by Rey, Solomon
“Well…we can ask innocent questions, you know what I mean?” she asked.
“No.”
She rolled her eyes, answering, “Questions like, “she’s nice, isn’t she” or “why haven’t you asked her out,” she chuckled.
“Smooth,” he said sarcastically.
“Can you do better?”
“I believe I can,” he said confidently, “Let me at them, I’ll have us moved in by the end of the weekend,” he danced around mimicking a boxer.
“We’ll see,” she said laughing, “Let’s do it tonight. You talk to your mom and I’ll talk to my Dad.”
“Done! You’ll be calling my Mom, ‘Mom’ before you know it.”
Olivia smiled at this thought. She’d seen pictures of her Mom, but the images were of a stranger. She had no memory of her mother, not even a dream. She’d been told that she was next to her Mom when she was killed, but she was only two years old at the time.
As far as she was concerned, she had never had a mother, but she already thought of Donna as her Mom, but the actual deep emotions that went along with the title were missing. She wanted—needed a Mother to hold her, comfort her and love her. To teach her about life, the ups and downs, from a woman’s point of view. She liked and loved Donna already, what would be more perfect than to call her “Mom” for real and to have Derek as a brother. She wanted this more than anything.
* * *
Olivia finished brushing her teeth, as she ran to her bed, sliding under her covers.
“Dad, I’m ready for bed!” she shouted.
The nightly ritual had been the same ever since Olivia could remember: She would take a shower, put on her over-sized Oregon Ducks shirt she slept in, brush her teeth, then her father would talk to her every night.
She loved those times with him. Sometimes they would laugh hysterically, other times would be more serious like when he would mention her Mother or Olivia would bring up problems at school. What she loved the most was that she could talk to him about anything and he wouldn’t make fun of her or say she was being silly.
She loved her Father and wanted him to be happy. She intuitively knew that Donna would be the one to fill the void in her Father’s heart; Olivia and Derek would bring them together.
Richard came to her side and sat on her bed.
“Olivia Marie, are you sure you’re ready for bed?” Richard asked.
“Yup,” Olivia answered.
“Did you do a good job brushing?”
“Dad! I’m thirteen, not six. I did a good job.”
“Sorry. Habit.”
“What time are we leaving in the morning?” She asked eagerly.
“I’m thinking, eleven. So we can give that morning fog time to burn off.
“I’m looking forward to it. Should be fun,” she said.
“Yeah, me too.”
“I’m glad Donna’s coming!”
“Really?” He had been thinking the same thing.
“She makes things complete, you know,” she said watching his expression. Manipulation is an art and Olivia was an artist. “I like her a lot,” she said zealously, “You like her, right?”
“Well…yeah,” he replied nervously, “She’s really nice.”
“And pretty too, don’t you think so?” Olivia asked leading her father into a trap.
“Yeah, of course, she’s very pretty,” he said sincerely.
“I’m surprised someone hasn’t married her already…I mean …she’s so nice and pretty, who wouldn’t want to marry her, right? Isn’t that weird?” She could see he was taking in what she was saying.
“Yeah, I’ve thought about that too.”
“You know, Derek has told me that a lot of guys always ask her out at work.”
“He told you that?” He asked with sincere interest.
“Many times,” she replied. I have to hook him, she thought. “They ask her out at least two to three times a week.” I hope I’m not laying it on too thick, she thought. Richard sat silently thinking. Olivia’s face was blank, but her heart was doing flips. “You know what would really suck?” she asked.
“What?”
“If she met someone and fell in love, she’d probably never come over again…oh! I just thought of something…what if she met someone who lived somewhere else, like Portland or Seattle, we’d never see them again,” she said. That should do it, she thought.
Olivia faked a yawn, “I’m really tired, Dad. I love you.”
“Uh…oh yeah…goodnight honey. I love you too,” he said with his mind elsewhere.
She covered herself up to her neck, as he kissed her cheek. He turned off the light, as he left the room.
She snuggled her pillow, smiling contently.
* * *
“It’s time for bed, Derek,” Mom called out from the kitchen.
“Okay,” he yelled back.
He went into the bathroom, brushed his teeth. He surveyed himself in the mirror. He liked his looks, but too skinny. He couldn’t wait till he’d grow. He flexed his biceps and frowned.
“Don’t be afraid! Show yourself,” he said talking to his muscles. He laughed out loud. “Well, time to play cupid!”
He went into the kitchen to say goodnight to this Mom. He was dressed for bed wearing his favorite UC Berkeley jersey, with the single word Cal on the front.
“I’m ready for bed,” he announced.
“Well, goodnight sweetie,” she said, leaning to give him a kiss.
“Goodnight. I love you.”
“I love you too,” she said.
He began to walk away, abruptly turning toward his Mom, “Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure, what’s on your mind?” she asked, finishing the dishes. She dried her hands with the dish towel.
“After Dad left, why didn’t you ever remarry?”
“Where’s this coming from?” She asked, intrigued.
“I don’t know…I guess it’s been on my mind.”
She thought about his question. He had a right to know, she decided. “I guess I was scared.”
“Scared of what?”
“Different things.” It was obvious that this wasn’t a comfortable topic for her.
“Like what?”
“Are you sure you want to talk about this?” She asked hoping his answer would be ‘no’. She didn’t like talking about the past, especially when it concerned his father. Too many memories, too many feelings, too much pain.
“Yes, I do. I think I’m old enough to have an adult conversation with my Mom. I am almost fourteen you know, even though I only look eleven.” Trying to bring a little levity to the conversation.
“I know exactly how old you are. You forget, I was there. I still remember the pain every time I see that big head of yours,” she said jokingly.
“Hey, I don’t have a big head!” He said, acting offended.
“What…you think you’re the only one who can crack a joke?”
He sneered at her playfully, “I’m waiting,” he said with a half-smile, folding his arms across his chest.
“Okay, okay, grab a seat,” she said, both sitting at the table.
“I guess you should know,” she paused to gather her words and to figure out where to start. “Well, you know your father left soon after you were born, I was devastated. I couldn’t think straight and I cried all the time. I was worried about raising you all by myself…I mean, I had my Mom to help out, but the sole responsibility was mine and I wasn’t about to push it on to someone else. You were all mine and I would do anything for you,” she said. Derek warmed inside, hearing his mother speak so fervently about him. “I guess in a way I was protecting you…by not allowing another man into my life.”
“How is that protecting me?” He asked, defensively.
“I didn’t want to bring another man into your life and have you become attached, only to have him leave, taking your heart with him. You would have been devastated like I was,” she said with tears welling in her eyes.
“Mom, no
t all guys are like my Dad. They don’t all run away. Some actually stick around. Do you think I would run from my responsibilities?” He asked holding her hand.
“No−,” She was not able to finish her sentence. Derek was on a roll.
“Do you think Richard’s that kind of man?” He asked slyly.
“Richard is the…no, not at all,” she stopped afraid of saying too much.
“Richard is what?” He asked trying to drag it out of her, “Mom, please don’t stop. It’s you and me, always has been. If you can’t talk to me, who can you talk to?”
“Okay fine! Richard is a very good and kind man. He’s a great father and a good friend,” she replied, but Derek didn’t feel she was being honest with him.
“Mom, come on. That’s not what you were going to say. You expect me to always be honest with you or is this one of those, ‘do what I say, not as I do,’ times?”
“How do you know what I was going to say?” She asked smiling.
“Because I’ve spent my whole life with you and to top it off, I’m psychic,” he said, “It’s a gift.”
She chuckled, “You’re right. I need to be honest with you, if I expect you to be honest with me.”
“And…” He stared at her frozen waiting for her to say what she had started to say.
“And you’re right. I wasn’t going to say that.”
“What were you going to say?”
“I was going to say that, Richard is the finest man I’ve ever known,” she said flush with embarrassment, “There! Are you satisfied, you emotional terrorist?” She said laughing as she squeezed her son’s hand.
Derek smiled. He knew he was getting somewhere, now it was time to move in for the kill, he thought. “You know he likes you, right?” he was hitting her hard.
“What…I don’t…what are you talking about?” Her face flushed beet red, but she was anxious to hear more.
“You really didn’t know he likes you? Seriously Mom, you’d have to be blind not have noticed,” he said teasing.
“He does not!” She protested as she thought about the reality of her son’s statement, “You think he does?” Her face lit up, smiling at Derek.
“I know he does, Olivia and I talk about it all the time. We see the way he looks at you when you aren’t looking. He’s always happier when you’re around.”
“Olivia and you talk about it?”
“Yup, all the time!”
“And you’re positive he feels this way about me?” She asked dubiously.
“Uh…Mom, I sit in a class everyday surrounded by teenagers with super−charged hormones. I know what I am talking about.”
“Good point,” she said, “So, was this your whole plan?”
“What?”
“You know exactly what I’m talking about. I know what you were doing here. You set me up so you could open my eyes, didn’t you?” She laughed.
“I have no idea what you are talking about, Madame,” he said feigning innocence.
“Never mind, go to bed…now.” He got up from the table, heading for his room.
“Derek…” she called.
“Yeah?”
“Olivia’s a very lucky girl to have you as a best friend.”
Always the jokester that he was, “I know, huh! I keep telling her that, but she won’t believe me.”
She laughed at his humor and because she was excited about the prospect of Richard and her. “Go to bed, you big turd,” she said playfully.
“Goodnight, Mom,” he said. He was satisfied with his work. She watched him disappear down the hall. Her emotions were on fire. Everything she had hoped was true…He likes me, she thought, I feel like a teenager. How silly am I? Who cares? Now I need to make it obvious to Richard how I feel about him without throwing myself at him. Damn! Now I’m going to have to shave my legs on a regular basis!
CHAPTER X
“Olivia, did you call Derek?” Richard shouted, placing a variety of things in the ice chest: Sodas (Coke, Diet Pepsi and Mountain Dew, sandwich meats (Turkey, ham and Bologna); cut up vegetables placed in Ziploc bags (Tomato, Lettuce and pickles); cookies and one of Olivia’s favorites—chocolate Power Bars.
“Yeah,” she said, “They were just leaving, so they should be here soon. They’re bringing potato salad, Sunny D, paper plates and utensils.”
“Good, I forgot all about paper plates,” he said, “Can you grab the radio, make sure the batteries are fresh, then put it in the car.”
“Already done it!” She yelled from her bedroom, grabbing her favorite beach towel. She ferretted about her room making sure she hadn’t forgotten anything. She spotted her Frisbee peeking out from underneath her bed. “Don’t want to forget this,” she said to herself, picking it up and shoving it into her beach bag.
She heard the unmistakable sound of tires rolling over their gravel driveway.
“They’re here!” She announced.
Richard and Olivia stepped out onto the porch to greet them.
Donna pulled up to the front of the house, careful not to block the garage. They would be taking Richard’s SUV instead of her car. Derek jumped out first, giving Richard a hug, then taking his place next to Olivia.
Donna exited the car looking gorgeous. Something’s different, Richard thought, since he couldn’t put his finger on it, he dismissed it as his imagination.
Olivia ran to her giving her a hug.
“You guys all ready to go?” Donna asked, smiling at Richard.
“Almost,” Richard replied, “Just need to throw ice in the chest,” he caught himself staring at Donna a little too long. He turned and walked inside, hoping no one saw his lingering gaze.
“Did you get everything you guys are going to need?” Donna asked of Olivia.
“I think so,” she replied, “but I’ll recheck. Derek come with me,” she led the way, he followed willingly.
Donna went inside to find Richard, rinsing carrots in the kitchen.
“I thought you had everything ready to go,” she asked.
“Last minute thought. I like carrot sticks to snack on, so I decided to slice some up,” he said casually. Inside he was nervous, trying hard not to make eye contact.
“You want me to do it?” She volunteered.
“No…no, I got it, thanks,” he slid out the cutting board, placing the carrots down, as he reached for a knife.
“I’m looking forward to the beach and spending time with you,” she intentionally misspoke, trying subtly to express her feelings. She quickly corrected herself, “You and the kids of course,” she looked away feigning embarrassment.
“Uh…me too!” Did she mean what she said, he asked himself. He began to absentmindedly slice the carrots. He was nervous and on top of that, he couldn’t stop thinking about her. How could she not see how he was acting, he thought. He glanced at her for a second, but enough time to allow him to bring the stainless steel blade down on his finger.
“Ahhhh, damn!” He exclaimed, feeling like a klutz. This should impress her, he thought. He held his finger under running water.
“Oh, stay right there, I’ll get your first aid kit,” she said ernestly, “be sure to apply pressure so the bleeding will stop,” she said. He worked in the E.R. four years, I’m pretty sure he knows what to do, Duh! She told herself as she retrieved the kit.
He didn’t care about his finger or stopping the bleeding. His mind was elsewhere, on something exponentially more important—Donna. She is an incredible woman and I’d be a fool to let her slip through my fingers, he thought. We are perfect for each other. So when should I make my move? I shouldn’t plan it, it will seemed forced if I do. It needs
to come naturally, unrehearsed and spontaneous. Yeah, Right! I’ve known her for a decade and haven’t made a move. I need to plan it…without a doubt…I’ll do it while we’re at the beach. I’ll get her alone, then…I don’t know…
She came back holding the first aid kit. She purposely pressed her body against his, as she leaned in to inspe
ct the cut, which had stopped bleeding. The scent of her hair was enthralling, he imagined holding her tightly and kissing her passionately and it lasting for an eternity.
I can’t wait any longer, I need to do something now or Olivia will be right, someone would steal her heart away. I can’t deal with that, he thought. What the hell, now was as good a time as any.
* * *
Olivia ran into her bedroom with Derek at her heels. She turned quickly to him, “So! Did you do it?”
“I’m sorry, but that’s kinda personal! That’s between me and the toilet,” he said pretending he was offended.
She wasn’t in the mood to play around—she slugged him solidly in the shoulder.
“Owww!” He exclaimed, “You’ve got really boney fists, you know that?” He rubbed his shoulder.
“Just tell me! Did you talk to her?” She asked desperately.
“Yes, of course.”
“How did it go?” She asked eagerly.
“She likes him, she really does!”
“Did she say that?”
“Well...no, not exactly.”
“Well, what did she say?” She asked sharply.
“In her own words,” he said acting dramatic with a falsetto voice, “Richard is the finest man I’ve ever known.”
“She said that?”
“Swear!”
“Cool!” She said jumping and clapping excitedly, “Let’s cross our fingers and pray.” She paused, smiling at him, “You want to spy on them?”
“Yeah, we can see if cupid’s put bulls eyes on them, waiting to shoot his friggin’ arrows,” he chortled.
“Let’s go,” she encouraged.
Derek stepped out of the room, hugging the wall, pretending to be a superspy. He tip-toed along with Olivia casually walking behind him, rolling her eyes at him, but still smiling enjoying his silliness.
He rounded the first corner, pausing as he slowly scanned the area, watching out for enemy spies, who might be lurking in the shadows waiting to kill them. He would protect them, as he pulled out his thumb and forefinger ready to fire if the need arose.