Two's Company

Where are we off to tonight?” He took
    her hand and tucked it beneath his arm.
    “A benefit for the children’s hospital,” she said as they walked down the
    hallway to the foyer. “My husband, God rest his soul, and I have supported it for
    years, ever since our twin granddaughters, Maya and Lacey, were born
    premature. They’d have died had it not been for the children’s hospital.”
    “I’m sorry to hear they had such a rough time. It must have been hard on
    the entire family.” Ian handed her into the limo and settled in beside her.
    “They survived and married, had their own children. I think Maya, no,
    maybe it was Lacey… ” She laughed. “I can’t keep things straight anymore. But
    one is about to become a grandmother.”
    “So you’ll be a great-grandmother. Congratulations.”
    “You know, you’re right. I hadn’t even thought of it myself, but I guess I
    will.” She beamed and squeezed his knee.
    Ian sat with Esther at the benefit, escorted her around to various cliques
    where she was known by all, and danced with her when the band started up. By
    eight-thirty, Esther was worn out and Ian summoned the limo and escorted the
    lady home.
    He jogged back to the limo after giving Esther a quick peck on the cheek,
    slid into the seat and told the driver to take him back to his own apartment. As
    the vehicle glided through traffic, Ian pulled Esther’s check from his pocket and
    unfolded it. He shook his head and laughed. She’d paid him twice his usual fee.
    But then, she always did. Ian didn’t know if he brought back memories of her
    youth, or perhaps he reminded her of her husband in some way. Or maybe she
    liked being seen in public with a man half her age. It didn’t really matter though;
    he enjoyed his dates with her.
    Tipping the limo driver before he got out at his apartment building, Ian
    said goodnight to the man, went to the elevator and pushed the button. Inside
    his apartment, he changed, glanced in the mirror and brushed his teeth. When he
    was again in the parking garage, he started his car and pulled into the warm
    night air.
    Traffic was light and he still had plenty of time to reach his destination.
    He didn’t even have the new client’s name, and didn’t know what she wanted.
    Sometimes the women were very clear that they required some sort of sexual
    activity. They were explicit about what they expected, and what they were
    paying for. Other times, there was the usual dinner, drinks, and dancing,
    followed by coy come-ons. Ian came prepared for any eventuality but he
    preferred women who were straight about what they wanted; it saved everyone
    time.
    He parked his car and smoothed his pants when he stepped out of the
    vehicle. At the Embassy Suites hotel, Ian checked his Palm Pilot to make sure he
    remembered the room number correctly. Nodding to the hotel clerk, he walked
    to the elevator and pushed the floor number. His clientèle list was not
    exceedingly long, but they were all steady, repeat clients. Rarely did he get a call
    for an out-of-towner unless one of his regular clients recommended him, but he
    always received a note from Bridget telling him who’d done the referring. With
    no note for this one, he was a tad confused.
    Standing in front of the door, Ian knocked lightly and waited. When no
    one answered, he knocked on the door again. Still no answer. Checking his Palm
    Pilot, Ian confirmed he had the right room. He knocked once more, waited for a
    few seconds, walked back to the elevator and pushed the button.
    Believing perhaps the lady in question was running late, he decided he’d
    wait in the hotel bar, have a drink then check back with her. He nodded to the
    desk clerk again, walked down the hallway and into the dimly lit bar. Pulling up
    a stool, he ordered bourbon on the rocks and watched the baseball game on the
    television mounted on the wall.
    “Ian? What are you doing here?”
    Turning around, Ian came face-to-face with Gillian Carmichael. “Gillian, I
    didn’t realize you were staying here. I thought you were staying with Mother
    and Sylvia,” he said casually.
    “Yes, I am staying here. I didn’t want to be a burden to your mother and
    take up any mother-daughter time.”
    “That’s thoughtful of you, but I’m sure it didn’t go over well with Syl.”
    Gillian chuckled. “No, she wasn’t exactly thrilled with the idea, but we
    just finished supper together and I had her drop me off. Now what are you