Klooka

Gerry and Lorii spent a quiet, romantic afternoon and evening together. Before she left to teach her yoga class on Tuesday morning, she told Gerry she needed to do some errands and then she planned to have dinner with her father and Renata. She said she would call Gerry on Wednesday.

Gerry rose about seven o'clock and took his daily walk along the beach. On his way back, he saw Carmen Castillo running toward him. She smiled and slowed down as she approached him.

"Hi, Gerry," she said. "How are you today?

"I'm fine, Carmen," Gerry said. "I was planning to call you this morning."

"Sure, Gerry! Likely story!" she laughed.

"No, I mean it," he said. "I wanted to see if we could get together today."

"As a matter of fact," Carmen said, "I don't have to be at work until eight o'clock tonight. If you're free, Gerry, I'm yours until then...."

Gerry smiled. "How about if we begin with breakfast?"

"That'll be fine, Gerry," Carmen said. "I live in Marina del Rey about a mile down the beach. Let's walk to my place and I'll make you a breakfast you'll never forget!" she laughed as she took his arm.

Before he knew it, they were at Carmen's home, a beautiful two-story house right on the board walk. Like Gerry's place, it had an eight-foot high concrete-block fence around it. He saw a sign on the wall saying the property was protected by Culver Security, the same company he used.

As they went inside, Gerry asked if her son was at school. "No," she said. "He's on vacation this week with his father. They are visiting some of his relatives in Mexico."

She gave Gerry a quick tour of her house, and then they went to the kitchen. Carmen told Gerry to sit at the table while she made breakfast. She was wearing black bike shorts, tennis shoes, and a loose-fitting white top hanging low off her left shoulder, revealing just how well-endowed she was. They talked while she made breakfast.

"I hope you like my cooking, Gerry. It's nothing fancy, just things I learned from my mother when I was growing up."

In a few minutes, she placed their plates on the table, Spanish omelets with lightly seasoned fried potatoes, bacon, and raisin-bread toast.

"This is a great breakfast," Gerry said after a few bites "Fabulous!"

"I'm glad you like it, Gerry."

"Were you born in L.A.?" Gerry asked her.

"Yes," she said. "Actually, in East L.A. My parents were school teachers. When I was five years old, we moved to Pasadena. They still live there."

"You know, I've only been to Pasadena a few times, and only once or twice to East L.A. Would you show them to me sometime?" Gerry asked her.

"I'd be glad to, Gerry," Carmen said. "My favorite pizza place is still in East L.A., so that would be a good place to begin. Pasadena is only a few miles away, but it is another world."

"How did you get into broadcasting, Carmen?"

"I studied journalism at USC, specializing in radio and television. I stayed on to earn a master's degree. In the winter quarter of my second year, companies came to campus to interview us for jobs. I was very lucky, one of only three Latinas in my class. KCOP made me a very nice offer, and I really wanted to stay in L.A.

"That was only six years ago. So much has happened since then. My ex-husband and I married in 1988, and we divorced two years later, a year after Carlos was born. He's four-years-old already. That's hard for me to believe! Where does the time go, Gerry?"

He laughed. "Oh, it goes, Carmen, it sure does," he said. "You made me laugh because I have an uncle in his mid 60s who always asks the same question. So its funny hearing it from someone as young as you."

"You think I'm young, Gerry?" she smiled.

Carmen

"Oh, yes, and so incredibly beautiful, too," he said.

"I should tell you right away, Gerry, that I am not promiscuous," Carmen said. "I'd love to sleep with you, in time, but it's not going to happen right away, and certainly not today. I'll really have to feel close to you to have sex with you. I hope that doesn't upset you."

He was surprised, but he admired Carmen for her values. "Carmen, I respect you for being so upfront about it," he said, "I want to get to know you, and I'd like to take time doing that, if that's OK with you."

"That's perfect, Gerry!" Carmen said. She rose from the table, walked over to Gerry and kissed him on the cheek. "Just perfect!"

After breakfast, Carmen rinsed the dishes and pans, placed them into her dishwasher, added detergent, and turned it on. "Would you like some more coffee, Gerry? We can sit in the living room."

They spent a quiet day watching movies. Carmen snuggled closely to Gerry. She was very affectionate. Gerry knew she had wrapped him around her little finger.

Amapola
by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra
with Helen Forrest

Next Chapter:  Venice