Chapter 1

Rita

Portland, Oregon

It was an unremarkable bar in an unremarkable neighborhood where the patrons either tried to find some degree of happiness, or at least temporarily drown their sorrows, at the bottom of a bottle.

A few couples occupied the booths where they could whisper to each other what they thought the other wished to hear in preparation for a later desperate coupling in some cheap apartment or hotel.

Most were singles looking for that one night stand, while a few simply wished to avoid the pain of their existence, at the bar consuming drink after drink until they could surrender to the alcoholic fog of dispassion which provided a blessed though temporary amnesia rendering the harsh reality of life at least sufferable.

She was alone at the bar working on a second double, attractive if not gorgeous having already rebuffed two attempts to engage her in conversation. Rita Carson was in no mood for company. She was depressed and wanted nothing more than to drown her problems in Kentucky’s finest.

“Hmmm,” came a voice from behind her, “that problem must be serious to warrant a second double.”

She looked into the mirror behind the bar to see him standing behind her. Medium build and handsome if not drop dead gorgeous. She turned to give him the same rebuff as the two earlier “take you to bed” wannabes, but was brought up short by his eyes which she instantly found riveting, even compelling.

“I’m not looking for company,” she managed even though her tone was softer, less forceful somehow than it had been with the earlier rejects.

“Let me see,” he continued, ignoring her remark, “the drinks perhaps define the seriousness of the hurt you have encountered, but your eyes tell me...” he paused, looking deep into her vivid green irises, “it is not an affair of the heart, for I see anger not the pain of love lost or betrayal.”

She tried to look away but somehow could not and his own near-black irises seemed to look not at her, but into her. “No,” he continued, “not an affair of the heart, but personally important, perhaps professional.” Her mouth opened a bit in surprise at his insight. “Let’s see,” he said with the slightest hint of a sympathetic smile, “Not so serious that you have lost your job ... nor a demotion, but a blow to your professional pride. A reprimand perhaps ... no, I would hazard you have had a proposal, an important proposal, a proposal of career ladder importance rejected.”

“My god,” she gasped, her eyes still held captive by his, “how did you know...”

“Your eyes betray you Rita Carson.”

“How do you know my name? Are you some kind of...?”

“No, I can assure you I am no stalker or such. You are running a tab and when the bartender was looking for your tab to add your latest drink he wordlessly mouthed your name as he looked for it.”

“You really are observant...”

“Alan,” he offered.

“You really are observant, Alan.” She said as he sat beside her. Contrary to brushing him off, she found herself attracted to this oh-so-insightful stranger.

He smiled in expectation, knowing she wanted, needed to unburden herself.

“It’s all right, I’m a good listener.”

“I ... I...” She began hesitantly, up to this moment having no intention of sharing what had happened today with anyone. “I made a proposal to the board of our company today, but instead of embracing it one of the VPs proceeded to pick it apart piece by piece until by the time he was through I might as well have been a fifth grader submitting a crayon drawing. It was humiliating. They voted unanimously against it and I could tell they were all inwardly laughing at me. My career is ruined.”

“Perhaps you overestimate...”

“No, I can tell, I can kiss any hope of advancement good-bye.”

“So, do you tuck your tail between your legs and slink off or do you pick yourself up, call it a learning experience, and try again?”

“You mean try another proposal?”

“I just saw in your eyes that you have another idea.”

“Well ... yes ... but after today...”

“Tomorrow is a new day and this new idea yet another chance to convince the board you will not be easily deterred. Maybe today was simply a test to see how easily you could be discouraged.” There was now a small glimmer of hope in the woman’s eyes which he easily read. “Perhaps you’d like to tell me about your new idea somewhere quieter ... a bit more relaxed.”