Found in Understanding: Refuge Series Book Three

by Debbie Zello

  “I thought I was going to have to grovel. This is the best day of my life!”

  I went the very next day to move my enrollment up for summer courses. The best thing about graduate courses is that some of it is research. You still have to attend classes, seminars, and lectures but a lot of it is done independently. When I got home, I did finish organizing some things I had put off doing. My summer off was now over and I needed to stop my procrastinating.

  “Hey, gorgeous! Studying already?” Understanding said from the doorway with his long, lean, muscular body leaning on the doorframe.

  “Not yet. I’m getting things organized. I’m glad you’re home early, I missed you.”

  “You got it, bad girl! How about some ‘afternoon delight?’”

  “You’re a bad man, you know that? You’re bad and you make me deliriously happy, all at the same time,” I said getting up to walk over to him. He opened his arms and I walked right into them. With my cheek on his chest I said, “Why aren’t you in a G-Man suit today?”

  “I’m undercover for a rock star. I have to blend in with the scenery. He doesn’t want me to mess with his mo-jo woman magnet persona.”

  “So he took one look at this face and body and figured you would get more action than him?” I said letting my hand slip down his chest.

  “I don’t know what he was thinking. But I already have all the action I can handle. I’m off the market, radar, and clearly taken,” he said kissing the top of my head.

  “Glad to hear it, stud. I’ll start dinner,” I said turning to walk down the hall towards the kitchen.

  “Okay. I, um, got a call this morning from my parents. They’re going to be here for a visit next week and they want to meet you.”

  I stopped dead in the hall and turned to face him. “Parents? I never asked you if you had parents. I know you had parents but I can’t believe I’ve never asked you about them. Am I that self-absorbed that I haven’t even asked you about your family?” I said stopping to think about it for a second. “Yes, yes, I am that girl. I never asked you, not ever.” I stared at him.

  He began laughing. The deep throw your head back and roar laughing. I’m glad he found this funny.

  “It’s partly my fault, baby. I never mentioned them to you. We’re not that close, obviously. Don’t beat yourself up over this. God, I love you.”

  “What else don’t I know about? Brothers, sisters, what?”

  “No, no and a dog. Some uncles, aunts and cousins, again not close to. You’re it for me. My one real close relationship,” he said with his hands on my shoulders. “I told you my parents were older than most when they had me. My cousins are in their fifties so I didn’t grow up close to them. I had friends in school and in the service. I told you what happened. Then with my line of work, it pays not to get close to anyone. I’ve made you my exception. I like being close to you,” he said wiggling his eyebrows.

  “Ahem, I know that!” My heart broke for him. Such a solitary man. I grew up with so much family, sometimes too much. Yet he didn’t bond with anyone. No wonder he wanted the commitment from me that I would someday marry him. He was afraid of loving me so much and losing me. If I had realized this, I would have given him the reassurance sooner. “When are they coming?’

  “Tuesday. They’re staying at a hotel. My father is here to speak at a conference. Mom came along for the shock factor. I thought we could have them here for dinner. If that’s okay with you.”

  “They don’t want to stay here with you?” I asked confused.

  “Ahh, no. You’ll appreciate that when you meet them.”

  “All right. What should I make for dinner?”

  “You won’t be cooking either. Just have a good wine on hand. I’ll give you the name before they arrive. Don’t worry, it will all become clear within a minute or two of their appearance,” he explained.

  I took a quick look around Understanding’s living room to make sure all looked clean and orderly. Even though it was his house, I would be the one to be blamed should anything be out of place. The dark hardwood floors gleamed. The black L-shaped leather sofa sparkled with the conditioner I had used. The glass- topped coffee table and matching end tables were clutter free and shining. I resurrected the half-dead plants in the colored ceramic pots when I moved in. The NFL pillows and blanket that adorned the sofa had been replaced with a red and white check.

  I was watering the hanging plants on the front porch when I saw the limo pull into the driveway. It stopped at the beginning for a few minutes before continuing up to the house. I thought they might be lost so I walked down the steps to give them directions.

  The driver’s door opened and a hulk of a man got out. He tipped his hat in my direction before opening the door behind him. Another man got out wearing a dark suit. I knew immediately it was Understanding’s father. He had the same smile and a very similar body. The broad shoulders and narrow waist were identical to his son’s.

  From the other door emerged a blonde woman about the same height as me. She wore a stunning pale blue sheath dress with matching pumps. Her face was pensive as if she wasn’t sure why she came.

  I heard the screen door open behind me and Understanding’s familiar boots landing on the stairs. He came up behind me and squeezed my shoulders whispering in my ear, “Let the show begin.” I knitted my brow at his flippant remark and followed him to greet his parents.

  “Understanding, darling you look well,” his mother said kissing his cheek.

  “Thank you, mother. You look beautiful as always. Dad, how’s the golfing?”

  “Good, son. Thought I might get some in here but it doesn’t look like it will happen now.”

  “Mom, Dad, this is Neomi, my fiancée,” he said holding my elbow.

  “Well, it’s lovely to meet my son’s bride-to-be. When did this agreement take place?” his mother said eying Understanding.

  “It’s not a merger mom. We don’t have a contract. I asked her and she said yes. Plain and simple.”

  “Nothing is ever plain and simple, Understanding.” With that, we climbed the stairs and went inside. We continued through the house to the back deck to enjoy the beautiful day. Understanding stopped in the kitchen to pour each of us a glass of wine. I did my best to entertain the two strangers.

  “I don’t see an engagement ring, my dear. Is the bone-crushing business not doing well?” his mother said.

  “I know very little about Understanding’s business. And as you can see, I’m not much of a jewelry girl.” I said holding up my bare hands. I had a small pair of stud earrings on and no other jewelry.

  “Still, it is customary to give a ring in contemplation of marriage. Don’t you want one?”

  “Not really. I already have everything I want,” I said smiling at Understanding as he walked outside with our wine.

  “Please stop pestering Neomi, mom. We haven’t had the time to pick out a ring yet. We’ll get to it.”

  “What do you do, Neomi?” his father interjected.

  “I just finished my degree in English Literature at Yale. I begin my masters in a few days.”

  “What are your interests?” he asked.

  “I’m studying medieval manuscripts and romantic poetry right now. I’m attempting to draw a coalition between authors, under the premise they could be the same soul reincarnated.”

  “A lofty ambition indeed. You obviously believe in reincarnation.”

  “I don’t know yet. I hope my research defines or, more accurately, confirms my beliefs. I believe we take an instant like or dislike to the souls in others based on a past interaction with that soul.” The doorbell ended that round and I got up to answer it. “I’ll get that.”

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Two men with a multitude of containers were outside the front door. I opened it and said, “May I help you?”

  “Chef Jon at your service. This is my prep chef George. We’re here to make your evening more pleasurable,” he said as he breezed past me with my mouth
agape. Understanding said I wasn’t going to cook but this is way past not cooking.

  I left them busily unpacking in the kitchen, grabbing the open bottle of wine to bring it with me for refills. I knew I needed one. I walked out as I heard Understanding say, “I don’t even see them anymore, Mom. I haven’t in over a year. Neomi is my life now.”

  “That was Chefs Jon and George. They’re in the kitchen unpacking.”

  “Oh, good. They’re amazing chefs. Neomi, did you know that my son was this close to being an attorney when he unexpectedly called us one night to say he had enlisted in the Marines?” she said holding her fingers close together.

  “No, he never said anything about that.”

  “He double majored in college. Forensics and criminal justice two very difficult majors alone but combined it was remarkable. He quit law school one semester short of completion,” she continued. I placed my hand on Understanding’s shoulder standing next to him. I wanted to show her that I supported him and his decisions.

  “I’m sure he had good reasons to quit. He’s happy with his work. What else really matters in life but being happy with our choices? Being an attorney, if you hate being an attorney, would make for an unhappy existence. Even if it’s a great job, if you don’t want to do it, what good is it?” I said squeezing his shoulder.

  “You oversimplify things, my dear. One’s choices affect one’s ability to provide. He gave up steak to eat hamburger for the rest of his life.”

  “I thought you were anti-establishment free spirits at one time. You appear to have changed your allegiances.”

  “We had to eat and feed our son. We finished our educations and joined society. I’m an attorney and my husband is a doctor. You grow up and mature and accept the responsibilities of life.”

  “Then you should be very proud of your son. He is the most responsible person I know. He’s kind, gentle, sweet and strong. He treats me like a princess and would break anyone in half that ever tried to hurt me. Now, that might not mean much on your resume, but for the job he’s applying for, it’s everything.”

  Dinner was strained in spite of the actual meal and the splendid presentation. Chefs Jon and George outdid themselves with a seafood dish where the flavors seemed to burst on my tongue.

  After the initial awkwardness of our meeting, the conversation drifted to less controversial topics. Home improvements and pending vacations seemed to be safe subjects.

  Following coffee, and the most wonderful tiramisu I’ve ever eaten, I went to the kitchen with the dirty dishes. Chefs Jon and George had packed up and left as soon as our dessert had been served. Mrs. Franklyn followed me into the room. “I think you’re good for him. He seems…content.”

  “Thank you. I think we’re good for each other. I consider myself very lucky to have found him.”

  “How did you meet?” she asked. Not wanting to get into the story of his motorcycle, Royce and me, I chose a shorter version of the truth.

  “I was admiring his bike and he caught me. Then he came into the coffee shop that I worked at and swept me off my feet. The rest is just an ordinary love story.”

  “Hardly. Did he tell you about his wild year? When he came back from Iraq and joined the motorcycle club. The women, alcohol, and the fighting?”

  “Are you attempting to just inform me or is it your intent to upset me?” I said studying her for a moment. Then I decided to go for her jugular. “He told me everything. He insisted I know before he slept with me. I was a virgin and he wouldn’t take me until I knew about his past. That’s the man that sat across the table from you all night. I’m glad you can finally meet your son.” I smiled and swept out of the room.

  My cell vibrated in my pocket as I was walking away. I took it out just to make sure it wasn’t Sky. The text read

  *I can’t stop thinking about being alone with you. *

  I looked up at Understanding leaning against the doorframe with a shy smile on his lips. His foot was crossed over his other foot in a seemingly casual pose. Only I knew the fire that simmered below the relaxed exterior. That’s why he was so good at his job. He could control his emotions and body so well no one ever knew his intention before he was ready to reveal it. He had no tells whatsoever.

  His parents stayed for another hour or so. There was a marked change in his mother’s attitude towards us. I knew she wanted what she thought was best for her son, namely a partnership in her firm, but I think she now saw his happiness with whatever he did was far more important.

  They left exacting a promise from us to visit them in DC at Thanksgiving or Christmas. We walked up the steps after seeing them off. “Your father is very quiet,” I said with my arm around Understanding’s waist.

  “That’s because he’s used to my mom engineering all of the arguments. He’s just given up on the principle of ‘getting a word in edgewise.’”

  “She is a formidable opponent.”

  “You seemed to have her eating out of your hand by the end of the night. What did the two of you have to say in the kitchen?”

  “I just introduced her to her son. The man I fell in love with. The one that ‘melts my butter.’”

  “I should get you upstairs then. I wouldn’t want you to make a mess down here,” he said picking me up and heading for the stairs to the bedroom.

  As was his way, he made sure I finished with my pleasure before he concentrated on his. This time I recovered enough to be able to watch his body processing. His eyes took on a shimmer that resembled the color of clouds just before the thunder rolled through and lightning ignited in them. Stormy and dark, he made me crave him. His eyebrows knit together in the appearance of physical pain that broke as the explosion of pleasure overtook him. Then his face became serene.

  As he calmed he rolled taking me with him so I could rest on his chest. His arm was stroking down my back softly. “You have an orgasmic smile on your face,” he said as his breathing returned to normal.

  “I believe I have that look quite often, thanks to you,” I said kissing his chest.

  “You’re welcome,” he said chuckling.

  My classes began with my reading list that contained some of my favorite writers, Chaucer and Milton and the poets, Wordsworth, Shelley, Keats, Blake and Coleridge. Some of my fellow classmates grumbled at the length of the list. I reveled in it, almost drooling at the prospect.

  Many of Understanding’s assignments took place at night and most of my classes were in the afternoon as I guess the professors didn’t want to get up early in the summer. They had fewer classes to fit into their schedule too. We had our mornings together. I would go to class giving him time to run errands. He would go to work and I could read and study home alone. We loved the whole timetable.

  I had six weeks of courses completed when the call came that Dove had given birth to a little boy. My mom was so excited she didn’t even know how much he weighed when she made the call. I could hear the tears in her voice. She was a grandma; the job she had been waiting for.

  With only one more week of classes and then finals, I decided I might as well finish this and then go out for a week. I hoped Understanding would be able to come with me. Meeting my family and seeing the baby would be a welcome treat for his busy agenda.

  I was curled up in my favorite chair reading when he came in. “You look beat. Was it a tough night?” I asked worried.

  “Sort of. I was keeping an eye on a woman with a stalker ex-boyfriend. Her parents were worried about him going off the deep end.”

  “So I’m in the car with my music playing and I see a guy walk right past me and up her driveway. I’m thinking, Dude, I’m sitting right here, are you blind? He goes to the window on the side of the house.”

  “I unharness my gun and check it. Open my door quietly but don’t shut it tight and begin to walk over to the twit. I’m a few feet from him when he gets the screen off and tosses it behind him in the bushes. Then he starts to jimmy the window with a screwdriver.”

  “I cleared m
y throat and he nearly shit his pants. He jumped so high he could have cleared the window. Then he fell on his ass. I fell on him and had him in cuffs before he even registered what was happening to him. It was poetry in motion.

  “It took me longer to make out all of the damn paperwork at the station than it did to catch the fool. The best part~he wasn’t the boyfriend! He was a random thief that picked the wrong house! Talk about bad luck,” he said shaking his head.

  “And you’re so calm. I’m shaking here and you’re not even concerned. You could have been hurt!” I said getting up to hug him.

  “Not me baby. That guy couldn’t hurt a fly. He was the jumpiest thief I have ever seen. He even apologized to me for my pants getting dirty when I cuffed him. He’s a bad-ass all right!”

  Chapter Thirty

  Securely strapped in my seat by my overprotective fiancée, I watched him sleeping next to me. Our six AM flight cut seriously into his night’s sleep. I didn’t even hear him get home. The flight attendant came by to take our drink order but I whispered and wouldn’t let anyone wake him. He looked so young in sleep.

  I’m flipping through my phone at the pictures Dove has sent to me of the baby and the family. My mom and dad’s expressions as they hold Mason were priceless. And that old bear Sky looked like a pussycat with the baby in his arms. He should have raised hundreds of his own. A tear rolled out from the corner of my eye. “Hey, why are you crying?” a groggy Understanding said.

  “I’m not really crying. It’s more like regret. I’m sad for all the losses. Sky’s two sons and his wife and Royce. I see all of the possibilities in that baby’s face. Then I feel the sorrow of the lives cut short,” I said with my hand on my hip.

  “Do you want to move closer to them? If you do, I can make it work for us. You can teach at any college and I’m sure there are people who need my bone-crushing talents just about anywhere.”