A Special Summer(9)

Lowering her head avoiding eye contact, she mumbled, “Because I don’t like being treated like an object.” Sex object that is.

Summer breathed a sigh of relief when the waiter suddenly appeared at their table. After they ordered dinner the conversation moved to other topics. Nick decided to drop his line of questioning, it was clear she was uncomfortable. So instead, they talked about what they did for a living, their families, politics; anything to keep the evening from becoming strained.

Over dinner they discovered they both were an only child and were born and raised in Philly. Nick had gone to Central High School, the all boys’ school at the time, down on Ogontz and Olney Avenues. And Summer to Girl’s High at Broad Street and Olney Avenue, one city block away. Nick teased her about being in elementary school while he was in high school.

Sadness washed over Summer when Nick told her he and his dad had spoken only twice since his mother’s death. He shared with her they never had a good relationship.

He told her the malice between father and son further festered when he decided not to pursue law.

Summer couldn’t believe Nick’s father was the Honorable Judge Henry Stiles, who presided on the bench as a federal judge. Judge Stiles was known for throwing the book at criminals, especially repeat offenders. At least that’s how the media portrayed him.

Summer’s background wasn’t as illustrious as Nick’s. Her father had owned a small business as an electrician and her mother operated an in-home daycare center. Summer was proud; however, to tell him she was very close to her parents even if her mother did drive her crazy at times being overly opinionated about everything. Summer wasn’t ashamed to tell him she was scared that her parents had decided to move to North Carolina to build their dream home leaving her with no close family ties. Aunts, uncles, and cousins were scattered all over the country. Although she was nervous about being so far away from her parents Summer refused to move with them. “I don’t want to move down south. I’m just fine, right here in Philly.” She had told her parents.

When her mother continued to pressure her to move, Summer simply told her, “Mommy, I’m not going. My friends are here and my job is here. Just let me grow up, please.” Although she missed her parents, she knew she made the right choice to be totally independent of them and on her own.

Nick was impressed Summer’s parents invested their money in the seventies when most blacks didn’t know what CD’s, mutual funds and saving bonds were. He chuckled when she boasted she began making investments when she got her first job at sixteen with the hope of retiring by the time she was forty-five or fifty.

“That’s pretty young don’t you think?”

“Not at all, I want to enjoy my life. You wouldn’t believe how many people get sick as soon as they hit retirement at sixty-five. Most of the times the poor souls didn’t enjoy their lives, hardly took any vacations, or spent time with their families because they worked like dogs.”

After paying the bill, Nick assisted Summer out of her seat and into her coat. As they made their way out of the restaurant she was conscious of the way his hand rested on the small of her back as he led her outside.

The cold November air was brisk as they waited for the valet to bring Nick’s vehicle. Once inside the vehicle the two sat in silence. Nick’s attention was on the road and Summer’s was on the city’s passing scenery.

Nick was the first to speak. “It’s still early. Want to go for a walk?”

10:20 p.m. was the time on the car’s interior clock.

“Sure, I could use a walk. I ate too much,” Summer groaned patting her stomach remembering the four-course meal she devoured.

Nick chuckled. “Yeah, you sure did.” Scanning her petite body from head to toe, he teased, “I was wondering where all that food was going.”

Playfully punching him in the arm, Summer pouted, “Hey, I hadn’t had anything to eat since nine this morning. I was hungry. No, make that starving.” “Yeah, I could tell.”

Sucking her teeth and cutting an evil eye sideways at him they both erupted in laughter at Summer’s reaction to his teasing.

“I’m glad you’re having a good time at my expense, Mr. Stiles.” Summer’s insides fluttered when Nick flashed the sexiest smile.

“I am having a great time at your expense, Miss Jackson.”

Parking the car on Kelly’s Drive near Boathouse Row, Nick got out of the vehicle and proceeded to help Summer out.

“So, which direction do you want to walk, Beautiful?” he asked as he gazed down into Summer’s flushed face. He was doing it again, making her nervous.