Tarrydown park was lush and green and unlike anything else in the high desert landscape of the Downs. Nestled between the business district and the residential area of the northern slopes, the park offered the wealthier an escape from the dry dusty flats of Eavesdown. Short of traveling south to the Abby or north over the mountains, it was the only place in the downs to find a tree.
Tyler, Inara's client for the day, was a dozen or so meters away purchasing icy lemon drinks to help combat the heat of the late afternoon sun. He was also resolving a minor altercation Inara had somehow gotten in to with the woman at the drink stand. Now the Companion sat on a low stone bench in the shade of one of these trees, watching the central fountain spurting water in a playful synchronized dance that nearly made her forget about the throbbing in her temples.
Just a businessman, he'd said, that's all he was. Looking for some companionship while far away from home. But he was so much more than that. He was tall, he was handsome and he was a gentleman. Tyler insisted that he was single, but Inara had trouble believing a man like him was not taken by someone. He knew just how to act after she'd made such a fool of herself, a talent only the most experienced mates typically had.
"Here you go." He handed Inara a cool glass of pinkish liquid.
"Thank you." She immediately pressed the side of the glass to her forehead, savoring the cool wetness of the make shift compress.
"Are you sure you'll be alright." He asked as he sat next to the Companion.
A light breeze brushed against her moistened face, cooling her and relaxing the pounding to a dull throb. She slid the pink vessel down her long neck and let it come to rest on her chest, apparently unaware of how provocative that action was.
"Oh this is much better." She replied. "I am so sorry, I don't know…"
"Don't apologize," Tyler slid his own glass across his forehead, even though he did not need it. "I completely understand. The heat can be oppressive."
It was in fact, not. The temperature was moderate and the breeze cool. Inara recognized chivalry, even when masked in small actions. She rested her head on his shoulder was smiled.
"Well you've been more than understanding and I thank you for that."
Tyler was everything she could have asked for in a beau. He was pleasant and respectful and adhered to the contract willingly without making it seem like a burden. His conversation was witty and spontaneous and, as a companion for the day, he had provided her as much enjoyment as she him. They spent the whole day together and were preparing to spend the whole night.
Their chemistry was positively organic, effortless, genuine. It was a very agreeable fantasy, which is after all, was what he had paid for. Even so, Inara had been distracted all day. She'd had to apologies more than once for having drifted into thought or for letting the conversation fall silent. It was not her way and not professional behavior for a licensed Companion.
"So what was that all about – back there?"
"Oh, you mean the poor woman I accosted." Inara chided herself sardonically.
"Well I wasn't going to put it that way, but yes - the poor woman you accosted."
"I'd tell you it was nothing, but you wouldn't believe me would you?"
"Probably not," Tyler laughed. "Come on, you can tell me."
And for some reason Inara felt like she could.
"I thought she was someone else."
"Well that much is apparent, whom?"
"An old friend. An old dead friend. You wouldn't…." Her voice was almost a whisper, as the words seemed to stick in her throat. She took a sip of her drink to loosen the tightness.
"Oooh," Tyler replied as he put his arm around her. "I just might know a bit more about that than you'd think."
Inara looked up at the man with her wide, questioning eyes. There was obviously more to the man than 'just a businessman', but she wasn't sure whether she could handle supporting a pleasant conversation just now. She moved the glass back to her head.
"A few years back, almost a decade now," the man continued, "my wife died."
"I'm so sorry. How?" She felt foolish immediately after the question spilled from her lips and blushed noticeably.
"How is not important. What is important, at least for your current situation, was that I kept seeing her. For at least two years afterwards. I would see her in a crowd, at convention, in a park just like this. I thought I was going crazy. Sometimes I see her still, but now I know I'm not crazy. It is quite normal."
"Was your wife trying to tell you something?"
"Sometimes. Is this friend of yours – what is her name?"
"Nandy." She put the glass to her lips again as her throat choked up, more to hide her weakness than to drink.
"Is Nandy trying to tell you something?"
Inara nodded but could not speak. It was comforting to know that she was not going nuts, but what her dead friend was telling her was not that clear, and not something she wanted to share. Not just yet anyways.
"Perhaps she is telling you to get on with your life?" He offered.
"Perhaps." Inara thought it was more likely she was telling to get on with her job. She composed herself, getting a grip on the moment. "Or perhaps she was trying to tell me that a wonderful man is taking me out to dinner and I should not be dwelling on my past as much as his present."
"Dinner?" He laughed.
"Dinner." She confirmed.
"Well then, I think I might just know a place that will be good for both of us."
Inara smiled as Tyler rose and offered his arm. Her head was feeling better and Nandy's words were not so loud in her minds ears. Now just a whisper.
'It's not too late. It's not too late.'
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