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they were long separated family at a reunion. Karen
broke the hug to introduce them both.
    “Cal, I want you to meet my dad's friend
Richard. Richard, this is my boyfriend Calvin....?”She trailed off,
only now realizing that they still didn't know each other’s last
names!
    “Richard Brown, any friend of Karen's is a
friend of mine!” The man said, grabbing Cal's hand in a vice-like
grip.
    “Calvin Johnson sir. It’s good to meet you.”
Cal said, returning his own strong handshake. Richard clapped his
other hand on Cal's back, winking at Karen while she gave Cal an
apologetic shrug.
    “Our girl Karen is basically the club's
mascot. Her dad and I started the place back in the '70s. She
practically grew up here after her mom passed, bless her soul.” He
paused briefly, adding, “You will be staying for lunch right? We
have a caterer coming up to woo the regulars into our executive
membership plan.”
    “We didn't have any other plans. Cal, what do
you say?” She asked, snaking her hand around his waist.
    “Sounds great. Thank you for having us.” Cal
said, as he looked to his girl with a smile. After the typical
familial pleasantries, Richard parted. Cal and Karen picked up the
spent brass casings off the ground. “They must have gone through
hundreds of these things trying to teach him how to shoot!” He
thought to himself.
    “Hmm, boyfriend huh?” Cal said.
    “Calvin Johnson eh?” She said with a
smirk.
    “You know, I still don't know your full name
either.” Cal said, taking advantage of her bent over posture to
grab her ass playfully.
    She swatted his hand, feigning displeasure at
his groping.” It's Karen Lawrence.” she said, sticking her hand out
in mock formality again.
    As Cal took her proffered hand, he pulled her
into a tight embrace that quickly devolved into a rabid, fervent
make out session. His hands running through her hair, their tongues
struggled for dominance like little wrestlers as their lips
caressed one another.
    Breaking their lip lock, Cal held his hand on
her shoulders. She looked up at him with a playful, mischievous
gaze while Cal struggled to find his self-control.
    “I don't know what it is about you. It's like
you have something I need. I just can't explain it. It's like
you're caramel candy.” Cal finally said with a hint of
realization.
    “Caramel candy?” Karen asked.
    “Yeah, those little cubed ones. You know when
you bite into it that you're going to spend the next half hour
trying to get it out of your teeth, but you still do it because
they taste so good!” Cal rolled his eyes to personify his love for
the sticky confection.
    “If I'm caramel, then what do you get to be?”
She asked, running her hands over his chest.
    “Your decision babe.” He said coolly,
watching her long fingers trail along his body. After a pensive few
moments she spoke.
    “Red Hot! Eh, no. Oh! Sweet Tart! No, not
that either.” Her thoughts trailed off as she continued to think up
a comparable candy to match her beau.
    “We may have to come back to this later.” Cal
said. Their moment interrupted by the first arrivals of the noon
crowd. They parted their embrace and made their way to the catered
lunch in the main clubhouse.
    Cal found himself at home in this strange new
place. Everyone obviously had more money than they knew what to do
with, but they still seemed down to earth and polite. Over lobster
tails and prime rib sandwiches, Richard made his pitch to the
affluent crowd. They all seemed to be ready to open their
checkbooks for the kind gentleman. Cal hadn't had lobster in years.
He and Karen sat across from each other at Richard's table, staring
at each other playfully while Richard recounted 'Nam stories
involving him and Karen's father. Richard certainly had a way with
words. He had the whole lunch crowd at their table hanging on his
every word as he recounted the duo's adventures. Kenneth, Karen's
dad, was a materials and requisitions specialist. He was tasked
with