The Heart is a Lonely Hunter (20 page)

Terrance was bubbly and genuinely happy. No, he was thrilled to be talking to her and didn’t try to be cool or coy or mask the way he was feeling and she liked that. And to a great extent, Sill felt the same way. His call dispelled all of those notions, those demons she’d been wrestling with a few minutes prior to his call.

If a handsome, young man like Terrance was interested in her, even if it were simply on a physical level, then she couldn’t possibly be over the hill. Hell, the ratio of women to men in Atlanta was eight-to-one. And Laura Harrington or whatever her name was living proof that he didn’t mess with any scrubs. No, as attractive and sexy as Laura was, he’d chosen her.. .Still, now was not the time to ponder middle age, menopause and mid-life crisis. The fact of the matter was that Terrance Daniels, who had to be at least five or six years her junior, wanted her, when he could have had his choice of.

“Terrance, are you still there? I’m sorry. My mind’s in a million different places. Listen, I know you’re wondering why I wasn’t at work and why I’m at a motel but trust me, I’ll explain everything later. But right now I need you to do me a favor or two. Are you free for, say, an hour or two?”

“Sure, Sylvia. Whaddaya need?”

“First of all, I need for you to call your landlord. See if he has a two-bedroom townhouse for rent. Then rent a U-Haul truck, the largest they have, and meet me at 6909 Wickersham Drive in the Lake Brandt district in an hour. Did you get that?”

Terrance repeated the address and assured her that he’d be there within the hour. Sylvia then called Edwin for the second time to make sure that everything was in order, the paperwork completed and then headed for the bank, which had been closed for hours. It felt good to have friends in high places. Edwin greeted her at the door and then led her into his office in the rear of the bank. Pulling up the Princess Anne chair so close to her that their knees touched, he faced her. Grabbing both her hands in his, Edwin looked into her eyes as if trying to probe the very depths of her soul for answers.

“Sylvia, are you absolutely sure you’re doing the right thing?” he asked wearily. “I understand your feelings and I know it’s really none of my business but I just want to make sure you’ve thought the whole thing through and aren’t just acting out of anger and vengeance.”

There he’d said it. Edwin knew from the moment the words left his lips that he had stepped outside of his professional boundaries. He’d crossed the line but, for some reason, he was genuinely concerned for her welfare and the repercussions for what she was about to do could not only be devastating but dangerous for everyone involved.

Nodding her head, Edwin handed her paperwork, which was legal and binding and only wished he hadn’t known the details. He then handed her the check, which required her signature, then went up front to an empty cashier’s window and opened the drawer to cash the check. When they were finished, she thanked Edwin and promised to call him as soon as she was settled.

All in all, things were running as smoothly as they possibly could up to this point and she couldn’t see how anything could possibly disrupt the flow. Ter-rance was at the house when she got there, punctual as usual. The truck was even bigger than she had expected. “You owe me, Sylvia! You owe me a lot!” Terrance was ecstatic. “Listen! Jazzy has a three-bedroom townhouse that’s gorgeous. It’s ready and waiting and only seven fifty a month. I looked at it and thought it was a steal, so I put a deposit down to hold it ‘til you got a chance to see it. I got him to waive the security deposit, so all you’re looking at is the first month’s rent.”

Sill was not impressed. In fact, it was obvious that she was quite disappointed although Terrance had no idea why? She beckoned and he followed her inside the small estate all the while marveling at the spaciousness of the rooms and the décor. There was no doubt that this was her home. She said nothing as she gave him a tour of each room. And then she turned to face him. Her eyes blazed with a fury he had never known and didn’t care to come to know. Of that he was certain.

“Did you think that my moving into your little community would bring the neighborhood down a peg or two, Terrance?” she shot at him. “Or did you think that my being in such close proximity would disrupt you getting your groove on with your fan club?” What did you think, Terrance? Did you think you could take the ol’ woman out one night, buy her a few drinks, and screw her to add another notch to your belt and parade around with that smug look of yours like you do at school with the knowledge that you fucked the ever so prim and proper Sylvia Stanton. If you were truly a man, you might have told me that you were only interested in how I was in bed and you never know, I might have accommodated you. But, no! One night and no conquest and you don’t have the time or the common decency to even do a follow-up phone call to say thanks or I enjoyed your company. No you just pass me off. What am I supposed to do? Am I supposed to just pick up and go with your friend, Jazz, ‘cause you’re not interested. What? Tell me, Terrance. I knew the moment I called Jazz and informed him that I was in a motel room and was looking for you that someone was going to get the wrong impression. Was knowing that I was in a motel room, waiting for your call enough for you to pass me on to your friend. Damn you, Terrance Daniels! Whatever makes you think that you can place me in Jazzy’s apartment complex, without even bothering to consult

me and—you know you’ve got a lot of nerve. Because I’m attracted to you doesn’t make me a—?”

Terrance, at first shocked by the verbal onslaught, was grinning from ear to ear now. Seeing this, Sill grabbed the first thing she could get her hands on which just happened to be a crystal vase and threw it as hard as she could in his direction. The vase shattered a few feet from Terrance’s feet sending chips of glass everywhere. Angered by her miss, Sill searched the room for another projectile. Terrance was laughing out loud now and this only enraged her more. Before she could find another weapon, he grabbed her, pulling her to him; crushing her against his chest, he pinned her arms behind her back and was amazed at her strength. She struggled to free herself but to no avail. And then, he kissed her softly, softly and then madly, passionately. Her struggles ceased as she met him halfway. She crushed her mouth into his, hungrily, as if she were starved for affection. He felt her tongue down his throat and gagged. He tried to push her away but couldn’t escape her grasp. He felt himself falling but caught his balance at the last minute. At least she hadn’t drawn blood this time. He continued to hold her arms, hoping if nothing more than to comfort her. She did not resist. He looked at her now. She was someone different now. Her tirade had exposed another side of her; a side he would have never dreamed existed in someone so normally docile, so sweet. And it wasn’t a side that he wanted to see again. Yet, if anything, it made her more attractive, more enticing.

“A kiss is not an apology, Terrance,” Sill observed, her anger diffused.

Terrance studied her face for some clue as to why she thought he owed her an apology and found none. “Why am I apologizing? For what? You asked me to do something and I did it. Now I should be sorry? Lord, please help me to understand.”

Pushing herself away from him, Sylvia repeated her earlier position. “When I called you earlier I asked you to do two things. First, I asked you to find a truck and, secondly, I asked you to ask your landlord if he had any two-bedroom townhouses for rent. I had specific reasons for wanting to move into your complex, not any of them being you. And I don’t know too many grown men that might pretend to be interested in a woman that would dare to put that woman in close proximity to a friend, who happens to be a single man, a bachelor, a playa’, such as Jazzy, unless he just didn’t care for that woman.”

Terrance began grinning again. “Well, I’m glad that at least the U-Haul suited your needs. I thought I was in compliance with your requests. You asked me to speak to my landlord and I did.”

“Well, Terrance, if he didn’t have any townhouses available then why would you take it upon yourself to look somewhere else without consulting me?”

“But he did have something available,” Terrance replied, still grinning.

“Then, why in God’s name are you trying to place me in Jazzy’s complex, Terrance?”

“Because you asked me to, Sylvia.”

“At no time did I ask you to.Are you playing with me, Terrance Daniels? And why are you standing there with that silly grin on your face. What’s so damn funny? What did I ask you to do?”

“You asked me to find you a two bedroom townhouse in
my
complex. You asked me to speak to my landlord. And I did. You see, Jazzy happens to be my landlord. Not only do I secure you an apartment but I took the liberty of putting a deposit on it and having the security deposit waived and this is the thanks I get.”

Sylvia was flabbergasted. “Do you mean to tell me that Jazzy runs Lake Spring Village?”

“No, baby, Jazzy
owns
Lake Spring Village but he doesn’t live there. He has a home a block or so from here right on the lake and another up on the Upper East Side in Manhattan. And for your information, a playa’ he is not. He never has been. In fact, the only love he has aside from his wife, Michelle and four beautiful daughters is Jazz. Ask me, I’m the godfather for all four girls. And to be perfectly honest with you, I have never met a more devoted family man. Michelle and he have been going together since grammar school and he married her straight out of high school. And I guess they’ve been married close to fifteen or sixteen years now. Sylvia was stuttering, searching for words to exonerate herself but found none. The best she could come up with was, “I’m sorry, Terrance. I never would have imagined.”

“Don’t worry about it. You’ll pay, Mrs. Stanton.”

“I’m already paying for my ignorance and quick temper. As far as your pay, what can I say, the banks are closed but I’m pretty sure I can find some way to reimburse you. Has anyone ever made your toes curl?” she laughed, her anger all but gone now as she recalled Laura’s message from the night before.

Terrance smiled, swept up the shards of glass, remnants of the broken vase but never once did he ask what was going on or why her sudden haste to vacate the spacious estate. She liked that about him. With all of her idiosyncrasies and insecurities, he still respected her judgment. Besides, he was sure she’d tell him when the time was right. Right now, there was too much going on and he knew that now was not the time.

Sylvia changed into some old gray sweat pants and a sweatshirt, and then put some Miles Davis on the CD player and poured herself a large drink. She proceeded to wrap her fine china in newspaper.

“What stays and what goes, Sylvia?”

“Oh, I’m sorry, Terrance. Pour yourself a drink. Everything goes but the T.V.”

“In that case, I’m calling for some help.”

Sylvia, still in another world, never heard him. Terrance called Jazz and a number of other friends, but being that it was Friday night, no one was available. Terrance resigned himself to the task at hand. Surprisingly, Sylvia worked as hard as any man. And not before long the truck was full. Terrance found two wine glasses among the many boxes and a bottle of expensive
Chardonnay.

“Gonna leave your car here or are you gonna follow me?”

Sill smiled. “I’ll follow you wherever you lead me.” It was obvious that a load had been lifted from her shoulders. She kissed Terrance, appreciatively, jumped into the car and tooted the horn as if to say, farewell mission accomplished.

“Come on, slowpoke,” she yelled, good-naturedly.

Terrance rubbed the spot where she had kissed and replied, “I’ll never wash that spot again.” They both laughed. Forty-five minutes later, Sylvia pulled into the Lake Spring Village parking lot, took the plants out of the back seat and followed Terrance to the door. Putting the plants down, Sylvia walked back to the car, pulled out her overnight bag, the portable CD player, and the remainder of the wine and glasses.

Terrance gave Sill the key and stood back to watch as she opened the door to splendor. The apartment had everything she could ever have dreamed of. “You have such wonderful taste, Mr. Daniels.”

“I thought you’d like it, so I took the liberty of having the lights turned on. I’ve got a friend that works down at the power company. You’ll have to get it done officially on Monday though.” He was as proud of the townhouse he’d selected for Sill as he was of his own. And though they’d only really just been introduced as friends he felt as if he’d known her for years.

“You are wonderful. Simply wonderful, Terrance,” she said. “Turn the stereo on will you, while I find the bathroom.”

Soon Terrance heard the shower running. “Damn that woman. I wonder if we’ll ever be on the same page,” he muttered to himself.

Just as quickly, the shower stopped. Terrance brought the stereo in, hooked it up, put some Sade on, then lay down on the floor and closed his eyes. The white wine and mellow sounds of the mellow music masked his fatigue. He felt vibrant—alive.

“Oh, Terrance, there’s a fireplace. It’s so elegant. Hey, Sweetie, do you think you could make a small fire?”

Terrance was sure she’d lost it now. “It must be close to seventy degrees outside and you’re talking about making a fire,” he said softly.

“And, if it’s not too much trouble would you, bring the box of dishes in first so I can fix us a little something to eat?”

“Sure, Sylvia. Anything else?” Terrance was worn out but saw all the effort as simply a means to an end. And after all he’d done for her today, she would certainly be his in the end.

“Yeah, sweetie pie, do me a favor and call me Sill.” She was really feeling her oats now.

“Terrance thought of his father and chuckled aloud. He remembered his father telling him that his mother never called him by his proper name, but nicknamed him, ‘Honeydew’, which stood for ‘Honey, do this and Honey, do that.’ Now for the first time, he understood and could relate.

“Hey, Sill, I’m going to stop by the office and let security know you’re here, then stop by the house and grab a quick shower. How do you feel about Chinese?”