41 years ago, Chicago.
She walked the street, her suitcase in hand. She dipped her hand into her pocket, counting the coins there, and knowing she had about twenty dollars in cash. How many times can you ask a man to change who he is, and what he was raised to be? Her hand found the push bar of the door to the diner, and stepped inside, her bag in tow. She kept her eyes low, not wanting to deal with the way that people would be looking at her. A booth was selected at the back of the place, and she slid into the sparsely padded seat after pushing the suitcase under the table. She finally spared a glance around and no one was really paying attention to her, save one man that smiled at her over his cup of coffee.
?Can I get you something to drink?? The waitress asked, pulling her eyes from the man.
?Water, please.? Her voice was soft and airy for the first time in days, as she was already feeling better about her decision to leave. The waitress left her again, with a menu as she walked away to fill a glass with water.
The woman was trying to decide on a burger or a salad when she felt the eyes on her again. She pushed her blonde hair from her eyes and glanced back toward the man only to find him watching her again. She saw him get up from his place at the counter and start toward her. Twirling her hair, she glanced around nervously, then saw the sign for the restrooms and phones. Relax Lisa, he?s not coming to talk to you, she thought, then found herself looking up at him as he stopped by her table.
?May I join you?? He asked with a smile now, full and toothy, unlike the friendly smiles from across the room.
?Sure,? She heard herself say, ?I could use the company.? Great Lisa, real smooth.
?My name is Daniel.? He said as he stuck his large hand her way, and she took it without hesitation, staring at the man that was nothing at all like Hank.
?Lisa O?? She was about to use her married name but found herself stammering out her maiden name. ?Jackson.? She smiled as bright at the handsome man across from her as she could.
The night turned to morning and they were sharing conversation and laughter. Lisa hadn?t felt this alive in ages. She talked about her dreams and Daniel listened to her, really listened with undivided attention, unlike Hank who only listened when commercials were on, or when he wanted something. She was feeling the attraction, an undeniable feeling that she hadn?t felt in years, and to her it was something she began to crave.
?I really should see about getting a hotel, Daniel.? She said quietly as she looked at her watch, and winced inwardly at the time.
?Nonsense,? He said with that same winning smile. ?Come to my home, I have spare rooms, and I promise you safety.? She felt that he was telling the truth, she couldn?t explain it, but there was just something about him, and that night that had turned into the following day, she found herself climbing into his sports car, and riding out of the city.
Lisa and Daniel were living the life that she knew she would never have with Hank. Daniel was charming and handsome, actually acting like spending time with her was the most important thing he was going to do during any given day. They traveled out of the city often to his home in the country, living and acting as a couple, and he was even thrilled when she announced she was carrying a child.
?I am going to have my own child?? He asked with excitement, and then they went immediately out to start preparing for the arrival, decorators were hired for the new nursery at their home, books were bought, and he was as anxious as any expecting father should have been.
Lisa was walking around reading a book when the call came, and she could only stop and drop to her knees as her happiness had been taken away from her in a fatal car accident. She attended his funeral, among friends and family she?d never met, some were nice, and others not so much. They looked down on her, a commoner with their Daniel. He?d been a doctor, and why he was seeing someone so below his status was beyond them. They hurt her worse than Hank ever had, but she was tough, and she knew she would survive, not only for herself, but for their unborn child.
The insurance adjusters had started calling, once they heard about his death, asking for beneficiaries, and where the monies should go, as well as creditors, debtors, and other people, asking if she was his wife to which her only answer was the honest one of no. She packed up a few of the things she had brought with her, as well as a few of the things he?d given her, and she caught a cab to the attorney?s office the day of the reading of Daniel?s will, hoping that he had some mention of her, and their baby, but again found herself with some of his family, and was shocked as the man reading made no mention of her, or the child.
The family members were all smiles as they made their way out, without word to her and the man behind the large oak desk had apologized again and again, to which she only held up her hand, and walked back to the waiting cab, dejected. She paused a moment, looking over her shoulder as she?d sworn she had seen Daniel standing there, looking at her like he had the first night they?d met, only to find the shadows of the building dark and uninviting. She heaved a sigh, and got back into the cab, giving him the address of her old home with Hank, hoping he would take her back.
She walked the street, her suitcase in hand. She dipped her hand into her pocket, counting the coins there, and knowing she had about twenty dollars in cash. How many times can you ask a man to change who he is, and what he was raised to be? Her hand found the push bar of the door to the diner, and stepped inside, her bag in tow. She kept her eyes low, not wanting to deal with the way that people would be looking at her. A booth was selected at the back of the place, and she slid into the sparsely padded seat after pushing the suitcase under the table. She finally spared a glance around and no one was really paying attention to her, save one man that smiled at her over his cup of coffee.
?Can I get you something to drink?? The waitress asked, pulling her eyes from the man.
?Water, please.? Her voice was soft and airy for the first time in days, as she was already feeling better about her decision to leave. The waitress left her again, with a menu as she walked away to fill a glass with water.
The woman was trying to decide on a burger or a salad when she felt the eyes on her again. She pushed her blonde hair from her eyes and glanced back toward the man only to find him watching her again. She saw him get up from his place at the counter and start toward her. Twirling her hair, she glanced around nervously, then saw the sign for the restrooms and phones. Relax Lisa, he?s not coming to talk to you, she thought, then found herself looking up at him as he stopped by her table.
?May I join you?? He asked with a smile now, full and toothy, unlike the friendly smiles from across the room.
?Sure,? She heard herself say, ?I could use the company.? Great Lisa, real smooth.
?My name is Daniel.? He said as he stuck his large hand her way, and she took it without hesitation, staring at the man that was nothing at all like Hank.
?Lisa O?? She was about to use her married name but found herself stammering out her maiden name. ?Jackson.? She smiled as bright at the handsome man across from her as she could.
The night turned to morning and they were sharing conversation and laughter. Lisa hadn?t felt this alive in ages. She talked about her dreams and Daniel listened to her, really listened with undivided attention, unlike Hank who only listened when commercials were on, or when he wanted something. She was feeling the attraction, an undeniable feeling that she hadn?t felt in years, and to her it was something she began to crave.
?I really should see about getting a hotel, Daniel.? She said quietly as she looked at her watch, and winced inwardly at the time.
?Nonsense,? He said with that same winning smile. ?Come to my home, I have spare rooms, and I promise you safety.? She felt that he was telling the truth, she couldn?t explain it, but there was just something about him, and that night that had turned into the following day, she found herself climbing into his sports car, and riding out of the city.
Lisa and Daniel were living the life that she knew she would never have with Hank. Daniel was charming and handsome, actually acting like spending time with her was the most important thing he was going to do during any given day. They traveled out of the city often to his home in the country, living and acting as a couple, and he was even thrilled when she announced she was carrying a child.
?I am going to have my own child?? He asked with excitement, and then they went immediately out to start preparing for the arrival, decorators were hired for the new nursery at their home, books were bought, and he was as anxious as any expecting father should have been.
Lisa was walking around reading a book when the call came, and she could only stop and drop to her knees as her happiness had been taken away from her in a fatal car accident. She attended his funeral, among friends and family she?d never met, some were nice, and others not so much. They looked down on her, a commoner with their Daniel. He?d been a doctor, and why he was seeing someone so below his status was beyond them. They hurt her worse than Hank ever had, but she was tough, and she knew she would survive, not only for herself, but for their unborn child.
The insurance adjusters had started calling, once they heard about his death, asking for beneficiaries, and where the monies should go, as well as creditors, debtors, and other people, asking if she was his wife to which her only answer was the honest one of no. She packed up a few of the things she had brought with her, as well as a few of the things he?d given her, and she caught a cab to the attorney?s office the day of the reading of Daniel?s will, hoping that he had some mention of her, and their baby, but again found herself with some of his family, and was shocked as the man reading made no mention of her, or the child.
The family members were all smiles as they made their way out, without word to her and the man behind the large oak desk had apologized again and again, to which she only held up her hand, and walked back to the waiting cab, dejected. She paused a moment, looking over her shoulder as she?d sworn she had seen Daniel standing there, looking at her like he had the first night they?d met, only to find the shadows of the building dark and uninviting. She heaved a sigh, and got back into the cab, giving him the address of her old home with Hank, hoping he would take her back.