Chapter 9: Block Party

George and Brenda, our neighbors at 3 Circle Court announced by way of a flyer dropped off in our mailbox that they were again hosting the monthly potluck cookout for everyone living on the cul-de-sac. Ally and KC were eager to go to the September event, and I liked keeping in touch with the neighbors, too.

The weather was slightly cloudy but nice. A ridge of thunderstorms ran up the center of the state, but that afternoon Dillon didn’t get the summer rain. As far as I could tell, everyone that lived on the cul-de-sac was present – at least the adults.

One of the first people I met at the party that I hadn’t met before was a handsome tall Scandinavian man that had the house next to mine – Sven Karlson. George introduced us and then left to welcome Jim and Darlene Hicks.

In response to my question, Sven said, “I’ve been in Denmark for the past two years on assignment at my company’s headquarters. I rented the house part of that time, but now I’m back to apply some of what I learned at my company and arrange similar things here in the states.”

Sven was precise in speaking and the Danish accent was delightful and impossible to miss. He went on, “Now, I’ll be working out of the Port of Tampa setting up our new container management system, and tending to the staff there as the operations director.” From what I knew of the port and the volume of goods, he had an important job.

Sven stood about six-foot-two, had a firm handshake, blue eyes, blondish hair, wore tinted aviator prescription glasses, and appeared trim and in shape. I guessed his age as mid-thirties. I noted his pasty toned skin, which would indicate time spent in a winter climate without much sun even in late summer. With his light hair, almost blond, I expected that he might be sensitive to the sun.

“When did you get back?” I asked.

“Four days ago from Copenhagen, where I lived and worked – right near Tivoli Gardens if you’ve ever been there. I’m still getting over my jet lag, in fact.”

“I haven’t been there, but I recognize the name by reputation as a pretty place. Cold winters, I expect. You’re pale.”

He nodded, “Yes. The previous year I managed to fit in two trips to Ibiza over the winter so I had some tanning and a bit of outrageous social life on the island, but this year has been about work and getting ready to bring the Tampa operation onto the new worldwide system. Hopefully, that time spent there – over the past winter – will pay off and allow me some time here to play some golf, exercise more, and relax a little – and get a tan. Even with my vacations abroad, I have an outrageous amount of vacation time saved up according to our human resources organization.”

We chatted about what he’d be doing as part of his work, and then about my various jobs. He looked most interested in each aspect of my computer and digital work: Geek Patrol, my tech consulting, the cellphone apps that I developed and sold, my post-sale consulting to keep improving and updating what I sold, and then my nascent work in artificial intelligence that was just getting off the ground.

I mentioned Ally’s work with Taymore Systems, a company that Sven knew of by reputation since they did logistics management software, which was important to Maersk – Sven’s employer. I pointed out my wife and couldn’t help but notice his eyebrows raise slightly in appreciation.

KC came by and gave me a sweet wifely kiss. She presented me with a new glass of wine over ice and took my empty cup away.

I turned her to my new neighbor, “KC meet Sven; Sven, this is KC. Sven owns the house at number four.”

Sven shook her hand with a cordial smile and that slight eyebrow raise upon seeing a dazzlingly hot woman “I detect that you two have a close relationship?” He gestured between us.

KC grinned, “Yes, I’m Doug’s other wife, though I own the house at number six, I live with him and Ally as their wife.” She sought shock value over stating our relationship that way. I caught to edge of sly smile betraying mischief.

Jim then joined us; he’d heard the remark. “Yes, the first thing that Doug did when he moved in here a year ago was add KC to his family. Lock up all the outstanding women, that’s him. Ally wasn’t enough, he needed yet another gorgeous woman in his ... life.” I figured he was going to say ‘bed’, but his filter came into play.

I shrugged and grinned. “I love Ally. I love KC. They love each other, and they each love me. What’s not to like about that.” As I said that, I got that twinge of guilt that KC needed someone else in her life besides Ally and me. I looked back at Sven; was he a candidate?

There was a slightly awkward silence that I took as Sven not knowing what to say to either KC or Jim’s remark. He finally and politely asked KC, “Are you a computer or technology person, too?” Nice recovery.

“Only an end user,” she volunteered. “I’m an editor for a publisher named Beaverhead Books, based in Chicago. I rarely have to go there. They send me electronic manuscripts, I edit and comment, and often work long-distance with an author to tune up their work until it’s more readable and worthy for publication. I can pretty much work from any place with an Internet connection. I’m also working on my own novel.”

Sven nodded, “Impressive.” His grin was infectious. I wondered whether KC was falling into those blue eyes and being seduced by the Scandinavian accent. Sven turned and asked Jim about his job as a civil engineer and surveyor, and the discussion shifted in that direction.

I hung out with Sven and then sat near him at dinner. I liked the man and warmed to him by the minute. I manipulated the seating so that KC sat next to him on his side of the table. Since they were both extroverts and chatty, I didn’t worry about them finding things to talk about.

Jim’s wife Darlene sat next to me and again got kind of cozy by leaning against me. I realized that at each of the past barbecues at the Masons that she’d been my dinner mate. She had been kind of flirty each time we met, too. As dinner went on, Darlene got more and more touchy-feely with me: holding my hand to her body when we talked, rubbing her bare leg against mine, and putting her head on my shoulder for a brief tender moment now and then. I had the feeling from her that she was available. She certainly was another stunning woman, if that were the case.

Darlene didn’t seem to be bothered by her husband seeing her being affectionate with me. Moreover, I was the only man currently receiving her emphasized attentions. Jim would look over, but wouldn’t break stride in whatever conversation he was in and his smile never cracked.