"More like Cagey Wit," she countered, and then softly added, "Today was a real adventure. Thank you again."
"Yes, it was. Jenny, your father would have been proud of you, building the work bench and all." His voice became contented and sincere when he added, "I was."
She was silent a few minutes. "Good night Daddy," Jenny whispered and drifted off to sleep.
"Good night, Jenny." When she moved closer, just touching him enough to confirm the security of his presence. he felt the peace also. Having her there seemed so natural. He had fallen asleep, his hand resting upon her shoulder and his heart close to his dream.
*****
Jenny woke first the next morning. She stiffened slightly as her eyes opened in the strange surroundings. She felt Charlie's body behind her and his hand on her arm and it had brought a warm comfortable smile. Her body relaxed and she felt no immediate need to wake him. With him so close, she felt safe and secure and those were sensations she wanted to hold on to for awhile. Her playful nature got the best of her though and she wiggled back eliminating the space between them. An involuntary moan of approval from Charlie rewarded her ploy. She slowly moved away and wiggled back into him again. His moan had lingered that time and his hand moved slowly down her arm and waist. When it had come to rest on her hip, she had figured it was time to wake him, maybe in a minute or two anyway, she reconsidered.
She laid there wondering if he dreamed of them last night. She lifted his hand, slid out from under it and set it down. She sat up, turned and watched him sleep. He had begun to move and woke with a large smile.
"Good morning," she greeted. "I've been up for hours, was afraid you were going to sleep all day."
"Good Morning, Jenny." He stretched holding his smile. He looked at his watch. "Should have been here by now." He got up and went outside. On the step of his truck he found a bag with a note attached that read: "CW, saw do not disturb written all over this scene. The hood was up so I put the belt on, a small thanks for your help last year. Coffee and donuts for "two", a pleasure on me. RC"
"Jenny, breakfast is served." She came out and asked if the belt was there and he handed her the note.
"That's great, you've got some good friends." She took the coffee and a donut. "Nothing like a hot cup of coffee first thing, is there?"
"You've got that right. What do you say we go find a bathroom down the road a piece?"
"I'd trade the coffee for it." Not dancing, but she was excited about that idea.
He walked her back to her car, and held the door as she got in. Her car cranked very slowly, but caught and started. They shared an "Amen."
Charlie was headed toward his rig, then stopped and turned back looking directly at Jenny.
"What?"
With a grin running ear to ear, he said, "One more wiggle and you would've been in real trouble." He turned from her as soon as he saw her face turn bright red. Touché he thought, very pleased.
They found the bathroom, showers and breakfast at a T&A Travel Center 20 minutes down the road. They never mentioned wiggling, at least not in the words they chosen through breakfast, but it was conveyed in the way they looked at each other. Refreshed and fed they were back on the road, the distance between them closing quickly.
Chapter 8
Charlie was pleased when Jenny flashed her lights after being on the road over three hours and approaching the small town of Winslow, Arizona. He realized he really wanted to see her. He found the gas station in town and pulled in beyond the pumps so she could get gas. Charlie walked about half way to where she was and she called out, "I'll be darned, it works."
"What works?"
"The lights, I figured there was no way you could see them in the day light."
"Oh ye of little faith. This will be a good place to stretch our legs."
"I could use that and I'd like to clean up a little first."
She was reaching for the pump nozzle when he got there. "Would you like me to get that while you seek out the rest room?"
"I'm okay, no dancing this time." She laughed and joined her. After she filled the tank, she paid the attendant and parked over by Charlie's rig. They walked across the parking lot to a restaurant for a rest room. Charlie waited outside, scouting out a place to take a walk, and spotted a small creek running behind the restaurant that seemed perfect.
Jenny came out with a cup of coffee in each hand, and offered one to him. "I can't very well use their rest room without buying something."
"I know what you mean, thanks. How's this for a nature walk?" He pointed to the creek.
"It's beautiful here," she said, taking a moment to look around. "This is a great little town."
"Yeah, I guess, but I'd probably go nuts if I lived here, over a week anyway."
"I know what you mean, no traffic, noise or crime to speak of," she said sarcastically. "Everybody knows and trusts everyone else in town. Sounds pretty boring I'd say."
"Sounds a little too much like a fairy tale to me."
"Maybe, but it's nice to imagine it exists somewhere. Welcome to Pleasantville."
They walked toward the creek and, after stepping down a two-foot ledge, Charlie turned back and asked, "Need a hand down?"
She took his hand and attempting her best English accent, "I thank thee, kind sir. Where might your grand white steed be grazing?"
"Just like a woman," he said grinning while taking her hand. "You offer a lady your hand and she wants your horse."
"Aren't you the hardcore romantic, C.W.?"
"My fair lady Jennivere, my noble steed grazes yonder in thine royal pasture." He bowed with a swing of his ar. Once down, she didn't let go of his hand and Charlie liked that. They walked for a few moments in silence exchanging glances. Then he stopped to face her. "Where's home, Jenny?"
"I was born in Redding, California and lived there until my mother remarried. We moved to Little Rock when I was fifteen. I've been teaching in West Helena for the last three years."
"Believe it or not, I was an education major in college too, Industrial Arts. I wanted to teach practical, hands on type of skills."
"How'd you wind up behind the wheel of a semi truck?"
"Fate."
"Oh, that sure clears things up for me. Has anyone ever told you, that you talk too much?"
"All the time," he said trying to hold a straight face.
"No really, what changed your mind about teaching?"
"A 280 pound tackle. I was on a football scholarship and this defensive tackle decided my knee should bend the other way. He was very persuasive and the knee would heal I was told, but I couldn't play ball anymore. When the money stopped coming in, eating became a bigger priority. I wanted to go back to school the following year but..."
"But? What happened?"
"Damn you're full of questions." He grinned.
"I'm just interested in..."
"OK, what the hell. I was married to a woman that was in love with the promising jock. The NFL scouts from the Arkansas Razorbacks had her all pumped up. When the dream was gone so was she. She found love in the second string, I think. It took the wind out of my sails, hit me harder than I thought was possible. A tough couple of years."
"I'm sorry C.W."
"I bounced back... " he paused then corrected his reply, "…am bouncing back. It could have been a lot worse, I guess. We were still in school and didn't have kids yet."
"You want children?"
"I did then. Now it seems like a missed boat, another life."
"Don't take your eyes off the harbor, new boats are docking all the time."
"I'm on the road too much to think about a family anyway. Where is your line up of rug rats?"
"Paul, whom you met at Kate's diner…," she said grinning. "He and I never got married, thank God. We dated for about a year when he asked me to marry him. Our relationship never had the fireworks, but I figured I could do worse with thirty just four years away. Living together wasn't my first choice, but I'm really thankful now t
hat we did. The real Paul came out after two months. First, he was just verbally abusive and then began hitting me. The car I left in his driveway was an apology after that first time. I spent too much time trying to fix it before I knew I needed to just get out." She paused and turned to face him. "I have to tell you though and I hate to admit it, but the sight of him in the trunk felt really good."
Then, as if the rain clouds had suddenly cleared and the sun shone through, she threw her hands in the air and, ran ahead laughing. She turned back toward Charlie. "I'm free, C.W., thank you."
"All in a knight's work, Lady Jennivere. How is it you are so easy to talk to?"
"I was wondering the same about you." She skipped back to him and took his hand. "Come on."
"I'm truly pleased you're so happy, but there's no way in hell I'm going to skip with you." He laughed.
"Let me guess, no puppy as a child?"
"Missed that; my own fur ball. Incomplete man I guess."
"I see the man, I was just looking to see if little C.W. could come out and play."
"You want playful. Why didn't you just say so?" He scooped a handful of water from the stream and threw it her way.
"Better," she replied laughing. "I knew he was in there."
"We'd better get back; a lot of miles ahead."
"Okay, if we really have to." Her face in a exaggerated playful frown.
"Duty calls," Charlie sighed. "Not to mention, I saw you looking to fill that cup with water."
"Watch your back, mister. I'll get you."
He felt as though he was talking to an old friend and was contented with the belief she felt the same way. Again, hand-in-hand, they returned to where they had parked. Charlie felt like a bashful school boy. The child was in there and, all of the sudden, wanted very much to come out and play.
"We should reach Phoenix by tonight and get you a room. I'd really like to take you out for a real dinner there; a steak or something. What do you think?"
"C.W., are you asking me out? Like, a...date?" she asked girlishly.
"Hell no," Charlie answered playfully. "Not like a date; a date."
"I'm flattered, but I'll have to check my calendar. You know possible prior engagements…"
"In addition to your calendar, might I suggest a hand-held metal detector? You know, to check your prior engagements for weapons."
"Unfair, no points awarded," she returned with a smile. "I would love to go on a date with you, C.W.." She kissed his cheek.
He resisted the overwhelming desire to kiss her back and took her other hand in his. Charlie wanted to enjoy the sight of her for a moment as emotions rushed through him without interference. He had become the hero, the knight on the grand white steed she spoke of.
"Thank you, Jenny. You've made this a trip I'll not forget." He spoke with a new sensitivity and was reluctant, not wanting to lose what he felt or to let go of her hand, and walked her slowly to the car. He opened the door for her and she started to slide into the seat, stopped and stood back up. She turned to face him. Charlie moved around the open door without breaking their eye contact and took a small step toward her. Jenny smiled, matched his step closer and put her hands on his upper arms as his hands found her waist. Jenny's lips parted slightly as she drew in a breath and she moved her hands slowly over his shoulders. Charlie's hands wrapped around her waist drawing her closer and his lips gently found hers. Her fingers moved deep into his hair as his hands traveled up her back, eliminating the space between them as their tender kiss became warm with passion. He felt his fingers massaging her shoulders and with his last ounce of control relaxed his hold slightly and moved his head beside hers, then held her a few minutes. When he stepped back, lips inches apart, he felt dizzy and off balance and reached for the door frame for balance.
"Remember," he said, catching his breath, "to stop…"
"I don't think I want to stop. In fact, you may find me honking and waving like a flirtatious teenager, C.W."
"Charlie, Charlie Watson." He kissed her again before he could walk away. She slid into her seat and he closed her car door.
"Charlie Watson. That was my next guess. I like that you shared that though."
He walked back to his rig and opened the door, then looked back to find her in a dazed stare. "Ready?" he shouted, getting her attention.
"Yes," she called back quietly fading. "More than you realize, Charlie Watson." When they pulled out she smiled. Carnal Wizard wasn't bad either, she thought.
Chapter 9
The miles passed and the sun set. The road signs along the way counting down the distance until he could again be close to Jenny. Charlie's focus, twenty five miles outside of Phoenix, was the anticipation of their first date. His mind envisioned an enlarging crack in a dam and with no fight left inside him to secure it; he found instead the vision of water rushing through the crack not as threatening, but brought with it excitement. The flow of excitement that filled him brought back feelings from a long time ago, a senior in high school and Eden. She was more than his first love, and had given him a portrait of a family he wanted to one day hang in his own home.
Charlie grew up in a home lacking any sign of warmth. His parents shared a common address, responsibility for him and existed in hopeless roles. When Charlie's parents gave up loving each other and accepted martyr parental roles of sacrifice for him, they hadn't realized the far greater damage of a loveless home. Instead of a place where love is displayed and all are touched and filled by its magic, Charlie had lived in an emotional vacuum. He never heard angry words or viewed a loving touch between his parents; he could never escape the chill of their emptiness. When Charlie was older he felt a growing need to feel connected, desired and loved, Eden showed him the way to his heart.
They had shared a Health Studies class and were assigned as partners for a project in which they were a married couple looking to adopt a child. It was a term research assignment requiring them to give an oral presentation as if they had actually gone through the process. The class was given the remainder of that class period the first day to get with their assigned mate. Charlie disgusted with the assignment, went over to Eden's desk.
"This is stupid," he said.
"It could be fun," Eden replied. "One of my mom's friends works for the county."
"So...?"
"She can help us with the process."
"Why?"
"Because she's a friend of my mothers and I think adoptions are handled by the county."
"No, why would anyone go to the trouble..."
"If you can't have your own children, you know, to have a family. What if your parents couldn't have children? Don't you think they would try adoption?"
"My folks...yeah right." Charlie looked away for a moment then repeated, "this is stupid."
"You're going to make this difficult, aren't you?"
"No. I just don't get it."
"Can we meet after school in the library?"
"I have football practice until five. How late is it open?"
"I'll grab some books and we can meet at my house after dinner, how's that?"
"Your folks won't mind?"
"Of course not, silly." Eden said with a puzzled look on her face. "Why would they mind?"
"Okay, about seven. At your house."
His tone had thrown her a curve. "We can alternate if you want, Charlie. I just offered my house as a start."
"No, I mean your house is great. See you tonight."
"What's bothering you Charlie? This assignment is not that big a deal."
The bell rang and Charlie quickly got up and walked toward the door. He stopped, wanting to say something, but felt awkward and, without turning back, left. He thought about Eden the rest of the day. Everyone liked her, she was always ready to give a smile, and everyone felt good around her. Eden was always involved in student government and some campaign to save something from extinction. Charlie never understood the importance of some ugly bird, but he somehow appreciated the fact that she did
.
The walk to Eden's house was a short six blocks. He'd hoped it would have taken longer as he tried to build a positive attitude about the assignment. He was greeted at the door by her mother and instantly knew where Eden got her warm friendly smile.
"Come in Charlie. I'm Sue, Eden will be right down." She called into another room, "Steve, come meet Charlie."
Eden's father was followed into the room by a small boy, about four years old. When they reached Charlie and exchanged a handshake she continued, "Charlie, this is Eden's father, Steve and that little guy is Brian, her little brother."
"Hello Charlie, welcome," Steve greeted him.
"Hello Mr. Downey, Brian," Charlie said a little overwhelmed with the attention.
"Call me Steve," he quickly replied, leading him into the den. "Brian, please go tell your sister she has company". As Brian hurried up the stairs they all sat down and discussed the project he and Eden were given. Her mother had dropped by the county office where her friend worked and picked up some information for them. When Eden came down, she jumped into the conversation. Charlie felt himself getting into the enthusiasm surrounding him. He watched Eden express a point of view to friends, not parents. There wasn't an authority present. It was a thirty minute exchange of ideas and thoughts and Charlie felt a little disappointed when her parents left the room.
Charlie stood up and walked around the living room. Pictures were everywhere. Not just of Eden and her little brother; most of them lacked only the one holding the camera. The walls held vacations, birthday parties, and the whole family building a sandcastle on a beach somewhere.
"That was taken last summer, I love the beach. My dad has this thing for building sandcastles. Do you like the beach?"
"Yeah, I like to body surf. It's been a few years though, my grandparents live in Florida."
"Where did you go last summer?"
"Nowhere, we stayed home."
"I get to see my dad's parents about once a month but my mom's parents live in California. We visit them every couple of years. They love to spoil us and I don't mind at all." She laughed and picked up a pamphlet. "Did you see the stuff my mom picked up?"
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