Chestnut Brown And Cinnamon Happiness

by E. B. Brinson

  “Let me tell you when it will hit you. It is going to hit you hard just make sure that my wife’s cousin’s heart doesn’t get broken. You seem like a nice guy, but you need to deal with the reality of it. Was your marriage a good one?” Tyler said.

  “It wasn’t good or bad. It was a hard marriage. She was nothing like I thought the wife I was going to marry was like. Just between you and me I think I settle for the twenty before I knew what the eighty was. My former wife was controlling. I think I write love stories because I wanted to be in one. One of those great love stories that you see in movies or read in romantic book that guys aren’t supposed to read.” Robert replied honestly.

  “Before I met Carey I was in a relationship that was going no where. I dated Lindsey for five years. She wanted me to marry her, but I couldn’t. My father always told me that when you meet the one that you would know the first moments you were dating. Lindsey is more beautiful than my wife if you put them side by side. Just don’t tell her I said that. I kept waiting for the moments of clarity, but it never showed. I saw Carey for the first time in a mall. I knew she was the one. Carey I found sexy in a way that Lindsey could never be. After thirteen years of marriage. We still have sex about at least once a day. What was it about your late wife that made you marry her?”

  “She was a change in scene. My friend told me that if I never met Maria than I would have met Loren. The truth of the matter is at the time even if we would have met Loren I wouldn’t have appreciated. I was looking for something total different. And Maria was totally different. She wasn’t the different I needed. When I was little I use to write this girl. She was so beautiful. I couldn’t help myself. I stop writing her because I wanted someone I could touch. This girl was so far a way. Our parents were best friends. I used to paint what I thought she looked like. When I met Maria I lock the pictures away. I was planning on giving her the pictures one day. But now my former wife took them and did God knows what with me.” Robert said as if he was just thinking it.

  “Loren, use to write someone she was little too. She told me that they only went by nicknames. She was Cinnamon Happiness. And the person she wrote to…….”

  “Chestnut Brown?” Robert said surprised.

  “Yes, how do you know?” Tyler in amazement.

  “Because Chestnut Brown is me.” Robert said.

  “Does Loren know?”

  “No, and lets kept it between us ok.”

  “Ok” Tyler agreed.

  Loren’s family decides to let the retreat to be a couple theme retreat. So instead of the family doing activities together only the cabins was schedule for a whole day of activities together. Loren, Robert, Carey and Tyler had a whole day packed of things to do. Since in the morning both Robert and Loren would have to leave because of their new positions at their jobs. Both Loren and Robert didn’t tell each other about their new jobs it seems like it was never the right time.

  Robert unmasked what he was looking for the whole week at his mother’s house. Loren was Cinnamon Happiness. The whole time the Andersons and Loren and him would do something he had to stop from looking at her. He thought it was amazing how the world is round and things would go full circle.

  Loren’s cell phone went off some many times during the course of the weekend. It went off so much that she had to turn it off. Jason was trying to call her. Then she got a strange call from Thomas. She told herself that she would check her messages later. Maybe it was the retreat or maybe it was the fact that Robert was single that hit her that made her insides tug at her when she thought about Robert. It was like a ray of sunshine would warm parts of her body. The thought just keep replaying in her mind that Robert was single. She entertained the thought if he was the little boy that she used to write to. What if?

  Robert could feel a change in Loren as if she was noticing that he was single, really single. He catches her a couple of times checking him out. He made sure that she was around him at times. His whole body started to feel like a furnace. He knew that it would take her looking at him the way she was when she didn’t think he noticed. He would be trying to take off her clothes and then they would be rolling on the bed. So when they went to the cabin he quickly took a cold shower. He made sure that it was a long cold shower. He didn’t want his ‘sun’ to rise.

  Loren was glad for Robert going taking a shower so she could check her messages before dinner. Robert agreed that he would wake her up around three in the morning. The first call was from her father and her mother asking how the trip was going. The second call was from Lance. He wanted her to know that she should be at work at nine in the morning. Jason called twice and needed to see her as soon as possible. The next call was someone she didn’t know. The man name was James Mc Clay. He told her in the call that he would be overseeing a couple of things before she completely get the company. The last call was from Thomas. He left a short message:

  “Hello, Loren this is Thomas. I will be running the restaurant that Maria own before I sell the restaurant. Maria really never sold the restaurant. I was wondering could you help me in the evenings. I know you start your new job tomorrow. I found out from Jason. If are going to help me show up at the restaurant at six or six – thirty. I hope you consider me as your friend. Bye Loren I hope I will be seeing you.”

  Loren wanted to not show up tomorrow, but how could she not? Thomas was for the four months a close friend. When Robert came out of his bedroom she was in the kitchen. The Andersons said that they would cook. She was sitting on the stool when Robert came behind her. She could feel the coolest of his body and she was glad for it. Because she was heating up and between them it was like they were warm together.

  Robert didn’t miss the fact Loren saw him get out of the bedroom. She turn her back to him and he knew that her mind was some where else. He wished at that moment that she could look at him the way she was all day. Something was bothering her. He wanted to ask her what was wrong, but he soon change his mind. If she wanted him to know she would tell him.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Robert woke up at two thirty. He went into the room that Loren was at and stared at her. He wanted to tell her how he was Chestnut Brown. But what would she do jump into his arms and tell him how much she loved him. Although he told her in London she never told him back how she feels about him. He didn’t forget the kiss that they shared. Now he had promise that they would wake up together and leave together. He had to be in the restaurant in three hours. He knew that Loren had to be at work around eight. If she wakes up now she could miss the traffic and get breakfast or better yet they could get breakfast together.

  Loren pretended like she was sleep. Robert had something on his mind that made him stay at her door. She tried to tell herself that he didn’t mean what he said in London, but she couldn’t tell herself anything like that. She wants to tell him about the new job that she is starting, but maybe it is too soon. She wanted to eat breakfast with him. She wanted to just be alone with him one more day. She wanted to know if it was possible.

  “Good morning, I am up.” Loren said as she got up right before his hand was going to touch her side to get her up.

  Loren lifts herself out of bed looking down to she where to place her feet. When she looked up she was couple inches away from Robert’s face. She stared at his eyes hungrily. She tried to look some where else and looked down at his lips. She licked her lips before walking backwards. She knew that the fire inside her body was lit and it was hard to cut it off once the heat was turned up. She wanted to taste his full lips. She wanted to grab his hair and make him hers, but she wasn’t thinking clearly. She knew that sometimes mornings make her horny.

  “Robert, could you give me a minute so I could get dress?” Loren said trying to shake the thoughts that just now enter her head.

  Robert nodded, but what he was really thinking he wanted he to get dress or maybe undress. He could see her licking her l
ips at him. He wanted to taste the sweetness of her mouth, but he would have to wake. His emotions about Maria was on the back burner for right now. When he had to deal with all the issues of his marriage he didn’t want to bring Loren into the picture. He tried to convince himself that the only thing they could be is friends. But it would be over his dead body if Lance got to have Loren. Something about that guy that didn’t set right with Robert. He didn’t trust him and it wasn’t only because he kissed Loren in front of him. Lance was hiding something and Robert would be the one to find out what it was. His mouth drop open when he saw her in a pink top and matching jogging suit. Every curve was shown. Now he knew he would have to start praying.

  Loren pretended like she didn’t see the look on his face when she wore the jogging suit. She, in truth got the jogging for this trip and glad she put that on and not her business suit. She was already didn’t want him to know that she had switch jobs. She knew that if she would wore what she was planning on she would have explain why this suit looked so different than the one she wears.

  “Do you want to eat breakfast with me when we get the side where we live?” Loren said.

  “Yes, I know a waffle house that’s will be open if we hurry we could speed. At this time of morning no cops will be on the road.” Robert smiled at Loren.

  “Or because it is so early we could travel the speed limit and still get there quick because there is no traffic on the road.” Loren replied.

  “Ok. It two forty-five let’s get going.”

  They arrived at the Waffle House. Loren had never been to a waffle house. It looked like a trucker’s bar-type-restaurant. It was almost five fifteen in the morning. Loren was surprised how many people was at the restaurant this time of morning. It was surprisingly packed. Lucky for them that a couple got up from the booth they were in. A waitress came up to the table asked them what they wanted to drink. Loren asked for a cup of coffee. Robert ordered the same. She knew at this moment her life wasn’t going to be the same again. It was something about her new job. Her new home. Her new everything that got her to feel a little scared, but excited at the same time.

  Robert smiled because he knew that Loren wasn’t use to places like this. He could remember when he was married that in the middle of night he would get hungry and he would drive and drive until he went to this waffle house. He picked this place because this was his secret place. He could have taken her to IHOP which was more of her speed, but he wanted her to understand parts of his personality that his former wife didn’t or wouldn’t understand about him. He watches as she looked around then to her menu. She order some toast, eggs, hash browns, and some bacon which astonished him.

  “So let me asked, what is up with this place?” Loren asked after the waitress left the table.

  “What you don’t like it?” Robert said as he smiled.

  “I didn’t say that. It is just different from what I seen you use to. Or in the matter what I am use to. Why did you bring me here? You could have taken me to the IHOP, but instead you brought me here. Tell me about this place.” Loren asked understanding that this place had meaning.

  “I guess I wanted you to understand. When we first move here me and Maria I had a problem adjusting to the area. Our marriage wasn’t perfect. Maria thought it was working, but for me it wasn’t working at all. So at night I couldn’t sleep. I think I can admitted what was really keeping up at night.” Robert said after eating some eggs.

  “What was keeping you up?”

  “I didn’t want to lie to her anymore. I didn’t want to pretend like I was happy. I would wait in the bed and wait until Maria went to sleep. I remember timing when she got up in the morning and everything. I would come here every night at two o’clock in the morning until I started to take those classes with you. Loren since the moment I met you I knew that my life would change by meeting you.”

  “Every time I saw you and Maria together you all looked like the perfect couple. I always felt like I had to be dating someone to be around you two. I am going to let you in on a secret the only reason why I start dating Thomas at the time I did is that I feel comfortable around you two.” Loren said.

  “Did you love him?”

  “I love that I wasn’t alone around you two. I love things I found out about myself when I was around him. I love that he was a good-looking man who wanted me. I love how I looked in his eyes, but could I say I actually loved him. No. I love so many things about him, but I wasn’t in love with him. I just like the concept of him. Do you understand what I mean?” Loren asked.

  “I do understand. At least you didn’t do what I did and married the concept.” Robert whispered as he drinks his coffee.

  “Since, we are on the subject of Thomas. I promise I would help him tonight at Maria’s restaurant. I just felt like I should tell you just in case you was looking for me.”

  “I thought he was in London. I forgot that Thomas now owns the restaurant. About what time are you going to be there? I would like to say hi.” Robert replied silently angry.

  “I was going over there around six-thirty. What are you talking about you wanted to say hi. You never like Thomas.”

  “That was mostly because he was with you. What time is it? I supposed to start a new job today. Give me a minute I need to call my boss and tell him. OK.” Robert said as he walks away from the table outside.

  Robert didn’t need to call anyone. He already called Chris before he arrived at the waffle house and telling him that he would be there around seven because he just came from a trip. Robert was angry not only because Loren was going to see Thomas, but it seems like every time they get to a point where he could tell her that he wants to be with her there always someone in the way. It would have been better to have told her in the cabin that he was crazy about him. He knew that she wanted to tell him something, but he was afraid of what it could be.

  Loren wanted to tell him that she was starting her new job today, but she didn’t have a chance. She knew having Thomas around for another four months wouldn’t sit well with Robert. She knew that he needed to let off some steam. She knew that she had been the one to stop him from telling her what it is that he needed to tell her. Robert finally came back and sat down she will tell him another day.

  Robert wished that he would have breakfast alone that morning. He didn’t realize that his friend’s restaurant serve breakfast in the morning and still was four stars. The restaurant opened at seven o’clock. Robert came ten minutes early in the back entrance. Chris looked at him as if he wished he would have come in twenty minutes early. Chris told Robert that the first day was going to be boring. All he wanted him to do is look at the prices of food. He had to look at the menus. Chris introduced Robert to the whole staff as soon as the closed the breakfast. They had two hours before the lunch crowd would be coming in. Robert thought it would be just easier to only serve dinner. Right after the breakfast crowd he had to count all the money that they make. All the major shopping was done either in the early morning or the day before. Getting down the job title would take him at least two months to get. What Chris wanted to do is for Robert to handle the breakfast and the lunch crowd while Chris handles the dinner crowd. Chris told him that for the next two weeks he would be taking care of the money After the lunch crowd and breakfast crowd left. It was three o’clock in the afternoon and Robert went home after the lunch crowd left. He was completely wiped out and not only from the restaurant, but getting up so early.

  Loren’s first day was surprising. She decided that she wasn’t going to wear a suit to her new job. She would just wear a form fitting dress. She entered the building and there where security guards there to get her badge made which took longer than she would like. She finally made it up to the floor where her office was surrounded by nothing, but beautiful looking men. She could tell a straight woman own this company base on the men that worked there. It looked like she was trying to ow
n a modeling company not a publishing company. There were five women who worked on the floor and they were to beautiful also. Jason was at her office. He gave her three huge books to look at.

  “What are those? Please telling on my first day I don’t have to read anything that we might be publishing at the moment.” Loren said worriedly.

  “Don’t worry this isn’t someone’s book. Better it is what it takes to run this company. Trust me once to get the hang of this, this becomes very easy. The lawyers told me that they are running a little late. In the mean time let me introduce you to the staff.” Jason told her.

  “I am not trying to be funny, but where are the ugly people that work here.” Loren as bewildered.

  “I know I found that was a little strange, but everyone here checks out. Most like they step out of magazines covers”

  “What was it you wanted to talk to me about the other day?”

  “I really don’t want to talk about it here.” As Jason finished talking Loren turn around to see Lance another person with him.

  Lance was surprised to see Loren on time. He felt a little uncomfortable with the other lawyer in the room. Lance thought about her all weekend long/ He wished that the other lawyer didn’t intimidate him like he did. James Mc Clay was all about business not play. Lance and James didn’t understand each other in the view of Lance.

  Loren looked at the other lawyer and saw he was different than everyone in the room. James McClay was first very tall man with Coco skin. He had dark brown eyes with a shaved head. Mr. James McClay was attractive in his dark gray suit. She could tell that he was just her type, but she did notice his hand and could tell by the ring that he was married.