by Nicole Smith
"You know, I was wondering the other day if you just weren't attracted to me," Julia said. "When I crawled into bed with you, and you were a perfect gentleman..."
"That took a supreme effort of concentration. But I didn't want to take advantage of you."
"And now?"
"Now, you don't seem frail anymore. And frankly, my feelings for you have been growing every day. I didn't expect us to end up in bed together last night, but I hoped."
"I didn't expect it either, but I'm sure glad you decided to kiss me out there at the point. And I think you discovered I'm not too frail after all."
"Um, yes, yes I did," he said, with a grin. Her eyes met his and there was sudden heat between them. "How about you come over here?"
"I was thinking the shower." Her eyes twinkled as she smiled at him.
He gave a moment's thought to imagining soapy, wet, sexy Julia in the shower and stood up. "What a damn good idea."
* * * *
Julia walked into the beach house feeling like she was flying. Cody had dropped her off and then headed into work. The sexual encounter in the shower would stand as a highlight in her memory forever. Part of her was still stunned this was really happening. When she was with him, her feelings threatened to overwhelm her. She was shocked at how fast her affection for him had grown into something more. When she was away from him, he was always in her thoughts and dreams. She realized she was waiting for the one bad thing to show up, the kiss-of-death moment, when she learned something about him she couldn't live with. But it didn't seem to be happening.
She changed clothes in the bedroom pulling on jeans and a bulky white sweater. Deciding it was time to face the music, she opened her laptop and got into her email program. As she had half-expected, there were a number from work--including five from her mother. What on earth?
The only time her mother ever emailed her was to demand something faster or to complain. She thought it best to put those emails off for the moment and instead opened the ones from Ron, her assistant and the guy her mother had put in charge. The emails went from cajoling to begging to pleading for help. Evidently Mother hadn't fired him yet, and he was under the gun from her--and wasn't handling it well.
Curious as to her mother's reaction, based on Ron's emails, she opened those up. At first, there were complaints about Ron. Then she graduated into demands, wanting to know why Julia hadn't fired this incompetent. Finally, came the email ordering Julia to respond to her at once. That one was fired off the day before the phone call. Since then there was only one, saying the company looked forward to her return from vacation.
"The company looks forward? Couldn't you, yourself, look forward to my return Mother?"
She sighed and realized there was no point in expecting anything different. She'd been here a week and her mother was already putting oblique pressure on her to return, even after what she'd told her. The more Julia thought about it, the angrier she felt. How dare this woman, her own mother, put pressure on her to return to a job that was making her sick, and practically killing her? Where was her parental concern? Where was her love?
Julia debated throwing her laptop across the room. She sat and brooded for a while, getting more and more angry, as she thought about her Mother's emails and the phone call from before. When the phone rang, she answered tersely, "What?"
"Uh--Julia? It's Cody. What's wrong?"
"Oh, it's you. I'm sorry. I'm just in a bad mood."
"Julia, honey, what's wrong?"
"My mother. An email from her. Not the email of a concerned mother. No, she has to be the company expecting my return. She makes me want to scream."
"Go ahead and scream. Nobody's out there within miles of you. Scream all you want."
"You know Cody, sometimes you're brilliant. Bye."
Only after she set the phone down, did she stop and think she might have been abrupt.
* * * *
Cody set his phone down carefully on the counter. "Okay then," he said.
"Did your girl hang up on you?" Joe Crawford asked with a guffaw.
"Not exactly."
Joe and Captain Hank looked at each other and Joe rolled his eyes. "Funny how we never heard you say good bye."
"It wasn't that kind of call," Cody replied, still thinking about Julia. And her mother. Would the woman convince Julia to go back to the city?
Captain Hank offered, "Maybe you should call her back."
"Hmm. Not right now Hank, she's angry."
"At you?"
"No, no, someone else. Anyway, what were you talking about before?"
"Wondering if the tourist season might start earlier. Heard the weather's gonna be warmer sooner this year. You know, all the global warming. Gotta affect our temperatures here."
"Could be," Cody said. He sat down in one of the chairs around the table. He decided to give her time before trying to call her again.
"You know--" Joe began, only to be interrupted by Cody's phone ringing.
Cody glanced at the number and jumped up, walking to the back of the store. "Hello, Julia."
"I want to apologize for being incredibly rude to you. I'm sorry."
"You're forgiven. Sounds like you had good reason to be angry."
"Perhaps--but not at you. I did what you said, however. I screamed all the stuff I wanted to say to her. And I feel much better. So, thanks."
"I'm glad it helped."
"What did you call me about before?"
"I wanted to thank you for a memorable evening...and morning."
She gave a low-pitched laugh. "I want to thank you, also. That was some first date."
"Yes, it was. When can I see you again?"
"You're the one with a job. When do you get off work?"
"I think I'll close up early today."
"I'm coming into town for a bit this morning, but I'll be home all afternoon."
"Then expect me to be knocking on your door by four o'clock. Wait a minute--tonight's my night to provide dinner at Dad's house."
"We can't go have dinner at your Dad's right after we..."
He laughed. "You think he'd somehow know?"
"Yes! In this town, I think everyone will know."
"Silly goose. Want to come with me to the grocery store?"
She said, "Of course."
He laughed at her quick response. "All right. See you later."
"Okay. Bye for now."
He walked back to his interested friends in the rocking chairs with a big smile on his face.
Joe said, "See, I told ya. They made up. Look at him grinnin' there. Don't know how you do it, man."
"I didn't do anything fellas. Sometimes, if you're lucky, the woman you're with makes everything perfect."
Joe looked at him uncomprehendingly. "If you say so," he said doubtfully.
Captain Hank gazed at him thoughtfully.
Cody laughed. "Life is good today, guys. Leave it at that."
* * * *
Julia talked to Mrs. Gilchrest at the bank. They agreed on which computer she should buy, and then Julia would set it up at the bank president's home when it arrived. As she stood up to leave, Mrs. Gilchrest said, "If you could stay for a few more minutes..."
Julia nodded. "Sure," she said and sat back down. "Need more computers fixed?"
"In a way, yes. The other day when Frank suggested I talk to you about my problem, he also proposed an idea to me. As you know, the computer support for this town is dismal and exceedingly over-priced. He thought, and I agree after seeing how you work, that we should make a proposal to you."
Julia tilted her head to one side. "Okay--I'm listening."
"We want you to consider staying in Sully Point and setting up your own business here. You could provide computer repair, build computers and sell them, maybe even have a website design business. It obviously wouldn't be as fast-paced a lifestyle as living in the city, but we thought maybe that, in itself, might appeal to you."
"My own business?" Her voice rose a little high
in surprise. "Working with computers, or on computers?"
"Yes, exactly. Frank and I thought you might be wary of starting your own business from scratch, and I want you to know the bank would help out with a small business start-up loan. We even know of a place in town where you could set up shop--unless you'd want to work out of your own home. That would, of course, be up to you."
"Work with computers--all the time--on my own. This is an incredible idea!"
Mrs. Gilchrest smiled tentatively at her. "Does that mean you're interested?"
"Yes, yes it does," Julia said, smiling broadly. "I never even considered...but why not? It's what I love doing. It really is mind-boggling."
"Well...good. You go home and start thinking about the details. Make sure this is what you want. As I said, Sully Point is a big change from the life you had in the city. You'd be doing the town a big service if you do decide to stay and do this."
"It is a lot to think about." Julia said in a bit of a daze. "I'll get back in touch with you, soon."
As she left the office, she noticed Mrs. Gilchrest seemed pleased. Couldn't hurt to have the bank president on her side, she thought. If, she did this thing. Her head was spinning.
She left the bank and went to Deb's Deli to pick up a sandwich for lunch. Deb made her an Italian meat sandwich on a long roll with all the fixings--what Julia would call a sub and what the locals called a grinder.
"Hey, you look like you're somewhere else. Something on your mind?"
"Yeah, there is. Sorry. Can I have some potato salad too?"
"Sure. I heard you and Cody were seen at the Lobster Shack last night."
"What? Yes, we were there."
"You know you're the first date he's had in months."
"Really?"
Deb laughed. "Okay, I won't try to get you to talk--but, if you ever want, or need, to talk about Cody, feel free to contact me. For the record, I think he's a great guy, and I hope he can settle down some day with the right girl. I feel a little protective of him, I guess."
"Don't worry. I have nothing but the best intentions toward Cody," Julia said with smile.
Deb looked into her face for a moment and then smiled back. "Yes, I can see you do."
Julia paid and left with a wave. She stopped by the bakery and picked up a bag full of oatmeal cookies, and then drove back to the beach house. She went in and set her food down on the counter, realizing she didn't even feel like eating now. There was a lot to think about. Cody. Computers. Her own business. Cody.
She'd never considered having her own business. From the time she was a teenager, her path in life had been set to follow in her mother's footsteps. There was something incredibly freeing about even thinking of leaving advertising for good. And then, to start a business where she did something she loved? It made perfect sense and was a bit scary at the same time. If she were to do it, there would be no fallback position. She'd sink or swim on her own. Another consideration was whether or not a town this size could support such an endeavor. Of course, she thought, nibbling on a cookie, she could always do work over the internet. Web design, freelance coding jobs--who knew what all she could get into? The thing was, she'd be enjoying her work rather than deciding which skinny model should sell which brand of soap.
Suddenly, her appetite was back and she wolfed down her sandwich. It could work. The excitement that filled her was like nothing she'd felt before. She could finally be in charge of her own life.
After lunch, she sat down with her computer and began looking things up on the internet about having your own small business. Mrs. Gilchrest was right--there were a variety of helpful options available. She stopped after an hour and picked up her crochet project. Keeping her hands busy, helped her to think.
It all came down, she decided, to whether or not she was brave enough. Brave enough to go it alone and shoulder the responsibility. And more importantly, brave enough to stand up to her mother about leaving the ad agency. She knew for most of her life she'd been trying to get her mother's approval. Well, really, she thought, doesn't everyone look for approval from their parents? But it never seemed to come. By now she knew what her mother was like, how driven, and how selfish, she really was. Julia could look down the years and see herself slaving away for crumbs of approval from her mother for the rest of her life. Or she could make the break, facing--uncertainty, yes--but also a life designed by herself, doing something she loved.
There really was no other choice when she thought it over. Either she'd be a wimp and stay under mother's thumb, or she'd take the leap and live her own life. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Leaping was a heady feeling.
As for the other major topic on her mind today--Cody--she knew one thing. She'd never been as comfortable or content around any man besides him. The sex had been beyond pleasurable, but more than that, it had felt like they connected on all levels, soul to soul. Thinking of him, her eyes gradually closed as the lack of sleep caught up with her. Soon, she was fast asleep, hands still wrapped in the yarn of the sweater she was making for him.
* * * *
Cody was met at the door of the beach house that afternoon by a bleary-eyed Julia. "Come in, come in," she said. "I just woke up from a nap. Need to splash some water on my face. Be right back."
He walked in and shut the door. He was glad she had gotten some sleep. Today he had felt a little bit guilty about keeping her awake late into last night, given that she was supposed to be getting plenty of rest.
When she came back into the room, her hair was brushed and shiny, and her eyes were lit up with excitement. "I have a ton to tell you," she said, and came forward to put her arms around him. "But first...."
Cody's arms encircled her as she kissed him thoroughly. He pressed her body against his and felt his pulse begin to race.
Pulling away she said, "No, no, not before we go see your Dad. Don't we have to go to the grocery store anyway?"
"Yes, damn it. I promise you, we will finish this later."
"Good!"
He laughed and gave her a quick hug. They left the house and took off on the curving road back to town. Soon they were strolling down the aisle of the grocery store with a shopping cart and had already been stopped by several town residents saying hello.
Julia looked at him. "Do you think everyone suspects we're sleeping together?"
"Probably."
"Hmm. What are you cooking tonight?"
"Spaghetti and meatballs."
"That sounds delicious. It's strange to be in a grocery store. Since I don't cook, I hardly ever go to one. Usually I just run down to the corner from where I live to this little market for stuff like coffee and juice."
"Did you ever try to learn to cook?"
"When I was younger, I asked Mother to teach me. She sent me off to our cook, who happened to be a very impatient woman with no time to teach. So, you could say it's not all my fault."
"Ah. That does explain things a bit."
After the grocery store, they stopped into George and Al's place for a full-bodied red wine. Cody rolled his eyes as the two men, partners in life not just in business, surrounded Julia asking questions about the city. George, in particular, was always interested in what the latest was in New York, but Al swore they'd never leave Sully Point. Cody finally got Julia out of there with promises she would return.
"They seem like nice guys, a bit talkative with the two of them at once."
"Gossip is their life--however, I should also say, they really are nice guys. They contribute a certain amount of their proceeds to a fund we have in town to help struggling single parents. They like to keep it quiet that they're involved in it. I guess both of them grew up in single parent households."
In the car, she said, "I can't wait any longer. I have to tell you what Mrs. Gilchrest said to me today. She proceeded to relate the conversation about the idea for the business.
"Dad came up with this?"
"Yes. Mrs. Gilchrest said they'd work with me to get the busine
ss started and everything."
He turned to look at her. She was practically buzzing with energy as she talked about it. "You seem excited by the idea. Are you considering it?"
"Yes, I am, quite seriously. Even after a short a time away from the agency, I know the thought of going back depresses the hell out of me."
Cody pulled the car into the driveway and they took the groceries into the kitchen through the back door. He opened the wine to let it breathe and then began to make the meatballs. "Go on--tell me more about what you think of doing this."
She leaned against a nearby counter and watched him work. "Well, for one thing, I like Sully Point. It seems like a great place to live, and it doesn't have the crazy pace of life that you find in the city. The main thing, however, is that I love working with computers. To actually do what I love as my job seems like a fantastic idea. On the other hand, it is a bit scary to jump into something like your own business. I guess you know all about that. Plus, there is my mother to be dealt with, and she is not a small problem."
"Have you ever really stood up to her before?" Cody asked, as he formed the meatballs.
"Not exactly. I mean, sure, I've tried not going along with her ideas for my life from time to time, but eventually she always wears me down and I end up doing what she wants. I was thinking today, it's time for me to stop giving in to her. I'm a grown woman. I can't let her run my life."
Cody turned and smiled at her. He compared how she looked now, all vibrant and engaged, to the frail, worn out woman of only a week ago. It was hard to believe how much better she seemed. If she were willing to stay here in Sully Point, near him--suddenly possibilities filled his mind. He said, "I'd give you a big hug if I weren't up to my elbows in meatballs. You sound really happy talking about this."
"I never considered doing work I could enjoy. I'm going to work on the idea, come up with some sort of business plan, probably talk to Mrs. Gilchrest again--then see where it leads."
"I, for one, would love for you to stay here instead of returning to the city." He was frying the meatballs and was turned away from her. When she came up behind him, and pressed her body against his, he was surprised. He tensed up and then relaxed. "I like this. Just don't get splattered."