Chapter 3: Sophia
This is chapter 3 in the continuing saga of newly divorced Lee Stephenson as he travels around, looking for a better life. So far, he has found two exciting women to show him what might be in his future.
*
Glynnis and I had another lovely dinner at her parent's restaurant, Florio's. This time, she recommended the special, Chicken Marsala, and the choice was, as it had been the night before, perfection. We shared a half litre of Pinot Grigio and continued our conversations from the previous day. I probed gently on who the mystery man might be, but she remained tight-lipped. She talked a bit about her older brother, Tony, telling me about his success in computer software development in the "big city"; Vancouver. They were very close and I got the impression that Tony was her guardian when she was younger and that she missed him a great deal since he had moved away.
I had formed the opinion that Glynnis was a very bright and talented young lady with a lot to offer someone who could handle the special needs she would bring with her. She was clearly a very sexual woman and would need a man who could complement her desires. But she also had a serious, business side and she would also need a man who could match her ambition; her desire to succeed. It was going to take a special guy to be "Mr. Right" and I was wondering if such a man was living in Cranbrook and was still single.
Shortly after nine, we walked over to the Crowsnest Club and entered. It was just getting going and the noise level wasn't yet at the eardrum bursting stage. The music was largely contemporary pop and at least I could recognize most of it. A disc jockey was playing the music without comment but at this early stage, no one was up dancing and the crowd was pretty thin. I walked to the bar and order each of us a drink and returned to our little table.
We sat and talked for a few minutes as we sipped our drinks and then, I decided that I needed something to occupy our time and I asked Glynnis to dance. We shuffled our way through a few fast numbers and I managed not to embarrass myself too badly. Almost as soon as we took the floor, several other couples joined us and I was grateful we weren't alone. After the fast numbers came some slow tunes and I was happy to pull Glynnis to me and hold her closely as we danced together. We might have been a bit of a misfit with our height difference, but I really didn't care. She looked beautiful this evening in a more demure outfit of pale blue blouse, navy blue skirt and more sensible low heels in patent black for dancing. Unlike last night, she was wearing both stockings and a bra and when I stopped to think about it, she was very conservatively dressed.
By ten I noticed the crowd had grown substantially as had the noise. We were sitting at our table not trying to talk over the music when I noticed a table with three guys on the other side of the room. Actually, I noticed one of the three guys and he caught my attention because he only seemed to have eyes for Glynnis. He was nursing a beer and looked more like a college student than one of the locals and I was curious who he might be.
When Glynnis got up to go to the washroom, he watched every step she made until she disappeared down the hallway and his eyes never left that entrance until she reappeared five minutes later. Now I was really interested. There was only one way to find out who he was.
"Glynnis, do you see that table with the tree guys drinking beer right across from us?" I asked when there was a break in the music.
"Yah ... why do you ask?"
"You see the dark haired guy in the glasses with the tan shirt ... do you know him?" I asked casually.
She looked at him carefully and then back at me with a strange expression. "Sure ... that's Peter Barnsley ... why do you ask?" she said with a curious look.
"He's been watching you. In fact, he only has eyes for you, I think." I said provocatively.
"Are you sure?" she asked carefully.
"Yup ... damn sure." I said without hesitation.
"Really! Are you absolutely sure?" she challenged me.
"Look ... what's the big deal. You're a beautiful woman and he's interested in you. At least he doesn't look like Elmer Fudd." I cracked.
She looked at me with a strange frown and I thought I could hear the gears turning in her head. She was obviously startled by what I had told her.
"I didn't think he even knew I was alive." she said vaguely as she carefully avoided looking across the room.
"So tell me about him." I requested with a hint of insistence.
"He's a friend of my brother, Tony. He lived in Kimberley but he went to school here. He used to get a ride into school with his Dad and then back home with him when his dad finished work. He'd go down to his office and do his homework until his Dad closed up. He was Tony's best friend because they were both 'brainiacs'. He's changed a lot. He's been in Med School since forever." she finished almost absently.
"So why is it such a surprise he's interested in you?" I asked.
"I was just Tony's kid sister. I don't think he even noticed me." she said absently, now looking over to the table of interest.
"Well, I can assure you that's changed. He's definitely noticed you tonight." I said in certainty.
Glynnis turned back toward me and I could clearly see the flushed look on her face and the wide eyed surprise that accompanied it. I had to smile. Was this the mysterious guy she coveted as her 'last chance'. I didn't think so. This seemed to be a complete surprise to her and it had deeply shocked her when she discovered it.
"Don't you think you should go over there and say hi?" I teased.
"Oh god, I couldn't. I mean ... it's been years." She left the thought unfinished.
"Look, Glynnis ... you know I'm going to be gone in a day or so and you're still going to be here. You have to look past the here and now and think about tomorrow. Maybe there's nothing about Pete Barnsley that will connect with you, but you won't know that unless you try." I was pretty sure that there was something going on with Glynnis that involved Peter and I suspected it went back to her school days and her possible infatuation with this guy. I'd seen it before; the little sister grows up and goes from pest to playmate before you even realize it.
She looked at me again with that questioning gaze. She was unsure of herself and possibly a bit frightened. It didn't seem in character for the woman that had virtually attacked me the night before, but there was no denying her uncertainty.
"Go!" I almost shouted as the music pounded in the background.
She got up very tentatively, watching my face and then slowly turned and weaved through the handful of dancers to the other side of the door. I would have given anything to hear the conversation, but I watched the body language carefully. Peter looked up with a very big smile on his face as she approached and then stood. When was the last time a guy of his age stood when a woman approached his table? He reached out for her and then hugged her closely to himself. I could almost see the breath and tension drain from Glynnis with that simple gesture and a moment later they were talking a mile a minute to each other; oblivious to the other two guys at the table.
I had to smile. My matchmaking skills had been hidden all these years and then; voila! I leaned back in my chair and let that satisfied feeling wash over me. What the hell; it might have happened anyway, but I was glad I pushed the process. There was only one problem; I had probably just pushed my bed partner off on another guy. At least I didn't feel badly about it. In fact, I felt quite good.
I picked up Glynnis's half full glass of wine and walked carefully across the room to the two reunited friends and placed it on the table in front of them. I don't think they even noticed. I smiled. The two 'spare guys' had moved elsewhere and these two were in a world of their own. I walked over to the bar and ordered another beer.
As I surveyed the room, my eyes fell on a tall, slim, very elegant looking woman of indeterminate age. She was almost as tall as me, I thought. Her long, shining, perfectly straight dark hair fell to the center of her shoulder blades, covering an equally elegant looking burgundy blouse. I couldn't see her face except in extreme profile, but I doubted that it would be a disappointment. She had a European look about her, although I don't know exactly why I thought so. She seemed very out of place in this small town dance hall and I decided to study her before I made any move toward her.
