By A.M.Morrell

My sunglasses made it impossible for her to know I watched. She purchased red wine, 19 Crimes Cabernet to be exact, and Boar’s Head sharp cheddar cheese. Her dark hair, dark eyes, and red lips that undoubtedly would taste like the cabernet gave my libido a start. It took great restraint to keep my excitement undetectable.

“See you later, Claire,” the cashier said. Claire smiled, and waved goodbye as she took her purchase to a black Passat. My motorcycle and I followed the Passat and now knew that Claire lived in a cookie cutter house on Halifax Lane. I was pleased with myself at how easy it was for me to remain undetected. To spot my new woman and in less than an hour, know so much about her. It thrilled me. Perhaps this really was how love was supposed to work.

Being new to meeting women this way, I was unsure of what to do next. The logical move I supposed would be to watch her house. So, watch her house, I did.

The clean, pale-yellow paint with white trim and the cobalt blue door confirmed her decorating taste was as crisp as her wine choice. My palms began to sweat at the vision of us sharing a wine and cheese platter inside this charming house on Halifax Lane.

After several hours of nothing but my imaginings, I became bored with the outside and decided inside would be much more interesting. My heart pounded as I crept along exterior walls and peered in through windows.

The master bedroom was empty, and the bed unmade. I pondered the idea of waiting at this window until Claire’s bedtime, but impatience prevailed. Upon reaching the living room, my restlessness was rewarded. Claire lounged in front of the television watching an old black and white movie. Claire and I watched Casablanca together. Suddenly, old movies were fascinating. She relaxed and reclined on the sofa, me outside but just steps away. If only I could reach her. We would embrace and kiss just like the monochrome couple on screen.

After the movie, she flipped off the lights and retreated into her bedroom. I darted back to the bedroom window. She disappeared into her bathroom, which regrettably, I could not see from my perch. So, I waited. And waited. I waited though my legs and neck began to ache and my mind to wander.

Eventually, my perseverance paid off. Claire entered her bedroom in just a bath towel, which she dropped to the floor before slipping into her night clothes. She was naked for about thirty seconds. But what a thirty seconds. Her breasts were perfect and her skin milky white.

The last thing I saw before she turned her room to darkness was her night shirt. It was a concert tee and I was now a fan of The Cure.

Determined to have a chance encounter with Claire, I had no choice but to spend the night outside her bedroom and follow her to work the next morning.

The night’s air held a chill that left me shivering, but I was proud of my ability to remain outside. I would be entangled with her in that warm bed soon enough.

I awoke to the morning sun and the sound of her garage door opening. This would be my day. But I must be quick and careful. The moment her car disappeared around the corner I sprinted to my hidden motorcycle, anxious to catch up.

As it turned out, my lovely Claire worked at the very same store where I had first spotted her. I waited a bit before entering so as not to arouse suspicion. After selecting my items, I went through her line.

“What a coincidence,” she said, with a joyful smile. “I bought this exact wine and cheese just yesterday. And oh my gosh, I love that movie, and that’s one of my favorite albums.”

“It’s serendipity,” I said. “My name is John…and you are?”