Now Wouldn't You Like to Know (15 page)

“You have your car back yet?”

“I got it out of the shop right after you left my place.”

“Good. You can come over to my place then, if that is all right with you.”

“I’d love to drop by to see you.”

I gave her my address and ended the call. Rising up, I scrambled to make the place look presentable. I didn’t want her to think I was the typical bachelor.

Diana arrived twenty minutes later. I opened the door but did not let her in. I was anxious to see this Mercedes I had heard so much about. Boy, was it a beauty. It was white with white leather interior and dark tinted windows. The tires looked brand new and the body looked like it just rolled off of the assembly line. Yes, it looked good, but then again, she said she spent five grand renovating it.

Returning inside of the house I took her in my arms and kissed her long and hard. She turned to walk over to the sofa but I pulled her back into my embraced and kissed her again.

“Diana, I have to admit that I was miserable without you there in Philadelphia. I felt so alone.”

“I know,” she said kissing my cheeks, throat and my lips. “I felt bad about leaving New York without being able to contact you. I was going to call you once I had arrived at LaGuardia Airport but I discovered that I had left my phone at Victoria’s house. I was frantic.”

Taking her by the hand, I led her over to the sofa where we sat down.

“So, I assume that was Jack who met me at the door.”

“Yes, that was Jack.”

“Did he say anything about me once he returned inside?”

“No, nothing at all. That surprised me. He’s usually the jealous type. But then, we were arguing when you rang the doorbell.”

“Yeah, I heard you two going at it through the door.”

“He can be such a jack butt at times.”

“He looks as though he can be.”

“Hey, you want to go for a ride in my Mercedes?” she said changing the subject.

“Sure, where to?” I asked.

“Now, wouldn’t you like to know?”

Diana started the car up. Within minutes we were riding along Sand Lake Road and heading towards the Florida Mall. Diana wanted to walk around. We spent an hour there and then headed over to Downtown Disney. We did two hours there. As if that wasn’t enough, we headed over to International Drive, a three mile stretch of stores and restaurants and hotels and amusement attractions. Dusk was setting in when we headed out.

“God, you don’t know how this reminds me of our time together on the road Sheldon.”

“Yes, I have to admit that I felt like we were supposed to get on the interstate and drive forever.”

“Hey, what are you doing tomorrow?” she asked, as she took a right turn onto Sand Lake Road.

“Packing and making reservations for a U-Haul truck to take my belongings up to Philly.”

“When are you returning there?”

“Tuesday is when I plan to head back up there.”

“How about us going over to Daytona Beach tomorrow after you pack and make your reservation?”

“Sure, I should be ready to hit the road by 12:00 noon.”

“Good. I’ll stop by around 9:00 to help you, okay?”

“You don’t have to but I could use the help.”

“Hey, you’re my man. And by the way, bring overnight clothes for Daytona in case we decide to stay, okay? My treat.”

“Sure, babe.”

Pulling up into the carport, Diana idle the car while we kissed goodnight.

“Hey, if you have any problems with Jack, just give me a call. I’m serious.”

“I will.”

“See you tomorrow morning,” I said, kissing her one last time.

“I’ll see you tonight in my dreams,” she said, smiling.

Before turning away, I gave her a dose of my own dreamy eyes and climbed out of the Mercedes. I watched as she backed out then took off waving. I waved back.

Chapter 14

D
iana arrived around 9:15AM the following morning just minutes after I started packing boxes with books, DVDs, and CDs. I also packed my iPad 2. Wiping my forehead with the back of my arm, I paused to let her in.

“Good morning, dear,” she said gingerly reaching up to kiss me.

“And good morning to you,” I replied, pulling her into my embrace and holding her.

Releasing her, we went to work packing my belongings.

“You get much rest last night?” she asked, admiring a photo of me.

“Sure did, what about you?”

“Pretty much.”

“Why pretty much and not yes I got plenty of rest?”

“Jack and I got into another argument after he stopped by to pick up a few more things.”

“So, he’s found a place I gather,” I said, lifting a cardboard box and setting it off to the side.

“I believe he is staying with a friend until he gets his own place.”

“I see,” I murmured. “So, what were you two arguing over?”

“He wanted a little more time to move out but I said no. In addition to that he asked me if I was seeing someone else.”

“What did you tell him?”

“I told him that it was none of his damn business.”

I smiled.

“I just want him gone,” Diana emphasized, as she taped up the box I had just set to the side.

“That’s two of us, baby,” I chimed in.

An hour later we called it quits. Before we decided to head out, we both indulged in a small glass of rum and coke along with Reuben Rye sandwiches I had made for the two of us. The corned beef was out of this world. It was on the way up to Philadelphia that she told me rum and coke was one of her favorite drinks and Reuben Rye one of her favorite sandwiches. 

After I cleaned up my mess in the living room area I tidied up in the kitchen, with Diana’s help. I left Mike a note telling him that I would probably be staying overnight in Daytona with Diana. I also gave my word that I would introduce him to Diana the following day. Grabbing my overnight bag we headed out to her Mercedes Benz.

After gassing up at a local convenient store, she handed me the keys to the car and told me that I could drive. Within minutes we were on I-4 and heading east to Daytona Beach, Florida.

Traffic was heavy the first ten miles but thinned out after that. Once I set the cruise control at 74mph, Diana and I talked and listened to music and talked some more. Having traveled the interstate together we were quite at home in each other’s company and in such small surroundings as her car. The moments we sat quietly without speaking were as normal and as stressed free as when we were talking. As I had told her before, I felt like I was married again. I found it amusing that before we ended our trip in Philadelphia we had taken to referring to one another as husband and wife, even to others in jest.

We arrived in the Daytona Beach area inside of an hour. By now we had merged with I-95 north. A few miles later, I eased the Mercedes into the right lane and took the ramp onto International Speedway and headed east. In a short while we passed by the famed Daytona International Speedway and further down the road we passed through historic Bethune Cookman University.

Diana wanted to check in at a hotel before we did any walking around. She said she wanted some place to retreat to when she got tired or was loaded down with bags. She guided me across the intersection of International Speedway and US1 and three blocks later, across a bridge anchored over the intra-costal waterway. The closer we drew to the beach the more alive and spirited she became. Four blocks later we turned left on a very crowded A1A.

Pedestrians were everywhere, most wearing beachwear. The hoochie fashions some of the young females wore were thought provoking. I’m talking girls 14, 15, 16, and 17, built like twenty-four year olds. Their adolescent behavior and playfulness was what betrayed their matured bodies, as they chased after, reached and grabbed for, or held onto their boy toys with starry eyes and girlish grins.

Two miles north on A1A Diana had me turn right and onto the cobblestone driveway of the Daytona Beach
Plaza
Resort
&
Spa
. The hotel sat facing A1A on one side and the beach and Atlantic Ocean on the other side. A pool was located at the rear of the hotel we were told.

We checked in and parked our overnight belongings. While I waited on Diana to change her shoes and purse, I looked around the suite and out the window down at the beach and the vast Atlantic Ocean. Going over to the refrigerator I placed a six pack inside, minus one, I had purchased when we gassed up in Orlando. Sitting down on the sofa I picked up a brochure lying on an end table and went over the list of local attractions inside of it. At well placed intervals, I gulped down the can of beer and after I had drained it, belched.

When Diana reappeared looking as lovely and as radiant as ever, we headed for the lobby with our itinerary in hand. On the way to the Mercedes, we decided to go on a historical visit
of
Mary McLeod Bethune’s Home and Gardens, over at her university. This two-story, five bedroom house was built on the Bethune-Cookman campus and was her home from 1920’s to her death in 1955.

After some effort I found a parking spot and we joined in with a group of tourist who were being led inside of the home. Talk about good timing. The home appeared much like it was when Mary lived there, the tour guide told the group. As we were led around the main floor then taken up to the second floor, we viewed her furnishings, books and trinkets. The furnishings were period items but they provided us an intimate look into the life that Mary led. Returning outside we visited her memorial garden where she was laid to rest.

Diana and I snapped a few pictures then headed over to Ormond Beach, about six miles north of Daytona, to visit the final residence of America’s first billionaire, John D. Rockefeller. His Florida home was known as the Casements. His former home was now a cultural center and museum. While there we toured the period Rockefeller Room, which contains some of the family's memorabilia.

“Enjoying yourself?” I asked her as we returned to the car.

“I’m having the time of my life, Sheldon,” she said, smiling back.

“Good,” I replied, studying her.

“Where to next?” she asked, slinking alongside of me in her slinky red dress, our hands clasped.

“I was thinking perhaps you’d like to visit
the Sugar Mill Botanical Gardens in Port Orange, which is only a couple of miles south of here. We could walk around, take pictures.”

“Sure –” she began but stopped abruptly in midstride. It was as if she had seen a ghost. Curious, I followed her frozen gaze right over to the windshield wiper blade of her Mercedes. Protruding out from beneath the blade was a folded piece of paper. It was white with blue and purple birds visible on it.

“What’s wrong Diana?” I asked, puzzled.

“Jack uses that that type of letter paper,” she uttered, still visibly shaken.

Going over to the hood of her car I dislodged the paper and unfolded it and read it aloud.

It read:
‘I just happened to be in the Daytona area today when I saw what looked like your car driving through an intersection. Curious, I followed. When I saw you and your new lover boy strolling along holding hands, I knew right then your motivation for evicting me. Will be seeing you around, Ms. Thang. Tell lover boy he’s wasting his time with you. Jack.’

Scanning the immediate area I searched everyone and everything to see if I could spot Jack. Diana did so as well. Ripping the paper up, I tossed it in a nearby trash bin.

“Don’t fret about this,” I told her. “He’s just playing mind games with you Diana. Please, don’t let this asshole get to you.”

“That’s all I need, a sick stalker,” she said coming out of her trance.

“Look, I know you are a little shaken up. If you want, we can go back to the hotel.”

“No, I’m alright,” she said finally looking my way. “I’m not going to let Jack control my life.”

“Okay, then let’s get out of here,” I replied, opening the car door for her while scanning the area one final time.

Our outing to the botanical gardens seemed to put her mind at ease. The serene atmosphere and beautiful flowers and color combinations proved to be therapeutic. Walking lazily, hand in hand, we paused at several floral arrangements and took photos, or asked someone to take photos of us, with lovely manicured landscaping or fountains as our backdrop. Birds of various colors and varieties were in abundance in the trees above chirping while their off springs darted after one another in flight.

“Okay, I’m ready to return to the hotel,” she said, gripping my hand. Her brown eyes looked tired. On whole, she looked thoughtful. I knew Jack was on her mind. Whatever his motives were for leaving that note on her car, he got to her. Still, I gave her credit for having evicted him from her place. That took a lot of nerve. He didn’t know it yet, but I too had plans of evicting him and from her world permanently. “Sheldon, did you hear me?” I heard her say as she brought me back down to earth.

“Yeah, let’s get out of here,” I responded. “It’s been a long hot day.”

“You’re still planning on heading back to Orlando this evening?” she asked as we walked.

“Probably in another hour or so,” I answered.

“Remember now, just in case you’re tired and have forgotten, I booked us for two nights so we’re good until tomorrow morning,” she reminded me.

“Hell, I guess we can stay one more night, but I have to get back early in the morning,” I stressed with a toothy smile. “I have more packing to do.”

We returned to the hotel, bathed and changed clothes, and then headed down to get something to eat. We decided on eating in at the
Veranda Lounge, which was located inside of the Plaza Resort and Spa. From what the receptionist had told us on our arrival, they offered a diverse menu of drinks and food served in an intimate atmosphere with an ocean view.

An hour later, we went outside onto the sparse beach and took a stroll.

“God, what are we going to do?” I began, taking her hand in mine. “I’m leaving to head up to Philadelphia to start a new career in a few days and you are here in Florida locked into an existing career.”