times. I felt a tug of desire and realized I’d just gotten the phone call—the one that would either save my life, or destroy it. I might have been sitting at a gate in an airport at the time, but I was literally at a crossroads. Nashville loomed to the left, representing the status quo, my comfort zone, and the known.
The door to Nashville offered a future filled with hookers and free time, travel, excitement, bullets and danger.
The door to my right led to New York and Kathleen, who seemed to be moving me at breakneck speed toward monogamy, fatherhood, and the wedding altar. If I took that door, in three years the sex faucet will have slowed to a drip and the arguments will take longer to quell. Routine things would start annoying us about each other, and resentments would build. Addie would steadily crowbar her way into our hearts and lives and it was only a matter of time before we’d lose the “us” that brought us together in the first place. There would be endless hours of babysitting, homework, tears, adolescent issues, sleepovers. There would be obligations to church, school, friends and sports, and all spontaneity would vanish from our lives.
I glanced at the gate to New York City and saw a future unfolding before me that made me question my commitment to Kathleen and Addie. Would I have to give up my job and don a suit and tie and work for some corporate schmuck? Would Kathleen expect me to get involved in her charity work? Could I ever see myself playing tennis or golf at some tight-assed country club or hosting mind-numbing cookouts for the neighbors, having to deal in a civilized way with the guy that drools over my wife’s ass and comes on to her every time I’m looking the other way?
I looked at the babe, cooing in the middle-aged guy’s ear. He said something and she giggled and gave his earlobe a gentle bite with those perfect, porcelain teeth. Both of them seemed completely oblivious to the glares and stares of the disgusted women and envious men watching their public show of affection. As they headed through the jet way, he cupped her ass in his hand. Did she scold him or call him a pervert? No. She rewarded him with a squeal of delight.
Chapter 36
In the end, it wasn’t such a hard decision. While it was clear Kathleen was leading me to the altar, she wasn’t forcing me to take the plunge immediately. She’d let me enter the water an inch at a time. I knew what it was like to take a hooker to Nashville, but I didn’t know what it was like to live with Kathleen and Addie. And I wanted to find out.
Hours later, in New York, I waited in Kathleen’s duplex until I heard the taxi door slam shut. I raced outside like any other suburban goober and hugged Kathleen and Addie like the lifelines they were.
Addie said, “Me and Kathleen are BFF’s!”
“Wow, BFF’s!” I had no idea what that was, and Kathleen knew it.
She smiled and whispered, “Best friends forever.”
I whispered back, “I knew that.”
“Of course you did!”
I paid the cabbie, picked up Addie’s suitcases, but paused at the front door landing when Kathleen said, “Wait. Let’s take a moment to appreciate this. When we enter that door, our lives are going to change forever.”
She beamed with happiness, and Addie smiled back at her. This little burn victim had lost her parents, her twin sister, and all her possessions in a ghastly fire six months ago, but you’d never know it today. I might test torture weapons for the military, but my strength and endurance is nothing compared to Addie’s. Beyond her strength of will, she had a plucky optimism that was as inspiring as it was contagious. Addie was part Little Orphan Annie and part Superman.
They passed through the doorway and Addie squealed with delight and clapped her hands when she saw the cookies I’d baked and set out for them on the kitchen table. I could only imagine how excited they’d be to see the gifts I’d bought: a large wicker picnic basket and a blue checkerboard quilt. I wondered if we would someday remember these as the first things bought for our new family.
I lingered the slightest bit on the landing before joining them, giving extra weight to what Kathleen had said. She was right, of course. After today, my life would never be the same.
And that was a good thing.
Two hours later, celebration dinner.
I don’t know any restaurants in New York City that are the exclusive domain of little girls, but Serendipity 3 comes close. With its giant clock, colorful Tiffany-style lamps, white tea party tables and chairs, the interior made me feel as though we’d fallen into a movie set of Alice in Wonderland. It wasn’t all about the decor. I’d been told the deserts, especially the frozen hot chocolate—was to die for. Addie raced around the little restaurant store while Kathleen and I waited for a table. When we were seated, Kathleen looked at me and burst into laughter.
I raised my eyebrows. “What?”
“You sitting here,” she said.
“Uh huh.”
