Fiona and Charlie’s wedding reception seated meal served at the country club had been served, consumed, and cleared away. The speeches from the best man, the groom, and the bride’s father had been given, and the band had played “Take it to the limit” for the happy couple’s first dance. Malcolm was pleased to see guests finally beginning to move around and talk to each other or head for the dance floor while he headed for the nearest open bar. The bartender was pouring his screwdriver when Vickie, a bridesmaid, and wife of a fellow groomsman and friend of Malcolm, came to the bar and introduced Faye, an old friend of her’s from high school.
“Malcolm, let me introduce Faye, Faye, this is Malcolm, a good friend, and a very eligible bachelor,” she said with an intentionally knowing and very obvious wink to Faye. “Malcolm, can you entertain Faye for a few minutes while I go see what the maid of honor is on about? She has become quite the tyrant over the last couple of weeks. We, and by ‘we’ I mean the bridesmaids, have come to fear the wrath of ‘Tanya the Terrible.’ Anyway, we have to go huddle about who knows what. It shouldn’t take long, but if I’m not back in say 30 minutes, feel free to send in the S.W.A.T. Team!”
The spring weather had been kind on the wedding day, sunny and warm, with the slightest breeze, so Malcolm and Faye took their drinks to a hightop on the terrace. From the start, their conversation flowed effortlessly. Malcolm found Faye engaging, funny, and inciteful, all complemented by her strikingly good looks. At 30, Malcolm was single, and although he had dated some, none of his romances had lasted more than a few weeks. He was himself a quiet man with a low-key disposition. Some of his past dates would pigeonhole him as ‘really nice but rather dull.’
Now here was Faye. Her vibrant and genuinely enquiring personality brought out a whole different aspect of Malcolm. He could talk to her – she appeared interested in knowing more about him, his job as a tax accountant, his bird watching hobby, his family background, and upbringing. Faye made Malcolm feel totally at ease as their conversation flowed effortlessly in a manner that Malcolm had never experienced. He even found himself engaging in banter and one-liner jokes, something he rarely, if ever, had been able to do in the past.
Vickie found them on the terrace almost an hour after she said she shouldn’t be gone long. “I am so sorry, guys,” said Vickie. “Malcolm, thank you so much for entertaining Faye, I have come to relieve you.” “Apology not needed,” Faye told Vickie. “We are having such fun, aren’t we, Malcolm?” “Absolutely! We are good. Vickie, you go and take care of your much-neglected husband and Faye, and I will just hang out here and shoot the breeze.” “Wonderful, I’ll just leave you guys to it, see you later.”
After Vickie left, Faye asked Malcolm what his plans were for the rest of the evening. “Nothing other than this reception,” he replied. “Good, can I ask you a big favor?” Said Faye, “sure, what is it?” “I have to be home in about an hour tops to let my dog out before the poor thing goes crazy. Would you be willing to drive me there, it’s about 30 minutes away, we can come back here afterward if you want.” “Be pleased to, let’s finish these drinks and go.”
They left the country club parking lot, turning onto the highway and headed east in the direction of Faye’s apartment. Malcolm chatted on about some recent sightings of a rare breed of warbler not seen in the area for several decades. Faye cradled her purse on her lap, drawing comfort from the heft of the loaded 38 that it held. “This is an excellent start,” she thought to herself. “Now, for the next step – and that will be a big one.”
