“And why would that be?”
“Because…..” She stammered. She couldn’t think of a thing to say, and just stood there taking in his strength and beauty, with a silly look on her face.
“Because?.....”
“Oh,” He was putting her on the spot. “Ok I’ll join you for one drink …. Only one.”
“That’s my Lass.”
“Let’s get one thing straight I’m not your Lass, or your girl or anything else!”
“Ok then.” She had a smart mouth, but for some strange reason it made him feel warm all over. “I’m right over here.”
They walked to a table near the door. “I’ll just tell Genna where I am and get my drink. I’ll be right back.”
Rian took her hand, and kissed it, as he whispered. “I’ll be waiting right here, please don’t terry my sweet.”
She pulled her hand from his and stormed away. She didn’t know if she was angry or happy and didn’t know if she would even make it to the table where Genna was sitting. Her whole body was shaking. She tried to steady herself enough to speak. “Well that was a bust.” Kareena stammered.
“I see he found you.” Genna smiled up at her friend.
“Yeah, I said I’d have one drink with him. He’s really got a lot of nerve! We’ll talk later. I’ll be back soon.”
“Take your time.” Genna and Kevin looked at each other and smiled.
“She has it bad.” Kevin said.
“I know, I could see it a few weeks ago when she first laid eyes on him at the pool. She’s the only one that doesn’t know it.”
Kareena walked slowly back to his table. He stood up and pulled out a chair for her.
“Thank you.” She said.
“My pleasure.” He raised his glass to her and she complied. As their glasses met so did their eyes. He held her there in his gaze for what felt like an eternity. His breathing grew shallow and so did hers.
“I’m still waiting for an answer to my question, if you don’t mind.”
Oh now all of a sudden he’s going to be nice. “What question would that be?”
“Are you serious about that bloke?”
“That… bloke” … as you call so rudely called him is named Patrick, and, I’ll tell you about him if you promise to be a gentlemen, and behave yourself, and don't give me any wise ass remarks.” Wow she couldn’t believe she just said that to him. But something about him brought out a side of her she didn’t know she possessed.
“I think I can control myself.” He said with a huge grin.
“Ok, I feel very close to Patrick, we have certain chemistry. I can’t explain it. The first time we saw each other we knew there was a connection.” She looked at him, waiting for a snide remark.
“Go on.” He said.
“I don’t know why I’m telling you this.”
“I did ask politely didn’t I now?”
“Ok, he is engaged to be married. He got his girlfriend pregnant and is going to do the right thing by her. I respect him for that.”
Rian was grinning again. “Why would you go out with a bloke who is spoken for?”
“It’s complicated.” Why the heck am I telling him this?
“I think I can keep up.”
“It’s just that we feel very close, I guess it’s more of a friendship thing.”
“It didn’t look like just friendship when he dropped you off last week.” Rian knew he had said too much.
She glared at him with a look of horror on her face. As she rose up out of her chair she shouted vehemently “You have been following me, you son of a bitch!”
Kareena headed for the exit. She couldn’t get out of there fast enough. She ran down the stairs and out the door. She had tears in her eyes when he caught up with her. He caught her by the arm, spun her around and kissed her. She tried to push him away, but he held her firm. She was beating her hands against his chest, but he would not release her. His lips were soft but firm, his male scent intoxicating. Her beating hands slowed as he held her. His kiss became more intense. She couldn’t stop herself from responding. He felt her response and his heart beat quickened. He took it all in as if a damn had busted, and a great weight was lifted off of him. The feel of her soft firm body close to his, the delicate scent of her hair, the feel of her racing pulse was so overwhelming, he though he would burst. She surrendered to him willingly. He stopped suddenly, and she looked into his eyes.
“Now” he said. “Allow me to explain.”
For a moment, she wasn’t sure what he was talking about. Then it came flooding back. She knew she should be furious with him, and she tried to pretend she was. “Go on!” she said sternly.
“Last week, when you didn’t show up.
“I…”
He placed a single finger on her lips. “Let me say my peace before you say another word,…. please!”
“Go on” she said again.”
“I felt the fool, no let me begin again. I felt very disappointed. To be quite honest, I was down right pissed. After Genna said you had a date, I tried to get snookered. After four Irish whiskeys it was no use. I decided to go for a drive to clear my head. I drove around campus for a spell. I had decided you didn’t matter, I didn’t need any complications in my life, I would never see you again. I was beginning to feel better so I was heading back to my dorm when I was coming down the street where you were getting out of that car and kissing that bloke…., She gave him a serious scowl. “Sorry ‘Patrick’, and I almost hit you with my car.”
“That … was you?” He still had his finger on her lips. She managed to get the words out between his fingers.
. “Yes, I parked my car two houses up from your apartment and watched through the rear view mirror as you crossed the road and walked up the four stairs onto your porch. I sat there for a spell. I’m not accustomed to feelings of uncertainty. My resolve had been shattered in that one instant when you kissed him. I was pissed again and finally drove back to my dorm. I wasn’t coming back to Brodie Mt. I never wanted to see you again. Even when James was getting ready to go out tonight, and asked me to come along, I declined. I was happy just staying in and watching a flick. That is what I tried to tell myself anyway. I couldn’t concentrate on the TV, I found myself pacing my dorm room. Finally I said piss it, and took a shower, got dressed, and here I am.”
“Wow, that’s quite a story!” She couldn’t believe this. He was really laying out right before her.
“What I’m trying to say is, I’ve never felt this way about any Lass, and I’ve had my share, believe me.”
She took his finger away from her lips, and she stood on her tip toes again and kissed him. It was a kiss as soft as rose petals. His heart was pounding so heard he could feel the blood rushing thru his veins.
“So, now what?’ She said.
“Now what in deed? That is a good question. I would like for us to get to know each other, if that would be to your liking?”
“Well, that might be ok, if we take it slow.”
“What about your friend Patrick?”
“Patrick has no claim on me, we are great friends, as I said, that’s all it is. He only wants what’s best for me.”
“I’m not sure I am what is best for you my sweet.”
“I tend to agree with you, but it seems that we both are having a problem staying away from one another, so let’s just back up and as I said take it very slow.”
Oh! …. She was having the same problem as he was. Finding it hard to stay away. He grinned again and took in her beautiful big brown eyes. “I agree we should take it slow.”
“You can give me a ride home this evening if you like.”
“You don’t have your VW?”
“Yes I do, but Genna can take it home, she won’t be riding with Kevin tonight, he’s helping the band pack up all their gear.”
“It would be my honor to give you a lift.”
“I’ll just go in and get my jacket, and give Genna the keys.”
Rian pul
led the Mercedes up to the door. As he waited, he gazed out at the late summer sky. The moon never looked so big and beautiful as it did tonight. The night was cool and dry; with a slight breeze with the smell of autumn in the air. He was happier than he had been in.., well… a long time. He didn’t know what would come of this, and at the moment he didn’t care. She seemed to have the same attraction toward him as he did for her, and that’s all that mattered at the moment. She made him feel whole; she made him want to be more than he knew he was. He would treat her the way she deserved to be treated. She must have been treated badly somewhere in her young life, because she spoke of herself in a derogatory fashion. He would show her that he was the gentleman that he was capable of being. He had been less than that with many a lass, but he wanted this to be special, as he knew she was. He had never felt this pull with anyone else, as he did with Kareena.
“Genna, I’m going to ride home with Rian, here are the keys to the VW.”
“Well, that was a big change of heart.”
“We got some things out of the way, and called a truce. We decided to take it slow.”
“Sounds like love to me.”
“Don’t be silly, we’ll talk later. See ya.” Kareena turned to leave with a definite bounce in her step.
“Bye.” Genna called after her.
Rian spotted Kareena coming down the stairs. He got out of the car and opened the passenger door for her. He smiled as she slid into the leather seats of the Mercedes. She smiled back at him. “Nice car. The steering wheel is on the wrong side!” She said as she giggled.
“Thank you! My Da had it sent over from Ireland. You know we drive on the other side of the road there.”
“I’ve heard that. Do you have trouble driving here?”
“It doesn’t take long to get use to it.” He smiled and took her hand as they drove north into town.
No Future
He lifted her hand and held it gently as they parked near the First Congregational Church on Main Street.
“Will yah tell me a little about yourself and your family?”
“Why do you want to know about my family?” No one had ever asked her a question like that before. He was certainly different than anyone she had ever dated in the past.
“I want to know you, and knowing your family is the best way to know who you are.”
“Well,” She conceded. “There’s not much to tell. My Dad was Swedish, and my Mom is French. My Dad’s side of the family came over from Norway. My Mom and Dad were both in the military. My Mom was a pharmacist mate in the coastguard, and my Dad was in the Navy.”
“Do you know when your family immigrated to the U.S.?”
“No…..Not exactly, they never really talked about it. My Dad died when I was eleven.”
“I’m sorry to hear that! That must have been hard on you and your family. How did it happen?”
“It was an industrial accident, at the wiring factory where he and my Mom both worked.”
“Go on.” She must be very wounded to have lost her Da at such a young age. Rian’s heart went out to her.
“My Mom always had a bad feeling, kind of a premonition about how he would die. There was this open elevator that the wiring and powder bags were moved from one floor to the next, and it would stick periodically. That’s what happened the day he got hurt. A bag fell off of the elevator and struck him in the head. He remained in the hospital for three day before he died.”
“Your Mom must have received a good settlement from the factory, no?”
“No, …. She got screwed out of that!”
“What do you mean?”
“My Dad was a drinker, and when he woke from his coma a friend brought him some liquor to the hospital, and that is the defense the factory lawyers used against my Mom. They said it was the alcohol that killed him. She got nothing.”
“Aye, the drink has been known to ruin many a lives. Are you bitter about the circumstances?”
“I guess deep down inside maybe, but you can’t let life get you down, you have to keep on going. My Mom always said no matter what life gives you; you must try to rise above it. ‘Keep your chin up.’ That was one of her favorite sayings.”
“It sounds like you love her very much.”
“I do, I’ve watched her struggle and suffer all her life. If it’s one thing she has taught me, it’s to be independent. There aren’t too many people you can count on in this world, so I’ve learned to count on myself.”
“That sounds very lonely.”
“Don’t’ get me wrong, I love people, but I just don’t trust too many of them. My friend Genna and I have known each other most of our lives. Her sister Diana and I are also very close. Diana and I were always best friends and Genna and I started hanging together when Diana got married. They are like sisters to me. My sister-in-law and I are also very close, but after that there aren’t too many people I feel I can trust.
“What about siblings?”
“My older brother, Robert just came home from the service in the army.”
“He must have some interesting stories.”
“I’m sure he saw a lot, but he doesn’t talk about it. He won a Purple Heart, and a Bronze Star.”
“He was very lucky then. You must be very proud of him.”
“Yeah, he was lucky, and I am proud of him. And my Mom is too, but he and I don’t get along. He’s very hard and judgmental. It’s my baby brother, Mitch I adore. He is not judgmental at all. He’s very kind and always there for me if I need to talk to him.”
“Where might your family be now?”
“My Mom remarried, and she and Mitch are in Florida with there new family.”
“And you didn’t want to go with them?”
“No, I went with them when I was a junior in high school, but I came back here to graduate High School, with my friends, and then went on to Vocational school.”
“Aye, I see.”
“Please, Karenna, tell me your name.”
“What do you mean? You don’t believe my name is Kareena?” She said with a wane look on her face.
“No, your Surname, silly, your family’s name that you were given at birth.”
“Oh, …. sorry…. Duh!” She laughed “My full name is Karenna Ann Karlson. Ok, enough about me, it’s your turn. What is your full birth name?”
“That would be Rian McKay O’Connor.”
“McKay is your middle name?”
“Aye, me Mums Maiden name. It is an old Irish custom to take your mother’s maiden name as a middle name, it makes the family tree easier to trace. My Mum is Scotch Irish, and my Da is One hundred percent Irish, and he’d be the one not letting you forget that either!”
“He sounds like quite a character, he must be very proud of his heritage.”
“Aye….That he is, and I am myself.”
He told her about his plans with his father, and she told him of her and Genna’s plans to get out of this town. “There is no future here. No one seems to grow if they stay in this town. They just seem to become stagnant.”
“It’s such a lovely town, it has so much character and culture. I’m surprised you feel that way.”
“Maybe from where your sitting, it does, but not if you’ve grown up here. There are a lot of bad memories here.”
Flawed
Rian and Kareena saw each other every Friday and Saturday night for the next five weeks. They discussed just about every subject. For some unexplainable reason Rian made Kareena feel very comfortable.
“Do you think you’ll be settling down one day, and having a family?”
“Well, I’m really not interested in having children. I’ve seen what it has done to my mother. She gave everything of herself to us kids, and I don’t see the return for her. Now she is off raising someone else’s children, she is so tired and worn out. Sometimes it just hurts me to think about it. I don’t want to wind up like that, struggling all of my life.”
“Well now, that is too bad, having a family h
as its magic and wonders too you know.”
“That’s not the only reason. I’m not like most; I’m not as strong as normal people are. I have trouble keeping up with my friends. I seem to need more rest than they do. And when I’m tired, my mind doesn’t work very effectively. My maternal grandmother had T.B. when she carried my mother, and my mother has been sick all her life. I really don’t want to pass the family weakness on to a child. At times I really get depressed. All I ever wanted was to be normal.” Kareena paused to see his reaction to what she just revealed about herself. He just looked at her with sad eyes. “I told you if you knew me you wouldn’t want me. So there it is.” She said with a tear forming in the corner of her eye. “You can take me home, and you’ll never have to see me again.”
The more Rian listened, the more he wanted her. He didn’t care that she was flawed. It only made her more desirable. “Kareena.” He lifted her chin with his finger, and stroked her cheek. She raised her face to his, and he brought her closer and just looked into her eyes, as the tears slid down her face. “Do you think there is anyone on this earth that is not flawed? You are looking at one of the most flawed individuals, you will ever meet.”
“Yes, but you’re strong. I will never be strong, and sometimes I just want to curl up and die.”
“There are all kinds of strength, not just physical strength. Look at your Mum; she has a strength that many don’t. If she didn’t she wouldn’t have been able to raise you and your brothers, after your Da passed. And now you tell me she is raising someone else’s children. That takes a lot of strength.”
“Yes, but not without a great deal of struggle. Sometimes, life just seems so difficult and unfair.”
“Remember one thing. Life is difficult, if there were no challenges, life would become boring and worthless. Are you religious, Kareena?”
“I was raised Catholic, but after my confirmation, my Mom changed to the Methodist church, and gave us kids the option to change with her or stay at St Raphael's, or not go to church at all. She let us decide. We chose to change to the Methodist church. I really never liked the Catholic Church; it really scared me. With all that Latin, it’s so cold. They preached too much guilt. Genna and her family went to the Methodist church. The Methodist Church was much more to my liking. I think mainly because the Minister, was such a great story teller, and he was very gentle and caring, unlike the Catholic Priests. I don’t attend church now. It’s not that I don’t believe, but I feel differently about the whole church experience. The cult thing doesn’t appeal to me.”
Humorlost (Humorlost Book I of III) Page 3