of skin. What, is he a virgin or a monk? Give me a break!”
She noticed that the cross she was wearing around her neck accentuated the crevice between her breasts, and she took the necklace off.
“Don’t overdo it, girl,” she mumbled, looking at her reflection again.
In the corner of her eye she caught the flowers next to the mirror, and she grew angry again.
Neat, she thought. Her lips parted slightly, revealing her pearly teeth, like a tigress displaying her fangs. While I was sleeping… A man or maybe even MEN were walking around! Thank Goodness I didn’t sleep naked!
She checked the time, took her purse and left. The café wasn’t too far away, so she arrived within a few minutes.
The table had been reserved. Mary sat by the window and took a menu. But when she saw the prices, she nearly fell off her chair. Mary had never visited a luxury restaurant before and she was astonished.
Okay, she mused. Let’s hope if he invited me here, he’s going be the perfect gentleman and pay for my meal as well.
Mary ordered an orange juice and a chef’s salad, and waited. She was still very angry about the flowers and was preparing a few harsh words for the suspected culprit.
But Robert was late and Mary had plenty of time to calm down, people watching through the window, entranced by the endless stream of pedestrians and traffic rushing to who knew where.
***
It was already 1:00 p.m., and Mary was growing impatient, but decided to wait a few minutes longer.
Almost as if on cue, a limousine stopped out front of the cafe at 1:03 p.m. A heavily built but smartly dressed man opened the door and Robert quickly got out.
Mary J’s eyes flashed with joy. For the first time in her lonely life somebody stood up for her like he did last night and she felt more than just gratitude for Robert.
Mary observed Robert speaking on his cell-phone. At about five feet eight, with dark brown hair, Robert was very slender and elegant. He moved with masculine grace. When he was turning, his refined body curved like a snake, and his stylish business suit emphasized this serpentine likeness.
Mary involuntarily recalled the Bible: The Serpent, the Tempter, the First Snake. And she smiled. Robert impressed her, but unlike most women, she was not afraid of snakes, and she was also a strong believer in God, and plenty strong enough to fight Satan.
Robert looked at his watch and entered the cafe. Mary waved, and a smiling Robert came to her. The driver plus an equally hefty man followed him in and sat at the next table. She gazed at them with curiosity then playfully glanced at Robert.
“Did you send one of those guys to bring me the flowers?” She asked. There was no reaction, so she persisted. “You did grease the palm of the security guard in my building. Didn’t you?”
“No, birdie, I’ll explain.” Robert ordered his meal to the waitress and turned to Mary again. “I wanted your first morning in the new apartment to be special. So, I just did this!” He snapped his fingers, and Mary gasped, when she saw a cute tiny corsage of lilies of the valley appear on her plate.
“Wow! Neat trick. You must have clicked your fingers quite a few times to fill my apartment,” joked Mary J. She liked that she had made him smile then looked back down to admire the flowers. She continued to chat Robert up. “Are you always with bodyguards?” nodding her head in the direction of the men at the next table.
“I have to be.” Robert’s face was serious. “I have too many enemies.”
“They are both so gorgeous, I thought all bodyguards looked like gorillas.”
“I prefer them to be as strong as gorillas, but not necessarily quite so facially challenged, kitten…” Robert did not finish. He wanted to say: I only surround myself with things of the highest quality. But he was afraid she would misunderstand this.
“Especially, that left one,” Mary continued. “And his face is so intelligent, he looks like a senator, or some kind of professor…”
“His name is Roger Ahrman, and he’s more than just my bodyguard. He’s my most trusted companion, my valet and commander-in-chief.”
“What a name your valet has!” Mary laughed. “Did you say Ahriman or something?”
“Something.” Robert smiled.
“The Chief of Darkness Forces, eh?” Mary’s eyes were iridescent with interest.
“Look, little lamb, I have an awfully tense life. Sometimes it’s just vitally necessary to have a guy like him by my side.”
“Wow…” A nervous grimace replaced Mary’s smile as she felt a deep worry stirring up her heart. Please, she thought. Don’t let anything happen to him. Don’t let him disappear from my life so soon!
“So, how did you like your new apartment?” Robert asked.
“It’s great,” Mary said, sighing. “I’ve never even dreamed about such comfort. Especially the air conditioner! I like it. You know, when the night is so hot…”
She stopped short, seeing Robert’s eyes flashed, and he bent toward her. She blushed.
“I see, Mary, and plead, tell me, what did you do in the heat of the night?” Robert asked with his deep tempting voice.
“Nothing romantic, if that’s what you were inferring.” Mary’s lips flinched with a bitter grin. “I cried a lot, actually. Sad thoughts…”
“Feeling all alone?”
“No. I never felt alone. Just sad thoughts, that’s all. I prayed.” Mary saw Robert leaned back, slightly frowning, and now her own eyes grew narrow. “Do you have a problem with that, Mister Noirson?”
“My name is Robert.”
“I’m sorry, mist… Robert,” Mary voiced slowly, and liked the rumbling sound of his name. “But, you know, I’m a novice, so why are you surprised that I’m praising God?”
“No. It’s just a shame that a beautiful girl in the middle of the night dreams about being buried alive instead of how she meets her true love, for example.”
“How did you know I dreamt that?” she asked, taken aback.
“Maybe I just clicked my fingers.” He winked at her.
“Neat! You just guessed, didn’t you?”
“Call me lucky! Except I am sorry it wasn’t such a lucky dream for you.”
Mary was growing to like this compelling man, but pursued her defense of her chosen course in life. “I never thought about my decision to become a nun as about ending my life.”
“So what’s it all about then? A way of helping people?” He did not look convinced.
“You
