tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22896843102309055882024-03-05T17:29:23.798-05:00Glory's Short StoriesShort Stories for a quick readGlory Lennonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11155233140741701242noreply@blogger.comBlogger89125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2289684310230905588.post-49372340063711550242016-03-08T09:00:00.000-05:002016-03-08T09:00:24.180-05:00So we'll go no more a-roving By Lord Byron (George Gordon)<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: medium;">This is another of my favorite poems, although if truth be told, I didn't know it was a poem until many years after I first heard it in a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFNu47XR2KE" target="_blank">song sung by Joan Baez.</a> This was several decades back when I was a kid, but oh, how I loved this song and I was quite surprised to find it was a poem by the infamous Lord Byron! Perhaps if you take a listen you will like it just as much as a song as the poem itself.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: comic sans ms, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">S</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: medium;">o we'll go no more a-roving By Lord Byron (George Gordon)</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: medium;">So we'll go no more a-roving</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: large;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: medium;">So late into the night</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: large;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Though the heart be still as loving</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: large;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: medium;">And the moon be still as bright</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: large;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: large;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: medium;">For the sword outwears the sheath</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: large;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: medium;">And the soul wears out the breast</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: large;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: medium;">And the heart must pause to breathe</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: large;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: medium;">And love itself must rest</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: large;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: large;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Though the night was made for loving</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: large;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: medium;">And the day returns too soon</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: large;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Still we'll go no more a-roving</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: large;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: medium;">By the light of the moon </span>Glorygarden@msn.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590509665833028919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2289684310230905588.post-85580502392842305482013-06-15T06:00:00.000-04:002013-06-15T18:20:01.165-04:00Inspiration for An Ever Fixed MarkI thought I'd post the poem which inspired the name of my Novel, An Ever Fixed Mark. If you like Jane Austin novels or have seen the film Sense and Sensibility, you will have heard it recited by Maryanne Dashwood and John Willoby.<br />
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It's one of my favorites, but I can only recite by memory half of it.<br />
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Here is the whole thing:<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Let me not to the marriage of true minds<br />
Admit impediments. Love is not love<br />
Which alters when it alteration finds,<br />
Or bends with the remover to remove:<br />
O no! It is an ever-fixèd mark</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Which looks on tempests and is never shaken;<br />
It is the star to every wandering bark,<br />
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.<br />
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks<br />
Within his bending sickle's compass come:<br />
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,<br />
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.<br />
If this be error and upon me proved,<br />
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-UVs116_1-0"></sup> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">–William Shakespeare</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lazdg-eqmQ" target="_blank"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Late Lament</span></a><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> by </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graeme_Edge" title="Graeme Edge">Graeme Edge (Moody Blues </a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graeme_Edge" title="Graeme Edge">Drummer)</a><br />
(On the album it is read by keyboardist <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Pinder" title="Mike Pinder">Mike Pinder</a>)<br />
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Breath deep, the gathering gloom<br />
Watch lights fade from every room<br />
Bedsitter people look back and lament<br />
Another day's useless energy spent<br />
<br />
Impassioned lovers wrestle as one <br />
Lonely man cries for love and has none<br />
New mother picks up and suckles her son<br />
Senior citizens Wish they were young<br />
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Cold hearted orb That rules the night<br />
Removes the colors From our sight<br />
Red is gray and Yellow white<br />
But we decide Which is right <br />
And Which is an Illusion</span><br />
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Glorygarden@msn.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590509665833028919noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2289684310230905588.post-64428497959483996062013-03-23T15:36:00.002-04:002013-03-23T15:36:52.335-04:00Destiny Ch3: Cottage by the sea<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Zeth came into the cottage by the
sea with the two mismatched bags and looked around for Zuzu. He imagined she
would want her things in one of the bedrooms so he headed that way. The larger
of the two would suit her well, he thought, the other for the baby…whenever she
got here.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He idly wondered how far along Zuzu
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nearly ran into him.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Sorry,” she said, smiling so
brightly it was infectious. “That is the most beautiful bathroom I’ve ever
seen. And there’s towels already in there. Do I get to use them?”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He smiled at her enthusiasm and
nodded. “Everything here is for your use. The linen closet is fully stocked and
there is a washer and dryer next to the pantry.”</span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“A pantry…awesome!” she squealed,
then looked down at her bags still in his hands.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I assume you’ll want the bigger
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bags on the bed. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";">He stood back as she lept forward, opened one bag and furiously
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garments flying about. He supposed he ought to leave, but he simply didn’t want
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without seeming…what? Needy? Well, he was the last person to deny he was that.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";">When she pulled out what she had been looking for she gave a triumphant
shout. It was a pair of sandals. She promptly sat on the bed and kicked off her
low heeled shoes, then stepped into the sandal and wiggled her toes. “Hmm,” she
said watching her toes. “I guess I should take off my stockings or I’ll get
sand in them.”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";">“Sand?” Zeth said, frowning slightly. “I’m pretty sure the
housekeeper we always hire after a tenant leaves removed most of the sand in
the cottage. Although, when the wind blows…sand does get inside.”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";">She stared at him as if not understanding what he was talking
about. “I mean the sand on the beach. I’m going for a walk.”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";">He gaped at her, then stared at her wiggling toes. “You can’t go
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there on your own. You need sneakers and…well, you don’t know the way down to
the beach. It’s tricky, especially in your condition…no, I have to go with you,”
he said all this fast and adamantly.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";">She merely gaped at him. “Um…I wouldn’t want to bother you. I’m
sure you have better things to do than babysit a pregnant girl who just wants
to catch the first glimpse of the sea.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";">He smiled and shrugged. “Can’t say I have anything better to do
at present.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Okay,” she said, kicking the
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up to show them. “Will these do?”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He laughed and nodded. His heart
skipped a beat when she smiled back. She bent over and slipped them on, but
before she could tie the laces he was on his knees doing it for her. he then
stood and held his hand to her.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Let’s go,” he said. “Your first
visit to the beach. We should document it or something.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I know you must think I’m silly to
be so excited about the beach, but…”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“No, not silly. Water is our life
source. We would do well to remember that. We should never live very far from
it. Come,” he said.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>They left through the backdoor and
went through a tiny space between two tall evergreen bushes, their needles splayed
with a salty residue. Once past those, they came upon a sand dune sparsely
covered with dried up wild oat grass, a prickly tangle of vines and a few brown
and dead plants Zuzu had never seen before. She imagined it all looking nice
and green any other time of the year. For now, it looked a bit forlorn and
lonely. Perhaps to match her own mood?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As if reading her thoughts, Zeth
said, “This is all much prettier in spring and summer. Green and vibrant, but
he sea always makes up for it. It stays the same, except for the temperature.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He showed her the way up the dunes
where a well-worn path led down to the rocky beach. They stopped at the top of
the dune and looked out to sea as they had done on the ferry. The sea was
wilder and angrier now and the first flurries had started floating down to
earth. The whitecaps were bigger now and the wind fiercer still. The waves
crashing onto shore nearly covered the entire beach, leaving a tiny five foot
strip to walk on with some possibility of remaining untouched by the water. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";">High tide, she supposed, but that wasn’t going to stop her from
walking out there. she moved forward and Zeth took her arm helping her around
some of the jagged rocks at the base of the dunes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";">This was not the sort of beach you’d find in a resort, manicured,
pristine and lifeless. Broken seashells, rounded pebbles, tangled clumps of
seaweed and the occasional dead horseshoe crab and driftwood lay on the sand,
sand smoothed over by ions of water.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Zuzu inhaled deeply, her eyes closed
for a moment, the brutal wind whipping at her hair and loosening it from the
ribbon Zeth had used to make her ponytail. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";">“Zuzu, are you warm enough? It’s much colder here and the wind
much rougher than inland,” Zeth said, pulling up her hood.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";">“I’m fine,” she said, serenely smiling, as she walked forward. “I’m
going to love it here.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";">“I know I do. Can’t imagine another place I’d rather live,” Zeth
said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";">“You said you lived near here?”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";">He pointed behind them, but all she saw was her own cottage,
just slightly rising above the sand dunes and juniper shrubs. Then her eyes
moved higher and to the left and she gasped. She didn’t know how she missed
seeing this place, but she imagined it was her eagerness to see the sea and
nothing else.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";">It was a beautiful beach house, painted a pretty, pale blue and built
on stilts, several stories high with a rooftop platform, perfect for those who
wish for sea viewing without sand getting between the toes. It had a wide deck
all the way around and the railing painted white. It was something out of Zuzu’s
dreams. She smiled. Just living this close to it was good.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";">“What a beautiful place!” she gushed, but she swiftly turned
back to look at the water.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";">“I like it,” he said sheepishly. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";">They walked on down the beach in pleasant silence. Well, as
silent as a roaring ocean could be anyway. They would have to shout to be heard
now. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few times they had to scramble
away to higher ground, very nearly getting wet with the rushing water rising up
to devour more of the sand. The sky grew darker and the temperature dipped
before they went too far. Zeth gestured that they should turn back and had to
laugh at her pouting face.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";">Zuzu would never say it, but it was nice to share this little
time on the beach with someone, even a stranger. “I want to walk here every day.
Is it possible? I mean if we get much snow would I still be able to come down here?”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";">He frowned slightly. “I walk down here every day, sometimes
several times a day, rain or shine, but I’m not a pregnant girl and I’ve lived
here all my life, so I know every rock and stone out here.”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";">“You’re saying you think it would be a bit dangerous for me?”
she said, and the sadness in her voice was clear.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";">“I wouldn’t want you falling and…”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";">“I’m not a child, you know,” she snapped.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";">“No, but you have to think of your child. What would happen if
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and the tide rose and swept your lifeless body out to sea never to be seen
again?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";">He stopped talking at the horrified expression on her face. “Sorry,
it’s the writer in me. Too much of an imagination, my mother used to say. I
could imagine all sorts of horrors and…well, did mean to scare you but…”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";">“But I don’t want to hurt my baby…or me,” Zuzu said with a sigh
as she stood at the top of the dune again looking out to sea. “I suppose I
could come this far and just…look. Better than nothing, better than what I had
all these years. Dirty city streets and ugly building.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";">He watched her for a minute, hating the wistful look. He felt as
if he’d just told her there would never be another Christmas. He did not like being
the one responsible for killing Santa Claus! “Zuzu, would you mind having company
on these strolls on the beach?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";">“Company? Do you mean you?”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";">He smiled. “And Frodo. He refuses to stay home when I go out
here. He figures it’s his job to protect the shoreline from… oh I don’t know…German
U-boats or something.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";">She laughed. “I’d like that if you promise that I’m not
intruding on your solitude.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";">He smiled and shook his head. Little did she know, nor would he
ever tell her, that intruding on his so-called solitude was precisely what he
hoped she would do.</span></div>
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Glorygarden@msn.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590509665833028919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2289684310230905588.post-82447791623083679152013-03-16T05:00:00.000-04:002013-03-23T15:32:32.303-04:00Destiny: Ch2 Slow it down<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpl6AgrxBF5uVtOySMe-H4sGHx6Bbd-_Tg-kiMkyMaifRvPiOlgZrkkHxmh-S0ZU1jDgCN55B65tElD86GVLWWVgn3KTrMqY5c_3gPBs5QjxeQMOg_CAtOp5iKyL8v9Z9j_tT__387PVk/s1600/DR+vaca+sept+088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpl6AgrxBF5uVtOySMe-H4sGHx6Bbd-_Tg-kiMkyMaifRvPiOlgZrkkHxmh-S0ZU1jDgCN55B65tElD86GVLWWVgn3KTrMqY5c_3gPBs5QjxeQMOg_CAtOp5iKyL8v9Z9j_tT__387PVk/s320/DR+vaca+sept+088.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Zeth
realized too late he had to slow it down. Not that he wanted to, but really, he
knew nothing about Zuzu and yet here he was kissing her after knowing her less
than an hour, taking her home with him and even imagining her unborn child
calling him Daddy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Get a grip!” his inner voice shouted.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Zeth
knew he should heed this voice. He had ignored it before, many times and the
last time…well, let’s just say, he so wished now that he had listened then.</span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He
pulled the key out of his pocket and inserted it in the lock, but before he
unlocked the door of the little cottage, he turned to look at Zuzu. Her face
was aglow in anticipation…or perhaps it was that fabled glow of pregnancy. He couldn’t
tell. The only other person he had seen go through pregnancy was his older
sister and she had mostly looked green from a miserable bout of morning
sickness which lasted all day for several months.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He
smiled. “Now, it’s not much, so…”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“A
cave, a hovel or a hole in a tree would all be fine with me just as long as it’s
by the sea, and I can actually hear it from here!” she said excitedly. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He
chuckled and opened the door. He allowed her to enter first and leaned back
against the door, watching her move into the middle of the small living room
and turn on an axis all her own, her face rapt with joy as her eyes seemed to
absorb all within sight. To his astonishment tears glistened in her eyes as she
turned toward him.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Can
I really, truly live here until summer? All fall and winter?” she asked, her
voice a reverent whisper.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“If
you like. The lease is for six months with an option to stay until May if…”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Yes!”
she almost shouted. “I’d like to stay as long as you let me.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He smiled again. “If that’s the case,
you can stay as long as you like,” he said more calmly than he felt. He tried
telling his heart to take a chill pill, but it wasn’t listening to him at all.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Her
face fell. “I wish I could live here year round, but…I know the rent goes
through the roof for the summer months. I can’t afford that…unless…” She
stopped and took a deep breath, placing her hand protectively over her
protruding belly.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You
okay?” he asked, instantly by her side, his arm around her shoulders.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Oh,
yes,” she said, smiling up at him as she rubbed her belly. “She’s just bouncing
around in here. She must sense my excitement.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He
looked down at her hand moving in slow circles and he felt the urge to do the
same. As if reading his mind she giggled and took his hand, placing in on her
belly. He gasped when he felt a kick.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
laughed. “Are you going to do that every time she kicks you?”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>She
made it sound as if she would allow him the pleasure over and over again, that
he was almost entitled to it. That should have sounded warning bells in Zeth’s
head, but it didn’t. It was so much like a promise of all which he felt was
missing in his life, that he couldn’t listen to anything but his rapidly
beating heart.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He
knew he was falling in love.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Get a grip!” his inner voice screamed. “Back
away now if you know what’s good for you!”</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Problem
was, he didn’t know what was good for him, not when it came to women and his
fragile and very foolish heart.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“She
stopped now, I think,” Zuzu said, watching his glazed expression.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Huh?”
he said.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“The
baby seemed to calm down,” she said, giggling. She moved away from him and
looked into the tiny kitchen. She opened cabinets and gasped. “It’s fully
stocked already! Dishes, pots and all you can need.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Yes,
but I can easily remove all that out if you…”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Oh,
no! I don’t have anything so this is great. Not that I’m much of a cook, but I
do so want to learn. This will give me a chance. Oh, Zeth, this is perfect!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You
haven’t even seen the bedrooms,” he said, pointing her down the little hallway
and into the first and largest of the two bedrooms. The windows looked out onto
the rocky beach and the grey waters of the sound.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Oh,
my goodness!” she said, rushing to the window and tossing back the curtains. She
went to open the window, but it was stuck or she wasn’t strong enough to do it.
Zeth stepped in and opened it, even though it was rather chilly outside. She leaned
out the window and took in a deep breath, her eyes closed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Love
that smell,” she mumbled. “Oh, I love it!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“The
beach smell or the cottage?” Zeth asked, although he already knew what she
meant.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Oh,
you have no idea how much I’ve always wanted this, and now,” she said, closing
her eyes again and taking another deep breath. “Oh, I’ll be so happy here. I
just know it!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Well,
then,” Zeth said, taking her hand and dropping the keys into it. “Welcome home.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Her
radiant smile was almost his undoing. In his head he heard,<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Step back, Zeth, stay detached, you are the landlord. Remember that.”</i>
It took all his strength to follow the advice and do as instructed, taking
three steps back toward the door and away from her.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You
mean…I can have it right now?” she asked, looking at the key as if it was more
precious than gold. “Don’t you want…uh, references and deposit money and…uh…anything
else I don’t know about. This is my first time renting on my own. Don’t really
know what I have to do.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He smiled and retraced his steps back to her. “We
can settle all that tomorrow. Spend the night and see if you really like it. You
might find the bed lumpy and uncomfortable and the roar of the ocean may become
annoying.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>She
gaped at him. “No way! Never will I tire of the ocean. Never!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He laughed. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“You’re not at
all like I thought a landlord would be.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He shrugged. “And
you’re nothing like the other tenants we’ve had here.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“No? Um…is that
good or bad?” she asked genuinely worried.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He laughed again.
“It’s good. Believe me. I’ll grab your bags from the car, shall I?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She nodded and
watched him leave. She twirled around in a circle until she felt dizzy. She
wanted to shout in glee. She could barely contain her excitement, but she had
to or Zeth might think she was off her rocker or something. She drew in a
calming breath and let it out slowly, then she went into the second bedroom,
barely looking at the pretty yet functional, quality furniture. She noticed the
same expansive view of the water from its windows and she smiled.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She placed her
hands on her tummy and whispered, “Sweetie, we’re going to like it here so much
we won’t want to leave, but we’ll just enjoy it for as long as we can, okay?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As usually
happened, the baby kicked as if in answer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“We’re finally
home.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
Glorygarden@msn.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590509665833028919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2289684310230905588.post-85100325430720482532013-03-02T20:23:00.000-05:002013-03-23T15:31:57.369-04:00Destiny: ch1 Ship at Sea<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="WordSection1">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEill8AFA4u64AkQbtJWTcQlXF-CKkekmHfXhnoLA-3rmPuRCrvVRfy9_YKFH5weU1j22LXDojc-HXFaOCKEDsLL58KwsrwORijQs10YNJ-rlV-BowywYqwaFAfCNK_VNbEYQ-rRw6Olnxw/s1600/dr-vaca-4-12+055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEill8AFA4u64AkQbtJWTcQlXF-CKkekmHfXhnoLA-3rmPuRCrvVRfy9_YKFH5weU1j22LXDojc-HXFaOCKEDsLL58KwsrwORijQs10YNJ-rlV-BowywYqwaFAfCNK_VNbEYQ-rRw6Olnxw/s320/dr-vaca-4-12+055.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">She stood immobile at the railing staring out to sea, her
flowing gown of Spanish lace waving about her, violently mimicking the white
caps across the sound. Her blood-red cape flapped noisily around her and her long
dark hair streamed behind, pulled unmercifully by the fierce zephyr. The ship’s
progress was slow as it pushed on through the rough waters. Would it even make
it to shore or would they all be dashed upon the rocks? Would they be killed
instantly or thrown into the chilling water to die in numbing abyss?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">Though the stormy sea made the ship toss about like a cork, she
stood as sure-footed as a weathered sea captain, as resolutely unmoving as a
statue and as tragic as a heroine, devoted and faithful, waiting in vain for a
sign of her lover’s return, the man who would never come back to her. The sea
had surely swallowed him up and refused to release him. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">The hood half hid her from view. She tried in vain to keep it on
her head but the constantly swirling wind blew it off time and again. The
fast-approaching storm smelled of snow and made her skin of her face cold, raw
and red. Unshed tears lurked within her dark, brooding eyes. Her expression,
misery so eloquent on her face, spoke of the deepest longing. None of these things,
however, could hide how lovely she was. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">Zeth shook his head free of these fanciful notions, notions formed as he stared
at the girl who stood not ten feet from him. No, it wasn’t circa1820, there was
no Spanish lace in sight and the cape was just a regular, loose-fitting wool
coat. It was his tendency to read people and form word pictures to describe
them, but as he saw them, not as they truly were. Such was the way a writer’s mind
worked and he made no apology for it. It was his profession. It was how he got
his ideas for yet another story, yet another interesting character.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">Sitting there he watched the girl with a book in his hand, the
wrapping paper Ivy had painstakingly hand-drawn still around it and her
favorite red hair ribbon she had used to wrap it conveniently served as a bookmark.
He closed it over and stuffed it into a large pocket of his pea coat. He had
read nine of the ten chapters of the small book and had had every intention of
finishing it before landing back at port. He had promised Ivy he would, after
all, and he always kept his promises to her. At least, he always tried.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">This young woman at the railing, however, intrigued him, and not
just because he suspected her of having a broken heart. That was the only kind
of person worth observing, in his opinion, one with a broken heart, if he
wanted fodder for his next tale. He suspected, and how he hoped he was wholly
wrong and just letting his over-active imagination run amok, that this girl
might very well be considering tossing herself over the railing and into the
freezing sound once the deck cleared of all people. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: auto;" />
</span>
<br />
<div class="WordSection2">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">That had been the only reason for him staying out on deck with
her in what promised to be the bitterest nor’easter in years. He could have
finished reading the book very comfortably situated inside with a cup of coffee
and a bag of chips. But something told him to stay out there. He thought this
might be destiny calling to him, telling him to help her out. He couldn’t
refuse. Wasn’t it bad Karma to do so? Ivy had told him that and why wouldn’t he
believe her? she was almost always right!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">He made a mental note to check out the difference between Karma
and Destiny once he got back home with a dictionary in hand, but for now he
casually went to stand next to her. He grabbed the railing as she did and looked,
not at her, but out to sea.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“Doesn’t it bother you?” he casually asked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">At first, not thinking he had spoken to her, she said nothing
until he repeated the query. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“I’m sorry, are you talking to me?” she said after making
certain there were no others about which he might be speaking to.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“Yes,” he replied still not looking at her. He thought it best
not to be too direct. It might spook her. “Your hair slapping you in the face
must be bothering you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“Uh... I guess. I forgot my hat,” she replied warily.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“I’ve got a hair ribbon you could use to tie it back,” he
suggested, again his tone quite casual.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">She stared at his profile suspiciously. “You often carry a hair
ribbon?” she asked before she could stop herself. Much to her surprise he burst
out laughing. When he turned to her and she saw his face properly for the first
time her breath caught in her chest. She’d never seen anybody so wonderfully
handsome, and oddly familiar.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“Any other day I wouldn’t, but today I do. Talk about destiny,
huh?” he retorted with a devastating grin. He then took out the book from his
pocket and pulled the bright red grosgrain ribbon from it. He handed the book
to her without a word and went to stand behind her scooping her hair up as
expertly as any hairdresser. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">Stunned, she stood petrified with his book in her hands as she
felt his fingers ever-so-gently running through her tangled locks. Any minute,
she thought, he would wrap the ribbon around her neck, strangle her and toss
her lifeless body overboard. If it had been just herself she had to worry about,
she might not have minded so much. Just as these thoughts formed in her head
she felt him tug lightly on the ponytail he had formed and tied the ribbon
around it as if he’d done it a hundred times before.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“There you go. No more hair whipping into those pretty eyes,” he
said giving her another dazzling smile. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">She stared at him half amazed, half relieved that he wasn’t a
murderer. No one that good looking could be, could they? Ah, but wasn’t there a
very charming and handsome serial killer named Ted Bundy or whatever? A shiver
ran through her.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“You must be so cold. Want to come inside? I’ll get us some
coffee or hot cocoa,” he said solicitously.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: auto;" />
</span>
<br />
<div class="WordSection3">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">She shook her head and breathed easy again. She now knew he
couldn’t be a killer if he wanted to take her into the crowded, noisy area
where every sane person currently hid from the freezing wind and the
approaching tempest. She turned back to watch the white caps form as the water
rose three, five, six feet into the air she reminded herself that she might
have to worry about drowning rather than being strangled. It was getting
rougher by the minute, but she didn’t mind. She so loved that salty, fishy
smell. She would risk almost anything for it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">As if reading her mind he said, “Don’t you just love the sea,
that tangy ocean smell? Of course, this dreadful Chinook I could do without.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“Chinook?” she repeated curiously.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">He smiled. “Actually, Chinook is what they call the warm breeze
which melts the snow in the Rockies in early spring. Not exactly an accurate
description of this blustery wind, is it?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">She shook her head mesmerized. He looked very familiar but she
couldn’t place the face. And his voice was alluring and so tantalizing. It
washed over her like a soothing balm. She liked the way he talked, as if he
were reciting poetry.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I love the sea,” she
said dreamily.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">He grinned. “Do you? Even this rough?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“I always wanted to live by it,” she said sadly. Especially like
this she liked it, angry and formidable. It made her feel small, just a speck
on the globe. She thought all people should feel the power of the sea at least
once in their lives, just so they could get over themselves and their
self-imposed importance.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“Never got the chance?” he asked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">She shook her head, bitterly remembering how often she begged
her parents to take her to the beach when she was a kid. They were always too
busy and the beach supposedly too far away. It still made her want to cry, but she
bit back the tears, tears that were lately too close to the surface.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“I guess I’ve been lucky. I’ve always lived within walking
distance of the beach. My dog loves barking at hermit crabs and chasing
seagulls. I just like walking on the sand watching the sunset. Peaceful, you
know? You can think there, be part of something much bigger than yourself. I
think that’s important to do,” he said, more to himself.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“Yes,” she whispered, staring at his profile in amazement. He
spoke her thoughts. How was he doing it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Do you watch the sunset in winter at all?” she asked tentatively.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“Especially in winter. I have the beach entirely to myself then,
except for Frodo and the gulls,” he added with a smirk that didn’t quite reach
his eyes. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">She saw unmistakable sadness there all of a sudden, but didn’t
dare ask about it. Only just realizing she still held his half-wrapped book she
held it out to him asking, “Is it your birthday?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: auto;" />
</span>
<br />
<div class="WordSection4">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">He looked down at the book and wistfully smiled. “No, my niece
Ivy gave it to me because... well, because she’s an awesome kid. He took the
book out of her hands and pulled the wrapping paper off. Before she could read
the title of the book he had flipped over the cover to a neatly printed inscription
on the first page. Holding it out for her it read:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">“Dear Uncle Zeth, I know you have a broken heart but you gotta
forget about that ugly cow. She didn’t deserve you and she wasn’t your soul mate
anyway. The perfect girl is out there. You just have to let the cosmos find her
for you. I want you to be happy so read the book. I love you so much! Your ever-loving
niece, Ivy.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“Isn’t she something? I love that kid,” he whispered a tiny
hitch to his voice. She looked up at him and was stunned to see tears fill his
eyes. He quickly blinked them away much as she had done moments before and she
dutifully pretended to see none of it</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“It’s obvious she loves you, too, but she spelled your name
wrong,” she said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">He grinned and shook his head. “No, my mother decided it would
somehow make me unique and give me some sort of distinction to have a name
starting with the letter Z. So, there you go, Zeth not Seth. Mothers can be so
weird, huh?” he said torn between annoyance and resignation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“Maybe we have the same mother,” she said looking astonished and
almost fearful.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“How’s that? Your name starts with a Z, too?” he joked. When he
caught the look on her face, he started, stunned, and asked. “Does it? Tell
me.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">She grimaced. “Promise not to laugh?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“Where’s the fun in that?” he asked. At the glower on her face
he burst out laughing, but quickly sobered and said, “I just got it out of my
system. Tell me, please.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“Zuzu,” she muttered disgustedly. She looked at him bracing for
the usual reaction, but it didn’t come. Instead the saddest look crossed his
face, as if she’d told him they had banned Christmas forever. Tears filled his
eyes again as he stared at her, one even slipped down his cheek.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“Zuzu....George Bailey’s little gingersnap, Zuzu Petals...,” he
mumbled still staring through her. “I was going to name her Zuzu Petals.... my
baby girl.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">Watching another tear fall unfettered and before being able to
stop herself, she tremulously asked, “Was?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">He shook his head as if coming out of a trance and looked out to
sea for several minutes before answering. “Didn’t know for sure she was a girl,
just had a feeling... just a feeling…maybe a little hope,” he said quietly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">Silence stretched between them for several minutes. “She said we
were too young, she didn’t want to be stuck with a kid before she got a chance
to do anything with her life. I begged her not to do it. I told I would take
care of the baby, all alone if I had to, but she wouldn’t listen. She killed my
baby, just like swatting a fly. No remorse, no nothing. God, I hated her for
it, still do,” he said growing more bitter with every word. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: auto;" />
</span>
<br />
<div class="WordSection5">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He felt the blood pounding in his ears. He knew he shouldn’t
have said that. He hadn’t told anyone of it, after all, and this person was a
complete stranger, but it burst out of him, all the pain, out of control like a
dam breaking free. It actually felt good to have it out at long last.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“How could she do that?” he shouted angrily. “To kill something
pure and innocent, defenseless, is beyond evil. Oh, sure, everybody thinks I’m
a cretin for saying such. I want every woman barefoot and pregnant, right?
Well, I don’t! I just don’t think children created in love should be thrown
away like yesterday’s newspaper, like they don’t matter.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">He turned then and glared at her ready for a fight. The sight of
her silently crying, however, removed all traces of his anger, and tore at his
insides.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Zuzu, I’m sorry. I
didn’t mean to I yell at you,” he said anxiously, taking a handkerchief out of
his pocket and wiping gingerly at her face.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">After several minutes of awkward silence and because he felt
utterly foolish and highly embarrassed he decided to pretend he hadn’t just let
out his darkest secret. “Funny how we both have names starting with the least
used letter in the alphabet, don’t you think?” he said feigning casual.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“I thought Q was the least used,” she replied with a sniff.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">He made a weird face then shrugged. “I think you may be right. I
stand corrected. But there aren’t many names starting with Z. That’s
something,” he replied lamely. “Zuzu, I’m so sorry. I didn’t want to make you
more unhappy.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">She stared at him frowning slightly. Had her misery shown so
clearly on her face? “You’re hardly the reason, Zeth. That honor goes
to...”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She paused and looked out to sea
again. “It’s rather ironic. Your girlfriend--I’m assuming she’s the fat cow
your niece spoke of--you hate her because she got rid of your baby and my
boyfriend left me because I wouldn’t,” she said as she placed her hand on her
slightly protruding abdomen. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">Her billowing coat had hidden her condition from view, but now
that Zeth saw it, he gaped, completely stunned. Of its own volition his hand
reached forward wanting desperately to touch her. Realizing it was wholly
inappropriate he pulled back and looked at her apologetically.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“It’s all right. You can touch her. My mom says all pregnant
women are public domain or something stupid like that. Some say it’s good luck
to touch a baby before it’s born,” she said. “Although, I don’t know if it’s
good luck for the person or the baby.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">Zeth so wanted to place his hand on her belly, but still he
hesitated. She rolled her eyes and took his hand placing it on her belly with
her hand over his. A look of complete rapture overtook his features, but just
as quickly total despair replaced it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">He smile bravely and said, “Congratulations, Zuzu. You’re going
to be a great mommy.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To his surprise as
much as hers he leaned forward and kissed her forehead.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: auto;" />
</span>
<br />
<div class="WordSection6">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">She stared at him stunned, emotions swelling within her. No one,
not<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>her friends, not her family, nobody
but this sweet, kind stranger had thought to congratulate her. She hadn’t
realized until that very moment that those words were what she had been missing,
had been longing for.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“Thank you, Zeth,” she whispered, tears threatening again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">Just then the baby jumped and Zeth let out a cry of surprise.
“Holy moly! Did you feel that?” he said stupidly. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">She giggled. “Of course I did, silly. She’s in me, after all.
Strange, but she’s been so still and quiet all day and now it feels like she’s
practicing to join the river dance troupe.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“So, you know it’s a girl already,” he asked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“No, it’s...” she paused to look at him. “Just a feeling.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">They stared at each other, something miraculous passing between
them. They were so close now, he with his hand on her tummy and his other had
somehow found its way around her waist at her back. She had her hand over his.
Her body nestled comfortably against his was now warmer, shielded from the
harsh wind. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">Anyone looking at them would have assumed they were a family in
the making. It should have felt strange and awkward, yet it didn’t. It felt
nature and somehow right.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“Will you be disappointed if she turns out to be a boy?” he
asked softly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">She shook her head and rubbed her belly, a sweet smile touching
her lips. “Gosh, no. Boy or girl, I’m already in love.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">He grinned. “I love babies, too. I used to babysit Ivy all the
time. I even changed stinky diapers,” he said proudly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">She laughed and he stared, astounded at the transformation. Her
laughter changed her instantly from misery to joy and also from merely a pretty
girl to a beautiful woman. His heart skipped a beat then thundered on. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“That’s so much better,” he muttered, unaware he spoke aloud.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“What is?” she asked innocently.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“You happy, smiling, laughing. I wanted to talk to you to make
you happy. You looked so sad before,” he said. The baby kicked again and he
gasped.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“I think she likes your voice. Every time you talk she jumps.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“You think?” he said incredulously just as the baby kicked again
making them both laugh. “Wow,” he muttered.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: auto;" />
</span>
<br />
<div class="WordSection7">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“Yes, I do,” she replied, rubbing her tummy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“What must that feel like for you?” he asked awestruck as he
felt the baby move again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“Same as for you only on the inside. Sometimes it’s just like a
butterfly fluttering, but other times it’s a jolt to the ribs. It’s not so good
when she kicks my bladder,” she replied wrinkling her nose a bit. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">The tiny, unconscious gesture made his insides quiver. He opened
his mouth to speak, but just then the loud speaker announced they were
approaching port. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">Zeth knew his time was short. “Zuzu, which side of the sound do
you live on?” he asked, almost desperate.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“I live in Queens currently, but I’m here to see about a cottage
for rent. It looks really nice,” she said enthusiastically as she fished in her
pocket for the directions and the real estate clipping she cut out of the
paper. She handed it to Zeth who blinked several times in stunned disbelief.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“You’ll love it. It’s right by the beach and,” he smiled as he
looked at her. “It’s next door to me.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">Her jaw dropped. “You’re fooling me,” she shouted. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">He shook his head grinning like a fool. “Welcome to the
neighborhood, Ms. Brookfield.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“How do you know my last name?” she asked astounded.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“You told me when we spoke two days ago. Zeth Courtier at your
service. I’ll be your landlord, neighbor and hopefully really good friend,” he
said giving her a devastating smile.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">Her heart jumped as did the baby. She now knew where she saw his
face before. “You’re the novelist X. Z. Courtier, aren’t you? I saw your face
on the back of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It’s All In The John Hancock</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">.</i>
My brother gave it to me for my birthday,” she said excitedly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“That was my first book. It stinks,” he said with a shudder.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“Oh, no! I loved it and I swore I would read everything you ever
wrote,” she told him vehemently.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“Thanks, I’ll give you copies of the others if you promise not
to tell me how awful they are,” he said with a self-deprecating shrug.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“What does the X stand for?” she asked suddenly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">He grinned. “Xavier but that’s really my middle name. Publisher
thought X. Z. Courtier would be more interesting than Zeth X. Courtier. Don’t
ask me why.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">She frowned. “You shouldn’t listen to him,” she said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">He laughed. “I’ll tell her you said so,” he replied. The baby
moved under his hand again filling him with an irrepressible joy. He stared
into Zuzu’s dark eyes and felt something stirring within him, something
powerful, more powerful than the sea, then any storm, than anything he’d ever
known.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Before he could stop himself he bent down and kissed her
softly, lingering there for as long as he dared. When he felt her arms fasten
around his neck drawing her small, pliant body closer a fire ignited within
him. This felt so right, so good, like it was meant to be. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">The ferry gave a gentle jolt as it bounced into its slip at
port. A few minutes later the loud speaker called everyone to shore and Zeth
reluctantly released Zuzu. He leaned his forehead on hers breathing quickly
hardly able to form words, his mind a blur.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“Do you believe in Destiny, Zeth?” she asked breathlessly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">He chuckled and showed her the title of Ivy’s book titled, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Let
Destiny Find Your Bliss.</i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“I definitely do now, Zuzu. Let’s go home,” he murmured, kissing
her again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
Glorygarden@msn.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590509665833028919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2289684310230905588.post-48729827711623207992013-02-23T06:00:00.000-05:002013-02-23T10:10:05.377-05:00Death of a friend, part 3<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="WordSection1">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://www.healingenergy.com.au/newsletter/images/LettingGo150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.healingenergy.com.au/newsletter/images/LettingGo150.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“Hi, daddy!” she said brightly.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Mac turned his head and grinned. “My jewel...gimme sugar,”
he said holding out a shaky hand.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">She ignored the hand and took his face into her small hands.
She bent over and kissed every inch of his face until he laughed with sheer
joy. “I got loads of stories to tell
you, Daddy. Wanna hear them?”she said lifting his boney hand to her cheek and
pressing it there.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
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</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“Okay, but first...” he glanced up at Payton who shook his
head to indicate he had not said a thing. “I gotta tell you something, Honey.
You’re gonna be staying with Uncle Payton from now on. He...”</span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">She turned to Payton and smiled. “Oh, that will be
wonderful! I’ll take good care of him, Daddy. You’ll see. I can cook and clean for him, do the laundry
and we’ll work together at the shop caring for the animals....and I can tell
him stories just like I do for you.”</span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br /></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Payton gaped at her his mouth hanging open. “No, I’m
supposed to take care of you, Jameel,” he said.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">She just giggled and turned back to her father. “He’s so
silly, huh, Daddy? It’s the woman that takes care of the man. Men are useless.
Ommi said so.”</span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Mac chuckled and
gazed at her trying desperately not to lose it. “You are so like Amal.
So beautiful, so amazing.”</span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Payton wondered if Mac knew how much Jameel was like him,
too. Strength in the face of adversity was obviously in the genes.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“We’ll be together soon...Amal and me,” Mac added, his voice
husky with emotion now.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“She’ll be so happy, Daddy. Ommi didn’t want to leave you,
you know. Allah was calling her and He’s calling you now,” she replied, her
smile never wavering.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">His eyes filled with tears. “I don’t want to leave you,
Baby.”</span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“I know, Daddy, but it’s all right, you’ll be with Ommi again
and I’ll be with Uncle Payton. You’ll always be together and we’ll be together
and all so happy.”</span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“I’ll tell her all about you...tell her how you’ve
grown...tell her what a sweet
child...no, you’re a lovely young lady now, aren’t you? We’ll always watch over
you,” he said tears now leaking out of the corners of his eyes.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<br clear="all" style="page-break-before: auto;" />
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="WordSection2">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“I know you will. Ommi said so. Can I tell you my stories
now?”she said climbing into the bed to lay down beside her father.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“Sure, baby,” he replied, kissing the top of her shiny black
head.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">For the next few hours the life drained slowly out of Mac
and Jameel continued to tell her tales, stories of the animals they tended, of
her friends, of people she’d never known and some she made up. She lay listening
to the last beats of his heart, but refused to cry. She wanted him to see her
smiling as he left this world.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“That...was... beautiful... Jameel,” he whispered. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“I love you, Daddy,” she said, kissing his cheek.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“Oh...Jameel...love you so much....so much...”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Payton thought for a moment he should leave them alone, but
he simply couldn’t make himself. He couldn’t stop the tears from falling along
his cheeks either. How the hell, he marveled, could Jameel keep from shedding
one single tear when he knew how very much she loved her dad? Was her faith in
the heavenly reward that strong, that unfailing? </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">He was brought out of his musings when Mac called to him. He
grabbed Mac’s limp hand and leaned close so he wouldn’t miss a single word.
They were to be Mac’s last ones.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“Thanks, Buddy....Semper fi ....”And Mac breathed his last.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“Semper fi,” Payton repeated before letting out a heart
wrenching sob as the heart monitor flat lined. To his surprise Jameel followed
suit, finally succumbing to tears. Payton scooped her up and held her close as
the nurses and doctors came rushing in. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Little Jameel clung to him for hours weeping miserably. He
knew she was making up for lost time, that she had held it all in just for Mac.
His admiration for her went through the roof and never ceased.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Payton awoke suddenly but no longer in Jameel’s room. He was
in fact down at Sam’s bar although he had to admit he’d never seen it being
this quiet, clean and empty.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“Hey, Buddy,” came a very familiar voice out from the
shadows.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Payton spun around and gaped open mouthed. “Mac?”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“That’s me. How ya doin’?”he said smirking and looking
exactly as he did back during the war, fit and powerful as a grizzly. He even
wore his desert-drab fatigues with his t-shirt straining to cover that broad
muscled chest.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<br clear="all" style="page-break-before: auto;" />
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="WordSection3">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Payton opened and closed his mouth a few times before remembering
how to speak. “What...”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“Just you dreamin’. Don’t freak,” Mac said casually, tossing
an oak chair around so he could sit on it backwards, his muscled arms draped
over the back. “Sit. We gotta talk.”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">As always he obeyed Mac’s every command. He sat down
opposite his friend still staring at him in avid fascination. “Mac, you look
good.”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">He chuckled. “I should. Don’t got my diseased body to drag
me down no more. Pays bein’ just spirit.”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“I’ll bet,” Payton mumbled.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Mac grinned but then grew serious. “So....you and my
Jameel.”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Payton’s eyes widened and he gulped. “She’s doing real good.
Graduated from....”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“I know all that. I know all in fact. So?”Mac asked,
unconsciously flexing his biceps.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“So?”Payton asked, watching the muscles rippling and
recalling all too clearly how easily he could knock a guy, any guy of any size,
into a coma.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“You being smart with me?” Mac asked, looking rather
menacing.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“No, Sir,” Payton said on automatic, reverting instantly
back to the scared, fresh-into-the-Marines eighteen year old.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">That made Mac laugh. “You kill me, Kid, which is saying
something being I’m dead. I mean what are you gonna do about it?”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“About what?” Payton asked genuinely baffled.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“You know, I don’t think I want my Jameel with a guy this
dumb.”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“But you told me to take care of her and I have. I tried to
do my best,” he said, a pleading note in his voice.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“Yeah, ya have. You did your best being a sorta dad to her.
That’s not what she needs, not no more.”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Payton’s jaw clenched. “Yeah, I know. She’s all grown up.
Bet she’ll be wanting to... I don’t know...get outta the sticks or something,”
he said sadly, his shoulders actually drooping a bit as he thought of being
left alone.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“You really are an idiot,” Mac said shaking his head in
wonder.</span></span></span></div>
</div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<br clear="all" style="page-break-before: auto;" />
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="WordSection4">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“Huh?”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“Well, if you can’t see it, I ain’t gonna tell ya.” Mac then
stood up, strode behind the bar pouring himself a full glass of Jack Daniels
and tossing it back as if it were water.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“Tell me what?”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Instead of answering Mac put his hand into the pocket of his
pants, withdrew a coin and went to the jukebox. He dropped the coin in, pushed
a button and out came an old Trisha Yearwood song. “...she’s in love with the boy...and even if she has to run
away...she’s gonna marry that boy some day...” the song went.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“See if that don’t enlighten ya some. Gotta fly. Amal and
me’s gonna do some...well, you don’t gotta know ‘bout that.” Mac grinned
devilishly. Walking out the door into the sunlight he was gone.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“Payton?”</span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">He awoke suddenly and stared into Jameel’s
luminous grey-blue eyes. He was back in her room, back in her bed and in her
arms. She was way too close. He sat up pulling himself away from her.
Unfortunately she still clung to him. “I...fell asleep,” he muttered stupidly.
“Sorry.”</span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“Yes, but you were also mumbling,” she
said pushing his hair out of his eyes with the sweetest smile on her face.
“Were you dreaming about Daddy?”</span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">He gaped. “How..how did you know that?”</span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“You said,
Mac, you know I don’t like Trisha Yearwood. What does that mean?”she
asked giggling and scooting closer to him.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">He stared at her remembering perfectly.
“Uh...yeah,” he said understanding the song now. Jameel must be in love with
some guy she met at school no doubt and Mac was trying to let him know. But
why? What could he do about it? Then he realized Mac probably just wanted
Payton to see if this dude, whoever he was, was worthy of Jameel. What a laugh!
Could anyone be good enough? Not to him, certainly.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“Payton, what is it? Why do you look
so...did the dream upset you?”she asked, her delicate hand caressing his cheek.
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“No, it’s...no,” he said pulling
himself out of her reach and standing up. “I should go. You need your sleep.”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">She
knelt on the bed looking crestfallen. “Will you never see me as anything but a
child?”she asked, the merest pout on her lips.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<br clear="all" style="page-break-before: auto;" />
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="WordSection5">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">He
stared at her incredulous. Well, wasn’t that exactly the problem? If only he
hadn’t stopped seeing her as a little girl then he wouldn’t be feel like a
crap, now would he? But he couldn’t exactly tell her that. Instead he had to
suck it up and tell her to go, to seek her fortune and be happy too. Damn, but
he didn’t think he could do that.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“Payton,
what is it?”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">He
looked up and grimaced. “Your dad told me you’re in love?” </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“He
told you that?” she said obviously surprised but pleased too. She jumped up and
threw her arms around him. “He is watching over us, isn’t he? I knew it!”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“Yeah,
me too,” Payton said holding her indecently close. He was now positive he
couldn’t do this. He simply couldn’t let her go, especially into the arms of
some unknown creep but he had to. Semper Fi kept ringing in his ears. “You know I love you so much, Jameel...”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“I
love you too, Payton, so much,” she talked over him, squeezing him breathless.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">She
was not helping. “And you know that I only want the best for you, just like
Mac. I’m talking for him when I say...you gotta do whatever will make you happy.
I just hope he’s worthy of you.”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">She
released him and frowned at him. “Who is?”she asked in confusion.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“The
guy you’re in love with, of course,”he said through clenched teeth.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">She
blinked up at him for several second then burst out laughing. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“What’s
so funny?”he asked.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“You
just don’t get it, do you? Daddy’s right. You are clueless,” she said giving
him a condescending shake of the head.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“No,
I’m not. I get the song, the message in it. You’re in love with the boy. What
more is there to it?” he said all annoyed now. He didn’t much care for being
called a clueless idiot twice, even if one of those times was by a ghost in a
dream.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">She
stared at him a slight crease between her eyebrows. “Is it cuz I’m not blonde?
You can tell me the truth, Payton. Enough guys have told me that. They don’t
like....” She flipped her long, dark
braid over her shoulder as if that would finish the thought.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">He
took a step forward but stopped himself before doing something truly stupid and
reaching out for her. “You are the most beautiful girl I’ve ever known, Jameel.
This man you’re in love with he must have told you this,” he said, looking now
as serious as death.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<br clear="all" style="page-break-before: auto;" />
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="WordSection6">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“Yes,
he has but only very recently,” she retorted, her Mona-Lisa smile tugging at
the corners of her mouth.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Though
he didn’t really want to know he knew Mac would expect him to ask. It’s what a
father would do, after all. “So...how long you been in love?”he asked frowning.
Jamming his hands into his front pockets he hoped that would be enough to
prevent him grabbing her and never letting go.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“Long
time,” she replied, her expression all innocence. “I told Daddy.”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Payton’s
jaw dropped. “You... you told Mac? When?”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“Before
he died, of course,” she said, her smile widening.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“You...so,
you’ve known this boy all this time?” he asked, incredulous. “And you’ve been
in love with him?”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“Oh,
yes,” she returned sounding supremely unconcerned. “I told Daddy I was gonna
married that boy, just like the song says. He laughed but he said I had to wait
for the right time. I was too young at only eleven, you know.”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">He
gulped trying to come to grips with all this. “Your dad knew him then?”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“Oh,
yes. One of his best friends in fact,”she said tilting her head to peer up at
him.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“Seriously?”
he shouted. He search his memory for a
guy at the shop who showed any romantic interest for Jameel. Drawing a blank he
merely looked his confusion. “Then...do I know him?”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“I
hope so...hard to tell,” she said, a mischievous grin on her face now.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“Why
didn’t you tell me?”he asked, now feeling hurt she hadn’t confided in him.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">She
shrugged. “I was waiting just like Daddy told me.” She stood up and walked to her dressing
table. She opened her jewelry box and extracted two rings, her parents matching
wedding bands.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Payton
recognized the rings and a ten pound stone seemed to drop into his stomach. She
wasn’t just in love. She was planning on marrying this faceless dude. “For what
are you waiting, Jameel? You’re hardly eleven anymore,” he said sadly.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“Well, for you actually,” she said coming up to him
and taking his left hand out of his pocket she slipped her father’s ring on his
finger. “A bit big on you but he wanted you to have it.”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“For
me? Why?”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“Because
you were his very best friend and you promised to care for me forever. Semper
Fidelis, remember?”she said softly.</span></span></span></div>
</div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<br clear="all" style="page-break-before: always;" />
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">As
if he could forget Semper Fi! But what the hell did that have to do with....
His thoughts drifted as he gazed longingly into her eyes. They glowed with
something he had seen many times before but never quite understood. She lifted
his hand to her cheek, pressed it there then kissed the palm before smiling up
at him. His heart skipped a beat and a light bulb finally lit in his head. He
gaped at her unable–or perhaps unwilling– to believe it until she actually
confirmed it. “What are you saying, Jameel?”he asked, his voice a mere whisper
now.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">She
smiled, put her arms around his neck and kissed him. He got his answer and gave
her his by pulling her to him, crushing her against him and promising himself
he’d never let go.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“Well,
as last!” Amal said happily, as she watched from somewhere behind Spitty the
camel.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“Never
knew he was that dense,” Mac said shaking his head in derision.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“It
was your fault. You told him to care for Jameel like a daughter. What did you
expect? He follows your every command to the letter. Semper Fi, forever
faithful,” she retorted rolling her luminous smokey grey eyes to the ceiling.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">“Yeah,
you’re right. But turned out okay in the end,” he replied grinning down at the
two who still clung to each other. “I’m thinking I don’t gotta see more of
this. Let’s say you and me go picking wildflowers like we used to, huh?” he
gave her a devilish smirk which told her wildflowers were the last thing on his
mind.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Amal
smiled and casting one last look at her dear child she nodded and grasped Mac’s
proffered hand. Jameel would be happy all the rest of her days, she knew, as
her mother had been. It was like that when you were lucky enough to marry a
true and faithful Marine. Semper Fidelis wasn’t just for wartime after all. It
wasn’t even just for the Marines.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 0in .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 0in .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in;">
<br /></div>
Glorygarden@msn.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590509665833028919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2289684310230905588.post-50430462375773023072013-02-16T06:00:00.000-05:002013-02-16T06:00:08.502-05:00Death of a Friend, part 2<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Payton headed straight for the nurses’ station and waited
until one of them deemed to look at him. “Ma’am, I was hoping you could tell me
how Mac St. George is doing?” Payton asked politely.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The nurse looked at him as if finding him quite tedious and
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the last stage of cancer so what do you think?”</div>
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<br /></div>
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“But is he worse than yesterday?” Payton persisted, dreading
the answer.</div>
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<br /></div>
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“Yes, considerably. You might want to say what you need to
say as soon as you can.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a
slightly gentle note in her voice now that said all too clearly, “Because he
might not be here for much longer.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Payton feeling terror and panic, gulped and turned away
before he remembered his manners. He turned back and thanked her. He then went
to the door but couldn’t bring himself to turn the knob just yet. His hand
shook, his heart beat very fast and so loud in his ears it was deafening. This
was too soon, much too soon. He wasn’t ready for it. He would lose it for sure
and Mac wouldn’t want to see that. He certainly didn’t want Mac to see that.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Suck it up, Kid!” rang in his head louder and clearer than
anything else. Funny how the voice in his head always seemed to sound like Mac
now. He had learned so much from him everything that seemed so important at the
time during the war. How to smoke a cigar and not feel sick for a week
afterwards, how to drink hard liquor without puking, how to get a girl flat on
her back in less than an hour’s flirting time. </div>
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<br /></div>
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He taught him a few slightly more important things like how
to stay alive when everyone out there would rather see you dead, how to be
strong when you felt weak, how to appear happy when you wanted to cry, how to
stay calm when everything around you was falling apart and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>most important of all<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>how to be a true, forever faithful friend.
Semper fidelis. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And that’s what made his hands steady themselves, Semper
fidelis, the Marine’s motto. He had to be a friend now, a real, forever
faithful, true friend. He had to do this for Mac. It might be the last thing he
could do for him. He owed Mac that at least. He took a fortifying breath and
pushed the door open and there lay his buddy. What a sad sight that was! Mac
had been huge and formidable, six foot six and solid as a brick wall.
Linebackers weren’t that big! But what lay on that hospital bed wasn’t the Mac
Payton knew so well. It was barely a shell.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Payton licked his dry lips and slowly approached the bed to
gaze down on his normally ruddy faced friend so pale now he made the sheets
look grey by contrast. The burning started at the back of his eyes just as
Mac’s eyes fluttered open and a slow smile lit his face.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Hey, Buddy, how ya doin’?” he said, his voice so weak and
slurred it shook Payton to the core.</div>
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<br /></div>
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“Ain’t that my line, Cap?” Payton replied forcing a grin and
grasping the once formidable hand arm-wrestle style. It was the same hand that,
back in the day,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>could have easily
snapped a few necks in two without even trying.</div>
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“Didn’t hear ya axe,” Mac countered with a smirk more
reminiscent of the old, robust leader of their platoon. His Brooklyn accent was
still intact even after more than two decades being gone from the city.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They stared at each other with nothing to say or perhaps too
much.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Getting lazy, sleeping all day,” Mac commented, his tone
casual. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Payton attempted a grin. “Gotta keep up your strength for
the ladies. Fine ones out there exactly your type, curvy, sweet and willing.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mac grinned. “See Holly, the red head? Gonna get me some of
that,” he said with a wink.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“She’s all yours, Cap,”Payton replied and this time he could
really smile. It was almost like old times. When Mac said he was going to get
some he always did. Why should it change now?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But things had changed, drastically, and the silence that followed was
palpable. A dread hung in the air between them and neither wanted to face nor
voice it. But time was short.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“They started me on morphine,” Mac said answering the
unspoken question.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
An ice cold fist seemed to clamp over Payton’s heart. He
unconsciously tightened his grip on Mac’s hand but could say nothing. His
throat was constricted too much for speech even if he could find anything to
say. He could only nod and attempt to push down the panic. He knew once the
morphine was started the end was near.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They simply stared at each other until a perky, dark-haired
nurse came in to check Mac’s vitals. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“How ya feeling, Sweetie?” she asked after taking his blood
pressure, counting heartbeats and checking his temperature. .</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I’ll feel a whole lot better, Darlin’, when you shimmy on
over here and plant a big wet one on me,” Mac retorted with a devilish smirk.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She giggled as she fussed with the IV drip. After writing on
his chart she went to him, took his face in her hands and did as bidden. “I’m
gonna take you home with me, Mac honey.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Take me right here,” he replied running his free hand over
her round bottom.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She winked at Payton and answered, “When you get rid of your
buddy I’ll come back.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“He was just leaving, weren’t you, Payton?”he said without
missing a beat.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She giggled, kissed him again and scooting on out but not
before Mac smacked her lightly on her butt.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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“Want me some of that too before I go,” he muttered. He sunk
deep into his pillow looking ghastly white and completely worn out from the
simple exchange.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Alarmed Payton<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>thought about calling back the nurse. Then Mac held out his hand and
Payton grasped it again, emotions welling inside him. He wasn’t ready to lose
his best friend, his mentor, his brother.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“What can I do, Cap?”he asked , his voice husky and
unrecognizable to his own ears. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“We need to talk,” Mac mumbled now struggling for breath.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“You should rest, Cap. It can...”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“No, it can’t wait, Payton.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Don’t have much time left,” he said gruffly. “My... Jameel.... at my
sister’s but she...she can’t stay...don’t want her there.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Why?” Payton asked, bewildered. He knew Della loved Jameel
and her kids were crazy about her too. What could possibly be the problem?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“She hates it there. Della and the kids are great, they love
her but.... Joe,” Mac just shook his head looking grim.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Joe what?” Payton asked, trepidation running along his
spine.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Della says it’s just teasing...”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Teasing?” Payton repeated frowning more now. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“He calls her... the little terrorist... little Miss Jihad,”
Mac said through clenched teeth.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I’ll kill him!” Payton growled looking ready to strangle
the guy once he got his hands on him.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mac shook his head and even that made him grow more pale
still. “ Forget him. Just get her outta there for me, ‘kay?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I will, Mac. I’ll go right now,” Payton suggested without
hesitation. “I can take care of her<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>until you find....”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He paused
here staring into Mac’s baby blue eyes as a thought occurred to him. “Is that
what you want me to do for you, Mac? Find someone suitable to care for Jameel?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
His eyes seemed to bore into Payton’s brown ones as if to
tell him without words. “Already got someone,” he said.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Yeah? Who?” Payton returned eagerly. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“You.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jameel loves
you.”</div>
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Payton gaped completely nonplused. “But... but I don’t know
how to do that, Mac. I’m not.... I wouldn’t...”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“You got it in you, Kid. I’ve seen you with her since she
was born. She loves you and she’ll listen to you. She’s a good kid, Payton.
She’s smart and sweet and...”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Mac, ya don’t gotta tell me that!” he interrupted, panic
seizing him. “I know she’s an awesome kid. I love her too, but... I don’t know
how to be a dad. I can’t be you. I wish I could be, Mac. I’ve tried to be. You
taught me how to be a man. You taught me so much. I can never repay you for all
you’ve done for me,” Payton said now unable to keep from tearing up.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“You do this for me, you take care of my Jameel, you be her
father and we’ll be even. Payton, please. I can only trust you with my jewel.
Do this, please, Payton. Semper fi,”he said, his voice suddenly fierce, more
like his powerful, old self.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Semper fi,” Payton repeated. And that was the end of that.
He would do it. He had to.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Get her now, Payton, ‘kay?” Mac whispered, sinking into his
pillow, closing his eyes and taking a ragged breath in. He looked like death.
Payton feared he wouldn’t get back before God called him home but with wings on
his feet --or perhaps angels guiding the way-- he got Jameel.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Payton sent Della to get Jameel who was playing out back
with her cousins. It was just enough time to put Joe up against a wall,
knocking down a couple of pictures so that glass littered the tile floor. He
held him there by the throat, Joe’s feet dangling in midair struggling
helplessly to pull away. Payton just barely restrained himself from crushing
the moron’s neck. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He only managed to snarl, “Call Jameel a little terrorist
one more time....”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn’t bother
finishing the threat before he let go. Joe dropped to the floor gasping and
coughing for breath.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Weasel like you should know better than to mess with a
Marine’s kid,” Payton said just before Jameel burst through the door and ran
into his arms.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Uncle Payton!”she shouted hugging him tightly.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Hey, baby, we gotta go see your dad, okay?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She stared up at him and knew without being told. Without a
backward glance she left with him<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and
they were back at the hospital within twenty minutes. The ride to the hospital
was unnaturally silent, Payton not knowing what to say and Jameel coming to
grips with what lay ahead. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Uncle Payton,” she said, in a still and quiet voice as they
approached Mac’s door, her hand trembling slightly in his, “This will be the
last time, won’t it?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: always;" />
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The constriction in his throat wouldn’t allow speech so he
nodded. To his astonishment she didn’t cry but instead smiled. She actually
smiled!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She lifted her chin in a defiant
gesture he’d grown to admire in her –it was so like Mac-- and she opened the
door with that ever-so-sweet smile still on her face. Mutely he followed her.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Glorygarden@msn.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590509665833028919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2289684310230905588.post-90578434034004344592013-02-09T11:05:00.004-05:002013-02-09T11:42:59.365-05:00Death of a Friend, part 1<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="WordSection1">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://urbangrounds.com/wp-content/uploads///marines_alpha_raiders.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="http://urbangrounds.com/wp-content/uploads///marines_alpha_raiders.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The moonlight coming in through the slight part in the
curtained windows illuminated little in the spacious, elaborately decorated
room<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;">,</span></span> but enough. Jameel’s exotic features, her almond shaped eyes, the thick
fringe of lashes brushing silky soft cheeks, that adorable nose that so often
crinkled with laughter, those deliciously dainty, ruby lips with its perpetual
Mona Lisa smile even in slumber and her shiny black braid intertwined with
colorful ribbons curling over her delicate shoulder to lay across her chest
like a hibernating serpent<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>were all
clearly visible to him. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But that could have been because Payton knew her so well... too
well perhaps. He stared at her with a melancholy smile on his face. Even
relaxed in sleep she held him in a tortured prison. Jameel was a beauty beyond
compare and as precious to him as her Arabic name implied but that didn’t mean
anything. It didn’t excuse him nor his changing feelings toward her. They were
wrong, very wrong and he knew not what to do about it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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“Mac, how I wish you were still here. Then I wouldn't be in this mess,” he whispered into the
dark, his eyes burning with unshed tears.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As if she had heard him, she moved closer to him snuggling
into the crook of his arm as she clutched at his shirt and flung her long slim
leg over his jean clad ones imprisoning him further. He could feel his shirt
where her head lay still damp from her tears. She sighed contentedly and
mumbled his name before settling into sleep again. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Did she have any idea what she was doing to him?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Of course she didn’t. She didn’t know how she effected him.
She didn’t know he had slowly but surely fallen completely in love with her,
despite his best efforts not to. She was a naive, trusting child....but then
she was no longer a child, was she?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
had celebrated her twenty third birthday a few months back right after her
graduation from Cornell.<br />
<br />
There lay the problem. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jameel still saw him as her guardian, her Uncle Payton, as
she should. Although, in truth, she hadn’t called him that for many years now. Naturally, she felt no shyness with him, no desire to alter her affectionate
and carefree ways, and she surely had no compunction for making him crazy. She
didn’t know she was doing it. She felt entirely safe and secure within his arms
as she had since she was twelve years old. That was the dreadful year her
father had died leaving his precious jewel in the care of his best friend.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ten years had passed
with their routine not altering one bit. That was why he lay on her bed at that
very moment waiting for her to be in the deepest doze so he could slip away
without her noticing as he’d always done before. This was the way they
celebrated the life and commemorated Mac’s death. They had a festive dinner,
complete with Mac’s favorite Red Velvet cake, marking his death but more so his
life with one single candle. They held hands, closed their watery eyes and each
wished Mac could see them now before they blew out the candle together. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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</span>
<br />
<div class="WordSection2">
<div class="MsoNormal">
After dinner they watched old home movies reminiscing,
laughing and crying in equal measure. When it was time for bed, well passed
midnight this time around, Jameel grabbed Payton’s hand and pulled him to her
room sending them back in space and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>time
to a thousand and one Arabian nights. Her room looked the part perfectly with
the chiffon draped canopied bed full of intricately embroidered satin cushions
and silky soft sheets. There was even a sentry watching over them. A comical
stuffed camel named “Spitty” which Payton had won for her at the county fair,
stood almost as tall as the ceiling with his tongue sticking out at them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But the night wasn’t over, not yet. She sat up in bed
crossing her legs in the lotus position and told him to lay down, relax and
listen to her latest story. She always had a story to tell. She<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>looked just like Scheherazade entertaining
the Sultan. Payton certainly felt like royalty in her presence, but that was
until they had exhausted their memories, she trying in vain to stifle a yawn.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He insisted she sleep
now, but she grabbed his hand, and with her eyes aglow made it quite apparent to
him that she still hated being alone on this saddest night of the year. With
that, he smiled, laid down again upon all those inviting cushions and she
cuddled up to him as she always did.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I miss him, Payton,” she said, a tiny quiver in her voice.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I know, Honey. So do I,” he returned in a husky whisper
giving her a gentle squeeze and kissing the top of her fragrant jasmine-scented
hair. “We always will, you know.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I’m so glad I have you, Payton. I love you so much,” she
whispered, clutching his shirt as if afraid of losing him as well.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Me too, Jameel,” he gently replied. “Try to sleep now,
okay?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She cuddled closer but he could tell she wasn’t going to
drop off soon, at least not soon enough for his liking. He could feel warm
tears seeping into his shirt. She needed to cry so he would let her and comfort
her as best as he could. She missed Mac so very much. He knew the feeling.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pure torture it was being this close to her, albeit an
exquisite type. He’d trade it for nothing. He started singing an old song he
heard on the radio that day, a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjOJPy74liw" target="_blank">Diamond Rio song</a>. It rather fit the situation.</div>
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<![endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">♪</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">♫…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>What a beautiful
mess I’m in...spending all my time with you... nothing else I’d rather do....
what a sweet addiction I’m caught up in...I can’t get enough...what a beautiful
mess I’m in..<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">…</span><span style="font-family: "MS Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Gothic"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">♩</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "MS Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Gothic"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">♬</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></div>
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He sang several other songs before he felt her grip slacken.
He took in a deep breath and closed his eyes while tenderly pressing his lips
to her forehead. “Love you so much,” he whispered, his own tears slipping down
his face now. “Always will.” </div>
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<br /></div>
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He knew their time together was coming to a close. She was
all grown up. She would get some job now that she was done with school,
possibly in the city and then she’d get new friends and maybe– this thought
tore at his heart-- a boyfriend. Jameel would get on with her life without
Payton. He would be no more than a passing acquaintance, not even Uncle Payton
anymore. He would miss her terribly. He couldn’t imagine his life without her.
His life, after all, was Jameel. It had been since Mac’s death but he regretted
none of it. </div>
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<br /></div>
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He hadn’t done much more than spend all his available time
with Jameel all these years. He hadn’t gone out with buddies after work anymore
nor even dated. It was just him and Jameel and neither of them seemed to care
that it was a bit odd. At least to other people it was. But he had promised Mac
to do all he could to make life as good as possible for Jameel and Payton
would, God willing. He did. He had. He had kept his promise to Mac and he would
not let him down.</div>
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<br /></div>
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“I tried my best, Mac. Hope you think I did okay,” he
mumbled in the dark.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was then that he
felt it. Mac’s presence seemed to suddenly fill the room, fill him, fill
everything, but Payton wasn’t alarmed. Instead he smiled. He<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>was quite used to this. It happened every
time, as if Mac came to grant them their wish. He was watching over them, making
sure they were fine just as he promised.<br />
<br />
But what would Mac say if he knew what
Payton was thinking of his precious Jameel, that he loved her in a very
different way than he had ten years ago?</div>
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<br /></div>
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He let his mind take him back in time, back to that horrible
day, the day Mac died. Mac had called him up at work. An unusual thing for him
to do being Payton always went to see him in the evening to tell him how things
went that day in the shop and to check on the progress of his ill friend. But
Mac had finally succumbed to the retched disease and was now in the hospice.
Payton’s heart gave a jolt when he heard this. It boded ill. He had always
assumed Mac would want to die at home. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He didn’t want to be alone with Jameel, Mac told him. So, he
sent her off to stay with his sister. He thought it best, that it would
frighten her to see him so ill and to have him die in their home was
unthinkable. He was afraid his spirit or more likely the remembrance of his
death would haunt her and he didn’t want that. He wanted Jameel to always love
the only home she’d ever known. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Payton felt a fist clench around his heart as he listened to
this. If Mac was in the hospice it meant he had not much time left and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>he needed more help than could be had at
home. Or perhaps Mac simply wanted some pretty girls to look at. Yeah, that was
it, Payton told himself, hope flaring up in him again. He grinned, a bit shaky,
yes, but a grin nonetheless. That was Mac for you! He just wanted a few cute
nurses tending to him. He could almost hear him flirting with them.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Hey, Sweet thing, how about a magic carpet ride?” Payton
heard Mac say innumerable times over the years. But that wasn’t what he heard
over the phone that day.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Can ya... come by... today? Got something... important to
....talk over.... with ya,” Mac said his voice, usually so robust, sounded
husky and labored. Scared but determined to think only the best, Payton assured
him he would come by<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>as soon as he
closed up the shop, Mac’s shop.</div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: auto;" />
</span>
<br />
<div class="WordSection4">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Hunter’s Heaven</i> was Mac’s baby, a supply shop for every kind
of game hunting and fishing imaginable from shotguns and rifles, fiercely
strong fishing gear capable of bringing in a five hundred pound Marlin or
simple enough for a little kid’s first catfish to top-of-the-line bows and
arrows powerful enough to knock over a moose, an elk or a black bear. Mac loved
the friends he had made there. Boy, did he have friends, by the hundreds. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There were the guys who relished talking about “the one that
got away” and there were those who came to show off their trophies, many times
actually bringing it in for displaying. There was a wall devoted to these
pictures, the bragging post as Mac called it, and animal heads circled the
perimeter of the shop. There were the ladies who came in just to flirt with
what they called “real men”, especially Mac. He dated several of them when his
wife had died, but no one could come close to replacing Amal, Jameel’s mother
and an Arabian beauty herself. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mac especially liked the little kids that came in to stare
in awe at the animals of all types standing in the perpetual pose for flight
from long gone assailants. Local elementary schools made Mac’s place their
first annual field trip. He thrived on the little talks he gave about the red fox,
snapping turtle, jackrabbit, coyote, black bear and Tom turkeys. Their bodies
perfectly preserved attracted more kids, parents and teachers to the shop than
actual hunters. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ironically, Mac did no hunting at all and had convinced
several would-be hunters to just go out into the woods and observe nature as he
did. Mac was the unofficial animal doctor in their small town which suited him
fine. He loved working with animals. He had live animals out back in large
pens. Hawks, falcons, vultures and even an American bald eagle were some of the
animals cared for by Mac’s gentle hand. Some had been hurt by cars or poachers
and others, like the twin fawns that were now in pens mothered by Jameel, had
been orphaned when the mother was killed illegally. Mac had wanted to give the
man responsible a severe beating to go along with the hefty fine, but he didn’t
get the opportunity.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The injured were released back into the wild once they
recovered. Some would always be there, however, as they were too injured to
fend for themselves. These were Jameel’s pets of a sort and why she was to be a
veterinarian. Hunter’s Heaven was a combination<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>museum, wildlife refuge and vet clinic and Mac loved it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Payton did too and so did Jameel.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Payton was his partner, but now with Mac so ill, he had taken
over. Doing things exactly how he had seen Mac do them, the place ran as smooth
as glass. Payton wondered a few hours later as he rode the elevator up to Mac’s
room, was he now thinking of signing the whole shop over to him? Was he feeling
the frigid hand of death coming for him already? God, no! Not yet, please not
yet, Payton pleaded to anybody who would listen. As much as Payton loved the
shop it wouldn’t be the same without his buddy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Payton felt oddly separated from everyone, because he knew
Mac would never set foot at the shop again. But Mac was his anchor. Payton hadn’t
even realized it until Mac fell ill. He certainly<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>didn’t relish obtaining the shop this way,
through the death of his best friend. He had wished in vain to coax God into
giving Mac a reprieve from death by offering up himself. It would pay back Mac
for all the times he had saved Payton’s neck. Besides, Mac deserved life far
more than Payton. Mac had a kid to raise. Payton had nothing and nobody. It
just didn’t seem fair.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Why does it have to be this way?” he angrily muttered to
himself, as he stared blindly at the numbers lighting up over the sliding doors
as he rose up within the building. Perhaps he hoped God would answer this time.
No such luck. Payton had no pull with the Guy upstairs. If he had, it would be
himself in this sterile place and not Mac. Mac would be visiting him possibly
bringing Jameel to say a tearful goodbye.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When the doors opened his senses were assailed by the
sights, sounds, smells and even the feeling of lives hanging in the balance. He
struggled to look, if not exactly feel, composed. The last thing he wanted was
to let Mac down, to let him see how this was killing him almost as much as it
was killing Mac. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He could practically hear Mac shout out in his usual gruff
yet jubilant voice, “What’s with that face? You’re in the Marines now, Kid!
Suck it up!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Those had been the first words he said to Payton more than
twenty years ago when he had been barely eighteen and went right into the service,
half scared to death of dying on foreign land and the other half excited to be
leaving boring old Trenton, New Jersey.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The entire platoon feared Mac at first sight. He was a huge,
imposing bear of a man especially when in a temper. As it turned out, that
rarely happened. More often they loved him and his joyful attitude, especially
when explosions were going off feet from them and he was cracking jokes as if
they were merely sitting in a bar talking smack. He kept them safe and their
morale up when they were scared silly. Who wouldn’t love a guy like that? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Payton knew Mac had personally saved almost all their
buddies’ lives at least once each and his own five times. Many called Mac
alternately their guardian angel and the devil himself. They were all in awe of
him, but Payton worshiped him. Even if Mac was just eight years older he
considered Mac more like a father. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Having never had a real father, Payton craved one terribly
and there was Mac ready to be that guy. He didn’t seem to mind either. Mac
would tease him though. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“You got a crush on me, Kid?” he’d say with a devilish
smirk.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“No, sir,” Payton replied looking grave and serious as ever.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mac would let out a raucous laugh and slap him on the back
sending him into his evening meal. “I’m jokin’, Buddy. Just yankin’ yer chain.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Payton remembered it all so well, as if it had happened two
weeks ago. But those days were gone and so was the Mac he had loved then. The
illness had Mac wasting away so he was barely recognizable. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Part 2 next week...<br />
<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Glorygarden@msn.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590509665833028919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2289684310230905588.post-38886707578692784862013-02-02T11:27:00.001-05:002017-03-16T14:25:59.545-04:00Rules Rule the World<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1m-L4s6cpJ1t6Wuojct2eQouCseF4zs9c1YyMAY9-2p8gjyrazER7dh-hfTakAZq8z8DUuxKcGknGZGwTgH18VFg2uQwOEfEvISbto6HKm1_C6XuAps59vcgmHy4UIDdiwZKcnPWgxJE/s1600/Twin+tabbies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1m-L4s6cpJ1t6Wuojct2eQouCseF4zs9c1YyMAY9-2p8gjyrazER7dh-hfTakAZq8z8DUuxKcGknGZGwTgH18VFg2uQwOEfEvISbto6HKm1_C6XuAps59vcgmHy4UIDdiwZKcnPWgxJE/s320/Twin+tabbies.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cats rule, get used to it!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">“I am going to kill
you!” Jason screamed at the top of his voice. He was so frustrated he started
pulling tufts of hair out of his head as he stomped around the room.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">“Didn’t we expressly
forbid you from doing any of that?” Matt shouted, also pacing the room.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">“What in the world is
wrong with you?” Jimmy bellowed seemingly in agony, his head in his hands.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">Sean sat in stony
silence, his arm gripping the armrest, as his friends ranted and raved. “I was
under the impression this is my life or have I been misinformed?” he snapped.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">“Sean, we know you.
You are your worst enemy,” Jimmy said miserably.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">“We made that list
with all the rules. Did you even bother to look at it?” Jason asked, exasperated.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">“As a matter of fact
we did,” Sean replied, a triumphant smile on his face.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">“We?” Matt repeated
with obvious trepidation. “Who is we?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">“Me and my date,
Mandy.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">“Dear God! What are
you thinking?” Jason bellowed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">“The reason for making
the list, Sean, was for you NOT to do those things on your first date,” Jimmy
explained slowly as if speaking to a child of sub-normal intelligence.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">“Well, we thought it
was stupid. How the hell else were we to get to know one another if we didn’t
speak of our lives, our kids, our ex’s, all that stuff?” Sean asked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">“Are you trying to
tell me you ran through the entire list on purpose?” Matt asked, incredulous.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">“At first, it just
sort of popped out of my mouth without my trying, but then Mandy asked to see
the list and...”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">“Wait, how did she
know about the list? You didn’t show it to her,” Jimmy said, already knowing
the answer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: auto;" />
</span>
<br />
<div class="WordSection2">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">“Sean,” Jason growled
through clenched teeth, “we pretty much assumed you’d know you shouldn’t be
showing it to your date.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">“I mentioned it by
accident and then, yes, I showed it to her. We had a good laugh over it,” Sean
said smiling brightly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">They stared at him
then exchanged exasperated looks, completely flummoxed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">“We found we have a
lot in common,” Sean continued unperturbed. “She’s the only girl I was totally
comfortable with in so short an amount of time. We talked forever. We didn’t
want the night to end. We didn’t even bother seeing the movie. It was awesome.”
He smiled dreamily looking off into space.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">“Oh, no! Sean, please,
no!” Jason said desperately.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">“What?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">“Don’t fall for the
first girl you date after the divorce,” Matt said sternly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">“She’s not the first
girl,” Sean protested. “I went out on New Year’s.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">“That wouldn’t count
as a date, Sean,” Jimmy said. “You met her at the party and she left with
someone else, remember?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">“I didn’t like her
anyway. Reminded me a bit too much of Debra,” Sean said in his defense.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">“Regardless, the point
is she’s just a transition girl, and she won’t last so don’t go imagining
yourself in love,” Jason said. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">“Hasn’t anything we’ve
told you about dating sunk in?” Jimmy asked tragically knocking his head with
the heel of his hand.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">“Yes, it has and now I
know you’ve been doing it all wrong,” Sean replied.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">“How do you figure
that?” Matt asked. “We date ten times more than you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">“Well, that’s it,
isn’t it?” Sean said smugly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">“What?” the three
asked together, utterly confused.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">“I don’t like dating
and now I don’t have to. I found my next wife,” he said happily.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">Jimmy and Matt’s jaws
dropped. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">“I’m going to kill
him. I’m just going to put him out of his misery and mine too while I’m at it!”
Jason muttered resuming his stomping about the room.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: auto;" />
</span>
<br />
<div class="WordSection3">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">“Guys, come on! You’ve
all been divorced longer than me and are any of you closer to finding your soul
mate? No! But I found mine last night. She was great, funny and sweet and
nothing like Debra. Her husband was a giant ass. I’d like to introduce him to
Debra. They deserve each other. Her kids are exactly the same age as mine.
Mandy’s modest and nice and I like her. I like her so much. Don’t spoil this
for me. Just don’t!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">“You don’t get it,
Sean. They start out nice and then they turn on you once they think they got
you hooked. It’s all a game and they have all the rules and we’re out on our own
trying to catch up,” Matt said frantically.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">“They’re only out for
themselves, so you gotta watch out for yourself,” Jimmy added.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">“And since you won’t
listen, you’re gonna end up with another tattered heart asking us what you did
wrong,” Jason said angrily. “You think we want to see you like that again? Like
you were when that miserable shrew kicked you out? That’s what we’re trying to
avoid, you idiot!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">“We’re trying to spare
you grief,” Jimmy said gently.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">Sean shook his head.
“You don’t get it, none of you. That list of stupid rules <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">is</i> the game. You are the ones playing games and getting nowhere
except going to jail without collecting the two hundred dollars. You’ll never
get to Park Place or Broadway that way. You’ll never win. If you would just forget
about all that and just be yourselves and stop with all this game stuff, then
maybe you can find decent women. I did, totally by accident, but I did. I know
you don’t believe me and I don’t expect you to. But I hate being single. I want
to be in love again. I’m half way there already and I don’t care if she breaks
my heart. I’ll just try again. I’m not giving up on love. I won’t do it!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">They simultaneously
groaned in defeat.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">“So, what are you
saying? You already asked her out again?” Matt asked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">“As soon as you guys
leave I’m picking up my kids and Mandy and her kids and taking us all to a
soccer game. Then we’ll go for pizza or burgers and maybe a movie or
something,” Sean said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">They gaped at him. “You’re
supposed to wait a week to ask them out again,” Matt said with a sigh. “It’s on
the list.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">“If you want to play
by stupid, arbitrary rules I can’t stop you, but I don’t play games,” Sean
stated sternly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">“You only just met her
last night and already you’re a family?” Jimmy said incredulously.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">“Are you trying to
kill me?” Jason asked weakly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">“No, I’m just trying
to get a life. I suggest you do the same. Now if you will excuse me I have to
go see my beautiful, new girlfriend. Lock up when you leave,” Sean said happily
and he left jingling his car keys as he went. They heard his car back out of
the parking spot. They sat listlessly as if having just gone through a
wrestling match with an octopus.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">“You don’t suppose
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<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">“But what if that’s
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<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">“I just thought
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<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">“So, what? If Sean can
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<span style="color: #943634; font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">“Wait! Ask if she has any
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Glorygarden@msn.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590509665833028919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2289684310230905588.post-41909951573856144422013-01-26T06:00:00.000-05:002013-02-09T10:34:44.212-05:00Faking it<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“Sometimes I think it must be hard being an actor faking it all
the time, and then I see a movie like this,” Aiden said, shaking his head. They
left the cinema and he grabbed Donilee’s hand pulling her through the crowd.
She had to take two and a half steps to his one, but she managed to keep up
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">She laughed and breathlessly commented, “It wasn’t exactly
Academy Award material, you know. That makes a difference.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“Come on, Donilee, anybody could have played that role, even me.
He was just a plain ordinary guy, doing plain ordinary things in a plain
ordinary way. You call that acting?” he said derisively.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“You just wish you could make out with that
not-so-plain-and-ordinary sweet young thing, whatever her name was,” she
retorted. “I know kissing doesn’t take much acting skill if you like your
partner.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“She was good…I mean acting-wise. She had a much tougher job
with her role. She had to cry and all that. She had lots to do. The guy was....
just there,” he insisted as they continued darting between cars and narrowly
avoiding being run over.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“Oh, please! Crying is nothing. Any girl should be able to cry
at the drop of a hat. I can,” she told him smugly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">He cast a skeptical glance at her and laughed. “Sure you can,
Donilee.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“You doubting me, Aiden?” she said smiling playfully up at him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“No, I’m sure you can do it when you’re PMS-ing. Kidding,
kidding, just kidding!” he said quickly before she could smack him. They
finally could see the car and he rushed forward still pulling her behind him.
He clicked the key ring and unlocked the doors. As he held the door open for
her he saw her lip tremble and her eyes flood with tears. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“Donilee, what’s wrong?” he asked. He stood in stunned silence
as big fat teardrops ran down her cheeks, her nose turned red and she started
sobbing as if she had just lost her mother. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“Donilee! Hey, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it. I’m sorry. Don’t cry.
Please, don’t cry, Donilee!” he shouted. He tentatively put his arms around her
and patted her back. He never did quite know what to do when girls cried.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: auto;" />
</span>
<br />
<div class="WordSection2">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just as quickly as she
started she stopped and looked up at him with a triumphant grin. “Now do you
believe me?” she said as she pulled out of his arms and grabbed a tissue out of
her purse. She wiped at her eyes then blew her nose while he stared at her with
his mouth hanging open.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“You weren’t really crying?” he asked, incredulous.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“Of course I was. You saw the tears, didn’t you?” she said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">He opened and closed his mouth several times before finding something
to say. “You were faking it?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“Acting actually. Did I do as well as the hot babe from the
movie?” she asked smirking and still wiping her eyes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“Better, way better. Your makeup didn’t run like hers. Freakin’
amazing,” he said in awe.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“Why thank you, kind sir,” she replied with a tiny curtsy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">He closed the car door again and leaned on it still astounded.
“But how the heck did you do that, Donilee?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“Easy. I just had to think of something very sad,” she said with
a careless shrug.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">He frowned. “I could think of sad things until my head hurt, but
it still wouldn’t make me cry like that,” he answered.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“I did say girls could do this. I never said guys could and a
macho guy like you? You probably didn’t even cry when Old Yeller died,” she
grumbled.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“Actually I did but I was only five then. I thought it was real,
too,” he said seriously. “What could possibly make you cry like that just by
thinking about it?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">She hesitated a bit then shrugged. “Nothing much,” she replied
evasively.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“Come on, Donliee. We’re friends, you can tell me. What made you
that sad?” he asked curiously.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">She looked up at him and gave him a rueful grin. “I pictured you
lying dead in a car wreck.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">He stared at her aghast. “Me? You pictured me dead?” he said
incredulous.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">She nodded as her eyes swelled with tears again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“Hey, stop that!” he shouted desperately. “Don’t cry. I’m fine,
Donilee, see? I’m fine!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He pounded his
chest for emphasis.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: auto;" />
</span>
<br />
<div class="WordSection3">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“Sorry,” she said. “It’s hard to stop sometimes. Got an
overactive imagination, I guess.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“I can see that,” he said half relieved, half baffled. It made
no sense. They were friends, yes, good friends but he never knew nor suspected
she ever felt so strongly or cared that much about him. But perhaps she felt
that way about all her friends and he was making more out of this than
necessary.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“Do you cry like that when you think of all your friends dead in
the street?” he asked albeit casually.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“Well, it’s not like I go around picturing all my friends dead,”
she said exasperated. “You didn’t believe I could do it and I wanted to prove I
could. You just happened to be right in front of me and it was easy to do. You
travel so much it’s a very likely way for you to go.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She looked down at her hands avoiding his
stare.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“Donilee, you’re not going to cry again, are you?” he asked
anxiously.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">She giggled and looked up at him. “I think I’m done for the day
if you believe me now.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">He nodded emphatically. “I do. Please, don’t ever cry like that,
okay? It freaks me out,” he said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“Then don’t ever die,” she quipped.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“Do you really care that much about me?” he asked softly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“Of course I do. You’re one of my closest friends,” she said
shyly. She could feel her cheeks burning. Good thing it was dark or he might
notice it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">But he did notice it and some other things too, though not about
her, about himself. He remembered how he felt two weeks ago when she went home
to White Bear Lake, a four hour drive, to visit her mother. He had begged her
to put it off a couple of weeks so he could take her himself, but she insisted
on going alone. He had worried the whole time she was traveling and insisted
she call him the minute she arrived. He recalled not being able to concentrate
that whole day until she called four and a half hours later. Relief had flooded
him. It had not meant anything to him then, but it did now. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">What if she had died on that trip? What if he had never seen her
again? What if she had died before he could tell her she meant the world to
him? What if he never got to tell her he had been stupidly in love with her and
not even known it?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">Emotion filled his chest to the point he could barely breathe.
His eyes stung as he stared at her. When she looked up a tear slipped down his
cheek.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“Aiden, what’s wrong?” she said placing her small, soft hand on
his rough cheek. He suddenly pulled her into his arms crushing her to his chest
and holding her tight.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“I love you, Donilee. It took me this long to figure it out.
I’ll promise not to die if you promise the same,” he said in a shaky voice.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">Shocked to her toes, it took a while before she could do
anything more than cling to him. “Okay,” she answered in a tiny squeak. “I love
you, Aiden. I only figured it out lately, too.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">He pulled back to peer into her face. “When?” he asked brushing
her hair out of her eyes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“When I went to visit my mom. You were so sweet, Aiden, worrying
about me driving all that way. But it wasn’t until I called you and you sounded
so scared. You thought I was dead already somewhere just cuz it took me a half
hour longer. You forget, I don’t drive 80 miles an hour like you. But that’s
when I realized you really cared. I felt so happy I told my mother I was in
love and then she scolded me for not bringing you along.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">He burst out laughing then she did, too. He kissed her, kissed
her again and then again. “You know what this means now that we’re a couple,
don’t you?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“What? We can’t be friends anymore?” she said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“That and we’ll have to take another trip to White Bear Lake and
see if your mom approves of me. If she does I’ll ask permission to marry you,
that is, if you want to marry me. Will you, Donilee?” he asked tentatively.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">“No fair, Aiden. You made me promise never to cry and then you
say something like that,” she replied as the tears slipped down her face again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">He pulled her into his arm hugging her right off her feet. “This
one time we’re both allowed. After all, we’re a couple of really good actors,
aren’t we?” he said grinning broadly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Glorygarden@msn.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590509665833028919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2289684310230905588.post-54249341019568835702013-01-19T06:00:00.000-05:002013-01-19T06:00:05.201-05:00Just Another Scarface<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFH9zfiMWRxleFnPeMsK3lcRG-c_-1XhQzH8UAPzwOawYrBDnGoBhqGZAiwI1OpfYBdDSBxWTCQoS4BthqZIMxuoyw14czH28JAn7aaUPwZLiV0-8tSnEYlkyb8WqE5ljrKTzn2_NZZU8/s1600/punta+gorda+christmas+046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFH9zfiMWRxleFnPeMsK3lcRG-c_-1XhQzH8UAPzwOawYrBDnGoBhqGZAiwI1OpfYBdDSBxWTCQoS4BthqZIMxuoyw14czH28JAn7aaUPwZLiV0-8tSnEYlkyb8WqE5ljrKTzn2_NZZU8/s320/punta+gorda+christmas+046.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">Rosalinda shook with
fear. Carlos, her beloved Carlos, was just another Scarface. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">He had done a miraculous job keeping her totally out of the loop. In
truth, she never much paid attention to anything, not as long as he kept her
supplied with Louis Vuitton,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>seaside mansions,
luxury yachts, fast cars, stylish clothing and jewels, oh, so many jewels. But
now she knew from whence this extraordinary lifestyle came, and she couldn’t
bring herself to continue enjoying this life to which she had grown so
accustomed. All gotten with blood money. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">It was most definitely
blood money. All derived from dealings with the vilest of the vile. She knew
now, entirely by accident, but she knew about the drugs and guns and Lord knows
what else. Worse, she knew with whom Carlos primarily dealt. There lay the
problem. It had been fine when she knew none of this, but now.... not so fine.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
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<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">Oh, how true it is!
Ignorance is bliss. But what good was living in deceit? She would regret
talking to Danilo for the rest of her life and yet she was glad it happened.
She had heard a car door and assumed Carlos had finally come home. Excited and
wanting to surprise him, she swiftly dressed in a sexy little thing and ran
down to meet him only to surprise Danilo, the new guy. He had been startled by
her abrupt appearance and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>pulled a gun
on her. Upon seeing her dressed in so little his eyes popped and his jaw
dropped. To her amazement,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>he quickly
turned and apologized profusely.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">“It’s okay, Danilo,”
she said grabbing a blanket off the couch and wrapping herself in it. “I
thought you were Carlos. Where is he?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">“He had some stuff to
do with the shipment,” he said breathlessly, still with his back to her.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">“Danilo, you can turn
around now. I’ve covered up,” she said giggling a little. “A bikini covers
less, you know.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">He slowly turned and
looked utterly relieved. “I’m really sorry, Mrs. Alverez.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">“It’s nothing,” she
said dismissively then she frowned. “Why would Carlos have to do business so
late? What<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>needs to be done now that
can’t wait until morning? And why are you here?”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">“He wanted me to keep
watch over you until he got back. He doesn’t trust these middle-east dudes. He
wouldn’t put it past them to kidnap you and...”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">“Middle-east.... like
Terrorists?” she shrieked. “You’re not serious.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">“Yeah, well, they
gotta be.... wanting all those guns and stuff.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">“The shipment is
guns?”she said with mounting trepidation</span></div>
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<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">“Guns for cocaine,
that’s the deal,” he<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>replied with a
careless shrug. “Carlos has been arranging it for weeks now, maybe months.
Before I started here, anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They only
want to meet at night. It’s not exactly something to be done out in the open,
not with these dudes. They’re hardcore.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">“Cocaine, guns... you
sure they’re terrorists?” she squeaked.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">“Well, sure. Who else
has got that kind of money? Not even Trump,” he said smirking. He suddenly
frowned at her. “Didn’t you know any of this?”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">She shook her head.
“I... has he always been dealing with...um, guns and drugs?”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">“You gotta forget I
said anything. Mrs. Alverez, please, don’t tell Carlos I told you, all right?”he
said apprehensively.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">She should’ve
listened. How was she to know Carlos would .... she never would have thought it
possible. Not Carlos, sweet, dear Carlos who worshiped the ground she walked on
and proved it every day with loving devotion. How quickly he changed. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">“Carlos, where were
you last night?” she asked apprehensively the next day at breakfast when he
finally walked in looking tired but vibrant as ever.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">“Mi Cuerida,” he said
coming to her and kissing her passionately. Her knees went weak as they always
did. She loved him so, from the very moment they met.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a blink she married him. She never thought
she would regret it, marrying him without knowing much about him. Would she
now?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">She forced herself to
step back from his enchanting embrace. “Carlos, tell me the truth. Are you
doing something illegal with terrorists?”she asked desperately, hoping against
hope he would deny it<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and explain it all
away so they could go back to happily-ever-after, the honeymoon that had yet to
end even after a year. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">The steely expression
crossing over his face made her quail. “How do you know about this, Rosalinda?”
he whispered menacingly.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">Under his glare she
trembled, but she steeled herself and continued rapidly, ignoring his question.
“They are the ones responsible for thousands of deaths on 9/11. They knocked
down the twin towers and blasted a hole in the Pentagon. They wanted to take
down the White House, for God’s sake! You aren’t really....really getting money
from them, are you, Carlos?”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">“Who told you?”he
asked in a dangerously soft voice.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;"></span><span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">“I... I .... it
doesn’t matter,” she said fearfully.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
braced herself and went on. This was too important to be afraid for herself.
This was the whole country at danger not just her sorry and very pampered butt.
Carlos wouldn’t ever hurt her anyway. He wouldn’t ever hurt anybody
intentionally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She knew that like she
knew her own name. But then how could he deal with terrorists?</span>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">“Carlos, you mustn’t
do business with terrorists. They’re evil. They want to kill us all, all
Christians, all non-Muslims. You have to turn them in to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the police or the FBI,” she said vehemently.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">He said nothing for a
minute, his face growing stonier with every second. Then he grabbed her roughly
and shook her violently. “You don’t tell me what to do. No woman does,” he
angrily hissed in her face. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">He threw her into a
chair and slowly paced around the room breathing hard. She sat in horrified
silence watching him and wondering. She had ignored everybody. They said she
didn’t really know him enough to marry him. They said to wait. They said she
couldn’t be in love after only a week. Had they been right? Probably, but she
did still love him. At least she loved the Carlos she thought he was. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">Slowly, perhaps an
eternity later he calmed down enough to smile serenely as if nothing untoward
had just happened, as if he hadn’t just done a complete character turn-around.
He knelt beside her chair and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>gently
stroked her cheek. She flinched at his touch, but he kissed her so tenderly she
almost forgot all. Surely, she had dreamt it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">“Think no more of this, Cuerida.
It is nothing for you to worry about.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">He then abruptly left
her. Minutes later she heard a gunshot, followed by three more and Carlos
growled, “You know what to do.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">“What was that,
Manny?” she asked one of the men most trusted by Carlos.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">“Nothing. Rosalinda.
You should stay out of the way for a few days. We’re very busy,” he replied
grimly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">“Where is Danilo?” she
persisted already knowing, but still hoping for another more agreeable answer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">“He... doesn’t work
here anymore. Don’t mention him, okay?” Manny said stiffly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">Her heart contracted
painfully. Had Carlos killed Danilo? Most likely. How many other Danilos were
there? She would never know. She never wanted to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rosalinda’s faith in her cherished husband
was gone, shattered and replaced by deceit. She had been in love with a Carlos
of her imagination, one that didn’t exist. She never truly knew him. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">She had to get out of
this house, out of this life, but now knowing the real Carlos, she suspected he
would kill her before he allowed her to leave. She needed to plan an escape, but
more importantly and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>if at all possible,
she would try to put a stop to this middle-east connection. No way would she
allow another 9/11 if there was anyway to stop it.</span></div>
</div>
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: auto;" />
</span>
<div class="WordSection4">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">How she managed to
stay calm during the next few days she would never know. Perhaps blind shock
helped. Maybe it was just fear or it could have been sheer determination.
Funny, she never thought she had any, but things change, don’t they? In terrible
ways, but things do change.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">She drummed up the
courage and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>told Carlos she wanted to do
some shopping. Thankfully, he merely waved a dismissive hand as she left. He
had been decidedly cold towards her since the day of their confrontation. She
would’ve been thankful if she weren’t<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>frightened of being killed at any moment. Not that she feared dying. She
just preferred to go after she did some good in the world, like having horrible
terrorists put in jail. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">Her insides were all
of a quiver as she got into her car. Carlos usually had her go with one of his
men supposedly to save her the trouble of driving. Now she knew of other
reasons. Danilo had said Carlos feared her being<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>kidnaped. She fleetingly wondered how much ransom
Carlos would pay for his most prized possession. A mere possession she
certainly felt like now. She had been bought by shiny things and placed in a
golden cage. She was hardly better than Carlos.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">Guilt suffused her
being.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Danilo’s death was on her head.
How she wished now she had listened to him and said nothing. She jumped a mile
into the air when Carlos showed up at her elbow. Her heart pounding erratically
she lowered the window wondering if he suspected her of treachery. Did he know
what she planned? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">“I’m sorry, Rosie. I
didn’t mean to startle you,” he said staring at her intently.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">“I...I just didn’t
hear you,” she replied shakily, attempting a smile.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">“Don’t be too long,
Rosie, all right?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He stared at her as
if debating what next to say. “I’m sorry I spoke harshly the other day. Forgive
me?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">“Yes, of course. You
were under stress, no doubt. You told me to forget about it so I did,” she said
meekly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">He grabbed her hand
which had gripped the steering wheel as if it were a lifeline. “Love me?”he
asked softly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">Tears filled her eyes.
The truth was she did. She loved him, the Carlos she wished he was, the one he
should have been. “I’ll always love you, Carlos,”she said truthfully.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">He smiled, leaned into
the car and kissed her tenderly. “Be back soon.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He stepped back and waved as she went through
the wrought iron gates which clanged loudly as they shut behind her.</span></div>
</div>
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: auto;" />
</span>
<div class="WordSection5">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">She drove on automatic
and only came out of her fog when entering the parking garage of the shopping
mall. She had to assume she would be followed. Carlos obviously was an
accomplished actor and she could not trust him to have let her go without
someone shadowing her. She therefore, went into the mall and straight to the
Naughty Time shop. She looked about and found something Carlos would like
prodigiously, a slutty little nothing made for man’s pleasure and woman’s
discomfort, at least until it was ripped off her. Normally she would try it on
before purchasing but today she grabbed it up along with some other under things
and paid for it, all the while glancing nervously around.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">It must be her own
guilt working overtime, but she could feel eyes on her, none too friendly eyes
at that. She slipped into another shop, a shoe store this time and swiftly went
through it to the back where she knew the back door led conveniently out just
across from the police station. She moved as quickly as she could holding her
breath and hoping no one noticed her.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">Out of breath and
quaking all over she glanced behind her. No one followed her. She stood in the
police station petrified. She had not a clue how to proceed from here. Who
should she speak with? What should she say? Luckily for her this task was
swiftly taken out of her hands when a man appeared before her wearing a scowl
on his otherwise handsome face.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">“May I help you, Mrs.
Alverez? I’m Detective John Mullen,” he said indifferently.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">She tilted her head
back to look up at him. He was so tall. “How do you know my name?”she mumbled
ominously.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">“You’d be surprised
how much we know about you and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>your
loving husband. How may I help you?”he said calmly though his eyes glared at
her as if she were a nasty scourge on the earth.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">“I have information of
the sensitive sort, something, I think of national security type importance,”
she whispered earnestly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">His eyes widened ever
so slightly and he grabbed her arm none too gently taking her to an
interrogation room. He practically threw her into a chair and grabbed its arms
preventing her escape. He leaned into her face before gruffly saying, “Spill
it, Lady.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">He stood so close she
could count every lash on his eyelids. “I, uh...” she took a deep breath and
told him everything. An hour and three quarters later she drove back home as
per instructions. They would “see into it”. She knew not what that meant. All
they expected her to do is act normally.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">Could she manage it?
Did she dare? She truly wasn’t certain, but it was now out of her hands. She
grabbed her shopping bags and she marched into the house as if facing the
guillotine.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">“That was quick,” Carlos
said casually, coming out to greet her with a drink in hand. “Nothing to tempt
you?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">“I got something I
think you’ll like. I can show you tonight,” she said breathlessly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">“I have somewhere to
be tonight. Why not now?” he said silkily. He gave her a sexy grin which always
made her melt. He pushed a stray strand of hair out or her eyes before kissing
her breathless. “I’ll be up in a minute.”</span></div>
</div>
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: auto;" />
</span>
<div class="WordSection6">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">She rushed up and
changed. This was part of the instructions after all, acting normal and normal
for them was a sexy romp lasting hours right smack in the middle of the day.
She should have been<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>nervous, but oddly
enough she wasn’t. It felt right somehow. She had done right. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">Although, had
she? Betraying her husband, wasn’t that a sin? Perhaps, but so was killing or
helping others kill hundreds, maybe thousands of innocent people. Besides,
Carlos had started the deceit. She was following his lead. She had done her
part to stop terrorism. There was nothing more important. She wouldn’t give it
another thought.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">They lay in the
afterglow with nothing between them but love. That she knew was real, true and
honest. She also knew it would be one of the last times between them like this.
She wasn’t kidding herself. Carlos would soon find her out and hate her for it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">“Rosie, cuerida,” he
mumbled kissing her cheek, the tip of her nose, her lips. “This will be the
last time.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">She stared at him.
“What...what do you mean?”she asked panicking slightly. Did he know? Had she
let something slip?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">“Rosie, it’s okay. No more
after this. No more dealing with... those people. We can forget all the bad
stuff. No more. We’ll go on a world cruise and visit every country worth
seeing. You’ll like that, won’t you? Then we can go to Columbia and start our
family,” he said seductively.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">“Columbia? We won’t
come back here, to the states?” she asked, trepidation running along her spine.
“But my family is here.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">“You’ll like Columbia.
I have a beautiful home there,”he replied casually, ignoring the rest.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">“Do you? You never
told me,” she said anxiously, her thoughts only on what horrors he suspects
happening here to make him want to live somewhere else. Surely that was the
reason, escaping before... God help us! What were the terrorists planning? And
her family, what would happen to them?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">“Rosie? Would you like
that, a little baby, just like we wanted. Many babies,” Carlos said, now
kissing her neck.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">She took in a deep
breath, willing herself to stay calm. She smiled wistfully and nodded. “A baby.
That would be nice, Carlos. So nice,” she said softly, tears filling her eyes.
He made love to her again, this time with a sweet purpose.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">Close to midnight
Carlos was preparing to leave with most of his men but Rosalinda clung to him.
“Please, Carlos. Don’t go. Don’t do this. We can go now. We can leave and
they’ll never find us. Just don’t do this. I got such a bad feeling about
tonight. Please, Carlos, please,”she desperately whispered to him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">
</span>
<div class="WordSection7">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">“Rosie, stop this. We
can’t stop now. It’s too late. Go to bed. We’ll be back within a few hours.
Pack your favorite things and we can leave as soon as I get back. Okay?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn’t wait for a reply. He kissed her and
left.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">Hector, as promised,
had stayed behind. She couldn’t settle to anything and wandered aimlessly about
the mansion which now seemed too big, obnoxiously so, yet confining, too. She
picked up a book, but couldn’t get passed the first sentence. She turned on the
TV but to no avail. Nothing was worth two minutes of her time. She tried to
sleep, but simply couldn’t rest. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rosalinda forced herself, at last, to sit
still staring unseeingly at the cascading waterfall splashing into the Koi pond
on the back patio. She didn’t know what was coming, but it loomed in the air.
She could feel it. At half past three a soft knock came at the front door
making her jump. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">“I’ll get it. You stay
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<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">Wringing her hands she
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murmurings of deep male voices. Not willing to sit still further she got up in
time to see a grim faced Detective Mullen coming towards her with Hector.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">“What is this? What
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<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">“John came with some
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<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">Her heart froze.
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<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">“I’m not who you think
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<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">Numb with shock she
did as told staring from one to the other. “You... you work together? Where’s
Carlos?”she mumbled.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">They both sat across
from her, Hector taking her hand. “Your husband’s dead, Mrs. Alverez. He and all
his men. I’m sorry,” said John Mullen</span></div>
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<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She shook her head. “No, no.... you said he
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<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">“It was a double
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bracingly. “But we got them all. None of them escaped.”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">That was little
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<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">“You had nothing to do
with it. It’s what happens when you deal with ruthless thugs. There won’t be
another 9/11 at least not with these men behind it. You did well for your
country, Mrs. Alverez. You should be very proud of yourself,” John said
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<span style="color: #31849b; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 191;">Proud? Maybe one day,
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
Glorygarden@msn.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590509665833028919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2289684310230905588.post-30425201476104744992013-01-12T06:00:00.000-05:002013-01-12T06:00:01.674-05:00Summertime <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxRoTNWXJ4HnzoX1aMmQ5_cCLE9TKP10Y-YqC40s_QFlbd1S2S_mTugPZFwWbRvgOT9_mJkgPI5D70NdvM7VAco-kG4TpSrKSkTQPi1mn0girgQSBTZCqcStc2M9fKF3B36kBhhrrwN1A/s1600/punta+gorda+christmas+058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxRoTNWXJ4HnzoX1aMmQ5_cCLE9TKP10Y-YqC40s_QFlbd1S2S_mTugPZFwWbRvgOT9_mJkgPI5D70NdvM7VAco-kG4TpSrKSkTQPi1mn0girgQSBTZCqcStc2M9fKF3B36kBhhrrwN1A/s320/punta+gorda+christmas+058.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The heat of the sun assailed him like a house
aflame, but he smiled.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I love summertime!” he shouted.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“We do, too!” two passing girls called back.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He grinned and continued watching the scantily
clad girls walk away. Any other time of the year his leering would earn him a
badge of opprobrium, but not in summer. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A girl sitting behind him laughed and he looked
around. Holy Moly, what a looker!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“You look hot,” she muttered, lifting her shades.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“You should talk,” he said, letting his eyes
rove down her amazing figure.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She laughed. “I mean, you’re sweating. I know a
cure for that.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“For sweating? So do I, but I hate winter and
the AC. Just wanna be warm,” he replied.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“You’re too funny. I was thinking of going up to
Mountain Lake. It’s always cool there even in this blistering heat.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Want company?” he asked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I do,” she said, standing up. “We’ll take my
truck.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Well, if this wasn’t serendipity he didn’t know
what was! If he’d gone to work as he should have done, he would have missed out
on a golden opportunity.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I’m all yours,” he said, following her like a
love-struck puppy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I’m Amy, by the way,” she said.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I’m John,” he replied. He jumped into her old
ford and had to laugh. There was a perfect song on the radio. He sang along
because it was one he knew.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I’m cold. I hate the cold. Gotta get out,” he
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“He’s…dead, Dr</span><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">. Jones </span>. He hated the ice bath, but
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She caressed the heated cheek of the
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Glorygarden@msn.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590509665833028919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2289684310230905588.post-55188147133940502842013-01-05T06:00:00.000-05:002013-01-05T06:00:02.411-05:00Flash fiction: A Winter’s afternoon<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #604a7b; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #604A7B; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent4; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;">“Perhaps this wasn’t
such a good idea after all,” Anise muttered as she looked out the window. She
could see nothing but white. Snow was falling fast and furious this lonely
winter’s afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Already three inches
had fallen in as many hours and they were saying the storm wouldn’t be entirely
over until sometime tomorrow night. They were talking feet of snow now, not
inches.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #604a7b; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #604A7B; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent4; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;">“What the heck was I
thinking?” she said aloud. “I could have waited until spring to run off. I’m so
stupid!”</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #604a7b; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #604A7B; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent4; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;">But it hadn’t been stupidity
that made her run away from her warm tropical home to this frozen, isolated,
forbidding place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her broken heart was
to blame.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #604a7b; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #604A7B; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent4; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;">Jeese’s last words
still echoed in her head. “Go! I can live quite happily without you.”</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #604a7b; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #604A7B; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent4; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;">She needed to get as
far away from him as she could just to keep sane and this was the place her
circling finger landed when she closed her eyes in front of a map.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #604a7b; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #604A7B; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent4; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;">She turned away from
the view, wringing her hands. Would the power go out? Would she have enough
wood to keep warm? She stared at the huge stack of logs by the door and
calculated how many hours warmth there was inside. There was twice that outside,
too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She would be fine.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #604a7b; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #604A7B; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent4; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;">She had more than
enough provisions, too. Her landlady had warned her how things were here. </span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #604a7b; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #604A7B; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent4; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;">“When you’ve lived
in the sticks as long as I have,” Mrs. Jerkins said, “You learn to keep freezer
and pantry full and hunker down when it’s too beastly even for beasts!” </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #604a7b; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #604A7B; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent4; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;">Anise had followed
the advice, but still…</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #604a7b; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #604A7B; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent4; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;">“It would be different
if I weren’t all alone,” she said.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #604a7b; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #604A7B; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent4; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;">The golden retriever
by her side looked up reproachfully.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #604a7b; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #604A7B; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent4; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;">“Goldie, you know I
love you, but…” she said just as they heard a loud crash outside. “Omigosh! What
was that?”</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #604a7b; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #604A7B; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent4; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;">She ran to the
window. She could just make out a crumpled car against a tree. </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #604a7b; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #604A7B; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent4; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;">Then someone pounded
on the door. She jumped in fright.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #604a7b; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #604A7B; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent4; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;">“Anise!”</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #604a7b; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #604A7B; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent4; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;">She opened the door
and gasped. “Jesse!”</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #604a7b; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #604A7B; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent4; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;">His arms went around
her crushing her to him. “I’m sorry, I was wrong. I can’t live without you.
Marry me?”</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #604a7b; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #604A7B; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent4; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;">Even with the snow
circling around them and the blistering cold wind whipping inside the cabin,
Anise had never felt warmer.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Glorygarden@msn.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590509665833028919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2289684310230905588.post-7221544065017896342012-12-01T06:00:00.000-05:002012-12-01T06:00:01.164-05:00Mama’s little genius<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidEhjLbjx0HffhyphenhyphenS47orZUc2m9DbpFBMLWWp4cz6ngfPRctOG7bOSn7_Sv0yW-gpha-bCVYwemNHH0XgO1-UhG9hRsaFfj8sciGfAcrqEebXQ_fD3nvxiHj357s2I4m9Sg49l3CorzfvE/s1600/826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidEhjLbjx0HffhyphenhyphenS47orZUc2m9DbpFBMLWWp4cz6ngfPRctOG7bOSn7_Sv0yW-gpha-bCVYwemNHH0XgO1-UhG9hRsaFfj8sciGfAcrqEebXQ_fD3nvxiHj357s2I4m9Sg49l3CorzfvE/s320/826.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Ring his neck is what she should do! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Peter had said “Let’s have kids, they’ll be fun, we can take
them to Disney World” and Cathy had been stupid enough to believe him. But in
all honesty, she had wanted kids, too. She just had no clue it would be so
difficult. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Frankie was more than a handful, yet she couldn’t help wondering
if things would be different if Peter hadn’t been stuck on an aircraft carrier
in the middle of who-knows-which ocean half-way around the world. He had only
been gone a few months but it seemed like years.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Peter didn’t seem to be taking Cathy’s concerns very seriously.
Her anguished letters to him were becoming an endless source of hilarity for
him and his shipmates. Her last few letters had kept them in stitches for so
long that their commander wanted to know what all the commotion was about.
After reading the letter to him, Peter was henceforth under strict orders to
inform the commander of the arrival of the next installment of the many
adventures of ‘Peter’s little man’. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 16.0pt;">At least Cathy felt she was doing her part at keeping up
war-time moral. She also knew now not to include any mushy stuff as she didn’t
need that humiliation on top of having a ship load of people know she was an
inadequate mother.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Cathy didn’t quite know how it had gotten so out of hand.
Frankie was supposedly a perfectly normal three and a half year old boy yet she
had the sneaking suspicion that he was very much smarter than she was. She was
shocked at how quickly he learned the alphabet and how soon he left behind all
his contemporaries by progressing from <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Cat in the Hat </i></b>to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Time</i></b>
magazine. She was embarrassed beyond belief at the dentist when Frankie asked
her about a word in an ancient <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">US News and World Report.</i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 16.0pt;">“Bosnia? Oh, it’s a country, I think it’s near the Russian border,”
she whispered. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 16.0pt;">She hoped no one sitting around them in the waiting room heard,
but they did and they stared in complete shock.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Cathy had to watch what she said at all times. It always seemed
to give Frankie ideas. Once, while talking on the phone with a friend, Cathy
noticed an annoying buzzing sound on the line. She said she would have to get
it checked. After she hung up, she went to the laundry room and Frankie took
the phone apart while she wasn’t looking. He did some <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">magic </i>and put it back together then went to her and told her to
call Jackie again. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 16.0pt;">“See, phone fix, Mama,” he said. Amazingly, it had been clear as
a bell.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Cathy couldn’t even yell at him for doing these things as he
wasn’t being <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">bad</i>. He was helping,
after all. His last exploit scared her silly, however. He really could have
gotten hurt! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 16.0pt;">He had waited until she was asleep and took the key that she hid
in the highest place she could find and went into Peter’s workshop. He took out
brushes and varnish and he proceeded to do the kitchen table, which Cathy had
made the mistake of talking out loud about refinishing. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Frankie had to climb boxes and crates to get to the varnish. It
made her shake with fear how easily he could have fallen and truly hurt himself.
But what was most alarming was that he did all this so quietly that she slept
through it. She usually awoke at the drop of a pin. When Peter’s buddies heard
this they were ready to sign-up Frankie for Special-Ops training.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Cathy was at her wits end. She was going to worry herself to
death if she didn’t do something. She hated to admit it, but she was going to
have to call in the big guns.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 16.0pt;">“Hello, Mama, hope you don’t mind us stopping by,” she said to
her mother.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: auto;" />
</span>
<div class="WordSection2">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Evelyn let out a squeal of joy and wrapped her arms around
Frankie totally bypassing her daughter. Cathy was used to this. Frankie was the
first and only grandchild so far and it was their job, they told Cathy, to
spoil him rotten.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 16.0pt;">After lunch and enough hugs and kisses to smother anyone,
Frankie was ready for his Grampop-time. Albert, Cathy’s dad, and Frankie
usually went off to places unknown and did mysterious things of which they told
no one. This gave Cathy the time she needed to tell her mother her concerns. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Evelyn listened attentively but when Cathy got to the varnishing
of the table, Evelyn’s eyes glazed over.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 16.0pt;">She gasped and said, “Deja vu! I just remembered things your
grandmother told me about Albert. She said he was an absolute terror, that he
used to escape his playpen, break china that they stored in the garage, poured
baby powder in the heat vents and...” she paused dramatically “paint the
kitchen cupboards at the age of three! Oh, I paid her no mind. He wouldn’t have
been so bad if she had been a real sort of mother and actually watched her kids
instead of sleeping ‘til noon. From the time he was four he was pretty much on
his own, getting his own cereal in the morning, and later getting his brother
to school and taking care of his baby sister, doing diapers and everything.” Evelyn
stopped suddenly and stared into space, her hand over her mouth.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 16.0pt;">“Well, Dad turned out all right, he didn’t kill himself,” Cathy
said hopefully.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 16.0pt;">“It wasn’t for lack of trying. Oh, the stories he’s told me!
It’s a miracle he made it to adulthood. Once, he and your Uncle Louie were
sword fighting with real steak knives on the top bunk and they both ended up in
the hospital, one with gashes on the arms, the other for stitches on the head.
Albert pushed Louie off the bed because he stabbed him and he hit his head on
the radiator. Why that woman didn’t get arrested for child neglect is beyond
me,” Evelyn finished indignantly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 16.0pt;">“Mama, this isn’t helping me.” Panic rising in her voice, Cathy
looked ready to cry.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 16.0pt;">“Sweetheart, you are a much better mother for our Frankie and
he’ll be all the better for it,” Evelyn told her soothingly. “We need your
father’s help, is all.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 16.0pt;">“So he can teach Frankie how to be a real danger to himself?
You’re nuts!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 16.0pt;">“Cathy, listen, I’m only going to say this once and then I’ll
deny I ever said it. Albert is a genius. You know those people that think
outside the box? Well, your Dad has never been <i>in</i> the box and if he had
gotten the right kind of encouragement, he could have been so much more. But as
it is, we now know what to do with Frankie.” She smiled and there was a gleam
in her eye.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 16.0pt;">“We do?” Cathy asked, bewildered.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 16.0pt;">“Frankie does these things behind your back because he knows
you’ll stop him so let’s get him and your Dad to take old vacuums, radios,
motors and VCR’s apart so they can get their jollies out without causing
trouble. Who knows? Those two might invent a car that runs on oak leaves!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: auto;" />
</span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Cathy thought on this a moment and realized that her mother
might be right. Frankie always seemed to act more like a typical little kid and
not a handyman after spending some time with his grandfather. Had her father
been helping Frankie, as her mother just said, <i>get his jollies</i>? But more
importantly, would it keep him safe?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 16.0pt;">They went looking for them and found two pairs of feet sticking
out from under the <i>retirement project</i>. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 16.0pt;">“What are you two doing in our private domain?” came an
indignant voice from under the heap of metal that would one day be a restored
‘65 Mustang. “Can’t a man and his partner have a place to call our own?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Frankie crawled out, a huge smile and a black smudge on his face
and said, “Yeah, get out, we’re working.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 16.0pt;">“Frankie, what are you wearing?” asked his mother as she stared
incredulously at the mechanic’s jumpsuit zipped over his clothes, a golden
‘Frankie’ emblazoned on the left side.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 16.0pt;">“Well, Albert, once again you’ve beat me to the punch. We’ll leave
you to it then,” Evelyn said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Taking Cathy by the arm she laughed and stated confidently,
“It’s already working and all you need do is bring him around more often which
will keep Albert from driving me nuts. Who knows? Frankie might make his
retirement far more enjoyable.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 16.0pt;">“But I thought Daddy <i>was</i> enjoying his retirement,” Cathy
said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 16.0pt;">“I meant for me,” Evelyn said, rolling her eyes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Cathy’s only concern now was the disappointment of Peter’s crew
mates if there were no more stories to tell. But as fate would have it, her
next letter contained a rather cryptic message that she had been saving until
she was certain. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 16.0pt;">It read, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“The phoenix has taken off.”</i></b> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 16.0pt;">As she sealed it and dropped it in the mailbox she could almost
hear Peter’s exuberant <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Whoop</i> and his
shouts of joy as he told anyone who would listen, “Cathy’s having a baby! Alert
Special Ops!”</span></div>
Glorygarden@msn.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590509665833028919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2289684310230905588.post-4158480698739122892012-10-27T06:00:00.000-04:002012-10-27T14:04:13.625-04:00Divorce Ruined<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm7h-RWz8LkpmjgzJdkp6FYZ1ZWorMZkPxGVWaOEsA4PDopk2G2dQVQ1X3tj90sKvyR5scHNFMqWPs15LWFEAUbJrV0iBBPoQNdQyg65wlHFGpS7ZgqpNlLfnnX3YRTXG5BvCm9JfBAyQ/s1600/june-walk+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm7h-RWz8LkpmjgzJdkp6FYZ1ZWorMZkPxGVWaOEsA4PDopk2G2dQVQ1X3tj90sKvyR5scHNFMqWPs15LWFEAUbJrV0iBBPoQNdQyg65wlHFGpS7ZgqpNlLfnnX3YRTXG5BvCm9JfBAyQ/s320/june-walk+011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“I want a divorce, Mitch,” she said casually, in between licks
of her double chocolate ice cream cone. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Sorry, Marisa, we can’t afford one,” he replied in an equally
casual tone as he also enjoyed his ice cream cone, this one of mint chocolate. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">They were sitting on a bench in the middle of an extremely busy,
loud and raucous mall waiting for their kids to come out of the cinema where
they were enjoying the latest Harry Potter movie. Mitch had his arm around
Marisa’s shoulders and she had her head resting on his. They switched cones
midway.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Well, how much does a divorce cost?” she asked, taking a lick
of the mint chocolate.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“The divorce itself not much I’m thinking, if you only count the
lawyer fees and if it’s an amiable one.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Are there ever amiable ones?” she asked.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Well, sure, if both parties agree to everything,” he said,
shrugging.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Oh, sure. They start agreeing on everything for the divorce
proceedings? Wouldn’t that mean they should stick together?” she said giggling
as they switched cones again.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“That does seem funny,” he said chuckling. He kissed her cheek
and noticing he got ice cream on her he licked it off.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Two can play that game, bud,” she said as she touched her cone
to his chin and licked it off. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">He merely laughed. “If you think that’s gonna get you a divorce
the answer is still no.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">She stuck her tongue out at him. “So, give me a round number.
How much do you suppose?” she said turning serious.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Well, when Gary and Betty got their divorce he told me it was
somewhere around eight thousand,” he replied.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Really? That much just for a piece of paper saying “I don’t
love you and you don’t love me”? That seems harsh. Unconscionable really,” she
said, indignant. “So, you’re saying divorce is only for rich people?”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“That’s going cheap, Marisa. Some can be close to a million if
there’s custody of kids to worry about and haggling about who gets what, and
this one charges that one with infidelity and blah, blah, blah. It can go on
forever. Scary stuff. Why do you think I tried to talk Gary out of it?”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“I thought you told him he should divorce Betty,” she said,
astonished.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“After it was apparent they were both going to be endlessly
unhappy if they remained together. He was just so cruel to her in the end. He
really didn’t care a whit about her. He’s an insensitive clod and I say that
with the deepest affection for my best friend. It was a kindness to just put
their miserable marriage to an end. I kind of felt bad for her. She didn’t
deserve that.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You told me you didn’t
like her because she thinks you so beneath her and Gary.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Oh, but she is,” he answered sarcastically, “She’s a PHD and a
professor in a half-rate community college and me? Well, I’m just a lowly,
uneducated plumber who just happens to make ten time the money she does.
Doesn’t matter that I actually know how to add in my head.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">They both laughed heartily over the private joke. “Imagine
someone of her education not knowing one and a half plus one and a half equals
three. For a professor of communication she couldn’t string a sentence together
that made any sense. She couldn’t speak any better than she could add,” Marisa
stated frankly. “Honestly, she goes on and on meandering about a topic saying
nothing. How can anyone so “smart” be so stupid?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“The effect of too much education?” he said smirking.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“I suppose I should be glad I only finished high school then,”
she replied with a sigh. “But I guess I kind of feel sorry for her, too. She
seemed to really like Gary.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“I think she mostly liked his income. He made twenty times her
professor’s salary, you know. It all comes down to money.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“So, really, you won’t give me a divorce just cuz it’ll cost
some big bucks? How about if I promise to be amiable and I won’t insist on full
custody and I won’t insist on alimony,” she said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“You better not insist on alimony cuz you ain’t getting any.
More judges aren’t giving alimony anymore,” he said. “You’d be on you own and I
know you wouldn’t want that. I mean, we live relatively comfortably on my
income,but with two households it’s like splitting it in half. Alimony ain’t
cheap. That’s why every divorced man out there is bitter.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“I thought you said you wouldn’t give me alimony,” she said
looking astonished.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“You think I would leave you to live in squalor? If we were to
divorce we would have to sell the house and get something smaller and cheaper
for you and the kids.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“I’d have to get a job,” she said making a face. “I only know
how to be a housewife. But we would share custody. I wouldn’t want to take the
kids from you. They need you, Mitch, just as much as me,” she insisted.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: auto;" />
</span>
<br />
<div class="WordSection3">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“But how would that work, Marisa? I wouldn’t have time to tend
to them. I’d have two households to maintain instead of one so I’d have to work
double hard. I just wouldn’t have enough time for them.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“That ruins everything,” she said. “Jake wants you to coach his
team next spring and Tiffany loves it when you read to her at bedtime. It’s
your special alone time.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“We’d have to all make sacrifices. I did really get into this
last book. I want to find out if Colin gets better in the end,” he said wistfully.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“I guess there’s more than the money cost in divorce,” she said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Kids wouldn’t like a divorce and it’s definitely cheaper to
stay married. Only one household to maintain. You keep house and take care of
the kids and stuff and I do the money making, fix the cars and do yard work. It
works out fine if we can tolerate each other.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">She bit into her cone in thoughtful silence then said, “But,
Mitch, tell the truth. You’re getting tired of me, aren’t you? I’m not a spring
chick anymore. I think you’d like to dump me for some barely of age hot babe,”
she said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“And what would I have in common with one of those? They won’t
even know who Springsteen, the Who or the Talking Heads are,” he replied
dismissively.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Is that why you stick with me? Because I know what music you
like?” she asked. “That means I could easily be replaced by a juke box, huh?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">He almost choked on his ice cream he laughed so hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“No fair, Marisa,” he said after he could
breathe again. “Just cuz I won’t give you a divorce doesn’t mean you gotta kill
me!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“How else will I get you in a fancy suit? You’ll look very nice
in your coffin,” she retorted.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“I already told you I want my body donated to science when I
die. Someone should figure out what made me so magnificent,” he said smugly. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Her turn to snort with laughter. They were laughing so loudly
people were staring at them especially the couple who had been sitting adjacent
to them in stony silence listening intently to their entire conversation,
though pretending not to.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Hi, Mommy. Hi, Daddy,” their daughter, Tiffany said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“What’s so funny?” their son Jacob asked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">They grinned at their kids and got up from the bench. “Nothing
much,” Marisa told them giving them each a quick hug.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: auto;" />
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“We just decided to stay together,” Mitch replied, picking up
Tiffany, kissing her nose and taking Marisa by the hand. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">That’s good cuz we gotta tell you about the movie. It was
awesome!” Jacob shouted.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Soon as we get in the car, Buddy,” Mitch replied as he tousled
his hair affectionately. They walked happily away, a tightly linked family
unit. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Well?” Mitch asked,looking at Marisa.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was looking back at
the couple on the bench. “She moved closer to him...They’re talking.... he’s
holding her hand....she kissed him....and he’s kissing her...now they’re<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>laughing--probably about us, I’d say. That’s
a start,” she replied beaming up at Mitch. “Mission accomplished.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Another divorce ruined. Another marriage saved. We are good,”
he said winking and they both laughed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Glorygarden@msn.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590509665833028919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2289684310230905588.post-66141372452246653122012-10-20T11:23:00.001-04:002012-10-20T11:23:51.093-04:00When Dreams Turn Real, ch1<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1NhcQ4f17g_8LqxEETN_OvlQboffZSYw_2zEaHS-v657KiLHz49DlUYvAG6PBji5-48afeoZiK8uRQ2H8kE9SEUwLJBIMpy5yr4i3gBUYBPQbxxagX609e6BEDWEfMnrNup15N_-Iw70/s1600/garden+4-12+021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1NhcQ4f17g_8LqxEETN_OvlQboffZSYw_2zEaHS-v657KiLHz49DlUYvAG6PBji5-48afeoZiK8uRQ2H8kE9SEUwLJBIMpy5yr4i3gBUYBPQbxxagX609e6BEDWEfMnrNup15N_-Iw70/s320/garden+4-12+021.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d99594; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themetint: 153;">Dani gingerly rolled
over and groaned. The ever-present pain was merely a dull ache today. She
should be grateful. For the past three months it had been far worse, a searing
agony which brought tears to her eyes with every move. But now she was finally
out of the hospital and in her own home, though now she had no one, not a nurse
nor doctor not even a visitor. But still, she should be grateful. She would be
grateful. After all, she was alive and Tony was not.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d99594; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themetint: 153;">That was a hurt which
she knew would never be removed from her soul. Her bones and flesh may have
been brutally broken and bruised, and in time they may eventually be completely
healed. Although with such injuries they likely would always pain her somewhat.
The loss of her beloved brother, however, she would never get over. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d99594; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themetint: 153;">“Oh, Tony, how I miss
you,” she muttered sadly, a tear slipping slowly down her cheek to sink into
her pillow. How she wished she’d never asked for a ride in his new car that
night. If they had just stayed home maybe....</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d99594; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themetint: 153;">Oh, there was no use thinking of
maybes. They only fussed with her already fragile state of mind. She didn’t
need that.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d99594; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themetint: 153;">Determined, she threw
back the covers and decidedly ignoring her protesting muscles with its
accompanying pain she stepped to the window and threw open the curtains.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d99594; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themetint: 153;">“What a beautiful day,”
she mumbled. Again, she should be grateful, grateful she made it out of that
hospital bed in time for spring, her favorite time of year. She looked out at
her garden and smiled. She could see a faint glow of green on the trees and
poking out among the dry, brown, crumbled leaves and dead flower stalks. There
were crocus, alliums and daffodils scattered about to bring her joy. She knew
what she needed to do, what she wanted to do, regardless of the pain it
undoubtedly would produce.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d99594; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themetint: 153;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’ll do some gardening. Weeding is as good an
exercise as anything my Nazi physical therapist can come up with,” she spoke
briskly. Tinker, a long-haired fluff ball of a cat entwined itself
between her ankles as it purred loudly. He seemed to be confirming her decision
as a good one.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d99594; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themetint: 153;">Dani giggled and slowly
bent down to scratch his ears. “You just want the chance to catch a mole for
me, don’t you? Well, let’s get to it, Tinker.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She groaned as she straightened up and took in a deep breath. She wasn’t
at all certain even gentle gardening was a good idea so soon after getting home,
but what the heck. She was going to hurt whether she sat in a comfy chair all
day flipping through magazines, pulled weeds or folding laundry. She may as
well have a nicely tended flower bed to show for her trouble.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d99594; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themetint: 153;">Her sleep tumbled hair
was roughly pulled into a knot at the top of her head after she dressed and
outside she and Tinker went. He followed his mistress around the yard as she
spoke to him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<span style="color: #d99594; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themetint: 153;"></span>
<span style="color: #d99594; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themetint: 153;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>“Look at the state of these Irises, Tinker!
Why didn’t you tell me they needed thinning?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And the Hostas need dividing, the rhododendrons and forsythia want a
pruning and the clematis and honeysuckle have to be trimmed into some neater
growing habit on the trellis,” she said as if he was taking notes for her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #d99594; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themetint: 153;">He cared not at all about any of this when he
spotted a bright red cardinal at the bird feeder and took off.</span><br />
<div class="WordSection2">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d99594; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themetint: 153;">“You know the rules,
Tinker! No birds,” Dani shouted after him, “Chase the rabbits if you want to
get fed today.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She laughed as he
stopped and grumpily looked back at her. Yes, that cat knew the rules. He just
needed to be reminded occasionally. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d99594; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themetint: 153;">Dani was in high
spirits as she turned her face to the warm sun. This is what she needed, home,
flowers, sunshine, fresh air, even her crazy cat; not pills, doctors, nurses,
all that stifling, sterile stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
donned her garden gloves and gently sat on a cushion next to her perennial bed.
She pulled out several dandelions, a nasty thistle and debated pulling out the Queen
Anne’s lace nearly ready to bloom. She pulled out some smaller ones and still
could smell the carrot scent from the roots. She had always liked it as a
child. She remembered Tony teasing her about it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d99594; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themetint: 153;">“That’s a weed. Mom
only likes real flowers like these,” Tony had said holding out a bunch of
daisies, buttercups and black-eyed Susans.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d99594; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themetint: 153;">Dani, only four at the
time, pouted. “But I like it,” she whined.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d99594; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themetint: 153;">Tony laughed and gave
her his flower bunch saying, “Here. If you put them all together she’ll like
them fine. She won’t even know it’s a weed.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d99594; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themetint: 153;">Her brother had always
been like that, helping her, guiding her, indulging her. She wouldn’t have that
anymore. Tears filled her eyes. The Queen Anne’s lace would stay and always
have a space in her garden if only to remind her of that one little memory of
Tony.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d99594; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themetint: 153;">That was how Evan found
her, gently caressing the wild flower. He stood quietly by the garden gate
watching her. What a pretty picture she made, he thought longingly. Concern
made his brow furrow, however, when he saw a tear slip down her cheek.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d99594; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themetint: 153;">“Dani, should you
really be out here so soon after getting back? You know you have to take it
easy,” he said anxiously before he could get the gate opened. “I have to fix
this thing. It always sticks.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d99594; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themetint: 153;">“Evan, what are you
doing here?” she said, startled. He knelt by her side peering into her face as
if to detect pain just by looking. Gosh, but he was cute despite his being
worried.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d99594; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themetint: 153;">“I was hoping to find
you feeling better,” he said as his hand pulled the pin out of her hair
allowing her dark curls to tumble around her shoulders. That’s how he liked it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d99594; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themetint: 153;">“Why did you do that?
My hair’s all a mess,” she whined just as she had as a child nearly twenty
years ago.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d99594; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themetint: 153;">He pulled her hands away
from her hair and held them fast in his. “Have you taken your meds?” he asked
softly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<span style="color: #d99594; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themetint: 153;"></span><span style="color: #d99594; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themetint: 153;">She pouted and
reluctantly said, “No. I don’t like that dizzy feeling.”</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d99594; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themetint: 153;">He raised his eyebrows
in disbelief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“And pain is better?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d99594; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themetint: 153;">“I feel<iframe bordercolor="#000000" class="ztktvfkpvtbqhgkexfny" frameborder="0" height="250" hspace="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N7433.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6695650.709;sz=300x250;ord=[timestamp]?;lid=41000000024781945;pid=sku6146008;usg=AFHzDLuKmqISg4w9iQUUVWsfwpS3I3_Z4A;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.samsclub.com%252Fsams%252Fsuncast-cedar-garden-bridge%252Fprod5680438.ip%253Fpid%253D_DoubleClick_Affiliates%2526ci_src%253D15781033%2526ci_sku%253Dsku6146008;pubid=542151;price=%24278.88;title=Suncast+Cedar+Garden+Bridge+-+Landscaping+Supplies;merc=Sam%27s+Club;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fs7d2.scene7.com%2Fis%2Fimage%2Fsamsclub%2Fs7product%2F0004436504085_A.jpg;width=135;height=135" vspace="0" width="300"></iframe> much better now. I
wouldn’t be out here if I wasn’t.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d99594; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themetint: 153;">He smiled indulgently.
“Yes, you would. You forget I know you. I know everything about you,” he
retorted.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d99594; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themetint: 153;">That wasn’t quite
right. Dani knew he had no idea she was completely in love with him and had
been for as long as she’d known him. But your brother’s best friend isn’t
likely to look at you as anything more than a nuisance or at best a kid sister.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d99594; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themetint: 153;">“Why are you here,
Evan?” she asked again, “Shouldn’t you be at the restaurant?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d99594; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themetint: 153;">“I don’t work till
later. Besides, I had a dream this morning and I always take them seriously so
here I am, following instructions. I was planning on coming anyway, but the
dream just made it seem more important for me to come early and now I know why.
It was to stop you from all this madness,” he said waving his hand at the weed
bucket, her tools and the garden itself.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d99594; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themetint: 153;">“What was the dream
about?” she asked curiously. They couldn’t be as wonderful as her own which
mostly centered on him professing his undying love for her. No, they were most
likely like her nightmares where metal and glass crumbled before her eyes with
Tony’s lifeless body in the center of it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d99594; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themetint: 153;">His eyes grew serious
and he looked down at her hands. He absently removed her gloves as he spoke.
“Tony and I were watching a hockey game. He got up saying he was getting a beer
and he told me to go check on you.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d99594; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themetint: 153;">Her heart sank a bit.
Just as she suspected. He came to her out of obligation and nothing more. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d99594; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themetint: 153;">“You’re too sweet,
Evan, but you don’t have to baby me anymore. I’m good,” she said trying to
smile and failing miserably. How good could she be with a dead brother?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d99594; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themetint: 153;">He stared at her until
he wanted to cry. “I miss him, too. He was like a brother to me,” he whispered
as he pulled her to him and held on tightly, “We’ll get through it together,
okay?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d99594; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themetint: 153;">He knew she needed
someone. Tony had told him as much but if truth be told, he was the one who
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Glorygarden@msn.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590509665833028919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2289684310230905588.post-62766620235245396302012-09-22T06:00:00.000-04:002012-09-22T06:00:07.989-04:00The Verbal Contract<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Glorygarden@msn.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590509665833028919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2289684310230905588.post-62058282885258823372012-09-15T06:00:00.000-04:002017-03-16T13:52:50.671-04:00Psychically Connected <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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She awoke at precisely 5:28AM. Why that time? She imagined
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His flight left at midnight and was to land nearly four
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cleared away just in time. He was likely still at the airport, even though he
only had carry-on. Nothing goes quickly at the airport, after all, and when you
have a piece of equipment which “looks potentially dangerous” he’ll likely have
to unpack it and show them precisely what a helium leak detector/ mas-spectrometer
actually is and explain extensively how very un-dangerous it is.<br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
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As she lay there wide awake she imagined him getting a
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finding an elusive leak which had evaded his clients for ten days prior to
their desperate plea for his assistance. Not that he would start work right
then and there. No, he would just want to know precisely where he was to go
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This is the tourist season with
vacationers coming to the tropical island for a last bit of fun in the waning
days of summer before schools returned to session. Would there be a room at all
for him? She sighed and hoped he’d be all right.</div>
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“Just wanted to let you know, I’m safe. Just got out of the
airport,” he said, sounding a lot less stressed than he had been the previous
day when he barely had remembered to give her a quick kiss before leaving. “I’m
having a hard time getting a hotel room. They might not let me in cuz check in
time is 3PM. I may have to take a nap in the car and go to work all dirty and
grungy. Can you believe that? ”</div>
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She smiled. She most certainly could. They were, after all,
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Glorygarden@msn.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590509665833028919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2289684310230905588.post-84912350510651238052012-09-08T06:00:00.000-04:002012-09-08T06:00:10.305-04:00A Grand Irish Wake
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000;">♪</span><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting";"> </span><span style="color: #c00000;">♫</span><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting";">...Look at the coffin
with golden handles...<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXyt5MQE_Co&feature=related" target="_blank">isn’t it grand, boys,</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXyt5MQE_Co&feature=related"><span style="color: #c00000;"></span></a>
to be bloody well dead? Let’s not have a sniffle. Let’s have a bloody good cry
and always remember, the longer you live the sooner you bloody well die…</span><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Mincho";">♩</span><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting";"> </span><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Mincho";">♬</span><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting";"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting";">“Ah,
Tommy would have loved to be here,” Michael said sadly, wiping away a tear.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting";">“To
be sure he would,” Patrick replied after a generous gulp from his mug, “Tommy
loved a wake better than anybody.”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting";">“T’is
Tommy’s voice we be missing. Such a grand tenor he had,” Shaun added wistfully.
“He be singing with the angels now.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting";">“That’s
for sure and certain. Danny-boy! He loved Danny-boy. Let’s sing it for Tommy,”
Michael said earnestly. He motioned for Charlie’s bouzouki to start the first
slow, melancholy strains of the old wake favorite.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000;">♪</span><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting";"> </span><span style="color: #c00000;">♫</span><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting";">… Danny-boy...the pipes,
the pipes are calling…</span><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Mincho";">♩</span><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting";"> </span><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Mincho";">♬</span><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting";"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting";">Jimmy
turned away from them, tears running down his cheeks. Logan gripped his
shoulder, gently squeezing. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting";">“Grandpa
should be here,” Jimmy said irrationally. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting";">“That’s
the problem with wakes, Jimbo. You can never be at your own. He’d be glad to
know he was so loved, to have such a fine wake for him,” Logan said
consolingly, “Such a good man. He wasn’t even angry with me for causing the
first divorce in your family.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting";">Jimmy
grinned. “He never blamed you, Logan. He didn’t even blame Claire. It was my
fault. He knew it and he let me know it. He said I was dumb for not seeing the
signs.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting";">“Signs?
Were there signs?” Logan asked.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting";">“According
to him there were. He said he knew you were in love with her almost from the start,”
Jimmy said. “Nothing got passed him.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting";">“Why
didn’t he ever say anything?” he asked, looking horrified.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting";">Jimmy
shrugged. “Not his style. He allows you to live your life, mistakes and all.
“Only way you’ll learn” he used to say,” he said then looking at the expression
on Logan he laughed. “Stop with all the guilt, will you? What’s done is done
and it’s been four years now. We’re good now, everything’s good now.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting";">“I’ll
always feel guilty, Jimmy. I wouldn’t be Irish catholic if I didn’t,” he said,
“I just hope he forgives me.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: auto;" />
</span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting";">“Come
on. You had to know he loved you like a grandson, better even,” Jimmy said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting";">“How
can you possibly say that? I’m nothing to him , just your friend. You and your
brother were everything to him.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting";">“Yeah,
but we didn’t give him great-grand kids yet, did we? But you did. He loved Liam
and Chloe as much as I do, more maybe.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting";">“Such
a great guy,” Logan said, tearing up, “I’m gonna miss him.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting";">“Me
too. We’ll have a pint on that,” Jimmy said sounding very much like his
grandfather. He lifted his glass and waited for Logan to clink them together.
“To our grandpa. May he be singing with the angels.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting";">“To
Grandpa, the greatest man to ever live,” Logan added. They drank down their
lagers, slapped down their empty glasses and joined in the singing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting";">“...oh,
Danny boy, oh, Danny boy, I love you s</span>o....”</div>
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<br /></div>
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Glorygarden@msn.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590509665833028919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2289684310230905588.post-87234238490027060242012-09-01T06:00:00.000-04:002012-09-01T06:00:06.340-04:00Friends No Matter What
<br />
<div class="WordSection1">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting";"> </span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">Logan cradled the scraggly tabby as
lovingly as he would a long-haired Angora primped and ready for show. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">He took her out to the reception
area as he gently cooed, “Let’s go see your mama and tell her you have to stay
overnight. A night of peace is what you need, Bellisima. It’s convincing Mrs.
Silverstein that’s going to be tough.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">He plastered a smile on his face
before facing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the Cat Lady</i> as
everyone affectionately called her.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">That done and after sending a
softly weeping Cat Lady away--probably to find yet another stray to bring to
him-- he went to the back scratching the cat’s ears. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">“Simone, Bellisima needs rest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Could you....?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He froze in his tracks gaping at the last
person he expected to see here at his vet office.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">“Hey, Logan,” Jimmy said
sheepishly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">“Hey, Jimmy,” he mumbled, “What are
you...is Rufus okay?” he asked anxiously.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">“He’s great,” Jimmy replied forcing
a smile. “You know that dog’s as strong as an ox and twice as healthy.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He swallowed hard, tersely adding, “Can we
talk?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">“You have time, Dr. Haven.
Peppermint wasn’t in the mood for a shot and Sandy took him home,” Simone
volunteered, eying Jimmy with unabashed interest.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">“Are they ever in the mood for a
shot?” Jimmy retorted giving her his most charming, heart-melting grin. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">She giggled and held her hands out
to Logan. He merely stared at Jimmy dumbfounded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">“Can I take Bellisima now so you
can talk to your friend?” she asked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">“Huh? Oh, yeah...sorry,” he said
snapping out of his trance. She took the softly purring cat and left them with
a smile for Jimmy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">Jimmy smirked and watched her walk
away. “She’s new,” he said casually, “And cute.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">And barely eighteen, Logan thought,
although when did that ever stop Jimmy? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">“Come in my office and we can
talk,” he said bracingly. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">Or would Jimmy prefer to punch him
in the mouth as he’d done at their last meeting? He had to remind himself that
he deserved it.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
</div>
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span>
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">Logan sat at his desk warily watching
Jimmy. What in the world did they have to say? Hadn’t they said it all already?
Hadn’t Logan in essence ruined their friendship?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><div class="WordSection2">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">“Would you like a drink?” he asked
stiffly. He’d never felt more uncomfortable in his life. But what did he expect
after causing the breakup of his best friend’s marriage?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">“I’m good. I’ve been thinking,”
Jimmy said expectantly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">About how best to kill him? Logan
wondered. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">“I imagine you have,” he replied
blandly as he fiddled with a ceramic German Shepard he used as a paperweight,
his prized possession. Claire had given it to him when he started his own
practice. Guilt overwhelmed him. “Jimmy...”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">“I’m sorry, Logan,” Jimmy said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">“You’re sorry?” Logan asked, incredulous.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">“You were right.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">“Right?” he repeated stupidly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">“Claire was yours first.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">“Mine first?” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">“Are you going to say everything I
say?” Jimmy asked laughing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">Logan could barely breathe for the
constriction in his chest. “Uh...Jimmy, I’m the one that’s sorry. I hate doing
this to you.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">Jimmy shrugged. “No big deal.
Claire was right, too. We never really loved each other. It’s all my fault. I
got in your way. I was just too stupid to see it. But you should have told me.
If I knew you had a thing for her I wouldn’t have...well, maybe I would have
anyway. She’s kinda hot, but I would have tried not to,” he said adamantly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">Logan couldn’t believe his ears.
Jimmy apologizing to him. This was too much to grasp.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">“Anyway, I was sitting in the tree
house and...” Jimmy continued casually.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">“Tree house?” Logan said, confused.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">“My tree house and I remembered all
the stuff we used to do up there. Remember the time we hid there when my
brother and his girlfriend were making out and we threw water balloons at them?
They were so pissed!” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">Jimmy laughed uproariously. Logan,
on the other hand, felt his soul rip apart. The loss of their friendship,
ruined by his undying love for Claire, was the worst thing about this sad
episode and there was nothing he could do about it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span>
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">Jimmy sobered quickly seeing no
reaction from Logan. “We had a lot of fun there. It was a good hiding place
too. Remember how you hid up there when you were scared to go home when we
broke your mom’s favorite lamp? I went over to your house and told her I did
it. You didn’t get in trouble, but my mom said no TV and made me wash dishes
for a month,” he said reminiscently, a huge smile on his handsome face.</span><div class="WordSection3">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">“Are you trying to kill me? Cuz
it’s working, damn you!” Logan snapped pushing out of his chair, turning his
back on him and glaring out the window.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">Shocked, Jimmy opened and closed
his mouth several times before finding the words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“No, I just...”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">“Punishing me, yeah, I know. And
the worse thing is I deserve worse. There’s nothing I can do, Jimmy. I love her
beyond reason and now that I know she loves me too... has for such a long
time... I just can’t let her go. I’m sorry,” he said. Damn it, he was about to
cry!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">“But there is one thing you can do
and that’s my point. I don’t want to lose you. You’re my best friend, Logan.”
Jimmy said. “No reason we can’t be still.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">Logan turned to stare bewildered.
“No reason?” he repeated.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">“Yeah, nothing’s changed as far as
I can see,” he said reasonably.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">“Nothing’s changed?” Logan said,
incredulous.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">“Are you going to repeat everything
I say again?” Jimmy asked smirking.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">“Jimmy, I’m in love with your wife
and...”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">“Soon to be ex-wife,” Jimmy added
sensibly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">“We want to get married and...”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">“I always wanted to be your best
man,” he interjected.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">“We want to have kids and...”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">“I’d love being Uncle Jimmy,” he
replied enthusiastically.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">“I don’t want things uncomfortable
for Claire.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">“So, I won’t come to your house.
She’ll let you have a night out with me. She’s good like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least she’ll know you really are out with
me. Noble and righteous Logan she can trust… unlike me. You can come home and
get it on with her without her worrying you got some girl’s perfume on you,” he
said dismissively.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">Logan glared at him. “I told you
we’re not yet,” he said stiffly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span>
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">Jimmy looked perplexed. “Not what?”</span><div class="WordSection4">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">“Not having sex.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">Jimmy’s mouth fell open, then he
laughed himself silly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">“All right, I get it. Logan, you
don’t have to worry about hurting my feelings. Don’t have to lie to me. It’s
cool. You love her so... you’re gonna do it. You have my blessing.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">“I’m not lying. You may not believe
it, but I still honor the sanctity of marriage. You’re still married to her.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">“ Please, tell me you’re kidding,”
Jimmy said, half astonished, half exasperated, “You can’t tell me you have her
sleeping in another bedroom.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">Logan frowned. “She’s not living
with me, Jimmy. Didn’t she tell you? She’s at her sister’s.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">“What the hell for?” he shouted.
“Thought you said you guys were in love.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">“Love, Jimmy, not lust. You always
get those mixed up, don’t you?” Logan said irritably.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">Jimmy laughed until he thought he’d
die. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">“Nobel and righteous to the very
end,” Jimmy said still chuckling, “We’re separated, Logan, surely that’s good
enough for even you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">“We take sinning seriously, Jimmy
and that would be the ultimate.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">“No, killing would be the
ultimate,” Jimmy retorted with a sigh, “Does that mean you’re waiting until the
divorce is final? That can be more than a year, you know.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">“She wants an annulment. That can
be longer,” Logan said bracingly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">“Oh, hell no! I’m not letting her
do that to you. We’ll go to Mexico. They give divorces out like tissues. Then
you can get married and start your honeymoon. It’ll be my wedding present to
you,” he said with complete confidence.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">Emotion welled up in Logan’s chest.
It sure seemed Jimmy had forgiven him. “Jimmy, are you sure?” he asked quietly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">“Sure I’m sure. Mexico’s awesome.
Went for a conference last year. Senoritas muy caliente,” he said grinning
devilishly. “Of course, that’s if we can still be friends.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">Logan grabbed him in a massive bear
hug and squeezed the air out of him. “I love you, Jimbo,” he whispered. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">“You’re so queer,” Jimmy mumbled
with a huge grin across his face, “I love you, too,” he said reluctantly. </span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;">He hugged him back fiercely. He had
his best friend back. That’s all he wanted... that and Simone’s number, of
course.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Glorygarden@msn.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590509665833028919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2289684310230905588.post-41028037493098630222012-08-25T06:00:00.001-04:002012-08-25T06:00:06.819-04:00Payback’s a bitch<br />
<div class="WordSection1">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Jimmy
stormed up the porch steps, rage like he’d never felt running through him. Just
as he lifted his fist to pound unmercifully on the door, it swung open. Logan
stood staring down at him like an imperious Czar confronting an infidel.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 16.0pt;">“I
thought I’d be seeing you,” he said, looking both defiant and resolute.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 16.0pt;">His
unflappable nature was something Jimmy was used to, but right now, at this
moment? It only infuriated him more than he already was. His fist reared back
slowly and plowed right into his mouth. </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Wincing,
Jimmy cradled his hand in the other. “Damn you!” he cursed loudly. </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 16.0pt;">He had
expected Logan to move, to dart and completely avoid the hit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He never, not in all the time they’d known
each other, ever been able to so much as tap Logan on the shoulder without him
deftly avoiding it.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Logan saw
it coming, expected it and, if he dared admit it, deserved it. He knew Jimmy
would try to hit him if only for show and he knew he expected Logan to swerve
out of it. But Logan also knew Jimmy didn’t like pain of any sort. He knew it
would be more punishment to Jimmy than to himself. </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 16.0pt;">He wiped
the back of his hand over his mouth and saw a tiny smear of blood. A cut lip.
He never thought Jimmy had it in him. Good to know some things mattered to him.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 16.0pt;">“That’s
all the retribution you’re getting. Hope you enjoyed it,” Logan said. He
stepped back and continued, “Come in unless you want my neighbors as witness.”</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Jimmy
glared at him irresolute. He didn’t want to go into that house, the house Logan
had been born in, raised in, where they played cowboys and Indians, hide and
seek, video games,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>had sleep-overs,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>where they had their first beer together,
their first cigarette, their first...well, just about everything. They did
everything together, shared everything. They were like brothers. Or had been
until...</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Still
holding his injured and bleeding fist and out of pure habit his traitorous feet
walked him into the living room. He tossed his baseball cap onto the coffee
table and ran his fingers through his hair as he’d done a thousand times
before. </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Damn, but
his hand hurt! Jimmy turned in time to see Logan take his throne or rather his
lounge chair. It just looked like a throne when noble and righteous Czar Logan
sat in it. Fury bubbled up in Jimmy. He wanted to pound him into the floor, but
his still hurting hand made him rethink that. Logan’s smirk told him he knew
what was running through his head. Man, was this guy pissing him off!</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 16.0pt;">“She’s my
wife!” Jimmy shouted.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 16.0pt;">“What’s
your point?” Logan said carelessly.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 16.0pt;">“You
back-stabbing bastard! You slept with Claire! How could you do that to me?
We’re supposed to be friends.”</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: auto;" />
</span></b>
<br />
<div class="WordSection2">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 16.0pt;">“Rewind,
Jimmy,” he said.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 16.0pt;">For
twenty-some years Jimmy had heard that. “Rewind, Jimmy. You got it all wrong.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, not this time. </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 16.0pt;">“She says
she’s in love with you.”</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 16.0pt;">“Yep, got
that right,” Logan retorted with the first sign of annoyance.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 16.0pt;">“You
slept with her!”</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 16.0pt;">“What did
she actually say, Jimmy?” he asked, exasperated.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 16.0pt;">He
frowned thinking back. “You’ve been spending time together while I’m at...
work,” he said evasively. “And that means....”</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Logan
raised an eyebrow. “And being you’ve been “working” by getting some little slut
on her back you assume I’m doing the same with Claire,” Logan coldly finished
for him.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 16.0pt;">“You’re
supposed to be my best friend. Best friends don’t do that. She’s my wife,” he
repeated.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 16.0pt;">“Yeah,
but we figured you forgot that. You possibly were too hung over at the wedding
to recall what you vowed. Love, honor, cherish... forsaking all others...any of
this ring a bell?” Logan said.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Jimmy
paled and whispered, “You son-of-a...you didn’t.”</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 16.0pt;">“Payback’s
a bitch, everyone knows that,” Logan replied.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 16.0pt;">“Payback?
What the hell...for what?” Jimmy bellowed.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 16.0pt;">“She was
mine first and you know it,” Logan snapped.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 16.0pt;">“She was
never yours!” Jimmy said.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 16.0pt;">“Wasn’t
she? Or are you just recalling things to suit you? Don’t remember that fifth
grade field trip to the cranberry bog, do you? Well, I do. She held my hand the
whole time.”</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 16.0pt;">“Are you
kidding me?” Jimmy shouted, incredulous. “Fifth grade? We were just kids.”</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 16.0pt;">“But I
was in love with her way back then and never stopped. You stole her from me,”
Logan whispered. “And because we were friends, I let you have her. Worse
mistake of my life.”</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 16.0pt;">“Let me
have her?” he screamed. “May I remind you we were together all through high
school and she’s my wife now. She chose to marry me. It’s got nothing to do
with you. You had no right.”</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: auto;" />
</span></b>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 16.0pt;">“But I
did. She’s my friend, too, always was. You, on the other hand, put frogs and
newts down her back scaring her to death.”</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 16.0pt;">“For
cripe’s sake, I was just a kid then,” Jimmy snarled.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You’ve caused her nothing but misery since
and I let you do it to her, helped you even. I wanted to protect her from you.
But you were my best friend and that was supposed to supercede everything even
the love of my life. So, I lied to her for you, making excuses for you. I told her
you’d straighten up once you were married, that you’d stop cheating on her.
Man, was I wrong. Should never have let her marry you. I should have told her
then what you were about, a selfish playboy,” he said. “She knows now.”</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 16.0pt;">“What? What
does she know?” Jimmy asked.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 16.0pt;">“You were
never subtle, but now you’re downright careless, almost like you want her to
know. Or is it that you think she’s so infatuated with you that she’ll take any
crap from you?” Logan asked glaring at him. “ Bad enough that you do every skirt
that crosses your path but using me as an alibi without telling me? Really
dumb, Jimmy.”</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Eyes
widening, horrified Jimmy grabbed fist-fulls of his hair. “You told her?” he
screamed.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 16.0pt;">“Haven’t
you been listening? She already knew, knew all along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She told me. The miracle is she doesn’t blame
me for covering up for you. She knows what it’s like between friends, she says.
She blames herself for not being enough for you. Well, she’s more than enough
for me.”</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 16.0pt;">“She’s my
wife, damn you!” Jimmy shouted loud enough to rattle the neighbor’s windows.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Logan
stared at him and sadly said, “I love her, Jimmy and you don’t seem to, at
least not enough.”</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You’re my best friend,” Jimmy said.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Struggling
with his emotions Logan closed his eyes for a second. “I think not or I would
be able to... to just walk away and not care. But I do care. I don’t want to
hurt you, Jimmy, but if I have to choose, it’s Claire.”</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 16.0pt;">“So,
that’s it? I’m out my best friend and my wife?” Jimmy asked. “You’re actually
going to put some girl ahead of friendship, a life-long friendship?”</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Our friendship, yes. Claire’s my best friend
now. Like I said, payback’s a bitch.”</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Glorygarden@msn.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590509665833028919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2289684310230905588.post-68312859167596660032012-08-18T06:00:00.000-04:002012-08-18T06:00:07.619-04:00Friends Turned Lovers<br />
<div class="WordSection1">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">Sitting on the sofa, watching another
of her favorite chick-flicks with her head resting on Logan’s shoulder Claire
felt utterly content. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">“I love you, Logan,” she whispered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">She cringed at her own stupidity. What
had possessed her to say that to him? It would ruin everything. He would never
want to see her again and he had been the only thing keeping her from
swallowing the end of a rifle.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">Had she looked at Logan just then she
might have seen the goofy grin spread over his face, but it swiftly vanished.
Surely she hadn’t meant it the way he’d hoped for so many years. She was just a
friend and married to his best friend no less. No, she would never see him as
she does Jimmy. They would always be just friends.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">“I love you, too, Claire,” he said as
casually as he could <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>even though his
heart beat thunderously. Could she hear it? “Would you like another drink?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">She lifted her head and stared at him.
She was living a lie, a huge, desperate, horrible lie. Married to Jimmy and yet
in love with his best friend. Why hadn’t Logan ever loved her? She thought he
had once long ago when they were kids. Surely, that was just her romantic
sensibilities but still... she often got the feeling...maybe he felt something
more than friendship?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">“Claire, what is it?” he asked. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">Her fingers laced with his gently
squeezed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">“Do you remember the cranberry bog?”
she asked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">How could he forget it? That was when
he fell madly and irrevocably in love with her. “Sure, we had fun,” he
whispered. Where had his voice gone?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">“Only after you stopped Jimmy from
tossing those toads and lizards at me,” she said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">“Newts and frogs, I think, not toads,”
he replied, staring into her eyes, those beautiful eyes. “He made you cry. I
punched him and told him to leave you alone.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">“You held my hand the rest of the trip.
You were so nice to me. You were my first friend since moving here. And you’re
still my friend, my very best friend now,” she said, tears glistening in her
eyes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">“We’ll always be friends, Claire,” he
said earnestly. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">What was she thinking? What was she
saying? Did she finally know how he truly felt? Was she now going to stop
coming around? Would she tell Jimmy? Panicked now, he made to get up disentangling
her fingers from his, but she held on fast preventing him from going anywhere. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">“Did you want that drink?” he asked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">She shook her head. “Why were you so
nice to me?” she asked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">He blinked stupidly. “Why wouldn’t I?
You’re a great girl, a lot of fun and... you looked like you could use a
friend, being new to town and all.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: auto;" />
</span>
<br />
<div class="WordSection2">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">She sighed in defeat. Just as she
suspected. He only felt sorry for her. Was that the only reason for his
indulging her now, because of friendship? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It made no sense. He always was available no
matter when she asked to come over. She stared at him now wondering if that was
truly all there was to it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">She remembered catching him gazing at
her during school. She had thought he would ask her out, but he never did.
Instead she had to fend off Jimmy until her resistance wore down. Or was it
that she gave up waiting for Logan? Well, she wasn’t doing that anymore. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">She might be married to Jimmy now, these
past four months, but she never did love him and it was clear to her he never
really loved her either. If he had, surely he wouldn’t be cheating on her every
chance he got.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">If it’s good for the goose, thought she...
But what if Logan didn’t feel like that? What if he didn’t want anything other
than to be friends? Only one way to find out.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">“Logan, I meant it when I said I love
you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">He gulped. Perhaps he was dreaming. His
grip tightened around her fingers. They felt solid enough. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">“So did I, Claire,” he replied.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">She shook her head. “No, Logan, like
really for real. I never should have married Jimmy. I always wanted you, but
you never seemed to want me like that. But sometimes I think maybe ...maybe you
kinda do now. Am I wrong?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">He gaped at her astonished beyond
words. “Jimmy’s my best friend,” he said stupidly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">“That hardly answers my question,
Logan. If Jimmy wasn’t around, if you weren’t friends, if I hadn’t made the
biggest mistake of my life by marrying him, would you ever think of me other
than as a friend? Please, Logan. I have to know,” she pleaded.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">A terrible tidal wave of emotions raged
within him. He loved her more than life itself yet... there was Jimmy. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">“Jimmy’s my best friend,” he repeated.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">Claire released his hand. “So, he wins,
does he? And I get nothing. Figures,” she muttered. “Well, doesn’t matter. I’ve
had enough.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">“What do you mean?” he asked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">“I’m getting a divorce. Maybe I could
manage an annulment. Are you really married after all if your husband would
rather screw everyone but you?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">Logan suddenly snapped out of his
trance. “You really love me, Claire? You really...how long?” he asked
desperately.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">“Cranberry bog,” she said, shrugging.
“You shouldn’t have been so nice to me. Now you’re stuck with me even if you
don’t want me. You will still be my friend. Please, say you will. I couldn’t
bare it if you didn’t.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">He nodded with that goofy grin across
his face. “I really meant it when I said I love you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">“Really? Since when?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">“Cranberry bog. Shouldn’t have held my
hand. Now you’re stuck with me forever,” he said. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">They smiled and embraced. Slowly their
smiles faded and they pulled back.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">“What about Jimmy?” Logan asked, brow
furrowed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">“We’ll tell him it was all his fault.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">“Because of his cheating on you?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">She shook her head. “Cranberry bog. He
was there too, remember?” she said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Logan grinned . They were friends turned lovers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;"> “Thank God for
newts and frogs.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Glorygarden@msn.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590509665833028919noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2289684310230905588.post-79218757749952398962012-08-11T06:00:00.000-04:002012-08-11T06:00:09.007-04:00Now and Forever by Alexandra Heep Every once in a while, a friend will allow me to post one of their creative pieces, a sweet poem, thoughtful reflection or a chilling tale. This time I thank <a href="http://www.helium.com/users/222457/show_articles" target="_blank">Alexandra Heep</a>, who blogs at a <a href="http://www.aheepofeverything.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Heep of Everything</a> for the honor of hosting one of her many poems.<br />
<br />
Now and Forever by Alexandra Heep<br /><br />
Now - it is here in the blink of an eye<br />It can stay and make a moment so still<br />Or float on like a cloud and pass you by<br />It can move quick as lightning if you will<br />
<br />
Forever can't be without many now's<br />For some it is pain, for others it's joy<br />It's also part of many vain vows<br />Hard to keep, hard to hold, never a toy<br />
<br />
Now and forever beginning or end?<br />More than words, more than time, they're destiny<br />Either can break, sustain, or even mend<br />They cause and affect, never cease to be<br />
<br />
Use either wisely and pay them respect<br />Sages know they bring what you don't expectGlorygarden@msn.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590509665833028919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2289684310230905588.post-76421654994595786462012-08-04T11:26:00.002-04:002012-08-04T11:26:41.895-04:00Ch2 Insanely Eccentric<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">“You’re insane! You do realize that, don’t you?” Ben growled.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">Jordan grinned at his older brother as he lazily folded his
shirt before placing it carefully into his suitcase. “And I keep telling you
when you’ve got enough money it’s called being eccentric,” he replied.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Eccentric is showing up at a business meeting wearing a flowery
bonnet and a loincloth. Going to Europe with a complete stranger is insane,” he
retorted.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">Jordan straightened up looking pensive. “I should do that. Would
any of those sourpusses at our corporate meetings even crack a smile if I
showed up wearing a loincloth and flowery bonnet? Be worth doing it just to see
their reaction.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">Ben glared at him. “Will you be serious for a minute?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I am. I’ve been working
on my abs. I could get away with a loincloth. The flowery bonnet, though... not
so sure about that,” Jordan said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">Ben made his typical growling sound and tossed a pillow at him.
“What are you thinking, Jordan? This woman could be a psycho or worse. You
don’t know her,” he said anxiously.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Sure I do. I hired her remember? I know loads about her, more
than she’d ever guess. I check out my employees carefully, you know.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Women have completely different work and non-work personalities,”
Ben said. “Look at Geri. She’s a competent, reasonable, agreeable person when
she’s selling houses, but let me forget her birthday and she becomes a total
be-atch.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">Jordan laughed. “Geri is a sweet girl and you shouldn’t ever
forget her birthday. She’s your wife for Pete’s sake.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">“She forgets mine all the time and I don’t freak out about it,”
Ben replied grumpily. “But that’s not the point. This woman, you only know her
work face. Her real personality could be way different and not good different.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">Jordan sighed. “I’m okay with that, Benny. I just want some
company and she needs a little time away from work. You know I found out she
hasn’t taken a vacation in the two years she’s been at Willow Brook. She works
too hard. She worked her way through college, you know. I don’t want to lose
someone as good as Ariana to stress and burn out. If I have to be the one to
force a little time off then so be it. I’ll be killing two birds with one
stone. I have some people I need to meet with abroad and I could use a vacation,
too.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Always the multi-tasker,” Ben said derisively.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: auto;" />
</span>
<div class="WordSection2">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Why thank you, Benny,” Jordan said, smiling and folding a pair
of pants before packing them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">“That wasn’t a compliment. I worry about you, Kid. You’re so
idealistic it scares the crap out of me.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">“What idealistic? I’m not in love with her. I’m not going to
marry her in Paris if that’s what you think. We’re friends, friends going on a
little trip. That’s all.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">“If I could only believe that, Jordan, but you’re track record
proves otherwise. Need I mention Helene and Nancy? Those were two very close
calls.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">Jordan scowled. “I was foolish with regards to them, that’s true,
but I’ve learned my lesson. No more self-absorbed super models. No more giving
away diamond engagement rings to a cheating dinner whore. I traded it in for
this trip,” he said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">“And what is this?” Ben asked, holding up a tiny black velvet
covered box that had been sitting half hidden behind a small clay figurine
Ben’s daughter had made in art class for her favorite uncle.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">Caught in the lie, Jordan shrugged. “I didn’t get around to
getting rid of it. I’m rich. I don’t need the money. You can have it. Have it
redesigned for Geri. She’ll forgive all those forgotten birthdays,” he said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">Ben opened the box and nearly passed out. “Holy crap! It’s huge!
How much did this thing cost?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Enough,” Jordan said carelessly. “It’s not real—I mean really
from South African diamond mines. I won’t ever buy real diamonds now that I
know how they treat their workers. Is that what you’re worried about? My
money?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Well, since you seem completely unconcerned about it someone
should be,” Ben said still eying the glittering stone. “Sure looks real.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">Jordan smiled. “Benny, I’ve got plenty.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">“For how long, though? You’re spending it like it’s water. What
are you going to do when it runs out? Create another computer advancement,
mobile app or whatever you do and sell it to the highest bidder? Yeah, that
won’t be too difficult! All you’ve worked for will be gone and your charities
will be out of luck, won’t they?” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Benny, you don’t really know how much I have, do you?” Jordan
said in quiet awe.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">“That’s hardly my business. I just don’t want you to lose it
all,” Ben said. “I know how hard it is to earn a living. Believe me.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Let me reassure you then. I have more money than any sensible
person could possibly spend in a lifetime. Every one of those <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">charities</i> as you call them are
self-sufficient. The money I set aside for each allows them to function well
into eternity barring major global catastrophe. And if you’re worried about
your inheritance, don’t. It’s quite safe.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: auto;" />
</span>
<div class="WordSection3">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">“What inheritance?” Ben asked stunned.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">Jordan folded another shirt before answering. “Not really
inheritance. I just don’t really know what to call it. Trust fund doesn’t sound
quite right either. Just know that you and Mike won’t have to worry about
sending your kids to college.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">“What…what do you mean?” Ben whispered. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">“It’s sort of like a tax thing. It keeps the IRS off my back and
saves me loads on taxes.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">Ben stared incredulous. “We have seven kids between us,” he
muttered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You can’t be serious.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">Jordan grinned and turned to the dresser pulling out underwear
and sticking them in the bag. “I’m quite aware of that. I love those kids...as
if they were my own,” he stated simply.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You can’t possibly put
all our kids through college.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Think I can.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I can’t even calculate
how much that is. Seven kids even at a community college...” Ben shrieked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">“I’ve got accountants for that,” Jordan replied carelessly. “And
there’s no way they’re going to community college. Even beauty school is better
than that!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">Ben blinked and looked around his brother’s very humble
dwelling. “So, is that why you aren’t living in a mansion and why you don’t
have a butler doing this packing for you?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">Jordan laughed. “One has nothing to do with the other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t need a mansion and I don’t like other
people touching my undies. At least not stuffy old butlers,” he retorted.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Be serious, Jordan.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">“I am serious. I just don’t like looking as if I am.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Jordan, this just makes it more crazy for you to take this
woman to Europe. Paying her way, no doubt,” Ben said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: auto;" />
</span>
<div class="WordSection4">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Why shouldn’t I? I have the money and I need the company. I
offered her the trip alone, but she said she’d rather I come, too, as
protection. I don’ blame her. Awful things can happen to folks on their own in
foreign countries, especially a nice looking woman like Ariana.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">“So you admit it. She’s pretty.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Is that a crime now, Benny? Yes, she’s very pretty but I
already told you. We’re just friends. She made that perfectly clear and I agreed.
After what we both have recently gone through it only makes sense to be
cautious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we’re both safe, she from
unwanted advances and me from money-grubbing women.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">“That’s not how I see it. Jordan, she could just be playing you
and you, naive as you are, wouldn’t ever see it coming. Mike thinks I should
just hog-tie you and bring you home with me before you do something really
stupid.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">Jordan laughed again. “Oh, Mike, what a pal! I’m surprised he
didn’t come with you. Where is our dear brother?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Julie had a dance practice and Fran had to work late so she
couldn’t take her or he would’ve been here too. He’s better at talking sense
into you, but you’re stuck with me,” Ben said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">“I like the company,” Jordan replied.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">Ben watched him folding his clothes. “Is that it, Jordan?” he
asked softly. “You’re lonely? Why don’t you get Mom and Dad to come with you?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Mom would instantly get the idea that Ariana and I are more
than just friends. She’ll start planning wedding rehearsal dinners before I
could say otherwise, don’t you think?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">“I meant take them instead of this bimbo,” Ben said,
exasperated.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">“She’s not a bimbo,” Jordan said slightly annoyed. “Dr. Ariana
Maglioni is the best Geriatric doctor around. She’s caring and kind to the
point of neglecting her own needs. She’s barely away from Willow Brook and that
is exactly why I’m taking her to Europe with me. I like her, Benny, and I could
really use a friend right now, probably as much as she can. She’s had it rough
lately and I want to help her. Please, don’t worry about me. Even if I did the
nuttiest thing possible, got drunk and actually got married to her in Vegas by
some Elvis impersonator there is still the pre-nup which I would make any woman
sign before any vows are spoken. I’ve learned at least that much. Not so naive
and idealistic anymore, all right?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">Ben suddenly looked sad. “Nancy really did you in, didn’t she?
The bitch! She ruined my little brother,” he said angrily.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">Jordan chuckled. “You say I’m too naive and that upsets you and
now you hate it that I’m not. I’m starting to think this insanity you claim I
have is contagious or perhaps you’ve inherited some of it.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">“You’re my little brother. I’m supposed to be the smart one and
take care of you. You’re doing it all backwards. You shouldn’t be setting up my
kids for a free ride to school or anything like that,” he said warily.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">“It’s the only thing I can give you to show how much I care
about all of you,” Jordan said placing the last of his clothes in and zipping
up the bag. “Well, I’m done. Want to grab a beer before I head on out? Gotta
pick up Ariana. She should be getting home soon.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">“There’s nothing I can say to make you not take this doctor
girl?” Ben said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">Jordan smiled and shook his head. “I’ll be fine. Send you
postcards and everything. It’ll just be two weeks. Unless...”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He paused for emphasis.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Unless what? Work?” Ben asked frowning.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">“No, unless the Italian countryside makes me pop the question
and then, well, we’ll have to stay for a honeymoon and then....”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Oh, shut up!” Ben snapped, half annoyed, half amused.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">Jordan laughed, slapped his brother on the back and led the way
to the kitchen. No amount of worrisome talk was going to lessen his good mood.
He was looking forward to this vacation and it actually would be only a
vacation. He was planning no work this time--yes he had lied to his brother. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 14.0pt;">He wanted to spend all his time
personally getting to know this new friend, Ariana. He just had a feeling good
things would come from it.</span></div>Glorygarden@msn.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590509665833028919noreply@blogger.com0