The Chance Encounter

Alma rummaged around in her purse as they waited for the waiter to answer Ronald’s summons and produced her calling card which she passed over the table to Ronald. He received it with a smile looking at Alma then whispered thanks as the waiters approached to bring him the bill.

This was a formality as when it was sent to the counter with Ronald’s credit card Pierre crushed the bill and threw it into the wastepaper basket then personally came and handed the card to his friend Ronald. Ronald urged him to accept payment as Alma was a guest, and he felt Pierre should not be disadvantaged by bringing her there Pierre being French smacked his forehead in pretended exasperation and placed the card in his friend’s shirt pocket. Then he ceremoniously bowed to Alma and departed to visit tables of his regular customers. Alma giggled at the charade performed in front of her and when their car was brought to the front of the restaurant for them and the valet opened the door for her to get in, she sank into the soft leather seat appreciatively then began to laugh out loud.

“That was quite a performance by Pierre, and it has just made my difficult day a final pleasure. Thank you, that was wonderful Ronald. I owe you for the food and entertainment.”

This made Ronald happy. He’d not had such a happy occasion since Sue discontinued their restaurant visits together because of her advancing cancer. It was always a pleasure to have Carl with him when they went out together, but this was different.

“Alma, I hope this is not the last time I see you as I had such a happy time this evening.”

“You have my card Ronald so message me if you are still wanting to see me again and I’ll find a time when both of us are not tied up in business meetings.”

Carl looked up from his books scattered around the kitchen table in surprise. His father came into the house singing. Ronald had not done that since the happy days when his mom was still with them and wondered what had happened that evening to put his father in that frame of mind. He smiled happily and returned to his studies.

“You need to get some sleep son I learned long ago that working late spoils concentration for the next day’s activities.”

Ronald marched to his home office humming a tune and Carl gathered his books and headed for his bedroom. In the office Ronald sat at his desk looking at his own homework and decided that would spoil the perfect evening he’d had. Then he picked up his phone and took out Alma’s calling card to study it. She was well qualified academically and professionally. He entered the details in his contact list and then paused thinking. Then on impulse he sent her a message.

“When can we get together again? Ron.”

He watched fascinated as he saw the sign someone was typing a reply and waited in eager anticipation then the message flashed on his phone.

“Thanks for a wonderful evening I’ll think about your offer and get back to you if I decide that’s in the best of both our interests.”

Not the reply that Ronald had hoped for, so his happy homecoming thoughts evaporated, and he closed his cellphone. He’d probably scared her off by being too eager when they’d just met. He went to his bedroom observing Carl’s bedroom light was off and then changed into his sleeping clothes. He was tired so resolved to forget about Alma Marchant. Turning over he pressed the button on his bedside lamp and the room darkened.

Just as he was fading into sleep after setting the alarm his cellphone pinged a message had been received. Probably business so that could wait for morning and worktime. But his curiosity was aroused so he turned on the bedside lamp and reached for his phone to read it and was instantly awake and happy again. It was from Alma.

It said she was taking her two girls on a trip to the coast fifty miles away on the weekend and wondered if he had time off to join them at Gibsons Bay where the girls like to wind surf. If he was interested then they could meet there, and she would give him the destination address if he was inclined to do that but it would be better they didn’t go together in the same car as she didn’t know if her girls would like that and wanted their meeting to be by chance so she could get them used to having Ronald and Carl around without the pressure of forcing them onto her girls.

Ronald texted back immediately.

“Give me the meeting point details and time of arrival. I’m interested.”

Now he’d have to convince Carl to come along with him knowing he was anxious about the exams next week. A day off should help him to focus on the final few days of cramming after Sunday.

It took all of Ronald’s skills in persuasion to convince Carl to take that trip to Gibson’s Bay but eventually he gave in realizing that after all the hours he’d been putting into study reviews he probably needed to give his eyes a rest and he did like their infrequent trips to the sea. But why Gibson’s Bay? He’d not been there before. It took them an hour and a half as the road off the freeway to the bay was jam packed this Sunday. Carl was surprised when they headed for the wind surfing equipment rental area. Ronald turned to his son.

“Let’s give this a try son. I’ve always wanted to try this sport.”

Carl shrugged and followed his father. He’d heard learning this sport initially had you in the water more than above it while an appropriate balance was learned to stay on top and ride with the wind learning to zig and zag around this area of the bay blocked out for the sport and it was taboo to venture there on jet sky as there’d been some nasty accidents with surfers in the past so it was safe to learn there. Perhaps it was the safety element that had drawn his dad to Gibson’s Bay. They paid the rent for craft and body wear and services of someone to teach them how to operate a wind surfer.

They were just emerging from the kiosk when Ronald heard a familiar voice, he’d made this journey to catch up with. Alma, accompanied by her two girls, Rachel and Tina caught up with them.

“What are you doing here?”

Alma put on a surprised look and the two girls peered at Ronald and Carl with interest. Alma then went on to explain.

“This is Ronald Davidson the owner of Davidson and Partners CPA firm where the charity board I’ve just been appointed to meets. I didn’t know you liked Gibson Bay Ronald and always imagined you worked nights and weekends as a CPA. Who is this giant young man with you?”

Alma had a hard time keeping a straight face realizing she was not entirely truthful faking surprise at meeting Ronald and Carl.

“This is my son Carl, and we are going to give wind surfing a trial. Who are the lovely young women with you Ms. Merchant and I was impressed with your presentation to the recent charity board meeting.

“Please call me Alma as I hate formality, and these are my two daughters Rachel and Tina.”

The two girls looked at Carl with appreciation, noting his height and build and then glanced at each other with a silent challenge. Rachel spoke to Carl.

“You were that giant who humiliated our school football team when your college was up against our team in the interschool sports competition. You have a big fan club among young women at our college now.”

Rachel stretched herself to her full five feet eleven against him and smiled.

“Here’s my chance to regain the honor of our school in a windsurfing competition with you Carl. Do you take up the challenge?”

Alma laughed and addressed Carl.

“Don’t let her bluff you Carl. Do you mind if we join you since we’re here together as I want to discuss some ideas about the charity with you Ronald if you’d allow that on your day off.”

“OK Alma I like informality too so please call me Ron. I’ll take a few lessons with Carl and then join you to discuss your concerns and maybe Rachel and Tina can hang out with Carl and give him some tips when the lesson finishes. Would you like that, Carl?”

Carl eyed the two young women appreciatively.

“Yes, that would be fun for me but how about you Rachel and Tina could you tolerate hanging around with a novice as I presume you are experts at wind surfing, or you wouldn’t have challenged me to a duel.”

The girls flung warnings at each other. Each wanted exclusive rights to this handsome giant. Alma smiled as she understood what was going through her girl’s minds. They’d been active in dating since their late teens but not found anyone who could put up with them. Tina was more accommodating at age twenty, but her sister Rachel could be a bit pushy and usually the young men gave up pursuing her because of this personality trait. Let’s see if Carl would be able to put up with her today. Alma liked the boy as he’d obviously had a decent upbringing and looked like he’d be tolerant to a certain extent.

They moved to the water’s edge and the tutors demonstrated the rudiments of wind surfing exercise. The tutors took a trial run to demonstrate and then returned to the two men for them to give it a trial under supervision. There were several false starts, and Ronald eventually gave up and returned to join Alma sitting on the bank watching. Carl got the hang of it eventually and managed to stay up cruising around the bay with an occasional fall which he learned to correct. At this point the girls got their equipment assembled and joined Carl out on the bay. Tina the youngest was the most skillful at the sport and darted around Carl desperately seeking his attention. Tina shouted as she drew level with Carl on one of the rounds while Rachel put on a show at a distance for his attention.

“How old are you, Carl.”

“I’m approaching twenty-four and about to graduate Tina, how about you?”

“Just started college and am only twenty. What will you do when you graduate will you join your father’s business?”

“I’m heading for university when I finish my BA and will do an MBA. Not sure yet whether I want to be a CPA or not and have a few years to make up my mind.”

Rachel saw Carl and Tina shouting in conversation as they cruised the bay and sped to cut her sister off and Tina fell into the bay hitting her head on the craft as she fell. Carl quickly dived from the board and swam to recover Tina, lifting her head above the waves to prevent her swallowing water while she recovered. She clung to him as Carl dog paddled them both to his board and effortlessly pushed his board and pulled Tina toward the shore.

He shouted to Rachel to retrieve Tina’s board and drag it back to shore. Lifeguards on duty sweeping the bay with their binoculars saw what happened and swam to meet them and recovered the boards after convincing themselves Tina was now awake enough to make to shore by herself as they knew the family and their swimming capabilities.

Rachel was genuinely sorry her foolishness had caused her sister to get hurt and apologized to her profusely weeping as she did. Carl, seeing her genuine distress went and put his arm around her and whispered comforting words to her. Alma watched it all and turned to Ronald.

“You have a wonderful son who will make some woman’s life happy one day and I hope it is one of my girls Ron.”

She patted Ronald’s arm and went over to see her daughters who were now hugging each other. It was a love-hate relationship with those two and she hoped as they matured, they’d develop a close relationship together as they found their special partner for life. Alma spoke to them both as she put her arms around them and then turned to Carl who was standing by looking on in concern. Alma stretched up and kissed Carl on the cheek.

“Thank you, Carl, for rescuing my Tina. That could have been a sad outcome if you’d not been there to protect her and then help get the girls organized for a safe return to the shore. You are a good young man, and I can understand why you father is so proud of you.”

Carl had turned pink with embarrassment when Alma had kissed him in gratitude for rescuing her daughter, but he was very pleased at her reaction, nevertheless.

“I’m glad to know my dad is proud of me Ms. Merchant and glad we were able to meet up today. Maybe you can visit with us sometime as I’ve really enjoyed meeting with the girls today.”

“Thank you, Carl. If you send me an invitation, I’ll be happy to come to your place to renew our acquaintance, and I know the girls would love to spend time with you too now they know they can trust you. I’d feel a lot happier if you’d call me Alma from now on.”

On the way home that evening Carl spoke after a long period of silence between them.

“Dad, can I invite Alma and the girls over to our place sometime. I really enjoyed spending time with them today and it was very lucky our choice of Gibson Bay found them there too. What a coincidence.”

Ronald smiled a contented smile but said nothing.

That evening they both went to bed early, it would be a busy week for them ahead. But before he went to sleep Ronald texted Alma thanking her for a perfect day and hoping she could find time for him and Carl along with the girls to share together in future. He stared hopefully at the screen for a long time and then there was evidence a return message was being prepared. Then it flashed onto this screen.

“The three of us would like that very much. Good night, Ron.”

Conclusion.

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