Pearls of Asia: A Love Story (37 page)

Mac took a moment to scan the crowd. Seated directly in front of him, along the leather backrest bench, was Victoria Parker, surrounded by members of the Cougar Committee, dressed to remind men that mothers sometimes do eat their young.

To his left, at a table near the entrance, sat Mayes and his lovely wife Pamela, holding hands and enjoying a night away from their now three kids. Chantal and Hubert Keller, who brought several magnificent bottles from the legendary Fleur de Lys wine cellar, joined them.

To his right were Captain Steve Longley and Chief of Police David Stone, along with their wives. Both men were out of uniform, and judging by the number of empty martini glasses on their table, out of their sobriety zone.

Behind Mac at several tables were over two-dozen of his friends, including his 49er tailgate buddies. Even Keith Nix showed up, sporting an autographed Jerry Rice jersey that Mac gave him after breaking his nose.

Sitting in the Hot Seat was Mr. Doorman, flirting with his newest best friend, Miss Vietnamese Bartender. Why not, thought Mac.

Mac threw a wink toward Reyna, who was now standing inside the restaurant’s DJ’s booth. She flipped on a switch, and soon a six-foot by six-foot projection screen descended from the ceiling. Then she pushed a few more buttons, and the heart-pounding beat from “The Best” by Tina Turner began to play.

“I call you, when I need you, my hearts of fire…”

Mac took a deep breath and composed himself. Then he began talking over the music. “Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for joining me on this special evening, One year ago, I walked into
Pearls of Asia
for the very first time, and someone told me this place could change my life. I stand before you tonight to admit they were right. Since the moment I first sat down on the Hot Seat, my life hasn’t been the same.”

“…
give me a lifetime of promises and a world of dreams…speak a language of love like you know what it means…”

“I came here looking for clues, for pieces to a puzzle. I found them, but I also found something else. I found symbols of fortitude, determination, and guts. The glamorous women standing before you are more than just beautiful and enchanting. They are also profiles in tenacity and steely resolve. The process of transforming yourself into the person you were meant to be takes more than just time and money. It takes courage, and these ladies have dug down deep into their souls to find the strength and conviction to change their lives.”

“…you’re simply the best…better than all the rest…better than anyone… anyone I ever met…”

Mac turned to his left and began walking toward Sheyla. She felt nervous and tried to run, but the end of the bar had her cornered. Escape would have required a four-foot jump to the floor, which is not recommended for someone in five-inch heels. Mac no longer looked at the audience, but instead gazed into the smoky brown eyes of a woman he longed to hold.

“
…In your heart I see the start of every night and every day…in your eyes, I get lost, I get washed away…just as long as I’m here in your arms I could be in no better place…you’re simply the best…”

“Most people come to
Pearls of Asia
for a good meal and a show,” he continued. “The last thing I expected to find was love, but I did. I fell in love with a beautiful woman, who is special in so many ways. I thought I knew how to love her, but it turns out I didn’t have a clue. To win her love, and to achieve the life I wanted for us, I needed to tell the world that not only do I love her for her beauty, but for her soul as well…I, too, needed to find the courage to transition.”

“…Each time you leave me I start losing control…you’re walking away with my heart and my soul…I can feel you even when I’m alone… oh, baby, don’t let go…”

As a soulful saxophone serenaded the room, images began to flash on the projection screen. First was a photo of Mac and Sheyla, taken at the Ferry Plaza farmers market, where they were buying special dinner groceries to celebrate their one-month anniversary. Then a second photo, taken at their two-month anniversary, of Mac feeding Sheyla a spoonful of their banana split. These were followed by a succession of pictures taken during the past year, the happy and blissful one they had shared together; Sheyla brewing coffee outside their tent on a cold morning in Yosemite Valley; the two of them on bicycles, posing in front of famous The Lone Cypress tree near Carmel; Mac and Sheyla enjoying beers at an exciting 49er football game; the two taking a sunset walk on a deserted beach in Big Sur, holding hands and skipping stones. The last photo was taken two weeks ago at their one-year anniversary, celebrated over a three-day weekend at a romantic bed and breakfast in Wine Country, with Mac’s eyes glistening after Sheyla replaced his beat-up Timex with a brand new Burberry watch.

“…Oh, you’re the best…better than all the rest…better than anyone… anyone I ever met…”

Sheyla began to cry. Mac started unwinding the gauze on his right forearm. “A wise woman once told me that to become a butterfly, you must be willing to give up being a caterpillar.” He pulled back the bandage, revealing a tattoo of a butterfly, with a creative design of “SS” drawn into its opened wings. Sheyla’s face dissolved into a torrent of tears.

“…I’m stuck on your heart…I hang on every word you say…Oh, tear us apart, no, no…baby, I would rather be dead…OH, YOU’RE THE BEST!”

Mac wasn’t done. He reached into his left pocket and pulled out a handkerchief. He unfolded it and revealed the efforts of the bike ride to Sausalito: a spectacular two-carat diamond ring. He got down on one knee, took her hand in his, and gazed into her eyes.

“Sheyla, will you marry me?”

Struggling to speak through the tears, with the room as silent as a tomb, the Voice, the one Mac fell in love the first time he heard it, gave him the answer he longed to hear. “Yes…Yes…Yes Mac Fleet, I will marry you.” Sheyla kissed him hard before throwing her arms around him and burying her head deep into his shoulder, sobbing with tears of happiness and joy.

As they walked off the stage to a standing ovation, Sheyla stared at the dazzling diamond shining from the ring finger of her left hand.

“Mackey, you really do love me, don’t you?”

“Of course I do.”