.\u201d<\/p>\n
I extended my arm and helped the beautiful and elegant woman to her feet. I placed her black cashmere coat over her shoulders and held her hand as we walked to the door. Heads turned as if I was accompanying a gorgeous retired ballerina or actress. From Louis, to the waiter, and the front desk staff, they exclaimed,<\/p>\n
\u201cEnjoy your evening, Madame.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n
We waited just inside the door as it was growing chilly.<\/p>\n
An autonomous car named \u201cLETGO\u201d arrived.<\/p>\n
\u201cHere\u2019s our transportation for the evening, dear.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to be kidding me, Miriam.<\/p>\n
\u201cI might be persuaded to take a driverless car around the block but across the bridge and into Napa is too risky!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s all the rave and I crave adventure!<\/p>\n
\u201cLet me show you.<\/p>\n
\u201cI open the door with the push of the App on my phone.<\/p>\n
\u201cVoil\u00e0!\u201d<\/p>\n
We buckled our seatbelts and fear overcame me. There was no driver except for a computer screen attached to the back seat.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlace your finger on the computer screen and select,<\/p>\n
\u2018Begin Ride\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
The car began moving and to my surprise, appeared to drive as if it had a mind of its own, stopping at crosswalks, traffic lights, and flawlessly moving in and out of lanes. I held onto my seat with both hands as if on a rollercoaster ride.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re gripping the car seat in terror, dear.\u201d<\/p>\n
She reached for my hand. It felt good. To say the feeling was maternal was too strong, to call it loving, maybe, but to call it \u201cjust right\u201d was perfect.<\/p>\n
It was a short trip to a very exclusive Italian clothing store.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease exit the car and open my door like a gentleman, Nathan.<\/p>\n
\u201cAutonomous doesn\u2019t require you to abandon chivalry.\u201d<\/p>\n
I exited and walked around the car, opened her door, extended my hand, and she exited. The car took off!<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat about the car?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s going to find a safe place to park until I summon it to retrieve us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Miriam was met by the manager.<\/p>\n
\u201cMiriam, darling, welcome back to our store.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHenri, please meet my new friend, Nathan.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s my pleasure to meet you, Sir.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHenri and I must attend to a special order of mine.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019d look fabulous in the tan full-length cashmere coat inside the men\u2019s department.\u201d<\/p>\n
Henri snapped his fingers and was joined by an attractive young lady who appeared to be in her early twenties holding a sterling silver tray with two flutes of champagne. Miriam took her flute and I grabbed mine.<\/p>\n
The store screamed \u201cexpensive\u201d and I needed the calming influence of a jolt of champagne which I noticed was dry, tasty, and very vintage.<\/p>\n
\u201cPrudence will escort you to the men\u2019s department.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease follow me, Sir.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease call me, Nathan, Prudence.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWelcome, Nathan.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the beautiful coat Miriam was referring to.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou look to be a size forty-two regular.\u201d<\/p>\n
She found my size and held it while I placed my arms through the sleeves. To say it felt like soft cashmere is an understatement. It felt like a fluffy cloud made in heaven.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease check the fit within the mirror, Nathan.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked as if I stepped out of the glossy pages of an Italian fashion magazine.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s the price of the coat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTen thousand dollars, Nathan.\u201d<\/p>\n
I carefully removed the coat not wanting to cause any harm to such an expensive garment.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s the least expensive item within the store, Prudence?\u201d<\/p>\n
I followed her to a simple wool watch cap. I reached for the cap and the price tag barked one-thousand dollars.<\/p>\n
Miriam was \u201cfishing\u201d inside my \u201cpond\u201d named \u201cOff the Rack.\u201d The classy restaurant and this exclusive store didn\u2019t have a place inside my draft romance novel which included yellowed, stained pages, found only within a thrift store.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m going to take a seat and wait for Miriam.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMay I fill your flute?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Prudence was a shapely redhead wearing a black jacket, white blouse, and knee length black skirt accompanied by stiletto heels. She had a beautiful smile and hint of freckles. I honed in upon her perky breasts and shapely derriere covered with the sheerest of lingerie.<\/p>\n
Prudence returned with the flute on the sterling silver tray.<\/p>\n
\u201cHere you are, Nathan.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you enjoy working here, Prudence?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cVery much, Nathan.<\/p>\n
\u201cI studied fashion design in college.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere are you from?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m was born and raised in Oakland.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat brings you to San Francisco?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m on a first date with Miriam and she has dinner plans for us at a French restaurant in Napa.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat restaurant is very exclusive and you\u2019re in for a made to order French gourmet meal fit for royalty.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m a steak and loaded baked potato type of guy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re making me hungry, Nathan.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s getting near closing time and I\u2019m craving a cheeseburger and fries.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI suspect you prefer a rare cheeseburger including all the condiments consorting with the meat juices dripping down your beautiful fingers.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course, and when I\u2019m a bad girl, I also order chili cheese fries.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you married, Prudence?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m single.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you married, Nathan?<\/p>\n
\u201cSingle and lonely, Prudence.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe tan coat hung on your athletic frame beautifully.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not attempting to \u2018sell\u2019 you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI was told my wardrobe is \u2018pass\u00e9\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cItalian fashion compliments you very well.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, I\u2019ve been told, already.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMiriam has exquisite taste and you should follow her fashion advice.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cI may come back and do some shopping if you\u2019d consider being my personal shopping advisor.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt would be my pleasure, Nathan.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAllow me to reach into my wallet and provide you with my business card.\u201d<\/p>\n
I felt a hand pull on my collar and a cold chill at my back.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m going to borrow the gentlemen from you, dear.<\/p>\n
\u201cWalk with me, Nathan.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour clumsy attempt to woo the salesgirl young enough to be your granddaughter was an affront to me.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou embarrassed me in front of Henri and he\u2019ll have a word with the girl, I\u2019m certain.<\/p>\n
\u201cGranted, we started off on the \u2018wrong foot\u2019, but you received my sincere apology because I believed you were a gentleman.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you prefer to try your chances with the salesgirl, I\u2019ll leave you now like a \u2018bad dream\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n
I began channeling Bogart playing Sam Spade who suggested I should walk away while exclaiming,<\/p>\n
\u201cEnjoy your bad dream!\u201d<\/p>\n
\n
I wasn\u2019t Sam Spade but more in keeping with one of Mister Roger\u2019s neighbors who took the \u201chigh road\u201d including an explanation for my rude behavior.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t get out much and find myself overstimulated in a beautiful city.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was smitten by a beautiful young woman.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe overstimulation I\u2019m experiencing is heightened by being in the presence of a beautiful and sophisticated woman of good taste like yourself.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is nowhere I\u2019d rather be than with you on our way to a sumptuous dinner in Napa.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease accept my apology.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cApology accepted, you naughty boy.<\/p>\n
\u201cI must keep you on a tight leash!\u201d<\/p>\n
Miriam was one sharp lady. She was pushing my \u201cbuttons\u201d all evening and I enjoyed it. I might attempt to find her \u201cbuttons\u201d and see where the evening leads. My creativity began to swell.<\/p>\n
I walked outside to find the autonomous car waiting but the door was locked.<\/p>\n
Miriam exited the store with a small box exquisitely gift wrapped with a golden bow. She pressed a button on her phone, the doors unlocked, and we began our journey to Napa.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can afford a chauffeured car service, Miriam.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI appreciate not having to engage in small talk with a driver and smell his hideous cologne.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease enjoy the ride and let\u2019s live out the adventure, together.\u201d<\/p>\n
The beautiful Golden Gate Bridge came into view but the car unexpectedly turned away from the bridge and drove back into town.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis car seems to have a mind if its own, Nathan.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPerhaps a heart and soul, too.\u201d<\/p>\n
I touched the screen marked \u201cCustomer Service\u201d who responded,<\/p>\n
\u201cHow may I assist you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re in San Francisco winding about city streets and missed the bridge towards our destination in Napa!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI see the car’s destination malfunctioned.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve sent a signal to the vehicle to drop you off shortly.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere will be a refund for the ride.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n
Miriam reached for my hand holding tightly.<\/p>\n
\u201cI made a terrible mistake ordering this ridiculous car.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve come to appreciate sharing the adventure with you, Miriam.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you for your understanding, dear.\u201d<\/p>\n
After several anxious minutes, the car slowed and came to a stop at the foot of Coit Tower.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s get out quickly before the car changes its mind, Miriam.\u201d<\/p>\n
The car sped away with a single toot of the horn as if to say,<\/p>\n
\u201cGoodbye\u201d<\/p>\n
Miriam looked about in fascination and remarked,<\/p>\n
\u201cI remember this neighborhood.<\/p>\n
\u201cI visited here many times.<\/p>\n
\u201cFollow me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re wearing stiletto heels and I don\u2019t feel like carrying you.\u201d<\/p>\n
She removed her shoes, stockings, and proceeded to walk barefooted. We descended down a narrow sidewalk surrounded by gardens, trees, and chirping birds.<\/p>\n
We were inside what seemed like a secret garden with one hundred-year-old bungalows and each enjoyed a view of the bay.<\/p>\n
\n
We walked to the end of a tiny road.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis bungalow was home to my Au Pair, Claudette, who was French.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe was my savior.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a unique term for Claudette.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you implying?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy mother committed suicide when I was in high school.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe cut her wrists and they found her in the bathtub.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m very sorry for you.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cWhy was your mother depressed?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI told you earlier money doesn\u2019t buy happiness.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy mother lived inside a prison whose door was locked with the key to the family purse.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe had nowhere and nobody to turn to inside an abusive marriage including physical violence, mental torture, and a family history of molestation.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy father was a monster as was his father.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I confronted mom about the abuse I was suffering at the hands of my father, grandfather, and some of their old crony friends, mother explained to me that if I ever disclosed the abuse, I would be excommunicated from the family and made penniless.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey were powerful and influential men who held sway over the criminal justice system which would turn its back to our allegations.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom couldn\u2019t live with the guilt, anger, and rage knowing her daughter also fell victim to these evil men.<\/p>\n
\u201cMother was helpless and chose not to go on living if it meant being a silent witness to my abuse.<\/p>\n
\u201cClaudette helped me grieve.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe was very sensitive and an artist.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would spend many a day with her drinking wine, speaking of life, and painting.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis sweet little cottage was my secret hideaway.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would tell my husband I needed a weeks\u2019 vacation, book the vacation replete with plane tickets, hotel itineraries, but come and stay here, instead.<\/p>\n
\u201cClaudette taught me about a beautiful world beyond a dysfunctional family and instilled within me a sense of adventure and independence.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter high school, we became emotionally involved.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe fell in love.<\/p>\n
\u201cI kept this secret from everybody except you, Nathan.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe died just shy of fifty years old from pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had the privilege of holding her hand when she finally let go.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI also lost my mother, Miriam.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was in my teens.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s was very depressed and self-medicated herself into an overdose.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s horrible for a boy to lose his mother.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m certain she loved you.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would\u2019ve been a loving mother to you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Miriam touched my heart. She placed her arm around me and brought my head to her bosom. I relished the emotional connection within a proverbial Garden of Eden. Everything I held back for decades flowed like water from a dam.<\/p>\n
\u201cI should have been a filmmaker.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was writing and shooting films as early as Junior High.<\/p>\n
\u201cI attended graduate film school but after unsuccessful attempts at finding employment inside the movie business, I left film and spent my life selling commercial property for the wealthy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know the pain of resorting to a life far removed from your dreams, Nathan.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI enjoyed it on rare occasions when I could help a client out of a financial jam or put a struggling immigrant on the path to the American dream.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have a handful of clients who became self-made millionaires who stay in touch.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s very admirable.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m liking you more and more.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy didn\u2019t you marry and have children?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI could never commit and relished the freedom from responsibilities of marriage and a family.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s possible you feared the emotional pain from losing your mother, dear.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI never made that connection, Miriam.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to help you make many more connections which will fuel your creativity.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOur respective journies through life led us to be together, now.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s very sweet.<\/p>\n
\u201cKiss my lips softly, dear.\u201d<\/p>\n
We held the kiss which made me long for more.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s growing dark quickly, Nathan.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s time to leave.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0She wiped away a tear.<\/p>\n
\u201cI bought you a gift.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was wrapped by the expensive Italian store. Inside, I found the one-thousand-dollar navy blue watch cap.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know whether to wear this or frame it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ll wear it to dinner, silly.\u201d<\/p>\n
She pulled the soft wool cap over my head. It was warming and a heartfelt gift.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would have never visited this special neighborhood again but for you and LETGO.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s cathartic for me.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m blessed to feel vulnerable in your company.<\/p>\n
\u201cI trust you and shared very personal secrets.<\/p>\n
\u201cSomething about you resonated with me in our messaging.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou provided me the key to free myself from the shackles of childhood abuse, untimely deaths, and self-hatred stemming from a lack of purpose thrust upon me by wealth.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease tell me what resonated because every time I look in the mirror, I ask,<\/p>\n
\u2018Who the hell are you?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re are a kind, loving, and forgiving man willing to take a chance on finding love.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re a writer, teacher, healer, and liberator of my self-imposed exile from living life to its fullest.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur meeting and winding up here is kismet.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m very lonely and seek a special man.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t live alone inside my grandiose home any longer.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s unbearable.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll be direct with you, Nathan.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have so much to offer each other.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease allow me the opportunity to put my wealth to work permitting us the opportunity to love each other and enjoy all the beauty the world has in store for us.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re both growing older and time is precious.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to love you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe may be getting ahead of ourselves, Miriam.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI have an instinct you\u2019re my soulmate.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou came all this way without even a photograph on a blind date which was my test for you.<\/p>\n
\u201cI pushed your \u2018buttons\u2019 and you didn\u2019t run, did you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought about it but didn\u2019t want to run away because I wanted to discover your \u2018button\u2019 hoping to inspire a novel.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was selfish and superficial but taught me an important lesson.<\/p>\n
\u201cEmotions aren\u2019t \u2018buttons\u2019 like we find on an App to summon a car.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are hidden away and only revealed cautiously.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou pushed your own \u2018button\u2019 and out flowed a gusher of emotions deep inside you like the dark, sticky, and pungent oil flowing from deep inside the earth.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not demeaning the source of your family\u2019s wealth but using it as a metaphor for your emotional catharsis, Miriam.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou wrapped it all up so neatly like the gift box you opened.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTogether, we\u2019ve untied the bow and you\u2019re free to leave the box!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cYou\u2019re a writer, darling.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour wealth is a keen sense of observation and the currency is words.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cYour work will flourish if shared by an encouraging partner like myself.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy family keeps a boat with a full-time crew.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to be kidding me.<\/p>\n
\u201cA yacht requires a full-time crew.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d sell it but some of the crew members have young families and I won\u2019t disrupt their source of income.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy father enjoyed sailing to Alaska.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy not sail to Hawaii or Mexico?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFather was a Marlin fisherman and we sailed to Mexico, often.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was an impatient man and preferred to fly our jet to the Hawaiian Islands.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe yacht is capable of going anywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYachts, private clubs, oil, timber, and gold aren\u2019t my reality, Miriam.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy don\u2019t you take a long cruise alone or with friends?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t cruise alone and I don\u2019t enjoy the company of my friends enough to invite them.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe could take the yacht anywhere in the world, darling.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m overwhelmed and need to process your gracious invitation.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s walk to dinner and simply enjoy our first date, Miriam.\u201d<\/p>\n
We were startled by a woman who stood up from behind a hedge of rose bushes with pruning shears in her hands.<\/p>\n
\u201cExcuse, me.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t mean to interrupt.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you Nathan Brent?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, Ma\u2019am.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI had the opportunity to attend a symposium at the medical school where you were the featured speaker on Autism and reading.<\/p>\n
\u201cI found your collection of stories written for children with learning disabilities fascinating.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour ingenious use of words, phrases, fonts, letters, and illustrations designed to catch and maintain the attention of children on the spectrum is very special.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you, Ma\u2019am.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m fortunate to be joined by a team of brilliant scientists and medical doctors.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI want you to know my darling granddaughter was chosen to be a member of the test group to read your books.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt warms my heart to see her eyes open wide and smile with every turn of the page.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have faith that she\u2019ll begin reading very soon because of your story collection.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you for sharing your special writing talent.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy the way, you\u2019re a lovely couple!<\/p>\n
\u201cGood night.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy didn\u2019t you tell me about this beautiful writing project when I asked you what you wrote about inside the lobby?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt didn\u2019t seem like the right place and right time.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI might have suggested we skip dinner and head straight to your room and enjoy room service after our torrid lovemaking.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re a very sexy man, darling.<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe this is the \u2018right place and right time\u2019 to place my arm around yours and walk a few blocks into North Beach for a delicious Italian meal.<\/p>\n
\u201cOver dinner, I want to hear all about this writing, and afterwards, I\u2019ll discuss some plans for us to take that boat to distant shores which will nurture your creativity and permit me to share in your writing gifts.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can already imagine watching you write with the sun setting behind you and my heart pounding in rhyme with every key stroke.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s agree you\u2019ll continue to woo me with enticing tender morsels named \u2018Miriam\u2019 just as you did before we met, and, we\u2019ll see where that leads us, agreed?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that\u2019s a wonderful idea, Mr. Brent.\u201d<\/p>\n
We walked arm in arm under the bright, colorful, and happy lights to dinner in the beautiful \u201cCity by the Bay\u201d.<\/p>\n
Miriam inspired a novel about two unlikely lovers which was quickly writing itself inside my head.<\/p>\n
Dashiell Hammett provided the ending to the novel and placed the entire evening inside a giftwrapped box with words more elegant than a ten-thousand-dollar coat,<\/p>\n
\u201cI haven\u2019t any sort of plans for the future but I reckon things will work out in some manner.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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