“Chandler the cook is back. I want to cook some of Banton’s favorites, to pick his spirits up.”
“Just seeing you will do that. I’ll put this stuff away. You go on up.”
“Thanks, John. You’re a doll!” I kissed his cheek then ran out of the kitchen and down the hallway.
I took the stairs two at a time, and entered Banton’s room. He lounged on his bed on top of the covers in sweatpants and a t-shirt, reading some papers.
“Hey, you’re home! I’m so relieved.” I crossed the room to him. He dropped the papers, and grabbed me and pulled me down on top of him.
“Be careful, don’t hurt your shoulder.”
“Quick healer, remember? One of the perks of being bitten.” He chuckled.
“Oh, right. So, what other perks do we have? The enhanced strength, hearing, and any other trait that gets enhanced.” I smiled, tracing his lips with my fingertip.
“Well, I haven’t found them all yet,” he said as he kissed me gently, tangling his hands in my hair, and then moving them down my arms, down to my waist, pulling my t-shirt out of my jeans. He caressed my bare skin, and slid his hands down inside the waistband, playing with the lace at the top of my panties.
We’d only been together intimately one night, and I was so glad he was home. It was like I’d been given a gift, only to have it taken away again. It was all new. Leaning my head back, I invited him to kiss my neck. He trailed his lips down under my ear, down to my shoulder, and placed long, wet kisses along my collarbone. I grabbed his face, and pulled him back to my lips. The kiss was hungry. He grabbed my leg, and jerked it across him as he pulled my hips onto his own. I slid over, and sat up over him, looking down into his eyes. He leaned up to catch my lips again, fire burning deeply in his eyes. Then abruptly, sliding me off to one side roughly, he tensed up, and pulled away. But what was worse, was the fact he looked away. It was if he didn’t want me to see his face.
“Banton, please tell me. What is it?” He’d never acted like this before.
“Nothing. We just need to slow down. I’m…We have to…nothing. It’s nothing.”
“No, it isn’t nothing, no secrets, remember? You have to tell me what you are feeling, so I can help. Is this too hard for you?” I touched his cheek with my hand.
He jerked his face back around to me, and it shocked me. His eyes fairly bulged out of his head with frustration, with pent-up emotion. His eyes were on fire. “Yes! I can’t stand not feeling in control. I …the minute I get aroused with you, I lose it, and I’m afraid…”
“Afraid of what?” I asked softly.
“I’m afraid I will hurt you, Chandler.” He ground the words out between his teeth, and swung his head and shoulders back around out of my reach.
“You would never, ever hurt me, I know it. I’m not afraid of you, Banton. You stopped just now. You did, not me. That shows you have control. Maybe I should pull in, just a bit. I won’t…” I wasn’t sure how to phrase my thoughts… “I won’t tease you; coax you so hard. You can let me know when you feel in control.”
He turned back to me, seeming to be a bit calmer. He raised his eyes to mine, brimming with unshed tears, and I just melted. He was laying himself bare to me, and trusting me with his greatest fears.
I continued, “This might not make sense to you, but I’ve never loved you more than at this moment. Trust me, please? I will help you through this, no matter what it takes.”
Banton pulled me back into his arms, and laid his cheek against my throat, holding me tightly. “You have no idea what a calming effect you have on me, just being in the same room with me. I’m sorry about the timing of all of this. I wanted nothing more than to make love to you the minute I got home. Our first night together was heaven, and…” he trailed off as I pulled away to look at him. Sadness clouded his eyes as he spoke.
I looked straight into the depths of his eyes, to his soul. “Yes it was, and it will be again. Soon. I’d wait for you forever, if that is what it takes, just for one more night…”
* * *
Nothing warms a dog’s heart more than the smell of shrimp and chicken in a skillet. Beau fairly danced around me as I pan seared the meat mixture, then browned rice and spices and mixed it all with the roux. This Cajun stuff was trickier than what I’d experimented with so far in the kitchen.
“Beau sure is excited, what’s for dinner?” John asked, peering around me at the concoction in the skilled.
“Chicken and shrimp etouffee. Banton told me a while back that this dish is one of his favorites, and I hope I’m doing this right. I bought a Cajun cookbook today, but I wish I’d called Banton’s mother for some of her recipes.”
“He’ll love it. I promise. Do we have enough for Brie? I was just about to call her.”
“Absolutely. I’m really glad you asked her to the ball on Friday night. I’ll have at least one other person there who I know. And it’s been really nice having another female around this testosterone-filled joint.”
“You mean besides Everett?” He smirked.
“Watch it,” I glared at him.
“Hey, don’t get your panties all in a wad, I like having him around just as much as you do. He’s the sister I never had.” He picked a shrimp out of the skillet to sample.
“Gabriella selected the most beautiful dress to wear. It’s going to knock you out. With her beautiful strawberry-blonde hair and complexion…”
“She knocks me out every time she comes through the door,” he declared humbly. I smiled as I turned the fire on low under the skillet, and then began to chop some vegetables for a salad.
“So you two are getting serious?” I questioned, giving him a sideways glance.
“Haven’t you already had this chat with Brie? Fill me in, what does she say?” he asked me with a twinkle in his eye.
“To be honest, we haven’t had enough time yet. I mean, with everything going on…blood-drinking creatures and child custody entanglements, finals, haunted houses…we haven’t had a lot of girlfriend time. She has told me she’s pretty crazy about you.”
His face lit up. “That’s…That’s really good. That’s good.” He nodded, grinning all the way down the hallway.
I turned and looked at Beau, who was still glued to my other side, nothing moving but the tip of his tail. “Now, I have to reward that patience. Here, baby!” I threw him a shrimp, and he caught it in the air and swallowed it whole.
“No wonder he’s gaining weight. This is what happens when I’m not around,” Banton quipped, sauntering into the kitchen.
“There is no way I can ignore that face. He’s got me wrapped around his right front paw.” I bent to kiss him on his nose, and he licked my chin.
“So…hey, good lookin’, what’s cookin’?” he sang, placing his arms around me from behind.
“Well, it’s supposed to be chicken and shrimp etouffee, but this is my first attempt, so be kind.” I dipped a spoonful up and turned with it to hold it up to his mouth. Taking a large bite, he chewed and scrunched his brows together like he was forming an opinion, and then shook his head back and forth slowly.
“I’m sorry, I knew I should have called your mother for a recipe.” I looked down disappointedly at the mixture in the skillet, and felt so badly that it wasn’t what he’d hoped.
“Chandler, it’s perfect. I was kidding.” He put his arms around me again, and held me close as he kissed the top of my head. “I can’t believe you went to this much trouble. You even bought a cookbook?”
“Hey, when my man’s down, he gets food, all right?” I shot the phrase right back at him he’d used in New Orleans when he’d bought me roses. I turned into his embrace, and kissed him gently, caressing his back. “How is your shoulder?”
“Just sore. No more throbbing.”
“Do I need to change the dressing on it?”
“It’s healed on the outside. But I think I might soak it in the tub, I might need some help with that.” He shot me a questioning look.
“I can’t wait.
You’ve helped me enough, remember?”
“Oh, yeah. Every bubble.” He stressed every word so seriously, and we both laughed.
“Chandler?” he asked softly, caressing my check.
“What?”
“Everett returned to the clinic this morning to visit me, before I came home. He told me how you let Mom and Dad take Ava back with them, and how hard it was for you. I’m really sorry you went through that alone, and it happened at such a traumatic time. Are you okay?”
I sighed. I’d thought about her so many times today, and I my heart had ached when I’d realized things were different now.
“It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Your mother was right, though, and today was much easier with her taken care of. She seems to love your parents already.” I smiled at him through tears.
“Mom called right before you came home. Ava wants to talk to you. She wants to tell you about Claudia. Claudia boarded the first plane she could take, and was only two hours later than Mom and Dad getting to their house. Ava and Claudia had a slumber party with Julia in her room last night. She’s already calling Julia An Jewey. But she cried for Mommy Andler this morning.”
“Oh no. I hoped she wouldn’t, she went with them so easily yesterday.”
“Mom said she didn’t cry long, Dad entertained her immediately to get her mind off. But she said Claudia wants to bring her back here soon, and stay a few days with us. Would that be all right?” he asked, studying my face.
“Absolutely. I think it would be great for Ava to see us all together, and to see a bond. It will help her with the transition.”
Banton smiled at me, and drew me into his arms again. “Do you have any idea how wonderful you are? How giving you are?”
“Oh, yeah. That’s why you love me.” I stood on my tiptoes, and kissed him deeply. I pushed this kiss to the limit, for today anyway.
It was a good thing I made lots of etouffee, because Everett showed up at exactly the same time as Brie. I decided it was time to use the dining room for what it had been intended instead of a storage room and book-bag dump. I cleared out all of the things that didn’t belong, and then dug out my grandmother’s hand crocheted table cloth. I flipped a couple more boxes open, and unearthed my mother’s wedding china, a simple white bone china with a white and silver rose pattern woven into it. Digging around in the last three boxes in the corner, I finally located my mother’s delicate stemware and set it out, as well.
It had been so long since I set a table, I had to grab my laptop out of the kitchen, and search for place settings to help me remember which side the knife and spoon went on, and if the knife went blade side out, or in toward the plate. Thank goodness for Google. My mother would have been appalled. I could just hear her… Chandler Ann, how many times have we done this at home, and at Maw Maw’s? You need to set your table more often, not eat with a plate on your lap in front of the TV, for heaven’s sake! I turned, just as my little cloud appeared at the base of the stairs, and floated over to the dining room door beside me. The smell of gardenias wafted through the air.
“Chandler?” Banton’s soft voice broke the silence. I turned, teary-eyed, and met his glance across the entry hall. He was watching the cloud beside me, and he slowly came to stand next to me, taking my hand in his. “That smell, like gardenias…is that…”
“Yes,” I smiled through my tears. “It’s my mom. She’s helping me set the table.”
“Okay,” he smiled back at me, and squeezed my hand.
* * *
“Andie girl, this is so good, you need to open a restaurant. Seriously!” John shoveled forkfuls of etouffee into his mouth.
“This from a guy who thinks popcorn and beer are appetizers,” Everett continued, entertaining everyone at dinner with an account of his latest client and her unreasonable decorating demands. Then the subject quickly turned to the wedding.
“I hate to impose on you two, but do you think we might get just a couple of things nailed down tonight? I only have four weeks to work my magic. FOUR WEEKS.”
“I know. I’m sorry, Everett,” I answered, smiling at his attempt at a mock-glare.
“So I was thinking, black and white, shades of white, actually,” Everett suggested.
“Sounds perfect. With some red – red roses and paper whites?” I added.
“You read my mind, Darlin’”
Banton joined in just then. “I just have one suggestion.”
“Of course, what does the groom want?” Everett asked.
“Just make it romantic, beautiful, and vintage. Make it all about Chandler.” He winked at Everett as he took my hand on the table.
“And what about attendants?”
I looked at Banton questioningly.
“Whatever she wants.” He smiled again.
“Well, I have to have Constance and Laurilee.” Then I turned to Brie, “Would you consider being one of my bridesmaids?”
“I’d love it, Chandler! I’m honored.” She smiled broadly.
Then I turned to Banton and questioned, “Your sisters…Julia and Claudia?”
“I’m sure they will love it! You can call them tonight.”
“So that makes a best man and four groomsmen you have to come up with,” Everett said, turning back to Banton.
“Easy. John.” Banton counted one off on his fingers.
“Thanks, man. I accept.” John grinned between mouthfuls.
“And Huey, Dewey and Louie,” Everett exclaimed, referring to Ty, Colin and Ben. “That just leaves one.”
“And that one is even easier. My best man, my dad,” Banton declared.
“And we have beautiful Ava Grace for a flower girl,” I added.
“Wow, this was easy…” Everett was making notes on a napkin.
Then I could tell Banton had reached his pain threshold for the night with handling chitchat and being sociable. As his eyes began to wander and a crease surfaced between his brows, I realized he was becoming distracted. I rose and began clearing the table, suggesting he might want to rest a bit while I cleaned the kitchen up. Everett and Brie offered to help, and collected dishes as I carried the leftovers back into the kitchen.
“Darlin’, can you come in next Saturday morning for a fitting? Philippe and I have narrowed it down to six dresses, and we want you to try them on. Brie, can you come too? I’ve already talked to Constance and your Aunt Sue, and they will be here if that will work for you? We’ll have wine and a little girl time!”
“Sounds perfect.” I smiled at Everett. Brie nodded her agreement.
“I thought we’d go with classic Navy dress uniforms for the men…Everett went on and on with the plans he’d already formed in his head. I was amazed, everything he suggested was just like I’d always pictured. By the time we had the kitchen cleaned we were halfway through planning the wedding of Everett’s dreams, as he put it. Everett left for the evening, and Brie went to the living room to study on the couch while John watched TV. I climbed the stairs to see about Banton, with Beau close on my heels. I found him sitting on the side of his bed, with his hands clutching his hair tightly, and his eyes squeezed shut.
“Banton?” I called his name cautiously. Opening his eyes slowly, he relaxed his posture, and then focused on me.
“Are your nerves bad? Can I get you something?”
“No, I’m all right. I’m just going to go down and soak in the tub for a while. Come with me?” He stood up, and held his hand out to me.
“Of course.” I took his hand, and headed down the stairs with him.
I mimicked his actions of so many nights lately. While he undressed with his back to me, I placed a fluffy towel on the ottoman beside the tub, and started the water flowing. I tested it, and then poured lavender salt into the water, since lavender was supposed to be soothing. I reached up to a shelf, and turned the CD player on. Soft classical music wafted into the room as I lit the candles in the chandelier. Then I walked over and flipped the main light off, so the candles would refle
ct on the water and in the glass blocks behind them.
He turned back to me, clutching a towel around his waist as he stepped into the tub, and then dropped the towel to the floor, easing down into the water.
“This is great, Andie. I’m more relaxed already.” He smiled and closed his eyes.
I took the soap and a washrag, and gently washed his shoulders and back. While my hands were soapy, I eased his shoulder up out of the water, and gently massaged the muscles above and below his wound, trying to help soak the soreness out. I was amazed; the wound was already healed on the outside. I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes.
“Uhhhh…mmmm. That feels really good.”
“Am I hurting you?” I asked, concerned I’d gotten too close to his wound.
“No, it’s perfect. You’re good at this. You might have a permanent job.” He sighed, and leaned his head back against the back of the tub. I sat down in the floor, leaning my head over on the side of the tub beside him.
“Hey, don’t you have the rest of your finals tomorrow?” he asked suddenly.
“Nope. I persuaded my instructors to let me take all of them today. I’m through for the semester.”
“That’s great, sweetheart. How do you feel about the tests, do you think you passed?”
“I think I did okay. I’ll know in a couple of days, when they post grades.” Then I changed the subject. “Banton, do you want to postpone the wedding? I mean, the stress, it might be too much for you, too soon after all that’s happened. It would be all right, everyone would understand.”
“No, I can handle it.” He turned to me, and stared into my eyes. “Nothing that could happen would make me want to postpone marrying you. Besides, I’m better if you’re with me.” He smiled, and I wondered if I would still feel this giddy when he flashed me his dimple in fifty years.
After his bath, Banton turned in early, and I had phone calls to return. The first was to Ava Grace. I dialed Banton’s mom from his cell phone.
“Banton?” Elaine answered.
“No Ma’am, it’s Chandler. How are you?”
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