A Modern Love

by M. Glenn Aldridge

  Chapter 31

  With Elizabeth doing her thing in the kitchen, I was taking up my normal perch at the kitchen window watching the world go by. That's when I saw Frank come into the courtyard, from The Villa's parking lot, carrying a dozen roses. He almost seemed to be sneaking, as he was walking pretty fast and looking around to see if anybody was watching. He went straight to his apartment in a flash.

  Apparently Frank was an old softy after all. I could think of no one those flowers could be for except Miss Donna. It would appear David was right. Frank was going to take that leap.

  Frank entered his apartment with heaving breath, less from the brisk walk and more from the sheer excitement of the events to come. He almost felt like a school boy asking the prettiest little girl in his class to the school dance. Frank felt a little silly, but invigorated none the less.

  Rather than march right over to Miss Donna's apartment with the flowers, Frank needed a few minutes to get his bearings, to work up the nerve so to speak. He made his way to the kitchen and decided against coffee; caffeine would not help his nerves at all. A nice tall glass of orange juice felt like a better choice.

  Frank started to drink directly from the carton and then thought better. As he lifted the container to poor into the glass, he noticed his hands were shaking; not badly really, but they were shaking. He laughed at himself for getting all worked up like this. He decided to sit down for a few minutes and work on a crossword puzzle. A few minutes turned into a half hour and he realized he might just be putting off going over to Miss Donna's due to fear. It's not like me to procrastinate, thought Frank. I hope this isn't what finding a new "companion" is going to turn me into.

  With that thought Frank quickly jumped up from the table, checked his hair in the mirror over the kitchen sink, grabbed up the dozen red roses and shot out his front door. He walked as swiftly to Miss Donna's front door as he had scampered to his front door earlier; like a man on a mission.

  A firm knock and a clearing of his throat put Frank in offensive mode. He was ready to confront this challenge. That's how Frank looked at it, as a challenge. Something told me Miss Donna wouldn't see it that way. Perhaps she could bring things into perspective for Frank? We'll see.

  "Well Frank, what a nice surprise," said Miss Donna just as she opened her apartment door. She immediately noticed the flowers in Frank's hand. How could she not?

  "How are ya today Miss Donna?" Frank tried to have a soft matter of fact tone about him, but his vocal cadence came out very much like a drill sergeants. Miss Donna didn't seem to mind though.

  "Are you sure you aren't lost? Are you at the right door carrying those roses?" Miss Donna was being facetious. She was pretty sure those red roses were for her, but she tried to play modest. Actually it wasn't modesty at all, it was more "hard to get", or even allusive you could say.

  "I knocked on the right door, of that I'm sure," replied Frank in a softer tone this time.

  "O?..kkkkk," Miss Donna said then paused for a long moment. She decided it would be quite the sport to make things as hard as possible on Frank. Not in a mean way really, but he's been a hard one to pin down over the years, and she figured he was making his move now. I'm not going to make his move for him, she thought. He's going to have to put in the footwork on this one. Miss Donna tried to look serious, but after the long pause she couldn't help but crack a smile.

  "Well ? Donna ? can I come in?" Frank didn't sound put off, but he did sound like he clearly understood the game that was currently being played. He figured the playing field was in the apartment and he was only standing on the sidelines here on Miss Donna's door step.

  "Why certainly," Miss Donna said as she stepped aside theatrically to allow him to pass. Frank had a strong feeling of d?j? vu.

  "Head on into the kitchen Frank and watch out for that dog; she bites," replied Miss Donna with a smile in her voice. Frank knew better and could feel Miss Donna's sarcasm draw out like a blade. He thought, well I suppose my chicken's have come home to roost. What sarcasm goes around; sarcasm comes around.

  "Coffee Frank?"

  "Yes, thanks."

  "So you got something on your mind Frank? Or have you just been walkin' 'round all day carrying those roses?" Miss Donna sat down with the two coffee mugs but didn't hand Frank's to him. She was going to make him ask for it. She wasn't sure why, it just felt like the right thing to do, that's all. Frank didn't bother.

  "Yes, I've been thinking ?" Frank paused for a long moment and looked down at Cosmo as that damn cat rubbed up against his leg. "These are for you Donna." Frank thrust the dozen roses forward faster than a middleweight boxer's jab; so fast Dash jumped a little from the movement. Miss Donna laughed as several of the rose petals actually shook loose from the movement and landed on the table in front of her.

  "Well how nice. Do you want me to have the whole bunch or should I just keep the petals you've shaken loose in my coffee?" Miss Donna got up, looking angry; walked to the kitchen sink and abruptly poured her coffee and rose petals down the drain. She looked at Frank in the mirror over the sink as she tried not to smile. Rinsing her coffee mug she thought she saw his face turn a little red.

  With a fresh cup of coffee Miss Donna sat back down and Frank slowly tried to hand her the roses again. "Well there for you anyways," said Frank with a gracious smile. Miss Donna thought this was about as gracious as Frank would probably get, so she felt it was a good time to accept the roses before he got mad and stomped out pouting.

  "Thank you Frank, I'll just put them in some water." As Miss Donna found an appropriate vase she said: "So what's on your mind?"

  "Well I was just wondering if you might want to accompany me to din ?" Miss Donna interrupted.

  "I don't know Frank, you've got me confused. You never wanted to have anything to do with me before ? why now?" She felt like this was a reasonable question after her several attempts to spark something up over the years. Did he think she just liked baking him all those loaves of banana bread?

  "Well I ?" Miss Donna interrupted again.

  "I mean goodness Frank, I've heard of hard to get but really!"

  "Well I ?"

  "Maybe more than hard to get; but stuck up. Ya, stuck up would be the way it's been. Maybe you think your poo smells better than most?" Miss Donna realized this was quite a rude comment, but felt it suited Frank's previous behavior fairly well.

  "Well I ?"

  "Ya!"

  Well I ?"

  "What?"

  "Miss Donna," Frank's voice was soft and low. "You gonna let me finish?"

  "Go right ahead Frank, I'm allllll ears." She leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms in front of her. Not what you would call inviting body language.

  "Well I ?" Frank paused just in case Miss Donna had something more to say. She remained silent.

  "I guess I've come to my senses Miss Donna," Frank said softly with a warm smile. Miss Donna thought he was trying to be charming; and he was doing a damn good job of it too.

  "I see ? you guess," Miss Donna wasn't quite through making things hard on old Frank.

  "No, I know I have ? I've come to my senses and if you're quite done running me through the ringer ?" Frank was smiling as he bent down to pat Dash on the head ? "then I'd like to know if you'd do me the honor of accompanying me to dinner this Saturday evening?" Frank sounded so sincere. Miss Donna thought he was just as sweet as could be.

  "Well let me see, I'll have to clear a few things from my schedule and ?" now it was Frank's turn to interrupt.

  "Now Donna," Frank had a funny smirk on his face that said it was time for a straight answer.

  "I'd be delighted Frank, and thank you for the roses." She thought he was pretty bold to come over to her apartment like he did. He was carrying those roses out in the open for everyone to see. Miss Donna thought The Villa must be a buzz wondering what's goin' on; Frank coming in her apartment with a dozen red roses and all.r />
  "Well your welcome Miss Donna. I'll swing by your apartment say six o'clock?

  "That sounds great!" Miss Donna was grinning like a school girl.

  Frank didn't want to spoil what had turned out to be a great moment, so he said his pleasant goodbyes and hurried toward Miss Donna's front door.

  As Frank stepped just outside of Miss Donna's front door he thought the air smelled extra clean.

  As Miss Donna closed her apartment door she felt a strong feeling of hope and happiness about the beginning of something good. She felt love in her heart and hoped it would grow to include Frank. She sat down on her sofa. Cosmo joined in with Miss Donna's good mood by rubbing up against her leg while Dash lay on her foot.

  Frank stood just outside Miss Donna's front door for quite some time. He had good feelings as well. Frank thought: we've known each other a long time so this doesn't feel new; but better than new. "Love is in the air," he whispered under his breath and just stood there.

  Frank smiled; a long smile and looked to the bright blue sky. It was a smile like he hasn't made since his beloved Wendy said yes.

  Frank just stood there; smiled and looked at the blue sky.

  The Beginning ?