Thursday, April 12, 2012

Families are messy - 23


“Not quite four-star,” Marcia said in amusement as Casey parked in the lot behind the restaurant.

“No, but the food is actually edible.” He waited until she got out and then took her hand as they walked around to the front door. “A bit noisy,” he observed as the sound of several televisions showing a football game hit them when they stepped inside.

“Your sister likes sports?” Marcia asked in surprise.

“Nope, but she likes men and other than clubs this is one place to meet them.”

Marcia looked around and had to agree as the majority of the unaccompanied diners were males in their mid-twenties to mid-thirties. “Major meat market,” she commented with a laugh.

“Makes me feel very out of place,” he replied with a small chuckle as they found a vacant table. “Especially since I’m not big on sports.”

“You fit in otherwise though. I bet when you come here alone you get more than your fair share of the looks from the single women.”

“I haven’t been here since Kathy and I split up so I wouldn’t know.”

“Well take it from a woman, for a female on the hunt this is one place to go shopping. And you would be very popular.”

Feeling slightly embarrassed, Casey was very glad when the waitress appeared to take their drink orders. When she left he quickly picked up the menu to see what looked good. Marcia smiled and did the same. They discussed the options, finally deciding on beef tenderloin for him and chicken with almonds and cheese for her. The waitress returned with their drinks by then and took their dinner orders.

“To a successful conclusion to our problem,” Marcia said, lifting her wine glass.

Casey smiled, tapping his glass to hers with a nod, wondering as he did if ‘our problem’ was keeping him alive or if there was a deeper meaning behind her words.

They were half way through dinner when someone wrapped their arms around him from behind. He turned his head to look up at Darla who was studying Marcia with interest.

“What brings you to my neck of the woods?” Darla asked finally.

“Just taking my lady to dinner,” Casey replied as his sister released him and sat down.

“So you’re the infamous, what was your name? Mary, Mabel, no Marcia, right?”

“Yes Darla, this is Marcia. And Marcia, in case you haven’t figured it out this is my sister Darla,” Casey said by way of introductions.

“Alma told me about her.” Darla laughed. “Not too flatteringly I’m afraid but that’s Alma.”

Marcia chuckled at that. “Yes, she seemed to think I was not up to his usual choice in women.”

“Meaning Kathy.” Darla rolled her eyes. “My sister is a bit of a social climber, right Casey.” She looked at him for confirmation and he nodded. “Now me, I go for the kind of man who’s interesting, not stuffy. Oh, you’re going to just love Dirty.”

Casey snorted out a laugh. “You go from Skull to Dirty. Not so sure that’s an improvement, Darla.”

“Well his real name is Ringo but that was taken.”

“If you tell me his last name is Starr I’ll know you’re pulling my leg.”

“No, silly, it’s Winn. He’s not that old.” She turned to Marcia again. “So tell me all about yourself. How did you meet Casey, was it love at first sight, have you two done the deed yet?”

Marcia laughed at the look on Casey’s face before settling down to give Darla all the details, spinning the tale out of a whole cloth with quick looks at Casey to see how he was taking it. “And that,” she said to Darla in conclusion, “is exactly how it happened.”

Darla seemed about to reply when someone caught her eye. She was up immediately, planting a kiss on Casey’s cheek. “I’ll see you both on,” she frowned for a second, “Wednesday night, right?”

“Yes Darla,” Casey replied with a chuckle.

“Oh,” she held out her hand. “I don’t suppose you could, umm—“

Shaking his head, Casey took out his wallet and handed her a couple of bills. She looked at them, sighed in disappointment that there weren’t more, then thanked him and hurried across the room towards her intended target.

“What do you want to bet she shows up at the barbeque with someone named Knute or Shaq, instead of Dirty,” he muttered.

“Might be an improvement, but who knows. She seems sweet, if a bit ditzy.”

“Don’t let that fool you. Underneath the ditz is a smart if very spoiled young woman.”

“So you’re not ruling her out,” Marcia said, turning serious.

“No,” he replied with equal seriousness, “I’m not ruling any of them out, unfortunately.”

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