by Cee, DW
“Yeah. I’ll see you Wednesday morning.” It was an awkward good-bye as she expected more—a kiss good-bye, a walk out to her car...who knew? But, ‘Ma’ had a stronghold on her son and he couldn’t move. All he could do was wave.
“What the hell is she still doing with you?” Mrs. Taylor smacked her son on the head to show her displeasure. “I thought you said you two broke up?”
“Ow, Ma! You can’t go around hitting your grown son.”
“I’m your Ma! I can do anything I damn well please. Now answer me!”
“We are not together anymore, but she is a co-worker, and we had work to do. I see her in the office, Ma. That’s not going to change.”
Mrs. Taylor changed subjects as soon as she was pleased with Donovan’s answer. “Donny, have you had anything to eat this morning? You want to eat with us?”
Before he could answer, I started getting up. “I can help you now, if you like.” I addressed Bee only. “Otherwise, I need to get back and return the bike to Max. I also have school work to finish.”
“No, Baby. You can’t leave us, already. We didn’t even get to talk and get to know one another.” Mrs. Taylor cried.
Mr. Taylor joined in. “I need some golf lessons, Laney. I was hoping you would go to the club with me and give me some pointers.”
“I really do have school work I must finish in the next few days,” I answered Mrs. Taylor. Then, I said, “And Mr. Taylor, why would you want pointers from me when you’re son is an excellent golfer? His handicap is much lower than mine.”
“Yeah, Dad. Why would you ask Delaney, instead of your own son?”
“Because she kicked your ass the last two times you played against her. Plus, she’s a lot prettier to look at.”
Donovan put up both his hands in concession. “I’ve got no rebuttal for that one.”
Mr. Taylor got out his phone and started talking, “Henry. I have your Laney here. She’s going to give me pointers so I can kick your sorry ass next week when we meet at the club. What?” Mr. Taylor started bellowing and he put my dad on speakerphone.
“Baby! What are you doing, helping your dad’s enemy? We have a club tournament next week. I thought you were going to work with your old man?”
When did I become everyone’s “Baby?”
“Hi Daddy. I’m having brunch with the Taylors.”
“PA!” Mr. Taylor called into the phone.
“The hell you are.” My dad argued back. “I’m her only Daddy.”
Now this conversation was getting absolutely ridiculous.
“OK!” I cut off both men. “I’ll meet both you men at the club in exactly two hours. I can help you till 4:00pm, then I need to get some work done before I go out tonight.”
“Where are you going?” Donovan asked, but I ignored him.
“Laney?” Dad asked. “Where are you going?” Same words, different intonation—which meant I didn’t have a choice of answering or not answering.
Grudgingly I answered. “A group of us are going to a UFC fight tonight.”
“And?” Dad continued the inquisition in front of the Taylor family as though I were a sixteen-year-old.
“And what?” I asked.
“Who’s coming to pick you up?”
“No one. I’m meeting everyone at the fight.”
“How many boys, how many girls?”
“Daddy,” I complained, “this kind of questioning really necessary? I’m twenty-two.”
“Until you’re married, this kind of questioning is necessary,” my dad answered back.
“That’s right, Henry old buddy,” Mr. Taylor jumped in. “You keep her under your nose until I can have her in my household as a Taylor.”
I looked over at Mr. Taylor. Was he really trying to match-make me and Donovan?
“Pa!” Donovan was complaining of his father’s matchmaking. “I tell you what,” Donovan tried to come up with a brilliant idea, which I didn’t consider too brilliant. “How about if the five of us go out and play 9 holes today? And after we’re all done, we can have a family dinner before I take Al and Becky to the airport to catch their red-eye flight back to Chicago.”
“Son,” now my father was getting into this comedy act, “that’s the most brilliant idea I’ve heard you say, yet.”
“My son is a genius, isn’t he, Henry, old buddy?”
“He sure is Scott. You raised a good one over there.”
“Oh brother,” I heard Becky lament. “Does this mean Al is golfing the rest of today as well?” Al nodded his head in a hopeful bid to play golf.
“Of course Al is playing golf, Becky. He’s family isn’t he?” Mr. Taylor stated in a way that told Becky she should know better.
“What was I thinking?” Becky concurred with her dad, sarcastically.
“You guys can play all the golf you like, but I’m going to this MMA fight.” I stood my ground and wasn’t going to let Donovan Taylor change my weekend plans, twice.
It royally pissed me off that Donovan could change my plans depending upon which way suited him best. It wasn’t as if he would change his weekend for me. I didn’t remember him asking me if he could go work with Kate while we were feeding the kids breakfast.
“You have to go with us,” Donovan exclaimed as though he had a right to what I could and could not do. “Who’s going to team up with your dad? You’re the only other Reid.”
“Why can’t you team up with my dad? Why do we need to team up at all? Isn’t it each man for himself?”
“Nope,” Donovan answered matter-of-factly, again. “It’s team play. It’s not like you’re going to be around much longer to play with your dad, so stop being selfish, and give your dad an afternoon of golf.”
“Baby,” my dad pleaded. “Donovan’s right. You’re leaving soon. I want to play as much golf with you as possible before you leave.”
Donovan sat there smirking.
“How dare you call me selfish?” I was angry now. “I gave up an entire weekend in Scottsdale so I can play for my family. I want to go out one night and hang out with my friends. How is that so wrong?”
Mr. Taylor tried to calm me down. “Baby, it’s not wrong to want to go out with your friends. We just want to spend some time with you too. Where are you going by the way?”
Before any more of the conversation was drawn out about where I was going, and why I was going, I gave in again.
I was mad. Donovan manipulated and guilted me again, using my family and his family as well. I got up to leave, but needed to get in one last word. “Why do you do this?” As this was a rhetorical question, I didn’t wait for Donovan’s answer. “It’s not like you’re ever going to take me out on a date,” my voice weakened and my courage waned. I’d never shown him my hurt feelings before, but this weekend—after the ups and downs, the hot and the cold, playing “limb”-o in bed, only to see him run off to Kate—I couldn’t stop the reveal. “Why do you stop anyone else from wanting to go out with me?” My shoulders dropped and I walked away embarrassed with myself. Fortunately, Donovan didn’t come out to cross-examine my accusation.
“Heavy confession at the table, Miss Laney Reid,” Bee spoke after I finished modeling and readied myself to leave.
“Aargh! I feel like such a moron. I can’t wait to leave. I keep slipping up. It’s time to go.”
“How are you going to be away from my nephew for a year, if you’ve been in love with him for twelve years?”
“I’ll survive.” I muttered, and got myself back to the bike.
After thanking Max for the use of the Harley, I lay in bed thinking about last night. The talk we had in bed, the movie we watched, the night we spent together. Two weeks could not come soon enough.
I didn’t say much during the few hours of golf. Mr. Taylor and Dad talked most of the time, and I made sure to sit with Dad on the golf cart, every time. After a surprisingly friendly game, Dad handed me a bag and said, “Change into this after you
shower, Baby.”
The bag had clothes with Bee’s Beeautiful label. A gorgeous dress covered the beautiful black lingerie I modeled today. It would fit perfectly under the strapless dress, fitted up top, and A-lined on the bottom. Bee had also thoughtfully sent a large spring-colored scarf that doubled as a shawl and stunning black sling-back heels. The sexy lingerie made me feel bold and confident. I finished getting dressed and walked into the dining area so we could all have dinner.
Al let out a modest, but appreciative whistle, and jerked his brother-in-law’s attention. “Dude. You’re so lucky that I’m a married man, or you’d have serious competition from me for this beautiful woman.” That was very sweet of Al to say. “We will probably not see each other again for awhile, so I’ll say my good-byes, now?”
“It was very nice getting to know you this week, Al. Have a nice trip back, and hope all goes well with Becky’s pregnancy. I’m sure I’ll see you sometime after I get back from London.”
“Take it easy on my brother-in-law.” Al pleaded quietly, and with a smile. “He’s never been in love before so it’s taking him a while to figure things out. Once he figures it out, he’ll be the best damn husband a girl can ever find.”
I gave Al a bewildered look, and he smiled and kissed both my cheeks.
“Let’s go,” Donovan said and held out his arm. Unsure what to do with that arm, I walked away. He dismissed the distance and put his hand on the small of my back as we walked out.
“You taking me home? I thought we were all having dinner here.”
“No and no. I’m taking you somewhere else.”
“Why? And where?”
“After you lambast my chivalrous side, you ask why?” He chuckled.
Damn! He was taking me on a “date” because he felt sorry for me. I should’ve kept my mouth shut!
“You want me to put the top up? Is it messing up your hair?” It was weird that Donovan was acting like he was on a date with me.
I took out a clip from my clutch and pulled back my hair in answer.
Donovan pulled up to the observatory way up on top of the hill.
“Stay.” He warned and I obeyed.
He walked around, opened my car door, and soon proceeded to grab a large blanket and picnic basket.
“Let’s go.” He said and offered a hand. I really had no idea what the hell to do with the hand he was offering. Rather than assume anything, I walked to the side of him that housed all our stuff.
He chuckled, and allowed me to walk in peace. “There’s a star gazing event tonight. All the telescopes will be open, and you can look up at the stars and sky to your heart’s content.”
I gave him a shy but expressive smile. That sounded wonderful. Though, I could’ve stared at a smoggy sky with this man and I would’ve been content.
After we laid down our blanket and food, we walked around and saw stars, the star patterns, the dark sky, and the full moon. It looked so close and so clear.
“You hungry?” This was so weird how it seemed like a real date.
“Yes.” I answered.
He held out his hand again, and I swear my heart beat so fast I thought I might have a heart attack right here. Like the moron that I was, I didn’t know what to do with his hand. Do I hold it? Do I stare at it? Do I walk away from it? Donovan saw my contemplation, and his face broke into the most devilish smile. Knowing I was thrown the biggest question mark of my life, he left his hand out with his expression completely unguarded.
I admit, I wanted nothing more than to be intimately connected to this man whether by hand, foot or mouth. But knowing he was “gifting” me this date tonight, I didn’t want to pretend, or worse yet, believe this was as special to Donovan as it was to me.
He continued to hold out his hand and gestured for me to take it. Sheepishly, I shook my head no, and with a mischievous smile, gave him a low-five, instead. He laughed and grabbed my hand without warning, and started walking us back to the blanket.
I didn’t know that holding a man’s hand would make my blood race the Indy 500. I wanted to pass out from a lack of air. Holding Donovan’s hand was a dizzying, run to the top of the hill and shout from the top of my lungs, “I love everything and everybody,” kind of feeling. His hand intertwined with mine was getting into med school, earning summa cum laude, knowing your parents will be proud of you – all rolled into one, but still better than all that, kind of feeling. It was like ice cream on a super hot day, a hot bath on a freezing cold day, and a can’t-put-downable book on a dreary rainy day, kind of feeling. A BAM! POW! BOOM! WHAM! KRAKA-DOOM! feeling of power and strength superheroes experienced after beating up on the bad guys, kind of feeling. This feeling of him touching me with purpose was indescribable. It was only hands, but the intimacy confounded my entire senses. In short, I was happy.
“You have a smile on your face. What does that mean?”
Did I really need to explain all that raced through my mind right now?
No way! I was not going to open myself up for rejection.
“It means I’m hungry.”
“Smart ass!”
We laughed together, and he brought out a dinner prepared by the golf club. He made me a plate, he made himself a plate, and we sat and listened to the orchestra get ready for their concert. The music began toward the end of dinner, and once Donovan got himself comfortable leaning against the tree, he brought me between his legs and had me leaning against his body. If I thought holding hands was confounding—I couldn’t even begin to explain the feelings of euphoria that knotted up my stomach and wouldn’t let my dinner digest.
At first, my body was tense when he pulled me into his chest and had me leaning into him, but once I got there, it was the perfect fit. I partially turned myself into him, and had one arm around his waist and one hand on his chest. Eventually, the side of my head completely laid on his chest. The rhythm of his heartbeat made beautiful music with the musicians on stage. Donovan’s arm slowly traced around my back and curved into my waist, and his other hand continually caressed my hair. Lightning could have struck and I would have stayed in this exact spot and position.
Is this what Cinderella felt when she first danced with her Prince Charming at the ball? Did Sleeping Beauty wonder how she could have missed out on a hundred years of being without her Prince Phillip? Or was this the paramount feeling of love Snow White felt the instant her Prince kissed her back to life and they went off to live happily ever after? This was my fairytale and my dream. I was going to live it tonight—be the star of it for just one night—then go back to my reality when the clock struck twelve.
“Delaney,” My Prince whispered. “Hey, Princess. It’s time to go.”
Peeling myself from him in slow motion, I regretted having molded my body so deeply into his. I felt an instant hollowness the moment his half of the imprint disjointed from my half.
“That was so beautiful! Thank you for the most wonderful night.”
“Tonight was a wonderful night. I agree. Thanks for coming with me.”
I helped get our stuff together, and we got back in the car and were almost home, to my chagrin.
“I’m sorry you were forced to take me out, after my big speech. But, I’m not sorry you did. Tonight was more special to me than you’ll know.” I leaned over and kissed him on his cheek. “Thank you,” I said, getting out of the car.
Donovan was speechless, and unlike his chivalrous self, did not get out of the car. I waved good night and watched him leave. WHAT. A. NIGHT.
May 20, 2013 After Midnight
Every beautiful story must come to an end. And sometimes the ending is a happy one, and at other times, the author chooses to make the ending a sad one. In my case, my fairytale did not have a happily-ever-after. What started as the most incredible night of my life, soon turned back into my reality.
“Happy birthday, Emily.” I greeted my favorite birthday girl. Emily was busy getting the twins ready for the dinner at h
er house. Jake had brought in a small staff to prepare food for the family to celebrate his wife’s birthday. “How was your night at the SLS hotel?”
“It was fabulous. But, apparently not as fabulous as your night last night?” Emily grinned knowingly. “Details?”
“How did you know?”
“Uncle Henry told Jake, who told me. Though none of us have any details. Care to share?”
I went all dreamy on her. “Is it too high school if I say it was the best night of my life?”
Emily cracked-up.
“What’s so funny, Love?” Jake walked in with a baby in each hand. James ran over to me and I picked him up and held him.
“ME!” Ellie wanted her turn. I handed James to Jake, and I picked up Ellie and spun her around as well.
“I’m going to miss these two so much.” I got sad thinking about my pending trip. “These are the only two reasons holding me back from leaving for London.”
“Only two? You counting the twins as one reason and my buddy as the other?” Jake teased. “Donovan tells me you had a fun night?”
“It was the best night of her life,” Emily teased this time. “You sure you want to leave now? It looks like Donovan is waking from his slumber.”
“Donovan only took me out because I made a big fuss and complained that he was sabotaging my efforts to date anyone. I didn’t mean for him to feel guilty.”
“Did you ask him for a dress and shoes as well?”
“What do you mean, Jake?”
“The outfit you wore last night, did you ask him to buy it for you?”
“No, of course not. He bought those?” My heart did that crazy thumping again.
“From the little I could get out of Donovan, it sounded like he rounded up a dress from Bee and stopped by a department store to buy you matching shoes. He’s such a girl. What self-respecting man goes to the mall with a dress and looks for matching shoes?” Jake harrumphed.
“I think that’s absolutely romantic. Have you ever done that for me?” Emily teasingly complained to her husband. “I’d love it if you put that much thought into an outfit for me. Maybe you can take Donovan with you so he can show you what to buy.”