Chapter 9: The Ballet

Lisa woke to a bright morning of blue sky showing through the window of their twentieth floor suite. Bill was sleeping soundly next to her, and a quick check of the clock showed that it was just after nine. She watched Bill sleep for a couple of minutes, then quietly got out of bed. After a quick trip to the bathroom to make sure she wasn’t a disaster, she donned one of the robes and a pair of slippers that sat in the closet.

At check-in time, the clerk had gone through a list of the amenities available on the club floor, and one of them was a complimentary breakfast bar. She had them make her an omelette, grabbed some bacon, sausage and toast, and took it, along with a carafe of coffee, back to the room on a large tray.

She quietly entered the room and set up their table with breakfast, then went in to see that Bill was still sleeping.

“Wake up sleepy head,” she whispered in his ear, “Today is my day and I’ve got so many big plans before the ballet. Come get some coffee and breakfast.”

Lisa handed him a robe and she left the room quickly. She heard him in the bathroom and he came out rubbing his eyes.

“I got you some bacon and sausage because you’re going to need your energy to keep up with me this morning.”

Bill wasn’t taking her bait. He came over to her and kissed her on the lips, briefly, and said, “This looks great, thanks, babe.”

During their breakfast, Lisa told him a couple of her plans, but not all. There was a craft fair on the downtown mall that she wanted to attend, and a bookstore that she’d like to visit. Both were in walking distance.

“I need to get pretty before the ballet, so we need to get back here an hour before. So if you’re finished, let’s go have a quick shower.”

Lisa grabbed the last piece of bacon, ate half, and fed the rest to Bill with a flirty gesture. She walked into the bathroom, dropping her robe and kicking off her slippers as she entered the walk-in shower. She turned it on and let the water warm up - it flowed from a large overhead shower as well as nozzles on the side. She grabbed her shampoo and conditioner and started on her hair. She felt Bill’s arms around her and he asked, “Want some help?”

“Scrub me down and then we’ll switch,” she said.

Bill grabbed a washcloth and did an especially thorough job scrubbing her body, especially her rear end.

“OK, let’s switch,” she said. She took some of her shampoo and scrubbed his hair. Then she soaped up another washcloth and scrubbed him down. She soaped his semi-erect penis and said, “I’d love to spend some more time on this but my schedule just will not allow it.” She smiled a naughty smile and avoided the swat that Bill had aimed at her rear end.

“Today is my day, mister. You can do that any other day, but not on my day.” She quickly dried off, and combed out her hair. It was thick and took a while to dry, so she wrapped it in a towel as she went into the other room to grab her clothes.

She gave her hair a quick brushing and pulled on a cute sundress with bright little flowers, a fitted top and a flared skirt. She popped a couple of the top buttons to show some cleavage. Then she pulled on some ankle socks and a pair of high-top canvas sneakers, commenting, “We’re going to do a lot of walking, but I think these look cute.”

She pulled out a purse that could be worn like a backpack from her suitcase, and threw in a few essentials. She swiped on a little lipstick and looked at Bill as he finished dressing. He was wearing a pair of khaki shorts, and a navy polo tucked in. His shoes were white walking shoes.

As they were descending in the elevator, she told Bill, “Everything today is my treat. I don’t want you to think about money, I’ve got it covered.” She gave Bill a bratty grin, and he smiled back.

Bill knew she was trying to wind him up, but he was actually enjoying seeing his wife, who often seemed lost in thought and sometimes burdened by life, acting so carefree and playful.

Their first stop was a clothing store that Lisa had researched earlier. She walked in and looked at the men’s clothes. She picked out a black pair of shorts and a grey shirt with a subtle check. The shorts were stretchy and a little form-fitting. Both were a brand known for yoga clothes.

“Go try these on and I’ll look at the shoes. No belt, and don’t tuck in the shirt.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Lisa picked out a pair of dark grey casual shoes that had soft soles and looked comfortable, but not the latest look at the nursing home, like the shoes Bill was wearing. She picked out some black below-the-ankle socks to match. She told the clerk to grab Bill’s size and half sizes smaller and larger.

Bill came out with his outfit and Lisa said, “Now there’s my handsome and stylish man.”

“I like it,”. Bill said, “If I have a say, today.”

“You don’t have a say, but I’m glad you like it.”

Bill looked even better with the shoes, and Lisa paid for everything, stuffing his old clothes and shoes into her backpack purse.

“Now I can show you off to the women at the craft fair,” Lisa said with a wink. She grabbed his hand and started walking quickly towards the downtown open air mall.

Lisa flitted around the displays, looking at jewelry and arts and crafts. She stopped at a booth that sold different jewelry, and picked out a simple black velvet choker. She tried it on and said quietly to Bill, “What do you think, Daddy.”

Lisa saw the flash of lust and desire in his eyes, and said, “I think I got my answer.” She purchased the choker and put it in her purse.

They passed a booth selling T-shirts, and Lisa examined a few. She picked a dark shirt with a subtle bike print, and asked the clerk, “What size do you think I should get for him?”

“To show off his physique, I’d go large.”

“I think you’re right. He usually swims around in an XL but let’s try this.” Lisa led him to the back of the booth and had Bill try it on. As she suspected, his small weight loss and tightening up from exercise made a Large just fit.

She said quietly, “I can already see the changes you’re making and I love it.”

Bill put on the other shirt Lisa had bought him, and she paid for the t-shirt.

“Look at the time!” Lisa exclaimed. “We need to get to the bookstore.”

Bill followed the whirlwind that was his wife from the craft fair to the big downtown bookstore. Lisa looked at the store directory and went to the Feminism and Women’s Issues section. She said, “We can meet in the coffee shop downstairs when we’re done.” She almost laughed out loud at the relief in his face.

Lisa picked out a couple of books on sex work, one written by a former worker who now was a researcher, which was full of statistics about sex work, the other by an activist who was advocating changes in laws and policies.

She paid for her purchases and found Bill in the coffee shop, reading the local free newspaper. “You said I couldn’t buy anything for myself today, so I just made do with this.” Bill gave her a playful smile as he said it.

“I get the feeling that when you call the shots tomorrow, I’m going to regret a little of my brattiness today.”

“No comment on that, but I think a mocha and a chocolate croissant would sure go a long way to help your case.” Bill said.

Lisa ordered herself a smoothie and brought it to the table with Bill’s order.

“Thank you for the food and the clothes,” Bill said with an air of sincerity.

“You’re very welcome. You always look so good for work and when we go out to nice places, but I like to see you in non-business-casual clothes when we’re just hanging out. Thanks for being a sport.”

Bill examined her books and asked, “Are you doing some research for your work with our bimbo friend?”

“I don’t remember if I told you, but she’s supposedly an expert in feminist theory, and I want to understand some of what her co-workers are going through so I can at least talk a little intelligently when she comes over.”

“I wouldn’t have thought that was one of her areas of expertise, but she did strike me as someone who had a lot going on upstairs. I bet she has an interesting story.”

“You should see her on the pole. She is super strong and has some amazing moves. There’s a lot of discipline and determination in that young woman.”

“I’m thinking that you might enjoy a trip to her club sometime.”

“Yeah, and you’d sacrifice just to give me that experience. So thoughtful,” Lisa said with a grin.

Lisa consulted her watch and realized that they needed to get back to the hotel. Bill struggled to keep up as she flew back to the room. He gave her privacy to dress as he prepared in the sitting room. After about a half hour, she emerged, and Bill just stood and looked for a minute, taking her in.

“Sometimes I feel like the luckiest man in the world, and this is one of those times.”

Lisa beamed and replied, “Bill, you look great. I mean it. That suit is perfect.”

It was a sunny and beautiful late Spring day as they walked arm in arm to the theater. The crowd in the lobby was a mix of younger children with their parents and older patrons dressed in their theater-going best. Their seats were near the back, but they still had a good view of the stage.

As they were seated, Bill said,”I think we got the last two seats together in the place. The evening performance was just a few single seats, otherwise I would have picked it.”

“Bill, this is great. I’m enjoying the kids, especially the little girls, all dressed up and excited.”

“Remember when we tried to get Maisie to wear a dress?” Bill asked.

Lisa smiled at the memory. Maisie had never gone through a pink phase, or a princess phase. She did go through a phase where she only wanted to wear boys clothes, much to the chagrin of Lisa’s mother, who wanted to doll her up for special occasions.

“I miss her so much sometimes, Bill,” Lisa said.

“We should take a few days off and visit her in Seattle. I’d love to take you out there and explore.”

Lisa squeezed Bill’s hand as an older woman stood in the aisle, expectantly. Bill stood up and got out of her way.

“I’m right next to your wife,” she said.

The woman who settled in next to Lisa had a fur wrap and what looked to Lisa like a designer dress.

The ballet started, and Lisa marveled at the dancers. So strong, elegant and precise. The dancing, the music and the story completely occupied her and it seemed like no time had passed before intermission, though the first two acts took a little over an hour.

As Lisa prepared herself to head to the restroom, the woman sitting next to her touched her hand and asked, quietly, “Would you do me a kindness and walk with me to the ladies? I’m a little unsteady in these heels.”

“Of course,” Lisa said.

Bill stood up and offered Lisa his hand. She stood and offered her seat companion her hand, though it seemed she didn’t have any issues standing up. As they walked down the aisle to the auditorium doors, the woman said, “Your husband is very handsome and polite. I’m Margaret, by the way, but everyone calls me Maggie.”

“I’m Lisa, and I got very lucky with Bill.”

As they walked through the lobby, she saw Maggie’s eyes dart around, taking it in. Lisa wondered if she got out much.

As they stood in the inevitable line for the restroom, Maggie said, “I was you once.”

“What do you mean?” Lisa asked.

“I was once the most beautiful woman in the room. Men looked at me when I passed. But not just that. Do you realize your husband spent more time looking at you than he did the ballet?”

“I don’t think he’s much of a ballet fan.”

“That may be true, my dear, but he’s certainly a fan of yours. That’s really what I meant when I said that I was you once. I had a wonderful man who looked at me like that. He’s gone now. Take it from a lonely old widow -- appreciate what you have. The men usually go first.”

When they were done in the restroom, Lisa met Maggie and they began their walk back.

“If you can stand a minute away from your beau, could we do a back and forth through the lobby and stretch my old legs?”

On their walk, Maggie shared that she and her husband had never had children, and asked Lisa about hers. When Lisa told her about Maisie working at Planned Parenthood, Maggie’s eyes lit up, “Such important work. I was a nurse and a midwife -- I know how badly she’s needed.”

When Lisa told Maggie that Bill was a mining engineer, she just chuckled. “Perhaps I was more right that I realized when I said that I was you once. My Edgar did the same thing.”

When Maggie heard that Lisa was a banker, she asked whether Lisa managed trusts. “Well, yes, we do, but everything is already set up, we just do what the trust says.”

Maggie looked over and signaled to a middle-aged man in a suit, who came over.

“Yes, Mrs. Hamilton?”

“Jimmy, a card. This is Jimmy, my driver.”

“Hi, I’m Lisa,” she said to Jimmy, “Pleasure to meet you.”

Jimmy produced an engraved, thick card that simply said “Margaret Hamilton” and had a phone number.

“Are you free Monday morning, say 10 AM? I have a trust issue I’d like to discuss if you could call me at that number. It’s my private line.”

“Maggie, I’m sorry, we’re a Nebraska state bank, we don’t do business in Colorado.”

“Never mind that. If you can indulge an old woman to answer a few general questions, I think it might be worth your while.”

She thanked Jimmy, and as they turned around, Maggie said, “The blonde one is gay, and the other three aren’t.”

Lisa gave her a puzzled look.

“The bartenders, silly. The blonde one didn’t check you out, the other three did.” Maggie’s eyes twinkled mischievously.

When they reached their seats, Bill stood up and Lisa introduced Maggie.