Short Slow Dance in Springtime

Gavin Devillier exhibited an ardent synchronization of his innermost persona that began in the first stages of his adult development. The unisonance between his surface identity and his most hidden soul grew stronger as his maturity progressed. Gavin often contemplated his deeper machinations, and he never displayed any sinister rumbling of dark, subconscious motivations. He glowed with the balance of a man who energetically worked to improve himself and the world around him.

From moment to moment Devillier focused dynamically on understanding his identity and his role in the niche he occupied. Gavin acted and thought in accordance with an increasing rate of internal cultivation that led to his subsequent growth as a brilliant mind in the field of landscape architecture. The work he did showcased his internal equilibrium. His reputation climbed higher, and his business flourished. The grounds and gardens he created captured attention with a striking beauty that spoke entirely for itself, the ultimate proof of outstanding design.

Gavin Devillier lived a purpose driven life without any deliberate attempt to do so. He exhibited a supraliminal evolution that gathered momentum from interaction with other people in common day to day existence. He steadily advanced as a human being, if not to a pinnacle of distinguished perfection then to a minimum of distinct perfectionism with a bow to ne plus ultra. On top of all those other outstanding features of Gavin's character, he also shone brightly in intimate relationships.

Extremely long term commitment to one woman was not a conscious goal Gavin set his sights on. He did not begin an affair with marriage in mind, and he was always honest about that if he was asked. He never ruled it out, but Gavin instead always made sure the woman he was with enjoyed their time together as much as possible. He endeavored to make a relationship bloom with the same radiance as his landscapes, and looked to the future hopefully. That was his mindset on one breezy, mild Saturday in the middle of spring when he decided to go out one afternoon.

Gavin decided to drink virgin piña coladas at a nice restaurant with a large bar by the marinas on Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans, intent on remedying the fact that he was single. His last relationship had ended months earlier. It ended very amicably, but it ended nonetheless. He felt he had given himself more than enough time to approach a fresh romance with a completely clean slate.

Nature had smiled upon Gavin Devillier. He was quite a handsome man who stood just under six feet tall. He looked very good in a bathing suit, not that he would be wearing one that afternoon. He was in fantastic shape. Gavin's well toned muscles, dark complexion, auburn hair and bright blue eyes made him very attractive. His physical appearance coupled with his conversational skills nearly always allowed him to at least pass some pleasant time in the company of a likewise attractive woman.

A steaming hot shower before going out always made Gavin relaxed and comfortable in public. He prided himself on his cleanliness. As the water splashed over his back and stomach all the accumulated muscle tension from the earlier hours of the day receded. After a good lathering and long rinse he always derived a burst of fresh, renewed vigor. While drying himself off with a thick, soft towel it occurred to him how fortunate he was to have such a wonderful feeling.

A preliminary scan of his wardrobe led Gavin to first pick out starched khaki pants and smart but comfortable brown Italian loafers. He opted for a bright, trim, short sleeved white cotton dress shirt because it contrasted nicely with his skin. He wore a moderately expensive Movado on his right wrist and his Master's Degree ring on his right hand. He also chose a dark brown, elaborately hand-worked belt with a sterling belt buckle in the shape of a Celtic knot. Gavin liked to show himself off when he went out.

Half an hour later at the fine restaurant where he decided to watch the sunset, Gavin had a valet park his one year old convertible Thunderbird. The valet commented on how nice the car was, and Gavin smiled. He thought of the car as his chrome and baby blue guilty pleasure. He spent more money on it than he wanted to, but had been delighted by how much fun it was to have. Not only that, he noticed that his entrance caught the eye of a number of lovely eyes on the balcony, from which everyone had a splendid view of the lake.

The pretty young hostess smiled at Gavin as he told her he was just going to the upstairs bar. For a brief moment he wished he was ten years younger because of how appealing he found the idea of being compatible with the young lady. He easily let go of the idea as he walked briskly up the stairs to the balcony, but then sauntered to one of the high backed stools to refrain from appearing anxious or hurried.

Captain Jack's, as the place was called, served the finest virgin piña coladas in the world, as far as Gavin was concerned. He didn't like to drink while meeting new people. Unlike so many people who used alcohol to loosen their tongues while trying to meet members of the opposite sex, Gavin considered the effects of alcohol a major hindrance to his communication skills. Although not averse to having a night of casual sex with a woman he greatly preferred the idea of sex on a second or third meeting, and so he really wanted his skills at judging character to be unimpaired.

While ordering and waiting for his drink Gavin surreptitiously scanned the faces of the ladies he shared the crowded bar with. There was a striking blond woman with the sharp dress of someone who had spent some time in the office Saturday, but she only briefly exchanged glances with him and appeared to be there mostly to unwind. Other ladies at the bar, sitting together in two groups of two, were even less prone to make eye contact. Another woman seated by herself at the bar had reddish brown hair, a healthy peach complexion and a sweet face. She was wearing a colorful sun dress and smiled at him when he looked at her. He smiled back and took his time looking away, in a gentlemanly fashion. He was enchanted by her appearance drawn to the idea of speaking with her.

After taking one sip off of his drink Gavin walked over to the honeyed young lady in the sun dress. She appeared to be in her late twenties, easily close enough to his own thirty-six years to be compatible. As Gavin got closer her he noticed she was wearing a pretty necklace of long, thin black beads interspersed with thick mother-of-pearl pieces in the shapes of doves. She didn't seem the least bit skittish of his approach, and that put Gavin at ease.

"Hi. What's your name?" he asked her. That was how he started every conversation with every person he didn't already know. He saw no reason to change the simplest and most wining conversation starter.

"My name is Melinda. And who do I have the pleasure of speaking to?"

"My name is Gavin Devillier," he responded.

For one quick moment the conversation stalled, but Melinda rescued it. "I've heard of you. You're a landscape architect. I'm Melinda Newcomb. I'm an assistant manager of the Orleans Royale."

Gavin noticed she barely had any drink left, although he wasn't sure what she had been drinking. He hated to do it, but he voiced the inevitable line. "Can I buy you a drink?" He quickly followed with, "What are you drinking? I'll get you another drink." Gavin found himself in one of those rare moments when he was flustered.

"Sure, you can buy me a drink, Gavin. I'm having Coca-Cola," Melinda told him in a cool, mellifluous voice.

- to be continued
[unedited]