A Divine Invitation

“Hey man, this is going to be really good for you. What are you doing tonight?” he asked, in the usual way he offered a business meeting.

“Nothing yet. Why? What’s happening tonight?”, I asked, already sensing the familiar odor of a multi-level marketing business or some other type of pyramid scheme and wishing not for the first time that this type of offer would come with the name of a manager and a private interview for some reputable corporation.

My friend Terrence wasn’t connected to the type of corporations that had those kinds of offers to peddle amongst friends, but what he lacked in connectivity he made up for in charisma and diligence.

“ Great. It’s this company I’ve been telling you about regarding the deregulation of utilities. Great company, We can meet there or I can swing by and pick you up?”, he asked in that way that seemed to know I’d accept the ride, having no idea how to get around in Orange County, let alone Los Angeles County. By the time I found the venue the event would probably be over, but he was counting on that. We both knew it.

“Sure. Can you meet me in Huntington Beach?” I asked.

Arriving at the Parking garage for a Hilton in downtown LA, I was able to have my first experience with Los Angeles and it’s parking. $17.00 for the first half hour and $30.00 an hour after that seemed kind of steep, but apparently it was to deter people from parking to see the sights without being a patron of the hotel. I thought it was lunacy that night, but I would come to learn in very short order that this is a regular thing for LA.

That was all I knew about the area and the meeting before I walked into the hotel lobby. Looking for Terrence, and texting him to let him know where I was… my eyes fell on... her.

Even from about 25 feet away she was breathtaking. About 5’ 8” or 5’ 9” and it was all I could do to keep my jaw from dropping. She had this haircut where her hair was rounded at the ends and cut into a sharp slant. She had this business jacket that was red over a business casual shirt, and a black dress, and heels. She could’ve been coming from any business in LA, but in that moment, I was completely stunned. Someone was standing with her, but in that brief moment she was all I saw.

Someone was talking to her, and after a few moments I noticed the person had turned her attention from the mystery woman to me. Awareness flooded back and I realized several people had caught me staring. Some had the decency not to comment, but there were some smiles blooming around the room. Uncomfortable, knowing smiles.

“Hi and welcome to The Movers. Are you someone’s guest?”

“Yes,” I answered. “I was invited by Terrance. Do you know where he is?” I asked, trying to pretend like I wasn’t the center of attention for at least 15 sets of eyes around the room.

“Oh well you’re in the right place.” The gentleman said. “He’s on The Movers, and his upline is Precious. Let me introduce you to her while you wait”.

And, thankful for the reprieve from my thoughts, I expected to be led away from the moment to have time to gather my thoughts. As luck would have it, that was not the case. Instead of being led away, I found myself being led right to the friend she had been talking to.

“This is Precious Jackson, the team manager for The Movers. Precious this is … I’m sorry, what was your name again?”

“Craig, Craig Lipscomb is my name. Nice to meet you Precious.”

“Nice to meet you too Craig, and this is Melissa.” she mentioned, indicating the woman who had stopped time for me earlier. It was all I could do to hear the name she said over the sound of my own heartbeat in my ears.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Melissa offered.

“Oh no, the pleasure is all mine.” I said, knowing no truer words had been said up to that point.

In the time it took Terrence to attempt to find his way to our group, and apologize for not being there to make the introductions, he led me away with me wondering who I’d just met.

“Terrance, do you know Melissa?” I asked.

“Yeah, I know her,” he said. I have no idea what I looked like, but he was smiling the same as everyone else had been earlier.

“You’ll see her again, let’s go.”

The business meeting was about an hour and a half. It went over the details of how everyone could join and be successful. It was a way into a better future.

Sitting in the conference room on felt covered chairs, we listened to how we could all become millionaires for our one time investment of $500. It sounded brilliant, but I didn’t have the money. The last thing I wanted was to have to explain to the team why I couldn’t afford to join. Especially not her.

“Dude, I can’t afford this, but I’d really like it if you could be kind of quiet about it, cool?” I asked quietly.

“ Well, let me ask you a question, if money wasn’t an object would you still be interested?” he asked, looking at me as if my intention alone we could make $500 appear out of thin air.

“In a heartbeat.” I said.

“C’mon, lets go. I’ll introduce you to Byron”. He said, standing up and walking toward the speaker who had given the meeting.

Byron was the regional director for every team present at that meeting, and when I met him, he probed me to see if I was serious, while explaining I could do anything with a little faith and the trust of the team. By the end it felt like if he said the word, we could all sprout wings and fly.

“Where do I sign?”

Walking toward the main hotel lobby, and talking about all the things I’d need to get started, Melissa mentioned that she was planning a trip to San Diego and wanted to know if anyone was heading that way.

“I live in Spring Valley at the moment and have to head that way anyway. I can give you a ride if you want?” I offered.

“Actually, we’re all heading to this spot as a team to have dinner and drinks, why don’t you come?” Precious asked.

“Actually that’s a good idea because I need to pick up some things anyway. Meet you there?” She asked.

“Sounds good.” I said. She felt like she was the one getting the favor but I already knew, I was the lucky one.

I tried thinking of a way not to embarrass her when she saw my car.

It was easy to find the restaurant from the hotel because we all followed each other like a presidential motorcade.

Once we arrived, I was surprised to find the place seemed to lack walls. The entrance had a doorway, but the whole live music section with it’s lack of seating was outside with no roof. The concrete underfoot was more like a driveway converted to a bar area and I was confused why the door opened to more parking lot.

There were some strings of lights hung around the wooden fence giving the semblance of privacy from a neighboring auto body shop with cars stacked high enough to see over the fence and give the impression of a view, and as we walked passed the bar and into the inner sanctum I was relieved to find the dining area had a floor.

None of us would’ve appreciated the much needed shoe repair had our dancing been left to the bar area.

Sitting down and following Byron's instructions to make ourselves comfortable and telling Precious and some other team leaders to order some appetizers for us all to share amidst our drinks, I spent the time taking note of the tapas menu, and trying to talk to Melissa without being obvious that I really lost myself trying to learn about her.

We listened to music and talked to the team, asked questions about the business and discovered interests about everyone, but repeatedly came back to each other. We danced, talked about the food, sampled different items from the small plates we filled. One of the team members ordered a glass of merlot and asked if we’d like to order wine as well, but we were too absorbed in the environment to order a drink yet… It was like we just had this comfortability that didn’t need explanation.

I had asked to take a picture with her earlier at the hotel just before we left and she posed standing next to me with her hand on my chest like she wanted to touch the heart beating inside of it.

“My things are in the car. Can I meet you at the entrance in a few minutes?” she asked.

“Sure, what’s your number? I’ll text you so you can find me once you have your things.”

“323-555-4321. See you in a few?”, and she smiled.

“Okay sounds good. What’s your last name by the way?”

“Rodriguez.”

It didn’t take her long to gather her suitcase and couple bags, so when she met me at the entrance I felt bad that I had even considered asking her to walk.

“I’ll get the car and meet you here in just a moment.” I said, and she said okay.

I all but ran to get to the car, while trying not to look a complete fool. When I came back to the entrance, I took her bags and loaded them and held the door for her to get in.

“Thanks again for doing this. I really appreciate it. I’m hungry. I know this taco place nearby, can we stop there before we head out?”

“Sure.” I answered. And we drove a to this drive up taco cart. I was hungry too.”

“What’s good here?” I asked her.

“Everything.” She said, leaning from her seat for a better look. “ I’ll have two chicken tacos please.”

“One carne asada burrito, a chicken quesadilla, two chicken tacos, a large horchata, and… Oh wow I’m sorry did you want a drink?”

“No, we can share if that’s alright?”, she asked, looking at the radio.

“Sure! And a Large Horchata,” I said, having not once felt so lucky to share a drink lol.

While we were waiting for the food, she asked for her bag, which had a pair of tennis shoes in them, which she took, and traded her dress shoes for the bag, tucked her feet under her and asked if she could turn the radio station as if she just belonged…. I would never let anyone touch the radio in my car normally, but somehow I knew she was going to pick a station that fit.

She made herself comfortable in that car like she was going to get comfortable in life.

“Do you know how to get to the freeway?” She asked, unwrapping our food.

“Not from here but I should know my way from after we get to the 5. How do I get to the 5?”

“Turn right here, out of the parking lot, and head up to that light.”

And with that, began the 2 hour journey of listening to music and learning all about each other on the way to escort her to her parents for the holidays.

By the time we arrived to her parents house in San Diego, I felt like I’d won the lottery.

My dream date turned out to be a seemingly random series of events that led me right to someone who knew how to love me before we met.