"You old dog you!" I said shaking my head, as I hung up.
Ted was a good many years my senior at seventy eight, but he still knew how to play a hand of poker well. I went out on the front porch and waited. Another fifteen minutes went by and then I saw the trail of dust kicked up by my pickup, as it rounded a corner in the trail. I waited till he was closer before going back into the house. I knocked on the bathroom door again and it opened to reveal Deshavi wrapped up in a towel with her hair all wet.
"You hungry?"
"Not really, why?"
"Oh I just thought I'd ask since your dinner date is here."
She blinked at me in open consternation, "What?"
"Trent has come to take you to dinner."
Her jaw fell open and then words poured out, "I'm not ready! I don't have clothes picked out! I need makeup! Why's he here? Does he look mad? What am I going to do?" Her voice had only risen in hysteria with each new question.
I squeezed her shoulders firmly, "Calm down Deshavi. I'm sure he won't mind waiting a few minutes. Throw some clothes on and don't even bother with the makeup stuff, you don't need it."
She squeezed out of my grasp and I doubted that any of my words had registered in her consciousness. I decided to try something.
"Looks like you have another chance at getting the money." I said loudly.
It was clear that she hadn't even heard me, as she stood in front of the mirror holding up different shirts as she talked to herself in a fast-paced jumble of womanese. I smiled as I backed away from the sight of her fevered preparations. She was too busy getting ready to go out with her man to even give money a second thought, which said louder than words, as to what her interest in Trent was made of. It was a good sign.
I made my way back through the house unable to wipe the smile from off my face. I slipped a bottle into my pocket just before I stepped outside onto the porch. Trent looked up from where he leaned back against the hood of the truck. His arms were tightly crossed and his face was full of displeasure. His scowl only deepened, as he noticed my sunny disposition. I didn't let his bad mood be a killjoy to my own uplifted spirit though.
His lips tight from pent-up anger moved as he said, "I'm only here because I thought the old man would have a stroke if I didn't come. I suppose you know that I've come to take Deshavi out for dinner in town?"