Something Missing_ A Novel - Matthew Dicks [89]
What does this woman want? Martin wondered, staring back at her. He attempted to adopt the look of someone who was both innocent and befuddled, and waited for her to make the first move.
After a moment, Laura Green raised her hand and motioned for Martin to lower the driver’s side window. Feeling incredibly stupid, he did so.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“That’s okay. One of those days, right?”
“Yeah.”
“I just wanted to thank you. You saved my life. My friend was planning a surprise party for her husband this Saturday, but like a dolt, I confused the days. Not like me at all. When you called her about Saturday, she got worried and called me.”
Laura Green paused for a moment, but when Martin failed to fill the silence, she continued.
“You see, I had dropped off a present at their house this morning and left a message on their machine about the party. I felt so bad about missing it. But it turns out that I didn’t miss it, and if her husband had gone home and heard the message or seen the gift, the surprise wouldn’ve been ruined. And you don’t know Justine. She would’ve killed me. She’s put so much work into this thing.”
“Well,” Martin said, still looking awkwardly up from his place behind the wheel. “I’m glad that it all worked out.”
“Thanks to you,” Laura Green quickly added. “Did you find a caterer for your party yet?”
“I think I did,” Martin lied. “That’s why I’m still here. Your friend gave me a number and I gave them a call. Looks like I’m all set.”
“Great. Then it worked out for both of us.”
“It sure did,” Martin answered, exhilaration mixed with a sudden feeling of sadness. This woman would never know the lengths that he had gone to to help her.
“Hey, if you’re not busy, would you like to get a bite to eat? My treat. It’s the least I can do for you. You really saved the day.”
I’m busy.
I have plans.
I’m meeting a friend.
I have a dentist appointment.
I have a girlfriend.
I’m married.
I’m gay.
Any one of these excuses would have allowed Martin to avoid dinner with this woman, and under normal circumstances he would have used one of them immediately. Though Martin rarely attracted the attention of women, there had in the past been rare occasions when he had been asked to have coffee or drinks, and each time he had deftly avoided the situation. But Laura Green was an attractive woman, and Martin had saved her day. For the first time in a long time, he felt appreciated, so he wasn’t so surprised to hear himself say his next few words.
“That sounds great. Where would you like to go?”
With that, Martin was on the first real date of his adult life.
Martin had learned early on that people loved to talk about themselves. All his life, he had been uncomfortable around others, never sure what to say, so he quickly adopted the strategy of listening and probing rather than sharing and contributing. When trapped in a social situation that required him to speak, he would often allow his conversational partner to do most of the talking, asking questions when it seemed as if the person was running out of steam and encouraging him or her to share as much as possible.
Once he began his career, Martin found himself wanting to share less and less of his life, so he employed this strategy even more effectively. Martin rarely interacted with people, other than his few close friends, without thought and preparation. And when he did, he encouraged them to speak as much as possible.
Thus far this strategy was working well for him, but Laura Green had been doggedly persistent. Though willing to talk about her own life, she repeatedly attempted to turn the conversation back in his direction, and each time, Martin was forced to return her volley like a tennis player