Chapter 18“At last, my love has come along. My lonely days are over and life is like a song. Oh, yeah, yeah. At last, the skies above are blue. My heart was wrapped up in clover the night I looked at you. I found a dream that I could speak to, a dream that I can call my own. I found a thrill to press my cheek to. A thrill that I have never known. Oh, yeah,when you smile, you smile oh, and then the spell was cast. And here we are in heaven, for you are mine…at last…” Lyrics “At Last” by Etta James
“Yes, Elizabeth I’m going, I promised I would,” Elsie tells her friend.
They’ve all been so worried about me, the least I can do is go to this stupid thing, Elsie tells herself as she rolls her eyes, dreading going out for this stuffy function.
The function is Bid-A-Date and Elsie is sure it’s going to be filled with an equal amount of southern debutante types and air-headed bimbos, all salivating over the most eligible bachelors in the area, both of which, make her want to cringe and hide.
“I’m going for you, Liz, I know you don’t want to sit there all by yourself while Mr. Man is up on stage, playing host. What the hell made him agree to do this stupid thing anyway?” she asks Elizabeth, disbelief ringing loud and clear in Elsie’s voice.
“I know,” Elsie can hear the eye-rolling coming from the other end of the phone. “Liana booked him for this gig a few months ago. She said that it would be good publicity for his real estate development project, and, unfortunately, she’s right. Women buy homes and commercial buildings too.”
“I hate to admit it, but you’re right. Thank God Janie’s coming too, you got her a ticket, right? I don’t want to sit there all night with you ogling Mr. Man, along with every other heavy breathing, horny, female in the room.”
Elizabeth laughs at Elsie’s playful sarcasm. It’s taken a couple of months, but the old Elsie is coming back.
“Yes I did, she said she was going to call you. And Rico’s going to be there as well, he’s one of the dates being bid on.”
“Hah, you’re shitting me?! I can’t wait to bust his chops. I haven’t talked to him in a couple of weeks.”
After Elsie left John’s place, heartbroken and devastated that she was hurting him, while dying a slow steady death inside, she’d spent a lot of time with Rico. His presence was reassuring to her during these past few months, but without the stress of having to be the sweet lover she felt she had to be with John, and with Brian too. She was free to be angry if she wanted, or to grieve if that was what she needed. There was nothing, no history, no expectations, between her and Rico, except annoyance, and as strange as it sounds, it helped Elsie to let go of some of her anger. There was no pressure with Rico, but she felt safe, something she couldn’t get from Elizabeth and Janie. And for this, Elsie would always be grateful to Rico.
“At least I get to spend Valentine’s Day with all of my favorite people,” Elizabeth says cheerily.
Fuck you, Valentine’s Day, Elsie growls to herself, gritting her teeth.
“Let’s just not even go there, ok, Liz? It’s bad enough I have to sit through the meat show, let’s not throw in the pukey hearts and flowers crap too,” Elsie grumbles.
“Ok, ok, sorry, but it’s true. When was the last time the three of us hung out together? It’s been way too long, and I miss you…”
“Don’t start with the emotional stuff either, Liz,” Elsie can feel the knot forming in her throat. Her friends have shown her an amazing amount of support, and love, and patience, during this whole thing. These people, her friends, are the only real family she’s ever known.
It has been months since she did anything remotely normal. It’s only recently that she started doing the things she used to, like creating new designs and going out for walks to enjoy a beautiful day. She’s finally starting to feel alive again. Her therapist said that she’s ready for this, that it’s time. Elsie feels good about going, she feels good about herself and about making this step in her healing process. She feels ready.
“Listen, there is something I need to tell you while we’re talking about this…,” Elizabeth begins hesitantly.
“Now what? Don’t tell me I’m going to have to wear a tiara or something crazy like that. I draw the line at acting like a princess,” Elsie laughs.
“Hah, no, nothing like that. But have you heard anything about the function tonight?” Elizabeth asks hesitantly.
“No, not really, only what you’ve told me,” Elsie answers her a tentatively, waiting for this bomb, which Elizabeth sounds like she’s getting ready to drop.
“Well…,” Elizabeth stammers.
“Just spit it out already, whatever it is I’m fine,” Elsie snaps.
“Ok, the men that the dates are being bid on are all men in uniform; police officers, firemen, service men…,” Elizabeth begins.
“And?”
“And John and Brian were both approached to participate in it,” Elizabeth says.
“And?!” Elsie asks, getting impatient.
“Ok, here’s the deal: John had kind of gone back to active duty status, in the private military sector, after you left him. He and Brian had agreed to participate in the function before you guys even met, probably even before we started going to the gym. I really don’t know if John’s back in the States. So I don’t know if he and Brian are still going to participate. I think Brian will. I know he’ll come over to say hi to you. And like I said, Rico’s going to be participating as well. Crazy, isn’t it Elsie, that we’re
