“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.” This phrase keeps zinging its way through my head as I hurry home. My special man is absolutely the most wonderful person on this planet. It is hard for me to come to terms with the fact that he loves me. Me. Jessica Mae Bowman! Since this is my first time in love I have no comparison for how I feel. High as a kite, I can float on air, warm as a feather comforter, elated, tingly, to express a few. Just to say his name gives me a glow. Barry Lee Olson. Put a Mrs. in front of the Barry. Yup, that’s gonna be me in a few months.
This was a blind date that actually worked out just right. I don’t normally do blind dates, but my sister reminded me how I owed her big time when she lied to my then boy friend about where I had been. It was blackmail, no two ways around it. Then I met Barry and it was love at first sight. I really, really hate to do this, but I need to remember to thank Amy for setting us up. She will never let me forget this. Know it all sisters can be such a pain.
I am late and I want to look special when Barry arrives. There isn’t much I have to do with my spiked ash blond hair. My clothes are selected to compliment my fair complexion and hazel eyes. I apply brown mascara to my long lashes, a soft, light red color on my lips and I’m done. I am not considered to be a beauty, but I am attractive. Barry calls me beautiful though. I sigh as “how do I love you” keeps time in my mind.
I watch as a limo pulls into my driveway. It is not who I expect and I can only stare. I hold my breath as I watch a stranger exit the vehicle, holding a beautifully wrapped box. I wonder who he is and why he is at my home.
“Jessica?” His voice is low and I strain to hear his words. “May I call you Jessie?”
“Jessica is fine” I reply. Jessie is Barry’s name for me and I do not want this man to use it.
“And you are?”
“Barry, I’m Barry Lee Olson”
Anger fills me as I narrow my eyes and glare at him. “I’ll ask you once more, who are you?”
“I just told you.” he smiled at me. “Please, let’s go inside and I will explain.”
No way will I let this stranger, bearer of an expensive gift, inside my home and I tell him so. I do want answers though, so I offer him a chair on the porch. He gave me another small smile and explained he was my blind date. And if I was ready, we should leave.
Leave? What did he plan to pull anyway? Now my anger is tinged with a smidgeon of fear. I live alone and there are no neighbors close by. I studied the man as he sat watching me. Not overly tall, maybe five-foot eleven, slim, with a nice face. Dark brown hair with a slight wave combed to the side. Dark brown eyes with short lashes and well shaped eyebrows. When he smiles there is a slight dimple in his cheeks and his teeth are straight. His clothes are expensive. He doesn’t look dangerous, but then looks can deceive.
The stranger gives me a bewildered glance. “Amy is your sister, right? And you are Jessica Bowman? You look just the way Amy described. When she asked me to do her this favor I was about to leave on a trip, so I had my brother Harold call you and set the date for me and make the reservations for the first time you had available.”
I send him my best “I don’t believe you” look.” Amy says I am an expert look giver. “Barry and I have been dating for the past month and we are engaged. He is everything Amy said he was. Now tell me who you really are before I call the police.”
Anger filled his face. “Damn Harold to hell, he has done it again! My brother delights in taking my place and I should have suspected something was wrong when he set the date so far in advance. I am so sorry, this is such a mess.
I could hardly take in what he said. Barry was Harold and playing a part? How could this be? Were all the words of love a lie? My world shattered as the truth penetrated and my perfect blind date has become a farce. My whole body vibrates with the intense anger of betrayal. I send the real Barry away and with a final cry of despair I go inside, alone again.