by D T Pollard
“That’s what I’m talking about. You’ve got to work that thing while you can, because if things don’t work out for the long haul, you’re still better off than you were before,” Ashley said.
“I guess you’re right, rich people problems. I’m going to be busy for a while planning this wedding. Six months is not that long, especially since it will be in Dallas,” Tara said.
“Dallas, I’ve never been to Dallas. Are there cute cowboys down there wearing those tight jeans and big hats,” Ashley asked.
“Well most of the men dress like men in New York and wear business suits to work,” Tara said.
“Really, that’s a bummer. I was hoping that if I went there to help scout out wedding locations that I would see some cowboy beefcake,” Ashley said.
“I’ve got to get Brandon to Texas so he can meet my parents. I don’t want my mother and father to meet their new son-in-law at my wedding,” Tara said.
“What’s the issue with getting him to meet your parents?” Ashley asked.
“Time, I guess. They don’t live in the city, so we would have to fly in to the closest city and drive down there,” Ashley said.
“Why don’t you fly them up here, then they could see where you live,” Ashley said.
“That’s a thought, but they don’t really travel that much. I guess I’ll have to talk to him about it. My mother was crazy about my ex-fiancé” Tara said.
“Well, it’ll be alright. I don’t think that your mother will be mean to Brandon because of that,” Ashley said.
“There I go with more rich people problems. I guess I’m over thinking everything,” Tara said.
Tara and Ashley enjoyed lunch, before moving on to a round of retail therapy at the designer boutiques that were abundant in the community. Ashley dropped Tara off and Brandon was already at home. Tara spoke to Brandon and he agreed that it was important for him to meet her parents and they would fly down to Texas the next weekend. Tara called her mother and told her that they would be visiting. Tara was a little nervous, but she was excited in anticipation of seeing her parents for the first time in a while.
9
Brandon and Tara landed in at the East Texas Regional Airport in Longview, Texas on Brandon private jet. Once they deplaned they made their way to a rental car counter and picked up the sport utility reserved for them. Brandon punched the address of Tara’s parents into the GPS system and began the journey to their home situated off highway 259 between Henderson and Mount Enterprise, Texas.
“There are a lot of trees out here,” Brandon remarked.
“That’s why it’s called the piney woods,” Tara said.
“I’m a little nervous,” Brandon said.
“You’re nervous? I can’t believe that. You’ve met President’s and dealt with some of the most powerful people in the world, these are just two simple country folks,” Tara said.
“No they’re not. They’re your parents and two of the most powerful people on earth, because they will be my mother and father-in-law. What if they don’t like me or think I’m an asshole like a lot of other people do?” Brandon said.
“I don’t think you’re an asshole,” Tara said.
“Well I hope not since we’re getting married! Thanks for the endorsement,” Brandon said with a laugh.
“I was trying to be supportive, and then I realized how ridiculous that sounded,” Tara said laughing.
After thirty minutes of driving, Brandon exited the main highway and drove one mile down a side road that intersected the main highway before pulling into the driveway of the modest three bedroom home.
“Well, we’re here,” Tara said.
“Okay here we go,” Brandon said as he got out.
June and Clyde had come out onto the porch to met their daughter and her fiancé. Brandon was struck by how much Tara looked like her mother only younger. June was about the same height and size as Tara. With gray streaks in her hair, a few wrinkles on her face and blue eyes that told a story of overcoming a hard life to survive. June wore her blond hair in a tight bun and walked out to meet them.
“Tara baby, come give your mama a hug,” June said as she squeezed her daughter tight.
“Nice to meet you, I’m Clyde, Tara’s father,” Clyde said as he shook Brandon’s hand.
Tara’s father Clyde was about five feet ten inches tall and he weighed about one hundred and eighty pounds. Clyde drove a tanker truck for an oil company and hauled water for injection into underground shale deposits to fracture the rock to allow natural gas extraction.
“Nice to meet you Mr. Wilson,” Brandon said.
“Hello Brandon, I’m Tara’s mother June,” June said as she shook Brandon’s hand.
“Let’s get inside, it’s hot enough to fry an egg on the sidewalk out here,” Clyde said.
Brandon and Tara had packed lightly for their brief two night stay. Brandon had informed his staff that he would be back in the office on Tuesday of the next week.
“Brandon you can put your things in this room back here and Tara your stuff can go in this room,” June said.
“Mama, what are you doing? Why are you telling us to put our things in different rooms?” Tara said.
“Well, you aren’t married yet and if you’re not married you are not sleeping in the same bed in this house,” June said.
“Tara, that’s okay. We go by the rules of whomever’s home we’re in,” Brandon said.
“Tara, I like him already,” June said.
Tara looked at Brandon, went into her room and placed her bag on the floor. Brandon and Tara joined
“Well Brandon, it’s nice to finally meet you. I know that New York isn’t around the corner, but I’ve been anxious to meet the man that swept Tara off her feet. Where are you from originally,” Clyde asked.
“My family lives in California, in the Berkley area near San Francisco,” Brandon said.
“How did you end up on the other side of the country in New York?” June asked.
“There was this girl I was crazy about and I followed her all the way to New York and she dumped me for some stock broker guy,” Brandon.
“Ain’t that always the story? Men end up all over the world following behind a woman. I got to hear the rest of this. So you’re all the way in New York and the woman’s gone, what did you do?” Clyde asked.
“Well I had an uncle in New York and I stayed with him. I was pretty good at writing computer programs and got on with a company in their programming department, but I really started messing around with writing programs for personal computers. I thought that one day almost everybody would have one of those in their house. If there was a way people could connect and stay in touch with their friends and family all over the world, wouldn’t that be great. I started designing friendworld and now, not only do people have computers in their home, they carry them around as phones today,” Brandon said as he took his cell phone out.
“I don’t know a lot about computers, but my niece came over last week almost in tears. I asked her what was wrong. She told me that she was upset because her best friend had moved her out of the house to the neighborhood on freindworld. I didn’t know what she was talking about,” June said.
“Wow, that’s means that her friend moved her further out from her on getting information. I designed friendworld so that where you are indicates how close you are to someone. In the same room like we are means we’re very close. In the same house is really close, like close friends and family. Being in the same neighborhood is when you’re kind of a casual friend. When someone shares something like an announcement they choose whether to share it with people in the room, house, neighborhood, city or world. Her friend must have told her that she was moved out of the house because otherwise she wouldn’t know where she was in the network,” Brandon said.
“So that’s why she was upset? Now I understand what going on. So you came up with this on your own?” June asked.
“Yeah, pretty much and after my girlfriend dumped me I
just started writing computer code to make it work until I got it up and going. It started slow and just kept growing into what it is today. Now there’s a huge staff of people working to keep it going and growing around the world,” Brandon said.
“There’s nothing like having an idea and working hard to make it happen. Just like Henry Ford,” Clyde said.
“You know I read his story and it’s amazing what he did in a time when there was nothing to copy,” Brandon said.
“Well Tara you’ve got yourself a smart man. What about Tara caught your eye?” June asked.
“Mama, you shouldn’t be asking that,” Tara said.
“Why shouldn’t I ask that?” June said.
“What if he says it was my butt or something?” Tara said.
“Well I know it wasn’t that because you got the same one I do, none?” June said.
“Mama, please,” Tara said.
“That’s okay. When I first saw Tara, her beauty, smile and there was something in her eyes that spoke to me. It seemed that she wanted to see what the rest of the world was like. I couldn’t resist trying to get to know her,” Brandon said.
“Well, that must have been a powerful attraction considering that she was engaged to someone else,” June said.
“Mama we don’t need to go there. We all know the situation,” Tara said.
“No Tara, I think we need to put that on the table. It was a painful thing that happened and we all took heat for it. It was very embarrassing for Gary, people said bad things about Tara and they thought I used my position and wealth to steal Tara away from someone that worked for me. The truth is, I just fell in love. Tara wasn’t married so I didn’t break up someone’s home and we just fell in love with each other and I promise that I won’t hurt her as her husband,” Brandon said.
“I’m not blaming you one bit. When I first saw June she was going with one of my friends and they were serious, but I got her attention and here we are,” Clyde said.
“Mama, you never told me about that,” Tara said.
“Why would I tell you that? You were a kid,” June said.
“Hey folks, I don’t know about you, but I’m hungry. Where can we go to get something to eat, my treat,” Brandon said.
“Why don’t we go to that Mexican food restaurant? I could use a margarita,” Tara said.
“Let’s go,” Clyde said.
Brandon was a hit with Tara’s parents and later that night after it cooled off some, Brandon was sitting out on the porch with Clyde.
“It sure is quiet down here,” Brandon said.
“Yeah, I love the country,” Clyde said.
“Do you smoke cigars?” Brandon asked.
“Every once in a while. What do you have,” Clyde said.
“I’ve got a few Cubans,” Brandon said.
“Cubans, I thought we couldn’t get those over here,” Clyde said.
“I bought up a lot of pre-embargo Cuban cigars. Their expensive, but I only smoke them on special occasions. Here, let me give you a light,” Brandon said.
“Oh man, that’s smooth,” Clyde said.
“These are the best,” Brandon said as he puffed on his cigar.
“Look at them out there smoking those cigars like their old buddies,” Tara said,
“Tara, Brandon’s a nice guy. Do you love him?” June asked.
“Yes mama, I love him,” Tara said.
“That’s all that really matters,” June said.
“Look mama this is the main house, there’s one in Florida, Hawaii and France too,” Tara said as she showed June a picture on her tablet computer.
“Good lord. That looks like a big hotel. How do you clean a place that big?” June said.
“Mama, I don’t clean that house. We have a staff that comes in to work every day. We have a housekeeper, groundskeeper and cook,” Tara said.
“You don’t even have to cook. Where do I sign up for that?” June said.
Tara and Brandon finally retired to go to bed in their separate rooms.
About one o’clock in the morning, Tara felt her bed move and she opened her eyes.
“It’s me,” Brandon said in a whisper.
“What are you doing sneaking in here?” Tara said as Brandon snuggled up to her.
Tara felt something familiar.
“I know you don’t you think you’re getting some with my parent’s room right up the hallway, do you?” Tara said.
“Come on, why not?” Brandon said,
“I just feel weird about it,” Tara said as Brandon started rubbing her in all of the right places.
“Oh Jesus, Brandon that feels good, okay, but we have to be quiet,” Tara said as Brandon pulled her panties down from behind.
There in that small room of her parent’s house far away from the opulence of their home in New York, Tara made love with Brandon in silence. It was one of the most intense and erotic experiences Tara ever had. Tara bit down on her pillow to muffle her moans and the feeling that she could be caught by her mother at any moment made everything seems even more illicit.
The next day Tara’s younger sister Caitlin, and her six year old son came over to visit. Caitlin was twenty four years old and had a somewhat contentious relationship with Tara. Just before she was to finish high school Caitlin got pregnant and that caused her not to be able to go to college. Caitlin was not the student that Tara was in school and she always resented the comparison her mother would make whenever her older sister’s name was brought up.
“Hey David, come give Auntie Tara a hug,” Tara said as her nephew ran into the house.
“David, this is Brandon, he’s going to be your new uncle. Say hi,” Tara said.
“Hi,” David said.
“Hi Tara,” Caitlin said as she walked inside wearing shorts and a pair of heels.
“Hey Caitlin, what’s up? This is my fiancé, Brandon. Brandon this is my younger sister Caitlin,” Tara said.
“Nice to meet you. So you’re really going to marry my sister. I hope she makes all the way to the wedding this time without running out on you,” Caitlin said.
“Caitlin, that’s enough!” June said.
“Aren’t those shorts a little too short and tight?” Tara said.
“It’s hot outside, so I’m wearing my coochie cutters,” Caitlin said.
“Caitlin, could I see you in the back room for a minute?” Tara asked.
“Sure,” Caitlin said as she followed her sister.
“What the hell is wrong with you? Why are you acting this way?” Tara said.
“Acting what way Tara,” Caitlin said.
“Like you’re trying to embarrass me on purpose in front of Brandon,” Tara asked.
“How am I embarrassing you? I’m just being myself. At least I’m not trying to be a fake just to marry some rich man,” Caitlin said.
“What?! You come in here dressed like a streetwalking hooker with your ass cheeks hanging out in front of my fiancé. It’s totally disrespectful,” Tara said.
“What, are you afraid that he might like what he sees?” Caitlin said.
“If Brandon wasn’t here I’d whip your skinny ass like I did when we were growing up!” Tara said.
“Hey, hey! You two cut that out. Caitlin you know better than coming in here dressed like that with your sister’s future husband in the house,” June said.
“That’s all you ever worry about anyway mama, your precious Tara, like her shit don’t stink. She’s just as much white trash as anyone else around here, but she’s trying to play it off to marry a rich man… Oww! Mama, why did you slap me,” Caitlin said.
“We’re not white trash. Not having a lot of money doesn’t make people trash. That’s what’s wrong with this world. You can answer to it if you want to Caitlin, but you weren’t raised that way. So you can go in that room, get a decent pair of jeans and put them on or you can go home. You can still were those clothes hanging in that closet,” June said.
“Yes ma’am,” Caitlin said as she gl
ared at Tara as she left the room.
“Jesus!” June said.
“Mama, I’m so sorry. Why did she do that? I’m so embarrassed,” Tara said.
“Well, he’s marrying you, not her. If that runs him off, you don’t need him anyway,” June said.
After a few minutes, Caitlin came back up front with a pair of jeans on and the rest of her visit was uneventful.
Monday came all too soon and before they knew it, Brandon and Tara were headed back to New York. As the jet climbed into the sky, Tara looked down at the acres of trees below her as they started on their journey northeastward.
“I’m sorry about my sister and the way she behaved. She’s just frustrated,” Tara said.
“Don’t worry about that. My family’s not perfect either,” Brandon said.
“You were such a bad boy. Sneaking into my room in the middle of the night in my parent’s house,” Tara said.
“Yeah, but wasn’t that so good, trying to be quiet and not get caught. I’ll remember that a long time,” Brandon said.
“I’m beginning to think that you get a charge out living dangerously when it comes to sex,” Tara said.
“Well, you’ve got to keep things interesting. We’ve got a few hours before we land. I’ve got a new mattress in the sleeping area? Do you want to see how it feels? It’s made out of memory foam?” Brandon said.
“Memory foam huh. I just hope it doesn’t tell what it knows,” Tara said as she went with Brandon and climbed in bed.
Brandon passed the test of meeting Tara’s parents with flying colors and it was full speed ahead with planning their wedding.
10
Over the next six months Tara alternated between planning her wedding and traveling the world with Brandon. Ashley was of a great deal of assistance to Tara in getting everything together for her nuptials in November. Ashley even traveled with Tara to Dallas to visit potential venues. By the time her wedding day arrived, Tara was a solid fixture in the social scene of the rich and famous.
“Brandon, there we are at that charity ball at the museum. Our picture is in the society section. There’s you, me, Frazier and Ashley. You look so handsome,” Tara said while she read an online version of a local society news magazine.