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a drink, Liz McNulty?”
    “I could probably force one down. What are
you drinking?
    “A really good Zin,” I said.
    “I’ll have what you’re having. You going to
play something else?" she asked.
    “No, I suck. Please play something else.” I
ordered a couple of glasses and she played, “I’ll Always Love You”.
It was better than having Whitney Houston in the room. I was
floored. She got a standing ovation from the crowd.
    I believe I fell in love with her at that
moment.
    She acknowledged the people in the bar and
grabbed her glass and my hand and said, “Show’s over. Let’s go sit
down.” I laughed and toasted the people in the bar. Picked up my
glass and we found a table in a corner.
    “Wow, you’re something special, Ms.
McNulty.”
    “You’re not so bad yourself, Mr.
Mullins.”
    “Forget about it,” giving it the Sopranos
lilt. “So, no more cruise ship entertaining?”
    “I don’t think so. I’m working on a recording
project now, doing house music with a partner. I’m excited about
it. We’ve gotten a lot of positive reaction to it. We’ll see.”
    “So what brings you to Sonoma on a Friday
afternoon?”
    “Oh, I just needed a change of scenery. I’ve
never been here before. I read about the Sonoma Mission Inn and
wanted to indulge myself for a couple of days.”
    “Where you from,” I asked?
    “I grew up in Mission Viejo. Went to UCLA and
then lived on cruise ships for the last two years. And you?”
    “I live in San Francisco on Ocean Beach,
about halfway between the Zoo and the Cliff house.”
    “Isn’t it really foggy there?” she asked.
    “Yea, I love it. I’ve lived in the same house
all my life, across the street from the beach. I surf. Run along
the beach. I just can’t imagine living anywhere else. My father
actually gave me the house before he died a couple of years
ago.”
    “I’m sorry. That’s a nice thing to do for a
son.”
    “He was a great Dad. He was always there for
me. He raised me alone when my Mom died when I was eight. And he
left me financially secure for the rest of my life when he died. I
have a lot to live up to be as good as he was.”
    “We’re both orphans, she said and smiled. You
have any brothers and sisters?”
    “No, I was a late life surprise for my
parents. They had given up trying to have kids. My Mom was 44 when
I was born.”
    “Wow, that must have been a surprise. You
don’t hear about that happening very often.” We finished our
glasses of wine.
    “Are you hungry?” I asked.
    “Yea, I am. I just had fruit and yogurt for
breakfast. What did you have in mind?”
    “Well there are half a dozen good restaurants
around the square. I bought some food for the weekend. We could
have a picnic.” I hesitated. “Or, we could go up to the house where
I’m staying and cook something on the grill. I’m a good cook and
the place has an incredible view.”
    She raised her eyebrows. “How do I know
you’re not going to rape and dismember me?”
    “I don’t do that on the first date. Besides,
they caught that guy.”
    She smiled. “What do you have to grill?”
    “We can stop at Safeway, maybe get some
salmon or steak and some veggies, salad.”
    “Got any wine?”
    “I stopped at my Uncle’s place and got a case
earlier. He owns a winery.”
    “How about some Rombaurer Chardonnay? It’s my
favorite.”
    “We’ll pick up a bottle at Safeway.”
    So, we left and she followed me to the store
and then up to Scott’s house. I found the key and we went in.
Scott’s house does have a spectacular view and the sun was setting
over the Sonoma Valley. The sun was setting over the fields of
vines below us. “Wow, this is beautiful,” she said. I got out some
cheese and bread and poured a couple of glasses of wine. We sat on
lounge chairs soaking in the view and the wine. “Was this a set
up?” she said. “Were you stalking me?”
    “Damn it! You saw through my ruse.”
    “I just hope you’re not a liar. She looked at
me.