Chapter 43

The rest of the afternoon was pretty quiet. Tamara took a nap after our pool time. I went to my study and logged onto the Internet. There was an e-mail from my mother. She detailed the past two weeks in Europe. They were back in London where my cousin had just graduated from Oxford and there was a party for him. She wrote they were heading to The Netherlands on Tuesday.

I responded to her e-mail and reminded her about her grandchildren's birthdays coming up. I asked her for ideas for Mike's birthday. I hesitated for a moment and then I wrote I met a wonderful lady that had become an important part of my life. I was forty-six and worried about what my mother would think; some things never change.

I answered a few other e-mails. After reading one from Frank, I checked the stocks I held and checked the history of a few new ones I was interested in. I dialed up Frank. Sheila answered and she wanted to chat. I didn't want to be rude, but I wasn't in the mood to answer all her nosy questions. She finally relented and gave the phone to Frank.

"How are you this fine morning?" he said.

"Could always be better? What's up with the company you mentioned in your e-mail?"

"You had asked for me to keep an eye out for any quality investment. Potter & Sons has applied for a patent for a mobile emissions testing unit. I've been hearing rumblings out of Santa Fe that the state wants to crack down on vehicles that don't meet regulations. Bernalillo County requires testing in order to register your vehicle; neighboring counties don't. The commuters contribute to the emissions problems."

"Sounds very interesting," I said.

"Potter needs capital to build the plant. This could be a good ground-floor opportunity. Potter is family-owned: father and two sons. The father has been dabbling in automobile and machine repair for years. They have a little shop in Yukon, Oklahoma."

"How did you hear about them?"

"Sheila's father knows Mr. Potter and has been getting his cars repaired by him for years. Her parents were here this past week. Her father thinks it's a novel idea. I did a little research on them yesterday and it could be what you said you wanted; ground floor and partial ownership."

"Can you get Sheila's father to get us a meeting with the Potters? If you can, then I would like you, Bob, and me to meet with them. I would like to know how much they are looking for and what percentage of ownership is in it? I don't want to control the company, but at the same time I don't want to be a patsy."

"Sounds good. I'll call Sheila's father when we get off the phone. By the way, are you and Tamara going to the dinner tonight at the club?"

"I forgot all about it. I'll ask her when she wakes up from her nap. Yesterday was extremely stressful," I told him and then gave him a brief rundown on the previous morning's happenings.

I hung up the phone when we were through and went on check on her. She was reading in bed. "How are you feeling?" I asked.

"Okay. I couldn't sleep so I decided to read and relax."

"Do you have anything particular in mind for tonight?"

"Not really, I haven't thought about it. Is there something you want to do?"

"I forgot all about the quarterly dinner at the club tonight. Frank reminded me just now. It's a semi-formal affair."

Her eyes lit up, "Do we get to dress up?"

"The women usually wear evening gowns and the men wear suits or tuxes. We don't have to go. In fact, I only went to one so far and I left early. I was a new member and they wanted me to feel welcome. I took a date but I think I only went out with her twice."

She perked up and put the book down. "What time is the dinner?"

"Cocktails at seven and dinner at eight. Dancing afterwards until one."

She looked at the clock and bolted out of bed; it was three-thirty. "Shit... I have to hurry." She kissed me and headed for her closet. She came out in two minutes throwing a shirt on. "I have to run by the salon and then by my house. I haven't brought anything dressy over here yet."

I was astonished at the mood change. I don't think I moved the entire time.

"I'll be back by six-thirty and I'll be ready except for putting on my dress. Do you want to be there right at seven?"

"By seven-thirty if you want to do any mingling. You know I want to show you off."

She kissed me again and ran out of the house. I walked after her and she was already in her car when I reached the back door. She was a woman on a mission. I smiled and went back in the house.

I made sure I had a clean black suit. I hadn't had one on in a while. Luckily I had purchased a few when I revamped my life style. I even had a tuxedo that I had worn once.

Tamara called about five-thirty and asked what color I preferred her to wear. She had two shades of blue, a green, and a red. I told her blue brought out the color of her eyes. "Good answer!" she said and said she would be there within the hour.

I decided I should get ready. If she was like other women I've known, I don't want to be anywhere near the bathroom nor bedroom while she was putting on the finishing touches.

I had just finished getting ready when she walked into the bedroom. She was carrying a plastic covered dress and a shopping bag. She looked beautiful in her little short set. She apparently had had her hair done at the salon.

"Give me five minutes to put this on." I said okay and she said, "Without you in here! Get out... please."

I was only teasing her for I was already headed out the door. I went to the kitchen and poured us glasses of wine. If she didn't need it, I did. I went out and pulled the Jag out of the garage. Everything was moving along nicely.

"Are you ready?" she asked through the door.

"Absolutely. Your chariot awaits."

She opened the door to the bedroom and stepped out. I was in awe as I watched Cinderella walk into the room. "You're the most beautiful woman in the world," I said as I handed a wine glass to her.

"Thank you, my prince," she said. "You look very handsome in your suit."

Her dress was a royal-blue floor length. It had a high collar with a cleavage cutout and lightweight jacket that came to just below her bust line in the front and flared to her waist on the side. She then did a little model spin and lowered the half jacket and her back was bare to her waist. The stirrings between my legs indicated complete approval; she was demure yet provocative.

We toasted the evening and sipped our wine. I went to my study and retrieved my digital camera. I set it on the bar and used the remote to take some pictures of us. Tamara made a comment about the camera and I told her I would download the pictures later and we could print some if we wanted.

We arrived at the clubhouse and waited for the valet parking. We made our entrance like royalty. There were many people there that I did not know. We made our way to the bar and I picked up a couple of white wines. I glanced around and saw Frank and Sheila headed our way.

"I should have known it," Sheila said. "You had to bring the prettiest date to the dinner."

"Thank you," I replied. "Frank, you didn't do so badly yourself."

"Thank you, Sheila," Tamara said.

We stood chatting for a bit and a lot of the members that I didn't know were coming up and saying hello to me by name. I was a little confused.

Tamara said, "I didn't realize you knew so many people here."

"I don't. This is the first time I've met most of these men."

Jim Reeves walked up, "Tamara... John... how are you?"

"Just fine, Jim" I replied. "Do you know Sheila and Frank Lancaster?"

"No, I don't. Nice to meet you. I'm Jim Reeves."

"Jim, did you put the word out on me? People have been coming by and saying hi to me since we got here."

"You don't know? Why you're most famous celebrity here at the club."

"How is that?"

"For bringing Phil Jackson to play here. Everyone has seen the picture above the counter in the pro shop. Mark has done nothing but brag about Phil Jackson since that day."

Frank decided to have some fun, "May I get you another wine, Mr. Kegler?"

"Sheila, can you show me the way to the powder room?" Tamara asked. "I need to freshen up if I'm to be around a celebrity all night." They laughed and walked off.

Jim and I spoke for a few minutes. He asked if everything was going well with the new cars. I told him they were great. I mentioned to him the drive through the mountains and how the XLR handled.

Just as the ladies returned, Frank returned with new drinks for us. A waiter was circulating and telling everyone that dinner would be served shortly. We made our way into the dining room. The place looked very elegant.

Jim motioned us over to the table where he was sitting. He asked us if we would like to join him and his wife. We accepted and Jim introduced us to his wife, Elaine. The table seated eight and I was seated between Elaine and Tamara. Frank sat on the other side of Tamara and Sheila was on Frank's left.

Gary walked up and Jim asked him where his date was. "She is in the necessary room and will be joining us in few minutes."

I shook Gary's hand and introduced him to Tamara. Frank stood up and I introduced him and Sheila. Gary waited until his date came in before sitting down. He introduced Cindy Moore, to all of us.

We had drinks and dinner was served. They only gave us three choices, but for a catered event it was really nice. The conversation naturally had new automobiles in it. Being almost strangers with Gary and Jim, not a lot of personal information was exchanged. Tamara had a very elegant, self-assured aurora about her.

Sheila also carried herself very well. Frank and I were lucky men. Cindy asked about the picture in the pro shop. I explained that Phil Jackson and Michael Rooker were business partners of mine. She thought that was exciting and asked what kind of business. I told we were in real estate development. As it turned out, Elaine, like Tamara and Sheila, had her own business; she had a florist shop. Cindy was a single mom raising two children.

At the end of the dinner, the president of the club gave a speech on the status of the club. He mentioned some of the renovations that are coming up. He hoped everyone was enjoying his or her evening and the dancing would begin in a few minutes.