He’s a brilliant man and artist whose mercurial temperament has left him with very few friends. I’m the only one who puts up with his moods. Call it love or call it madness. I can’t tell the difference.
38 Words
This is for the Weekend Writing Prompt by Sammi Cox. For instructions, click Here.
“When God loves you, what can be better than that?” ~ Aretha Franklin
There is so much I could write about Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul but I decided to concentrate on the highlights of her music career and her “social and civic contributions”.
Aretha Louise Franklin was born on March 25, 1942 in Memphis, Tennessee. Her father, Clarence LaVaughn “C. L.” Franklin was a Baptist minister and a circuit preacher while her mother, Barbara was an accomplished piano player and vocalist. Theirs was a troubled marriage because of her father’s philandering. The couple separated in 1948. Before her tenth birthday, Aretha’s mother died from a heart attack. Several women, including her grandmother and Mahalia Jackson alternated helping the children at the Franklin home and it was during this time that Aretha learned to play the piano by ear.
Following her mother’s death, Aretha began singing solos at New Bethel, debuting with the hymn, “Jesus, Be a Fence Around Me.” When she was twelve, her father became her manager, bringing her on the road with him during his “gospel caravan” tours for her to perform in various churches.
Her music career found Aretha signing on with big recording giants such as Columbia, Atlantic, Arista and RCA. She belted out many hits such as You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman, I Say A Little Prayer, Hold On, I’m Comin’. And she thrilled the younger generation with Who’s Zoomin’ Who and Freeway of Love. Hearing Freeway of Love transported me back to the ’80s which were a great time for me when I was living in New York. And who could forget I Knew You Were Waiting For Me, her number one duet with George Michael?
In 1980, she gave a command performance before the Queen at Prince Albert’s Hall, in 2009 she sang at the 2009 inauguration of President Barak Obama. In the following year, she received an honorary degree from Yale University. In 2014, she received honorary degrees from Harvard University and New York University as well as honorary doctorates in music from Princeton, Yale, Brown, Pennsylvania, Berkeley, New England Conservatory of Music and University of Michigan. She was the recipient of other honors such as Doctor of Humane Letters and Doctor of Law degree.
Aretha was dubbed “one of the giants of soul music, and indeed of American pop as a whole. More than any other performer, she epitomized soul at its most gospel-charged.” Her voice was described as being a “powerful mezzo-soprano voice” and she was praised for her arrangements and interpretations of other artists’ hit songs. At the age of 14 when she recorded her first album, Songs of Faith, Jerry Wexler declared that her voice “was not that of a child but rather of an ecstatic hierophant.” A hierophant is a person who brings religious congregants into the presence of that which is deemed holy. Aretha’s explanation for that would have likely been, “Being a singer is a natural gift. It means I’m using to the highest degree possible the gift that God gave me to use. I’m happy with that.”
Singing and music weren’t her only passions. Aretha was a civil rights activist. Throughout her life, she was involved in the struggle for civil rights and women’s rights. When Angela Davis was jailed in 1970, Aretha told Jet Magazine that, “Angela Davis must go free… Black people will be free. I’ve been locked up (for disturbing the peace in Detroit) and I know you got to disturb the peace when you can’t get no peace. Jail is hell to be in. I’m going to see her free if there is any justice in our courts, not because I believe in communism, but because she’s a Black woman and she wants freedom for Black people.” Not surprisingly, her songs “Respect” and “Natural Woman” became anthems of these movements for social change. She was also a staunch supporter of Native American rights, supporting their struggles worldwide and movements which fostered their cultural rights.
“We all require and want respect, man or woman, black or white. It’s our basic human right” ~ Aretha Franklin
It was a sad day when it was announced that the great Aretha Franklin passed away after losing her battle with pancreatic cancer. She leaves behind a world touched by her music, her incomparable voice and her effortless work in championing human, civil and women’s rights. She was the first woman to be inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005. In 2013, she was again ranked first in Rolling Stone magazine’s “100 Greatest Singers” list.
“American history wells up when Aretha sings. Nobody embodies more fully the connection between the African-American spiritual, the blues, R&B, rock and roll—the way that hardship and sorrow were transformed into something full of beauty and vitality and hope” – President Obama in response to her performance of “A Natural Woman” at the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors.
Notes to Women salutes the woman with “the voice of the civil rights movement, the voice of black America” and a “symbol of black equality” She was an inspiration not only for those in the music world but for all of us. Although she is no longer with us, her music, her legacy will live on.
“It really is an honor if I can be inspirational to a younger singer or person. It means I’ve done my job” ~ Aretha Franklin
Sources: Wikipedia; Brainy Quote
Tanya was rubbing sunscreen on her arms when she felt someone watching her. Looking up, she saw Benjamin. He was lying on his stomach in the sand, close to the water’s edge, his head propped up by his hand. His glistening body was covered in sand. She couldn’t deny that she was extremely attracted to him but he was younger than her. She never went out with men younger than her. They were either her in age group or older.
He didn’t hide the fact that he was attracted to her. Whenever they saw each other, he would ask her to go out with him and she would turn him down. He was very persistent. Right now he look so good lying in the sand. Shaking her head and ignoring her body’s response, she dragged her eyes away from him and continued applying the sunscreen.
Several minutes later, he was standing next to her. “Hi, Tanya.”
She had no other choice but to look up and when she did, she couldn’t prevent her eyes from traveling over his dripping body. He had washed the sand off. She swallowed hard when her eyes met his. “Hi, Ben.”
“It’s always a pleasure to see you. Are you here alone?” He began to dry his skin, his eyes never leaving her face. His lips twitched slightly when he saw her gaze follow the movements of the towel.
“Yes, I’m–I’m alone. What about you?” What did she have to sound so breathless? And she wished her heart would stop racing.
“Yes, I’m alone too. Do you mind if I join you?”
She shook her head. “No, I don’t.”
He finished drying himself, spread the towel beside her and sat on it. His eyes left her face to slowly travel down her bikini clad body. “You look amazing,” he remarked, his expression serious as he met her gaze. “You’re easily the most beautiful woman I know.”
“Thank you.” His eyes were caressing her and she sucked in her breath sharply when he reached out and ran his fingers down her arm. A jolt of electricity coursed through her body and there were curious sensations in the pit of her stomach. It was becoming impossible to breath normally.
“Why won’t you go out with me?” he asked. “I know you’re attracted to me.”
“You’re younger than me,” she mumbled. He had taken the sunscreen from her hand and gotten on his knees. She jumped when she felt him smearing it across her back. His fingers felt nice and firm against her skin. She closed her eyes. How was it possible for something as simple as putting on sunscreen to become so sensuous?
“There’s only a seven years age difference between us,” he pointed out. “Don’t let something like that prevent us from having what we both want.” He moved closer so that his body was touching hers. His breath was unsteady now and unable to help himself he lowered his head and pressed his lips against her shoulder. He felt her tremble against him. He raised his head, his heart pounding. “Tanya, please have dinner with me tonight.”
She was incapable of doing anything else except nod her head in assent and whisper, “Yes.”
“Thank you,” he murmured. He set the bottle down. “I think we should go and cool off in the water.” He stood up and helped her to her feet.
Her legs felt wobbly. After she regained her senses and composure, she followed him to the water’s edge. Holding her hand, he led her into the cool water where they spent a good chunk of the afternoon.
Following that encounter on the beach and a night of dinner and dancing, they began dating and a year later they tied the knot.
What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make – Jane Goodall
Today would have been Jennie Trout’s 117th birthday. I never heard of her until a few minutes ago when I saw an image of her on Google’s logo. Of course, I had to find out who Jennie Trout was. She was the first woman in Canada to become a licensed medical doctor in March 1875. Jennie was the only woman in Canada licensed to practice medicine until July 1880, when Emily Stowe completed the official qualifications.
Jennie Kidd Trout was born in Kelso, Scotland. In 1847, she moved with her parents to Canada. They settled in Stratford, Ontario. After graduating, Jennie became a teacher after taking a teaching course and continued teaching until her marriage to Edward Trout in 1865. The couple moved to Toronto where Edward ran a newspaper.
It was her own battle with “nervous disorders” shortly after her marriage, which made Jennie decide to practice medicine. In 1871, she passed her matriculation exam and studied the University of Toronto. Jennie Trout and Emily Jennings Stowe were the first women admitted to the Toronto School of Medicine, by special arrangement. However, Emily refused to sit her exams in protest of the university’s demeaning treatment of the two women. In the following video is the reenactment of how Jennie stood up to the prejudices of her male counterparts in the classroom.
Jennie ended up transferring to the Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania, where she earned her M.D. on March 11, 1875 and became the first licensed female physician in Canada.
Jennie opened the Therapeutic and Electrical Institute in Toronto where there were specialized treatments for women involving “galvanic baths or electricity.” A galvanic bath uses the components of water and gentle electrical current. You lie in a 34 degree Celsius Bath, electricity is then passed through your body. Galvanic bath’s are mostly used in the treatment of degenerative diseases such as inflammatory arthritis and problems with the joints. The treatment lasts about 15 minutes (SMOKH)
For six years, she ran a free dispensary for the poor at the same location as the Institute which became so successful that branches in Brantford and Hamilton were later opened.
In 1882, due to poor health, Jennie moved to Palma Sola, Florida. She was instrumental in the establishment of a medical school for women at Queen’s University in Kingston. Her family travelled extensively between Florida and Ontario and later moved to Los Angeles, California, where she died in 1921.
In 1991, Canada Post issued a postage stamp in her honour to commemorate her as the first woman licensed to practice medicine in Canada.
Notes to Women celebrates this phenomenal woman who made history and left an indelible mark in the medical profession. She is an inspiration for us all.
Sources: Wikipedia; Susanna McLeod ; Goodreads
He traced his fingers over the heart with the initials TB + CH. Eight years ago, he had carved them there. Toby Barrington and Celeste Holmes. Celeste. Sighing heavily, he leaned against the tree as he recalled the first time they met. It was eight years ago, just before the summer holidays began.
instead of going straight home, after leaving the college campus, he went to his mother’s office but she wasn’t there. Instead, a woman he didn’t recognize was at the desk, sorting papers with her back to the door. He stood there for a moment watching her. Her hair was cropped short like a boy’s but when she turned around, her figure in the white blouse and pencil skirt was anything but boyish. She smiled and walked over to him. “You must be Toby,” she said, extending her hand.
He stared at her. She had the most exquisite face he had ever seen. She looked to be in her mid to late twenties. Swallowing hard, he took her hand which felt small and soft in his. “Yes,” he managed to say.
“I’m Celeste, your mother’s new assistant. She told me that she was expecting you. Please come in and have a seat over there by her desk. She’s in a meeting right now but should be here shortly.”
He went over to the desk and put his knapsack on the floor beside the chair. He didn’t sit but remained standing, watching her. She finished the task she was doing before he interrupted and when she was done, she turned to face him. “Would you like me to get you anything?” she asked.
He shook his head. “No, thank you.”
“All right. If you change you need anything, just stop by my desk. It’s nice meeting you. I have heard so much about you.”
“It’s nice meeting you too.” He wondered if his face was red. It felt hot. He knew he was staring but he couldn’t help it.
“Excuse me,” she said with a smile and quickly walked away. He watched her until she disappeared.
He sat down on the chair and as he waited for his mother, he thought about Celeste. When his mother finally joined him, apologizing profusely for keeping him waiting he nodded abstractedly, wondering when he was going to see Celeste again. “Mother, do you mind if I were to pop by here again tomorrow?” he asked.
“Not at all, Dear.”
After the following day, he found excuses to stop by the office just so he could see Celeste until one day, his mother said to him, “Since you seem to like coming by the office so often, how would you like to work here for the summer?”
His face brightened. “I would like that very much,” he assured her. What a stroke of luck. He was going to see Celeste all summer. He was to start on the following week. When he arrived bright and early on his first day on the job, it was Celeste who walked him through what his responsibilities were. She was to be his supervisor which pleased him tremendously.
For the first couple of days, she sat with him and then, he was faring well on his own but it thrilled him whenever she stopped by to check his progress. As she leaned over him to check something on his computer screen, he caught a whiff of her perfume and he turned his head slightly so that he could look at her. After a while it was becoming increasingly hard being around her because his feelings for her were growing stronger. He knew she didn’t have a boyfriend because his mother had divulged that information in passing.
One afternoon they were alone in the kitchenette. She was rinsing her coffee mug and he was refilling his water bottle. She looked incredible in the blue top with the V neck, revealing her long, slender neck and the tan skirt. His gaze lingered on her shapely calves before returning to her face. He blushed when he caught her looking at him. It was not the first time that she had espied him staring at her. She didn’t seem to mind, though. He was sure that she must be used to men admiring her.
She leaned against the counter, studying him and making him very nervous. “How old are you?” she asked.
“Eighteen.”
“Do you have a girlfriend?”
He shook his head. “No.”
“What about the girls at college?”
“I’m not interested in any of them,” he said. I am interested in you.
She seemed to be pondering something for a moment and then, she said, “I have a cousin about your age and—”
His expression darkened. “I don’t want to go out with your cousin,” he told her curtly. “I—I want to go out with you.”
That startled her and for a few minutes, she seemed at a loss for words. “You’re too young for me,” she said finally.
That stung. “I may be young but I’m very mature for my age,” he said.
“Yes, you are very mature for your age, but it doesn’t change the fact that you’re eighteen and I’m—I’m nine years older than you. Besides, your mother would not approve.”
“She doesn’t have to know. We can see each other on the quiet until—until I’m at least twenty-one.”
She shook her head. “No. I can’t do it, Toby. You should be with a girl your age.”
He opened his mouth to protest but she excused herself and walked away, leaving him feeling like he had been kicked in the stomach. After that painful rejection, she avoided being alone with him. And when his summer job was over, they hardly saw each other, except on occasions when his mother invited her over for tea or to work on some project. And they didn’t say much to each other, except exchange pleasantries. For eight years, he pined for her, longing for the day when she would give him a chance.
He roused himself from his reverie and moved away from the tree. He didn’t come out here to dwell on the past or wish for something that may never happen. It was a beautiful day but very hot. When it was this hot, he always went for a swim in the lake. He turned to look at the water as it shimmered in the sun, seeming to beckon to him.
Without any hesitation, he stripped down to his underwear and ran down to the water, wading in until it was up to his waist. It felt nice and cool on his skin. He swam to the other side of the lake and climbed on to the embankment. He lay on his back in the shade with his arms folded behind his head. He could stay out here all afternoon.
Unaware that he was being observed so when he turned to swim back to the grassy slope opposite, he started when he emerged and saw Celeste standing by the tree where his clothes lay. His face grew crimson at the thought of climbing out, dripping wet, clad only in his underwear in front of her. He wouldn’t be able to hide his attraction for her.
Her eyes travelled over his bare shoulders and torso before she turned away, her heart racing. He went over to where his jeans lay and quickly pulled them on. His shirt soon followed and after he buttoned it, he went and stood in front of her, his eyes riveted on her averted face. “Why are you here, Celeste?” he asked.
“Your mother invited me to tea and to update me on all that happened while I was away,” she said, avoiding his searching gaze. She couldn’t stop thinking about the way he looked when he came out of the water, dripping and the passions it evoked in her.
“I meant out here.”
“I-I wanted to give you this,” she said, showing him a beautiful wooden carved giraffe. “I brought it back from Kenya for you. Your mother told me that you were out here. I—I didn’t know that you would be swimming.”
He took the souvenir from her, his fingers brushing against hers, sending a jolt of electricity through his body. His eyes flew up to her face and found her watching him. The expression on her face made his heart somersault. What he saw in her eyes made him drop the giraffe and pull her roughly into his arms, making her gasp. He kissed her hungrily, feverishly as the years of pent up emotions were released and groaned when he felt her cling to him as she responded wildly to his kisses.
She felt the rough bark of the tree pressing into her back and her head was tilted far back under the onslaught of his lips as he relentlessly plundered hers. Her fingers gripped his hair, digging into the scalp as the emotions she had denied for so long raged in her like a fire.
This continued for a while and then, he raised his head, his breathing harsh and unsteady. He gazed down into her face, his eyes dark and stormy. “I love you,” he muttered thickly. “I have loved you for eight long and agonizing years.”
She tried to catch her breath. “I love you too,” she gasped. “All the time I was in Kenya, I thought about you and wished that you were there with me. I missed you so much, Toby. I had to come by today and see you. When I asked your mother where you were I was afraid that she would tell me that you were out with some girl. She knows that I love you. I couldn’t hide it from her and she wasn’t upset or anything. Instead she told me where to find you and I ran down here to see you.”
He reached up and cupped her face between his hands. “Does this mean that you will go out with me?” he asked huskily.
“Yes,” she whispered. “As they say, when you truly love someone, age doesn’t matter whether it’s a difference of two years, fifteen years or in our case, nine years. Love is love…” her voice trailed off as she felt his lips against hers.
Paulette walked into Antonio’s office to place some files on his desk. He wasn’t there. It was half-past eight. He usually got in around eight forty-five. She went over to the windows and looked out at the bustling city below. Five years ago, fresh out of university, she had stood there on the sidewalk staring up at this very building, nervous and excited about starting her first day here. It was hard to believe that so much time had passed. She loved working at the company but she knew that Antonio was the main reason why she looked forward to going into the office every weekday.
She didn’t kid herself that he would show any interest in her other than professional because of their age difference. At the age of thirty-nine, he was twelve years older than her. She wanted him to see her as a woman—a woman who loved him so much it ached. Until she met him, she had no clue of what it meant to be in love.
When her friends talked about falling in love, she couldn’t relate because it hadn’t happened for her. She envied them, though, wondering what it would be like to experience what they were experiencing. And then, she met Antonio and it was then that she realized that love at first sight wasn’t a myth. She knew that she loved him the first time she saw him. It was a surreal experience. Everything seemed to be at a standstill and it felt as if they were the only two people in the world. Everything else faded in the background and all she could see was him, coming toward her, his hand extended and an incredible smile on his face.
And that deep, sexy voice of his and the way he said her name still made her shiver. She could almost hear it now and then she started when she realized that he had walked into his office and was standing beside her at the window. Feeling embarrassed, she turned toward him, hugging the files which she was supposed to have left on his desk. “I’m sorry,” she apologized. “I-I didn’t hear you come in.”
He looked so good in his navy blue suit, black shirt and matching tie. His thick dark hair glistened damply in the light and she caught a whiff of his aftershave. Yes, he looked and smelled good…She realized she was staring and looked away.
“Something out there really got your attention,” he said as he walked over to his desk. “I was calling you but you didn’t hear me.”
“I was just watching the people below and thinking about when I first joined this company. I can’t believe it has been five years.”
“Yes, you’ve been with us for that length of time. I hope you still like working here.”
“I do, very much.” I can’t imagine being anywhere else. Working with you is sheer bliss. She realized that she was staring again and that she really ought to be getting back to her desk.
Walking over to his desk, she set the files down. She could feel him watching her and raised her head to look at him. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw his gaze leave her face and travel over her before returning to her face. She hoped she looked fine in the light grey long sleeved top, black pencil skirt and black knee high boots. “I’d-I’d better get to back to my desk.”
“Are you going to Rita’s Christmas dinner?” he asked as she was about to turn away.
Rita was a retiree who used to at the firm. She retired two years after Paulette starting working there. Paulette was sorry to see her go but they kept in touch. She was like a mother to her. This year she was having a dinner and dance party at a banquet hall in London. Paulette had received her invitation in the mail a week ago and had started shopping around for a dress to wear. She wanted to wow Antonio, if he was going. “Yes, I’m going. Are you?”
“Yes, I am.”
She wondered if he was taking anyone. It would ruin her night to see him with another woman.
“Are you going with anyone?” he asked, glancing up from the papers he had been going through.
She shook her head. “No.”
“Why don’t we go together?” he suggested much to her surprise.
“Together?” she repeated. The thought of going with him thrilled and made her nervous at the same time. It would be the first time that they would be seeing each other outside of the office. What were they going to talk about on the ride over to Rita’s place? Would there be an awkward silence? She heard herself say, “Sure. That’s a great idea.” No chance of him showing up with someone else. Tomorrow evening she was going to dazzle him.
“Good. I’ll pick you up at seven.” He returned to sorting through the papers which was her cue that she should get to work. She turned and walked quickly out of his office, her heart pounding with excitement. She couldn’t wait for tomorrow to come.
The day went by very quickly and it was like a blur for her. All she could think about was seeing Antonio tomorrow. She imagined them staring at each other across the table and slow-dancing afterwards. Oh, stop daydreaming and concentrate on your work, she chided herself. It was hard concentrating but she forced herself to do it and in no time it was the end of the work day. She cleared her desk, turned off her computer, locked her drawers and stood up to pull on her scarf and coat. After turning off the lamp on her desk, she grabbed her handbag and walked over to Antonio’s office to say goodbye.
He was typing something and stopped when she poked her head in. “Goodnight.”
“Goodnight. See you tomorrow.”
She smiled as she walked to the lift. Yes, I don’t have to wait until Monday to see you. When she got home, she took out the dress she was going to wear. It was perfect. When she tried it on and examined herself in the mirror, it looked great on her. The champagne color suited her complexion and the style of the dress flattered her figure. She didn’t bother trying on any other dresses. This was the one. She hung it carefully back in her wardrobe and slid the doors shut.
After fixing herself a sandwich and salad, she sat down and ate while watching the news on TV. She decided to turn in early although she knew that it would be a while before she fell asleep because she was so excited about tomorrow. It was around mid-night when she finally drifted off, a smile on her face.
Saturday came and she spent the day, cleaning the flat, doing laundry and grocery shopping. Then, it was time to get ready for the dinner/dance. Excitement filled her as she got dressed. For a few minutes she looked at herself in the mirror before she left her room. She had just put on her coat and grabbed her clutch purse when the doorbell rang promptly at seven. Immediately, her heart began to beat fast and she felt a little nervous as she opened the door.
Antonio smiled. “Good evening,” he said. His eyes lingered on her face before shifting to her hair which was in an updo with a few tendrils framing her face. She saw what looked like admiration flicker in them. She couldn’t wait to see his reaction when he saw her dress.
“Good evening.” She stepped out into the passageway, closing the door behind and turned to lock it. She turned and saw that he was still watching her and she smiled. This was going to be a very exciting evening. They walked to the lift and as they rode down in the lift, they exchanged glances but didn’t say anything. It was a bit cold when they got outside but she soon felt warm in his car as they drove off. Smooth jazz filled the car.
“How come you don’t have a boyfriend?” he asked suddenly, startling her.
“I don’t know. My mother has asked me the same thing.”
“Speaking of family, are you an only child or do you have siblings?”
“I’m the younger of two daughters. My older sister, Pam is married and has three children. She was with my mother when she took in ill. I was away on a trip at the time and had to fly back immediately.”
“What happened?”
“This was a few years ago—during my senior year at university. My mother suddenly collapsed and had to be rushed to the hospital. We weren’t sure that she was going to make it but her pastor encouraged us to pray for her and she made what could only be called a miraculous recovery.”
He glanced at her. “I’m happy to hear that your mother recovered. Are the two of you close?”
“Growing up, I was closer to my father but after he died, my mother and I became close. Almost losing her has made me cherish every moment I have with her now.”
“Yes, family is very important. Both of my parents are dead but I have two brothers and a sister. They are all back in Italy. I try to visit them when I can.”
They talked more about his family and why he left Naples to come to London, especially since he had many fond memories of growing up there. She laughed as he imitated his father who was very strict and his mother who was always complaining about something or the other. He still missed them although they had died over ten years ago. His father died of a heart attack and his mother was devastated. She couldn’t survive without him and died the following year. “I have a photo of them in my wallet,” he told her. “It was taken the year before Dad died.”
Paulette stared at him, touched that he carried a photo of his parents in his wallet. She didn’t say anything. She didn’t know what to say and they had reached the banquet hall. He parked the car, got out and walked around to open the door for her. As they walked to the entrance, she felt the nervous excitement rising in her. They went to the coat room to check in their coats.
With trembling fingers, she unbuttoned hers and removed it. After she handed it to the girl there, she turned and looked at Antonio who was staring at her. She saw his gaze travel slowly over her– the beaded bodice, the plain long skirt with the side slit which revealed her leg as she stood there. He looked amazing in the black dinner suit and as he walked over to her, she felt her mouth go dry when she saw the expression on his face.
“You look amazing,” he said quietly, his eyes meeting hers.
“So do you,” she said, sounding a little breathless.
They stood there staring at each other and then he extended his arm. She took it and they walked to the hall where they heard voices and laughter. Rita was at the entrance greeting everyone. She was delighted to see them. “You look handsome as usual,” she said to Antonio before hugging him.
Then, she turned to Paulette, her eyes widening. “And you, my Dear, you look absolutely stunning. That dress was made for you.” They hugged. “I think Antonio agrees with me,” she said in a low voice so that he couldn’t hear. “He can’t stop staring at you.” She drew back and addressed them both. “It’s great to see you both. You’re both sitting at my table but not next to each other. I hope you don’t mind.”
They both assured her that they didn’t mind although Paulette was disappointed but it turned out that he was sitting directly opposite her. She was seated next to Rita’s grandson while Antonio was sitting next to Marissa, a co-worker.
Every now and then, when Paulette looked over at Antonio she found him staring at her. She wished it were just the two of them having a romantic, candlelight dinner with soft R&B music playing in the background. Rita’s grandson, Mark was talking to her and she tried to be attentive but she couldn’t help being distracted. When dinner was over, she excused herself and went to the bathroom to freshen up.
When she returned, people were dancing and Mark asked her to dance. She was about to open her mouth to turn him down when, she felt a hand on her arm and turned to find herself staring up at Antonio. “I believe you owe me this dance?” he said.
Heart thudding, she allowed him to escort her to the dancefloor. He turned after finding a spot and his hand found the small of her back as they moved to the music. It was a slow number, one of her favorite songs. She couldn’t imagine dancing it with anyone else. She put her arm round his shoulder and just allowed her body to follow his lead. It felt so good being in his arms. She felt like Eliza Doolittle, wishing she could dance with him all night.
They danced until the slow music ended and faster music replaced it. The rest of the night was spent at the table talking and having non-alcoholic drinks. When it was time to go, she had mixed feelings. She was beginning to feel a little tired and wanted to go home but it meant that her evening out with Antonio was over. Rita hugged them and wished them a Merry Christmas. She hoped to see them again soon.
It had gotten colder so Paulette was huddled in her coat as she followed Antonio across the parking lot to where his car was parked. She was thankful when she climbed in and sank down against the soft leather. The car was soon suffused with warm air. On the drive home, they talked about the dinner party and both agreed that they it was a success. She planned on calling Rita tomorrow to thank her for a wonderful evening.
Twenty minutes later, they were standing outside of her flat. She had unlocked the door and stood on the threshold, facing him. The place was quiet because it was near one in the morning.
“Goodnight,” he said softly.
“Goodnight,” she replied, wishing he would stay. They stared at each other and then she was in his arms and he was kissing her.
She threw her arms around his neck and they tightened as she kissed him back passionately for several minutes. Then, she broke off the kiss, grabbed his hand and pulled him inside the flat, closing the door behind them. She fumbled with the lock before turning to face him, her eyes feverish as they met his. She reached for him and felt his arms encompass her waist, pressing her into him as she pulled his head down to hers, her fingers gripping his hair. He was kissing her like a mad man, unable to contain himself. They stood there kissing for a long time and then they released each other long enough to remove their coats and discard them on the floor. She kicked off her shoes while he removed his.
“I want us to start seeing each other outside of the office,” he muttered thickly as he removed his dinner jacket and tossed it on the floor. His tie soon followed.
She nodded. “Yes,” she gasped when he scooped her up and strode through the living-room. “Third door on the left.”
That was the beginning of their new relationship.
Douglas was in the kitchen, stacking the dishwasher while she was in the living-room, admiring the décor and the beautiful patina of the antique table beside the fireplace and below a painting of a person walking along a tree-lined path in the rain. She paused to admire it.
The myriad of bright oranges, reds and yellows suggested that it was in the fall. The path and the bench were soaked from the pouring rain. Yet, the walker looked dry underneath the umbrella and in no hurry to get out of the rain. She wondered if she should come out of the rain before she got wet. Douglas and she had been seeing each other for months now. This was the first time they were at his place. So far they had been going out but avoided places where they might run into people they knew. They couldn’t afford to allow anyone to find out about them or Douglas could lose his job. He was her Economics professor.
The moment she walked into his class and saw him, she knew she was in trouble. She tried not to stare but it wasn’t easy. She would shoot him furtive glances every opportunity she got and when the class was over, she would linger, spending a little long packing up her bag. Thankfully, his was the last class for the day so she didn’t have to rush off to the next one.
One afternoon when she was packing up her bag, he went over to her desk. She glanced up and their eyes met. He had the most incredible green eyes and his face–she realized that she was staring and quickly looked away.
“I’m going to grab a cappuccino,” he said quietly. “Would you like to join me?”
She looked at him, her heart racing. He was asking her out. Get a hold of yourself, girl. It’s just a cappuccino. “Yes, I’d like to,” she answered.
He smiled. “Good. I’ll meet you at the front entrance.”
She zipped up her bag and left the classroom. She waited on the steps, watching the sun set. Five minutes later he drove up and stopped at the side of the curb. She ran down the steps and got into his car. They drove off. On the way over to the coffee shop, he asked her what her major was. “Sociology,” she said. “I want to make a difference when it comes to the social problems that we face in our society and around the world such as poverty, race relations, gender inequality, globalization and environmental change.”
“When I tell people that I teach Economics, they look at me as if I were crazy. Most people remember it as a very boring subject but when I explain to them that the course I teach is Urban Economics they become interested.”
They continued talking about university and courses until they arrived at an Italian cafe in Greenwich Village. Over a Hazelnut Cappuccino and a Hot Chocolate, they talked about other things.
“Do you ice-skate?” he asked an hour and a half later when he was taking her home.
She nodded.
“Do you have any plans for tomorrow evening?”
She shook her head.
“We can go skating at Bryant Park and then have dinner at the restaurant there.”
They went to Bryant Park and she had a wonderful time. It had been a while since she last skated and after a few shaky steps and falls, she was fine. Afterwards they had dinner in the restaurant where it was nice and warm. He asked to take her out the following evening and they began seeing each other regularly after that.
The sound of his footsteps behind her brought her back to the present. She joined him on the sofa. They were going to watch an old movie classic but she couldn’t concentrate. She was intensely aware of him and the fact that they were sitting very closely together so that his knee was touching hers. At one point she could sense that he was looking at her. As the movie progressed, she was on tenterhooks, wondering if at any point, he was going to make a move and longing for him to.
Finally, unable to bear it any longer, she turned to look at him when she knew that he was watching her. Their eyes met and held. Deliberately, she lowered her gaze to his mouth and parted her lips. Without saying a word, he reached for her and pulled her across his lap. His head swooped down and he was kissing her. Her arms went around his neck and held him tightly as they exchanged passionate kisses.
After a while, he raised his head and gazed down into her face, his own flushed. “I’ve been a professor for ten years now and not once have I ever been attracted to any of my students. Then, you walked into my classroom. I didn’t want to be attracted to you but I couldn’t fight it. I approached you at the risk of losing my job.”
She reached up and touched his face. “I was never attracted to any of my teachers but the moment I saw you, I was in trouble. Common sense told me to transfer to another class but I listened to my heart instead.”
“Robyn, I want us to continue seeing each other but under the quiet until you graduate.”
She nodded. “Okay.”
“By the way, who was that guy I saw you talking to in the hallway on Thursday before you came to class?”
She tried to remember who he was talking about for a moment. “Oh, that was Eric.”
“What did he want?” he asked tightly.
“He wanted to know if I was free Saturday night.”
His eyes darkened in jealousy. “And what did you tell him?”
“I told him that I wasn’t. I also told him that I was seeing someone.”
“I hate the idea of other guys asking you out.”
She reached up and kissed him. “You don’t have to worry about any of them,” she murmured against his lips. “They don’t stand a chance.”
Groaning, he kissed her back and then, putting his hands under her knees, he stood up and carried her to his room.
They managed to keep their relationship a secret and on the day of her graduation in June, he asked her to marry him.
Sources: Thought.co; Huffington Post; University of Kent; NYU; Cafe Reggio
