“Alright, Sonny. We can keep this on a purely business level if you like. But, if you ever change your mind…you know where to find me.”
“I appreciate that, Mel. If I ever change my mind, you’ll be the first to know.”
“Well…” she sighed heavily. “I guess I better go. Thanks for the dinner, Sonny. It was truly the best I’ve had lately.”
I held her hand as I walked her to the living room to retrieve her purse. Then I escorted her to the door. I leaned down and gave her a chaste kiss on the lips. There was a disappointed look in her eyes, but she accepted my decision with grace.
“I’ll send you the layouts in the morning,” she reaffirmed. “Goodnight, Sonny.”
“Night, Mel,” I said as I watched her saunter to her car.
*****
After Melanie left, I sat down on the edge of my bed to think while I sorted through the drafted sketches of Summer once more. My thoughts returned to the original portrait of Summer, the one our Dad still possessed. I closed my eyes and conjured the drawing from memory. I knew right away, it had what I’d failed to capture in the most recent sketches.
There was something in the eyes of that sketch, some small detail, that set it apart from all the others. If only I could define it, recognize it for what it was, then perhaps I could recreate it in the collection of my more recent sketches. I’d seen it in Summer many times. That’s how I knew it was missing.
I’d seen a hint of it in Mel earlier. Only what I saw in Mel was pure unadulterated lust.
I opened my eyes and laid the sketches aside. It had been a long day and I hadn’t even cleaned up the kitchen from dinner yet. I sighed and wandered out of my room to finish the day’s chores. I cleared away the dishes from the table on the deck and began work in the kitchen, loading the dishwasher and wiping away any evidence on the countertops of my having cooked.
The kitchen was spotless when I headed towards the shower. Summer still wasn’t home.
I peeled off my clothes and stepped into a steaming shower, just what I needed to relax me and clear my thoughts. I bowed my head and let the water rain down on my hair. As I stood there under the hot water, I replayed the past few days in my mind. I was grateful the charity event had gone well. At least it was behind me, and I had a new job as a result. Maybe now, I could repay Summer for the expensive suit she bought for me. I reached for the shampoo and lathered my hair.
The suit. My eyes snapped open suddenly. That was it! That was when it hit me. The look in Summer’s eyes when she saw me in the suit. The reason I hadn’t been able to define it was because it wasn’t one emotion. It was a combination of feelings. Pride, admiration, affection, annoyance…lust.
Then last night, when Mel out-bid her for the date with me. Shock, anger…jealousy.
“Fuck!” I cursed aloud as I hurried to rinse the soap away. Why hadn’t I seen all this sooner? I pondered as I turned off the water and stepped from the shower. I’d forgotten to bring clothes with me from my room. I wrapped the towel around my waist and flung open the bathroom door.