The following “letter” is part of the continuing series from the unpublished novel by James Garrett, “Benicia Letters Once More”. He does not plan to publish the book but instead is choosing to share the letters with the readers of the Benicia Herald. The letters continue the storyline of Garrett’s first novel “Benicia and Letters of Love”. Each “letter” tells of love in one of its many forms from a separate point of view. Benicia is represented prominently in the letters because of Garrett’s deep fondness for the city of Benicia. He hopes readers see themselves or others they know in the letters because the concept of “Love” is universal.

Dear Mr. Garrett,
I had sex, but it wasn’t love, with a lot of guys before I got married. Then I dated a guy who said I had been hurt. We continued to date after that first night and we didn’t make love until our wedding night. I was true to him from that first date through today and will be forever.
I told him all the things which had happened and how each of them affected me. All of that happened during that first date. I wasn’t happy when he came to pick me up. I thought it would be another “nothing date” with no future. I didn’t care if all he wanted was sex after taking me out. It all just didn’t seem to matter.
I had given too much too early because I thought that was how it was supposed to be. I had seen too many movies showing what I thought to be real but wasn’t. I had heard my early girlfriends talking of “getting some” and “how could you go that long without getting some”. I assume I was looked on as an easy make.
That changed when I met a man in Benicia I later married. My love is a law enforcement officer. He was in Benicia on professional business. I was at a local eatery having lunch when he came in to do the same. He sat at a table next to mine. After a couple minutes, he started small talk. Then he asked if he could sit with me since it would shorten the distance for our conversation. I saw the badge and pistol he wore and felt I couldn’t be safer talking with a stranger than I would be with him.
He told me the salad I was eating looked good and he probably should have had a salad also. He went on to say since he didn’t know when he would be having dinner he thought he should get the sandwich and fries.
I told him his wife would keep something to eat ready for him for when got home.
Then he told me he had never been married and lived alone in Cordelia. That is when I started seeing him differently than when he sat down.
He asked if I lived in Benicia and asked me about the town. I’ve lived here all my life and told him all I could and answered all the questions I could in the approximately hour we shared. When he asked if he could call me sometime and that maybe we could go on a date, I said yes to both questions.
He called that evening. The following Saturday morning we went to San Francisco, rented bikes and rode them in Golden Gate Park, and had dinner at Fisherman’s Wharf.
The sun was setting as we sat in his car looking out at the Golden Gate Bridge later. We sat there for almost two hours and I told that near stranger things I had never told anyone. He sat and listened.
When my little sponge of memories had been wrung dry, he spoke. He said I had been hurt, but I was strong enough to beat the hurt. Then he drove me home.
He walked me to my front door and said he would like to see me again. I invited him over for dinner the next night. He kissed me on my right cheek and said he would be happy to come. Then he left.
The next night we ate, danced in the living room, and kissed. Then he said goodnight. He telephoned as soon as he got home. The dates became steady after that first date. We still “date.”
Kathy

James Garrett is a lifelong resident of Benicia and a former teacher at Benicia High School. He is the author of the following novels: “Benicia and Letters of Love,” “The Mansion Stories,” “Chief Salt,” and “One Great Season, 9-0!” He also compiled a three-volume work titled “The Golden Era: Benicia High School Football, The 1948 through 1960 Seasons, “A” History with Comments.”
He can be contacted at jgstoriesnpoetry@aol.com.

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