The next day after his date with Heather, Jay arose early with a tinge of guilt on his mind. He was not really going to Gainesville to help his grandfather but instead, was going home to Augusta to attend a reception for the local Real Estate Organization being held at his parents' country club. Jay did not normally attend these events but the opportunity to take Trisha to a social again was appealing. He also had been wanting to have the freedom to do something with Trisha without Heather being in the same town. Jay hurriedly packed a change of clothes and his nice suit and tossed it in his Acura Integra for the nice drive down to Augusta.
Over in Columbia, Trisha had breakfast with her roommate Shelley, and they chatted a little.
"So Shelley, how come you're still here this morning? You're usually off to the stadium by now?"
"It's a weird weekend. Clemson played Thursday night and Carolina's off this weekend. They're letting me go up to Charlotte tomorrow and cover the Carolina Panthers' game."
"That ought to be fun, your first NFL game since you worked for WAGA."
"Yeah, but how about you. Is this a big step for you and Jay?"
"I don't know. I resisted him for so long that he may take some time to trust me. But that's okay."
"I hope things go well. Is this your first time to meet his parents?"
"Yes it is. I'm curious what they're like. Jay says there a lot like my folks, so I ought to be fine. So what are you going to do today - besides anchor the Sports report tonight?"
"I've got a tennis date with Kevin in a little while and the loser buys lunch. Then I think I'll just relax and watch some football and prepare for tonight's sportscast."
"That explains why you're wearing low-cut white shorts, a white t-shirt with a scooped neckline and white tennis shoes. So are you and Kevin becoming better 'friends'." Trisha said making air quotes.
"We're just friends and co-workers. He's the cameraman and I'm the on-air talent."
Trisha took her reply with a grain of salt. After they were finished eating, Trisha loaded her car to drive to Augusta. She was taking a beautiful ankle-length red dress and a pair of candy-apple red mules by Sigerson Morrison - the ones she wore to the night club in Orlando on her trip with Shelley and a few other AOPi sisters. For the drive to Augusta, Trisha wore a pair of Khaki cropped pants, a lime green blouse and a new pair of tan loafer mules which slapped against her bare feet with every step. Trisha had bought them with Jay, and his interest in loose-fitting shoes, in mind.
About 90 minutes and a couple of rain showers to drive thorough later, Trisha followed Jay's carefully-scripted directions and pulled into the Williams' driveway a little before 11:00 AM, just in time to get acquainted and settled in before Jay's mom, Molly, served lunch. Trisha liked Jay's house. It was much like her own, except maybe a little newer. After ringing the doorbell, Jay came to greet Trisha with a peck on the cheek. Holding her right hand and carrying her garmet bag in his left he was briefly at a loss for what to do next. Here he was with the girl of his dreams in his foyer ready to spend the day together.
Jay's father, Keith, soon joined them and greeted Trisha with a friendly handshake. He seemed very nice and casual, dressed in Khaki's and a polo as if he were ready for a round of golf. He made Trisha feel quite comfortable. Inside, Keith was checking Trisha out and was very pleased with what he saw and happy that his son was bring such a nice and attractive date home for the party that evening. Molly, eventually emerged from the kitchen a little less casually dressed than his father - a casual dress, hose and mid-heels - and welcomed Trisha to their home and notified them that lunch would be ready in 20 minutes.
Jay took Trisha on a quick tour of their house. Molly was walking toward the kitchen but the slap-slap sound of Trisha's mules as she walked across the hard wood floor in the living room caught her attention. Although based on her first impression, Molly thought Trisha was a nice girl, she was privately disappointed that, unlike herself, Trisha was apparently one of these 'modern girls' to like to wear backless shoes and no hose. She hoped that her outfit to the party was something more 'appropriate.'
Jay took Trisha's garmet bag to the guest bedroom and began the tour from there. By the time they were done, it was time for lunch and Trisha was looking forward to a nice meal with Jay's parents. After a little small talk about the meatloaf and green beans, the focus of the meal began to land squarely on Trisha.
Keith began the inquiry, "So Trisha, tell us what you do in Columbia. Jay says you work for Wachovia Bank."
"I'm a database administrator specializing in firewalls and security. I'm in a work-study program at the University of South Carolina getting a Master's Degree in Computer Science." Trisha began to relax and play with her mules under the table on the hardwood floor.
Molly continued, "That sounds interesting. How long will the program last?"
"I'm supposed to get my Master's in May 2005. Then I have to work with Wachovia or their partner, First Union for a minimum of 3 more years or else I owe them the cost of the Master's program."
Molly made a mental note that Trisha was going to be tied to Wachovia for 5 1/2 more years. Even though it would be only 2 years less than that before her son would get out of Law School, she did not particularly like the prospects of a potential daughter-in-law having a career. As Trisha dropped one of her mules on the floor making a lound clacking sound, she added inmature shoeplay to the list that was growing of things she did not like about Trisha.
Trisha next took note of the long concealing tablecloth and decided to make an indication of interest to Jay. After uncrossing her foot from which one mule had just fallen to the floor, she reached over and began to lightly rub the top of Jay's sock-covered foot and ankle. She did this remembering how he seemed enjoy her faux pas of mistaking his leg for the table leg back at dinner one night back in Athens.
Jay had to work hard to heep his composure. Here was Trisha with her foot resting on top of his. If she was wanting to get his attention, she succeeded. The moment was broken when Molly announced she was going to bring in the dessert. Jay felt like he had already has his. Trisha, not wanting to be seen, quickly removed her foot and located her fallen shoe and replaced it on her foot.
Over dessert, Trisha continued to make a good impression on Jay's father. Trisha showed interest in his work in real estate and she talked a little about golf and how much her own father loved to play. Keith came close to suggesting that he and her father play sometime but he caught himself before making such a presumptive blunder. Molly shared the good news that Jay's older brother, Bob, and his wife Samantha were expecting their first child in March.
Trisha continued to impress Keith by asking, "Now they live in Austin, Texas, right?"
Jay answered, "Yes, he's working for an architectural firm there now. Just moved there in July of this year."
After lunch Jay and Trisha left to drive around and visit some of the sights of Augusta. They drove by the famous National Course.
"So that's where they play the Master's Tournament? Is there a visitor's entrance where we can catch a glimpse."
"No, in fact they are probably about as secure as the White House. No one gets in unless they are a member or one's guest."
"That's too bad, because I was hoping to at least get a glimpse of that lush green grass." Continuing her indication of interest, Trisha while continuing to speak kicked off her mules onto the floorboard, "I'd love to kick off my shoes and run my feet and toes in that lush green grass."
Jay was practically speechess, but he did manage to say, "Yeah, that sounds good to me too." Jay meant that he'd like to see Trisha running barefoot on the grass, not himself, neccessarily.
Then they parked downtown near the Augusta Riverfront and toured the Cotton Exchange Welcome Center and Museum. Trisha enjoyed the exhibits that helped her learn more about Jay's hometown. Afterwards, Jay led Trisha on a short but beautiful walk hand-in-hand along the Riverfront. The rain had quit, but sun was still ocncealed behind a sheath of white, gray-looking clouds.
Trisha found herself more and more revisiting the feelings she had for Jay that night back at the Beta House on the back porch. If there had been any doubts that maybe the feelings were brought on by false emotions those doubts were now gone. She relaxed and enjoying every moment of their date. Similarly, Jay was again reminded how strong his feelings his feelings were for Trisha. She was such a nice girl who was easy to talk with. She was so pretty with her dark brown hair bouncing as she slapped along in her brown mules. Trisha's shoes crept forward a little with every step until the point where only her toes were contained in the small shoe upper.
Trisha decided to bring up a subject that was important to Jay but one he had not yet resolved. "So Jay, have you decided on a Law School, yet?"
Jay was surprised at the abruptness that she brought up this question. It was a question he had been wrestling with for a couple of weeks. Should he stay in Athens, attend the University of Georgia and date Heather or go to Columbia, attend the University of South Carolina and possibly date Trisha. "Yeah, I've been trying to decide. there's a lot of good schools out there."
Trisha suspected that he had applied to schools in the region but she did not want to be presumptious. She decided to ask Jay, "If you're trying to decide, have you considered which one has the best program in Real Estate Law. Is that still the specialty you want to pursue?"
Jay was not sure whether to be impressed with Trisha's maturity to suggest he make his decision based on the merit of the school rather than the locale, or else be disappointed she recommed he move to Columbia. Realizing the latter would be a bit presumptuous, he held on to his first impression and replied, "Actually the schools I'm considering are all pretty good. I eliminated the ones that were weak in Real Estate from the start."
Trisha followed up with, "So, Jay, who are your finalists?"
Jay was not sure how to reply. He was only accepted at two schools, but he decided to mention those who had not yet turned him down as prospects. "Of course, Georgia and ironically South Carolina, also Alabama and Tennessee."
"When will you know and how long will you have to decide?"
"I'll probably have to accept before the end of the year." Jay said while noticing that they were in sight of the Riverboat. "Hey, look over here!" Jay pulled Trisha quickly and suddenly to the right in the direction of the boat. Trisha came out of her left shoe in the process and took a few steps, trying to avoid the larger water puddles, before she could catch her breath and say laughingly, "Hold on a moment, I came out of my shoe."
Jay let her hand free and Trisha hobbled over a few steps and slipped her shoe back on. As usual, Jay considered the whole episode cute and apealing. He got a quick glance of her bright red nail polish. "Sometime when you're here again, maybe we can take the dinner cruise."
"That sounds fun. I had no idea how much Augusta had to offer."
Jay hoped she meant that and was not just going along with his fun suggestion. He really wanted Trisha to come back to Augusta sometime. At a beautiful part of the walk, near a weeping willow tree, Jay stopped along the railing. He and Trisha faced the river and Jay pulled her close to him with his right hand on her waist. Out of his peripheral vision, he eyes were dancing in the sunlight and a light breeze was lifting locks of her hair off her shoulder. She was whimsically playing with her right mule, allowing it to fall a couple of times before putting it back on.
"It's beautiful here, isn't it, Jay?"
Coyly, Jay replied, "It is now," and he turned his hear around and planted a kiss squarely on Trisha's lips. She relaxed and put both arms around him. She allowed the shoe that she had lifted off the ground to fall harmlessly to the sidewalk. Trisha then boldly rubbed her foot up and down a few times along Jay's calf and ankle. Without a word spoken, they finished their kiss, looked in each others eyes a few moments then Trisha recovered her fallen mule. The two of them comtinued their walk hand-in-hand.
With more time to kill, Jay and Trisha stopped at a bench near a garden and a beautiful view of the river. They sat and talked for a while and enjoyed their time together. Eventually it was time to leave and after another nice kiss by the river, they returned to Jay's car and headed for home.
That afternoon, back at the William's home, had been mostly uneventful, but Keith and Molly did have one thing to talk about. "So Molly, what do you think of Jay's friend, Trisha?" asked Keith.
"Well, to tell you the truth, I suppose she'd a nice enough girl, but I just don't know."
"I know. No one is good enough for your son; I understand."
"No, it's not that. Maybe it's silly, but you know how I feel about these young girls and their slappy-slappy shoes. Everyone's just too casual these days. I miss the old days when a proper-dressed young lady wore nylons and a smart pair of pumps, loafers or whatever."
"Aren't you being a bit superficial? Trisha's intelligent, attractive and seems to think quite highly of our son and I think you should just get over it."
"But, you know how it is? If you are casual in your appearance you're casual in everything else."
"I hope you will just let it go and see what happens. She may not be 'the one,' but you never know. You know there was a time when you wore slappy-slappy shoes too, Molly."
"You had to remind me, didn't you."
"How can I forget! You sere so upset and humiliated. You wore a pair of Candie's sandals to take Bob and Jay to a the Disney movie, Cinderella. Jay was only 4 or 5 years old at the time. He wanted his 'mommy' to be a princess like Cinderella. So when you dangled one of your high-heel slappy-slappy Candie's onto the floor of the theater, he kicked it under the seat in front of him. After the movie was over, and you looked and looked and never found it. You had to walk out of the movie and down the street to your car looking lopsided and wearing one shoe and got seen by several people you knew."
"I guess I've grown to appreciate a sturdier shoe that doesn't come off so easily and looks a bit dressy. I just hope she brought nylons and a sensible pair of pumps to wear to the party tonight."
"And if she didn't, Molly, you're not going to say anything or treat her differently, right? For Jay's sake."
Molly paused, sighed then replied, "Okay, I'll promise to be nice."
Jay and Trisha arrived back at the house just in time to change and get ready to leave for the party. Trisha was looking forward to a nice evening with Jay and his family. She hoped her outfit would dazzle him. Trisha had picked out her favorite candy apple red dress and her matching Sigerson Morrison mules. She considered these her dressiest, yet still fun, pair of mules. And no, she did not bring any nylons to wear with them. Once dressed, Trisha turned one way then the other in the floor-length mirror and flexed one ankle in the direction of each turn and looked at how nicely these mules matched her dress and accentuated her legs and ankles.
Around 6:00 PM everyone gathered in the living room and prepared to leave. Everyone was well dressed and Jay complimented Trisha's look and outfit as he normally did, displaying the gentleman he was. Molly liked Trisha's dress and even complimented her on it, but she did not care for her mules and lack of nylons. Keith thought everyone looked nice and anticipated that his wife and son's 'friend' would be two of the prettiest girls there.
Jay and Trisha enjoyed the drive across the Savannah River into South Carolina to the North Augusta Country Club. It was unusual for them to be in a car together with neither of them driving. They took advantage by holding hands most of the way there and making small talk with Keith and Molly. Once they arrived they mingled for a few minutes as Jay's parents introduced Trisha to some of their their friends from Keith's Real Estate Agency.
The large room was arranged with multiple hors d'ovres and dessert tables in the middle and sturdy wooden chairs with cloth padding lining the walls on all sides. Jay and Trisha soon separated and began to meet some of the other younger people in attendence that evening. After awhile, they got some food and retreated to a couple of chairs along the wall and people-watched. They watched as everyone who already knew each other well interacted and seemed to be having fun. Jay and Trisha on the otherhand were just looking forward to the time when the food would be pushed to the edge and the dancing would begin.
The air conditioning was running and the room was quite cool. Trisha was one of the few women there without nylons abd she began to notice how cold it was. Without a word spoken, she took her right foot that was crossed over her left knee and hooked it underneath Jay's right knee - much like she had done with his roommate Shawn at a football game a couple of years prior. As they sat there and continued to chat, Trisha found herself slowly rubbing her foot back and forth across the back of Jay's knee. He was certainly enjoying that! Over time her red mule gradually slipped off her toes and eventually fell to the floor, But Trisha had no reason to put it back on just yet.
while they were lost in their own litle conversation, Molly came over to Jay and Trisha with someone to introduce them to. Jay stood first and when he did, he unknowingly kicked Trisha's fallen mule with the back of his foot under his chair all the way to the wall. Trisha stood immediately after and looked down to try to get her shoe back on before she was noticed, but it was not in sight. She was relegated to standing with one bare foor with flexed toes on the floor in an attempt to look balanced. Molly was puzzled why Trisha was missing a shoe but she fretted personally that the situation was worsened by her lack of nylons. Jay was again treated to her perfectly manicured and painted toenails.
"Jay, Trisha, this is Sandy Barber, president of the Augusta Board of Realrors. Jay's our younger son and he's a senior at Georgia and planning on entering Law School next August. Trisha Kendrick is Jay's friend from school but she's now living in Columbia, South Carolina and working for Wachovia Bank and attending graduate school.
Both shook Sandy's hand and told her it was nice to meet her. After just a brief amount of small talk, Molly and Sandy left and when they felt like no one was looking at them, Jay bent down and snagged Trisha's shoe out from under his chair.
"Sorry about that, when I stood I felt your shoe and heard it slide but there was nothing I could do."
"Hey, don't worry about it. I've been through far worse one shoe situations."
About that time, the music began to play and the snack tables were rolled to one side of the room. Several people wandered out on to the dance floor to dance. The music was adult contemporary and suited best for simple couple dancing. Jay and Trisha finished their punch and Jay led Trisha to the floor by the hand and they danced close. It was a pretty romantic setting, actually. At one point, Trisha rested her head below Jay's shoulder. She had no problem staying in her mules. They were cut a little higher than a lot of her mules and they were well suited for dancing - especially this kind.
While Jay and Trisha were dancing, Keith and Molly looked on as their youngest son was looking pretty good on the dance floor.
Eventually, though, after about 45 minutes, Jay was ready for a change of scenery.
"Hey, would you like to walk out back and check out the course?"
"Sure, sounds fun."
Jay and Trisha slipped out the back door unnoticed and walked hand in hand toward the first hole tee area. It was somewhat dark, but there was a security light on the outside of the clubhouse and there was a well-lit moon. Since it had rained the night before and some of the day, the grass was still a bit damp, but there had been enough wind earlier to help dry the grass somewhat. Jay and Trisha walked out to the edge of the tee area and stopped. They both put a single arm around the other's waist and just looked out into the dark golf course. They were looking at nothing at all, except their own thoughts as they wondered what direction their relationship would lead.
Trisha played enough golf to know her high heels were taboo on the main part of the course so she kicked them off behind her with out saying a word or looking back to see where they landed and began to slowly run onto the course. Yelling back, she said, "I told you I wanted to feel the grass with my toes!"
Jay took stock at his own shoes and considering his rubber soles to be safe, he followed her out onto the dark course. They froliced a little, holding hands and each stealing a few quick kisses as they ran about half-way down the fareway. They quickly realized that they had lost the influence of the security light on the side of the clubhouse and also that the once moon-lit sky was getting darker. Looking up, they could see the ominous-looking clouds covering the moon once again.
After exchanging a nice kiss, then standing in one spot a few moments soaking in each other's company, Jay conceded, "I guess we should go back closer to the clubhouse. It might rain again." Jay was concerned earlier in the week when he heard that the weekend was going to be rainy. Georgia was in a drought and the rain was wonderful, but he worried about the rain putting a damper on his two dates. Amazingly, the rain had added an element of romance to his dates with both girls. As they began to walk slowly, a light drizzle fell briefly then suddenly stopped.
Soon, Jay and Trisha returned to the general area around the tee area. Jay found Trisha's left shoe and both looked for the other one. Trisha quickly located it about 8 feet from where the other one lay, but saying nothing, Trisha had an intriguing idea. First checking to see that Jay had his back turned to her, Trisha deftly tossed her remaining red mule behind her, without looking where it landed, in an effort to delay their search and therefore tease Jay a bit. The rain began to increase again and suddenly there was a clap of thunder.
Jay quickly noted, "The golf course is the worst place to be in a thunderstorm, we have to find your shoe quickly and get inside!"
Trisha did not want to give away that she purposefully tossed her right shoe away, but she also knew she needed to find it very soon. She turned in the direction where the shoe was thrown and noticed a thick rough area of high grass, weeds and low shrubs. It was apparent that finding her shoe in that would be no easy task. Trisha began to walk in that direction to look when there was a close lightning strike and a loud noise followed by a hard rain.
"Sorry, Trisha, but he have to leave now."
Trisha understood the severity of their situation and now saw the folly in her purposeful losing of her shoe. She grabbed Jay's hand and they ran to the clubhouse, Trisha hobbling a bit since she was still wearing one red mule. Both got a little wet but neither were wet enough to be uncomfortable.
"I left my shoe out there."
"I know, we can get it after the rain stops. I just have to get my umbrella, and.."
Trisha suggested, "It's probably going to rain for awhile. Do you want to go somewhere and get a cup of coffee or something and talk."
"Okay, we can stop by the house and change clothes if you want."
"We can just go straight from here. I'll be fine. I'm actually more concerned what your mom and dad will think when they see us wet and me missing a shoe when we say goodbye."
Let's go in to the restroom and freshen up a little, then."
Trisha and Jay did just that and a few minutes later they looked just about like they did before going outside and getting wet - except for Trisha's missing right red high heel mule. Trisha tried to walk without a limp by flexing her toes on the cold marble floor as they walked over to where Keith and Molly were chatting with a couple of friends. Trisha tried to hide her one shoe condition, but she was easily discovered.
"Mom, Dad, I think we're going to go, now."
"Mr. and Mrs. Williams, I enjoyed the party very much. I'm glad Jay brought me.
Molly remembered that Trisha was missing a shoe when she introduced Sandy to her and Jay but was sure that she was wearing both shoes when she and Jay were dancing. Seeing her without a shoe again only served to raise some doubt in her mind if she actually did have both shoes then. Molly reasoned, 'Certainly she couldn;t have lost a shoe twice.' But then again, Molly didn't know Trisha.
Jay walked his one shod princess out the front door and left her under the entrance to go get his Integra to come and pick her up. After pulling up to the entrance, Jay jumped out and opened the door for Trisha, then returned to the driver's side and drove off. "I know this great place downtown near the riverfront, where we were this afternoon called Metro Coffeehouse. I've been a few times and it's pretty good. Now you're sure you're okay with going like this?" Jay wanted her to say yes again, but he was in such shock that he had to hear it again.
"I'm fine. I don't care what anyone else thinks - except you. Do you care if I'm missing a shoe?"
Jay almost swallowed his tongue after that question. "No, I'm only concerned for you. I'm looking forward to us relaxing over a couple of gourmet coffees and talking."
Before long, Jay dropped Trisha off in front of the coffee shop then quickly parked his car and walked to escort her inside. It was a dark place with wood paneled walls. There was a bar on one end and most of the tables were the high small round type with stools to sit on. Trisha normally disliked the high stools, but since she was already missing one shoe the situation was only half as bad as usual.
The two of them sat down and Trisha immediately planted her shod left foot on the leg of the stool and crossed her right bare foot before placing her cool toes behind Jay's right knee for warmth and a bit of camouflage. The other side effect was making Jay very happy.
After ordering and receiving their coffees, Jay took the initiative to find out what Trisha was thinking concerning the two of them. After reaching over with his right hand and gingerly taking Trisha's left land, he began, "I've had an absolutely wonderful time with you today, Trisha."
"I feel the same way, Jay."
"I'm wondering what you're thinking. I've been afraid to say anything because I'm afraid I'll wake up and realize it's all been a nice dream. I've wanted a closer relationship with you for so long and I had virtualy given up this summer after you moved away. I would have never started dating Heather had I known we had a chance."
"What have you said to Heather?"
"I haven't actually said anything yet. I know it sounds like I'm hedging my bets, but really I did not want to hurt her without knowing for sure I had a good reason. If you are sure you're ready to try something - just you and me, I'll tell her next weekend. We have this big sorority/fraternity thing Friday night. I have to take her to that. Then afterwards I can break the news. I'd like to drive over to spend the day on Saturday with you in Columbia, if you're not already busy.
I understand what you're going through. Chuck, Doug and Tim all started dating Anita, Amber and Mary before ending things with me. I can see where all three hesitated breaking the news, because they knew I'd be hurt. I am sure you're thought of this already, but in Heather's case, she's got to know she's a nice catch and won't have any problem finding someone else to date. She still 18 and a freshman."
"Everything you say is right. I hope I can pull this off without causing her too much pain. Now on to more fun stuff, what is there to do in Columbia?"
"Well, we can drive around; I can show you the University of South Carolina campus and we have a Riverfornt-type park as well. I want to take you to a fun restaurant there called California Dreaming. it's a real fun place and I think you'll like it."
"If you're there I'm sure I'll like it."
Jay and Trisha enjoyed each other's company and the backbround Jazz guitarist until 1:00 AM. They got home long after the Williams' went to bed. The next morning, Trisha was casually dressed in a pair of Levi's, a Georgia sweatshirt and her same brown flat mules barefoot. Jay saw her off after a nice breakfast and then before joinging his parents for church, swung by the Country Club. Amazingly, after looking only 5 minutes, he found her missing red mule and brought it home.
