eyebrows raised and she said, “I’m impressed! I must admit that when I first heard that you had wounded yourself with a sword during late night practice, I wasn’t sure about your story.”
Rudy was quiet for a moment and then said, “If I had told you I had been wounded in a knife fight would you have called the police?”
Pamela took a deep breath and then said “Yes, of course...it’s the law...we must report all gunshot wounds and stab wounds to the police.”
Rudy replied, “That sounds like the proper thing to do for most cases, but not in my case.”
At that moment the waitress brought their breakfast and the conversation was put on hold. The next few minutes were spend in silence sampling their breakfast.
Pamela was first to speak, “So, is your twin brother a matador also?”
Rudy smiled and said, “No, Roberto is a businessman. He deals in stocks and real estate. He spends most of his time with books, studying. When we were kids he was sick a lot, so all he could do was read.”
Pamela asked, “Are you and your brother close?
“Very” Rudy said, “But we never do anything together. We both have separate interests and we have completely different lifestyles.”
“Are you identical twins?” Pamela asked.
“Yes, Roberto wears glasses, other than that it’s hard to tell us apart.”
Pamela smiled and said, I’ll bet that makes for interesting moments.”
Rudy took a sip of his coffee and then said, “More than I can tell you.”
Pamela wanted to ask why, but thought better not to. Instead, she said “Your studious twin grew up to become a businessman, and you a matador. Why a bullfighter and not a doctor, like your famous father?”
Rudy rolled the question around in his mind for a while before answering, “I admire my father, and all doctors for that matter, but I could never imagine spending my life dealing with sick people. I get depressed just thinking about it,” he said. “That world is not a happy place, too much sorrow and sadness.”
He lowered his eyes to the table and was quiet for a moment to compose himself. When he looked into Pamela’s eyes, he said, “Now, as for being a matador, that’s a very macho, very festive, very grand world,” he smiled. “All Spanish boys dream of growing up and becoming a flamboyant, famous matador. It’s very hard to explain to a woman, and even harder to explain to an American woman,” he said.
Canadian,” she said defiantly “And maybe I would understand, if you’d try me.”
Rudy could sense he had hurt her feelings. “Lo siento...I’m sorry”, Rudy repeated in English for her.
For a long moment they took turns gazing out the café window.
Rudy then asked, “Canadian huh...which part of Canada are you from?”
Montreal”, she answered.
“Really, we are considering buying a high-rise office building in downtown Montreal. The Montreal Towers Building. Do you know of it?” Rudy asked.
Pamela answered with surprise, “You’re buying the Montreal Towers Building?”
“Yes, well our company, 3R’s World Holdings is,” Rudy said. “We made an offer last week.”
“Well congratulations, you’ll be my father’s landlord. My father has had his stock brokerage business in the Montreal Towers for almost 20 years. Perhaps you know my father, Charles Bean of C. W. Bean Limited?”
“No, I don’t. I do know of the company however, and have done business with them for many years.
“I’d like to know more about Charles Bean’s daughter. What brings you to New York city?” he asked.
Pamela considered the question for a moment and then said, “My internship in emergency medicine at N.Y. General. I can’t think of a better place to get such diverse training. It’s like they say, if ‘I can make it there, I can make it anywhere’. I’ve worked hard over the last couple of years and my internship is finally over. I’m now ready to move on to a more normal existence at a slower pace. Tomorrow my contract with N.Y. General Hospital expires and I am not going to renew it. I’m planning on flying to St. Louis, renting a car, and driving out west and just kind of feeling my way around to see what’s happening and what’s available. When I find a place I like, I’ll spend a few days and see if I can get this city out of my system.”
Rudy smiled and said, “You don’t look like the vagabond type to me.”
Pamela smiled back at him and said, “What type of woman do I look like to you?’
Rudy took a long slow breath and said, “You look like the type of woman men spend their whole lives dreaming about and searching for. You look like the type of woman men lust after. You look like the type of woman that steals a mans’ heart, just by smiling at him. You look like the type of woman men want to be seen with everywhere. You look like the type of woman men want to hide away from the world.”
Rudy paused and sat silent, gazing into Pamela’s green eyes, waiting for her to respond to him. “Rudy....that’s the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me”, she replied.
Rudy continued, “You are a very beautiful young woman. Surely you have many admirers and suitors.”
“I’m flattered you think so,” she said “But actually, I have very few dates. I have buried myself in my career and besides, most of the offers I get are from men I find unattractive or they are married.”
Are your married Rudy?” She asked in a whisper as if afraid to hear his answer.
“No,” he said, “I’m still looking for that perfect woman, I’m still looking for someone like you.”
Pamela smiled with delight at his answer. She asked, “No potential prospects?”
“Like I said before, there have always been women,” he teased.
Pamela blushed and could feel her checks redden. She felt embarrassed to have been so direct about her questions regarding his martial status.
Rudy waited for a moment for her to recover and then said, “If you’ve finished with your coffee, perhaps we should be on our way. It’s almost 6:30 and I have some unfinished business to attend to. I would like to see you home.”
“You needn’t do that if you’re in hurry to be somewhere,” she replied.
Rudy smiled and said, “I need to take you home so that I”ll know where to pick you up for dinner this evening.”
Pamela lowered her eyes and said, “I’m sorry Rudy, but I’m working another double shift tonight at the emergency room. If there was any way for me to get out of it, I would but I promised.”
Rudy said, “Well I guess I’ll have to see you in the emergency room then.” Pamela laughed and said, “No more sword practice for a while, please. I am available Sunday night, and I would like for you to see me home.”
Rudy stood up and offered his hand to Pamela, helping her out of the booth. “We have a date then,” he said.
After paying for breakfast, Rudy escorted Pamela out of the café. Once outside Rudy asked “which way? Will we need a cab?”
“No actually it’s just two blocks down the street, toward the park.”
Rudy smiled and said, “Pamela dear, join me for a dawn promenade to the parque.” and he offered her his arm.
Pamela took his arm and replied, “I would love to kind sir...I think I’m being spoiled by this matador chivalry.”
The city was warm and calm, as the couple strolled arm-in-arm along the street