Blind Date

Only death knows the secret to eternal beauty.

Annie understood, suddenly, and the realization brought tears to her eyes.

Her physical beauty would fade, over time, but the light burning in her that had caught Eric’s attention that night in the kitchen would never fade. He had seen her, fully, without ever even looking at her physical form. He had seen the woman inside of her, the woman she was becoming, the woman she wanted to be, the one beyond her physical body.

I want to grow old with Eric, she thought, blinking back her tears. He’s the man I want to be with when my hair is white, when we have grandchildren coming to visit and stories to tell about the old days. The feeling was so strong in her that it was an ache, and she found herself even more determined to do whatever it took to find him again.

Annie found Dita sitting on a soft, oversized chair, still surrounded by admirers. When Annie handed her the drink, Dita’s eyes widened slightly, but she motioned her to sit. The crowd of people moved away the moment Dita waved her hand, leaving the two of them in relative privacy.

“Well, dear, I didn’t expect you back…so soon…” Dita sipped the drink and her eyebrows rose in surprise. “And this is exactly what I asked you for!”

“I hope so.” Annie sank into a chair with a defeated sigh. “You have no idea what I had to do to get it. Or maybe you do. I don’t know. I’m so tired of this runaround. Do you really know where Eric is? I need to find him.” Dita set her glass on the little table between them and leaned toward her.

“Actually, I got a call from him just a few hours ago.”

“Oh please.” Annie rolled her eyes. “Do you think I was born yesterday?”

“He’s back in town.” Dita picked imaginary lint off the chair. Annie marveled again at how incredible she looked for being a grown man’s mother.

“Then why wasn’t he at his place today?” Annie crossed her arms.

Dita shrugged. “How should I know?”

“Why don’t I believe you?” Annie shook her head.

Dita gave her a cool, grim smile. “You can believe what you like, darling.

He doesn’t tell me everything. What I can do is give you the address to The Elysian Fields. He will be seeing a client there between two and four tomorrow.”

“What in the heck is The Elysian Fields?” Annie cocked her head and frowned.

Dita raised her eyebrows at her and then winked. “It’s a mystery school.”

“A…what?” Annie asked, shaking her head as if to clear it. Eric’s mother looked as if she were enjoying Annie’s suspense.

Dita crossed one knee over the other. “I guess the best way to describe it…it’s a kind of new age school, for people like intuitives and psychics.” Annie put her head in her hands for a moment. It was beginning to hurt.

“You’re sure he’s going to be there?”

“It’s what he told me,” she replied with that one-shoulder shrug.

Resigned, Annie said, “Okay, give me the number.” Dita bit her lip and then sighed. “They don’t have phones.” Annie laughed, incredulous. “Oh, come on!”

“It’s true!” she protested. “Something about vibrations? They have a lot of…alternative ideas. But I can give you the address. It’s about an hour’s drive out of town.”

Annie sat still for a moment, pondering. “What the hell. Why not? This couldn’t get any stranger. Give me the address.” Dita reached into her purse and pulled out a black book. She flipped the pages and Annie watched as she wrote an address in large, looping letters on a slip of paper before handing it to her.

“Thanks.” Annie stood. “Enjoy your honey…and your drink. Virgil and that old guy were both quite an experience.”

Dita caught Annie’s arm as she passed. “Would you mind doing me another favor?”

“Are you kidding me?” Annie sighed. “What? What could you possibly want now?”

Dita’s smile was kind and Annie felt herself relenting. “Can you pick up something for me while you’re there?”

“Is it anything illegal?”

“Goodness, no!” Her laugh was like silver crystals falling. “It’s just a beauty cream. Inquire at the office and ask for Kora. She’s holding it for me.”

“I guess I could,” Annie replied, feeling gently bullied again, but not knowing how to refuse.

“Thank you, dear.” Dita stood and leaned over, surprising Annie by giving her a brief kiss on the cheek and leaving behind the smell of lavender and roses.

It should have been a kind act, but Annie fought the urge to wipe at the spot. As Annie tucked the slip of paper into her purse, she headed down the metal staircase and heard Dita call out that odd parting phrase again, “Good luck!”

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