by Laney Smith
Scottie scoffed. “Poor thing? Me? You just upped the ante, honey. When you’ve got a rich enough shell, you don’t need all that fattening filling. You better hang on to him as tightly as you can.”
“I don’t have to do that. He’s with me because he wants to be.”
“There she is! Let’s go get ‘er,” Ryan’s voice filtered into the conversation.
Ryan pulled Nathan up by his arms. The two were playfully making their way toward Corlay. Nathan giggled, barking, “Hop!” at Ryan, prompting him to lift Nathan, again. Ryan looked at Corlay, questioningly, as he smiled. Scottie lifted her hand, waving her fingers and flashing him a seductive stare.
“Bye, Ryan. Call me and let me know what you think,” she urged, again, chopping Corlay out of the conversation. “I can’t wait to get you in this house.”
Her statement had multiple meanings. Ryan, Corlay, and Scottie all know what she was saying. Ryan smiled and waved his hand.
“See ya, Scottie. Stay outta trouble.”
“Call me, ‘K? Maybe lunch? My treat,” she winked, sliding into her seat and closing the door before Ryan could respond.
Corlay flashed Ryan a scalding glare. “If I never see her again . . .”
Ryan shook his head as he teased, “Not her biggest fan, then?”
“Why does that bitch get under my skin like she does?”
Ryan leaned forward and kissed her forehead as he bounded Nathan toward the car. “Because you still don’t get that I don’t want her. She’s no threat to you. Like none. At all. Zip. Zero. Zilch.”
Corlay smiled as she sighed. “Are you sure?”
Ryan stopped at the passenger side door, before opening it to grant Nathan access to the backseat. “Uh . . . Yeah!”
“She thinks she is,” Corlay said before shifting to a mocking tone. “You better hold on to him as tightly as you can . . . Is it not enough that she looks that damn good?”
Ryan rolled his eyes as he watched Nathan take his time, climbing into the back of the car. “You’re not listening to me. So, you work it all out and when you catch up, let me know.”
“I just want you to tell me I have nothing to worry about.”
Ryan turned toward her, dropping his hands to his side as he flashed her an incredulous smirk. “No, you don’t. Because I’ve already told you that.”
“Ugh! But, now I’ve seen her. Up close.”
Ryan slid his hands up the sides of Corlay’s face as he cradled her head in his hands, lifting her eyes to his. He arched an eyebrow, staring into her eyes as though he could see her soul. “She’s not going to be the only one pulling shit like this. I ran wild and I have no regrets. I never formed an emotional attachment to any of them, though. That was before I met you. Since I met you, I don’t care what they think. I do care what you think. Remember when you told me you wanted me to think you’re beautiful? You will never know how much I think that. You’ll also never know how much I related to that. I don’t care who wants what. I want you to want it, any and all of it, from me . . . with me. I’m sorry what I did before has put you in an awkward position, now. All of that is new to you. I’ve had a long time to get used to it. What’s new to me is the fact that you’ll be real with me. I love that about you. I don’t care if you run around in your sweatpants every day for the rest of your life, as long as it’s because it’s what you want to do. If you’re doing it to impress me, I’m going to get upset with you,” he joked as he hugged his arms around her waist. “Come on. Get your beautiful self in the car and let me ride around with the girl of my dreams.”
“You’re such a liar. You don’t want a girl in sweats,” Corlay laughed.
“Actually, I do. But, I am a little sad. I told you what that red dress did to me. But, you won’t wear it, again. Not for me. You stopped my heart. I thought I had died. Damn!” Ryan said as he drew a deep breath through his nose and held it before he let it out slowly.
“That red dress is old,” Corlay smiled a playful smile. “I feel cheap in that dress.”
Ryan stared into her eyes. “You do not look cheap. Mmm!” he groaned. “If ever you want to put a smile on my face, there’s just something about you in that dress . . .” he sighed as he shook his head, “we have to stop talking about it or I’m going to need some alone time.” He smiled, gently digging his fingers into her flesh as he slid his hands up her back, until his hands were buried in her hair, cradling the back of her head in his hands. He lowered his mouth to her ear, “Nobody has ever gotten to me like that.” Corlay smiled as his eyes locked on hers for a second. “Nobody!” he said as he shook his head. “Never.”
He kissed her with more intensity than he ever had before. As they sampled the sweet taste of the other’s lips, a little voice from inside the car brought them both back to reality. Ryan spun around.
“Nate! Buddy! Sorry about that,” he said. “Geez, you were being so quiet.”
Ryan led Corlay to the passenger seat, squeezing her hand as his gaze reflected a look of desperation. “That was about to get out of hand,” he muttered.
“Sounds hot,” Corlay flirted with a teasing smirk, pressing her body against his.
Ryan tilted his head with a sympathetic look. “I’ve been so nice to you.”
“Not if you’re holding out on me,” she dared. She twisted her body, swaying as she stretched up to kiss his lips. “Can you catch?”
Ryan smiled as he looked down at her curious face. “Uh-huh. I’ve been known to catch a pitch or two.”
“Good. I’m about to throw some wild pitches at you.”
“I was MVP, baby doll. You’re not getting anything past me.”
Corlay smiled a devious grin as she nipped at his lower lip. “You forget. I know that red dress is your weakness.”
Ryan flashed her a smug grin as he shook his head. “No, no, no. That red dress is not my weakness. You’re my weakness. You just make that red dress look like it should.”
“Mom! Dad! Are we ever going to go?” Nathan called from the backseat.
Ryan chuckled as he softly kissed Corlay once more. “The boss has about had it with us.” He smiled a flirty grin. “Hey, baby. You need a ride somewhere?’
“Nice choice of words.”
“I’m planting seeds.”
Corlay slid into her seat, staring adoringly at Ryan. He winked at her before he closed the door. Then, the three were off to their next adventure.
~THIRTY-SEVEN~
When Ryan and Corlay talked about the house, Ryan had hopes that Corlay would give her approval on his dream house. He hoped that if he took Scottie out of the mix, altogether, Corlay would be more receptive to the idea. Sure, he could buy the house and let her learn to deal with his decision. However, the more time he spent with Corlay and Nathan, the more time he wanted to spend with them.
When he officially spent the night for the first time – at least that Nathan was aware – Ryan asked Nathan if they could have a little chat. It would’ve gone off without a big production. However, Ryan was insistent on teaching Nathan the right way to treat people – women in particular. So, the two went for a walk around the block. There was something ironic about that to Ryan, though Nathan was too young to get the full effects of any jokes that he could make. Plus, that would be counter-productive, considering why they were even going around the block, in the first place.
“What are we doing?” Nathan pressed with his sweet, curious expression.
“We’re going for a walk,” Ryan answered. “Haven’t you ever been for a walk before?”
“Yeah . . . but . . .” Nathan hesitated. “Why when it’s almost night?”
“Well, I wanted to talk to you about something.”
“Did you tell my mom that you want her to be your girlfriend?”
Ryan thought about it. No. He hadn’t made anything official. Was he supposed to do that? Still? In the adult world, did people do that? Or was it just an understanding?
“Is that OK?” Ryan asked, avoiding the q
uestion.
“Yep!” Nathan smiled.
Ryan returned the boy’s smile. “So, you’re kind of the man of your house, right?”
“No. You are,” Nathan countered.
Ryan shook his head. “That’s not my house. That’s where you and your mom live. So, that makes you the man of the house.”
“But, I’m just a kid,” Nathan shrugged.
“Well, since it’s your house that you share with your mom, I thought I’d see if it would be alright with you if I stayed at your house, tonight?”
“This night?” Nathan excitedly asked.
“Yeah. Would that be OK?”
“You want me to make a pallet for you, again. I make the best pallets.”
“Yes, you do. This time, though, I don’t think we should make a mess that we have to pick up. I can sleep on the couch or . . . in . . . your mom’s room. You don’t have to make a pallet for me.”
“If you sleep in my mom’s room, she can sleep in my room. I can sleep on the couch. Or with you in my mom’s room. We could watch movies.”
Ryan chuckled to himself, biting at the inside of his cheek as he puzzled through how he had put himself in this situation. “Um, well, Buddy, I was thinking maybe I could watch movies with your mom, this time. Would that be a good idea?”
“We could all watch movies,” Nathan shrugged, attempting to be helpful.
“All night? No way. We can’t stay up all night. What if I hang out with your mom this time and we do a movie night another time?”
“Are we still friends. Dad?”
“Always! You’ll always be my best friend.”
“Yeah. You’re mine, too. I was just thinking maybe Mom was your best friend, now.”
“I want all three of us to be best friends,” he said, noticing the look of disappointment on Nathan’s face. “But, your mom is a girl. So, she can only be my best girlfriend. Don’t tell her I said that,” Ryan teased.
The smile reappeared on Nathan’s face. “Yeah. She can only do girlfriend stuff.”
Ryan laughed, humoring himself. “Yes, and that’s very different.”
The two walked a few steps in silence. Ryan could see that Nathan was deep in thought. He gently bumped into him to get his attention.
“What are you thinking about?”
“I could let you borrow some of my movies. But, if you have popcorn, will you bring me some?”
“I have a feeling I’m just going to go to sleep. I’m pretty tired.”
“I’m pretty tired, too.”
“Oh, so movie night would be better another night, anyway. Glad we didn’t plan it for tonight, huh? We’d both be sleeping through the movies.”
Nathan made a few snorting noises, laughing and being silly as the two continued on their walk. In that moment, Ryan decided he wouldn’t need to ask permission, again. Whether or not Nathan would remember the moment, he couldn’t be sure. However, he felt at peace within himself that he had tried to do the right thing and teach the boy, even if it didn’t work as he wanted.
Over the next few weeks, Ryan and Corlay’s relationship was growing stronger. Ryan even introduced Corlay to his mother, father, brother and even his nieces. To Ryan’s surprise, Frannie welcomed Corlay with open arms. Maybe his mother was willing to give Corlay a chance because of Nathan. Then again, maybe it was just because Corlay was a beautiful person, inside and out. She had an irresistible charm and when Ryan watched her interact with his family, he fell even harder for her. Corlay even had George laughing and chiming into the conversation.
The couple stole a moment, using the excuse of taking Nathan outside to play for a few minutes. As they stood beneath an old oak tree in his parent’s front yard, Ryan gathered Corlay’s hair at the base of her neck. His eyes scanned her face before he smiled sweetly.
“So, are they freaking you out?” Ryan asked as he jutted his chin toward his parent’s house.
She smiled and shook her head. “No. You have the most perfect family. It’s really sweet how close you all are.”
“So, is your family not as close?”
Corlay ducked her head. “No. We’re not.”
“I’m sorry. Are they not here, close?”
“I’m not sure. I was one of those kids that grew up in the foster system,” Corlay said, regretting she didn’t have a better story to tell.
Ryan stepped back and looked at her in surprise. “I must’ve wondered a hundred times why I never hear you mention your family. What about your sister?”
“What sister?” Corlay asked.
“Nathan’s aunt or whatever. The one that you were going to leave him with . . . back when I first met you.”
“That was just something I said to get you to go away.”
“It wouldn’t have changed anything,” he smiled. “I still would’ve wanted to be there. I would’ve sat with your sister, if she were real.”
“I don’t know for sure how everything happened. Apparently, my mother was fifteen when I was born. Her parents didn’t want her being held back by a child. So, she and her family left the hospital after my mother was released. That I know of, they never looked back.”
“Was it . . . Did you have good people that looked after you?” Ryan asked, finding himself in unfamiliar territory.
Corlay sighed. “There were people who got paid to take care of kids and they were cold and indifferent. Then, there were people that wanted to save every kid they met. That was difficult. I got attached to anyone that made me feel like they cared. Pathetic, huh?”
“You’re pretty well put together for a girl that grew up that way. I don’t mean that in a bad way. I’ve only heard stories. I don’t want to pick at your scars. I’m just concerned . . . worried . . . curious . . . interested, maybe,” he smiled.
“I was never abused, if that’s what you’re wondering. I wasn’t always cherished and adored. But, I didn’t have the same life so many like me have. I was actually pretty lucky. I spent the biggest part of the years I remember with an older black lady named Mae Wilson. She was a beautiful woman. She made you feel welcome, no matter who you were. She had a kind heart. She taught me about the Bible. She gave lots of hugs and love. I tried my hardest to behave myself so she wouldn’t get upset with me and send me away. It broke my heart anytime I disappointed her. I loved her and I wish every foster child could find a home like Mae Wilson’s. I miss her every day.”
“Where is she? Have you tried to find her? Surely, she’d want to see you, too.”
“If she were still on this Earth, I know she would. She would want to see Nathan and you, too. Everyone was welcome in Mae’s home and in her heart,” Corlay said with sadness.
“She sounds like a good lady. I’m glad you had her. I’m sorry she’s not still here for you.”
“I miss the way Mae’s house made you feel like you were home. She wasn’t just about the money she was paid to tend to us kids. She loved us. There were a lot of kids that came and went through Mae’s door. She didn’t draw attention to the fact that I was there, and neither did I. I think we both hoped they would forget to move me to the next home. She was something else. She gardened. We’d pull the creeping vines from the stones on the outside of her house. When we’d take a break, we’d go pick a snack out of her garden. Then, we’d weed the flowerbeds,” Corlay recalled with a smile. “She made me everything I am – any part of me that’s normal in any way, that’s Mae peeking out. I loved her and she loved me.” Corlay fanned her face. “I don’t want to cry. This house, your family – they’re warm in the same way Mae was.”
Ryan erupted in a laugh. “I can’t tell you that what you’ve seen is a normal occurrence. I’m rather touched by them, today, myself. Rick’s usually decent. Mom and Dad, on the other hand . . . They like you. A lot.”
“I hope so,” Corlay shrugged. “I’m sorry for the trip down memory lane. I haven’t talked about Mae in a while. It feels good.”
“Anytime you want to talk about her, I would love to li
sten. Since I can’t meet her, myself, I guess you’ll just have to let me know her through your stories.”
“Is this weird for you? I should’ve told you sooner. I should’ve. . .”
“Why would it be weird? You didn’t ask to be born. You didn’t jump out of the crib and book it down the street to go find your own way. Mae sounds amazing and I’m thankful she helped shape you into the woman that I love. Thank you for letting me share in that with you,” Ryan said as he hugged her. “Nothing is weird to me, other than the fact that I keep trying to find things I don’t like about you. I keep coming back with nothing. Are you just saving it all up so you can drop it on me all at once?”
“Ryan, I know you think I’m some horrible mother for leaving Nathan alone before you came. I try to teach him the same way Mae taught me. Times were different then, I guess. But, she could give us a list of chores to do. She didn’t drive, so she’d leave her house and walk into town. She tried to be quick. But, we were there, home, alone, while she was gone getting what we needed from the store. We didn’t get into trouble. We didn’t cause trouble. We did our chores. I didn’t think it was anything bad at the time. I don’t regret or blame her, still. I don’t feel we were mistreated because she left us there. She just didn’t want to drag the little ones three miles into town, around town and back again. If she took the kids with her, she couldn’t carry as much home because she’d end up toting kids when they got too tired. We were always OK, there, alone. I believed Nathan would be, as well. I couldn’t afford real daycare. The young girls flaked out, more than not. I just had no other answer, until you.” Corlay sighed and shrugged. “I’m not sure why I’m telling you my whole life story and confessing to being such a bad mom,” she snickered.