Robin Alexander - Murky Waters

“The pizza will be out shortly,” Tristan said as she squeezed lemon into her drink.

Claire looked around the room. “This place is not so bad. Is this where you bring all of your women to impress them?”

Tristan laughed. “I have not been out on a date for so long I’ve forgotten how to impress anyone. With my work schedule, it’s really hard to get involved. Many a relationship has died due to my sporadic schedule. I guess I have just given up.”

“I can relate to that well. I have moved so often due to my job.”

Claire sighed. “Although it has gotten me the promotions I’ve desired, it’s taken a toll on my love life.”

Both sat in awkward silence for a few minutes until Claire changed the subject. “So, how did you get into this business in the first place?”

“My dad was a port engineer for many years. He was one of the guys they called out when a boat had mechanical problems. When I was younger and before they got so stringent on safety, I would go with him. I just fell in love with the river and the boats. When I got out of high school, much to the displeasure of my parents, I 38

Robin Alexander

decided not to go to college and went to work for Valor, and I’ve been here ever since.”

Claire smiled. “Tell me what it’s like to be born and raised in Cajun country.”

“I suppose it’s not much different than anywhere else. In kindergarten, we are taught to drive boats and how to wrestle alligators when they make their way out onto the roadway. The most time-intensive training is spent on learning how to cook crawfish properly, but that’s not until we take home economics in high school,” Tristan said with a smirk.

“Are you naturally a smart ass, or did you undergo some sort of training?” Claire shot back, impressed by Tristan’s sense of humor.

Tristan laughed, and Claire realized she liked the sound of it.

“Like I said, life in Louisiana is not much different than anywhere else. I will admit that there is a very eclectic group of people who live here. New Orleans is a fine example of that.

“When I was a little girl, I used to love to listen to my grandmother tell me all sorts of tales of how she grew up in the swamp. She told me how they cooked and ate opossum and hunted alligators to make belts and shoes. I was so disappointed when I found out that she really grew up just like me out in the suburbs of Baton Rouge.”

The counter called Tristan’s name, and she excused herself to get the pizza. Claire watched Tristan as she walked across the room and could not help but notice that Tristan turned heads everywhere she went. What was amusing to Claire was that Tristan didn’t even notice the attention. Not out of arrogance, but she was seemingly oblivious to how striking she actually was.

After eating the best pizza Claire ever had the pleasure of tasting, she and Tristan slumped down in their chairs and lit up a cigarette.

Claire wanted to know more about the beautiful woman who sat across from her. As she sat there, the list of questions grew longer in her mind.

“Umm, Tris? Do you mind if I ask you some more questions?”

Hopefully, by using the pet name Sam had used, Claire would be able to get her now quiet companion to open up again.

“I’m an open book. Ask me what you will.” She smiled at Claire.

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Murky Waters

Claire paused and took a deep breath. “Okay, first, do you have siblings? Do you have a good relationship with your parents?

What is your favorite color? Do you have another favorite food besides pizza? Why is your cat named Ralph? Would you be interested in showing me around town sometime when we are both off work?”

Tristan just sat there blinking her eyes, trying to take in all the questions that had been thrown at her. She liked the last one the most but decided to answer all in order.

“No sibs. Dad passed away two years ago. Mom and I don’t see eye to eye, and when we see each other, it’s usually fireworks.

Blue is my favorite color. Mexican is tied with Italian. He’s named Ralph because I thought it was a funny name for a cat. I would love to show you around, but that is something we need to seriously discuss.”

Claire was a little taken aback by the last answer. “Discuss?”

“Claire, everyone knows about my sexual orientation. I’ve made no attempt to hide it. With us just working together, the rumors will fly. If we do things together after work, it will only add to the fire.”

“I’m sorry, Tris, I didn’t think about it that way. I don’t want to make things difficult for you. I just enjoy your company and thought it would be fun.”

Tristan interrupted. “I’m not saying that I don’t want to go at all.

My concern is for you. Unless I’m wrong, no one knows you’re gay. When we start to do things, rumors will fly. I was just trying to prepare you for the onslaught. Frankly, I’ve been trying to think of a way to approach this subject with you, but I didn’t know quite how.”

“I see.” Claire breathed a sigh of relief. She hated rejection.

“Since rumors will fly anyway, let them think what they will. I’m certainly not going to live my life in the shadows just because someone may talk about me. If their lives are so dull that they have to entertain themselves with my business, then I feel sorry for them. Besides, I’m not about to let what people say keep me from going out with you,” Claire said with conviction, not realizing how the last part of her declaration sounded.

40

Robin Alexander

Tristan sat silently for a moment, and Claire could see the wheels turning behind her big brown eyes. “Umm ... will this be like a date?” She asked nervously.

Reluctant to scream, “Hell, yes!” Claire replied shyly, “What do you want it to be?”

“I asked you first,” Tristan shot back.

Claire decided to take a big chance. “Tristan, I would really like to consider it a date.”

Tristan grinned as her face began to color. “Good. Now, we have that settled. How about you let me make the plans since I’m the native?” she said nervously as she fidgeted with her napkin.

“Sounds good to me. I’ll leave it in your hands. What do you have planned for the rest of the day?”

“Ellen suggested I take you down to some of the fleet offices and introduce you to some of the gang there, but I figured you’d rather go for a ride down River Road. They’re expecting us to be out all day, and I would rather not spend it cooped up in a stuffy office listening to war stories.” Tristan smiled impishly.

“Perfect! One more thing, though?” Claire asked excitedly.

Tristan finished off the last of her tea. “What would that be?”

“What night are you planning for our date? A girl has to know these things in advance. I may have to get an emergency pedicure or something,” Claire said jokingly.

“Right now, Friday seems like a long way off, but I think that will have to be it. Besides, that should give us plenty of time in advance in case we need an emergency pedicure or have some sort of apparel conflict.”

Tristan drove down River Road, pointing out old plantation homes and different sites along the way as she listened to Claire’s excited chatter. They stopped at different fleets but remained on the levee, and Tristan gave Claire a pair of binoculars to look at the barges being set up for tow by their vessels.

“You can tell when a barge is empty by how high it sits up in the water. When they’re loaded, they are only a few feet above the water’s surface. When the barges are being loaded, the tankerman will open different valves to maintain an even flow of the product to keep the barge from tipping to one side, or listing, as we call it.”