CHAPTER 9

Early the next morning…

Clark was still asleep when there's a light knocking on his bedroom door. "Clark?" Martha says in a soft tone. "Clark? Are you awake?" turning the doorknob and opening the door. She smiles at the peaceful look on his face before walking over to the bed and giving him a gentle nudge on his upper arm. "You have to get up."

"A few more minutes," he mumbles as he rolls over in the opposite direction.

Her eyes pop out of her head as the blanket slides down past his waist and reveals some of his naked backside. She immediately averts her eyes and quickly exits the room. I didn't know he slept naked, she thinks before going back downstairs.

Clark fully wakes up a few minutes later and stretches his body out before getting out of bed. Oliver was right. I should sleep naked more often, he smiles to himself as he puts on his workout clothes before grabbing his duffle bag. "I'm leaving, Mom," he calls out as he's heads down the stairs.

She comes out of the kitchen wiping her hands on a towel. "You're going to work like that?" eying his casual attire.

"I told you last night that I was going to the gym this morning to work out, then take a shower," he tells her.

"Sorry, I forgot," she replies as he puts on his coat, then his gloves and hat.

He gives her a gentle squeeze and a peck on the cheek. "I'll be going out tonight so I won't be home for dinner," he tells her as he winds his scarf around his neck.

"Will I see you at all today?"

"Mr. White gave me the afternoon off so I'll probably see you then."

"I probably won't be here until late because I'm getting together with some of my girlfriends from the Red Hats Society," she responds.

"Oh, okay," he replies. "I guess I'll see Dad then."

"He's playing pinochle this afternoon so I'm not sure when he'll be back either."

"Did you tell him about the estimate on the plumbing yet?"

"I ended up telling him last night after all. I'm surprised you didn't hear all the yelling," looking at him curiously.

That must have been when Oliver and I were… "I must have been sound asleep," he said out loud while shrugging his shoulders. "I assume that Dad didn't take the news too well?"

"You assume right," she answers with a shake of her head. "He talked to a couple other plumbers he knows and got estimates from them."

"So what did they say?" Clark asks.

"They were higher," she replies.

"So does that mean that you're going with Mr. Castorini?"

"That's exactly what it means," she answers back. "Unfortunately he won't be able to start work on the shower until the day after Christmas."

"I'll just continue going to the gym for my showers. What are you and Dad gonna do in the meantime?"

"Jimmy and Chloe said we can use their shower until we have ours fixed," she replies.

"Good thing they live next door," he remarks while opening the door, but then he pauses in the doorway. "Do you think I should get contacts?" he asks her suddenly.

She turns around. "Contacts? I thought you didn't like them?" looking at him curiously.

"I never really said that," he replies. "What do you think? Should I get them?"

She walks over to him. ""Clark, it doesn't really matter what people think, or what I think. What matters the most is what you think."

"That's just it. I don't know," he says with a sigh.

She rests her hands on his shoulders. "You'll figure it out," giving him a soft kiss on the cheek.

"Yeah," he replies as he glances down at his watch. "Look at the time. I better leave so that I won't be late again. I'll see you when I come home tonight."

"I'll see you then," waving back at him as he heads down the stairs and to the gym. After he's finished with his workout, he takes a shower before heading to work. He spent the morning talking to some of his confidential sources for an ongoing series of articles he's been writing while also polishing up the interview article.

After he hands in the article, Clark logs out of his computer and closes up the office around noontime. He adjusts the scarf around his neck while exiting the building.

It feels like snow. Maybe it will be a white Christmas after all, he thinks to himself as he puts on his gloves before crossing the street. While doing some window shopping, he wonders what to do for the rest of the afternoon before he has to get ready for the opera that evening.

He stops in front of the barber shop he usually frequents. He hesitates for a moment before opening the door. "Hi, Dominic," he says to the head barber as he enters the shop, the little bell on the door making a tinkling sound as he closes it behind him. "Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas to you too, Clark," he answers back with a smile. "The usual?" he asks as he leads Clark over to one of the chairs.

"No," shaking his head as he sits down in the chair. "I want to do something different."

"Alright," Dominic replies while draping the cape over Clark's chest and tying it behind his neck. "So what do you want to do this time?" he asks while picking up a comb and a pair of scissors.

"I want you to take out the gray."

The scissors drop to the floor with a clatter while Dominic stares at Clark with disbelief. "Are you serious?"

"Dead serious," Clark replies as he takes off his glasses and puts them in his pocket.

"I've been wanting to do this for three years!" he grins widely as he gestures to one of the other barbers. "Hey, Raymond. Clark wants to take out the gray."

"It's about time," Raymond declares as he walks over to them. "He'll need a haircut too," fingering Clark's hair.

"Not too short," Clark tells them.

"I agree," says Raymond, turning to Dominic. "I'll cut his hair and you take out the gray."

"Agreed," Dominic says and steps to the side as Raymond leads Clark over to the sink.

After washing Clark's hair, he brings him back to the chair. "So tell me what changed your mind about taking out the gray?" he asks as he starts to cut.

"I'm going to the opera tonight," Clark replies.

"La Boheme?" asks Raymond as he trims the hair on Clark's neck.

"Yeah," Clark answers back.

"Have you ever been to the opera?" Dominic asks as he brings Clark back to the sink and begins the process of taking out the gray.

"No," Clark replies. "It's a first for me."

"I took Monica to see it a few years ago and we both loved it," Dominic says with a smile as he distributes the coloring through Clark's hair.

"I've only heard some of the score," Clark remarks as Dominic puts a cap over Clark's hair and sets the timer for ten minutes.

"What did you think of it?"

"It sounded melancholy to me."

"Well if you feel that way just from hearing it on a recording, then you won't believe the feeling when you hear it in person," Dominic remarks.

"He's right," Raymond remarks as he walks over to them. "I saw it with Rita the night after Dominic and his wife saw it."

They continue to chit chat for the next few minutes until the timer goes off. Dominic takes off the cap and turns on the warm water to rinse out the excess coloring solution. He towels off Clark's hair before leading him back over to the chair while keeping him facing away from the mirror.

"It looks so much better without the gray," Dominic remarks as he turns on a hairdryer and picks up a round brush to style Clark's hair. After a short while, Dominic shuts off the dryer and sets it down.

"So what do you think?" pulling off the cape and swiveling the chair around so that Clark could see for himself.

Clark stares back at his reflection. "I can't believe that's me," he says at last.

"You look almost ten years younger," Raymond remarks as Clark continues to gaze at his reflection.

"Sexier," Dominic counters while flashing Clark a wink. "So who's the lucky guy anyway?"

"It's not like that at all," Clark insists as he stands up and puts his glasses back on. "I did an interview with someone and when I said I had never been to the opera, he offered me his extra ticket," he says as he takes a few bills out of his wallet and gives both Dominic and Raymond a generous tip. "Thank you for doing such an amazing job."

"You're welcome," they both reply at the same time.

"Enjoy the opera," Dominic says as Clark opens the front door.

"I will," waving back to them as he closes it behind him.

Dominic looks over at Raymond. "Sounds like love to me."

"I agree," he replies as he turns to greet the next customer.

Clark starts to walk down the street when he hears someone whistling at him. He turns his head briefly and sees two guys standing just outside the barber shop staring at him. He chuckles to himself when he hears one of them say Wow. Look at that. A few blocks down he comes across a men's shop. He pauses in front of the window and studies the suits he sees there on display.

What should I wear tonight? A suit? A tuxedo? he wonders as he goes inside the shop and begins to look around. Should I ask Oliver what he's wearing? he thinks as he takes a look at some of the ties. He finally takes out his phone and starts to type.

From CK to OQ: I forgot to ask you something about tonight.

From OQ to CK: What do you want to know?

From CK to OQ: What is considered proper attire for the opera?

From OQ to CK: As long as you don't wear jeans and a flannel shirt you'll be fine.

From CK to OQ: I'm serious. I need to have some idea. What are you wearing?

From OQ to CK: I haven't decided yet. Sometimes I wear a tuxedo and other times a dark suit.

From CK to OQ: Oh.

From OQ to CK: Can I be honest with you?

From CK to OQ: Sure.

From OQ to CK: I want to be surprised.

Clark stares at Oliver's last reply. He wants to be surprised?

From CK to OQ: You do?

From OQ to CK: Yeah, I do. It would be like Cinderella, only you would be stepping out of a taxi instead of a horse-drawn carriage.

From CK to OQ: I figured you'd like Robin Hood because of the archery.

From OQ to CK: I do like Robin Hood.

From CK to OQ: I guess I'm just surprised that you're into fairytales.

From OQ to CK: I started believing in them again when I met you.

Clark leans back against the wall and sighs as he types out his response.

From CK to OQ: I…uh…have some errands to run before I have to get ready so…

From OQ to CK: I have to go too. I have a board meeting in about twenty minutes and I don't want to be late. I am the boss after all. I'll see you tonight. Bye, Clark.

From CK to OQ: Bye, Oliver

Clark slips his phone back into his jacket and walks over to one of the display racks. I think this is it, a smile on his face as he removes one of the suits from the rack and brings it over to the fitting room to try on. Once he's happy with how it looks on him, he heads for the shoe department and tries on some shoes. After making his choice, he goes to the register and pays for everything.

As he leaves the shop, he accidently bumps into a pair of nuns. "Be careful," one of them mutters as they continue walking.

"Sorry," he calls out after them. He makes a brief stop at a pharmacy just around the corner from the house to pick up some aftershave. As he's paying for his purchase, he sees his reflection in the storefront window and makes a decision. Once he steps outside, he turns in the opposite direction with one destination in mind.

Two hours later…

Shelby greets him at the front door before running upstairs. "Hi. I'm home," he calls out as he closes the door and locks it. "Don't everybody answer at the same time," he says in a slightly sarcastic tone. "Hello!" he calls out again as he hangs the garment bag on the coat rack and the shopping bags on the table.

Mom must still be with the Red Hats and Dad's probably still playing pinochle, he thinks as he walks over to the mini-bar and pours some wine into a glass, his fingernails lightly tapping the glass as he walks over to the stereo and puts on some jazzy instrumental Christmas music. He kneels down in front of the fireplace and builds a fire, then gets up and sits down in his father's recliner.

He leans back in the chair and enjoys the quiet as he sips his wine. He looks up at the Christmas tree with its twinkling lights and gets up to take a closer look at one of the ornaments.

Why did she put this one up? Clark eyes misting up as his fingers lightly caress the ornament that says Baby's first Christmas. He wipes his eyes with the back of his hand and sits back down in the recliner, his eyes closing as the wine and the warmth of the fire lulls him to sleep.

An hour later…

Clark wakes up and glances up at the mantle clock. I better get ready, jumping up from the recliner and grabbing the garment bag and shoes before heading upstairs. He goes into the bathroom and starts to put the shower on when he remembers it's not working. Damn! he mutters under his breath as he debates what to do.

He finally comes up with a solution and pulls out his phone. "Oliver, it's Clark. I have a slight problem and I thought that you might be able to help me." He goes on to explain the situation.

"That's not a problem," Oliver replies. "Ronny has a key to the apartment. Since he's working tonight, I'll give him a call and tell him that you'll be stopping by for it."

"Thanks, Oliver. I really appreciate it," Clark tells him.

"No problem, Clark," Oliver replies with a smile in his voice. "In fact, Ronny's father-in-law is an excellent plumber. His name is Cosmo Castorini. Do you want me to give him a call?"

Clark stares at the phone with surprise. "Did you just say Cosmo Castorini?"

"I did. Is there something wrong?" Oliver asks him in a curious tone.

"No," Clark replies. "We've known Cosmo Castorini for years. In fact, he'll be doing the work for us."

"That certainly sounds like another coincidence to me."

"I don't believe in them," Clark replies.

"You sound like Gibbs on N.C.I.S.," Oliver replies with a chuckle. "Laters."

"Laters," Clark replies with a laugh as he hangs up and packs a duffle bag with his shaving kit and the new shoes. He's about to leave the bedroom when he realizes that he forgot to pack some fresh underwear.

He walks over to the dresser and opens one of the drawers, grabbing a t-shirt. He stands there for another minute, going back and forth between two different pairs of boxers before finally making a decision and picking one of them up. He stuffs it into the duffle bag, then picks up the garment bag and heads down the stairs…

TO BE CONTINUED…