The Professional

Chapter 27

SUSAN AND I were in her booth in Rialto, where she always sat, because it was quiet and you could watch people come and go. We had just taken our first sip of our first drink when Hawk showed up with Gary Eisenhower.

“That’s the best you could do for a date?” I said to Hawk.

“I just the babysitter,” Hawk said. “You tole me to bring him.”

Gary put out a hand to Susan and said, “Hi, I’m Gary.”

Susan shook his hand.

“I’m Susan,” she said.

Gary slid into the banquette next to Susan. Hawk took a chair on the outside next to me.

“So,” Gary said. “This is the main squeeze?”

“Only,” I said.

“Well,” Gary said. “You going to limit yourself to one, this is a good one.”

The waiter took their drink orders and went to get them. “You are not yourself monogamous, Gary?” Susan said.

“You know I’m not,” Gary said.

“I’d heard that,” Susan said.

“Gets me in trouble sometimes,” Gary said.

“I’d heard that, too,” Susan said.

She looked at Hawk and at me.

She said, “I think you’re pretty safe tonight, however.”

“Yeah, are these guys the best? I mean the best.”

“Yes,” Susan said. “They are.”

The waiter came to announce the specials. We listened and looked at the menu and ordered. We had a second round of drinks, except Susan. After that flurry of activity, Susan turned and smiled at Gary.

“I know it’s none of my business,” she said. “But I’ll try not to let that inhibit me. Why are you so, ah, unmonogamous?”

“Unmonogamous,” Gary said. “You got a way with words, huh?”

Susan waited.

“Unmonogamous.” He laughed. “Well, I guess I’d answer why would I be unmonogamous. I mean, if you got a whole orchard full of peaches, why would you eat just one?”

Susan smiled and nodded.

“So,” Gary said, “lemme turn it around? Why would I be monogamous?”

“I’m not necessarily arguing for monogamy,” Susan said. “Just why in your case that nonmonogamy is so all-consuming.”

“No, no,” Gary said. “You didn’t answer my question, you did one of those shrink tricks, turn it back to me. First you need to answer my question.”

“Very astute of you,” Susan said. “Did you know I was a shrink?”

“No.”

“But you’ve had experience with shrinks.”

“Enough to know bullshit when I hear it,” he said. “No offense.”

“None,” Susan said.

“So. Why are you monogamous?” Gary said.

“Because unlike peaches, whose consumption is all there is-they taste good and that’s the end of it-persons have a variety of meanings and dimensions, and surprises, and feelings. I like those things, too.”

“And not sex?” Gary said. “You don’t look like somebody would not like sex.”

Susan smiled.

“Notice the too,” she said.

“Oh, yeah,” Gary said. “That’s good, I was thinking, What a waste.”

“Nothing is wasted,” Susan said.

“Love to find out someday,” Gary said.

Hawk glanced at me. I shook my head.

“Why?” Susan said.

“Why?” Gary said. “For crissake, look at you.”

“Thanks, but that’s it, I look good?”

“Of course.”

“No other reason?” Susan said.

Gary looked at me and winked.

“Be fun to see the look on his face,” he said, and tipped his head toward me.

“Not for me,” Susan said.

“You love him,” Gary said.

“I do,” she said.

“À chacun son goût,” he said.