17. Daniel - The Stalker
Chapter seventeen
Daniel - The Stalker
E die and I had known the Hiland sisters since we were kids but I was still hesitant to endorse Edie taking a trip to Seattle to visit Jenna, their oldest sister, who had moved there years ago. Edie said she was going with Lynda and Judy for a few days. I could feel trouble brewing because those gals could find trouble in a monastery. After their relentless coaxing, she finally agreed to go with them against my better judgment, and away they went. I suppose she thought I was getting too settled in my ways but Edie had been through so damn much, I didn’t want anyone to take advantage of her. Seems like trouble follows her. But when did she ever take my advice? Like NEVER!
They flew on a 747, the biggest plane Edie had ever seen. It had an upstairs bar which was where all the action was. By the time they landed, they were three of the happiest drunks in town. Jenna was married to a tugboat company owner and she was known to be quite the diva. Her house was lovely and built on top of one of the seven hills with a view of the sound. The view is what it’s all about in areas like that. They laughed, drank, and had pajama parties like they were teenagers. They told crazy stories mostly about men and their relationships and howled at the stuff they’d done. Edie soon realized she wasn’t the only one who had experienced a few different partners. The ladies made her feel like one of their sisters; it was so special to feel included since she grew up alone.
Jenna took them to her favorite bar on the third night in Seattle. It was the happening place, busy as a beehive, with loud music, and crazy lighting, and Edie found herself getting lost in the atmosphere. One of the sisters suggested they play a game so they all put $10 in the middle of the table as the rules were explained. Each of them had to pick a man sitting at the bar and point him out like calling which pocket you’ll sink the eight ball in before you take your last shot. From the many guys sitting around the horseshoe bar, they had to convince him to join their table and be attentive to the one who had selected him. Whoever was successful would win the money. Edie was in passionate pursuit of the win, not so much the money, but the challenge and game-playing was her thing.
A delicious-looking guy looked totally wrong for her. A man like that would never be interested in her from her experience, but hey, what’s a game without a challenge? She identified him to the ladies, went over her strategy in her mind, and approached Daniel. She described him as ‘collegiate-looking’. Tall and lanky, dressed in tight-fitting jeans, fancy black boots, a gold Byzantine chain around his neck, and a leather bomber jacket. His hair was short-cropped with tight blonde curls.
Older men were usually attracted to her but Daniel appeared to be her age so she decided to take a chance. Instead of flirting she leaned in putting her elbows on the bar next to him and loudly whispered, “Hi, my name is Edie, and my friends at the third booth and I are playing a sort of game, kinda like a scavenger hunt. I selected you and all you have to do to get that $40 on the table is sit with us and pretend you like me. Interested?” He began looking her up and down so she did a little twirl and put her finger under her chin for good measure.
He smiled. “Interested? Of course, I’m interested. You’re cute as a bug and I’m always up for a challenge. Maybe you’ll end up being interested, too.” Aren’t men amazing? Edie won the challenge and he got the money but not before ending the evening with a question.
“Edie, this has been so much fun. Now that I have this windfall, why don’t you let me show you around my city and spend this money for lunch at the top of the Space Needle tomorrow?” She agreed and that’s when her life changed…again. Who knew $40 could buy so much? She was about to find out not only how much it could buy, but how much it would cost. Edie hates it when I say, “I told you so.”
For the next three days, he treated her like a princess taking her to all the places a tourist should see, relating the city’s history, taking her to a gay bar in the underground, enjoying Fisherman’s Wharf, and sharing his house and bed with her. He was so incredibly sweet but she admitted though she had a sexual relationship with him, it was difficult. She felt no excitement at his touch, no chemistry, and no fireworks or breathless anticipation.
It seemed he was very inexperienced. He’d never heard the word foreplay; kissing was crude at best. It was the kind of kissing where you feel your lips are on the edge of a black hole and you have no idea what would happen if you fell in. She said if she was the kind of woman who had been on the lookout for the “big one”, Daniel could have written the entire Constitution on his magna dicta. She dreaded his advances and shouldn’t have slept with him since there was no real feeling other than gratitude for his tour guide assistance but she could have easily gotten on a tour bus and avoided the fate that was about to befall her.
She was happy to be going home, though she had gotten to see a different part of the country but she missed her girls and was anxious to get back to her life which wasn’t shaping up too badly. Daniel took her to the airport and as she walked down the gangway, she turned to wave goodbye. He was sobbing and wiping the tears off his cheeks as she boarded the plane. It was obvious at that moment, that their time together meant more to him than it did to her. They promised to stay in touch but she had no intention of ever seeing him again. She was so wrong.
She didn’t hear from him and she was relieved. She had nearly forgotten that romp and was back into their normal routine. However, four weeks later she got a call from the Greyhound bus depot in their small town. It seems someone had sent twenty boxes, suitcases, and trunks to her from Seattle. Confused, they gave her no option but to remove the shipment immediately. She paced not knowing what to do. She couldn’t imagine what was waiting for her but the depot warned that they would begin charging her thirty dollars a day for storage as long as it remained there. She didn’t have much choice but was in a state of ‘Oh shit, what the hell would be happening next’? She loaded what she could in her car, took it to her home, and went back three more times to clear it from the depot. There was no phone call, no note, nothing. Her sleep was fitful at best, worrying about what was about to happen; the next morning, it all made sense.
Fretfully sipping her coffee feeling a chill run up her back despite the warm morning sun doing its best to chase away the last frigid days of winter, a small silver car pulled into her driveway. She panicked; it was the same silver Mercedes she had been chauffeured in around Seattle. Oh my gosh! She jumped out of sight before he peered into the sliding glass doors on her deck. He tapped lightly and cupped his hands to his face to get a better view into her kitchen. Daniel, what have you done? What were you thinking? What in the hell was she going to do? She wanted to pretend she had moved…moved to Siberia or…Bumfuck Egypt…anywhere but showing her face here. Her mind was a twisted mass of spaghetti noodles not grasping the mess she had created. At that moment, she knew she had to face it no matter how painful it was.
She ran her fingers through her bed hair and pinched her cheeks. Why? She didn’t have a clue. She should have tried to make herself uglier but no, she wanted to look better. (It’s a girl thing) Walking to the glass doors, he began jumping up and down like a damn kangaroo, clapping his hands with tears wetting his cheeks. Edie was in big trouble. She had really screwed up…and all because she was a bad girl having a good time, or the other way around. There are consequences for our sin and she was about to pay for hers. The saga was just beginning.
He grabbed her off the floor like a rag doll and flung her around in circles. He laughed, he cried, he kissed her cheeks and at that moment, the girls walked into the kitchen with confused panic on their faces. He put her down and ran to them, still laughing and crying, throwing his arms around them. Edie’s oldest daughter, now ten, almost yelled. “Mom, who is this crazy person?” Before she could answer he joyfully said, “I’m your new Daddy. I’m Daniel.” The girls turned, grabbed their backpacks, rolled their eyes, and headed out the door to meet the school bus.
It’s a long and painful story and we can’t put it all here but Edie said the girls fell in love with him. He was everything a dad should have been. He was patient and kind, playful and understanding. He cleaned the house, cooked, and cared for all the household chores while she took extra jobs at work to avoid spending time with him. He was financially independent although she never asked where his funds came from but his last name was the same as a famous international hotel chain and when he took them on luxurious vacations they always stayed in those hotels. She never saw him pay for anything but upon showing his ID, the hotel staff was courteous, addressed him with respect, and offered an upgraded suite.
A couple of months after he arrived Edie’s aunt passed away and she needed to travel out of state to help her mom settle her estate. The girls were fine staying with Daniel and looked forward to the extra time they could spend with him. When she returned, after the usual greetings, hugs, and kisses, he acted as giddy as a little girl. He had a surprise for her. He grabbed her hand and walked her into the living room and there was a brand new very expensive organ. “Wait, Mom,” the girls said. “It’s even better. You’re gonna love this.”
Daniel turned the organ on and sang and played the Beatles classic song, “And I Love Her.” He had never played an instrument but took three lessons while she was gone to play that song for her. She was very touched by the kindness he showed them but, even though she tried, she couldn’t love him and she couldn’t commit to a long-term loveless relationship. She didn’t want to hurt him but he had to leave. It wasn’t her responsibility to worry about him and in all fairness, he should have communicated with her before he made such a life-changing decision. Edie was appreciative of his kindness and she didn’t want to give him hope that she knew would never come. He ended up bunking with four single guys of different backgrounds but they all went to the same church so he may have felt some comfort. Two of the young men were waiters at an elegant restaurant, one was a delivery driver and the other was a grave digger named Andrew. (Remember this)
Daniel called her every day although she rarely answered. The situation needed to be finished though it took him months to finally let go and realize he had to move on. Feeling guilty for creating his pain she hoped she had learned a lesson. Her girls were sad that he was gone but it would have been difficult to have a happy home with the situation as it was. And…just like that…finally, Daniel was gone and Edie sighed in relief.