She Was Brave (6th Part)

Pulling into the parking, Traci wondered what she was doing. She should be going home and…and doing what? Fighting with Don, was what. She could do that later and besides, Dena and Antwan kept telling her she needed to check out this new club. Hindered, who was coming up with these names?

Well, she was here. It was all she could do to make herself get out of the car and the walk to the entrance was laced with apprehension. What is Don going to think when I come home smelling like alcohol?

That was it! It was time she stopped thinking about Don. He sure as HELL wasn’t thinking about her or her kids. So what if she wanted to have a couple of drinks before she came home and had the biggest fight next to WWII? She was an adult. He had come home smelling like more than just alcohol before. Which is why she was having her doubts about his loyalty and commitment in the first place! Besides, it wasn’t as if she was there picking some guy up. She didn’t think like that. Traci wondered if Don thought like that or not? Damn it!

Okay, that is the last time she would allow herself to think about him until she went home. There was still a good forty-five minutes before she would normally head home. Once there, Traci was certain, she would have her fill of Don…perhaps more than her fill.

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The club wasn’t too crowded, though most of the partiers wouldn’t show up until at least ten or so. Antwan and Dena were right. This place was nice, very nice. There was a dance hall but, it was at the opposite end of the club. The front of it was more or less a pretty classy bar. Very sophisticated. The lighting was just dim enough and there wasn’t the smoky haze that is usually present in most bars. Then again, glancing around the room, it might be that none of the smokers have shown up yet. She couldn’t imagine that any bar or club would have a “no-smoking” policy. (That would not attract many customers.) It was very roomy as well. True, Traci hadn’t been to many bars…at all! but, those she’d seen were “Red-neck” at best.

In front of her stood a very young and very handsome bartender dressed to the nine’s…bow tie and all! He glanced at her a few times and patiently waited for her to settle herself. God, she felt so old! Twenty-five with two children tended to tack on the years. Boy, she did need a drink!
“So…what can I DO for you tonight?” He was flirting! It actually allowed her to relax a bit more. It was nice to be flirted with and pampered. No wonder her friends wanted her to have a night out so bad.

“Just a Long Island Tea, if you can make it not too strong.”

“I can do it anyway you like it, sweet!”

And with that he started flipping around bottles and causing a lot of commotion. Though, it was a spectacular display of manliness, even if she did say so herself. Traci had been so sheltered as far as the “fun” things in life. She was not naive as some might imply but, she was lost when it came to letting loose.

That wasn’t one of her priorities when she found a way to get through school and get out of the slum she grew up in. She was more concerned with making it in life than in “making it” with the skins who wandered the streets or the so called “In” crowd.

That was probably why she fell so hard for Don. They met when she was in college. It had seemed as if he had it all together even back in those days. He had wonderful credit and was very sensible with money. Don had helped her with her finances. He was a genius at budgeting and didn’t mind sharing his secrets with her. It was infatuation, pure and simple.

They had spent many a night studying together at the library and dreaming about their future together. Don talked about their buying a house and getting married. She would work up to a respectable position in her field and he would reach the top of his. They would never have to worry about money again! It all seemed so wonderful back then. Traci went along for the ride and took his advice from A to Z. There should have been red flags waving back then. Don was a little too together. Traci had been a little too eager to heed his advice, come to think of it. It had been Don’s dreams that they were living and yet it didn’t seem as if it was a “good” dream at this point.

It didn’t matter. Traci could not quit thinking about him…them. Avoiding things, was something she would just never be any good at. Fight or not she would finish her drink and go home. Part of her wanted everything to work out and for them to put all of this non-sense behind them. The other part was screaming that she deserved better and needed better. Part of her whispered to her at night of some one who would sweep her away and give her…what? What did she want anyway?

Love, devotion, compassion...attention, is that so much to ask?