by W. Ferraro
Dylan grabbed the purchase he made prior to their arrival. Even as Natalie watched him walk toward the lobby, she could not help but think how attractive he was. His tall long form looked wonderful in his casual jeans with his button down shirt. Even under his lightweight coat, there was no denying his unbelievable and sexy body. He walked with his gorgeous dark eyes hidden behind sunglasses but she knew they missed nothing. When they reached the door, Dylan held it open to allow Natalie to enter. After she passed through, he continued to hold it for an elderly couple, walking hand in hand, setting out to enjoy a wonderful private autumn day walk. As the older man passed Dylan, he said in a voice rasped from age, “You’ll be doing this someday, when you are as old as I am, for your girl over there too.” Dylan just nodded his head and gave the elder man a classic smile, rather than explain that he would not be doing any such thing.
They found their way to Gloria’s second floor apartment. When they reached the door that read 222, Natalie noticed that the small name plaque still had the previous resident’s name on it. Gaining strength from Dylan’s nearness, she lightly rapped on the door and waited. Natalie’s concern grew from lack of an answer. She was just about to call for help when she heard a muffled horrific cough followed by, “Be there in a minute.”
When the door opened, Natalie did not know what to expect. There stood her mother, who looked worse than Natalie remembered. She stood there, winded from her journey to the door. She wore an old sweatshirt with mismatched bottoms that looked as if a man five times her size had owned them. Her hair was matted on one side and sticking up in all angles on the other. Gloria’s eyes grew twice their size when she saw that Natalie was not alone on her doorstep.
“Natalie. You came. And you brought a man. I’ll be,” Gloria said, first out of shock but then with pretense of keeping up her act.
Feeling as if she just got punched in the stomach from her mother’s remark, Natalie tried to remain bubbly and unaffected. “Hello, Mom. Of course I came, you invited me and I wanted to see how you were settling in. I missed you, Mom.” Natalie leaned in and gave her mother’s pallid cheek a peck, hating how the feel of brittle skin and bone felt beneath her lips.
When Gloria invited them in, Natalie turned and gave Dylan what she hoped was an apologetic and silent expression of encouragement look.
“Mom, I’d like to introduce Dylan Cross. Dylan and I have been seeing each other and I wanted you to meet him,” Natalie said, as she stuck her arm through Dylan’s. She tipped her head up to look at him in what she hoped was an exaggerated expression of how happy and in love she was.
As if nothing were uncomfortable or abnormal about this meeting, Dylan handed Gloria the small bouquet of mixed flowers he had picked up for this very occasion. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Ms. Parker. Natalie has told me so much about you.” Dylan smiled with his megawatt, sexy, cock-sure smile.
Gloria wanted to believe Natalie had gone and found someone. Someone who knew how special she was and would treat her the way Gloria wanted her only daughter to be treated. She had to make sure though. She had to know.
“Has she? That’s funny, Mr. Cross, I haven’t heard a damn thing about you from my daughter. But I do know you. After all, one can’t live in Hamden one’s entire life and not know who the trouble makers and the screw anything with the right parts kind of men are.”
Natalie was shocked, horrified, humiliated and angered all at the same time. Knowing she needed to defend Dylan but not being able to get the words out, she was stunned when Dylan didn’t miss a beat. He said with his genuine smile still in place, “I’m sure that is true Ms. Parker, and you are right, my reputation is well known. However, I assure you, I’m just your run of the mill hard working business owner who enjoys the company of a beautiful woman, like our Natalie here.” Dylan leaned in and kissed Natalie’s embarrassed face and hoped he communicated that it would take more than that to rattle him.
Gloria was tickled at the obvious compliment he paid her daughter and the genuine look of affection they shared. It was about time a man saw what Gloria had known was there all the time. But she needed to continue on the path she chose. She knew her time was limited. She could not pass on fearing Natalie would be lonely or worse repeating Gloria’s life of abuse because she didn’t think she deserved better.
Gloria invited them in and gave them the quick tour of the one bedroom space. Natalie unpacked the salad and soup lunch she had brought, knowing the deli where she got it was one of Gloria’s favorite. The conversation was clipped and the atmosphere was equivalent to having a tooth pulled, but Dylan made it bearable. Even when Gloria barked at him or outright insulted his intentions, opinion, or just plain presence, Dylan laughed it off and gave Gloria a truthful and kind compliment or comment.
When Gloria had mentioned that she was tired and wanted to rest, Natalie cleaned up their mess and Dylan bid Gloria goodbye.
“Ms. Parker, it was a pleasure that I hope you will let me repeat soon. Natalie I’ll head downstairs to give you two some privacy. Take your time and we can leave when you want, Babe.” He kissed her lips, hoping it gave her power and encouragement. He knew this wasn’t easy for her. Honestly, he didn’t know why Natalie would even try after her mother’s blatant cruelty toward anything Natalie was keen about. But, dammit, if this is what she wanted to do and how she could live with herself, then he would be there with her every step of the way. She was a better person than he. Hell, he thought, she should be initiated into sainthood right now for putting up with that woman’s malice.
Dylan exited, leaving mother and daughter alone.
“Come, Mom, I’ll help you get into bed. You look exhausted.” Gloria almost cried when Natalie wrapped her warm arm around her and helped her walk the short distance to her bed. She hated herself and knew she was losing her soul for her treatment toward Natalie, but it’s what a mother had to do. When Natalie had her covered, she sat on the side of the bed and held her hand.
“Can I get you anything before I leave?” When Gloria asked for a glass of water and some of her pain medication, Natalie found them easily and held the glass as Gloria sipped the cool water. Natalie was such a good girl and Gloria knew she was wrecking the wonderful relationship and alliance they shared. After Natalie asked a few more questions, she kissed Gloria’s forehead and made sure the covers were securely around her. Gloria told her where the key she wanted Natalie to have was and the list of things she wanted from home. Natalie promised she would deliver them tomorrow after she left school. Natalie quietly let herself out and headed down to the lobby. She found Dylan, sitting reading a day old paper that had been left behind. Dylan noticed her and stood, opening his arms and she willingly went into them and let the tears fall.
“I’m so sorry, Dylan, you didn’t deserve any of that. You are so kind, to not only have taken it but taken it with a smile. I’m so sorry. Gosh, what you must think,” Natalie said, as she pulled away embarrassed from her weepiness.
“You have nothing to be sorry about. That was worse for you than it was for me. I’m the one who is sorry for that.” He held her head in his hands and kissed away the left over tears on her cheeks. He then kissed her lips, promising that he would take the sting away when they were alone. It hurt him, not that Natalie’s mom described him the way she did, but because she was right in her description. He had been a troublemaker and a skirt chaser. But God, he wanted to be different because of Natalie. When their time was over, he would go back to his usual way of fun times, short times. But now, with her, he wanted to be someone else. He wanted to be what she needed and ultimately deserved.
“If you could just bring me home, I’ll be fine and you can have some time to yourself,” Natalie said, as she stepped away from his wonderful warm masculine body.
“Oh no, Babe. We have some place to be, together. And as far as time to myself, the only time to myself I want is having you all to myself.
But that babe will have to wait, because like I said, we have somewhere to be.”
Natalie did not know what he could mean by someplace to be. But she knew, regardless of what she said, she would wind up exactly where he wanted her. And that was the only thing she was looking forward to in her near future.
~ELEVEN~
When they pulled into the jammed pack drive of a beautiful huge house on the lake, Natalie was momentarily confused. Dylan quickly exited the car and walked over and opened Natalie’s door. She stepped out and could hear yelling and laughing. Looking toward Dylan for confirmation he just said, “Come on.” He guided them up a staircase leading to a huge deck that ran the whole length of the house. Without knocking, Dylan entered through a door into the marvelous home. No one paid attention to the newest arrivals. Everyone was too busy yelling and cheering at the New England Patriots football game that was being played on the gigantic flat screen ahead of them.
“What did we miss?” Dylan asked, as he released her hand and took his coat off throwing it over the back of a chair to his right. Dylan walked over to get a better view of the replay. It showed the home team completing an unbelievable run back to score the first points of the game.
Mae hearing the plural, we, turned around and saw Natalie Parker standing in her home. Mae was surprised to see Megan’s teacher here on a social visit. But that was just one of the things she was getting used to about small town life, unlike when she lived in Boston. Seeing the obvious discomfort, Mae approached their new guest. “Jeez, D, you know you could have invited her in further than the doorway,” Mae said, as she made her way to where Natalie stood, wanting Dylan to feel bad for leaving Natalie by herself.
Shaking her head but showing her wide happy smile, Mae said to Natalie, “Hello, Miss Parker, what a great surprise. Please come in and enjoy the game with us. There is plenty of seating up front and plenty of food. Can I get you anything?”
At the sound of her teacher’s name, Megan’s red curly haired head spun around. She jumped up from her seat and ran over to where her mother stood.
“Hi, Miss Parker, did you come to see if I have been writing my letters like you taught us? Because I have, I’m really good at it. Well except for “S” that one I still haven’t mastered, but I figured, since it wasn’t a letter in my name it was ok to work on it later.”
Mae smiled and could not help but laugh at her daughter’s outrageous, yet accurate, feeling of what is important and what isn’t. Placing her hands on Megan’s shoulders, Mae pulled the precious little girl against her. “I’m sure Miss Parker was very concerned about your letters, Sweetie, but I think she came as a friend of Dylan’s.”
“Oooohhhhh!” Megan answered, finding that a perfectly acceptable reason for Natalie’s presence and quickly ran off to reseat herself on the floor.
Megan Finn had to be one of the most delightful children Natalie had ever met. She was privileged to have her in her class. Looking toward the crowded room and the kind face of Mae Finn, Natalie could not help but feel put at ease.
“I’m fine, Mrs. Finn. Thank you.” Natalie smiled.
“Please, call me Mae.” Whispering as if divulging a national secret, she continued in a quieter voice, “Besides I’m still getting used to the Mrs. part. If you call me it, I may not answer. Come on in and join the normal crowd.”
Dylan came over and met Natalie on her approach. Giving both ladies a wink and a shrug of his shoulders. He knew if he left them a moment, they would hit it off great. Mae was a natural caretaker. Besides being a great nurse, she had an uncanny ability to put anyone at ease. Not to mention Dylan enjoyed his sassy no-hold-barred repertoire with Mae. His friend was a damn lucky bastard.
The whole gang was there, after shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries with Seth Finn, Natalie was introduced to the rest of the group. Conner and Aidan Finn were there and looked a great deal like their father and sister. Natalie recognized one of the taller light haired men from Cal’s. Being formally introduced, she learned he was Wes Thompson. Natalie felt flushed from speaking with such a good looking man, considering she was new to the task, but learning he was such a kind sweet man only made him and their conversation that much more pleasurable. Robyn Finn, well Natalie learned that she was now Robyn Spellman, stood up and engulfed Natalie in a warm embrace. Caught a little off guard by such an action, Robyn explained to her sister-in-law that she and Natalie had gone to school together. Robyn looked just as gorgeous as she did when they were in school. Tall and willowy with gorgeous strawberry blonde hair, Robyn had the type of figure any woman standing next to her would feel lacking. Then again, being in the same room as Mae Finn didn’t exactly boost Natalie’s self-confidence either. Both women were beyond lovely. Mae had curve after endless curve; she brought to reality what Marilyn Monroe’s era boasted as beautiful. Next was Robyn’s husband, Bryan. Natalie had seen him around town, especially advertising his landscaping business as he took care of Hamden Center Common. Finally, Natalie was introduced to an elderly couple. The woman just would not sit still and was constantly saying to Mae, ‘I’ll just take care of this’. When Mae tried to talk her out of doing something around the house, it was ‘won’t take but a minute, Sweet Mae’. The elderly man sat on the end of the couch cheering on New England between nodding off for a quick nap here and there.
Soon the half time occurred and the hungry boisterous crowd delved into the small feast that had been set out. Natalie watched as the men piled their plates high and went back to sit and watch the half time show. The women held back, taking the time to make their own plates and opted to sit at the table where they could enjoy a bottle of wine as well. Robyn made sure that Natalie joined them. When the cork was popped and the glasses filled, Mae and Robyn set in to learn everything about Natalie and Dylan.
“So Natalie, how long have you and Dylan been an item?” Robyn asked, as she cut into her lasagna.
“Dylan is a friend, Robyn,” Natalie answered quickly, wanting to change the subject so she would not have to lie. Especially to these wonderful people, that had gone out of their way to make her feel comfortable and included.
Never missing anything, Dylan said loud enough that everything and everyone in the room grew mute, “Now Babe, don’t go all modest on us. They can see plainly that I’ve got the hots for you. But just don’t go sharing all the wicked things we have done or their husbands will get mad, because the ladies will be wanting to change places with you, mighty fast.”
With multiple “yeah rights” and a good chuckle from the ladies, Dylan looked at Natalie issuing a warning. His intentions won out when she recanted her answer and changed it to, “Well ok, more than friends, we are seeing each other.”
Soon, Mae and Robyn were asking Natalie everything from what her favorite kind of music was, to where she got the fabulous sweater. Before Natalie knew it the game was over, New England the victors as usual, and Natalie, Mae and Robyn were on their second bottle of wine. They were now in the bedroom of the attached apartment, where Mae was throwing shoes at Natalie faster than she could try them on.
“Our closet just isn’t big enough for both our wardrobes. So unfortunately, my shoes have to be stored here. It’s a shame, because I tend to where the same ones now, rather than walking over here to grab another pair. So, I told Seth I would thin out the herd.” Mae frowned as she held a pair of royal blue suede stilettos as if she were asked to cut off her own arm. The more shoes that came out, the more Robyn huffed; upset that her gigantic feet didn’t fit into the gorgeous examples of feminine footwear. Every pair fit Natalie perfectly. Natalie now had a small mountain of shoeboxes that Mae was insistent she take and give a good home.
As Natalie sipped the remainder of her wine, she sat on the floor. Listening to the easy conversation between Mae, who now was sprawled on the chaise, and Robyn, who was lying on her stomach across the beautiful bed.
“Oh, so are w
e a go for Thursday night?” Robyn asked Mae.
“Yeah, my shift ends at four, so, I should be ready to go about six,” Mae answered.
“Natalie, do you want to join us or do you already have a dress?” Robyn asked.
Blushing from the unknown direction of the conversation, Natalie answered, “A dress for what?”
Robyn, now, had crawled upward so she was sitting with her feet hanging over the side of the bed.
“For the Hawthorne Opening Gala. Didn’t Dylan tell you?” Robyn asked, as both she and Mae leaned in closer.
“Uh, no, what is it?” Natalie answered, but knew she had turned completely red from embarrassment. Of course Dylan didn’t tell her such a thing. If they were in a real relationship then perhaps, but as stand in boyfriend and teacher of sexual behavior, such things had not been discussed.
“That’s our Dylan. Doesn’t think a girl needs time to pick just the right dress. I mean after all, he could wake up in a ditch, and he’d still look perfect. Having that ‘I know I’ve got it going on’ swagger of his in perfect place. God, he pisses me off, but yet, I’m still crazy about him,” Robyn said, as she headed into the still open walk in closet and perused the forgotten shoes. As if he had dog hearing, Dylan chose that moment to join them in the open loft space.
“Don’t worry Ro, I won’t tell Bryan you’re crazy about me, if you don’t.” Dylan winked and gave his devilish smile, which caused Robyn to effectively throw one of the less attractive shoes at him. “What are you beautiful, better than the likes of us, ladies, doing up here?”
“You know girl stuff. Wine, shoes, and boy talk,” Mae answered, as she emptied her wine glass. Realizing Natalie had gone quiet since Dylan’s arrival, Mae with the help of the wine, continued to say, “You know you need to give her the right amount of time to find the perfect dress for the Gala, D. You can’t just expect her to wear something in her closet.”