It had been a normal morning for me. I awakened around seven, took a shower, ate some breakfast, and headed to the shop. I worked at a sound shop that provided equipment to Broadway shows. We'd been building a system to go out with a road company and the trucks would be arriving before lunch to take the gear away. The afternoon promised to be easy.
The first things I noticed about Lucy when she boarded the train were her beauty and her baggage. It is unusual to see people carrying suitcases on the subway, but she had two. Her red curls got my attention immediately. I've always had a predilection for redheads and hers was a wonderful deep red. Her blue eyes looked red too, as if she'd been crying.
"Pardon me, is something wrong?"
She regarded me suspiciously and shook her head, then looked away. That made sense because talking to strangers on the subway can be dangerous.
I heard her sniffle, and she wiped a tear away.
"You sure there's not a problem?"
"Leave me alone, please."
She started to sob with tears welling and beginning to course down her cheeks.
"Sorry, I just thought maybe i could help."
"You can't."
"I'd like to try."
"Why would you?"
"It looks like you could use a friend."
"You don't know me."
"I'd still like to help."
She tilted her head and regarded me more closely.
"I won't hurt you. I really just want to help. Look, my stop is coming up, why don't you get off with me and we can talk."
I could tell she was considering my offer, so I stood up and took one step closer. I spread my arms, trying to look harmless.
"I'll carry your bags."
Her internal debate appeared to be going my way.
"Okay."
She grabbed the handle of one bag and gestured toward the other."
"Please."
I led her off the train to a bench along the wall. We sat and she burst into another bout of tears and sobbing. I waited for her to settle a little then patted her gently on the shoulder.
"What happened?"
She caught her breath enough to answer.
"My roommate kicked me out, and I would have slept in my car, but it got towed and I can't afford to bail it out or pay for a hotel or anything."
She gasped and began another round of near hysteria. I knew it wasn't a setup, she had no way of knowing someone would give a damn, so I made a snap decision. I offered her my latchkey and told her my address.
To say her expression was incredulous would be a gross understatement.
"Why would you trust me in your house, we just met."
"There nothing there that's worth much, and you have a good face. Go, get some rest, grab a shower if you'd like. There's not much in the fridge, but you're welcome to it. I'll be there before very late. I'll see you this afternoon."
She threw her arms around me, kissed my cheek, and another wave of tears came.
"If you go up to Columbus Circle, the next stop, you can transfer to a downtown train for free. You'll want the fourteenth street station for my place."
"I don't know why you'd do this for me."
"I guess I'm just a sucker for a pretty face."
She smiled awkwardly."
"I need to get to work. See you later."
I left her there staring wide eyed after me.
Work was simple and straightforward. We got the truck loaded, and I begged off for the afternoon. When I got to my apartment the door was locked. I knocked and she called out from inside, "Who's there."
"It's me, Dave."
She left the chain on when she opened the door to peer out, then quickly shut it to unhook the chain and opened it wide. I stepped in and she threw her arms around me.
"Thank you so much."
"I'm glad I could help. I'm dying for something to drink, you?"
"I'm fine, thanks."
"So, what are we going to do about you?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, we need to get your car out and figure out a place for you to live."
"I'm pretty broke."
"Then I guess we need to find you a job, too."
Tears began to well in her eyes again.
"I shouldn't have come here."
"You're welcome here, I want to help."
"I mean New York. I thought I'd be living with my friend, some friend she is. I guess I could sell my car."
"Yeah, if you're going to stay in New York, you really don't need a car."
"I know, I love my car though."
"I guess you'd need it if you want to go home."
"I can't do that
I opened the fridge and selected a soda, opened it and took a deep drink.
"Why can't you go home?"
"I just can't."
"Did something bad happen there."
"My stepfather happened."
"Ah."
"He raped me once., if I stayed it was going to keep happening."
"I'm sorry."
"Not your fault."
"Did you report him?"
"He's the police chief."
"Oh shit."
"Exactly."
"Did you find anything to eat in the fridge?"
"I didn't look."
"Are you hungry?"
She nodded, shyly hanging her head.
"It's almost time for dinner, do you like Italian?"
She nodded, "But I can't afford restaurant food."
"My treat."
"I couldn't let you, you've already done so much."
"Consider it a date. Are you seeing anyone?"
"No."
"Well I think you're beautiful and I'd be very happy to take you to dinner as my date, how's that?"
"Thank you."
"Am I someone you'd like to date?"
She made an uncomfortable, put on the spot, face.
"Do you really think I'm beautiful."
"I do."
"You'd really like to date me?"
"Very much."
She cracked a shy smile.
"Okay."
I took her to a little trattoria in the Village where they know me and ordered a bottle of Chianti. The waiter, my friend Victor, didn't proof her, which is why I'd picked this restaurant.
"I'm not 21."
"Victor doesn't care, you're with me."
"I'm not going to sleep with you tonight."
"Didn't ask you to."
Her conflicted expression told me that she wasn't sure how to take that.
"Didn't say I wouldn't like to either," and tried out my most charming smile.
We shared a chuckle.
"Now that we've that settled, I know you have nowhere to stay, so if you'd like to stay here, you're welcome."
"But..."
"Without any expectations, promise."
The smile she returned showed a hint of skepticism.
Victor returned bearing a plate of wonderfully crispy calamari with a bowl of marinara sauce for dipping. She grabbed one and ate it like she was starving.
"Wow that's great."
"I love the food here."
She quickly ate three more rings of the delicious squid. I had one, mostly enjoying the sight of her devouring them.
She took a sip of wine and extended her glass to me, "To my wonderful new friend and benefactor, thank you very much."
I clinked my glass with her, "You're very welcome, thank you for agreeing to date me."
She set her glass down and leaned across the table to offer her lovely full lips for a kiss that I happily accepted.
We polished off the calamari and exchanged small talk while we waited for our entrées.
"So what brought you to the big apple when you ran away?"
"I love singing. I got really good reviews for shows I did in school. I figured if I didn't try while I was young I never would. I know it's a one in a million shot, but, why not?"
"What do you do for work?"
I chuckled before answering, which perplexed her.
"Sound."
Her eyes begged for explanation.
"I guess fate must have brought us together. I do sound for Broadway shows. I work in a shop that provides reinforcement systems for shows. Sometimes I work onload ins and take outs, and frequently I mix shows."
"You're kidding?"
"Nope."
"I can't believe it."
"I can't wait to hear you sing."
Victor arrived with our food, chicken parm for me and lasagna for her.
"This looks great."
"Thanks, Victor,"
"Any grated parmigiana, or cracked pepper?
"Both for me, please."
"And madam?"
"I'm fine, thanks."
Victor stepped away for a moment, returned with cheese and pepper for me.
"Say when, Dave."
"I can't believe we never exchanged names, I'm Lucy, Dave."
"It's a distinct pleasure, my dear."
"All mine."
She winked at me and flashed a brilliant smile, before digging into her lasagna.
For several minutes we both focused on our delicious food.
"A friend of mine is the house electrician at a dark theatre where they're having open calls for a new musical next week. He could probably help you get in, if you'd like."
"You've got to be kidding."
"I think he'd be happy to, he's a good friend, I work for him frequently."
"Holy shit, oh, pardon my French."
"Don't worry, stagehands tend to be fluent in French."
We finished our meal and wandered through the Village, made a stop for ice cream cones, picked up another bottle of wine, and eventually returned to my place. I opened the wine and we settled onto the couch to enjoy it and talk more.
"How come you're not dating anyone?"
