Trust Read Online Free PDF Page B

hugged for a moment, and I sighed into her ear.
    "Is the ambiguity erased?"
    "Yes," I whispered. "Thank you."
    * * * *
    As I drove, Josie directed our route to the restaurant. Once we climbed from my car, she directed me with light touches on my back, and we were soon seated across an intimate, candle-lit table.
    "What's good?" I asked her, picking up the menu.
    "Everything," she said. "I'll be having the lobster bisque and the crab cake dinner."
    "You don't even have to look or listen to the specials?"
    "I've been looking forward to taking you here since your first reply. I've had ample opportunity to consider what I was having."
    I smiled. The water boy stopped by to fill our glasses, and on his heels, our waitress appeared. She introduced herself, assured us we would have a lovely meal, and took our drink orders.
    I set the menu down and looked across the table at Josie. She was watching me with a gentle smile. "Have you decided?"
    "I haven't heard the specials," I said.
    We spent a few minutes making small talk. The waitress returned with our iced teas and recited the specials. "Do you need a minute?"
    I shook my head. Josie placed her order, and then I ordered a dinner salad and the lamb. "Excellent choices," and then the waitress was gone with a promise to be back shortly with a breadbasket.
    I turned to Josie. "Tell me about your cruises."
    * * * *
    Dinner was lovely. The food was fantastic, and Josie was articulate. She kept me fascinated by her stories, causing me to laugh often. I shared my own stories and enjoyed her reaction.
    As Josie paid the bill, the waitress said, "It's so nice to see a mother and daughter with such a comfortable relationship." I stiffened but stared down at my hands, not saying anything. Josie finished with the bill, and neither of us spoke for a minute.
    But then I looked up, smiled, and asked, "Where are you taking me on our next date?"
    Josie smiled in return, and we sat in the restaurant, talking for another twenty minutes. But all fine dinners eventually come to and end, and as we walked together to the car, I sighed.
    "Why?"
    "The sigh?" I asked, and she nodded. "I'm not ready for the evening to end."
    "And this is why you will drive us to my home and accept my invitation to come inside."
    "I will, hmm?"
    "Yes."
    "Well then..."
    During the drive, I let her do the talking, but when I reached over, she took my hand.
    "You're a lovely woman, Sable," she said quietly. "I am enjoying myself immensely."
    "I am too," I agreed.
    We pulled into her driveway, and as we did, the garage door began to open. I looked over at her to see she had her hand in her purse. I lifted an eyebrow, and she smiled but didn't say anything.
    I drove in, parking beside her car. In the light, I didn't see what it was, only that it was some sort of dark colored sedan. She met me at the front of the car and took my hand, leading me into her house.
    Josie led me to her great room, gesturing me onto the sofa. Once I was seated, she knelt down before me, took one of my feet, and began to unstrap one of my shoes.
    I'd done that before, knelt before another woman to help her with her shoes. I'd been helped with my own shoes before, but never quite this way. I said nothing as I stared at the top of her head. Josie caressed my calf before switching to the other foot. She treated me tenderly as she set the shoes aside and slowly stood to look down at me.
    "I'd like a small after dinner drink."
    "That sounds lovely," I said. I started to rise, but she gestured me to stay where I was. She moved behind me, and then I heard the clinking of glassware. I waited patiently, and soon she returned, handing me a small snifter half filled with an amber liquid. I sniffed at it and smiled.
    "Grand Marnais," I declared.
    "You recognize it." She took a place on the sofa, the center seat, near enough to touch, but not so near as to crowd me. She lifted her glass in a salute, and together we sipped.
    We chatted for a while, our voices low, our