BACKFIELD IN MOTION
By Undra E. Biggs

DINNER FOR TWO

It was early March, about quarter to seven in the evening and I was giving the condo a final inspection making sure that everything was in place. I made sure I changed the sheets on my bed and sprinkled some baby powder on there for the scent. Women like that kinda shit. Not saying that by the end of the evening we'd be between the sheets, but just in case we did, I wanted everything to be straight.
The potatoes were roasting in the oven and the chicken was frying in the pan. I had already showered and shaped up my spaghetti strap beard and lined up my goatee, and I was set. Truthfully, I was getting tired of all this dating bullshit. I mean after the high school sex, and the college sex, and being in the Professional Football League for two years, I was tired of fucking strays. Had had it with the meaningless conversations and the go nowhere relationships. I didn't want that anymore. What I did want was what my grandparents had…that old fashioned love!

Only problem was I hadn't come across anyone who was all the woman I needed her to be. A woman who wasn't afraid to take care of the kids I wanted her to have, and who wasn't afraid to be happy at home cooking and cleaning for me, her man. A woman who wasn't afraid of what her, upwardly mobile, working class girlfriends might say. That's what I wanted!

Say that to some women these days, they'll have your nuts in a vice grip talking 'bout, 'I make my own money, buy my own house and drive my own car! I am my own woman, thank you very much!' Or on the other hand, there's Miss, give me the money and pay my bills, who I definitely wouldn't want influencing any kid of mine, let alone giving birth to them. And women say that good men are hard to find. Well good sistahs don't come a dime a dozen either.

three weeks ago when I got into town for the off-season, me and my man went out to eat and I couldn't believe who I ran into. Asia Heartly!

When I was a kid I had the biggest crush on her. At the time I was eleven. She had to have been like seventeen and going into the twelfth grade. Every chance I could I dragged my friends down to the Quaker Bridge Mall just to see her. Me and the fellahs would jump on the bus and walk around to the different stores and to the arcade, but before we left I had to pass the theater where Asia worked. We'd go in and hustle her for free popcorn and candy…sometimes she'd give us the popcorn. And on days when there weren't many people around she'd let us catch a movie for free.
Thoughts of her faded with time, but every now and then she'd come to mind. I saw Asia at Maxine's Restaurant celebrating her thirtieth birthday. As I stood there talking to her all those old feeling and emotions came back just like when I was a kid and I knew I had to get her number. But when I asked she told me that it was good seeing me and all, but she wasn't into the dating thing.

I didn't ease up on her though. In fact, with my schedule and me living out of state if I didn't get her number that night, it could have been another thirteen years before we saw each other again. So getting her number had this urgency for me. Reluctantly she gave in and gave it to me.

Two nights later I called her and she had the sexiest phone voice. Sort of low and powdery smooth. Through our telephone conversations, she told me that she had gone through a failed marriage and within the last year gotten divorced. It had her head messed up pretty bad. And from what I picked up she was carrying a lot of baggage. Asia wouldn't elaborate on the details, she just kept things real general, not letting me in on the reason behind her pain or anything too personal about herself. Even though she told me she wasn't interested in having another man in her life something told me that I had to find out more about her.
Over the three weeks we spent talking on the phone she really intrigued me. She brought something new to the table. Asia was a quality woman who had values. Went to church, loved her parents, was a second grade school teacher for the past seven years and she had a good heart. So clearly I could see this woman in my life.

Only problem was when I tried to get into Asia's head and find out what was in her heart she had this way of emotionally detaching herself every time I asked her anything deep. Even with all the resistance I was getting from her, though, I just kept trying. But just getting her to agree to have dinner with me was a job in itself.
My boy Tompy, who I was staying with, had a business trip out of town, so I had the place all to myself and I really wanted to spend some face-to-face time with Asia. Tompy was my friend since childhood. Actually, he was more like my brother than a friend. We grew up on the same street and his mom and pop lived across the street from my grandparents. Mrs. Seagrams had nine kids, me and Tompy were the same age. He used to like to hang out at my house because all of his brothers and sisters were always around. And me being an only kid, I loved to hang out at his house because there were so many kids. Each of us envied the other's position, and over the years we stayed tight.

This year during my off-season I chose to stay at his place instead of staying at my mom's. She drove me crazy with her house rules last year. I'm a grown man and I work my ass off all pre-season and season long. So during my off time if I want to come home at four in the morning and sleep 'til noon…that's exactly what I'm gonna do!

Tompy had a real nice place. Two bedrooms, one-and-a-half baths, small kitchen and cozy little living room all on the third floor. The bedroom that I stayed in was his office slash second bedroom. It was a tight fit, but it had to do. Since I was only home three months out of a year it didn't make much since to get my own place.

By the end of our dinner tonight I was hoping that Asia would at least let her guard down far enough to realize that I had feelings for her. I moved the curtain to the side and looked out into the black March night and the winters in New Jersey were no joke. It was snowing outside and had been ever since I got into town. I sure missed the sixty-two degree Arizona winter that I just left.

At the sound of the bell, I buzzed her in then turned down the music. "Welcome," I said bowing to Asia. "It's an honor." I over exaggerated 'cause, damn, I had to do a whole lot of talking to get her over here. That was my first time seeing her since the night of her birthday, and the second time in thirteen years. Time had been real good to her.

A soft blush came across her lips, "I'm here."

"Yes you most certainly are. And looking good if I may say."
I gave her a light hug before I took her coat. Asia, was wearing a gray loose fitting pants suit, which made her look more like she was going to a business meeting rather than to chill out with an old friend. I was just coolin' in a pair of jeans and a blue ribbed short sleeve shirt.

"This is a nice place," Asia said walking around Tompy's condo.

"You want anything to drink. We got some sodas, beer, or something stronger if you like."

"No thank you, I'm fine." Sitting there on the couch, Asia looked uncomfortable.

"Suit yourself." I sat on the couch across from her.
Asia's eyes made contact with the SportzMan magazine that I had been reading. It just happened to be open to the page that my article was on. I didn't plan it like that, just forgot to put it away after I finished reading it. Tonight, I didn't want to be the topic of discussion.

"Nice picture." She said lifting the magazine so she could get a closer look. It was taken in Hawaii right after we won the All Pros game. That's the game made up with the best players from each team in the PFL. I was standing at the press podium holding up our championship trophy.

"Looking at that picture reminds me of everything I love about football." I shook my head reminiscing about the PFL training camp, "All the effort it took to get to that day. Asia, the PFL training camp was a trip. For five weeks, I played football like I had never played before. Those guys were bigger than anyone I'd ever played against. 'Hey Rook! Hey Rook!' was all I heard for those first few weeks."

"Rook?"

I laughed, "Yeah, as in rookie. The veterans on the team had us do their laundry, run errands, buy their snacks. We even had to entertain them on demand. They'd say 'Hey Rook sing us a song and make it a rap song'. So I'd break out and free-style, which luckily for me I had a little skill at that too. Then they'd say, 'We want to hear some jokes' and I'd break out my best Chris Tucker impression…And you know this man!"

Asia laughed at me trying to sound like Chris Tucker, "Oh I don't think I could handle the hazing."

"It was all in fun," I told her. "Just a way for the veterans to test our temperament and find out what we were made of. But it didn't take long for the pranks to turn into golden advice, though." I felt myself getting pumped just thinking about it. "Once the old-heads saw that I wasn't there just to make a spot on the squad, but to make some big plays, they really started respecting my game. And the bigger the plays the more respect I earned. And I loved it! Being passed the ball by the quarterback and running down the field with a man on by back, one on my arm and dragging another on my leg still racking up yardage!"

It was obvious that Asia didn't know the first thing about football, so I was really digging how she was taking an interest in what I did. With anyone else, I could have talked about it for the rest of the night. But with Asia I didn't want to go there. I didn't want to be the focus of conversation, I wanted to get to know her better and I wanted her to know me.

Asia looked at my picture in the magazine like she was impressed, "Well look at you, Mr. Hitman. Now that must be exciting. We've talked about so many things, but you never really talk about how you like being a celebrity."
Taking the magazine from her, I closed it and placed it on the coffee table. "I ain't gonna lie. It's one great big party. One blast after another. I travel all across the United States getting crazy paid for doing something I've always wanted to do. How do you think it feels?…" Asia was all ears. See the funny thing is when people ask that question they only want to know that being a millionaire athlete is wonderful. People want to believe that money makes you happy, but what they fail to understand is that although it makes certain situations convenient, money doesn't make you any less human. I experience the same ups and downs like everyone else. Some people think that as soon as you cash your first check, you become lifted from reality into never-never land. But these days I've been feeling real human and in need of some stability around me.

Ever since I was in high school I couldn't wait to turn pro because of the reputation of the life the player's lived. I jumped in, head first. Girls, girl, girls! Once I turned pro I couldn't walk down the street without having some girl pushing her phone number in my face. Even when we went out of town, as soon as the bus pulled up…girls. Go up to the hotel room and somehow there would be girls waiting in the hallway standing by the room door. And drugs were like candy. Go to some parties and there would be white lines, pills, alcohol and whatever else was your pleasure sitting out like refreshments.

At first the fast life was fun. Made me feel like a big man, then once the newness wore off it started feeling wrong cause that kind of life was never in me. I think what woke me up was one morning finding myself with a fucking migraine, butt naked next to this female I didn't know. Didn't even know her name and…she didn't know me. All she knew was of me. Then I had to ask myself what was I doing 'cause I sure wasn't raised like that. Now, as far as I was concerned, the fast life had nothing I wanted. I was looking for that special someone to take into the next phase of my life 'cause I was feeling empty on the inside, "But let me ask you this…" I told her, "…What happens to a man who fills up on sweets if he has no substance?"

She looked at me puzzled, "I'm not following you."

Shit, my chicken! I saw smoke easing its way from the kitchen into the living room. "Think about it." I got up to go check out the food.

Asia waited a few seconds then cornered me in the kitchen as I turned the chicken in the black iron pan. "You just gonna leave me hangin' trying to solve your riddle?"

"Excuse me?" I quizzed. My mind had shifted to trying to salvage dinner and I wasn't sure what she was talking about.

"You know, that stuff about sweets with no substance. I'm still trying to figure that one out." she folded her arms.

"Oh you like to analyze?"

"No." Asia said slowly, "But I'm a teacher, not a mind reader. We were having a conversation then you made a comment that I don't understand. I would just appreciate you clearing it up, that's all."

Hunching my shoulders I looked at her, "I was just saying, seeing is not always believing." I knew I wasn't making much sense, "Don't mind me, I'm going through some changes." Asia had a puzzled gaze on her face, so I tried to further explain my thoughts, "At first turning pro was all that. It still is, don't get me wrong, just something's missing."

Asia leaned up against the counter finally understanding what I was trying to say to her. "Oh I can relate so very well."

"You, naw? As fine as you are? You don't look like anything's bothering you." I bit into a chicken wing then wiped the hot juice off my mouth with a napkin.

"True." she laughed, "But you just said seeing is not always believing. All my life I wanted to be a teacher. I love my career, but aside from working for a complete jerk, I feel like something is missing in my life too. You maybe unsure of your feelings, but I know exactly what my problem is."

I just had to ask, " Well, what is it?"

"I'm getting old, man!" Asia faked like she was crying.

"Old? Girl get out of here, I'm twenty-four. You're only a few years older than me, and I damn sure don't consider myself anywhere near old." I said munching that piece of chicken that I had seasoned to perfection.

"Actually I'm six years older than you but that's not the point. I just thought I'd have my career and my family by now."

Sounded like I heard opportunity knocking, "If I were you I wouldn't let that bother me. Your man could be standing right in your face."

"Oh really," Asia dismissed my comment. "Well if he is I sure can't see him."

I wondered if it was intentional or if she just didn't get the invitation. "You ever see your ex around?"

"In passing," she looked at me like she didn't expect that question.

"Where's he at now?" I needed to know 'cause the last thing I wanted was to get hooked up with her if she was still feeling for her ex.

"In Camden with the woman he left me for. Look, I really don't keep tabs on him." Asia snapped.

Caught off-guard by her attitude, I stopped what I was doing and looked her square in the eyes. "Hey, sorry. I didn't mean to get all up in your business so you don't have to get on the defensive with me, alright?"

"Look Duane, I'm sorry if I'm giving off bad vibes. It's just that..." she paused, "…forget it." Taking a deep breath, Asia refolded her arms and leaned up against the counter. She got real quiet and had this what am I doing here look on her face.

"Hey," I called to get her attention. "Stop looking so serious. We're suppose to be having fun, remember?"

She gave me a half smile.

After I fixed our plates, I brought them into the living room and turned off the overhead ceiling light. The room was lit by a dim lamp, next to the couch and made the atmosphere nice and cozy. Sitting on the couch next to Asia with the plate in my hand, I looked down at the dinner and hoped I could pull the night off, because there was something special about her. Maybe it was still that school boy crush I had on her when I was eleven and she worked at the mall. Maybe it was the way she carried herself like royalty - so mature and everything in the right place. As I thought, I began to get nervous cause I knew this queen deserved a lobster dinner with the best bottle of wine that my money could buy instead of the fried chicken, home made potato wedges and strawberry milk shake shit I threw together. If I messed this up, I'd never forgive myself. But instead of sweating it out, I chilled and acted like everything was alright.

"Very interesting meal." Asia said biting into the chicken.

"You making fun of my dinner, Woman?" I teased.

Asia laughed, "No. I guess I was expecting some 'I got to impress her' kind of meal. This is just different than what I'd expected."

"What? You mean you ain't impressed with my frying skills?" I stared down at her.

Asia laughed, "Oh very impressed Mr. Cummings. Actually, you did a better job on this chicken than I ever could."

As she dug in, I just didn't feel right inside, "I gotta fess up to you, Asia. I know you're better than this. I didn't think you were gonna show so I didn't really prepare. Usually, I would have had some lobster tails, fettuccine, and a bottle of Cristal. Baby, I know you better, than this."

Asia took a sip of the homemade strawberry shake I made her then placed the glass back on the coaster, "Yeah, and like I was suppose to walk in here wearing a red tight-fitting dress, stiletto heels, a long weave and chewing gum then, right?"

"Wait, wait, you lost me. What does that mean?" She threw me with that statement.

"Duane, this is not a Keith Sweat video, okay. I am not interested in getting to know your ego. If anything, I want to know you…who you are past all the hype. That lobster dinner would have gone in and come out the same way as this delicious fried chicken."

I stared at her puzzled because I never heard that before. Not what she said, but what she meant. I was "The Hitman" and women expected me to pay and perform. My mind wandered back to when I was a kid and used to be called 'that black ugly boy' because of my dark complexion. It wasn't until my junior high school paper ran an article about me being multi-gifted in sports that females even noticed me. That used to hurt at the time, but then I just stopped caring. Long as I was getting mine. Then when I turned pro, it really got crazy. Meeting people and not being able to figure them out. Everybody wanting something from me. Smiling all up in my face. Why? Cause they were trying to get what I worked for. Wanting to shine all up in my sunlight, get some glory from my spot.

But staring at Asia as she dug in, I knew she meant what she said and it was a serious reality check for me. It was like I had just discovered something about myself that I knew, but never took stock of. Here I was thinking it was all about me, but I always had to try so damned hard at it. Sure, I could pull the girls, but once they were with me I always wondered why? Were they there for me, the person I was on the inside or were they there for the free ride? Making me no more significant to them than damn Santa Claus, the fucking Easter Bunny or some sugar daddy. My revelation made me think about that old Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes song that my gramps use to play to death. When the lead singer, Teddy Pendergrass, sang about all the friends he had when the money was plenty, but when the money was gone so were the so-called friends. It felt so much like my life. I placed the plate down on the coffee table. Leaned back against the couch thinking where in the hell all this introspective coming from.

From the edge of the couch where she sat, Asia looked back over her shoulder at me. "What's wrong?"

"Just watching you tear that food up, that's all. You must have been hungry girl. Ain't no shame to your game. No salads for you, huh?" I teased.

Putting the napkin up to her mouth, Asia started laughing then playfully punched me in the arm. "Ooh Duane, no you didn't."

"If you hurt me I'll tell my coach on you. This is a valuable arm brought and paid for by the Mavericks you know?" I drew myself back like she was going to hurt me then started laughing. "You know I'm just kidding."

"What were you thinking about?" she asked.

I wanted to look deep into her eyes and ask her what she saw when she looked at me. I wanted to look in her eyes and have her soul reveal everything there was to know about her, all of her dreams, and fears. I wanted to touch her brown skin with my fingers, and tell her I was tired. Tired of being alone, frontin' like everything was alright, that I needed someone who wanted me, that black ugly boy before he turned into the junior high athlete, then the multi-million dollar Hitman. "Everything's fine, I'm just glad you're here," I said instead. Picking up my plate, I joined her in eating.

We both were cracking up watching the movie, Good Burger. It was some old Nickelodeon flick I found in Tompy's wall unit. It must have belonged to one of his nieces or nephews. They stayed over a lot. Asia was laughing so hard, tears were rolling down her eyes.

"See, I told you Good Burger was the deal. My boy said the chicken says, mooo." I imitated the character Ed by flapping my arms like wings.

Asia wiped the tears of laughter from her eyes as she gathered up the dirty dishes taking them into the kitchen and I put in another videotape.

The next movie was a suspense. She came out and sat close to me totally relaxed and her perfume was smelling good. We talked through the entire second movie. Asia asked me about my horseshoe brand on my left arm, and how it was to pledge Omega Psi Phi. She asked how I found time to pledge, play football and graduate with a major in Physical Education, and a minor in Nutrition. I laughed and told her not to worry, that I actually did study and took my own tests too. I was feeling real strong about how the night was turning out.

Asia looked at the clock and it was past midnight, "Thanks Duane, I really needed this night. Now I can live off of this high for the rest of the week."

"The rest of the week? Don't make it sound that bad." Running my hand over Asia's medium length corkscrew curls, I pulled one out and I watched as it sprung back into position next to her face. She had a natural texture to her hair and with the exception of berry colored lipstick, her face was just as natural.

"You just don't know. I don't go out that much."

I wondered if she knew the things she'd been saying to me all night long. Putting all the pieces together it sounded to me like she was sending out a SOS. Like she was saying to me, 'save me from this loneliness'. I wanted to be her lifeguard, the man who would save her from the long lonely days and empty nights. And I wanted her to do the same for me.

"Duane, what is it? You've been looking at me strangely all night."
I

couldn't keep my fingers out of her hair, "I dig you Asia, I was just wondering what it would be like if you were mine."
She looked at me like I had just insulted her mother. "If I were yours? Ahh no no. See, I knew it."

"You knew what?"

"Duane, please," Asia said agitated. "I thought this was supposed to be an evening between old friends, as you put it."

Her mood swings were wearing me thin, "Asia, I honestly dig you, I wanna be with you. What so wrong with that?" I frowned.

"You know, I knew this was a bad idea. I better leave." She sat on the edge of the couch, "But since we're being honest and everything, I'm not about getting played. I'm thirty years old and that's too old to be playing this kind of game. If you thought you were gonna run that 'I dig you shit' on me, and that was gonna make me lay on my back for you, well then you were sadly mistaken, weren't you?" She was hot, and it was tripping me out to see her go from being relaxed like she was, only seconds ago, to being that fired up. It was like she was just waiting for something to go wrong so she could jump on it. Asia stood up glaring down at me, "Damn, Duane, why did you have to go there?"

"You wait a minute." Still seated, I reached up and grabbed her by the arm before she could walk off, "Asia, I'm not running no game on you. Why would I do that?" I looked at her with my eyebrows bunched. "I had a nice time with you tonight, and I do dig you. I always dug you, from way back." Releasing her arm I gritted my teeth and paused, then spoke softly to her, "Believe me Asia, this ain't no head game."

She wouldn't look at me, "Duane, I don't appreciate this," her voice cracked.

"Talk to me, babe." I stood up close to her, wondering what could have possibly hurt her so much in her past that she couldn't let her guard down for me.

"I'm not ready for this." She shook her head, "I just got divorced, I'm older than you are, and besides, Duane, you're still young. You're probably still running after anything with a hole."

"Damn!" I said in frustration. "Where is all this coming from? All I said was I dig you." The whole evening had begun to unravel leaving me to wonder if I should have just left her well enough alone.

Asia put her hands up to her face acting overwhelmed, "See this is a perfect example of what I'm talking about. Just say that you're on the up-and-up..."

"I am on the up-and-up." I stressed.

"Okay, you are. Neither my head nor my heart is in the right place right now. Apparently I'm still bitter from all of the mess I went through with Bryant. I don't want to carry that into another relationship. I'm sorry Duane, but I still have to find myself."

Flippantly, I pointed to the mirror on the wall, "There you go." I

stood there with my arms folded looking at her.
Asia looked at her reflection in the mirror, then back at me,

"Are you always this simple?"

"Naw, it's just that all that stuff you're talking about is bullshit."

She gasped "Wha...bullshit?"

"That's right. You don't need to find yourself. You ain't lost, you just got dogged that's all. And if you don't start trusting somebody now, a man, you ain't never gonna trust nobody. That's how you living?" I spouted.

Asia got quiet, then she turned the guns on me, "Can you honestly tell me that you're not seeing anyone right now? I mean with all you have going on for yourself, there just has to be a woman around somewhere."

She caught me off-guard with that and I wasn't sure if I should have just said no and lied about Missy, my woman back in Arizona because we were on the outs anyway. But I had the feeling that Asia would have been able to read me like a book, so I swallowed down hard and told her the truth,

"There's someone in Arizona, but it's over."

"It's over? Just like that?" She eyed me, "Does she know it's over?"

"What kind of question is that?"

Asia was relentless, "One that I want an answer to."

"Have I told her I don't want to see her again?" I sighed, then answered my own question, "No, but she knows I'm not happy with the relationship. She's a good person and everything, but we just aren't seeing eye-to-eye on things. So yeah, she knows it's over just like I do. I guess neither one of us wanted to be the one to call it off." Looking deep into Asia's eyes I said, "I'm telling you the truth, Asia."
And it was the truth. Missy and I had been going through relationship drama for almost the whole year that we had been together. For one thing she was a Mavericks cheerleader and players dating cheerleaders wasn't allowed, so right there we were starting out on the down-low. But the biggest problem was we wanted different things from life. She was a med student and real serious about one day having her own pediatrics practice. Having a family like I wanted was the farthest thing on that girl's mind. I told her I was about ready to settle down and I wanted my wife to stay at home to raise our kids. She told me that I was tripping. Then when I told her that that was a real problem between us, she told me things between us was fine. Fine to her was the ability to make me bust a nut. Missy had this beautiful body and her shit was good. And like Asia, she was a step above all the riff raff. I knew Missy loved me, but I wanted more than just to be her man. That just wasn't enough for me anymore so it was time for me to move on.

"Don't you think you should completely close one door before trying to open another?"

"You're right, but I didn't know I would see you, or feel the way you making me feel."

"Oh, so I'm making you feel?" Asia mocked.

I was definitely feeling something, "Yeah, baby you are." I couldn't even understand it. In a crowded room of women, if I didn't know her, Asia would not be the one who would catch my eye. She had some real nice features like these dreamy ass bedroom eyes. She had pretty cocoa brown skin and she seemed to have a nice looking body. That is from what I could tell, because her style of dress was more concealing than revealing. If I were to guess, Asia had to have been around five-eight, a hundred-fifty pounds. She was attractive, don't get me wrong, but I've had some real fine women up in my face! What I felt for Asia was more like a chemical reaction. Like I needed her.

Smiling, Asia pointed at me. "You need to slow down."

"I know what I want. And it's not like we don't know each other," With my finger I traced her arm.

She looked into my eyes then asked slow and deliberately,

"What do you want Duane… from me?"

Leaning so close to her ear that my lips brushed across it, I whispered, "A chance."

Asia closed her eyes like she caught a chill then walked away from me, "How long are you going to be in town?" She asked getting her coat and purse off of the chair where I had left it.

"I haven't thought about it. During the off season, I go and come as I please." To keep my body in shape, I had a trainer here in Trenton so I didn't have to attend any of the optional mini camps held back in Arizona. I helped Asia with her coat.

"Walk me to my car."

I unlocked the front door, and without a coat, I walked her out into the moonlit frosty March night. It had stopped snowing. We didn't quite know what to say to each other. Asia opened up the door to an older model white Pontiac Grand Am and got in as I stood in the doorway, "You okay?"

"I'm fine. I'm sorry if I messed up your evening."

Squatting down to make eye contact, I cupped Asia's chin in the palm of my hand, "I know you been through a lot of stuff, and true, I still have some business that I have to clean up, back in Arizona." I dropped my head cause I really wasn't sure what to say to her, then I looked up, "Asia, I don't have no fancy words…nothing like that. I just want you in my life. I believe you'll be good for me, and I believe I'll be good for you. All I want is a chance." I kissed her lightly above her brow, "Let me let you get out of this cold. Lock up these doors and call me when you get in, alright? We don't have to talk, just let the phone ring so I'll know you got in safely. You want me to follow you home in my car?"

Asia smiled, "No Duane, I'll be fine. I'll call you. And thanks again."

Twelve minutes later the phone rang and Asia's number came up on the Caller ID. On the third ring the answering machine picked up and Asia left a message that she was home. Although I could have picked up the phone, I didn't…I just sat there on the couch.