The Art Patron Chapter 2

                                            Chapter Two
On my drive home, the only thing going through my mind was my fiancé. Simon and I had been together for several years and it has been wonderful. The only problem was that he is out of town a lot. His job is demanding and his first love in life. I guess the feeling of being lonely and alone was getting the better of me. Not to mention the fact I was second in his life.
                                                                                                                                                          Before I knew it, my mind was drifting back to my mysterious encounter. This Michael and his eyes were haunting my thoughts. The touch from his hand was teasing my senses.  Deep inside, feelings of a need that I have been missing were manifesting. The need to be noticed and appreciated had been missing for a while now. Why now was I letting another man catch my attention? Why did this Michael touch my sensual side and attract me so?

I pondered many things on my way home. Then my thoughts started to drift back to when Simon and I first met. It was just a typical shopping trip to the local grocer in the village. I was looking at one thing on the shelf, and he was looking at something else. I moved my cart and ran right into him. I hit him so hard that I almost knocked him over. I was so embarrassed, but he didn’t seem to mind.

He just laughed and said. “It’s alright. I need your name, address, driver’s license number, your phone number and all that goes with an accident. Even if I don’t turn it, at least I can see and talk to you again.”

I looked at him and laughed. I have never had anyone to pick me up in that manner. Suddenly, I realized that I looked like hell. I was in an old long coat with an oversized shirt on and a pair of sweat pants. The next thing I realized was that I was about three inches taller than he was. He was standing there smiling and about 5’7” and I was standing there smiling at 5’10”.

He had blond hair and green eyes. He was medium built. His hands were perfect and fingers long. I was wondering what he saw in me. I was not small in build and tall. I was standing there weighing about xxxxx, well we will not tell my weight. Let us just say that I was big, beautiful and fabulous. He might have weighed about 145 lbs soaking wet. However, he did have my attention with his sense of humor and his wonderful smile. It was as if I ran into an old friend and I was comfortable.

We stood there on the aisle with the canned vegetables and talked. It seemed only like a few minutes but we were there an hour. We connected that day. Looking back now, I wonder if this was a good thing or not. Realizing how long it had been that we were talking, we proceeded to the checkout and then he asked me to dinner.I agreed. We went to the local diner and talked about everything. I think that dinner was the longest I have ever had. I didn’t eat much, but boy did I talk. I think in that one night he knew everything about me and I knew all about him.

After a few months, we moved in together. It was great having someone around and to share everything together. Then over time, his job started pulling him away. I could understand if it was another woman. However, it is hard to compete with someone’s career. It was like a ghost or “the force”. You know it is there but didn’t know how to touch it.

Once again, my mind drifted back to Michael. I began to compare my first meeting with him to my first meeting with Simon. Simon was comfortable like an old shoe or a favorite sweatshirt—the feeling of being safe. The first meeting with Michael was magical and mystical. Our souls seemed to meet first. Then fire in me began to ignite with the attention from him. For the first time in a very long time, I was feeling attractive and desirable. I didn’t feel safe and that excited me.

Before I knew it, I was home. So deep in thought, I did not realize that it had begun to snow. I opened my car door and felt the northern chill. My thoughts left me as I ran for cover in the house.

After I safely got inside the house, I removed all my layers of winter gear. I hung them in the hall closet and proceeded to my answering machine. I was wondering if Simon had called. He was to let me know when he was going to be home. My birthday was near and I wanted us to do something special and romantic.

When I got to my machine, I had three messages. The first one was my Mom. It was the usual -- calling to see if I was still alive and wanted to know if I remembered her phone number. That’s my Mom -- guilt trip master and proud of it.

The second message was from Simon. It started as the usual message that he wished that he could hear my voice. He went on how much he loved me and that his project was going better than he thought. That he had been busy and that is why he had not called in a few days.

At that moment, I knew he was not coming home for my birthday. I let it play through with all his sentiments of love. Then the bomb shell. He let me know that he was a critical point in his project and that he could not leave yet. He knows that my birthday in three days and he was going to be there for another two or three weeks. He had to call me back with all the particulars.

I just stood motionless. I didn’t know whether to be mad, hurt, dismissive or what. Then suddenly a thought flooded my mind and soul. I realized that it really didn’t upset me. In a way, I was glad that he was not returning. Have I finally accepted not being first in his life or did I finally realize that he was just a “comfortable friend”? Did I begin to wonder if my encounter with Michael has anything to do with it?

I finally played my last message. It was my friend, Karen, from the art gallery. She sounded all excited and flustered. Her message was to call her as soon as I got in. It was about the man that could not keep his eyes off me today. She said I would not believe it. She giggled on my machine and then hung up.

I stood there laughing at her. She is such a drama queen. The littlest thing will get her going from disappointment to excitement. I could not live on a roller coaster of emotions like that. I would become all green and sick from the up and downs. She must have bought stock in Dramamine or her medicine cabinet is overflowing with it. Whatever it is, it can be a bit much at times.

I called her back because she did have my curiosity peaked. I don’t know if it was from the excitement in her voice or if it was because she had mentioned “the man” from the gallery. I knew it was Michael and I wanted to know what was going on.

I dialed Karen’s number, she answered quickly, and I said,"Hey! OK, what is all the excitement about? Please, Karen, get to the point. Don’t give me the long version. I am tired and I want to take a nice, long, hot bath."

"No problem, Hon," she said in a gitty tone. "This is news you are gonna love. The interesting man today at the art gallery came over and talked to me after you left. He was interested in you and began to ask many questions. I answered only the ones that didn’t really matter… nothing too personal, ya know." She stopped for a breather.

"What kind of questions?" I asked. "And you better hope you did not give him my numbers?"

She quickly replied, "No, I would not do that. I told him that Simon and you have been together for a while now and that you were to be married. That is all I said. Give me more credit than that.”

Then I responded, “You did not give him your opinion on Simon and how boring you thought he was and that he was out of town?”

She went on and on for a few minutes about his appearance, his body and those amazing eyes. I let her ramble for a few minutes more and then she finally said that I needed to give her more credit than that. Then finally, she got to her point of the phone call.

She said that she was sorry and proceeded with the following, "The man’s name is Michael and he is an avid art collector. He was impressed with our little gallery and wanted to donate his time and money to the gallery. Isn’t that wonderful Tammy?”
I said, "That’s great news. We can always use more volunteers and money is always welcome. How much are we talking?"

Karen hesitated and said in a nervous voice, "Well, he wouldn’t say. He said he would discuss it with you at a luncheon one day next week. I told him to leave his number and that I would have you give him a call."
"KAREN! I cannot believe that you would do that to me. What in the hell possessed you to agree to this without discussing it with me first!" I exclaimed.
"Damn, what is your problem with that, Tammy? It is not like a date, it is all business and it will help the gallery out. I am not telling you to go out and sell your body. What makes you so nervous about this Michael?’ Karen asked.

I replied in a more reasonable tone and told her nothing. I told her it was me and I was reading more into it. I wrote the number down she called out to me and told her I would call him the next day. We said good-byes and I told her I was going to take a bath.

I stood by the phone for a few minutes and stared at the number. Then I remembered the message from Simon about not coming home. I placed my hand on the receiver to call Michael and then decided that I needed to be in a different frame of mind to talk to him. At this moment, just the thoughts of him overwhelmed me and I would do something stupid.

As I walked up the stairs to my bathroom, I was unbuttoned my blouse. When I walked into the room, I dropped it to the floor. I unhooked my skirt and let it fall. The next things to go were the panties and stockings, off and to the floor.

I saved the best for last. I unhooked my bra and slowly removed it. As I did, the coolness in the air rushed across my bare, warm skin. My nipples stood so taut and I could not help but to look at my nude body in the mirror. I have always loved the firmness and shape of my breasts and loved to look at them in the mirror. I just smiled and said to myself, "The girls are free and I need to draw my bath."

I walked over to the tub and turned the water on. I got it to the temperature I liked and poured some bathing oil into it. While the tub was filling, I pulled my hair up and grabbed an oversized towel. I went throughout the bathroom and lit the candles I had scattered on the counter top and around the tub. Turned on a radio to some soft tunes and looked around to see if I had everything I needed. Suddenly, I realized I needed to grab the cordless phone and put it in the room with me. It always rings when one is in the bath or shower.

When I returned with the phone, I turned the water off. I reached over to the wall and hit the light switch. I put my toe in first to make sure the water was not too hot. It was perfect. I stepped in and lowered myself into my bath, my escape.

The water and the oil caressed my body. The warmth seemed to go through me, relaxing all the excitement, disappointment and mystery of my day. I gently splashed the water on my arms and chest, and then rubbed them in such a sensual way, causing feelings of desire.

I can remember all the times that Simon and I spent in tub in the beginning. If we were not in bed, we were in here. The memories were making me sad and angry at the same time. I just leaned my head back and closed my eyes; trying to clear my mind of everything dealing with Simon.

I must have fallen asleep because the phone rang. I about jumped out if the tub, splashing water everywhere. I grabbed the towel, dried my hands, and grabbed that awful contraption. I wished I hadn’t brought in the bathroom with me.

I answered and the voice on the other end replied in a deep husky and I might add sexy voice. He said, "Hello Tammy. I hope I am not bothering you or interrupting you."

I knew right away that it was Michael. I was embarrassed and caught off guard. I was embarrassed because I was nude in the tub, and because it was "HIM" on the phone (as if he could see me). I was surprised because Karen told me that she did not give him any of my numbers.

"No, you didn’t. May I ask who this is?" I asked.
He responded back with, "This is Michael from the art gallery opening. I wanted to hear your wonderful voice this evening.”

That comment stunned me, and I was quiet for a second or two. I was trying to think of a response that would not make me sound stupid or like a teenager with a new crush.
I just said so sweetly, "Thank you. May I ask how you happen to have my number?"
He replied with a slight confidence and said, "I have had it for a few years now. After meeting you today, I now have a reason to call it."

That response did not sit will with me. I was starting to wonder if I had a stalker or a serial killer calling me. I was not sure what to do or say at that moment. I knew I had to remain calm and to see where this may lead.
I just kept my cool, and asked him how he got my number. He laughed and apologized for how he put his original answer. He informed me that he worked with Simon on several projects over a few years ago. Simon had given him the number just in case he needed help with the project or when he was in the city, they could get together.

He proceeded to tell me that he had seen my picture on Simon’s desk several times and admired it. When he saw me today in the gallery, he had to meet me. Moreover, far as calling me, he never had a reason to, until now. He found Simon boring and seeing me, he had to find out what made me tick and to be with a boring man. He continued that I had a passion in my eyes that made the fires in him ignite.
I just kept quiet because I did not know what to say. Then I responded with all that I could come up with, “So you stared at me today to make sure it was me from the picture?”

He let me know quickly that he knew who I was as soon as he saw me. He was staring at me because my confident air and the essence of my passion were engulfing the room and mesmerizing him.
I was about to die from all that he was saying and it was making me nervous because I was enjoying all of it. I went to move and knocked a candle in the water. It made a big splash and I gasped loudly. Michael heard the noise and made a low moan before he spoke.

"Oh, I am sorry," he said. "I interrupted your bath. I will let you go and finish. Have a nice evening."

Before I could reply, he hung the phone up. I was all bewildered. I wanted to see what else he was going to say. He intrigued me, and that unsafe feeling I felt before with him was starting to gain interest with me. I was wanted to explore the "unsafe".