Meeting J

J's voice mail greeting is unchanged, her sultry voice asking: "Hello is this J, tell me what you want?"

We trade voice mails back and forth without ever hooking up. Her last voice mail includes her work number. I call J at the new number, her voice mail greeting at this number reveals she is employed by the psychiatric division of one of two of the best medical schools in New England.

When she picks up after the third ring I hear: "This is J, how may I help you?"

"J, this is B."

"Finally."

"I've gotta ask you J, are you a patient or a provider?"

She laughs and we exchange information about employers, locations etc. J is intelligent and though not an attorney, employs words with the exactness of a lawyer. There is also a preciseness in her direct answers to my questions. I'm intrigued and pleased by my successful attempt at humor.

We agree to meet. J spends one day a week working at a location not far from me. She selects a local Barnes and Noble and arrange for a Thursday noontime meeting.

Thursday is a cold rainy February day, too warm to snow but damp-cold and chillier than twenty degrees colder with snow. It rains hard.

I arrive early. What I believe is J arrives promptly on time. Her hair is dark, bluish black and descending down to the small of her back. Her mane is luxurious. Her eyes are dark-again nearly black. She appears to be about 5'4" and well built. By that I mean she is around 145 pounds but clearly wears the weight as if she were 30 pounds lighter. Her build reflects a fair amount time spent exercising and in the gym. Her skin is dark, perhaps from her recent vacation but more likely because of her middle east genes. Overall, she reminds of a young but far more attractive Cher.

I follow her through the doors and say: "Hello J!"

She whirls, hugs me and leads me to the coffee counter.

"Let's have coffee, how do you like it?"