Chapter 3

Four-thirty rolled around and after a short drive to LuAnn’s house, I dropped her off and went home to get ready. At six thirty, I showed up in my dad Porsche 911, with a colorful bouquet for Mrs. Lang an orchid corsage for LuAnn. I had on my best slacks, a button-down shirt and a power tie from my dad’s closet. I parked in their driveway and took the steps two at a time, then knocked and waited, feeling pretty sure of myself. Until her dad answered the door.

“You think you’re here for LuAnn?”

“Yes sir. I am.” We stayed at the door.

“What’s your plans for the evening?”

“I plan on taking LuAnn to dinner.”

“Aha. Anyplace in particular?”

“We have reservations at the Reuben E. Lee.” The flowers I was holding seemed to be getting heavier but I held them right where I’d started with them, at chest level.

“And after that?”

“Well, I figure we’ll be there until nine or so. Our family’s beach house is about the nicest place I know, so I figured we’d return there after dinner.”

“Dinner and home?”

“That’s it. Just a simple date, really. My folks are at the beach house and LuAnn can call you when we get in if you like.”

“You know that she’s just fifteen, right?”

“Yes sir. I’ve known her since she was about eight or so. She’s one of my sister’s best friends. I’m sure you’ve met my parents before.”

“I have. But they aren’t taking my little girl on her first date, are they?”

“No sir. That would be awkward.”

“It would. But I’d feel better about it.”

“What can I do to put your mind at ease, Mr. Lang?”

“You could leave and come back later.”

“Sorry?”

“When she’s twenty-one or so.”

Then, from behind him, “Chester, are you giving this young man a hard time?”

“I was trying to but he seems fairly well prepared.”

Her mom came to the door and pulled it open wider.

“Why don’t you come in, sweetheart. Oh, those are very pretty. And don’t you look nice. Lu’s almost ready. Why don’t you come inside? And Chester, don’t be a butt. Sorry. He’s being a dad.”

“These are for you, Mrs. Lang. I hope you like them,” I said handing her the bouquet.

“They’re lovely. That’s very thoughtful. LuAnn will be down in just a moment. Can I get you something to drink?”

“No, thank you.”

“LuAnn said you were, what did she say, carving up some big waves today. Is that right?”

“Yes ma’am. Biggest summer surf I’ve seen in years.”

“She said the waves were as big as a house.”

“Mrs. Lang,” I started, “Yes, they were pretty big. I’ll take good care of your daughter.”

“I’m sure you will. Chester has a gun and a shovel and he’s not afraid to go to jail,” she replied.

“Oh god,” I said, and I thought it was under my breath.

“I’m kidding, Michael. He’s a big pussycat.”

“Don’t do that. I’m nervous enough as it is.”

“I’m sure you’ll do just fine.”

LuAnn came down the stairs and she was a knockout. She had on a solid blue satiny dress with a V-neck with lacy frills at the top, bare shoulders and a mid-thigh leg slit. Her hair had nice, wavy curls and her red lips were crazy good looking. She had dangly blue earrings and a matching blue necklace that seemed to point down her cleavage.

“Oh my gosh, Lu. You look amazing. Wow.”

“Isn’t she beautiful?”

“You’re breathtaking. Wow.” Tina said she looked good dressed up but it was an understatement.

“Let me get a picture.” She opened the hall closet and pulled out her camera. “Let’s get one outside where the light is nice.”

We walked down the steps and she directed us to pose in front of the house and then in front of my dad’s car. She must have taken a dozen shots. Maybe the whole roll. All I knew is that I wanted copies.

“Mrs. Lang, when you get those developed, I’d like a copy if that wouldn’t be too much trouble. Without photographic evidence, no one would ever believe I went on a date with anyone as beautiful as LuAnn.”

“Stop it, Michael. Let’s go. Can we?”

“Of course, Michael. I’ll make copies for you. She’s lovely, isn’t she?” I nodded, then held the door for LuAnn. She got in and I slid into the driver’s seat.

I started the car and was about to pull out but turned to LuAnn first.

“Lu, you are absolutely stunning. I’m serious.”

“Oh, this old thing,” she said and we both laughed.

I eased out of the driveway, then toward Newport Blvd. Once there, I’d turn south toward the Marina.

“I’m having a hard time keeping my eyes on the road, LuAnn.” I looked over at her two or three times a minute. “You’re not saying much.”

“I’d be silly to interrupt you while you’re complimenting me, don’t you think?”

“Well, then, I guess I’ll have to carry the conversation. It’s going to be about you all night, though.”

I pulled in and I eased up to valet parking. I stepped out, leaving the keys in the car as the valet was helping LuAnn out. I walked around the front and gave her my arm and we went inside. Five minutes early, we were seated near the front of the boat with a great view of the harbor.

We enjoyed a nice dinner. The food was good and the staff was great. They treated us as though it was a special occasion and I guessed they always did that. I did my best to make LuAnn feel special. I asked questions and really listened to the answers. My dad’s formula seemed to be pretty good. Be decisive and confident, listen attentively and throw in some humor. I felt like I got better at it as the night went on.

The bill wasn’t too bad. If we’d been old enough and had drinks, I probably couldn’t have afforded it. We were done by eight thirty. With LuAnn’s permission, I put the Targa top in the front trunk and we took off, south toward Laguna Beach for a second dessert. Ice cream at Baily’s on the Beach. We walked along the edge of the cliff, ate our ice cream and enjoyed the view.

“This is really nice. It’s really pretty here.”

“You’re here,” I said and she didn’t get it for a moment, then turned and smiled.

We hadn’t run out of things to talk about so much as we probably both had a lot to process.

We finished and then drove back toward the beach house.

I pulled in and asked her if she needed to call home.

“Probably not, but if I do, we’ll both be in better standing with my dad.”

“Then you should call him. See if you can sneak in and call and then we can walk on the beach.” She agreed and came out giggling five minutes later.

“Your mom was in the kitchen.”

“Did she say anything?”

“She said I was beautiful and that you probably hadn’t been able to catch your breath all evening.”

“My mom knows me. Let’s leave our shoes here.”

I cuffed my slacks but the material was thin and I didn’t think they would stay up. LuAnn was almost giddy at the thought of walking on the beach dressed so nicely. I liked it too.

“It feels like we’re in one of your old movies,” she said and she was right.

We walked hand in hand, just above the water line. I asked and she told me about her family and her dog. I asked about her classes and when she mentioned a teacher I’d had the year before, I related an amusing story, if I had one. We joked about her history teacher and how for him, everything has a reason, everything has a cause. We walked all the way to the Santa Ana River Jetty, nearly two miles. We started back and when we got to the lifeguard stand at 48th street, I helped her up and we sat back, watching the waves by moonlight.

I put my arm around her and held her for the longest time and she seemed comfortable just to enjoy my company.

“I want to kiss you,” she said. “I want to kiss you when it’s just us and no one else is here or watching.”

“We can do that,” I said and turned her toward me.

We kissed gently, like we had all night. We played with our kiss. We were both new to it and it was fun to share something so intimate. I had my right hand around her back with my left hand on her face. We must have kissed for a half hour and when we stopped to take a breath, she held my face with her hands. And then she took my left hand and entwined her fingers with mine. Her hand was over the top of mine with our palms facing the same way. She took my hand and guided it down to her side. I was content to hold her with my right arm around her shoulders and my left on her side.

We kissed like that for a few moments. When we broke the kiss, she looked at me like she was studying me. Then she moved her hand, taking mine with it until it came to rest on her right breast.

“You want to know me better. I want you to know me better. This is me, too,” she said. “I want you to know me this much.”

I held her gently and then, with her guiding, I slid my hand down to cup her breast from the bottom. I felt the weight of it through her dress.

“LuAnn, I can hardly breath. You feel really good to me.”

“You feel good too.”

“I can’t believe I’m holding you like this.”

“Me neither. You can squeeze a little. I won’t break.”

I did and I was out of breath. “My heart is racing.”

“Mine too. I feel like I want to do more but I’m afraid.”

“This is good, LuAnn. You feel so nice. You’re so soft.”

She was giving me the studious look again. “It does feel nice but you’re holding my dress,” she said. She looked up and down the beach and we were the only ones for hundreds of yards. She pulled her dress out and then down, uncovering her boobs. “Now, you can feel my skin.”