We stopped at the Farmstead Golf Links where I was a member and walked together into the clubhouse where I picked up a ticket for three bags of balls. For some reason this course puts their range balls into these neat nylon mesh bags which disappear at an alarming rate according to the head pro who is a friend. We redeemed our voucher for the balls at the bag drop and walked together to the range about 75 yards away. We were almost there when Jennie told me, “I can see what you mean about these wind shirts. It’s breezy here, but I’m warm—much warmer than I thought I would be.” I showed her what most people thought was the best way to practice—starting with a wedge and moving up to the longer clubs. She did as I suggested and before long she was striking the ball as though she’d been playing for years. She was a natural; I wasn’t. I could hit most shots fairly well, but every now and then…. Well, let me put it this way—golf is only one of the four-letter words I’ve been known to use often on the course.
After the range we walked to the putting green. It was mid-afternoon and it was deserted. I gave her three balls and told her to have fun. Fifteen minutes later I was just about to stroke a twenty-footer when I heard her shout, “YEAH!” She continued when I looked up. “That must have been forty feet…maybe even longer.” I left my ball to give Jennie a knuckle bump, but she jumped up to wrap her arms around my neck and pressed her lips into mine. “I’m having such fun. It’s hard to believe that less than a week ago….”
I stopped her there. “Let’s not talk about the past. It’s no longer important. Only your future matters now.” Leaning down, I kissed her again, but only a short one. “Back to work,” I told her as I patted her butt. It looked as good in her jeans as it did naked in my bed. We stayed until the weather turned cool then returned to my car to stow the clubs in the trunk. A minute later we were on our way back home.
Once there I showed Jennie how to clean her clubs. “I’m sure you’ve never watched golf on TV, but if you had you’d see that the caddie cleans the club after every shot. I play with some guys who never clean their clubs. It’s important to keep these little grooves clean. They grip and spin the ball. You’ll learn more about that when you take a few lessons. I think you’ll do really well. You seem to have a knack for the game. Next week we’ll get you out onto the course.”
“I had a lot of fun today, Doug. Thank you so much. Running into you was the best thing that’s ever happened to me.” What could I say? Absolutely nothing; she kissed me then, ramming her tongue down my throat. Man, could she kiss!
Anyway, I washed the clubs in my laundry tub and she dried them, returning them to their bags. We were done in about twenty minutes then I surprised her by removing her golf shoes and washing them. I finished by washing mine then we carried all her clothes into the house. I dropped them onto the bed and went to one of the spare bedrooms for some extra hangers. We showered quickly—no fooling around—and went back to the car to go out for dinner. We were both hungry, not having eaten since breakfast.
I debated driving all the way back to Myrtle Beach, but I had promised Jennie we’d go to Original Benjamin’s and I liked to think of myself as a man of my word. At one time I would have been forced to drive down Route 17 past light after light, probably being lucky to average 30 miles per hour. About five years ago a bypass was created—SC-31, the Carolina Bays Parkway—where the speed limit was 65, but the average speed was closer to 75. That was where I headed now. Thirty minutes later I pulled into the restaurant’s huge parking lot.
We were greeted by a “pirate” who gave us some cheap plastic bead necklaces. Just inside the door Jennie marveled at the model of the Queen Elizabeth. It must be thirty feet long and the detail is incredible. I gave my name to the hostess and we moved into the bar to wait until we were called. It was January—the middle of winter—and we still had to wait. Jennie looked at the sticker I’d been given. It was on my shirt. “Yellowfin Tuna?”
“Yeah, that’s how they’ll call us when they have table for us. It’s easier than calling a bunch of names they’ve never heard before. Margarita?”
“Yes, please.” I ordered and a few minutes later our drinks were placed on the bar in front of us. I dropped a twenty on the bar, leaving the change as a tip. Jennie and I chatted while we drank. She was really excited about our day. She had just asked me a question about golf when we were called. After reporting to the cashier we were led to our table, but not before our guide picked up a basket of hush puppies. Jennie and I sat and ate a few before going up to the buffet. I always ate the same things—cold boiled peel-and-eat shrimp on my first trip, crab-stuffed mushrooms, fried shrimp and fried scallops along with an ear of corn on my second, and several pounds of crab legs on the rest, usually eating until I could barely walk. Jennie went for salad and soup to begin, commenting as I fed her a large shrimp with cocktail sauce how good the vegetable beef soup was.
I realized then that I hadn’t thought to buy Jennie either a wallet or purse. She’d had no need on the road, but now they’d be essentials. Oh well, tomorrow was another day. I followed my usual routine, finishing after having eaten nine clusters of crab legs. Jennie wasn’t that far behind me, having eaten six.
We were back in the car when Jennie next spoke. “I don’t think I’ve ever eaten so much. I couldn’t believe how good the food was. Doug, I have to thank you for the best day of my life.” I sat there silent, unbelieving that such an ordinary day had been her best.
Finally, after almost a minute, I responded, “I’m truly sorry, Jennie. I keep forgetting how miserable your life has been, but I want you to know that I had a wonderful time, too. I think running into you was just as lucky for me as it was for you. You have so much energy and so much curiosity that I get a big kick out of watching you as you experience things for the first time.” I reached across the console to take her hand in mine. I knew she was grateful as hell, but how far did her feelings for me really go? I wasn’t ready then to tell her how I really felt. I knew I could easily fall in love with her, but would she feel the same about me? Only time would tell.
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