MAHOGANY

Chapter 1 The cold rain beating on the tin awning like muffled drums would normally have me sleeping like a baby, but not tonight. It had been hours since I awakened from the same nightmare that tormented me for days. It was now 4:00 AM. The glare of the cheap clock, in the hotel room I had found on a lonely stretch of Interstate 59 from Chattanooga to Birmingham, barely lit the room causing ominous shadows to dance about as if choreographed by Satan himself. I found my thoughts drifting back, as they had many times before, to the day my life, as I knew it, changed forever. Love had found me, picked me out of a crowd, and gave me no chance to question or apply the caution I had always shown when meeting women. Rachael was not like any woman I had ever met. She was tall, very tall. I am six feet four and we almost looked eye to eye. I cannot recall meeting a woman of such height who carried herself so well. She had black hair that had a sultry shimmer reflecting the obvious attention and care she gave it. Her eyes were dark, maybe the blackest eyes I’d ever seen. It was those eyes that separated her from all the women I had known before. I suppose in retrospect they left me vulnerable for I found myself searching them almost as if they in some way held the secrets to life and love. We met in a sandwich shop in downtown Chattanooga. I often frequented this shop because of the great food and convenience to my office a block away. As I fumbled for my wallet to pay I turned and there she stood. She wore tight jeans that showed off her long muscular legs. Her white silk blouse caressed her soft shoulders that were partially shrouded by the most beautiful hair I had every laid my eyes on. Her lips were full and glistened with a peach colored gloss she wore. I took it all in within a split second and then instantly I was helplessly reeling, my insides quivering as I looked into her eyes…..those beautiful, dark, dynamic eyes! As our eyes met, for a moment that felt like forever I felt awkward just like a kid in school. I wondered if she sensed my uneasiness. I always considered myself more than adequate when meeting women. Maybe this explains the awkwardness I felt. She was quite different, almost as if she took command of me with a glance. I struggled, considering my momentary instability, yet offered my best smile and hello. I paused, waiting for her response, afraid she might turn and say nothing. Instead she smiled and spoke, “Hello. Could you recommend something light on the menu?” Her smile revealed a perfect set of white teeth that were simply beautiful. Her words almost rushed past my mind. I found myself struggling. What a beautiful woman! She went on to tell me she was new in town and had never eaten there before. It was as if all the uncertainty and distress I was feeling vanished. Now feeling more at ease I introduced myself and she followed suit by telling me her name. The way she spoke her name generated instant warmth somewhere down deep inside of me. “Rachael Waters”. I can see her name roll off her beautiful lips as if it were yesterday. She accepted my invitation to sit with me and we began a dialogue on that windy March day that drew me into not only her life but changed mine forever. Rachael explained that she was from Dallas, Texas and had been here in Chattanooga for only a few days. She was staying at the Marriott. I knew it as one of the more expensive hotels in town. She asked me what line of work I was in. I felt like I was on familiar ground having experienced this same tiptoeing that occurs when two strangers first meet. Since my wife died 3 years ago I frequented the local bars and local hangouts in town and felt I could impress any woman with my almost endless recall of lines and humor designed to give the end results I had found myself so accustomed to. Having lost the only woman in my life who gave me a sense of happiness and stability, I had involuntarily built a wall that protected me from any new emotional involvement. The sex was always great but sex was all there was. No woman could take the place of Karen. Down deep inside I was still angry about the cancer. She was only 27 and so full of life. Having told Rachael my name was Jeff Dixon, I explained that I was working for several local attorneys around town as a private investigator. She smiled and it seemed as if the entire room was alive. Looking back now I must have fallen like a pubescent 7th grader experiencing his first kiss. We finished our lunch and she told me she had an appointment to make in 15 minutes. She just couldn't walk out of my life and I never see her again! I rose to my feet. “I enjoyed lunch and meeting you Rachael!” I must see her again. What could I say that would make this unbelievable creature open her life to include me? I couldn't find the words as she strode across the room and then as if she could read my mind stopped, turned and told me to call her, "Room 651", she said with a suggestive smile that left me staring in awe. “Sure.” I answered as she went through the door, out on the sidewalk, where she turned south towards Market Street. Her tight jeans caused her every step to etch itself into my mind. She knew I would be watching. Her perfect body made her every movement breathtaking. I looked at my watch. Only 20 minutes passed since we met and my mind raced with the memory of her voice, her hair, the smell of her perfume, and those eyes! I knew I had to see her again as I wrote 651 down on the napkin at my table, room 651.