As I settled into my bed to hear Jazz tell me the story of her evening with Cordell, I prepared my mind to hear the rejection that always comes when she encounters a nice guy. “Guess where he took me? He took me to my favorite Italian place! At first I thought Shaynelle had told him that I adored Luciana’s but once we got there I found out it was his favorite place too! Isn’t that great?” If I didn’t know any better I would have said she was gushing but naw, not Jazz. Not Miss cold as ice, shoot you before you shoot me Jazz. She didn’t even give me a chance to answer before she continued with her flashback to the hours before.
“I didn’t want him to pick me up at the house so I met him at the restaurant. I was surprised that we even got a table with it being Friday night on the eve of a holiday weekend. You know how all the college kids come home for labor day and what not. As I walked up the steps to the restaurant, I saw him standing in the foyer. He was dressed in a midnight blue pant suit with a single gold chain. Even though I wasn’t close to him yet I knew he smelled good. Just like that day at the picnic. Just as I reached the door he turned around and rushed to hold it open for me.It kinda surprised me because the brothers I usually go out with don’t even hold the door open if the building is on fire.” That last statement was sad but true about Jazz’s choice of men in the last few years. She was a good woman but wrong man after wrong man after wrong man had hardened her to be something different. I can’t say I blamed her. Its hard to stay positive when you have nothing to be positive about. Keeping the faith is sometimes easier said than done.“Girl, You know I have told you that every man is NOT a bad seed, I have living proof of that.” I said to her in the break. “Yes Veronica, I know, keep rubbing it in why don’t ya!” she teased back. “Now let me finish my cinderella evening. So we went in the restaurant and I had on my copper halter dress. You know the one I have the matching shoes for? Girllll I was looking so so good if I do say so myself!” Jazz always had an eye for fashion and I admired that in her. She actually had picked out the outfit I had on the day I met Brendan and he had commented that he loved how I looked that day in my earth tone pant suit. He feels that my honey cinnamon skin is complimented by the colors of the earth. I think I do agree with him and had added a lot of clothes to my wardrobe just for that reason.
“We had so much in common! He loves music, all kinds of music just like I do. He even said that he wouldn’t hate going to the ballet with me. Can you believe that? A man with a little bit of culture, or at least a man with a lot of patience.” We both had to laugh at this one. I can remember that time Jazz and I tried to double date with some brothers. They had claimed that they would accompany us anywhere we wanted them to go since we had attended a party with them at their law firm. A truly boring affair and it wasn’t because of the affair itself but the people there just seemed like pod people. It was as if they had left all semblance of a personality in another suit. That evening never seemed like it would end. We endured it though.We dressed the part, looked pretty on their arms and spoke with such intelligence even the top partner of the firm was impressed. When the time came for the brothers to return the favor, Jazz and I picked the ballet. We both loved the ballet and it was around the time for “The Nutcracker” to make the touring rounds. We purchased the tickets but didn’t tell the men where we were going. Once we arrived and they saw it was a ballet you may as well have pronounced a death sentence via firing squad. They complained and whined and whined and complained and then even had the nerve to giggle throughout the performance so loudly that an usher came to shush them. Needless to say, we did NOT see them again. Ever. Some people just have no class.
“The best part of the evening was when he serenaded me with the men that played violin for the tables. I’ve always just enjoyed the music from afar but he actually requested a song and then sang it, IN ITALIAN! I was too through and I almost told him that he had me when he held the door open. I kept my cool though. The singing did bring a tear to my eye though and he wiped it with a monogrammed handkerchief that even had his initials on it. He let me keep it too. It smells like him V! I keep smelling it and it reminds me of him so much. Am I going crazy?” I wasn’t sure if this was a rhetorical question or not so I sat quietly. When she didn’t speak I took the chance and started to speak. “It’s just you letting down a little bit of that wall you have built up over the years. You let yourself enjoy a nice evening with a nice man. There is nothing wrong with that. You should have it more often.” I told her. “Yeah I know, I wish I could have that too. I don’t know how long Cordy will be in town but I do know that this was the best night I have had in so long. I truly didn’t want the night to end. He walked me to the car and gave me a soft kiss. Just like one of those in a movie. I almost expected someone to yell ‘Cut!’ after we parted lips. It was so perfect.”
“Well you deserve some perfect some of the time Jazz. We all do”
“I agree with you there sister! Well go to bed, we will talk tomorrow.”
“Okay, Jazz.. oh and Jazz.. don’t overdose on that hankie!” I laughed loudly as I hung up before I could get cussed out.
©Lainey Starr 2008
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