Gorgeous. Why couldn't she do that for anyone else? It was her to a T. Not coy. Not pretentious. Elegant, powerful, strong.
I dialed her at the store.
"Wonderful Wanda's House of Waffles," she trilled. Must have looked at the caller ID. Only if she didn't recognize the number did she ever answer with the business name.
"Gorgeous dress," I said. "And you look beautiful in it."
"That old thing?"
"I'm not going to gush all over you if all you do is deflect me," I said. "No compliments for those who aren't willing to receive them." I can quote Miss Manners, or miss quote her, if and when I have to. I read books like that when I was a kid, didn't follow the advice, but I read the books anyway.
"Fine. I do love it," she said. "It makes me feel, I don't know, young? Yeah, that's it, young. And sexy and describable."
"Has anyone else seen it?" I opened the fridge, all that was in it was one lonely, lonesome, low fat, Greek yogurt. Looked like it was lemon flavor. I couldn't remember buying it, but must have, unless Louie developed new and exciting talents as yet undiscovered by yours truly. It was about as exciting as congealed library paste, and about as tasty, too. She knew I meant the other six and I knew she knew I meant the other six.
"Yes, Mom. I sent it to everyone."
"Anyone change their minds?"
"They all did, provided I can find dresses that go with that one," She took a deep breath and said, "I can't."
"Can't? Can the store order any others in similar colors or styles? Surely the designer has a variation on a theme."
"I made it," she said. "I worked on it for months, even before he asked me. I figured if he didn't ask me to marry him, I could embody a Greek goddess and invite him to worship one night."
"Please don't talk to me about my dad like that. I want to think that the two of you sleep in flannel pjs and in separate rooms."
"Bernie-" I could just see her holding up her hand and waving me off. Yes, I know, I know. but it's my dad and that's just wrong somehow.
"Yes, I know. But it's my delusion, I should be welcome to it." Hell, I'd embroider it on a pillow if I had to. I just couldn't let my mind go there. Not now and probably not ever. "Why not hire a seamstress if you want that for the maids of honor, bridesmaids, whatever? How many do you really want to stand up for you anyway?"
"I really just wanted you," she said.
"No, but thank you. I look lousy in that style. Think pregnant mascot for a tire company. Think the Pillsbury Dough Boy with a toga. Not a pretty look. But I am flattered." I opened the cabinet next to the fridge. I used to have some cookies or crackers there, now it was empty. The other side of the cabinet held my six bottles of spice, but maybe there was something else behind the teenie, tiny bottles. Bubpkus.
Great.
The freezer didn't even have freezer burned ice cubes.
What the hell?
I went to the pantry and the only thing I recognized in it was Louie's aluminum garbage can of dog food. And several cans of off brand tuna fish. There was a case of a sports drink, some protien powder and an oversize bottle of gin.
"Excuse me, Mar," I said. "I need to check something."
I palmed my keys and went to the front door. The key fitted both the door knob and the deadbolt; both unlocked and locked with the key on my ring. I looked at the front of the house. The house number was the same as the one I was used to coming to. My car was in the driveway.
I went to the master bedroom and found Pappa Bear sleeping in my bed. Not that I have a problem admiring the sleeping form of a nearly naked man, but this was pushing it. Daniel was wrapped in my comforter, hair spilled over my pillow, and his dirty socks were peaking out from the covers. His jeans were on the floor at the foot of the bed and so was a sweater. I couldn't see any underwear, so whether or not he wore boxers or briefs was a mystery and going to remain that way, at least for the moment.
It was early, not even noon. I had been out to the park for about half an hour and then spent an hour at my dad's office to see what projects he had going on, I'd been home since then. I updated my profiles on all my social media accounts. I even spent a few minutes on one of those dating sites. I just couldn't stomach the idea of trolling cyber space for a man. I was lonely, but not that lonely, not yet.
I poked at his left foot and said, "Hey."
Nothing. Not even a change in his breathing habits. I jiggled his foot a little harder. Still nothing. Not even a grunt. Louie, my shadow, padded in quietly behind me and figured we were going to take a nap. so I patted my side of the bed, the place I usually find him if I come home early from errands. He jumped on and barely moved the bed with his landing. He turned around three times and settled next to Daniel's middle. They both sighed as Daniel's arm encompassed Louie's body.
I had known there was a bond, but not that big of one.
It didn't explain what Daniel was doing in my bed, in the middle of the day, or why he had cleaned out most of my kitchen.
"Bern, everything OK?" Marcella asked.
I walked out of the bedroom but didn't bother to close the door. "Is there any reason why Daniel xxx would be asleep in my bed?"
"Ooh, girl. good for you. I thought you might like him."
"I hardly know him. He has never seen me at my best and whenever we see each other he has an agenda I don't know much about. You're his xxx. What gives?"
"Better for him to tell you."
"Don't hedge. Tell me what's going on." I went back to the kitchen to see whether or not the fridge had magically filled itself with at least a dozen eggs, maybe some bread, and possibly butter. No such luck.
"Bernie, I'll talk to you later. I've got a customer."
Before I told Marcella I'd hold, she disconnected the call. Damn it.
~~~
tbc
word count 1174
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