Poor Messenger

He took a deep breath, sighed and rang the doorbell. After a few moments it opened. He stared. The woman was gorgeous. Her shoulder length auburn hair cascaded over her slender shoulders. Her brown eyes reminded him of warm cocoa. The top of her head only came up to his shoulder. She was wearing those stretch jeans that reminded him of soft flannel and a tight fitting blue vee neck top that accented her beautiful curves.
“Yes?” She questioned.
He put a hand to his face as if to awaken himself. “Uh…I’m Tony.” After a pause he added, “Bill’s friend.”
“Oh.” She nodded. “Come in, Tony. What can I do for you?”
Plenty, he thought. He blinked and replied. “Well, Bill asked me to stop by.”
“Oh really?” As she gestured to a chair in the living room she asked, “Would you like something to drink? I have iced tea, lemonade, coffee…”
“Hot chocolate,” he mumbled.
She shrugged her shoulders. “Well, okay. I can do that. It’s just that it is so hot outside I thought you might want something cold. I’ll be right back.” She moved gracefully out of the room.
Tony put his hands over his face again and pushed them up into his golden brown wavy hair. What an idiot. Get a grip! She’s Bill’s new girlfriend. Lucky Bill.
When she returned she brought a mug of hot cocoa and a tall glass of lemonade. She set them down on the coffee table and sat across from him.
“I don’t know if Bill told you. My name’s Tanya. So what’s up, Tony?”
He stammered something.
“You said Bill sent you?” Tanya prompted.
“Oh, yeah, he did.”
“And?”
“Uh…I…forgot.”
Her laugh was like music, a soft giggle. She shrugged her petite shoulders.
“Well, okay. Maybe if we talk a little you’ll remember.”
“I’m sorry. I’m not usually this…flakey. Don’t know what’s gotten into me.”
“Maybe you’re nervous? Actually Bill and i haven’t been dating that long. I imagine it must be important for him not to tell me himself. How long have you known Bill?”
“We’ve been friends since grade school. We go way back. How did you and Bill meet?”
“It was at a little diner on Second Street. I go there a lot. I love the cozy atmosphere. We just started talking and he asked me out. We seemed to hit it off.”
Tony sat forward clasping his hands together in front of him. “Oh, I know the place. I really like it too. What do you like to do for recreation?’
“I love to take long walks. I enjoy being outside. I have a mountain bike and I love to swim. I also like to read.”
“That’s amazing. I like the outdoors too. I’m a park ranger.”
“That sounds fascinating.” Tanya’s voice held excitement. She picked up her glass and drank.
He did the same, remembering his now warm cocoa. He drank it all then thanked her. Finally he said, “Bill doesn’t get much time off. Being a policeman his hours are uncertain.”
Tanya nodded. “Yeah, I know. I am an artist. I work for myself so I can make my own hours. Actually I love to paint wild life when I can get a glimpse of some.”
“That sounds amazing.”
There was genuine sincerity in Tony’s words.
“So, getting back to Bill. Was it his job/‘
“His job?” Tony echoed.
Tanya smiled. “The message you forgot. Did it have to do with his job?”
“Oh…yes…that was it. He had to cancel because he was called out on an emergency case. He didn’t have time to explain.”
She nodded.
Tony ran his fingers through his thick, wavy hairc again. He sighed. “I guess I’m a poor messenger, huh?”
She shook her head. “No, not at all.” She chuckled.
“You know,” Tony began. “It’s such a nice day outside. Would you like to go fort a walk with me?”
“Sure, why not?”