by Ashley Nemer
His morning flew by and when he saw Merewyn walking into the clinic at noon with a basket his mind completely forgot the animal he was currently discussing with its owner. His eyes focused on only her, her tight jeans, her knit top and her eyes, her clear beautiful eyes.
“Hey Doc.” She said to him.
“Hey yourself,” He replied.
“Thought we could grab lunch,” she motioned to the basket that she was carrying.
“Love to, let me finish up and I’ll meet you, want to wait outside under the tree?”
Merewyn smiled at him and nodded, “See ya there.”
Jessie’s heart skipped a beat as he watched her walk out of his clinic, yes he was doomed, he really had fallen in love with her all over again and finally he was going to get the girl of his dreams.
“Carrie I’ll see you in an hour, enjoy your lunch.” He said after he had wrapped up with the feline patient he was working with. “I think Wednesday’s are my new favorite day of the work week.”
“I hear ya, they would be mine too if I had someone waiting under a tree with a picnic basket full of food for me to arrive.”
“You sound jealous,” Jessie teased his assistant.
“Not jealous, just stating a fact.”
“Your husband doesn’t do that?”
He suddenly felt guilty when she shook her head no, “Not married just a single mom working to take care of her daughter.”
Jessie hadn’t realized that he honestly didn’t know his few employees well yet and that made his stomach sink, what an ass, what kind of boss was he. “Carrie I am so sorry.” She rose up a hand signaling him to stop and shook her head back and forth.
“Don’t be I am happy and my little girl is happy. Go get your picnic started I’ll see you in an hour.”
He watched her grab her purse and then walk out of the front door. He knew he was probably being overly sensitive and he shouldn’t let this hiccup derail his lunch and his day. He locked up the office and walked over to the tree where his woman was waiting on him.
Jessie was going to make it a point to get to know Carrie more and his other aid Jessica. He wanted to be the kind of boss that wasn’t exactly friends with his workers but had a decent enough relationship that he could trust them and they could trust him in return. That was very important to him. It was something that his mentor had taught him about running a successful clinic and he believed it was right. Maybe he should have them and their families out for a Saturday lunch or Sunday dinner at one of the local restaurants. He could bring Merewyn and they could even make it a quarterly thing between the staff. He liked that idea a lot and made a mental note to set something up soon. Maybe he could get Merewyn to help him plan it; she would know the good places to eat since he was still getting reacquainted with the city he grew up in.
Everything in his mind faded to the background when he looked at Merewyn and saw how the sunlight was capturing her frame. She was stunning and she was all his.
I watched him walk across the green lawn and head straight for me. He looked like a man on a mission and I loved that. Everything about this moment was perfect. This had been exactly what was missing in my life. A man to desire me like that.
Last night had been the final closing in one chapter of my life and the start of another and I couldn’t have felt more happy and excited if I tried. Everything was going to work out this time, not because I needed it to happen just to have my freedom and independence, but because I realized I finally found who I wanted to be with for the rest of my life.
It almost caught me by surprise last night when it all clicked in my head. We were enjoying a few California rolls together when the light went off in my head that I am never as happy on my own as I am with Jessie around. He brightens even my worst days. I knew that there was no need to rush into anything because I still had a lot of learning to do about myself but that didn’t mean I couldn’t finally understand what love was.
Through this whole debacle with Albert, Jessie had stood with me and supported me. Cared for me, helped fix things that needed fixing and helped save me from the dangers of Albert and myself. He cared for me, and not just in a friendship way, in a way that meant forever.
Being high school sweethearts possibly made this whole thing easier because we already had a foundation. Even if that foundation was years old and ended poorly, it was still there. A foundation was all it took to build something great, and that was exactly what my intentions were. To build something great.
By the time he had made it over to me in the short distance my mind had already played out the rest of our life together and it made me catch my breath, I really was jumping into this head first no looking back.
“Merewyn you look stunning.” He said to me as he knelt down next to my side and kissed my lips.
“You don’t look too bad yourself Doctor Jones.” I said the last two words with the inflection mimicking the movie Indian Jones. I always got a kick out of that as a teen. It made Jessie smile.
“I could get used to these pop ins of yours, better not make it a habit or I will start wanting it daily.”
Laughter came from my mouth, real honest laughter. “I love you.” I closed my lips quickly once I realized what I had blurted out and my cheeks flushed red.
“I love you too Merewyn.”
“I didn’t expect you at all Jessie and now that I have you I can’t picture what my life would have been like without you.”
“You know the preacher on Sunday always says ‘God works in mysterious ways’ maybe this is our meant to be story.”
“Maybe?” I questioned him smiling and teasing.
“Sorry, this is our happy ever after.”
“That’s more like it.” I said beaming as I leaned over and kissed the man that I love knowing that everything was going to work out just fine.
“What did you bring us to eat for lunch?” He questioned while trying to peer into the basket.
“Lots of goodies all finer foods so I hope you washed your hands.”
“I’m a doctor; of course I washed my hands.”
I shook my head back and forth and pulled out wet wipes from the basket, “You're also part boy and I know for a fact that is the last thing that is ever on ya’ll minds.” I handed him two wipes and watched him as he cleaned his fingers and palms off from all of the animal germs.
“Don’t act like you know me so well, I might just surprise you one day.”
“Oh I am sure you will surprise me, one day, just not today.”
Jessie’s laugh sounded rich and healthy, just what you wanted in a man. I noticed him watching my every motion as I set the picnic out in front of our legs on the ground. I was glad I brought the blanket with me, I would have not enjoyed sitting on straight grass. The food would be too tempting for the ants.
“I have tuna salad, crackers, cubed cheese, sliced fruit, sliced chicken and ham.” I said as I placed each container in front of him. “I also have a small little travel size eight ounce bottle of white wine and two little cups along with a couple cookies for a sweet dessert.
Jessie looked over the display carefully and then looked into my eyes. His left side of his mouth started to tilt upwards in a grin, “Your mother did all of this didn’t she?”
I couldn’t hold in my laugh that belted from my lips, I nodded in confirmation and wipes my eyes front he tears that were forming. “Yes Mom did this, but to be fair she makes me a picnic all the time, this time she just made it for you too.”
“Have I told you how much I love your mom?”
“No, but don’t tell her that, she will start planning wedding bells and I don’t need that added stress.”
“Careful what you say M, looking at this spread before me I don’t think that idea would be half bad. I could get used to this life.”
“Me too Jessie, me too.”
Epilogue – October 2018
Reading the score on the bottom of the television caused most of the patrons in the bar to s
hout at the screen. The Astros were playing the Dodgers and they were down two runs at the bottom of the 9th. Their star player was at bat and the team already had two outs working against them. The bases were loaded and it felt like this was their last shot for winning the game.
The bar silenced as the pitcher pulled his arm back and threw the ball at ninety seven miles per hour at the man waiting at home plate. The crack of the bat and ball making contact echoed in the room as everyone held their breath. They watched the white circular object soared into the air and the players make their rotation around the bases. As the ball soars through the air and started heading downward towards the outfielder on the left side. He reached his arm up to the sky and the patrons in the bar all yell as the baseball lands in the man’s glove.
It was over, the Astros lost the World Series and the only ones at the bar tonight who were going to celebrate were the owners because it was bound to be a night full of endless drinking.
“What a game.” Jessie said as he shook his head back and forth while reaching for his beer.
“Just once I want to see them win.” Rachel said.
“Merewyn will be glad she missed this, you know how she hates sports.” Jessie picked up a chili cheese fry and ate it while watching the television seeing the rangers celebrate.
“Speaking of her, how are you two doing?” Rachel grabbed her own fry and popped it into her mouth.
“We’re really good. Can’t believe it’s been almost an entire year since all of that drama started.”
“Time flies when you’re having fun they say.” Rachel smiled at him and then took another drink of her glass that was now empty.
“Want another?” He asked.
“Sure, why not. Nothing to do tomorrow anyway.”
“We really need to get you a guy.” Jessie waived to Jean who was working hard behind the bar to grab her attention.
“I don’t need a guy Jessie, I have you.” She smirked at him.
“While yes I am of the male gender, I am not ‘a guy’, I am a friend. We need to get you a guy, someone who can help that boredom in the gaps of time you seem to have endless supply of.”
“My job keeps me busy Jessie, you act like I stay home alone every night and mope around.”
“Don’t you?” He teased. “Hey Jean can you get each of us another round please?”
“Sure thing Jessie, comin right up.”
“I don’t know if I appreciate the idea of you trying to set me up with someone Jessie. You know that is kinda old fashioned right?”
“How is it old fashioned, just one friend helping another friend out. Besides you’re going to need to bring a date to my wedding right?”
“You proposed?” Rachel exclaimed.
“Not yet but I am going to. You know she will say yes.” Jessie grinned ear to ear.
“So cocky, she could say no you know.”
“Nah not my girl. She loves me and everyone knows it.”
“Jessie, you show Rachel the ring?” Jean asked as she walked up to them and set their drinks down.
“You showed Jean the ring already. What happened I thought we were besties Jessie?” Rachel joked as she drank some of her dress Guinness.
“We are, relax; Jean here has similar taste in fashion as my M, so I just got her opinion on it before I laid down the cash, that’s all.”
“It’s a beauty Jessie, for real, you did great.” Jean patted Jessie’s shoulder and then walked back to the bar.
“You want to set someone up, that’s who you need to set up right there.” Rachel motioned her head in Jean’s direction.
“I don’t know, she doesn’t seem like she needs a man all that much.”
“What and I do?” Rachel mocked insult made Jessie laugh and he raised his glass.
“To friendship, may we always make each other laugh and bring joy to one another.”
“I second that.” Rachel looked back towards Jean one more time and then at Jessie. “Seriously, she never goes out, I do worry about her. This bar is her whole life.”
“Take it from me, someone who owns their business and knows what it is like to be all in during a deal, the bar is her whole life.”
“But you have a life outside of your puppy clinic.”
“Of course my job is an eight to five type job; Jeans is a noon to three am kinda job, a bit different.” Jessie finished his last glass of Guinness and then stood up from the table. “Rachel you gonna be okay getting home?”
“Yeah I’ll get an Uber. You are leaving?”
“Yep, told Merewyn if the ‘Stros lost then I would come home early and watch a movie with her.”
“That’s sweet. Enjoy your alone time.”
“I will, I’ll be glad when we can take our two apartments and make them one, living out of two places is a pain in the butt.”
“I can only imagine. Tell her hello for me.”
“Will do, night Rachel.” Jessie looked over his shoulder and hollered out, “Night Jean!” He tossed both girls a wave and then walked out of the bar.
Rachel finished her last drink and started to stand up, that’s when she noticed a new face in the bar. Deciding maybe Jessie was right she looked at her watch and saw it was only nine forty five, it was still early. With a bit of guts that she didn’t know she had, she stood up and walked over to the stranger sitting at the table across the room.
“Seat taken?” She smiled at him and pointed to the empty chair.
“It is now, care to join me?” He responded.
“Thanks, I’m Rachel, what’s your name?”
“My friends call me Pipen.”
“That’s an interesting name, Pipen, you new around here?”
He nodded his head up and down, “Sure am, and everyone seems to notice it too around here.”
Rachel laughed, “Small town mentality, we look out for our own and we notice anything new or suspicious going on.”
“So which am I, new or suspicious,” Pipen teased.
“Right now I would have to go with both, because you’re certainly new but you do give off this air of suspicious nature.”
“Is that a compliment?”
Rachel took a moment to ponder the question and then started to nod her head, “Yes, I think it is.”
“Then thank you.”
With a glance over her shoulder Rachel made eye contact with Jean and asked for another beer. The two of them stayed at the bar for a couple hours talking and laughing.
“So who was that guy I saw you with earlier? Boyfriend?”
“Who Jessie? Nah, just one of my friends. He is the local vet around here. Super nice.”
“Well that’s some good news then.”
“Oh, do you have pets? Do they get sick a lot?” Rachel looked at him with the most sincere concerned expression. It was bound to make any man’s heart melt.
“Pets, me no. Not at all.”
“Then why was it good news what I said about Jessie.”
“Because you didn’t go and say ‘He’s my boyfriend’, that means there is still hope for me.”
Rachel started laughing hard and that made her shake her head back and forth. “Trust me Pipen I am not the girlfriend type. I’m a lawyer; I work long hours and have maybe one day off work a week where I get home at a normal time.”
“Oh I sincerely doubt you’re not girlfriend material.”
Just as Rachel was about to retort her new friends remarks her cell phone went off. It was a text from Jessie.
“She said yes.”
That was all the text read. Rachel’s face smiled and that sparked Pipen to ask a question. “You get some good news?”
“I did actually, that man you saw me with, his girlfriend just agreed to marry him.”
“That is good news, you look happy for your friend.”
“I am, I enjoy that couple more than I thought I would enjoy high school sweethearts.” Rachel took another drink to finish off her glass and then realized the time. “Man it is getting
late.”
“I know, I have to get up somewhat early tomorrow morning too.”
“What is it that you do Pipen?”
“I’m a surgeon.” He stated simply.
“God I hope you don’t have surgery tomorrow!”
Pipen laughed hard, “No not tomorrow.”
“Then why do you have to get up early?” Rachel’s question seemed a little accusatory in her mind but she let it go, she was mostly ten sheets to the wind and knew it didn’t really matter.
“Gotta take my mom to PT, if I don’t take her she won’t go.”
“Oh.” Rachel thought to herself about what kind of man would take his ailing mother to her physical therapy appointment and realized maybe this was the kind of man that warranted more attention. “That’s really nice of you to do it.”
“No choice, don’t want her to die so I gotta put the effort in myself.”
“Would you mind if I called you sometime?” Rachel didn't realize the question slipped out until it was too late. She felt her face heat up red and embarrassment seeped through her looks.
“I would like that, here is my card.” Pipen put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a cream colored business card and handed it to her. “I look forward to hearing from you Rachel.”
She watched him get up and then leave.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ashley is married and lives in Houston with her husband Tony. Together they have created a joyous family consisting of two perfect children, two dogs who think they are children and a cat who thinks he’s a dog. They have been together for over 10 years and he brings her more joy than she could ever imagine as a child. She loves to read and has been hooked on the romance genre ever since her lifelong best friend gave her "Ashes to Ashes' by Tami Hoag to read when they were teens.
Ashley finds her strength through her family, especially her parents. They always support her in life; they push her to strive for greatness. There once was a motto that Ashley heard in her youth through her Taekwondo life 'Reach for the Stars' and that is what Ashley has always done. It was through her upbringing that the values Ashley has and display's came from. With her Parents always cheering her on in life, she was able to grow up having faith in herself and her ability to conquer the world