My phone rings,happy for the distraction from beating myself up, I slide it out ofmy pocket. It’s Katie, she’s got the best timing.
“Hey, girl.What’s new?” I ask.
“Nothing much.I just thought maybe you’d like to have dinner with me tonight? Mytreat.”
“Well, I’llhave to check my schedule. I’m pretty important and busy youknow.”
“Yeah, you’reright. It was a dumb idea. I guess I’ll just go and find someonewho isn’t so swamped and has more free time than you.” Shelaughs.
“I’m thatreplaceable, am I?”
“Pretty much,”she says, still laughing.
Just then Ihear a key in the lock.
“So, what timeare you picking me up?” I ask.
“I’ll grab youat 8 pm. Is that cool?”
“It’s verycool,” I say, smiling.
We say goodbyejust as Dad walks through the door fumbling with bags ofgroceries.
I stand up andwalk over to help. “What’s all this stuff?” I ask.
“Grub,kid.”
He didn’t haveany cash when I picked him up from the jail. I had to give him busfare. Where the hell did he get the money to pay for all of thisstuff? I want to ask him, but he looks so happy with his bounty. Idon’t want to bum him out. Still, a niggling thought in the back ofmy mind tells me that maybe he is the same person he was all thoseyears ago. Maybe his new found cash is drug related.
“I boughtsteaks and beautiful veggies. I’m going to make us the bestdinner,” he says excitedly.
“Oh no, Dad. Ihad no idea you were going to do all of this. I actually havedinner plans—a date, kind of…” I say.
“Oh. Ok. Iguess I should’ve called you before assuming you’d be around,” hesays defeatedly.
“I’m sorry. Canwe do this tomorrow night?”
“Of course. Nobig deal,” he says, putting the groceries away.
“So, who’s thelucky guy?”
Oh shit. Iforgot. He knows nothing about me being gay. How could he? Grandmadied when I was still figuring out who I was. If she did guess thatI am a lesbian, she never said anything and even if she did know, Idoubt she’d have told my father.
“Who said itwas a guy?”
“Ok. I’m lost.I thought you said you have a dinner date?”
Taking a deepbreath, I face my dad, “Look, umm…I’m not sure how you’re going totake this but, I don’t like guys, I like girls.”
“So, you’re alesbian?”
“Yes,” I say,searching his eyes for disappointment.
He shrugs, “I’mkind of relieved actually.”
“Why?”
“Well, I wasdreading having to give you the birds and the bees talk. I guessI’m off the hook on that one,” he says, winking.
“You’re alittle late, Dad,” I laugh.
I’m not goingto tell him about what happened today with the punk and the gun. Idon’t want to scare him, and I don’t need him trying to talk me outof working as a private investigator.
When I’ve hadmy shower, I check the time and get dressed. Katie should be heresoon. I guess I shouldn’t have told Dad that I was going on a datewith her. She asked me to go for dinner, not a date, though I’msecretly hoping that she’s into me.
The intercom inthe living room buzzes just as I get my boots on. I say bye to Dadand head downstairs.
* * *
Katie looksstunning. She’s wearing a form fitted black dress, high heeledankle boots, and a red scarf. Immediately, I feel intimidated.
“Hey, Jules.Are you ready?”
“Absolutely,” Isay, following her to her car.
When she startsdriving, she looks over at me, “Do you have any suggestions whereto eat? You know this city a lot better than I do.”
I decide onBeaches, the same place Jason and I always go. It’s got a niceambience and a great view of the water.
Over dinner,she tells me about her work, and I tell her about my day, followingthe punks in the Mercedes. I just don’t mention the gun. While weshare a dessert, conversation flows easily. Before we know it, thewaiter comes over and tells us that the restaurant will be closingin fifteen minutes. We fight over the bill until I win by handingmy Visa to the waiter first.
On our way out,I snatch a purple flower out of a vase that’s sitting on a table. Ihand it to Katie. She smiles and nudges me with her elbow. Just aswe walk out to the street, I notice the white Mercedes parked onthe other side of the road. The driver doesn’t look our way. He’son his cell phone with the engine running.
“No way, Katie.That’s the car. That’s the Mercedes and the same little puke in thedriver’s seat.”
“Are yousure?”
“One-hundredpercent.”
She stops andgrins. “Come on, she says, I’ve got an idea.”
She walksquickly to her car and jumps in. I get in the passenger seat andlook over at her, “What are you thinking?”
“Let’s followhim. He doesn’t know this car, and it’s dark out. He won’trecognize you in the passenger seat. We can’t just let him get awayand not follow him. He is parked right across the street. We can’tjust do nothing.”
“Katie, there’ssomething I didn’t tell you about what happened while I wasfollowing him today. His buddy flashed a gun at me. There’s no wayI’m dragging you into all of this. They’re drug dealers, and it’sway too dangerous.”
“I don’t give ashit. Let him flash that damn gun at me. I’ll stick it right up hisarse.”
I laugh.
“I promise.I’ll stay far enough away from his car that he won’t notice us,ok?”
“I don’t know,Katie. I’d never forgive myself if something happened to you whilefollowing him.”
“Oh. Too late.Conversation over. He’s pulling out,” she says, flipping a halfcircle and driving up behind him.
“Katie, who areyou? You’re not moonlighting as the neighborhood watch on your downtime, are you?”
She laughs andkeeps driving.
“I can’tbelieve we’re doing this. Just drive slowly, ok? I’m serious.”
“Yes, ma’am. Iwill.”
At a safedistance, we follow the Mercedes up Davie Street. The
