"Typical Miami" Man?
So, this happened to me a couple months ago, and is a longer story than usual. I have no pictures because immediately following the breakup, I deleted all pictures, videos, text and any trace of the relationship...because although I wouldn't say I was sad to leave behind the person, because the person didn't seem to be at all what he'd seemed, but definitely, my heart broke a little at losing the hope of finding a very special person. I believe it is kind of an amazing story of what I'd always heard is the "Miami-man." I'd heard all these stories that this is the way men are here...Now I wouldn't say that I agree, but there is a common theme here of what to be wary of in the dating scene.
I finally finished my blog this morning before packing up for my trip, but then accidentally deleted (didn't save) the end and the changes I'd made, so now I will take advantage of the time that I have on my long trip to San Diego, and the free wifi!!
Recently, I went for a long walk, and shared breakfast and a cup of coffee with a friend. We were talking about how funny it is dating, and how you just never know about people. I have been single for 8 years, following a 17 year marriage, with now only 4 "relationships"...each lasting only 1 or 2 months. I really hadn't met anyone since I moved to South Beach, 2 years and a half ago, until last June. Finally met "John." Although, months before when we met over the telephone and connected on a dating app...I recalled he told me his name was Johnny. We'd had a number of long conversations, and even had an argument at first because of a "misunderstanding,"which sounded like he wanted to stay at my house after our first date....that pushed our in person meeting back a few months.
He told me that he had 3 thriving businesses, and then a sick step-father, who eventually died, so it took a while for us to meet...we met digitally on a dating site, and randomly I'd hear from him over the course of time. Subsequently, after the death of his step-father, he'd started smoking...not really my type of quality, but I'd kind of figured it was temporary, as he was just dealing with his loss.
He lived in Plantation Acres. Told me he had a 9 bedroom home there, and owned a manufacturing corp. that makes all the outdoor equipment...parts like jet ski parts lawnmower parts, also one that built million dollar homes, AND he was Senior Advisor to the Dept. of Defense. Wow! Quite a resume, and a very strong, passionate, opinionated and FUNNY man! He also said he had 2 daughters...one was a famous country music singing star, ages 23 and 29...she won "The Voice." We had a long talk on the phone for the first time September 15th, 2016, and I learned a lot about him...he also builds luxury homes in Palm Beach...interesting, but I noted that he talks a lot!! Lotta information!!
John was married for 20+ something years...traveling 8 months a year for the Navy Seals, and got a divorce after 20 years, because his marriage had deteriorated down to no sex and no communication, I was told.
Another reason that we never met for so long is that he seemed to have a real hard time with the idea of driving to see me, and then having to drive all the way home, after a few drinks. Understandable, but I told him NO WAY was he going to stay at my place, after our first date. And I promised that if we hit it off, and liked each other then next time I would make the trip to see him.
Finally, in June he came to have brunch. Picked me up and we went to Prime Fish, in South Beach, as I'd heard they have a good brunch, and it was nice. But the first 20 minutes, it didn't seem to be going so well. As he was asking me all the questions, and I was feeling like I was being interrogated, which is funny, because I have been accused of that before. But what I say to that is: if I am asking you a lot of questions, that is a good sign, because that means that I am interested in you. However, at this moment, I was just wondering how quickly I could get outa there, and then how long is polite to stay after his long drive to South Beach!!
Little did I know he was thinking the same thing. So I needed some time away from the table, and all his direct questions...went to the bathroom, and when I returned...I decided...HOW CAN I GET THIS GUY TO STOP ASKING ME QUESTIONS!?!? I know!! I will start asking HIM questions!! THEN he will stop!!!
Little did I know that as soon as I started asking him questions, he seemed to pull back and change his demeanor. And now I was realizing THIS WAS AN INTERESTING GUY!!! OK! Now I was enjoying myself and his humorous banter!! So we finished up at brunch, left his car and proceeded to walk around South Beach...wanted to show him what I love about it here...the boats, the activity, friendly people...we had a great time, which ended up being an 8 hour first date!! While we had talked, somehow it came up that he had some awesome jeweler nearby where he lives that he gets all of his jewelry from, and that he is also great at selling jewelry. Acted like he'd known his jeweler forever. I told him that I had a ring that I had bought when I was married that I don't wear anymore, and I'd really love to sell it. So, with John acting as an authority on everything, he promised that when I came to visit him, we could take it to his jeweler, whom he called "Jaimie."
Complete Surprise after the way our date began.
I liked this guy.
Then he surprised me the next week...he had said he was going to make another trip to see me on Tuesday night, but because of work, he got held up, and wasn't able to make it. So, he called and apologized, and asked where I would be going to grab dinner that night or Happy hour. I told him I was headed to Prime 112, my favorite early evening stop. Because I can sit at the bar by myself, and commonly people come in, locals like me, or interesting solo visitors, and grab dinner at the bar, and I don't have to feel like I am sitting at a bar alone...a great busy and fun atmosphere, with excellent food, and big portions. John talked to me on the uber ride all the way there, and when I got there he told me to ask for "Max," and that whatever I ordered had already been paid for.
WOW!! This was a pleasant surprise that had never been done for me before.
So, not wanting to take full advantage, as the bartenders were trying to get me to order up a big steak dinner and all of the fixings, with apps, and the whole to-do, but instead, I just ordered an appetizer of crab cake and a vegetable...which would be no more than I would usually order, but then with the 3 drinks that I had while I was talking on the phone to John, the whole time I was there, my bill still came to $100...with the gratuity.
I was a bit embarrassed it was so high, but just hoped he wouldn't mind..
But as luck would have it, when he got the bill, and saw how high it was, he made me feel really badly about it. So, duly noted. Maybe not as generous as he'd first appeared.
So the next weekend, I went to visit him, as I'd said I would. (where he was staying while some people were renting his big house to make a music video). He said this has been happening repeatedly, since his daughter, "Tessa," or "Tess," as he commonly referred to her had become famous, and made some of her own videos there...now her friends had wanted to use it. He gave it to them for a bargain basement price of thousands of dollars below what it normally would cost. He had so many stories of his girls growing up in the big house in Palm Beach, and him pretending he was Santa, and looking thru the sky-light in the kitchen to the girls, and waving, and his girls being so happy and surprised, and yelling, "Hi Santa!!"
He told me he had built his huge house, because he wanted to reconstruct the big house that his girls had grown up in, and that he "gave" to his ex-wife in the divorce. He'd said he gave her "everything after their 20 year marriage ended...because he just wanted out. But because his daughters had blamed him for the break up, and the loneliness of their mother following it, that he had wanted them to feel just as at home when they visited him in his big house that he likened it to the one they had grown up in with both of their parents.
The first night I visited, after we returned from visiting his jeweler friend, and left my ring with him to get it appraised and certified. It had cost $30,000 new nearly 15 years ago, and I had walked around with it enough to know that I would be lucky at this point to get $12,000 for it. Which, I had decided that would be enough. I wasn't going to wear the ring anymore, as I was told, years ago, it makes me look like I am married. Also, when I meet a special man, I would like for HIM to buy me a ring. This is one I bought with my ex-husband (3.5 carats in a 5 carat 18k gold setting, and I just needed to pay off loans I had given my kids, so they did not need to worry about paying me back, which seemed like a good reason to sell it. FYI Jamie put a 3.5 ct CZ in the 18ct gold setting, with diamonds on the side...it is available to the highest bidder. I put it on facebook once, but honestly haven't really had a chance to sell it. John thought I could get at least $1000 for it.
John had made fun of the way that I had "marched" around the diamond district in Miami with the ring, and showed it to diamond jewelers, and asked them what they'd give me for it. But, I wanted to have an idea of what it is worth before showing it to John's jeweler. It seemed he was very protective of me, and after I'd seen 3 or 4 jewelers to get their best offer, (walking up and down stairways, and empty halls), John told me to get in an Uber car with me ring and go straight home! I liked the way he was taking charge, and I felt like he would protect me. Plus, it never seemed like he had an ulterior motive to make money on the sale...just that he was filled with resources and wanted to help and take care of me.
Our first night together, in Plantation Acres, after his driver picked me up from my apartment, and brought me over, and John greeted us outside, and tipped the driver cash. John then prepared steaks and lobster tails, deliciously! Got my favorite vodka and tequila, and mixers, and had a full refrigerator, which I haven't seen in years. Then, the next day, waiting for breakfast at Cracker Barrel, we played a fun game of checkers waiting for our table. I was pleased that we both enjoyed such simple activities, and it seemed we could have fun just by being together. Then that evening, he took me out to Las Olas to walk the street, and share a bite at a local spot. Showed me a gondola, and told me they take out dinner cruises, and he'd like to do that with me sometime!
Ironically, when we were walking the street, we stepped into a 2nd hand purse store, and were looking around. John found an expensive one, (I think it was around $200...I just remember thinking if that is someone else's purse they are selling for $200...then that is pretty expensive!), and asked if I wanted it. I didn't make any sudden movements, and the offer seemed to be forgotten, and suddenly, his sister and her husband appeared in the doorway, surprised to see him, and to meet me, and didn't really seem that friendly.
John said they were just surprised to see him out and because of his last girlfriends less than virtuous motives, they were hesitant and surprised to see that he was dating someone new, because he hadn't told them anything about me. We went home by 10:30pm. A short weekend evening out, I thought, but I enjoyed him, so didn't mind much. We went home and sat on the patio with the radio...he made me a drink, and he smoked and we just talked until late that night. He called and texted me every day, so I was feeling like I had a boyfriend!
The next weekend John was recovering from an injury on the job, fell off a tractor, but we did negotiate selling my ring to his friend the jeweler, after John had also posted it on a few websites, and didn't seem to get anymore than the jeweler had offered, Which I was kind of impressed at the extra lengths he had gone to try to make me money on my ring, without even discussing it with me. At first there was a little hesitation to sell it thru Jamie when he told John that since John didn't want the commission that Jamie would like to keep it instead of giving it to me. (I overheard the conversation on the phone even though the receiver was up to John's ear...I heard him turn down Jamie's offer. But then, there were so much interruption with John's health and stress level, I really didn't want to bother him with my stress, and the jeweler was being really pushy that he had found a buyer for my ring, that I just wanted to be done with the negotiation on the ring and I agreed to sell it to Jamie for $11,700...$300 less than what I'd hoped to get, but still more than any of the vendors in the diamond district had offered me, and I decided not to be greedy.
So we spent the next weekend at John's place just watching movies, and taking smoke breaks out on his patio to watch the wildlife, and for me to sit under a blanket and talk with the radio playing fun songs that occasionally I would Karaoki perform to make him laugh. He always took perfect care to make sure that I was comfortable, and had everything that I needed, and we really did have such fun together.
The third weekend together, was the same...smoke breaks on the patio (for him), lots of memories shared in conversation...long stories, and tv movies and wildlife watching on the patio...lots of birds and chipmunks to feed. To get out and get some exercise, in the mornings, I would ask him to walk around the block with me in the mornings...this was fun, but I noticed that for an ex- "Navy Seal," he was a pretty slow walker...almost looked like he'd had so many injuries in the past that it hurt him to take each step.
Also that third weekend, I asked the question: "are you an introvert?" He said, "YES, aren't you!?" I said, "No! I really am not, though I've really enjoyed the time I've spent with you...I really need to get out and do something." I was starting to get a feeling...I told him that I'd love to see where you work? See some houses you've built? See your friends? I reminded him that he'd said he had not 1, but 2 yachts...I told him that I really would like to go out in one!! (all the time knowing that if suddenly something had happened to the yacht, and we couldn't go out, then that meant he'd been lying, and there was no yacht.
So, the next weekend was Mother's Day, told him I will go out with my kids during the week, so we can go out in the boat on Mother's Day.
Anyway, then after a month of home visits from me on the weekends to Plantation Acres, I was starting to see my future with this guy as a little uneventful. I went out with my wonderful, handsome gay friend, who I had not seen much of all month because I had been kind of tied up visiting this new guy. My friend said to me point blank, "Tracy, I don't think you could ever live in Plantation Acres...That is where all the 'trailor trash' live!" I laughed, and thought this was funny that he said this!! Of course, I didn't believe it to be true, because what I had seen of that area had been just beautiful. Sure, I hadn't really met a lot of people there...just John, and his sister, and her husband, and the jeweler, but they all seemed to be very nice. And, I had expected there were many others there, just as nice. So I told John what my friend had said, as I was laughing! John stopped talking to me for a day...nor taking my calls nor responding to my texts.
I didn't realize it at the time, because I had thought this had been so funny, and of course it wasn't true, but that my friend who told me that I wouldn't like living in Plantation Acres, really didn't want me to move to Plantation Acres!!! So when I told John he had said this on the phone that night, I hadn't realized that I'd insulted him until the next day when he hadn't called me at all and finally I called an text him and asked if he still wanted me to visit this weekend.
Finally I heard from John. Some kind of shit went down, so he said he was the Homestead Airforce Base early at like 3am. Then closer to 2pm he said he was home, and I could come over, as we'd planned. When I got there, he accommodated me, as he always had, making my drink with my favorite vodka, so we could sit on the patio for his "smoke break," and to talk. I had asked him how his week was? He couldn't talk until we were in our seats. Then he said it had been a "horrible week." His accountants had all of their accounts stolen from them...which included both of his boats!
My first thought was....ohhhh nooo, he's been lying!!! Here it comes....
Then he proceeded to tell me that is why he was at the airforce base this morning to get his name off every thing before it went public...I was like: But you went at 3am, you said? If this all happened on Tuesday...why did you wait until Friday morning at 3am!?? This wasn't adding up.
So I quickly text my friends his address, so they would know where I was, because I was gonna tell him I didn't believe him...and knew he was lying about the boats. (hoping he would give me a good reason, tho!) They responded and told me that the address that I'd text him wasn't even his address...it was an apartment that belonged to "Sister Jean." He had told me about Sister Jean...that he had "let" her live in one of his 4 townhouses there. But now it was coming up that HE had owned it???
So when I told him what my friends had found...that his apartment was in Sister Jean's name...He immediately insisted on calling the sister to clear things up!! She answered, and he said, "Sister Jean, do you own your apartment??" Then she said, "well, its funny you should ask that, Johnny..." Then she said there was some discrepancy in the documentation, and John thanked her very much and hung up. He said, "SEE!! She said she doesn't own the apartment where she lives!" I said, "Yes, but John, she didn't sound like it was yours either!!"
Anyway, he made things sound reasonable enough that I decided not to fight the traffic to go back home. That night we watched, "Scarface," that he told me was the movie of his father, whom he's never known who got caught up in the drug ring of Miami, and then just disappeared. That movie was a little unsettling for me....especially thinking it might have something to do with his family. The last scene is a bloody one with a little incestuous overtone. But he'd said that the people who made the movie had not wanted to cut his mom into the profits, so that is why it is not exactly the story, but same basic story.
At the end of the movie it says it is dedicated to 2 guys...he said, "yes, that was uncle ++++." I was like..."WHAAAAT???"
Anyway, woke up the final day, and he was going to take me to breakfast, but just after he woke up, and was out on the patio, having his morning smoke, he said he had something for me to know he was telling the truth! Showed me his gun owners permit and his drivers license...said the address on those was the place where his 9 story house was that was in the name Atlantic Corp LLC...so then he went up to take a shower. I immediately took a picture of both IDs and sent them to my same 2 friends. Immediately, they came back with the owner of that property. It came back in his mom's and late stepfather's name.
So breakfast that day was very quiet...not a lot of conversation. He just had a coffee. I had an omelet and coffee to eat. Then he paid the bill, and we started home. I thought I better not say anything until we get back to his house, because I don't want him to crash the car into a tree or something. Then in the middle of our trip he said, "So, did you tell your friends you are ok??" And I said, "yes." He said, "what did they say??" I said, " Well, they said that property on your license is not in your name it is in your Mom and late father's name, and it is not a 9 bedroom house...it is a 4 bedroom house." We had driven past it the week before...the gates magically opened when we pulled up, so I knew he must have something to do with it, but wasn't quite sure...there was a neighbor outside, he didn't wave to, and the house looked very nice, but didn't look like a 9 bedroom huge house. So things were definitely not adding up.
This seemed to infuriate him, but he kept it inside...silent. He started changing into his bathing suit, as we'd agreed that after breakfast we'd go to the pool when we got home after breakfast, so I wasn't really sure what was going on!? I quickly started packing...not really sure yet, that I was going to leave. It seemed so strange...I just kept waiting for something to happen and for me to find out there was some secret reason for all of this to happen..or not happen. Why had he lied?? What did he have to gain? Was time with me worth all this deception? Funny, because I had liked him...maybe felt love for him...all he had to do was be straight with me...come clean...one thing I will NOT entertain is a liar.
After I packed my things, and left them in a bag at the bottom of the stairs...then went out to join him on the patio, and asked him..."do you have anything to say?"...."Is there a reason why you've been lying to me??" Because I really did care for you...Until that weekend, we had told each other that we "loved" each other, and I really did feel that I had found someone special...different...Then he told me that it had all been a test, and I had failed. That this was "his life," and I had no right to digging into it.
Anyway, that was it, and I went back in and got my bag, Called myself a lyft car...he had always called it for me, and carried my bag to the car and put everything in it, took care of the cost both ways, and asked the driver to keep me safe. Until that day, and by the time I got home he had blocked me from facebook, and two days later blocked me from What's App...though, this wasn't necessary.
There was no reason for me to spend anymore time with a liar.
So, since then, I have really paid much less attention to the dating apps, and the people there...I do believe you can meet someone special there...anything that brings people together is a great thing. Just since that breakup, I have been spending the majority of my time and attention with the people right in front of me...a good lesson to learn.
No, I don't think anything about this story was typical, but just a sad story about a man who I believe was delusional, and a pathological liar. I enjoyed our short time together, and what I believed he was, and know that meeting him brings me just that much closer to the perfect man for me...maybe even in Miami!!
The names in this story were changed to not draw any attention or more disharmony to anyone.
So let me know If I accidentally typed his name anywhere !! I think I changed 'em all!!
I finally finished my blog this morning before packing up for my trip, but then accidentally deleted (didn't save) the end and the changes I'd made, so now I will take advantage of the time that I have on my long trip to San Diego, and the free wifi!!
Recently, I went for a long walk, and shared breakfast and a cup of coffee with a friend. We were talking about how funny it is dating, and how you just never know about people. I have been single for 8 years, following a 17 year marriage, with now only 4 "relationships"...each lasting only 1 or 2 months. I really hadn't met anyone since I moved to South Beach, 2 years and a half ago, until last June. Finally met "John." Although, months before when we met over the telephone and connected on a dating app...I recalled he told me his name was Johnny. We'd had a number of long conversations, and even had an argument at first because of a "misunderstanding,"which sounded like he wanted to stay at my house after our first date....that pushed our in person meeting back a few months.
He told me that he had 3 thriving businesses, and then a sick step-father, who eventually died, so it took a while for us to meet...we met digitally on a dating site, and randomly I'd hear from him over the course of time. Subsequently, after the death of his step-father, he'd started smoking...not really my type of quality, but I'd kind of figured it was temporary, as he was just dealing with his loss.
He lived in Plantation Acres. Told me he had a 9 bedroom home there, and owned a manufacturing corp. that makes all the outdoor equipment...parts like jet ski parts lawnmower parts, also one that built million dollar homes, AND he was Senior Advisor to the Dept. of Defense. Wow! Quite a resume, and a very strong, passionate, opinionated and FUNNY man! He also said he had 2 daughters...one was a famous country music singing star, ages 23 and 29...she won "The Voice." We had a long talk on the phone for the first time September 15th, 2016, and I learned a lot about him...he also builds luxury homes in Palm Beach...interesting, but I noted that he talks a lot!! Lotta information!!
John was married for 20+ something years...traveling 8 months a year for the Navy Seals, and got a divorce after 20 years, because his marriage had deteriorated down to no sex and no communication, I was told.
Another reason that we never met for so long is that he seemed to have a real hard time with the idea of driving to see me, and then having to drive all the way home, after a few drinks. Understandable, but I told him NO WAY was he going to stay at my place, after our first date. And I promised that if we hit it off, and liked each other then next time I would make the trip to see him.
Finally, in June he came to have brunch. Picked me up and we went to Prime Fish, in South Beach, as I'd heard they have a good brunch, and it was nice. But the first 20 minutes, it didn't seem to be going so well. As he was asking me all the questions, and I was feeling like I was being interrogated, which is funny, because I have been accused of that before. But what I say to that is: if I am asking you a lot of questions, that is a good sign, because that means that I am interested in you. However, at this moment, I was just wondering how quickly I could get outa there, and then how long is polite to stay after his long drive to South Beach!!
Little did I know he was thinking the same thing. So I needed some time away from the table, and all his direct questions...went to the bathroom, and when I returned...I decided...HOW CAN I GET THIS GUY TO STOP ASKING ME QUESTIONS!?!? I know!! I will start asking HIM questions!! THEN he will stop!!!
Little did I know that as soon as I started asking him questions, he seemed to pull back and change his demeanor. And now I was realizing THIS WAS AN INTERESTING GUY!!! OK! Now I was enjoying myself and his humorous banter!! So we finished up at brunch, left his car and proceeded to walk around South Beach...wanted to show him what I love about it here...the boats, the activity, friendly people...we had a great time, which ended up being an 8 hour first date!! While we had talked, somehow it came up that he had some awesome jeweler nearby where he lives that he gets all of his jewelry from, and that he is also great at selling jewelry. Acted like he'd known his jeweler forever. I told him that I had a ring that I had bought when I was married that I don't wear anymore, and I'd really love to sell it. So, with John acting as an authority on everything, he promised that when I came to visit him, we could take it to his jeweler, whom he called "Jaimie."
Complete Surprise after the way our date began.
I liked this guy.
Then he surprised me the next week...he had said he was going to make another trip to see me on Tuesday night, but because of work, he got held up, and wasn't able to make it. So, he called and apologized, and asked where I would be going to grab dinner that night or Happy hour. I told him I was headed to Prime 112, my favorite early evening stop. Because I can sit at the bar by myself, and commonly people come in, locals like me, or interesting solo visitors, and grab dinner at the bar, and I don't have to feel like I am sitting at a bar alone...a great busy and fun atmosphere, with excellent food, and big portions. John talked to me on the uber ride all the way there, and when I got there he told me to ask for "Max," and that whatever I ordered had already been paid for.
WOW!! This was a pleasant surprise that had never been done for me before.
So, not wanting to take full advantage, as the bartenders were trying to get me to order up a big steak dinner and all of the fixings, with apps, and the whole to-do, but instead, I just ordered an appetizer of crab cake and a vegetable...which would be no more than I would usually order, but then with the 3 drinks that I had while I was talking on the phone to John, the whole time I was there, my bill still came to $100...with the gratuity.
I was a bit embarrassed it was so high, but just hoped he wouldn't mind..
But as luck would have it, when he got the bill, and saw how high it was, he made me feel really badly about it. So, duly noted. Maybe not as generous as he'd first appeared.
So the next weekend, I went to visit him, as I'd said I would. (where he was staying while some people were renting his big house to make a music video). He said this has been happening repeatedly, since his daughter, "Tessa," or "Tess," as he commonly referred to her had become famous, and made some of her own videos there...now her friends had wanted to use it. He gave it to them for a bargain basement price of thousands of dollars below what it normally would cost. He had so many stories of his girls growing up in the big house in Palm Beach, and him pretending he was Santa, and looking thru the sky-light in the kitchen to the girls, and waving, and his girls being so happy and surprised, and yelling, "Hi Santa!!"
He told me he had built his huge house, because he wanted to reconstruct the big house that his girls had grown up in, and that he "gave" to his ex-wife in the divorce. He'd said he gave her "everything after their 20 year marriage ended...because he just wanted out. But because his daughters had blamed him for the break up, and the loneliness of their mother following it, that he had wanted them to feel just as at home when they visited him in his big house that he likened it to the one they had grown up in with both of their parents.
The first night I visited, after we returned from visiting his jeweler friend, and left my ring with him to get it appraised and certified. It had cost $30,000 new nearly 15 years ago, and I had walked around with it enough to know that I would be lucky at this point to get $12,000 for it. Which, I had decided that would be enough. I wasn't going to wear the ring anymore, as I was told, years ago, it makes me look like I am married. Also, when I meet a special man, I would like for HIM to buy me a ring. This is one I bought with my ex-husband (3.5 carats in a 5 carat 18k gold setting, and I just needed to pay off loans I had given my kids, so they did not need to worry about paying me back, which seemed like a good reason to sell it. FYI Jamie put a 3.5 ct CZ in the 18ct gold setting, with diamonds on the side...it is available to the highest bidder. I put it on facebook once, but honestly haven't really had a chance to sell it. John thought I could get at least $1000 for it.
John had made fun of the way that I had "marched" around the diamond district in Miami with the ring, and showed it to diamond jewelers, and asked them what they'd give me for it. But, I wanted to have an idea of what it is worth before showing it to John's jeweler. It seemed he was very protective of me, and after I'd seen 3 or 4 jewelers to get their best offer, (walking up and down stairways, and empty halls), John told me to get in an Uber car with me ring and go straight home! I liked the way he was taking charge, and I felt like he would protect me. Plus, it never seemed like he had an ulterior motive to make money on the sale...just that he was filled with resources and wanted to help and take care of me.
Our first night together, in Plantation Acres, after his driver picked me up from my apartment, and brought me over, and John greeted us outside, and tipped the driver cash. John then prepared steaks and lobster tails, deliciously! Got my favorite vodka and tequila, and mixers, and had a full refrigerator, which I haven't seen in years. Then, the next day, waiting for breakfast at Cracker Barrel, we played a fun game of checkers waiting for our table. I was pleased that we both enjoyed such simple activities, and it seemed we could have fun just by being together. Then that evening, he took me out to Las Olas to walk the street, and share a bite at a local spot. Showed me a gondola, and told me they take out dinner cruises, and he'd like to do that with me sometime!
Ironically, when we were walking the street, we stepped into a 2nd hand purse store, and were looking around. John found an expensive one, (I think it was around $200...I just remember thinking if that is someone else's purse they are selling for $200...then that is pretty expensive!), and asked if I wanted it. I didn't make any sudden movements, and the offer seemed to be forgotten, and suddenly, his sister and her husband appeared in the doorway, surprised to see him, and to meet me, and didn't really seem that friendly.
John said they were just surprised to see him out and because of his last girlfriends less than virtuous motives, they were hesitant and surprised to see that he was dating someone new, because he hadn't told them anything about me. We went home by 10:30pm. A short weekend evening out, I thought, but I enjoyed him, so didn't mind much. We went home and sat on the patio with the radio...he made me a drink, and he smoked and we just talked until late that night. He called and texted me every day, so I was feeling like I had a boyfriend!
The next weekend John was recovering from an injury on the job, fell off a tractor, but we did negotiate selling my ring to his friend the jeweler, after John had also posted it on a few websites, and didn't seem to get anymore than the jeweler had offered, Which I was kind of impressed at the extra lengths he had gone to try to make me money on my ring, without even discussing it with me. At first there was a little hesitation to sell it thru Jamie when he told John that since John didn't want the commission that Jamie would like to keep it instead of giving it to me. (I overheard the conversation on the phone even though the receiver was up to John's ear...I heard him turn down Jamie's offer. But then, there were so much interruption with John's health and stress level, I really didn't want to bother him with my stress, and the jeweler was being really pushy that he had found a buyer for my ring, that I just wanted to be done with the negotiation on the ring and I agreed to sell it to Jamie for $11,700...$300 less than what I'd hoped to get, but still more than any of the vendors in the diamond district had offered me, and I decided not to be greedy.
So we spent the next weekend at John's place just watching movies, and taking smoke breaks out on his patio to watch the wildlife, and for me to sit under a blanket and talk with the radio playing fun songs that occasionally I would Karaoki perform to make him laugh. He always took perfect care to make sure that I was comfortable, and had everything that I needed, and we really did have such fun together.
The third weekend together, was the same...smoke breaks on the patio (for him), lots of memories shared in conversation...long stories, and tv movies and wildlife watching on the patio...lots of birds and chipmunks to feed. To get out and get some exercise, in the mornings, I would ask him to walk around the block with me in the mornings...this was fun, but I noticed that for an ex- "Navy Seal," he was a pretty slow walker...almost looked like he'd had so many injuries in the past that it hurt him to take each step.
Also that third weekend, I asked the question: "are you an introvert?" He said, "YES, aren't you!?" I said, "No! I really am not, though I've really enjoyed the time I've spent with you...I really need to get out and do something." I was starting to get a feeling...I told him that I'd love to see where you work? See some houses you've built? See your friends? I reminded him that he'd said he had not 1, but 2 yachts...I told him that I really would like to go out in one!! (all the time knowing that if suddenly something had happened to the yacht, and we couldn't go out, then that meant he'd been lying, and there was no yacht.
So, the next weekend was Mother's Day, told him I will go out with my kids during the week, so we can go out in the boat on Mother's Day.
Anyway, then after a month of home visits from me on the weekends to Plantation Acres, I was starting to see my future with this guy as a little uneventful. I went out with my wonderful, handsome gay friend, who I had not seen much of all month because I had been kind of tied up visiting this new guy. My friend said to me point blank, "Tracy, I don't think you could ever live in Plantation Acres...That is where all the 'trailor trash' live!" I laughed, and thought this was funny that he said this!! Of course, I didn't believe it to be true, because what I had seen of that area had been just beautiful. Sure, I hadn't really met a lot of people there...just John, and his sister, and her husband, and the jeweler, but they all seemed to be very nice. And, I had expected there were many others there, just as nice. So I told John what my friend had said, as I was laughing! John stopped talking to me for a day...nor taking my calls nor responding to my texts.
I didn't realize it at the time, because I had thought this had been so funny, and of course it wasn't true, but that my friend who told me that I wouldn't like living in Plantation Acres, really didn't want me to move to Plantation Acres!!! So when I told John he had said this on the phone that night, I hadn't realized that I'd insulted him until the next day when he hadn't called me at all and finally I called an text him and asked if he still wanted me to visit this weekend.
Finally I heard from John. Some kind of shit went down, so he said he was the Homestead Airforce Base early at like 3am. Then closer to 2pm he said he was home, and I could come over, as we'd planned. When I got there, he accommodated me, as he always had, making my drink with my favorite vodka, so we could sit on the patio for his "smoke break," and to talk. I had asked him how his week was? He couldn't talk until we were in our seats. Then he said it had been a "horrible week." His accountants had all of their accounts stolen from them...which included both of his boats!
My first thought was....ohhhh nooo, he's been lying!!! Here it comes....
Then he proceeded to tell me that is why he was at the airforce base this morning to get his name off every thing before it went public...I was like: But you went at 3am, you said? If this all happened on Tuesday...why did you wait until Friday morning at 3am!?? This wasn't adding up.
So I quickly text my friends his address, so they would know where I was, because I was gonna tell him I didn't believe him...and knew he was lying about the boats. (hoping he would give me a good reason, tho!) They responded and told me that the address that I'd text him wasn't even his address...it was an apartment that belonged to "Sister Jean." He had told me about Sister Jean...that he had "let" her live in one of his 4 townhouses there. But now it was coming up that HE had owned it???
So when I told him what my friends had found...that his apartment was in Sister Jean's name...He immediately insisted on calling the sister to clear things up!! She answered, and he said, "Sister Jean, do you own your apartment??" Then she said, "well, its funny you should ask that, Johnny..." Then she said there was some discrepancy in the documentation, and John thanked her very much and hung up. He said, "SEE!! She said she doesn't own the apartment where she lives!" I said, "Yes, but John, she didn't sound like it was yours either!!"
Anyway, he made things sound reasonable enough that I decided not to fight the traffic to go back home. That night we watched, "Scarface," that he told me was the movie of his father, whom he's never known who got caught up in the drug ring of Miami, and then just disappeared. That movie was a little unsettling for me....especially thinking it might have something to do with his family. The last scene is a bloody one with a little incestuous overtone. But he'd said that the people who made the movie had not wanted to cut his mom into the profits, so that is why it is not exactly the story, but same basic story.
At the end of the movie it says it is dedicated to 2 guys...he said, "yes, that was uncle ++++." I was like..."WHAAAAT???"
Anyway, woke up the final day, and he was going to take me to breakfast, but just after he woke up, and was out on the patio, having his morning smoke, he said he had something for me to know he was telling the truth! Showed me his gun owners permit and his drivers license...said the address on those was the place where his 9 story house was that was in the name Atlantic Corp LLC...so then he went up to take a shower. I immediately took a picture of both IDs and sent them to my same 2 friends. Immediately, they came back with the owner of that property. It came back in his mom's and late stepfather's name.
So breakfast that day was very quiet...not a lot of conversation. He just had a coffee. I had an omelet and coffee to eat. Then he paid the bill, and we started home. I thought I better not say anything until we get back to his house, because I don't want him to crash the car into a tree or something. Then in the middle of our trip he said, "So, did you tell your friends you are ok??" And I said, "yes." He said, "what did they say??" I said, " Well, they said that property on your license is not in your name it is in your Mom and late father's name, and it is not a 9 bedroom house...it is a 4 bedroom house." We had driven past it the week before...the gates magically opened when we pulled up, so I knew he must have something to do with it, but wasn't quite sure...there was a neighbor outside, he didn't wave to, and the house looked very nice, but didn't look like a 9 bedroom huge house. So things were definitely not adding up.
This seemed to infuriate him, but he kept it inside...silent. He started changing into his bathing suit, as we'd agreed that after breakfast we'd go to the pool when we got home after breakfast, so I wasn't really sure what was going on!? I quickly started packing...not really sure yet, that I was going to leave. It seemed so strange...I just kept waiting for something to happen and for me to find out there was some secret reason for all of this to happen..or not happen. Why had he lied?? What did he have to gain? Was time with me worth all this deception? Funny, because I had liked him...maybe felt love for him...all he had to do was be straight with me...come clean...one thing I will NOT entertain is a liar.
After I packed my things, and left them in a bag at the bottom of the stairs...then went out to join him on the patio, and asked him..."do you have anything to say?"...."Is there a reason why you've been lying to me??" Because I really did care for you...Until that weekend, we had told each other that we "loved" each other, and I really did feel that I had found someone special...different...Then he told me that it had all been a test, and I had failed. That this was "his life," and I had no right to digging into it.
Anyway, that was it, and I went back in and got my bag, Called myself a lyft car...he had always called it for me, and carried my bag to the car and put everything in it, took care of the cost both ways, and asked the driver to keep me safe. Until that day, and by the time I got home he had blocked me from facebook, and two days later blocked me from What's App...though, this wasn't necessary.
There was no reason for me to spend anymore time with a liar.
So, since then, I have really paid much less attention to the dating apps, and the people there...I do believe you can meet someone special there...anything that brings people together is a great thing. Just since that breakup, I have been spending the majority of my time and attention with the people right in front of me...a good lesson to learn.
No, I don't think anything about this story was typical, but just a sad story about a man who I believe was delusional, and a pathological liar. I enjoyed our short time together, and what I believed he was, and know that meeting him brings me just that much closer to the perfect man for me...maybe even in Miami!!
The names in this story were changed to not draw any attention or more disharmony to anyone.
So let me know If I accidentally typed his name anywhere !! I think I changed 'em all!!
Wow good story. People are so incredibly lying like that.
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