by Mathew Ortiz
“They were bumpin’ uglies?” I asked and he giggled.
“Yes!” Caleb squealed. “I grabbed Stephanie, who seemed perfectly fine watching, and went back downstairs. I scooted us to the back of the plane, grabbed our things and left.” He paused again. “So there Stephanie and I are, waiting at the little café across from our gate when Annie comes walking out, hair wild, bow askew…”
“Is that a word?” I teased and he smacked me.
“As she hurried to join us we clapped as she approached. I don’t think she knew what we were clapping about until Stephanie made a certain-ahem-gesture. Annie’s face went bright red and we both lost it…” Caleb painted us quite a picture.
***
“How did you two know?” Annie whispered as she took a chair at our table. She was breathless, slightly damp and had a bad case of beard burn along her chin and cheeks. I didn’t point out that her blouse was on inside out but Stephanie arched a brow at me, so I knew she saw it, too. Annie vainly tried to smooth out her hair and Stephanie only shook her head.
“Girl, you are loud,” Stephanie said, over the lip of her whiskey sour.
At her confusion, I explained. “One of you must have hit the call button. No one should have been up there, so we investigated. I have to say, Captain Merritt has one fine ass on him!”
“Oh God!”
“Didn’t you just say that ten minutes ago?” I asked and she plopped her head onto her arms on the table. “I take it you two are an item now?”
“Yes.” Head still down.
“Pay up.” I gestured to Stephanie and Annie’s head popped up at that.
“You bet on me?” Aghast, Annie glared at us.
“Only how long it would take you to get your head out of your ass and realize how much you liked him.” I flicked though the money Stephanie had just handed me and slipped the two hundred bucks in my jacket pocket. “Stephanie said two weeks. I gave you four. I won. I’ll be buying the drinks tonight!”
Stephanie cheered and Annie tried to crawl in a hole
***
He finished with a flair and Avery and Martin both were laughing with us and Caleb had mischief brewing behind his gaze. I pulled him all the way to me and snuggled him close. He sighed happily and I whispered into his ear.
“Love you, Caleb Jaspers.”
He looked over his shoulder at me and said. “Love you too… Cottonball.” I squeezed him and he giggled. I hadn’t planned on meeting Caleb, much less falling in love. My life had fallen to pieces and I was only just putting them back together when he came into my life. Was it the best time? Probably not. Yet things happen for a reason. We are, were and always will be broken, dinged, damaged whichever way you look at it. However, when we’re together, we can do anything. That night I sang just for him, alone in our bed…
“The book of love is long and boring
No one can lift the damn thing
It's full of charts and facts and figures
And instructions for dancing
But I
I love it when you read to me
And you
You can read me anything
The book of love has music in it
In fact that's where music comes from
Some of it is just transcendental
Some of it is just really dumb
But I
I love it when I sing to you
And you
You can sing me anything
The book of love is long and boring
And written very long ago
It's full of flowers and heart-shaped boxes
And things we're all too young to know
But I
I love it when you give me things
And me
I ought to give you wedding rings
And I
I love it when you give me things
And you
You ought to give me wedding rings.”
Epilogue
Cotton
“Daddy, hurry up! We’re gonna be late!” Poppy shouted from outside and I smiled from behind Caleb as Martin sighed. She burst through the door in a whirl of red hair. Poppy skidded to a halt by her father and grabbed another bag, shooting out of the door and fairly flying down the steps, her pale green skirt fluttered in the breeze.
“I’m goin’ to kill her, before I get her out of this house,” Martin grumbled and followed his daughter out to the car with more bags. As soon as he got out there she started arguing with him again and I finally heard him tell her to be quiet… which made her burst into tears. God help me, I’m glad Caleb and I decided not to have kids. The teenage years had aged Avery and Martin. Between Peg getting suspended for blowing up the science lab in high school to Poppy brawling with another girl at her senior prom, raising the two of them had made Avery’s hair and beard nearly silver and Martin’s hair fade to almost pure ash blond.
Twelve years had passed and Boone, Robbie, Mawmaw, Momma, Caleb and I were all over at Avery and Martin’s house to see off the two collegiate bound members of our family. A lot has changed over the last decade, some for good, some not so much. But today is all about the kids. Peg came out of the back and I smiled. He was pure Myer. He had our brown eyes and brown hair flopping in his face. His black rimmed glasses gave him a cute, nerdy boy look. I did notice that he’d managed to grow some scruff. He didn’t seem to have our glorious beard gene and so he was still smooth jawed. Lanky and tall, he had a goofy smile and a winning nature that drew people. Avery and Martin fairly burst with pride over him.
Peg was majoring in computers and already had a part time job in a computer company. That was Peg, sensible and safe. Unlike his stepsister, Poppy.
Poppy had chosen to go into law like her Aunt Nan. Good lord the girl liked to argue, and she also planned to minor in politics. I figured she would do better in politics. The girl had the gift of gab and, with her stunning red hair and porcelain skin, she drew attention like bees to honey. She’d said goodbye to her mother and stepfather earlier in the week. Five years ago, they’d moved to Tallahassee and they’d driven up the weekend before to spend some time with her. Poppy had moved in with Avery and Martin instead of moving with them, as she’d been determined to finish school here.
“You got everythin’, son?” Avery asked and I heard the roughness in his voice. Both Peg and Poppy had been accepted at UCF Berkley and Avery was taking his little boy’s leaving pretty hard.
Peg stopped and gathered his father into a hug. Funny, I didn’t realize Peg was taller than Avery. “I’m all set, Dad. You and Martin made sure we had everythin’ squared away a week ago.” Though he was teasing his father, I saw moisture in Peg’s eyes. Despite being a teenager and too cool for his own good, Peg adored his father. Letting Avery go, Peg hefted his duffle as Poppy and Martin came back inside, holding hands, all tears and sniffles. Poppy and Peg turned to the family.
“Guess we should say goodbye.” He opened his arms and Mawmaw came in first with Momma fairly scooping up Poppy.
“Be safe, Sugabooger.” Mawmaw bussed him soundly and Momma hugged him next.
“Call if you need anythin’.” She stroked Poppy’s hair, sniffling loudly. Tears plopped from Poppy’s eyes as she turned to Boone and Robbie, hugging and kissing them both goodbye.
“Men are pigs. Never trust them,” Boone warned.
Robbie patted his husband on the chest and added his two cents. “He’s right.”
Peg hugged Caleb, who fiddled with Peg’s collar. “I know you’ll be busy but call us, especially your parents. This is killing them.” Peg nodded slowly and a fat tear fell down his left cheek.
I pulled Peg into my arms and hugged him hard and whispered, “No matter what you do, we will always love you.” Peg nodded jerkily then walked toward Robbie and Boone. Poppy came over and did the same to me and Caleb. My heart ached and I didn’t even try to halt the tears falling from my eyes. These two remarkable young people were beginning the next phase of their lives and I
happily applauded their bravery.
“’Bye!” They chorused and trooped out to the car with their fathers. I wouldn’t want to be at the airport with them.
I wrapped my arms around my husband and kissed his neck. His smell, his taste, his warmth, soothed my sadness. Over the years, we’d fought, cried, screamed and loved. Being a couple means taking the good and the bad, and not bailing when things went south. We rode out the storms and had our dings, and in the end we came out stronger. He made my world complete and I couldn’t imagine life without him.
“Did I tell you how much I loved you, Puddin’?” I brushed my lips along his neck. He arched into me and said.
“Puddin? Puddin? I like that. I love you, too.” He swiveled his face and kissed me back, slowly.
All the Myer men had found love. Quiet Avery found it in his chatterbox, Martin. Boone clashed, argued and loved his mule-headed, Robbie. And me, the busted down alcoholic, found love in my charming Englishman. We each found love when we weren’t expecting it and it was good.
Well, I guess that’s it. Ya’ll come visit again… ya hear?
3rd of 3
The end
About Me
Some people sing because of the joy in their hearts. Some people paint to give life to their dreams. I write because I have stories to tell and worlds to create. I’m a husband, a widower, a nurse, a son and a friend.
Each of my books has tidbits of my own life in them and I hold them close to my heart. I write to express my emotions, my dreams, my fantasies and my fears. I write to bring smiles to people’s faces, make them laugh and even make them tear up. Most of all I write because it gives me solace. Living in Orlando, Florida alone now gives me time to understand myself more each day and grow from each experience. However… most days you can find me watching Grace and Favour and sipping a cup of tea. Thank you for all the appreciation and affection.
Matt
Facebook:
Matt Ortiz
Email:
Mathew Ortiz
Also by Mathew Ortiz
Available from Amazon:
Renovating Love Series
A Little Bit of Joy
Nutbusters
Uncommon Ground
Fire Come Walk With Me
An Unconventional Love Story Series
Cookies and Coffee
The Peacock’s Hen
Once More with Feeling
Costa Living... with Interest Series
...With Interest
Costa Living
Love and Salvage Series
Loving Emmett
Eli’s Three Wishes
Halestorm
Skin Tight Levi’s
The Oswald Witches Series
Avaritia
Luxuria
Desdemona Darkly
When Mickey Met Hugh
The Myer Triplets
The Butcher
The Baker
The Custom Bike Maker
Table of Contents
Copyright
Trademarks Acknowledgement
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Epilogue
About Me
Also Available