That Is-Is Not To Be Known (eBook)

AND THEN IT HAPPENED

By the first of November 2014, a year had gone by since he first asked her to go to dinner, yet little or nothing had changed in their situation, which remained the same tedious drive between Syracuse or the Hamlet of Misty Waters, spending the day together, ending with the drive back to their respective homes later that night. However, both recognized the significance of their one-year anniversary, and they decided to celebrate by going to an up-scale restaurant in Syracuse. Though nothing was directly said that night, there was now a palpable uneasiness, as both of them knew their relationship had not progressed beyond the level of dating, and good conversation.

Another month passed, and still no change was in sight. It was now the second week of December, when Merry called, asking,

“Sean, the library is holding its annual Christmas party this coming Saturday, and I’m so tired going to these events alone. Would you mind coming with me?”

Remembering his days long ago, with Jennifer, his wife, and her refusal to attend social functions at the bank where he was a senior executive, thus causing him endless embarrassment, Sean promptly answered, “Of course, what time do you want me to pick you up?”

“Oh Sean, thank you, thank you! Well, let’s see, it starts at six-thirty, so why don’t we say around six. Is that okay?”

“That’s fine. Will my three-piece black suit work?” he asked.

“Perfect,” she answered.

On the day of the Christmas party the weather was bone-chilling cold made even harsher by the incessant wind. At three o’clock in the afternoon, he began to ready himself for the night’s activities. He showered, dressed in his black suit, and shortly thereafter, left the house for the Hamlet of Misty Waters. Driving to the village, he was both curious and anxious to see what Merry would be wearing to tonight’s festivities.

Up until now, the only time he had seen her somewhat dressed-up was the Friday night, over a year ago, when she had dinner with Samuel Tattersall at the Waters Inn. She had looked fantastic that night. Her usual attire, during all of the time he had known her, was a skirt and blouse, and if the evening was cool, a sweater. Nice, but not really dressed up, he thought. However, the Christmas party was an entirely different matter. It’s the number one social event on her calendar, he reasoned. She will be at the top of her game for this. He couldn’t wait to see her.

Arriving in the village, he drove directly to Merry’s place, parking just outside her flat. A snowstorm had blown through the lake region the previous evening, leaving behind a heavy accumulation of snow and icy roads. And while the storm had departed, the cold wind that had brought it continued to blow so fiercely that it was difficult for him to open the car door. Finally he managed to open it, walking quickly to the sidewalk leading to the flat.

“God, it’s cold,” muttering to himself, quickening his pace to the front door. As soon as he was there, he hurriedly knocked.

“Sean, come in,” Merry called from inside.

Entering, he saw Merry posing against the back wall next to her dark burgundy leather couch, smiling. Her hand was situated on the upper right end of the couch, and her left-hand was alluringly positioned, on her left hip. He was instantly taken aback by the captivating pose.

She was wearing a long sleeve dark blue velvet dress that tightly hugged her shapely curves, while the dress’s teasingly low neckline accentuated her sexiness. Completing the ensemble, she wore matching blue high heel shoes with dark stockings. Her wavy honey blonde hair fell delicately to her shoulders. Her lips were adorned in a light fuchsia pink lipstick, and for the first time since he had known her, she had made an attempt, faint-hearted at best, to diminish the reddish scar on her left cheek. As usual, it was her eyes that drew his attention. He was mesmerized by her penetrating silver-blue eyes, enhanced, even more so, by the long dark eyelashes. In short, Merry was ravishing.

“Do you like?” she asked, eyebrows raised.

“Yes,” he responded feebly.

Recovering from the vision before him, he fixated on what appeared to be a dark blue sapphire necklace, surrounded by brilliant cut diamonds, falling enticingly to her breasts.

Looking at his eyes, she quickly spoke up.

“Oh, I wish it was real, but at least it matches the dress… But the silver bracelet is real,” raising her wrist, smiling.

“Merry, you look incredible…I don’t have the words to describe it.” Sean was spellbound by her beauty and seductiveness.

“Better than the penguin outfit?” she responded with a wry smile, referring to the bartender’s uniform she wore the night they first met at the Waters Inn.

Recovering, momentarily, from her spell, he kiddingly replied,

“Well, yes… but I do love that lazy dangling black string tie.”

Hearing his response, Merry rolled her eyes, telling him, “With that Sean, I think it’s time to go.”

She gathered her cashmere-blend ivory overcoat and dark blue scarf from a nearby chair, gave the coat to Sean, who helped her into it, while she wrapped the scarf around her neck.

“When did you get this coat, Merry?” Sean asked.

“Two weeks ago. I couldn’t wear my black overcoat with a dark blue dress to the big event, you know,” beaming, in anticipation of the Christmas party.

Holding hands, they stepped outside into the cold air, walking slowly on the icy sidewalk to the car.

“Sean, I never felt it so cold,” wrapping the scarf even tighter around her neck.

“The wind certainly doesn’t help,” shivering, placing his arm firmly around her waist to prevent her from falling.

Stepping into the car, Sean drove cautiously on the slick roads to the library. Arriving, he pulled into the parking lot, parking the car as close as possible to the entrance, trying to minimize their exposure to the blizzard-like conditions. He again struggled to open the driver-side door, and once he opened it, he quickly rushed to the passenger side to open Merry’s door. Now, outside the car, they walked, as fast as possible, to the library entrance, bending low against the ice-cold wind. Finally, they reached the entrance, entering the library.

“Sean, in all my years in the hamlet that has to have been the coldest walk ever,” shaking, uncontrollably.

“How did the new coat hold up”?

“Okay, I guess…it’s hard to tell, I was numb half way into the walk, and didn’t feel a thing after that.”

“Do you know what you just said?” looking quizzically at her.

“Yes,” I wanted to see if you were listening,” smiling.

Entering the library, they were directed to the designated coat check area. Once done, Sean, began examining his surroundings, Merry, seeing him trying to get his bearings, spoke-up,

“Sean, the entire library is opened from the upstairs opera house to the main floor, and of course the foyer, where we are now standing. There is an open bar over there on the opposite side of the room, and as you can see in front of us, is the food buffet with carving stations at each end for roast beef and turkey…and then it is mingle-mingle.

“Don’t you love the Victorian candelabras on the buffet table?” Merry continued. “That was my idea!”

“Yeah, very nice,” casually looking at the candelabras.

“Well, you could be a little more excited than that,” irritated by his dismissive tone.

“I like them, Merry, I like them,” replying, defensively.

“Oh, by the way, you look so very handsome in your three-piece black suit…and I especially love, the black-and-red polka dot tie with the matching pocket square.”

“Thanks, Merry, always try to color coordinate.”

Nearby attendees, seeing Merry had completed her brief narrative of tonight’s activities to her date, came over to greet her. First one couple, and then another, and suddenly, she was the center of attention. Observing her interaction with the group, he saw people simply wanted to be around her. They lit up in her presence with smiles and laughter. He stepped aside from the group, knowing it was she they wanted to be with, not him. Though she was the focus of everyone’s attention, he was of hers, as she intermittently glanced in his direction, letting him know in a loving way with her beautiful eyes.

In the middle of a conversation, Merry, without warning, raised her hand to her forehead in an apparent expression of remembering something… so much so, people backed away by the abruptness of the gesture. She apologized to everyone, and went directly to Sean.

“Sean, do you mind if I leave you alone for a few minutes? There is a problem I need to discuss with one of the library Trustees. I hate to do this, but it can’t wait, I should have done it yesterday, but I forgot. So, I...