Alex and Beth got along famously. In fact, so famously, that Ella wondered if she was getting a little jealous. Was it because of the time he was spending with her best friend away from business, or because she was truly interested in him after all? She cautiously brought up the subject as he was leaving early for a dinner date with Beth, commenting that he didn't seem to be working as hard on their newest enterprises lately.
“Ella, a person shouldn't devote so much time on business, that they can't enjoy life.” Alex replied, as he picked up his brief case and started for the door. “You could do with a little R&R yourself you know. Why don't you close up shop, call Travis and go out with us tonight? Beth and I were going to check out that new restaurant that opened up at the lakeside pier. Come with us.”
Mm, a date with George Clooney and Captain America tonight, wonder how well that would be received by Mr. Wonderful? Well it could be worse, she decided. “Alright,” she shrugged and smiled. “You're a great salesman for a reason, aren't you?”
After calling him, Travis agreed but reluctantly. “There's just something about that guy that gets under my skin. I just don't like the way he looks at you when you're not looking.”
“Travis, are you back to that again? He's head over heels in lust for Beth. So stop being paranoid. He's not interested in me.”
Nevertheless, Travis planned on keeping an eye on Alex all through dinner.
The arrived in time to watch as the sun became a glowing golden-orange sunset over the lake. Sitting on the deck, Beth mentioned, “Simply breathtaking, isn't it?”
“Yes, you certainly are,” Alex stated, slipping his arms around Beth and looking approvingly into her eyes. Beth beamed back.
Travis rolled his eyes and then, trying to start an intelligent, masculine conversation asked, “Hey Alex, did you see the NASCAR race last week on TV? I think Jimmy Johnson's going to win it all again this year.”
Alex took a sip of his drink and remarked, “I don't know about that. When I talked to Kurt Busch, he seemed pretty confident about taking the title this year.”
Travis snorted, “You know Kurt Busch?”
“Sure, I sold him a house several years ago and we've been friends ever since. He's a really great guy, you'd like him. If you want, I can introduce you to him in the off season sometime.”
Travis narrowed his eyes skeptically, not believing a word out of it, but trying not to smirk, wondered if he should continue this line of conversation. Nope, not healthy, he decided, catching Ella's evil eye. Instead he attempted to pursue another interest of his, golf.
“I don't know if you've ever played golf, but that sport's addicting! Man, have you ever watched Phil Mickelson hit a golf ball? When I was in Phoenix, I watched Phil win the Duetsche Bank Phoenix Open. Man, is he ever a player! And he's so approachable; he shook my hand as he went off to sign his score card. Now the tournament's called the Waste Management Phoenix Open; and he won it again.”
“Yuck,” Beth chimed in. “What a horrible name for a tournament. Why'd they change the name?”
“I don't know but I guess they really clean up afterward, don't they?” Ella giggled making Travis laugh for the first time that evening.
“Cute, El,” he said.
“Sponsorship, my dear,” Alex told Beth, getting back to the question at hand.” It takes a lot of money to put on these tournaments and the paychecks now are astronomically high. At least that's what Phil told me when we played in a pro-am a few years ago.”
Travis looked at Alex incredulously and blurted out, “Oh come on, and you didn't play with Phil Mickelson.”
“Well, yeah I did. It was a charity function for the Las Vegas Children's Hospital and we raised a lot of money for their cancer unit.”
Ella had had enough. “Well look you guys, if we can tone down the testosterone level just a weeee bit, maybe we can get our order in before breakfast?” She gave Travis a slight kick under the table that was code for; knock it off now!
The night continued with Ella holding her breath every time Travis opened his mouth. Beth was so happy to be with Alex that she was oblivious, but Alex simply looked amused, picking up on the one-upmanship that was going on. Young man, you will not win this mental jousting match, no matter how hard you try.
And Travis tried. Oh my, how hard he tried! Western Civilization, travel, (how many people know where Vanuatu is located?) novels, poetry. That one, remarkably, caused George to recite Browning into Beth's eyes causing her to visibly melt.
Finally, Ella had had enough and thanked Alex and Beth for a very interesting evening. The Chicken Annabella was definitely worth coming back for, she stated, and pulling Travis away, said her goodbyes. All the way home, she silently fumed in his car and when Travis tried to enter her front door, Ella blocked him with her elbow and with her back to him, growled, “Thanks for such a wonderful evening, it was truly interesting . . . jerk.” and shut the door in his face without turning around.
“Ah, come on Sweetheart, it wasn't that bad.”
“Looking out through her front door window, she sarcastically agreed. “No, you're right; the evening was perfect, just perfect. How old are you, twelve? It really opened my eyes to what a total idiot you are!”
“Listen Ella, the guy's a phony! No one could possibly know that much about that many topics of conversation! He even gave the impression he knew more about Project Blue Book than I did and I worked there. He's a total braggart and somehow you're taken in by him!”
“You're wrong Travis, you were the pompous ass tonight, trying to outdo Alex. They invited us along. He should have taken you outside and kicked your butt since he knows Tae-kwon-do.”
“Well, I know . . . yoga.”
Ella sighed, “Go home Travis, just go home.” as she turned off the porch light and walked away from the door.
Monday, in the office, Alex apologized. “Look Ella, about the other night, I'm sorry about the way it went down. I shouldn't have risen to the bait and tried to one-up Travis, but I couldn't help it. Does he think I'm competition for some reason?”
Ella stopped what she was doing and looked up at him, “You've got that right. I don't know why, but he's been acting so spacey lately. I've just about had it with him and almost ready to call it quits again.”
“Again?”
“Yeah, Travis and I met and dated in college. I guess we both felt out of place, new to Phoenix and all. Then one of our instructors, a Professor Grumond, introduced us after a class we shared and we just hit it off.”
“So if you were so close why didn't you get married after college, if you don't mind my asking?”
“Well,” Ella shrugged, “we had different interests by then. He wanted to go into the Air Force and I came home . . . found someone else, and the rest is history as they say.”
“Mmm, so that explains a lot. Someday I'll have a talk with him El, but once again, I'm sorry.” He picked up some folders and was about to go out the door when Ella stopped him.
“So wait, I’m curious about something Alex. What do you know about Project Blue Book?”
Looking at Ella, as if contemplating how much to divulge, he simply grinned, “Aah, nothing much. I was in D.C. once and went out to dinner with a few Congressmen who happened to be discussing the anniversary of the strange 1997 Phoenix Lights phenomenon, and that got them talking about Project Blue Book. I've been blessed with a mind that remembers things, that's all. It's a personality quirk.” He shrugged as if to dismiss it. “So, it was a professor who introduced you to each other, right? Hmmm, how interesting,” mulling this over. “He should have given Travis a lecture on etiquette because it's obvious his parents didn't.”
Alex strolled down the street and into the Starbucks and ordered an iced coffee. From behind him, he heard a familiar voice. “Sure is hot today isn't it, Alexander?”
Alex turned around and smiled at his old friend Ethel. “Hi Ethel, it's good to see you. How's business?”
“It’s almost too
much for my weary old bones to handle. Why don't we try to level off for awhile and let the town catch its breath for a moment?”
“Now Ethel, you know we can't do that, there's too much at stake. Level off and we' won't be able to get the message out and we'll be forgotten in a week. Too many people are looking forward to finding Prosperity and you know that as well.”
Ethel patted the chair next to her. “Okay young man, come and sit next to an old lady for a spell. We need to catch up.” When he was seated, she continued, “Alex we've known each other for how many years now, probably, a hundred and twenty?”
“Well,” Alex laughed, playing along, “maybe not that long.”
Ethel smiled back, “Alex, are you sure this is what we really want here in Prosperity?”
“It's the best of all worlds and it's what we all need here.”
At that Ethel chuckled, “You really arrived with a bang, didn't you? You perfected your skills in Vegas and then dropped in at the perfect time.” Sipping her coffee, she went on, “I know Ella enjoys working with you. But how long are you going to wait around until you tell her your plans?”
“I'm savoring the moment as they say. She's been a delight to work with and I just want her to be happy. I don't know how she'll react after she hears my news.”
“Are you ever going to tell her?” Ethel prodded. “You really should you know. It would break her heart to suddenly find out you're gone and she never knew.”
“Sooner than later, rest assured of that fact. Yes, sooner than later,” he confirmed sadly. Changing the subject he asked “So what do you think of Travis?”
“Ella could do worse I suppose. You know Alex, they were destined to be together, and sometimes it just takes a man a little longer to grow up.”
“Yeah, like a few hundred years,” He sarcastically added. “I miss my wife, Ethel. She'd know what to do at a time like this.”
“Well Beth is a wonderful woman too. You have feelings for her, don't you?”
“I don't know if she could adapt to my way of life,” Alex said sadly.
“Sure she could, give her a chance.” Ethel advised with a twinkle in her eye, as she got up to leave. “You might be surprised.”
Alex finished his coffee and was walking toward his car when he spotted Travis's pick-up drive up and park three spaces down from him.
Before Travis could exit his truck, Alex opened the passenger door, climbed inside and said, “Okay, smart guy, start driving – we've got to talk.”
Chapter Seven