Late that Friday night, I was watching TV when the phone rang. It was Frankie. She wanted to know if I’d mind driving to Birmingham to pick her up and bring her home. She and David had been arguing, and she asked him to stop the car and let her out. When I made it to the supper club, she was at the bar sipping some wine. In good spirits, she said she’d had a couple of glasses. After she finished her last one, we got in the car and made our way back onto the interstate heading home.
As I drove, I asked, “Are you okay? Did he put you out? Did he harm you in any way?”
“I’m great, never better. I asked him to stop so I could get out, and no, he didn’t harm me. Thank you so much for coming.”
“You’re welcome. Besides, I owed you. You came up here and picked me up, remember?”
“I just couldn’t stay in that car with him another second. David’s going to always love himself. Besides, there’s nothing there. I want something real, something my heart has led me to. No more settling.”
“That makes sense to me. Let’s wait on our hearts together.”
“You’re on, Mr. Flood. It’s a deal.”
“You cut your hair, didn’t you?”
“Yes, I did it today. Do you like it?”
“It looks real nice on you. I like it a lot.”
“At least one man notices me. David sure didn’t. Thank you Scooter!”
In two hours, we arrived at Frankie’s house. She invited me in for some wine. Since no one was back at the farm and it was the weekend, I accepted her invitation. Besides, her favorite Riesling was pretty good. She asked me to make myself comfortable and, if I didn’t mind, to pour us both a glass while she changed clothes.
Two bottles of Riesling later, we were sitting on the floor in the family room, laughing and talking. After uncorking the third bottle, Frankie asked me to sit beside her. When I sat down, she turned to me and said, “I’ve had a crush on you ever since I was a girl.”…
Charles R. Butts Jr. 