Secrets, Lies, and Online Dating: Three Generations Learn to Love Again (Women's Fiction)

by Sylvia McDaniel

  The woman hugged the child close to her breast. “Thank you for taking care of her.”

  Marianne stood and ran her hand through the child’s hair. “Check her hair. I found glass in it.”

  The woman hugged the baby close to her, the tears spilling down her cheeks. “She’s all I have left of my daughter.”

  Pain wrenched Marianne’s gut as she couldn’t help but think of her own little girl. “I’m so sorry.”

  She left the room to the grandmother and her granddaughter. Marianne glanced at the clock. Her shift had been over thirty minutes ago, but she’d been unable to leave.

  As she went to the lockers, she passed the room where the father and grandfather sat beside the still body of the young mother.

  Marianne grabbed her purse and hurried out the doors, the cool air a blast of much needed reality. She made it to her car, started the engine and somehow drove home, watching the traffic even more closely than normal. A drunk driver had run a red light in an intersection and killed the woman. He’d t-boned her small car.

  Marianne drove home, numb. Her mind filled with the image of the young woman and her small child. The car seemed to find its way home without her guidance and she felt some relief when she realized she was sitting in the driveway, the motor running. It was then that the tears streamed unheeded down her cheeks.

  Chapter 14

  Luke could have sworn he’d seen the lights of a car pulling into the drive, but he hadn’t heard the slam of the car door. Still, he could hear the sound of a motor idling. He walked into the kitchen and glanced out the window at the driveway. Marianne’s dilapidated car sat in the drive, the engine running.

  In the darkness, he could see the outline of her body just sitting in the car, not moving. It appeared that her head was laying on the steering wheel. That was weird.

  He opened the back door and glanced out into the night. She didn’t move, but continued to just sit there. He hurried to her car and gently tapped on the window, not wanting to scare her, but worried. She raised her head and gazed at him, her eyes vacant and lost.

  He yanked open the car door, reached in, and switched off the engine. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

  She didn’t say anything, her gaze searching his face as if she were seeing him for the first time. She shuddered and a sob escaped. “It was a really bad night.”

  She’d been crying.

  “You’re home,” he said. “Let’s get you in the house.” He placed his hand on her arm and guided her out of the car. She didn’t resist, but moved slowly, and he could see that whatever had happened had knocked her completely off center.

  “Come in and I’ll fix you some hot tea,” he said. She didn’t protest or argue, but leaned against him as he led her into his house.

  Once inside, he guided her to the couch and sat her down gently. He went into the kitchen and filled two cups with water, glancing back to check on her. She sat staring into space. The water seemed to take forever to heat. He gave her a fleeting look, wondering what had happened to drain the bubbly self-confidence completely from her.

  Finally, the water boiled and he poured it over the tea bags and stirred in honey. Carefully, he carried the two cups of tea to a sofa table and sat them within reach.

  He sank onto the couch beside her and pulled her into his arms, instinctively knowing she needed a hug. She didn’t resist, she leaned into him, welcoming his embrace. He didn’t ask what happened, but just held her for the longest time, knowing when she was ready to talk, she would.

  After several minutes, she said, “I’m sorry. It’s just, all I could think about tonight was this young woman looked like my daughter, Katie.”

  “But she wasn’t Katie,” he said, still unsure what had happened, but knowing something tragic had occurred.

  “Only twenty-seven, this woman was killed by a drunk driver,” she said. “A young mother with her whole life ahead of her. Her child miraculously survived.”

  He squeezed her tighter to him, understanding she must have witnessed a terrible ordeal tonight.

  “I don’t know if I can do this. I don’t know if I can witness the horrible things that happen to people and not let it tear me apart,” she said.

  How health care personnel handled death and dying so well, he’d never understood, but he also realized they were special people who learned to cope. Could Marianne learn how to watch people die?

  “I understand. It’s something you need to consider,” he said, supportive of her questioning the profession she’d chosen.

  “The nurses and doctors tried to save her, but she’d lost so much blood. And while they worked on her, I held her small child as she cried for her mother.”

  She gazed at him, her blue eyes reflected a river of sadness. “How can I work in situations like that every day without it tearing me apart?”

  “How did the medical professionals handle it?”

  She paused and he could see her reflecting. “Everyone went about their jobs, but you could see on their faces, that they were affected.”

  “But they did everything they could to save her, right?” he asked, trying to remind her of the miracles the professionals performed. He had no idea how they dealt with patients dying, but somehow they had to see the good they did for people in need.

  “Oh, yes, they spent over thirty minutes trying to stop her bleeding and when she crashed, they shocked her heart three times, trying to bring her back. They worked so hard, but it didn’t do any good.”

  He rubbed his hand in soft circles on her back, comforting her the only way he knew how.

  “Without them, she wouldn’t have had a chance. They were there for her tonight, even though they couldn’t save her.”

  “I know and I’m not questioning their dedication. I’m questioning whether I can deal with death and dying. Seeing accident victims, young and old. Seeing someone who reminds me of my daughter. See a family having to deal with the death of a loved one.”

  He didn’t say anything, just continued to hold her, rubbing her back while she talked. She snuggled even closer to him, her breathing seeming to even out.

  “Do you like working in the ER?” he asked.

  “Yes,” she said softly.

  “Do you want to quit?”

  There was silence as she contemplated his question. Finally she said against his neck, “No.”

  He continued to hold her, not saying anything, but just letting her slowly relax against him. If he continued to see her, he realized there would be times like this. Times when she would come home from the job beat down and depressed.

  “Why are you being so good to me?” she asked.

  He laughed softly. “Back to being suspicious.”

  “I can’t help it. I have my reasons.”

  She’d told him about her ex-husband and all he knew was that he wanted her experience with him to be different. He cared for her and wanted to hold her and comfort her and let her know he would be there for anytime she needed him.

  “You deserve to be treated special. I think you’re a brave woman to go back to school and start her life over. I think sometimes in life we all need consoling. You needed to be held tonight. I care about you and want you to be happy.”

  “Thank you,” she said, against his shirt. “I don’t know how I made it home. I was on auto-pilot.”

  He ran his hand over her hair, stroking her. “You’re here, safe and sound. Katie is safe at school, and you left the world of death and dying at the hospital.”

  She sighed, looked up and stared at him, her blue eyes glistening from her tears. “God, I don’t deserve you, but I’m so glad you’re here.”

  She lifted her mouth to his and he met her halfway. It was a kiss of desperation and longing, and it took Luke completely by surprise. Her mouth covered his, moving over his lips, seeking comfort in an age-old connection. And Luke was more than happy to return her kiss, eager, in fact, to soothe and remind her she was still alive.

  He rolled her d
own onto the couch, the tea forgotten, feeling the crush of Marianne’s breasts against him and the scent of gardenias enveloping him. His palms slid up her back. The touch of her warm, naked skin beneath his fingers was intoxicating.

  She moaned, the sound encouraging him. Her hands reached beneath his sweater and she let her fingernails gently rake his skin. Their lips broke apart and he raised up enough to yank his sweater over his head. Marianne undid the buttons on her shirt and removed her blouse, leaving only her bra.

  He leaned over and kissed the tops of her breasts that spilled forth from her bra. His tongue trailed over her smooth skin and she leaned back, giving him access to her throat. Eagerly he took her cue and kissed his way across her chest and up her throat, lingering at her ear. He wanted to make her feel good. He wanted to comfort her and make the demons from the day disappear. He wanted to remove all thoughts and envelop her in sensual pleasure.

  She disentangled her limbs from his and stood. Slowly, she slid down the zipper on her jeans and stepped out of her pants, leaving them on the floor. She stood before him, beautiful in her panties and bra.

  “God, Marianne, you’re stunning,” he said, reaching for her.

  She took his hand and pulled him until he was standing and then she unbuttoned his jeans and slid them down his legs.

  At first, Luke was a little surprised by the way she took control. Marianne didn’t seem like the type of person who wanted to be in the lead, but then he realized that tonight she needed to be in control of something in her life. Taking the lead in their lovemaking was the only thing she had.

  He didn’t mind. He’d wanted to get her in his bed since they took the motorcycle ride and had been impatiently waiting, knowing instinctively that this woman would somehow fill that empty part of him and hoping he did the same for her.

  When she had him in his boxers, she pulled him towards the hallway. “I don’t know where your bedroom is.”

  “In the back,” he said, kissing the nape of her neck. She shuddered.

  “If you don’t stop, we’re not going to make it to the bedroom,” she whispered.

  He twisted her up against the wall and pressed his body into hers, letting her feel his erection.

  “God,” she whispered, clinging to him. “I want you so badly.”

  Urgently his hands pushed her bra down and her breasts were free for his taking. His mouth wrapped around her nipple and he suckled until she moaned.

  Her hands tugged him tightly against her and he was forced to release her breast. “Unless you want me to take you right here, I think we need to find a bed.”

  Her eyes had darkened with desire and her breathing was quick and heavy.

  She took his hand and led him further down the hall, entering the last room. Two lamps on the nightstands cast a warm glow about the room.

  Luke led her towards the bed in the center of the room. They both shed their remaining clothes quickly and he couldn’t help but admire her body. No she wasn’t a young girl, but rather a woman, with full hips and full breasts.

  He lay beside her, his mouth hungrily seeking hers while he ran his hands over her body. He’d dreamed of this moment and now here she was.

  She wrapped her fingers around his shaft and he moaned as she stroked him, the pleasure increasing. He didn’t want her to stop, but tonight was all about giving her pleasure. He found her womanly center and caressed her as she gasped and writhed upon the bed. She needed this moment as much as he needed her.

  His lips tasted her skin, he drank in her beauty, and soon he felt her body tense and shudder beneath his fingers.

  “Luke,” she cried, reaching her release and he smiled, knowing he’d made her forget for the moment.

  “Oh, my,” she said, her breathing rapid and shallow. “Oh, my.

  He grinned and kissed her on the lips before he released her and opened the nightstand drawer. Quickly, he found the foil packet and ripped it open. He stretched the condom over his penis.

  Marianne wanted to ride him, so she rose to her knees and straddled Luke. This man had comforted her, he’d consoled her, he’d made her feel good, and she was not used to being taken care of.

  Now she wanted to do the same for him. She wanted to return just a portion of the pleasure that he’d given her. Right now every emotion, every feeling, centered on Luke.

  After everything she’d gone through tonight, coming home to Luke was a safe haven. A place where the world couldn’t enter and destroy what they shared. She felt protected and cared for, and it had been years since she’d felt so safe.

  She slid over him, his penis fitting snugly inside her. The rush of pleasure almost had her climaxing again. The intensity of her emotions and the pleasure he was giving her had her moving quickly, her body and heart swelling.

  She wanted to take him to new heights of pleasure. She wanted him to give him her all. And so she did as she rode him, his hands on her breasts, her heart in her eyes.

  “Marianne,” he said out loud and she gazed into his desire-filled eyes, holding his gaze as the two of them flew away to the moon.

  She could feel his muscles clenching, knew he was coming, and was determined to go with him. Staring into his gaze, she felt him explode inside her and then her own climax ripped through her as she called out his name.

  With a mighty slam, he ground into her one last time. She collapsed on top of him, her body slumping as if made of Jello.

  For several minutes they didn’t move, and then he pulled out of her and rolled her to her side, spooning her. They lay there together, catching their breaths, their hearts slowly returning to earth.

  “Marianne,” he said, whispering her name against her ear. “That was fantastic.”

  She smiled. “You weren’t too bad yourself.”

  The sound of a beeping noise coming from the living room awoke Marianne. She glanced over at Luke, who slept curled on his side, his breathing rhythmic. The night they shared had been wonderful. During the night, they had awoken and made love twice more, each time more fulfilling than the last.

  She had to guard her heart from this man, because she could so easily fall in love with him. She had promised herself that this time, before she committed herself to love, she would finish school.

  The beep came again from the living room and she realized it was her cell phone. She eased out of bed and found her discarded clothes. Quietly, she slipped them on.

  She hurried down the hall to the living room and found her top and pants. Her purse lay on the couch and she opened it. Her message light was blinking.

  She pushed the number and heard the message from her excited daughter. “Mom, call me just as soon as you get this message. I need to talk to you.”

  Katie didn’t sound hurt, but elated about something. She had called late last night and Marianne quickly dialed her number. It was early Sunday morning, but she needed to be reassured everything was okay.

  A sleepy Katie answered the phone. “Hello.”

  “Hey Katie-bug. What’s going on?”

  “Mom,” she said excitedly.

  The sound of a sleepy male voice in the background came through the phone, “It’s only eight o’clock.”

  “Shh. Sorry Mom, my roommate is still trying to sleep.”

  Unless her roommate had a severe cold, that was a male voice. It sounded like Jake, the bastard who was taking advantage of her daughter.

  “What’s up? You called and left me a message,” Marianne said, trying to ignore the fact that the boy was in bed with her daughter.

  “Yeah, I tried to reach you and Dad both last night, but you both weren’t answering your phone.”

  “It was my night to volunteer at the hospital.”

  “Oh,”

  “So, what’s the big news?”

  “Jake asked me to marry him,” she said, not quite as excited as her voice message had been, but still elated.

  Marianne’s supply of air was cut off as if someone had taken her off of oxygen support. She gasped
. She’d known this boy was trouble, but she had tried to ignore the warning signs of an impending engagement. Her beautiful, intelligent daughter was about to make the biggest mistake of her life.

  Marianne sat down abruptly.

  How did she handle this without totally alienating Katie?

  “Congratulations,” Marianne said, trying to put some enthusiasm in her voice. He was an idiot, a total moron, and her daughter was buying his crap.

  “You are planning on waiting until after you graduate, right?” Marianne said, hoping her daughter wasn’t stupid enough to give up her education for this guy.

  A moment of silence filled the line and Marianne feared the worst. How could her Katie have been pulled so completely off track by one stupid boy? How? After everything she’d said to her when she was growing up!

  “We’re thinking about a Christmas wedding.”

  “Christmas!” Marianne said, all pretense gone. “Are you pregnant?”

  “Of course not,” Katie said, her own voice rising.

  “Then why so quickly? Give this some time, Katie. You’ve only known him since October.”

  “September, Mom,” Katie had that petulant tone in her voice. “I’m going to quit school and support us while he continues working on his gaming abilities.”

  “You have got to be kidding me,” Marianne said, the words coming out before she had a chance to stop them. “Don’t do this, Katie. You will regret it the rest of your life,” Marianne said softly. “I know.”

  “Mom, I love him and we want to be together.”

  “He’s a loser, Katie, and he will never finish school,” Marianne spoke without thinking, her thoughts spilling out like vomit.

  “Mom, you are talking about the man I love! The man I intend to marry with or without your blessing,” Katie insisted, a tearful note in her voice.

  “How could I possibly give you my blessing? You’re too young to get married! You’re dropping out! You’ll be working a minimum wage job, maybe two, while doing all his schoolwork and letting him skip out on half his classes! He’s still a freaking freshman after three years of going to college, Katie! You are making the same mistake I did, only your father wasn’t a complete loser.”