The Romance Vote

by Ali Vali

  “If that’s your hint, you suck at giving them.”

  “I’m not completely sure yet, but I think we have a lot in common, which means you might have a love of history as well.” She ignored Sam’s attempt at humor. “If that’s true, it skews your idea of romance, so I started with what I would think was romantic and tweaked it a little.”

  “If we’re picnicking in a lecture hall at Tulane while someone talks about Louisiana history, you’re way off.” Sam laughed to take the sting out of her words. “No matter what, I’m going to love it since you’ve gone to all this trouble.”

  “If you were kidding about the band, now wouldn’t be a good time to tell me,” Chili said, and turned onto the street that paralleled the port of New Orleans.

  “Since you’re not good with hints, why don’t you tell me why you decided to do this?” Sam turned in the seat so she was facing her, as if to study her reaction when she spoke. So far in all the time they’d spent together Chili got the impression that Sam was sort of a human lie detector. “You haven’t admitted it, and Daddy hasn’t admitted it, but I’m positive he talked about me to you without my consent. Considering how old I am, I’m sure you can imagine how embarrassing that is, so I hope you don’t hold it against me.”

  “We’ve known each other awhile now, Sam, and I’ve watched you from the time you were in high school.”

  Sam placed her hand on Chili’s bicep. “When you put it like that, it makes you sound like some cradle robber. You’re really not that much older than me, so please don’t tell me this is leading to a more sisterly relationship.”

  “What I was going to say,” she said as she reached for Sam’s hand and held it, “is I’ve never been bored with you. Even when you were that eager high-schooler, you set yourself apart.”

  “How so?” Sam asked as they stopped at the guard shacks in front of one of the shipping companies.

  “I like hearing what’s on your mind, and like I said, you don’t bore me. My mom always said when she met my dad, it didn’t take long for her to wonder what came next. The answer she was looking for was more than what a lot of her friends wanted, like the big wedding and family.” She drove forward when the guy waved her through, glad to be able to give Sam her undivided attention when she found a parking spot. “Her explanation is why I’ve never been really good at relationships.”

  “Your explanation is sorely lacking,” Sam said as she pulled on her fingers. “You can tell me anything, Chili. I promise I’ll listen.”

  “My mom has always been a little different than most people, and she views life as not so much a journey but a gift of time. Sort of like if at birth God gifted you with two large containers side by side, and one was filled with perfect colorless stones while the other was empty. Every day that passed, though, time took one stone from the full container and placed it in the empty one. Once that day was used up and placed in the other container, it took on a color. For the not-so-good days, the stones turned gray and dull, but the good days were full of vibrant hues. At the end of her days, when the scales of the containers tip in the other direction and the full one becomes empty, she wants the other container to reflect what she hopes to be a rainbow.”

  “What a beautiful thought,” Sam said.

  “To get that variation would be impossible without my father in her life, so she told me to hold out until I find the person who’d fill my life with the color of joy.” She shrugged, trying to disguise the discomfort of showing Sam too much of herself. “From our first meeting, I’ve always wondered what was next for you, and now I’d like to see how I fit into that.”

  “And my father?”

  “I have to balance what I want with what Huey wants, and accept what can happen if I pick wrong.”

  “What tipped the scales for you?”

  She gazed at Sam and admitted, if only to herself, how lucky she or anyone else would be to have this young woman to share a life with. Sam was much more than her beauty, but that part was hard to ignore. Her blond hair streaked with lighter highlights that were painted by the sun, blue eyes, and distinctive features turned heads everywhere. But Chili had had plenty of beautiful women. Sam’s heart and intellect made her the complete package.

  “You did, Sam,” she said as she opened the door and moved to open Sam’s before she retrieved a basket, which Dale had put together, from the trunk. “I love my job, but that’s all Huey can really take away from me. Unless you agree with him, and want me just as a friend, I want to wonder what comes next.”

  “A picnic in the least romantic spot in the city,” Sam said, and laughed before putting her arm around Chili’s waist. “But as long as you don’t run off, I’m looking forward to it.”

  “Have a little faith, Ms. Pellegrin.”

  The tugboat her friend said would be there was moored with the engines running. Chili had taken this trip numerous times when she needed to clear her head and the boat was making a run. The tug could be operated from the main wheel room or the high flybridge built to have a good line of sight over the barges and loads they hauled, but it also gave a great view over the levees on both sides of the river.

  “Are you up for a climb?” Chili asked as one of the crewmen took the basket from her. Sam took her hand without hesitating as they made their way up to the roof of the flybridge. The railing facing forward had been removed, giving them a clear view of the water, and cushions had been set up against the back and deck so they could sit comfortably as they started their cruise north. There was still enough daylight to enjoy some of the grand homes and plantations they’d pass as they made their way to Baton Rouge and back.

  “This is incredible,” Sam said for what seemed like the hundredth time as she sat close to her and accepted a refill of wine. They were passing a section lined with the ancient oaks that had witnessed the good and bad that had happened along these banks.

  The sun had set, so Chili had taken the fleece blanket she’d brought and draped it over both of them after clearing their dinner off to the side. For the first time in her life she was actually courting someone, and it made her laugh when she thought of her mother and what she’d say about this if she decided to share what she’d planned for Sam.

  “Thank you for this, Chili,” Sam said as she moved closer so they were pressed against each other. “You certainly win when it comes to creativity. This is the most memorable date I’ve ever been on.”

  Chili smiled and buried all her lascivious thoughts for the moment. With anyone else, this was where she’d seal the deal, but that’s where this would end. If that happened without her trying her best, she instinctively knew she’d experience true regret for the first time in her life and it would last for rest of her life. No, this would be a slow process that involved not only imagination, but a string of cold, lonely showers.

  “What are you thinking so hard about?” Sam asked as she slid her hand down her arm until they were holding hands. “You don’t turn into a rat at midnight, do you?”

  “I hope not, since I don’t think pumpkins float well.” She let Sam’s hand go so she could put her arm around her. “And I’m thinking about what a great time I’m having.”

  “You’re not scared yet?” Sam squeezed her fingers as she asked, and Chili took it as telegraphing her fear.

  “Yes,” she said as she encouraged Sam closer. The wind was starting to pick up and the temperature was dropping as they came about and headed back. The return trip wouldn’t be as scenic, but with the current, it’d also take half the time, which meant not that much small talk. “I’m actually kind of terrified, if you want the whole truth.”

  “Can I admit something to you and not have you think I’m a dork?” Sam asked.

  “I’ll try my best,” she said as Sam moved a little away from her so they could look at each other while they talked. “But if you’re going to tell me you still wear your retainer at night to keep those teeth so straight, I won’t think you’re too much of a dork for that.”

&nbs
p; “Very funny.” Sam laughed anyway, and the tease made her appear more relaxed. “When you came to work for my dad and he first introduced us, I had a serious crush on you from that day on. I didn’t think you knew I was alive until you came to my graduation and gave me this string of pearls.” Sam opened her collar a little so she could see that she’d worn them. “When I looked down and saw you sitting next to Daddy, I figured he’d twisted your arm to get you there.”

  “Huey was about to pop a button when you walked across that stage.”

  Sam shook her head and put her hand up. “I’m not looking for reassurance of how proud my father is of me.”

  “Think of this part of the conversation as a repeat of your first day of work.”

  “What do you mean?” Sam asked, tapping their fingers together nervously.

  “You didn’t let me finish then like you are now, so you’re jumping ahead without reading the report,” she said as she tapped the top of Sam’s hand.

  “You brought homework for me?”

  Chili nodded and laughed. “It’s back in the car, so pay attention. I was proud of you too, but that’s not why I accepted Huey’s invitation to your graduation.”

  “Why’d you go?”

  “Because I wanted to share that moment with you.” She brushed Sam’s hair back unnecessarily but needed the contact. “You have more of an impact on people than you realize, Sam. I’ve known you’re alive for a long time, and I gave you the pearls because I thought they’d make you happy.”

  “So you’re admitting crushes go both ways?”

  “Nah. I’d never be dorky enough to admit to a crush,” she said with a large smile, and Sam slapped her shoulder though she was laughing. “Okay, maybe a little crush, but Huey’s right about one thing, and because I know what he just recently told you—” She stopped because the truth of how unsuccessful she’d been with women would be her ruination going forward.

  The real funny thing was she hadn’t really ever admitted to herself that she wanted to move ahead one day, so she’d never worried about it. That tomorrow had finally come, and the joke would be on her when Sam or anyone else got the whole truth and thought it wasn’t worth taking the chance.

  “The day I asked Daddy about Paula he told me he wanted someone better for me.”

  “I want someone better for you than Paula too. Trust me, she should come with a priest and a gaggle of chanting monks to keep her demons down to a minimum.”

  “You’re hilarious. I meant he warned me about you.” Sam laughed and scooted around so they were facing each other and their knees were touching. “The problem with his argument is that you can’t choose happiness for someone.”

  “Why not give Huey the benefit of the doubt? You’re right but he’s right about me?” She leaned back against the rail and couldn’t help steering the conversation in this direction. It was better to face rejection now than when they encountered too many more of the Paulas in her life.

  “Are you trying to talk me out of this—whatever this is?” Sam pointed out to the darkness and the picnic basket.

  “In truth, after we ran into Paula and how that went, I’m shocked we’re here at all.”

  “You want to hear what’s next on my list?” Sam moved again to sit next to her.

  “Let me have it.” The change of subject wasn’t lost on her, but she went along because she wanted that next step. And she wanted it enough to gamble on the hurt that might come of it.

  “Your flowers were perfect, I can’t believe you found the band, and the picnic was delicious, so thank Dale for me.” The lights ahead outlined the city, so their time was almost up. “The next time is up to you.”

  “Whatever I want?”

  “Anything you want that doesn’t include nudity or sex, and at the end of that date you can tell me about Sophie Grossman.”

  She laughed and gazed down at Sam. “You don’t want to hear it now? We’ve got time.”

  “I don’t mind waiting. It’ll remind you that I’m not Paula or Sophie, and it’ll be cathartic for you to purge all that out of your system,” Sam said, and gently pinched the top of her thigh. “But what you have to remember is that I have eighty things on my list.”

  “I haven’t forgotten.”

  “Let’s make a deal then,” Sam said as she held her hand out.

  “What?” She didn’t take Sam’s hand yet.

  “If you have more than eighty women to tell me about at the end of all those dates, I’m upping my list.” Sam extended her hand again. “You’re not scaring me off, so deal?”

  “Deal,” she said as she shook Sam’s hand, then kissed her knuckles. When Sam smiled at that, Chili decided to stop worrying and brush up her resume. Huey wouldn’t be happy, but all he could do was fire her. She didn’t think he had it in him to have her legs broken or worse for having impure thoughts about Sam.

  “I promise it won’t be boring,” Sam said.

  “I believe you.”

  *

  Sam spotted her father a few parking spaces from her the next morning and smiled when he waved. After Chili had dropped her off before midnight and walked her to her door and only kissed the back of her hand, Sam had found three messages from her father, so she was expecting an inquisition. And since he was moving toward her instead of for the door, that was about to begin.

  “Good morning, sunshine,” Huey said after he opened her door for her. “You feeling okay?”

  She lifted both her eyebrows in confusion. “Do I look sick?” She took his arm and walked with him, trying to not to rise to the bait he was throwing out.

  “You’re as beautiful as ever, but I called you quite a few times last night, and you never answered.”

  “So your first conclusion was illness? Thank God you’re not a cop. With hunches like that you’d have a whole lot of innocent people serving life sentences.”

  “No. I happened to see Maria and her partner last night, and when I couldn’t reach you, I figured that’s who you were with. Seeing that you weren’t made me worry something was wrong.”

  “I didn’t want to intrude on their evening since they haven’t had too much alone time lately, so I stayed home, turned my phones off, and listened to some music. After that it was a quiet night for me.” She saw Chili’s car in her peripheral vision but kept walking. Her explanation wasn’t entirely untrue. The band Chili had hired had played music and their river cruise was pretty quiet. “Did you need something?”

  “It wasn’t time for our usual dinner night, but I thought you might want to go out and talk. I know it seems like I’m piling on by telling you about Sophie Grossman so soon after you asked about Paula.”

  She hesitated, wanting to know what her father had to gain by totally discrediting Chili like this, other than to cool her jets when it came to Chili. “Actually, I do want to talk about that, but this isn’t the place.”

  “Want to do lunch?”

  “My curiosity can wait, so tomorrow night will be good. We’re having lunch with Virgil and his family to go over a few more things. It’s crunch time and there’s still a lot to do.”

  “Tomorrow night then.”

  She got into the elevator with him and waved when Huey continued up to the top floor. A few minutes later Chili hadn’t made it up yet, so she texted her.

  Where are you?

  She laughed like she did every morning when she saw the cubicle Chili’s assistant had assigned her. Obviously Paul didn’t think of her as a vindictive person, since it was the crummiest one of the bunch. She guessed it was to not show favoritism because of her last name.

  I saw your dad so I decided to run away. Maybe I’ll find courage after a plate of eggs.

  You’re full of crap. Sam tapped out her message, glad it was still somewhat quiet.

  Or I could be sitting in the cafe down the street ignoring my work duties because I’m planning a date.

  “Sam.” Paul’s voice on the intercom interrupted her fun. “Paula Stern’s on line two for
you.”

  “For me? She didn’t ask for Chili?”

  “No, and once I tell Chili she asked for you, I’m sure she’ll give you a raise and a desk that doesn’t wobble.”

  “Thanks,” she said as she stared at Chili’s last text before moving her gaze to the blinking line on her office phone. “This is Sam, can I help you?”

  “Good morning, Sam.” Paula paused, then laughed as if anything she said was the pure definition of wit. “I thought we could meet this afternoon for drinks so we can finalize Virgil’s campaign.”

  “We’re having lunch with him today and that’s on the agenda. Besides, I really don’t have the authority to finalize anything.” The last thing she wanted was to bond with Paula.

  Paula laughed again. “You got me there. Actually, I thought we could get to know each other now that the campaign’s almost over. Trust me, I can give you some pointers, especially when it comes to your future employees.”

  “Future employees?” She wanted to gag and thought of kicking Chili in the butt for ever finding anything remotely attractive about this revolting woman. Granted, she did have a nice ass, but it wasn’t nice enough to negate the fact that Paula was the most obnoxious person she’d ever met. “Are you asking me for a job? If you are, for the record, I’m sitting in a cubicle.”

  “We both know where you’ll end up, but that’s not what I meant. You seem infatuated with your boss, and no one knows her like I do. I thought you’d appreciate a quick tutorial on what not to do when it comes to the great poll-vaulter.”

  “Thanks for the offer, but I’m booked up, and I don’t like talking about my friends behind their backs.”

  “Wise up. Once she gets what she’s after, she’ll find another mountain to conquer. Chili Alexander has no friends.”