by Lora Lindy
While Mike shaved, she got dressed and she could hear him humming. With only a towel wrapped around him, he walked in the bedroom to grab his coffee.
She sat on the edge of the bed with her list in hand.
He sat down next to her. “What’s the paper for, taking notes?” He asked while taking a swig of coffee.
“I’m making a shopping list so I don’t forget anything.” When he first sat down, she got a faint whiff of his cologne and the fragrance was a Clive Christian scent. She loved the clean scent and she inhaled enjoying the fragrance. It had been a long time since she sat next to a man fresh from the shower, and it was a temptation to her heart and body, for sure. If he tried to distract her by walking around with only a towel on, it worked. His tanned body rippled with muscles and every movement made them move with rhythm. For the first time she noticed he had a tattoo of an eagle on his right arm. When she looked closer she saw the name Kathy, Brianna, and Kyle in the wings of the eagle and she decided those names must be his wife and kids. He also had 442 tattooed in the claw. She remembered it was his badge number. She wondered if he would ever get a tattoo with her name in it. “You better hurry up and get dressed before I take the towel off you,” she muttered while licking her dry lips. Going to the funeral was more important than what she had in mind, at least for now.
“You will not get an argument out of me on that.” He winked and went back in the bathroom, whistling.
She was so lucky to have such a gorgeous man to love, and to love her. She took a deep breath and sighed. In the back of her mind, she wondered if he remembered telling her he loved her.
*****
On their way into town they discussed what kind of food they liked. She hated to mention it, but she felt like Mike needed to know. “Mike I don’t like seafood.”
Mike had mentioned several times how much he loved seafood. He even commented on the advantage of living near the ocean because he could get seafood any time he wanted. “What? Are you kidding, you’re visiting Massachusetts and you don’t like seafood.” He couldn’t believe his ears, he thought everyone loved seafood. He couldn’t imagine otherwise.
“Is that a deal breaker?” She knew he would say yes just to tease her.
“I’ll have to think on that one.” He was so crazy about this girl, he could care less if she liked seafood or not. All he had to do was change his eating habits and find restaurants that served chicken or whatever her heart desired.
“We can have seafood as long as they offer steak or chicken as well.” She regretted telling him about her dislike for seafood, she was afraid he might go someplace different just for her. She didn’t want to deprive him of something he loved so much. Just the smell of seafood made her gag, but she could never tell him how she truly felt. She despised it ever since she had morning sickness.
“I think we can find a place that has chicken.” He glanced over at his sweetheart and thought how beautiful she looked. Depriving her of anything was a task he would never allow himself to do, ever.
She looked out the window and she knew it was a sad day for Mike. She also knew the memorial would rekindle the dread and anguish she felt a few short weeks ago. She never dreamed she would be attending another funeral so soon. She wanted them to be like other couples, hang out and do nothing. Maybe tomorrow might be more promising for them to have a normal day.
Mike could tell she was a little bit quiet and distracted. “Babe what’s the matter?”
“I guess I’m sad about the memorial, that’s all.”
“If going to the memorial bothers you, we don’t have to go. Everyone would certainly understand considering what happened last night.”
“No, we’re going to the memorial. I’m just a little tired that’s all.” She wasn’t lying about that. She hasn’t slept well since she’s been there. Maybe tonight with Mike there she could sleep more sound, knowing he would keep her safe.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure.” Within seconds they pulled into the parking lot of the Pelican Restaurant. Thank goodness the snow slowed down to just a few flakes. Under normal circumstances they could have a snowball fight. The freshly fallen snow appeared light and fluffy. It would be easy to pack into a snowball. But she knew he had to work today and she felt bad keeping him from his work. “You know Mike I can go back to Tennessee so you can get your work done. With all that’s happened, it’s important for you to be with your men. I feel like you’re missing out babysitting me, and I don’t want you to do that.”
For the first time since Lana arrived, Mike felt panic, and it forced knots in his stomach. Could it be she had second thoughts about him? He decided to lay out his feelings. “Are you serious? No I don’t want you to go back to Tennessee, and if it were up to me, you move here this very second. When my wife Kathy died several years ago I never thought I would find someone to love. Then you waltzed into my life. Last night when everything was over, I realized you could have been alone in the house. That angered me, knowing they could have hurt you. But it also made me realize how much I care for you. From past experiences as a cop you never take your loved ones for granted. You have to tell them you love them every day when you go to work, because you don’t know if you’ll come home or not. That’s why I told you I love you���”
He pulled her close to him and took her face in his hands, kissed her on the nose. “… I didn’t want to go in the house without you knowing how I feel. Lana, I love you with all my heart. Immediately I had a physical attracted to you, and when I heard you talk with a southern accent, I was hooked. I fell in love the minute you talked, the minute you walked, the minute you took your coat off, the minute you touched me. I never believed in falling in love at first sight, until now. So please baby don’t talk about going back to Tennessee. Okay?” Feeling this vulnerable was not a something he was used to, or liked. Never did he allow himself to feel this way. Lana changed that. He wanted to protect her, love her, live with her, live through her. He wanted her to see the vulnerability in him, see what she had done to him. Holding back his feeling for her was not an option, not ever.
His eyes never left hers and she knew he meant it and all she could only cry with happiness and nod her head.
“Please baby, don’t cry, I can’t stand it, and I don’t want you to feel bad or feel you’re not safe. I’m off the rest of the time you are here. The only stumbling block we have today is the memorial, and you’re going with me. And if we don’t hurry up and eat we will not have time for me to get my suit and your dress.” Time was of the essence, but he also wanted to change the subject.
“Let’s go, I’m starving,” she said. She wiped away the tears and was mad at herself for being such a whine baby. Mike had enough to worry about without her acting like a baby.
As they walked in the hostess greeted them. “Hi Mr. Ramsey, how is my favorite officer today?”
“I’m doing great, we want to sit at the back table, is that okay?”
“Go right ahead and I’ll send a waitress right over,” she answered while still counting out change to a customer. There were several tables scattered around in the three dining rooms with a kitchen in the middle. The tables were so close together it took some maneuvering around chairs to get to their table. They were seated where Mike could see the door, a cop thing.
Their waitress handed them the menu and spoke with a soft voice. She seemed sad and never lifted her eyes from the ticket book. “Would you like to hear our specials today?” Lana could tell she didn’t want to go over them again.
In a way Lana didn’t blame her. How many times did she say the specials today? It would be much easier to paper clip the specials on the menu. She could work more tables in the time it took to list the specials. Lana’s heart felt bad for this weary waitress. She looked like an old lady whose face looked tired and worn. She had bags under her eyes and they looked fatigued. She had her gray hair pulled back in a bun, and because of her age it was thin. She had a small hump back caus
ed from a curvature of the spine. Lana knew her hump back was from this hard work and from age. At that moment, Lana knew she would make sure she got a sizable tip, at least a ten.
Lana politely said. “That’s okay we’ll just look at the menu.”
Mike pushed his menu to the side knowing what he wanted to eat.
“So Mike, what do you recommend for me to eat? Besides seafood, I think chicken might be appropriate for me, especially after last night.”
He raised his left eyebrow. “We won’t even go there little lady. I know it has been a tough couple of days, but I’m off work and I want to spend every moment with you. Your safe and I’m safe, and there was a tragedy, but let’s call a truce and not bring up last night and let’s enjoy each other and get to know one another. Is it a deal?”
How could she say no to that, and she should be willing to try. “It’s a deal, on one condition, when we get home you have to tend to the fire.”
“Now that sounds like a deal, better yet, I’ll fix the furnace.” They both laughed because it was suppose to have been fixed two days ago.
“Yea, I believe that when I see it,” she said with sarcasm. Immediately, she wished she could take that statement back. It was inappropriate to say such a mean utterance.
“You are grumpy and I need to feed you.” He overlooked her statement because he knew she was tired, hungry and emotional.
“Mike I’m sorry I snapped at you, that didn’t come out the way I wanted.”
“Honey, I didn’t take it that way, and it’s okay. I know you’re tired and I appreciate your sacrifice going with me to the memorial. You could have stayed at the house and taken a nap. Because you’re going with me I can focus on Frank’s family instead of worrying about you being alone. Thank you for that.”
He chose just the right words to make her feel better. “Honey, you’re welcome and I know I never told you last night or this morning. Thank you for protecting me last night, and Mike?”
“Yes?” He answered but not paying attention, he played with her hands, trying to warm them.
“Mike? Look at me please.”
“What babe?” He focused on her.
“I love you too!”
He looked in her eyes hoped he saw the truth and he did, very much so. His heart leaped with joy. He got choked up and said. “Oh baby, I love you so much!”
“Mike one more thing.”
“What?”
“Earlier you talked about telling me you loved me before you go to work, just in case you don’t come home.”
“Yes.”
“I wanted to tell you I know you love your job, and I would never change that. But I want you to remember as you go to work. I’d rather have three wonderful years with you than have a lifetime of nothing. I guess what I’m trying to say is, let’s live everyday like it’s our last,” she said getting all choked up again. She quickly changed the subject before she started to cry again and messed up her makeup.
About that time the waitress walked up to take their order. “I think I will try the southwest chicken.”
Mike ordered shrimp and fries.
They chatted about Cape Cod and how beautiful it was in the summer. She could only imagine the beauty of the towns with all the hustle and bustle of vacationers.
Mike smiled when he thought of the beach in the summer. “Some of the cute things of the summer are to see the children run across the sand when it’s hot. They jump and holler trying to run to the water where it’s cool. They look like Mexican jumping beans. It’s nice to see an old person fall asleep on the beach on a sunny cool day. But on the other hand the winter’s can be brutal. I live in Boston and some winters it can snow for several days.” His eyes glowed just talking about living in the area.
She glanced out the window and everything looked white. “We might want to consider heading to your house because it looks like it’s snowing a little harder.”
Mike’s eyes pivoted to the window and he noticed the road looked like sheets of white. He also noticed the sky was noticeably darker. The darkness made the street lights came on down the street. “What did you think about the food?” He pulled out his wallet and dug out his credit card while they waited on the check.
Lana unknowing to Mike pulled out a ten. She held it in her lap, and she planned on putting it on the table when Mike turned his head. It was obvious the waitress needed a little extra money. Lana’s mom had curvature of the spine and she knew how her mom suffered. Maybe this little bit of extra money could help this elderly waitress. “I loved it, but I loved being with you more,” she said with all honesty.
“Once we get through this memorial we will have a great evening, and I have a surprise for you.”
“I love surprises.” Just anticipating the surprise made her clap her hands, just like a child.
Chapter 17
12:34 p.m.
Boston could be considered one of the most beautiful cities on the eastern coast. It’s amazing how cities look different all over the country. Boston buildings had the old craftsman style look. Atlanta had the contemporary more modern look. San Francisco had an old world look and Houston had the straight line geometric look. You could definitely tell what part of the country you were in just by the designs of the skyscrapers.
Mike’s house was in an older part of the city and it’s not too far from the John Joseph Moakley Courthouse where he worked. They turned in a subdivision called Revere Estates. The homes looked like they were about one hundred years old. The neighborhood appeared well manicured and in the front yards grew huge oak trees. Some of them had pictures of family in the military hanging on them. She liked that better than yellow ribbons. He wound around several streets then turned on Cedar Cove.
When they pulled in the driveway Lana noticed he had the house painted a medium brown with white trim. It was a very old craftsman style look. The front porch, painted in white, wrapped around most of the front of the house. There were several big square wood pillars lined up with the front porch. Chains swung between the columns and Lana imagined how Boston fern hung from them in the spring and summer.
“Welcome to my Boston home,” he said grinning. He couldn’t wait to show off his masterpiece.
“Mike, your home is beautiful. How old is this house?”
“It was built in the 1940 by newlyweds. They lived in it until 1992 and the couple got so old they moved into a convalescent home. Their children rented it out until they died in 1997. Then they sold it to me. It was in horrible shape when I bought it and I tried to restore it to its original state. This house is certainly a labor of love.”
“That’s an understatement. I can certainly see why you fell in love with this house.”
“Please come in and let me show you around my masterpiece.” They walked along the rock path to the front porch. On the porch to the left were several rockers. There were several planters all over, some were wicker and some were iron.
He unlocked the door and turned off the alarm. There was a small entrance with a living room to the left and a formal dining room to the right. Lana noticed the five inch Bellawood flooring throughout the three rooms. “Did you install the floor yourself?”
“Yes, it took me a month, only a few hours a day, but well worth it.” All his hard work showed, and he seemed proud of his accomplishment.
“I certainly agree with that. You know Mike I have not ever been crazy about leather furniture, but I have to admit this is perfect in this room.” The couch was dark brown leather with a deep burgundy, tan, and black rug under it. He only had blinds in the living room, but in the dining room he had blinds with dark brown drapes matched the many dark brown colors on the rug under the table. The table was a dark stained oak with a matching hutch.
He gave her a sweet hug and she could tell he liked her enthusiasm and approval. “Thank you honey, but we’re not finished.”
He led her into the kitchen and her heart turned flip flops. Wow, custom mahogany cabinets filled the kitchen wit
h custom craftsman style doors. In the middle of this huge kitchen was an island with a small sink and gas cook top on it. The countertops were made of rich brown, tan, and black granite. Another larger sink was under the double window that faced the back. “Mike are these the original cabinets?”
“Yes, I just replaced the doors. I’m going to change into my suit, so you make yourself at home and check out the house.”
Lana walked around outside for a few seconds and she checked out the rest of the rooms downstairs. Knowing they would have to leave soon she ran upstairs to check out the bedrooms. All the bedrooms were upstairs and she ran into Mike at the top. “Baby you look so nice.” He looked ten feet tall with his suit on, a Hart Shaffner & Marx Suit, black pin stripe herringbone classic. She thought if he held out his arm she could walk under without touching the bottom of his arm. She knew she could if she didn’t have on her boots. Compared to him she must look like a dwarf.
“Thank you,” he said while giving her a hug. “Come on it’s your turn to grab a dress. Is Penney’s okay? It’s only a few blocks from the church.”
“That’s great, and I can wear the dress out of the store.” She loved his home and wanted to let him know. “You have a beautiful home. I didn’t get to the bedrooms, but I will next time.”
“I’m hoping it will be your home one day.” He commented after kissing her hand.
“I would be very proud to share this home with you.” She envisioned cooking Thanksgiving dinner in that kitchen.
*****
After looking at several dresses, she picked out a knit Ralph Lauren casual dress that went to her knee and it fit tighter than she would have wanted, but she could blame that on her large bust. It was a cowl neck collar with long sleeves. She even bought a black jacket to wear with the dress. The coat was also a Ralph Lauren. Her coat, a simple button up that also went to her knees. She couldn’t walk into the church wearing a blue jean jacket.