Elephants, Bunnies and a Headless Giraffe

By Shanna Sarsin

Gabriella Franklin is a born leader and a resilient woman who rebukes conformity and dances to the beat of her own song. In spite of humble beginnings and her strong stances, she has managed to achieve success by all social standards. She's checked all the socially required blocks of womanhood, has a list of superlatives and certificates a country mile long, secured a corner office in the heart of Washington, D.C. and schmoozes with some of high society's most powerful and elite. To all her friends, Gabriella's world is perfect. In spite of all she has managed to achieve on her own terms, she feels trapped in a restrained identity and longs to be free.
Gabriella's journey to freedom is interrupted when she meets Dasht D. Spelbender, a powerful attorney and suave Southern gentleman by all definitions. Dasht, a self-made man who in some ways marches along with the band of social conformity and at other times robustly rebels literally takes her world by storm.
The two of them embark upon a journey with Gabriella throwing all caution to the wind and opening up to find a freedom she has never known only to have it snatched away with no alarm signaling the approaching storm.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Shanna Sarsin
• Release date: Aug 2, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393365792

Book preview

PREFACE

How hopelessly metaphoric. As I stare out the window of the plane focusing in on nothing at all, the heavy rain beating down the window mirroring the tears I’m unable to trap from streaming down my face. Flood lights, extra lights added to the runway because of the storm, to illuminate the tarmac so we can take off. Please God, let us be able to get out of here, I pray silently to myself. Piercing lights, lights so intensely beaming they’re blinding. Blinding like the reality that was just smeared in my face. I want, no I need so badly to just scream, but I cannot do that because I’m on this plane. I face the window hiding my tears and swallowing the sobs. As the plane pulls from the ground and ascends into the air, I feel my heart literally being ripped from my body because there are pieces of me that I’m leaving behind that I know I will never get back. Fragments of me left to simply rot away.

CHAPTER 1

D.D.S. or Better Yet ‘Boo Thang’

It was the beginning of my favorite time of year here in the DMV. We were on the cusp of Cherry Blossom Season, which for me meant the beginning of the best nine months of the year. A true southern girl at heart, I didn’t enjoy the harsh East Coast winters at all. I could live without any snow or rain for that matter. Other than work, social commitments and select black-tie outings I hibernated in the house and flew home as much as possible during the full ninety days of winter, but this was the time of year when I loved being outdoors. I could have been home half an hour ago, but it was so nice out that I wasn’t ready to go in the house. I was literally like a kid during summer break before the streetlights came on. I was driving around the neighborhood rounding the thirteenth hole on the golf course, listening to smooth jazz on the Sirius XM radio Watercolors channel and just relishing in how grateful I was about the weather and to be in my neighborhood. It was only three years ago that I was first introduced to this subdivision and thought to myself, What a beautiful neighborhood. I wish I could afford to live here, and here I was now a homeowner in the very neighborhood I’d so admired. God is so good. My thought was interrupted by the phone. It was Tiffany, my baby sister whom we affectionately referred to as Tippy, calling as she often did on her way home from work. This was another aspect of my life that I was truly grateful for, my familial relationships. My little sister and I spoke at least once a day, but often two to three times a day, and thanks to modern technology we regularly FaceTimed. She was definitely one of my best friends.

Hey Tippy, I answered.

Hey Girl! Whatcha doing?

I’m just driving, literally wasting gas. It’s so nice here. I didn’t want to go in the house just yet. You must be on your way home from work?

Yes Ma’am. It’s been a long day, but I still have to pick the kids up from Kumon before heading home. I’m glad it’s nice there because y’all have had some rough weather.

Tell me about it. I am burned-out on winter after living here. I’ll be so glad when I can move back down South. I don’t necessarily want to move back to Georgia but maybe Birmingham. That will bring me a lot closer to home.

Me too. You’ve been gone for so long. Boo to Birmingham, but that’s better than you being all the way up there. Any hoo, I wanna ask you something. It was normal for Tippy to abruptly change the topic of conversation because her mind literally moved like she did, 150 mph.

I curiously replied, Ok...

What’s your age limit?

Huh? I didn’t understand the question.

In a man. What’s your age limit?

Hmm, I don’t know...I guess fifty max fifty-five. He can’t be drawing Social Security. I laughed, Wait, why do you ask?

She giggled a little both from being tickled by my response and from what sounded like slight nervousness. Well there is someone who is one of my business clients that I think could possibly be a good person for you to meet. Tippy was in banking and specialized in wealth management. I’m not trying to match make or anything like that, but if it turned into that it could be cool. He is someone you can Google. I was talking to him today, and every time I speak to him, he just reminds me of you.

This was a little awkward, however, intriguing because my sister had never introduced me to a man. We never even really talked about my dating life except that I didn’t have one and didn’t plan to have one as long as I lived in the DMV. This guy must have made a serious impression because this wasn’t at all her style.

Ok. I’m listening. Tell me more. I prefaced before firing off a series of standard questions: Like, well how old is he? What does he do for a living? What does he look like? What’s wrong with him, meaning why is he single?

She laughed, and I laughed with her. Girl you are so funny. There is nothing wrong with him. At least I don’t think it is. Well let me say as far as I know and can see, there is nothing wrong with him. I don’t know exactly how old he is, but I believe he is in his fifties. If I had to guess I’d say around fifty-two. He is an attorney. He is single and has a daughter who is grown and out of college, so no kids and no college tuition payments, she giggled. Y’all have a lot in common.

What does he look like? I asked again.

I mean I think he is nice looking, but you should look him up online, and see for yourself.

What about his teeth? I asked. I knew it was shallow, but bad teeth were a problem for me, and I had no interest in partaking in a ‘Build a Beau’ project at this point in my life.

Tippy was laughing so hard she was losing her breath as she responded, His teeth are fine. You are too funny.

I may be funny, but I’m serious.

I know with your picky self, she teased.

Hmm, I thought out loud. On the surface he sounded interesting enough for me to allow my sister to continue.

Like you, he pledged a fraternity while in college, and is a member of a couple of civic and community focused social clubs, which is something else you all have in common.

I interrupted her to ask, What is it about him that reminds you of me?

Ok, I know you are into fashion, and you know that isn’t really my thing but honey!!! Every time I see him, he is dressed to the nines. I’m talking about straight GQ, and you know if I notice it, it is really noticeable because I’m not into fashion that way. We both laughed in agreement, and she continued. Well, he is always dressed very nice, neat and classy. He wears these really fashionable shades. You know I don’t know the name brand or style, so don’t even ask, but they look like something you would like. But what tipped it over for me on the fashion was this blazer he had on. It was super nice. I could tell he spent some money for it. Probably had it tailor made, but it’s not just the fashion. Every time I talk to him, he reminds me so much of you. Just the things he says, and the words he uses. He is picky like you too.

What’s his name? How so, and how do you know he is picky? I asked.

Well he was at my office for a business meeting, and he was looking at the photos around my office and began asking me about Joseph and the kids. You know I love talking about my family, so I was telling him all about the kids and their activities and our family stuff. Well as we were talking his phone rang and it was his daughter calling. After he finished his conversation with her, I asked him about her. He said she is either thirty or thirty-one, not quite sure on that because I wasn’t fully paying attention to what he was saying about her, but she is unemployed. He was a little fussy because she was asking him for money, and I told him he sounded like you when Brian asks for money. She and I both burst out laughing because my twenty-nine year old son Brian often made the same type of phone calls. In the midst of our laughter Tippy proceeded with the conversation, He and I burst out laughing, just like we’re laughing now, and then I said, ‘I’m sure she asks you because your wife probably doesn’t allow it. Children know which parent to hit up for money.’ And he said, Wife!? I don’t have a wife. I’m single. I was shocked because I don’t handle his personal affairs, and even though there is no wife listed on any of the business documents I just assumed all this time that he was married. So, I said, ‘Well the second time is a charm.’ To this he said, I probably won’t ever marry again. Besides there aren’t any women for me here in Atlanta. I laughed and said, you sound just like my sister. At this point he said, You have a sister? I told him I actually have more than one sister, but you remind me of my oldest sister. She lives in Maryland and works in D.C., beautiful, single, and has an adult son, but she is very, very picky. Then he said, Really? There ain’t nothing wrong with that because I’m picky too. Then I said, yeah as a matter of fact let me show you a picture of her, and just so happened you posted that photo of you on Facebook today in the limo headed to your lecture, so I showed him that one. Baby I wish you could have seen those eyes light up! That made me giggle, and Tippy giggled too. Gab, after he saw that picture, he started asking me a whole bunch of questions, and you know me. I couldn’t answer half of them, but it was so funny. Then he had to leave because his daughter had come to his office to get the money she’d called for. But check him out.

While Tiffany had been talking, I’d parked at the country club and Googled him to find a couple of photos and professional biography. He was handsome in his pictures and well accomplished per his bio. However, for me while that was nice it was like looking at a photo spread and reading an article about George Clooney in Cosmopolitan magazine. Once I finished looking and reading, I was indifferent.

We continued our conversation about this mystery man, which was funny but still a little awkward. Ok. I just pulled him up via Google, and he is not bad looking. His bio is impressive. What questions about me did he ask that you couldn’t answer?

He wanted to know what your job title was, and you know I can’t remember that long title. He was asking where you went to college, what were your degrees in, what sorority and professional social organizations you were a member of and all that kind of stuff. I gave him enough, but he can get the rest from you. If y’all ever talk one day.

I know you know where I went to school? I questioned.

Yes, but I don’t know all your majors and minors, all those societies and organizations you’re a member of, and I can’t remember your job title.

Tippy!? I’m a Deputy Director. Why can’t you remember that?

I thought it was longer than that?

Well its Deputy Director of EEO, Diversity and Corporate Citizenship, but the main part is Deputy Director. Tippy that is all you have to say when someone asks you what I do, I chuckled.

Like I said, I can’t remember that long title. Besides if y’all ever talk you’ll need something to talk about, she joked.

Oh ok…that’s funny, I said, and in what was our typical fashion our topic of conversation transitioned to sharing our evening plans, workout updates and deciding menus of meals I was going to prepare when I was home for my monthly visit the following week.

Summer sun and summer fun all for a summer bunny.

Three months later while in the car on a sunny Friday heading home from work, my baby sister and I were again on the phone and the topic of conversation was once again, Mr. Dasht D. Spelbender, Esq.

Hey Tippy! I answered.

Hey Girly, hold on one second let me close my car door and get out of the parking garage.

You’re just leaving the office? Is everything ok? I asked.

She was laughing now. Yeah, I’m just leaving. This was a long day because it’s the first Friday of the month, but I didn’t call to talk about work. I had to get out of the garage so he couldn’t hear me.

Who? I asked.

Giggling she replied, Your Boo Thang.

I literally burst out laughing. Over the past three months his name had come up in our conversations when she’d either seen him in passing or had business meetings with him. I’d learned his law firm was a tenant in her office tower, affording Tiffany the opportunity to encounter him on a regular basis outside of their quarterly business meetings. Now she’d began jokingly referring to him as my ‘Boo Thang.’

I was coming back in the building from a late lunch meeting with a client when who do I see walking in a little bit ahead of me. So, I called out, ‘Hey Mr. Spelbender!’ He turned around with a big grin and said, Hey Tiffany! I haven’t seen you in a while. How have you been? He waited for me to catch-up to him, so we wouldn’t be yelling across the parking garage, and when I got close, we exchanged a friendly hug, and both headed into the building. He was a few steps in front of me on the escalator, and I said, ‘I’ve been doing well. It has been a while since I’ve seen you.’ He said, Yeah it has been a few weeks. I said, ‘Yeah, you’ve been hiding, and it caused you to miss out.’ At this point he was at the top of the escalator about to head to his office, but he stopped dead in his tracks and turned around and waited for me to get to the top of the escalator. Once I got to the top he asked, What do you mean? I said, ‘Well I was going to introduce you to someone, but I hadn’t saw you or heard from you, so I said oh well. I guess it doesn’t matter anyway because that person is gone now.’ He immediately asked, Was it your sister? Tippy and I both laughed at that. I told him, ‘As a matter of fact it was, but she’s gone back to D.C. now.’ Then he said, Well when is she coming back, and how often does she come home? I told him, ‘Oh she is here at least once a month,’ and he said, Really? I could tell he was excited. Then I said, ‘Yes, I told you that awhile back. We love for her to come home. She comes home and spoils us with her cooking.’ He stopped me before I could say another word and said, She can cook? ‘Yeah!’ I said. ‘She is an excellent cook, and we love it. We can count on having gourmet meals every day she is in town.’"

Why is it so shocking that I can cook? I asked, not really anticipating or wanting an answer.

Gab women nowadays don’t cook, and if they do, they don’t cook the way you do. It’s really a big deal, and he was clearly impressed.

I guess, I replied. I wasn’t flattered that something as basic as the ability to cook impressed him.

He said, Well send me a picture of your sister. As if he didn’t remember what you look like. Again, Tippy and I both laughed. I told him, ‘No, I can’t do that without her permission. But I tell you what, you send me a picture of you, and I’ll send it to her, and ask her if I can send you her picture.’ He quickly said, Ok, ok. That sounds good. So…what picture do you want me to send him?

I don’t care. Send what you think is pretty, but don’t send it until he sends his, and send a face picture and a full body shot. Don’t send more than two pictures. I instructed.

Substance is who you are; show is what you allow me to see.

Early the next morning I received two photos of Mr. Dasht D. Spelbender, Esq. better yet, ‘Boo Thang,’ and I must admit ‘Boo Thang’ was definitely easy on the eyes. His smile, Lord have mercy! I was still lying in bed when the text came through, and that smile made me sit straight up. It was clear that he had veneers, and it was money well spent because his smile was simply beautiful. It had the effect on me like an ice cold glass of well water on a hot summer day after an hour of child’s play. He was bald, which I’d noted earlier when I’d Googled him. Not particularly attracted to a shaven head, I resounded the bald head was the result of a receding hairline. He appeared to be in great shape, not too small, not too large, toned, actually model like in stature. I’d guess he was about 6’ 4, and no more than two hundred and ten pounds. The suits he wore in the two photos were clearly tailor made, so I could definitely see how Tippy had noticed his fashion sense. They were classic cut, adequately conservative and fit him to a tee. In one of the photos he was wearing shades, which I guessed were the shades Tippy had referenced a while back, Ray Ban Aviator Classics. Made sense. Ok fly guy," I thought to myself. His nails were manicured to perfection. He was definitely attractive.

She’s pretty. This was his response to the photos of me Tiffany had sent him. She’d forwarded me their text thread, and I was mortified! The headshot was a recent picture that I liked. I’m being too modest; I actually loved it, which is why it was my profile picture on Facebook. However, the full body shot was, in my opinion, not a true representation of me. It was too old. It was from President Obama’s last Inaugural Ball, which was almost five years ago! I’d gained a few pounds since then, actually thirteen to be exact. I called her immediately. Hey Tippy.

Hey Girl! Did you see your ‘Boo Thang’s’ response? She’s pretty," she teased. Tippy was being a real little sister. She was truly tickled.

Yeah, but Tiffany why did you send him this old picture? I’m not that skinny now.

Gab that’s a good picture. You look the same to me, and he thinks you’re pretty, which we already knew. So when are you gonna call him?

Ok. I guess. You know we’re our own worst critics. We both laughed in agreement.

Yeah, I know, but Gabriella, you look fabulous.

Thank you, but I’m not comfortable at this size so I’ve got to lose this weight. But I won’t be calling him. In my world the dog still chases the cat. You can give him my phone number but tell him to call me next weekend because I have a lot going on this week. I won’t have a lot of time to be on the phone. I’m determined to get my workouts in this week. After work, gym, and a couple of social obligations all I’ll have energy for is a shower and it’s off to bed.

"I totally understand you, this Insanity is kicking my butt, but I have to have my body right for my vacation in eight weeks."

Yeah girly, you can’t be flabby in bikinis and short shorts, I teased and in our typical fashion we both cracked-up laughing and transitioned to another topic.

At this point it was what it was. If he called fine; if he didn’t call fine. Either way, it was no skin off my back. Best believe I wasn’t going to be sitting waiting by the phone.

CHAPTER 2

Blink of an Eye

The week had been a taxing one. I’d traveled all week and was glad to be back at home for the weekend. As much as I would have loved to lounge around the house reading and catching up on my sleep, I couldn’t because my weekend was filled with philanthropic and social commitments.

It was Saturday morning, and I was headed to an executive board meeting for one of the non-profit organizations I supported. As usual I was rushing because it was an hour drive without traffic, but despite it being 7:30am on the weekend I-295 was stalled. According to the navigation system there was an accident two miles ahead. People in the D.C., Maryland, Virginia area really cannot drive, I thought to myself. I was guaranteed to see at least two accidents every time I left the house. I couldn’t be late today, so I said a silent prayer that whomever was in the accident was not injured and that the traffic would ease up and at least start moving. My thoughts were interrupted by the phone. It was Tiffany calling.

Hey Girl! What are you doing?

Hey Girly! I replied. As usual, I’m driving. Headed to my executive board meeting but stuck in traffic. What are you getting into today? I’m sure you have lots of kid birthday parties to attend.

She laughed, You know it. We have three birthday parties today. One at 12pm, another at 2pm, and the last one at 5pm. You know my kids love to party, especially Benjamin. I don’t mind though. I’m glad because these kids are living the life and will have great childhood memories when they’re all grown up. Just partying all the time.

We both chuckled, and I agreed with her sentiment. I know and that’s awesome. We didn’t have parties like that when we were younger. Brian didn’t care too much for birthday parties when he was a kid. Shucks, by the time he was eight, he was over it. That’s probably why he loves to party so much now, I half joked about my adult son. Besides, you only get to be a kid once, and it should be a fun time.

Yep, she said and continued, I love that they have friends and positive, fun things to do. Keeps me busy, but I love it. But I was calling because I meant to call you last night, but by the time we got in and I got the kids all settled it was too late to call. I wanted to tell you I spoke to your ‘Boo Thang’ and I gave him your number. He said he was going to call you this weekend. So I wanted to give you a heads up.

I smiled, Well I hope he doesn’t call today before noon because I’m going to be busy. What did he say when you gave him my number?

It was a quick conversation. It was early Wednesday when I was on my way to work, like around 7:45am. I said, ‘Good morning Mr. Speldbender,’ and he told me to stop calling him Mr. Speldbender and call him Dasht. I said, ‘My mother taught me to respect my elders, but ok, good morning Dasht.’ He said, You need to stop all that. I am not your elder. I didn’t want to burst his bubble and tell him yes the hell he is my elder. She laughed, and it made me chuckle. I told him, ‘I meant to call you earlier in the week. I’ve just been so busy, but I wanted to let you know my sister received your pictures. She said you’re handsome,’ and Gab at this point I could tell he was smiling hard because he said, Oh, really?, and I could hear his grin through the phone. So I kept talking, ‘Yes, she said you’re handsome, and she said I could give you her phone number. She asked that you not call until the weekend because she is super busy and traveling all week. Let me know when you’re ready to write the number down.’ Then I gave him your number, and he said he would give you a call this weekend.

Ok. I will let you know if he calls. I just arrived at my destination. I’ll chat with you later.

Saturday came and went with no call from ‘Boo Thang.’

Sunday was another early, event filled day for me. My sorority was hosting its annual, signature spring fashion show and scholarship fundraiser, which was one of the premier affairs in a neighboring county. I looked forward to this event because it gave me an opportunity to catch up with my sorority sisters. This year it was both fun and work because I needed to scout out potential sponsors for the fundraiser I was planning and chairing in October for another social organization I was a member of. After the fashion show, I hung out and had an early dinner with some of my sorority sisters before driving the forty-nine miles back to my side of town.

I wanted to just relax when I got home, but my neighbor was hosting a jewelry party. I typically don’t socialize with the neighbors, but Mrs. Emily had lost her daughter to cancer in February. I’d only encountered her daughter twice last September and would have never known she was even sick, let alone dying. Rachel was a tall, slender, goddess who appeared to be the picture of perfect health and fabulous life. Apparently, she’d had a bout with cancer a couple of years prior, which is what had prompted her mother to move in with her. Now that she was deceased her mother still lived in the house. Mrs. Emily would stop me from time to time when she saw me at the mailbox or pulling into the garage to chat because she said I reminded her of her daughter.

Rachel and I were the same age, forty-six. I always felt sad now when I saw Mrs. Emily. I could only imagine how hard it was for her to have lost her daughter at such a young age. It was imperative I at least stop over, socialize briefly and make an obligatory purchase.

The jewelry was amazing and of course expensive. I’m not really a jewelry person, but I had to control my impulse to purchase several pieces. I was one to buy things and either give them away or never wear them. I narrowed my purchase down to two items, which was more than I’d planned or needed to buy. To my surprise the party actually turned out to be fun, and I really enjoyed myself. It was good spending some time with Mrs. Emily, but I’d been out and about all day and needed to go home and relax prior to kicking off another hectic work week.

I came home to find I’d missed a call and had a message from ‘Boo Thang’. I immediately listened to the voicemail. His voice was deep but not overtly sultry. He had a strong, southern drawl that flowed like warm maple syrup and made him sound friendly. I could hear his smile through the phone. I decided to get out of my clothes and get comfortable before calling him back. Once I changed into some sweats and got situated, I dialed him up. What I’d anticipated would be a fifteen or twenty minute routine get to know you on the surface conversation actually ended up being almost two hours, one hour and fifty-seven minutes to be exact, of stimulating discussion about current social issues, politics, family and life in general. The time had literally flown by in the blink of an eye. He had been so easy and fun to talk to. He was surprisingly really funny. After we hung up, I sat looking out the window reflecting on the conversation, and I smiled. I smiled from the inside out.

We had so much in common it was uncanny, but oddly refreshing because it made me believe, at least initially, we were possibly compatible, he would be able to understand me, and we could be friends. He had been married and