Sarah was stunned by his initiative and kindness. “I really don’t know how to thank you,” she said as he kissed her on the cheek goodbye.
“Promise me that the next time I see you naked it will be under better circumstances,” he laughed and waited for her to get inside her house before backing down her driveway.
Sarah was welcomed home by a very concerned mother, daughter and son. The three of them took one look at Sarah’s pale skin and dark under eye circles and immediately sent her back to bed. She took a stack of papers to grade and her phone. Rachel called to check in and soon she’d gotten settled in her bed, all propped up with pillows.
“You still going to be able to make it tomorrow night?” she asked bluntly. Sarah rolled her eyes behind the safe disguise of the phone. She knew her friend was concerned, but she had a funny way of always making things about her.
“Of course,” Sarah replied. “I’m fine. I just need some rest and rehydration.”
“Alright, Muffin,” Rachel said, relieved. “I’m glad you are okay. Wow, Pawel is quite the hero, huh?”
After they hung up, there was a little knock at the door and Owen appeared, a huge smile lighting up his face and his hands full of a crystal vase with all sorts of blooms springing out the top in purples, pinks and whites. He carried it to the nightstand and set it down triumphantly. “These were just delivered for you!”
Sarah sighed and reached for the little card attached. “Get well soon, Professor Lynde,” she read the note from Pawel. She didn’t read the “xoxo” afterwards out loud to Owen.
“Oh, that’s nice!” Owen cooed, his brown eyes gleaming. “Why do sick people get flowers, Mom?”
“Oh, it’s just a nice gesture,” Sarah answered. “If you’re stuck in bed sick, having bright, colorful flowers in your room is supposed to cheer you up.”
“Oh,” Owen replied. “That makes sense. You gonna be okay, Mom?”
“Of course, sweetie,” Sarah comforted him. “Here, sit down and tell me about what you did with Grandma last night.”
As Owen began to recount his tales of adventure from the night before, Sarah heard her phone chime and a quick glance revealed the incoming text was from James It was pretty unusual for her to hear from him out of the blue. She tried to concentrate on Owen’s story but it was challenging. Sarah pushed James out of her mind and focused on Owen’s animated face. She loved watching his eyebrows move up and down and the way his lips curled so readily into a smile as he spoke. She saw so much of herself in her son, and that was a good thing. She liked that looking into his dark eyes was like looking into a mirror. She wasn’t sure if she could handle having the soulless gray eyes of his father stare back at her.
Abby heard all the commotion and came to see what she was missing. She sat down at the end of the bed and listened as her brother told their mother more of the plot of the movie they’d seen the night before. “Did you like the movie too, Abby?” Sarah asked.
Abby shook her head. “I thought it was entirely too juvenile,” she critiqued, wearing a very serious expression.
“Oh, whatever,” Owen retorted. “I heard you laughing in some parts.”
Abby chose to ignore her brother’s remark. Her expression changed in a flash, the seriousness disappeared and now she wore a mask of hope and anticipation. “Mom, Tyler is having his birthday party tomorrow night Do you care if I go? I was going to just go stay at Chloe’s house afterwards. She’s going too.”
“That’s kind of last minute, isn’t it?” Sarah questioned. “Are his parents going to be there?”
“Of course they are, Mom,” she replied, trying not to sound too defensive.
“Alright, that’s fine. I hope Chloe’s parents have a reasonable curfew for you girls.You shouldn’t be out too late.”
“They’re picking us up at 11,” Abby reassured her mother.
Sarah smiled. Abby’s attitude had improved remarkably since the “condom incident.” She wasn’t sure if it was entirely Tyler’s influence, but she was confident that Abby having a boyfriend would encourage her to do everything in her power to avoid being grounded.
The kids scrambled off to the living room to play the Wii and Sarah grabbed her phone to check out the awaiting text from James.
You ok? What time tomorrow?
James was always straightforward over text. Sarah shook her head at his brevity, then started to wonder why he asked if she was okay. Did he have a sixth sense something was wrong with her? Should she tell him about the food poisoning crisis or not?
I was sick last night but I’m ok now. Can you meet me at the restaurant at 6pm?
His reply came immediately: You don’t want me to pick you up?
Sarah’s mind started spinning a bit. She was reticent to have him come to her house at first because of the kids, but she realized they would both be gone by then. She had avoided talking too much about Abby and Owen with James and didn’t know how he would feel about meeting them. She wasn’t sure how she felt about her kids meeting him either, for that matter. You’re getting ahead of yourself, she finally acknowledged. Meeting the kids is a long way off. If it ever happens.
Alright, that’s fine. 5:30 at my house then.
Wow, this is like a real date, she determined. She started thinking about how strange it would be to go out in public with James for the first time...to actually be with him. Going together, leaving together. Having people evaluate whether or not they made an attractive couple. Do I look seven years older than him? she wondered. Will people wonder what a gorgeous man like him is doing with me? This seemed totally different than the two times they had met for coffee. That seemed so...independent. This is very couple-y. No matter how hard she tried to convince herself that it was no big deal, her heart was still a little fluttery.
***
James was running late. The kids had dispersed to their respective friends’ houses hours ago and Sarah was puttering around the kitchen, straightening the pile of mail that had accumulated on the counter and wiping down the countertops once again. She had already texted Rachel to let her know that they’d missed the target departure time. Rachel seemed unfazed and texted back: No worries, Apple Dumpling. You feeling better? Sarah was very relieved to reply: Yes. Much!
Sarah had chosen a simple, low cut black dress for the evening and had added some sparkly silver jewelry and her red heels. She did a once over in the mirror and was pleased with the way the fabric hugged her curves, concealed her tummy and accentuated her creamy décolletage. Her heels clicked on the tile floor as she walked back to the counter once again. She had a birthday gift for Rachel tucked inside a card that she had signed with only her name. Should I have signed James’ name too? she pondered, not really knowing the appropriate etiquette. No, no, that would make us seem like a couple. And, we’re not.
She realized she was pacing so she went back into the living room and picked up her stack of essay questions from the exam she’d administered on Wednesday. She started to score a few papers when she heard the familiar rap at the back door. She grabbed her jacket from the back of the couch and went to let James in. He looked a bit discombobulated, not his normal relaxed and confident self.
“What’s wrong?” Sarah questioned immediately, feeling the tension rising off him and evaporating into the chilly November air.
He gave her a quick kiss on the lips. “My mom called right as I was leaving,” he explained. “My sister’s water broke and she’s at the hospital. She’s about 5 weeks early.”
Sarah knew she shouldn’t be surprised to see such concern for his loved one carved into his facial features; the more she had gotten to know him, the more she realized how compassionate he was. She noticed that his furrowed eyebrows had produced two fine lines between his eyes that she’d never seen before. She wasn’t used to seeing him agitated, either. Little by little, she was peeling away his layers, seeing what made him tick. She took his hand and squeezed it. “Are you going to be okay to go to dinner?” she asked.
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Without hesitation he smiled, “Of course. There’s nothing I can do anyway but wait. They have to induce labor.” She could tell by the way those words tumbled off his tongue that they were foreign.
“Both of my labors were induced,” Sarah reassured him. “Everything will be fine, and five weeks is not that early these days.”
He looked genuinely grateful for her faith that all would be well. They headed to his car and he chivalrously opened the passenger side door for her. The moonless night sky was layered with thick gray clouds and a bit of icy drizzle had started to fall. Sarah momentarily thought about Abby heading to the birthday party that night and hoped she had already safely arrived. She settled herself in the seat and sent her daughter a request via text: Let me know when you get back to Chloe’s house tonight.
All the way to the restaurant, Sarah considered how this venture was a new milestone in her relationship with James. They were on a date. And, although she had never been in his vehicle before, it felt comfortable and familiar somehow. She took advantage of his attention being on the road to study his profile, the serious cast emanating from the icy blue eyes, topped off by those furrowed brows she’d never witnessed before. He had his phone in the drink holder inches away from his hand on the gearshift. She hated that he was so distracted, so on edge. She silently sent his sister Allie easy labor vibes and wondered if she would be creeped out by a strange lady six hundred miles away wishing an easy passage down the birth canal for her newborn.
She slipped a little further into reflection mode, traveling fifteen years into the past to her first time in the delivery room. She was just past her twenty-third birthday and thought by virtue of having read every piece of literature known to mankind about childbirth that she was fully prepared for anything and everything that could possibly happen. She mused for a second about how much more research she could have done if the internet had been in wide use at that time. She’d sailed through childbirth classes and stood staunchly and vehemently opposed to any type of pain relieving intervention. She was going to do this the completely natural way: drug-free or not at all.
Then she’d gone over her due date. A week passed and she was so swollen and uncomfortable that when her OB suggested inducing labor, she really didn’t think twice. Of course, she’d had that idyllic vision of the contractions starting and slowly but surely becoming regular, all timed out perfectly with a stopwatch. Then the instinctual maternal revelation that it was time to head to the hospital would gently dawn upon her. But no amount of idealism could ease the discomfort she was feeling and her desperation to evict the little one who had taken up what seemed like permanent residency in her womb.
She settled into her suite in the child birthing wing of the hospital and braced herself for what was to come. Little did she know that the evil drug Pitocin had a reputation for making contractions hard and painful from the beginning, giving her no chance to ease into labor. She was about 10 hours into the grueling ordeal when she succumbed to the siren lure of the anesthesiologist who was pushing epidurals. In the end, it was the right choice. She ended up taking another 10 hours to fully dilate and she wasn’t sure that she could have endured the marathon without the pain relief. It was just another example of stubbornness resulting in Sarah having to eat her words. But at least she had a beautiful newborn daughter to show for her efforts!
She thought again of James’ sister, surrounded by her husband and perhaps other family members, everyone supportive and rooting her on. Sarah had mostly labored alone. Her mother had arrived at the hospital by the time of the delivery so at least someone had been by her side to share in the joy of bringing a new life into the world. She remembered staring into her daughter’s tiny, precious, scrunched up newborn face, marveling over her impossibly pinchable cheeks and delicate nose and lips, her eyes tightly closed and fully dedicated to the business of sleeping. Sarah was suddenly seized by an overwhelming sense of love and responsibility. All she knew was that this tiny bundle in her arms was completely hers to take care of, to guide and teach and protect.
“You okay?” James startled her from her fifteen year old flashback.
“Oh, sure,” Sarah replied. “Sorry, I was thinking about your sister and remembering the day Abby was born.”
“Oh yeah?” He glanced over at her briefly, the tension he emanated seeming to well up again, but then turned his eyes back to the road. They had nearly reached their destination.
Sarah decided not to elaborate at this time. She was still unsure how he felt about her being a mother. Plus she didn’t want to remind him any more than necessary about his sister’s situation. She reached over and touched James’ hand and the corner of his lips curled up at the feel of her skin against his. He steered the car into the parking lot, turned off the ignition and turned to her, stroking her cheek with his forefinger. “You look beautiful tonight,” he said.
Sarah nearly blushed, which was not a natural state for her. There was something about receiving a compliment from such a handsome man that made it more meaningful than hearing it from someone else. Sarah considered for a moment how coming from James, who was frugal with his compliments, it was entirely different than if it had come from Pawel, who showered her with compliments generously and frequently. They walked hand in hand into the restaurant and after pausing briefly at the hostess station, Sarah caught sight of Rachel waving at them in her usual boisterous, vivacious manner. They headed for the table and introductions were made all around. Sarah handed the birthday card over to Rachel whose hazel eyes lit up with excitement. “Oooh! I love being the birthday girl!” she squealed in a high-pitched voice. Sarah studied James’ reaction to her. She’d never been around James with other people before and she had no idea what he would think of her best friend.
Rachel tore into the envelope and as soon as she opened the card, a plastic gift card to the local adult store fell out with a click onto the table. Rachel’s eyes became even more animated, if that was possible. “Oh my god, Sarah, you are the best girlfriend ever!” She slid out of her seat and around the table to Sarah in a flash, practically sitting on her lap, throwing her arms around her in a tight embrace. “Thank you so much! You have to come with me to pick some stuff out!”
Sarah was relieved to see that James was amused by this display. He was grinning at Rachel and the tension he’d worn on his face earlier in the evening had dissolved. Rachel proceeded to rant about how hard it was to find a vibrator that could stand up to vigorous use and James seemed rather entertained by her best friend. Jack was also looking on with a wicked grin, clearly adoring his girlfriend’s fetish for being the center of attention. Sarah loved watching how her friend could captivate men so readily with her over-the-topness. She couldn’t really think of a better word for it than that. Over-the-topness, yes, if you look it up in the dictionary, there’s a picture of Rachel for the definition, Sarah mused.
Although Sarah was quite gregarious and open in her own right, she always played the “straight man” to Rachel’s antics. They really made a good team, in fact, complementing each other perfectly. She thought for a moment about all the times they’d hit the town as single women and played “wingman” for each other. They never failed to leave a swath of smitten admirers wherever they went. Looks like Jack and James are just two more of the fish we’ve easily hooked, Sarah joked to herself.
Dinner was a roaring success. That adjective was all the more appropriate because Rachel had the waiter roaring in laughter because it seemed she was in the middle of some erotic tale of adventure every time he came by to refill drinks and check in on his guests. He overheard quite a display of vocabulary being tossed nonchalantly out of Rachel’s mouth including such gems as “cocksucker,” “dripping wet pussy,” “perfectly sober orgy” and James and Jack’s personal favorite of the evening: “gold medal winner in the kink olympics.” The waiter, who, much to Sarah’s relief looked too old to be a college student, confided in the foursome that they were the most fun table he h
ad ever had the pleasure of serving. And he also wanted them to know he had been waiting tables for over five years.
Two hours later, Sarah and James headed back to his car, James sober as the designated driver, but Sarah a wee bit tipsy after three glasses of wine. “Where to, milady?” he asked, grinning ear to ear.
“My house, and stat!” She plopped down into the seat and slammed the door as if time was of the essence. “Take me to bed or lose me forever!” she exclaimed as James revved up the engine and peeled out of the lot. He made it back to Sarah’s house in record time. Sarah had sobered up a bit and was starting to think of James’ sister again. She hadn’t heard his phone go off and he hadn’t looked at it. She wondered if she should remind him or wait a bit longer. I’ll remind him after the first time...she settled it as he came around to her side of the car, opened the door and scooped her out into the brisk night air.
He swept her into his arms, his lips warm and wet, pressed against her own. She felt his tongue dart into her mouth as his hand grasped the small of her back, drawing her even closer to him. His musky scent filled her nose and she felt her insides quiver at the thought of him stripping her black dress away and having his hands run down the length of her torso and legs. He took the house keys from her hand and unlocked the door for them. After all the times of her leading him up to the bedroom, this time, he led her.
Sarah’s dress was the first thing to go as soon as they passed over the threshold. James was unbuckling his pants and stripping away his shirt all at the same time. Wow, I didn’t realize he was so good at multitasking, Sarah noted as they became naked in record time.
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