Double Arrows
I had seen him countless numbers of times before. I had seen him in an old t-shirt and shorts digging post holes in the back yard. I had seen him doze off in the recliner with his reading glasses on the end of his nose like he was my Granny. I had seen him on his knees holding my cock like it was a golden chalice.
But this time was the first time that I had seen him when he didn’t know I was there.
My friend Steve says it was when I fell in love.
I don’t know that I would go that far. That word is even harder for me to toss around than “boyfriend.”
But, as I touched on in a previous post, it was the moment I was smitten.
It was a few months ago, on an evening when the usual mugginess of an East Tennessee summer seemed to have dissipated. There may have even been a gentle breeze. Or it may just be the way I remember the breeziness in the way that he approached.
He was wearing an intense blue shirt with his white linen suit and strolled down the street with the coat over his shoulder like a 21st century Atticus Finch.
The attorney couldn’t see me sitting outside the restaurant where we were meeting for dinner. But I saw him. I saw him like never before.
The restaurant has tables out on the sidewalk, and it was the perfect vantage point for me to see the attorney operate in his element. It’s wasn’t like seeing him grill a witness in court, I know. He’s not a trial lawyer anyway. But in the two blocks walk from where I first spotted him, I watched him greet colleagues on the street and stop to talk to a couple of groups.
He wasn’t the slightly awkward big-eared goof with the shy dimpled grin that I had always seen before. Well, he was all those things. But he wasn’t just those things. He was also charming and charismatic. I could tell by the way others interacted with him. They wanted to be as much a part of his world that I did. Maybe not in the same way. But they were the planets and he was the sun.
Finally, in mid-conversation, he glanced over and I caught his eye. He continued to listen to what was being said to him, but he focused his gaze on me.
And smiled.
Not the shy dimpled grin. A dimpled large-mouth smile. If I had been a stick of butter, you could have poured me over a bowl of popcorn at that moment.
And that was all it was. A moment. Maybe less than two seconds. Not long enough for anyone to take notice.
At least not anyone but us.
And Cupid.
Who, I think, struck with double arrows.
February 14th, 2008 at 4:02 am
Reading that made me smile a dimpled large-mouth smile.
February 14th, 2008 at 4:10 am
Tony,
What a wonderful St.Valentines’s Day story. And who couldn’t fall in love with Atticus Finch? But the best thing about the story is that your attorney is in love with you too.
Thanks for sharing the growth of your relationship.You know we’ve all been pulling for you (after we got over our jealousy, of course).
I’m responding so early because I’ve been having a beautiful St.V.’s day eve beginning what may be another histoire d’amour.
Happy St. Valentine’s Day, Tony.
February 14th, 2008 at 7:13 am
What a wonderful story. It seemed I was right there with you. Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day. I’m sure the attorney has something special planned for his sweetheart. And, I’m sure you’re on cue with something wonderful for him. Shoot, I’d take a few of your oatmeal cookies and fall in love with you. Couldn’t be more proud of the both of you. You’ve come a long way and you make the Attorney’s day, and life. Have a great day. Wishing the two of you well. We’ll all be waiting to hear about it.
February 14th, 2008 at 8:40 am
My heart just went pitter-patter! You are a beautiful writer, and have a beautiful love story–continued best wishes to you and the Attorney!
February 14th, 2008 at 8:49 am
Man oh man oh man. If only I could start every day reading something as beautiful as this post. Once again Tony, please, for the sake of your fans, and for those poor souls who have never had a chance to see the world through your eyes; publish your writing.
February 14th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
This is love, and all that word defines. My eyes are stinging right now with happiness … for you … for him.
“Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” … Atticus Finch
Thank you for singing to us, Tony.
February 14th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Tony,
Lovely moment, and even lovelier evocation of it. That first time we get to observe someone we love in his element -especially if he doesn’t know we’re there- yes, it is unlike any other. I’ve been lucky to have it with a few friends, family members and partners. One of the great gifts of life.
Happy Valentine’s Day. I hope you and the Attorney have a wonderful time.
February 14th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
hey Tony, thanks, a GREAT Valentine story. how is your granny, btw? hearts to all of you today.
February 14th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
That is a wonderful moment to be treasured…always!
February 14th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
This is by far one of the sweetest and heartwarming posts you’ve ever made. I melted a little too.
February 15th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
What a lovely post! You were so lucky to see the attorney in his professional element. My husband has never seen me in mine and now that I am disabled, he never will. Treasure the experience; I know you will since it was when you fell in love. Remember it always as the special time it was. Happy Valentine’s Day.
February 15th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
You write so beautifully and it all just sounds so wonderful… congratulations. Who woulda thought a big football obsessed tenessee top could melt like a stick of butter?
February 15th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
Super duper! Loved the story. What kind of food do you two order? Are you on the same page? One a salad, the other fried chicken?
February 16th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Very sweet, both sentiment and written word.
February 17th, 2008 at 2:12 am
INcredibly sweet. Happy valentine’s.
February 17th, 2008 at 10:52 pm
Ah Tony, how I would love to have 4 of your limbs wrapped around me - with special accommodation given to the 5th!
February 18th, 2008 at 9:29 am
Beautifully written!
February 19th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Dear God!
I’m in love with the attorney and I’ve never even come CLOSE to Tennessee! You write so expressively about it; I really enjoyed it.
February 22nd, 2008 at 10:55 am
Love your post.
It can be a little disconcerting to discover that you love the guy but when you look in each other’s eyes and both of you smile from ear to ear it can’t be anything else.
Profit from every moment.
February 24th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Good for you for not trying to label and squeeze it into something. I think sometimes we get so lost trying to categorize our lives we lose focus. Just let it be. Things will develop as they are meant too.
It warms my heart to see you discovering a new side of yourself though.