Special Delivery

Start writing...When the clock struck 5, I raced down the stairs to the parking garage to get in my 2013 Chevy Impala. The a.c. in the entire office building had been broken for 3 days so my blue silk blouse was wet with perspiration. I turned the a.c. on full blast because it was a steaming 100 degrees in Houston and popped in my favorite Jill Scott c.d. As I drove down Interstate 10 singing along to Jill's Golden, I wondered what I would wear tonight. I'd met a handsome UPS driver at work the other day and he'd asked me out on a date. He was 6'6 and had an athletic build with smooth skin that was the color of sweet, sticky molasses. He admired my shoulder length reddish blonde locs that I'd had pinned up in a neat bun. He also sported locs and I noticed that we were both wearing a colorful chakra bracelet. We'd had two things in common before ever saying a word to one another so I felt that was a plus. The plan was for me to meet him for dinner reservations for 7 at Ruth Chris. I looked at the clock on my dashboard and saw that it was already 5:30. I was now pressed for time but luckily I was only a few blocks from my condo downtown. As soon I pulled into my parking space I got out of the car and ran to catch the elevator. My neighbor Sunny was headed to her place so she held the elevator for me. "Is everything ok? You seem to be in a hurry, she said as the doors closed. "Yeah, sorry. I'm fine, I have a date tonight and I have to get ready", I explained. She looked surprised because we'd been neighbors for 5 years and I've never once spoken to her about having a boyfriend or even a potential suitor. We'd finally reached our floor and I made a beeline to my door. I heard Sunny shout "Good luck!" behind me. Once inside my place I quickly stripped and got into the shower. Peppermint scented suds soon tickled my nostrils as I washed the day's funk off of me. I had mentally decided on p white linen shorts with a sleeveless black blouse. I didn't wear makeup so I refreshed my baby hairs and switched out my jewelry to my pearl necklace, earrings and bracelet set. I quickly dried off and got dressed and sprayed on some of my orange blossom body spray. After putting on some lipgloss and my black Louboutin heels, I decided I was ready to walk out the door. It was now 6:15 and it would take me at least 45 minutes to get to the restaurant. I took a shortcut and made there in 30 minutes. I sat in my car and continued to listen to my music as I waited for Frederick (that's his name) to arrive. At 7:10 I decided to call the number he's given me to make sure he was ok. After 3 rings a woman with a raspy voice answered. "Hello, may I speak to Frederick?" I asked wondering who this woman was that was answering his phone. The woman paused for a second and informed me that Frederick had rushed his pregnant wife who had just gone in labor to the Women's hospital but he'd left his phone at home. I was speechless and embarrassed so I just hung up in the woman's face. That dirty dog, I thought to myself. I went on into the restaurant and sat at the bar. "May I have a tall glass of Merlot please?" I asked the bar tender who reminded me of Mario Lopez with his cute dimples. I was pissed because I hadn't been on a date in years and when I finally decided to give in to someone it turned out he was married with a baby on the way. I told the bartender to just give me the whole bottle of wine to go because I refused to sit in an exclusive restaurant all alone. Since Covid had hit last year, a lot of restaurants had allowed the sale of alcohol to go. I went home and knocked on Sunny's door with my bottle of wine in my hand ready to tell her of my awkward experience. Halfway through the bottle of wine and my story, Sunny realized that Frederick was her cousin. She proceeded to tell all about how Frederick kept cheating on his wife of 10 years. We couldn't help but laugh at the coincidence! I vowed then to never again be swayed by a guy in uniform.