by Rikki Dyson
“Sorry baby doll, we didn’t mean it that way. It’s just, this has all happened so fast. Your mom and I seem to be having a hard time adjusting to the fact, we’re gonna’ lose you.”
“You’re not gonna’ lose me Dad, I’ll just be living someplace else, and besides, aren’t you looking forward to grandchildren? DAD, KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE ROAD!”
“Are you ready for that, Stacey?”
“I will be after June,” Stacey said.
Doctor Sam was quiet for a few minutes, then said, “Your mom and I are looking forward to meeting this young man of yours.”
“Good, he’s looking forward to meeting ya’ll too. I might as well tell you now, I’ll be going to London over the Thanksgiving holidays.”
“When will your young man be coming here?” her dad asked.
“He’ll be coming for Christmas,” Stacey said.
Chapter 22
Inquisitorial
Stacey’s dad dropped her off at the dorm, then headed on home. He knew Jessie would be waiting for him. When he drove in, Jessie and Le both were waiting. “Well, I don’t think this romance is gonna’ be over, anytime soon,” Stacey’s dad said.
“Why not?” Jessie asked.
“Well to start with honey, Stacey’s flying to London over Thanksgiving and he’s coming here for Christmas. Not only that, Stacey asked me, didn’t I want grandchildren?”
Jessie and Le both sat down. Jessie looked at Mr. Chen and said, “Le, get that silly grin off your face.”
“No,” Le said. “I want grandchildren.”
“So do I,” Sam said. “I suggest you come to grips with this Jess. Our daughter loves this guy and you know Stacey when she makes up her mind. Not hell or high water is gonna’ stop her.”
“You know he’s right miss Jessie,” Le said.
“Don’t call me miss Jessie, Mr. Chen.”
“How about I call you, Grandma, then?” Le Chen said. That started all three of them chortling.
“I wonder how his family is taking this engagement,” Sam said. “From what Stacey said on the way home, they’re not country folks. Shane was raised in the city and I imagine our way of life will be an ‘eye-opener’ to him.”
Jessica stood up and said, “Well, they damn well better be taking it just fine. This is our daughter they’re getting.”
“Now that’s my girl,” Doctor Sam said and kissed his wife. “Jessie, you better call your tribe and tell’em, ‘there’ll be a stranger in town for Christmas.’ I’ll call mine, and we’ll have the shotguns ready and ask, “What’s your intentions for our little gal, partner?” Them being silly started the laughter all over again.
Stacey stayed in close contact with her older cousins. Brittany, Brandi and Ashley showed up on her door step the first weekend in November. Aunt Jessie had called and told them about Stacey’s plans to go to London for Thanksgiving and that Shane would be coming to Texas for Christmas.
They had more questions than they could ask over the phone. These three cousins are in their freshman year of college at Rice university. When the three girls pulled into the driveway, Stacey was upstairs getting ready to go to Austin to do some shopping. She was glad to see the girls, she could use their help. Stacey had never been overly interested in fashions. She bought what she liked, mostly she wore jeans and shorts in the summer and jeans, skirts and sweaters for school, but now it was different. Shane was older, with friends his age, and she didn’t want to embarrass him by dressing like a college girl; so off the four girls went to Nordstrom’s.
The shopping took all day because Stacey had to find just the right things. She didn’t want clothes that were too mature, just better than what she usually bought. Things with a little class. Before the day was over, Stacey knew she should have brought her mother, instead of teenage cousins. With the help of a nice sales lady, Stacey finally bought five outfits, including boots, shoes and handbags.
When they stopped at a restaurant to eat, Brittany said, “Stacey, we didn’t come to help you shop. We came to ask you some questions.”
“Questions, like what?” Stacey asked.
“You know,” Brittany said.
“No I don’t,” Stacey said.
The girls looked at each other, finally, Ashley said, “Stacey, now that you’re engaged and you went to meet him in New York, so that means you two are sleeping together, right? You know, like having sex. Well, we wanna’ know what it’s like. We want the truth. Not what your parents tell you, not what other girls tell you, but the real thing.”
Stacey looked at them, remembering when she used to wonder the same things. She thought for a few minutes, then said, “If you’re with the right person, it’s wonderful. I’m glad I waited for Shane.”
“What do you do? Oh, heck, I know what you do, what I mean is, what does it feel like?” Brandi asked.
“I’m not gonna’ tell you that, it’s personal between Shane and me,” Stacey said, with the shake of her head. “It isn’t a feeling you can explain anyway. My only advice is, wait until the right man comes along. You’ll know him when he does, but I’ll tell you this much, the first time we made love, I didn’t know we would fall in love. I just knew I wanted him to be the one, the first one. Now I know I want him to be the only one.
I know that sounds old fashion, but him knowing he was my first brings out a special pride and exclusiveness for him. He considers my innocence a gift. I hope you understand, I’m not telling you what to do or not do. Only you’ll know when the time is right. I did it my way, ya’ll have to do it your way. What was right for me might not be right for you. All I’m saying is, just don’t rush it.”
On the way home they were all quiet. By the time they reached the ranch, they were back to their normal, jubilant selves. They stayed the night and headed back to Houston the next day.
Stacey had worked hard to keep her grades high. On Friday, before Thanksgiving week, she was packed and on her way to the airport. Her mother was taking her this time. “Are ya’ll gonna’ draw straws to see who’ll pick me up?” Stacey asked.
“We just might do that,” her mom said. Then asked, “Do you have everything you need, sweetheart?”
“Yes, I do Mom, but thanks for asking.”
“How about money?” Jessie asked.
“I have plenty Mom. I do work at the club, remember?”
“Yes, how could I forget that?” Jessie kissed her daughter goodbye, and watched her plane take off.
Chapter 23
A week in London
Stacey was on her way to New York. If her schedule was correct, she would be in London around one a.m. She had a lay-over at JFK. It seemed as if time was crawling by and she was anxious to be with Shane again. Before the seatbelt sign came on, Stacey went to the lavatory to brush her teeth and hair and put on lipstick.
Stacey saw Shane as she came down the corridor after leaving the plane. There was a glass petition between them until they reached the end of the corridor. As soon as Stacey was out and free, she was in his arms.
“I don’t wanna’ stop kissing you,” she said.
“We can’t collect your cases if we’re connected at the lips,” Shane said, laughing.
Stacey gave him a sly smile, “What if we’re connected someplace else?”
“No, not there either,” Shane said with a chuckle.
“Oh, you British are such, fuddy-duddies.”
“God, I’ve missed you and your wicked ways. Let’s collect your cases, then we’ll get home and connect to our hearts content. How does that sound?” Shane took her shoulder bag, then said, “This weighs a ton, what’s in it?”
“The kitchen sink,” Stacey said.
Shane had become familiar with Stacey’s sense of humor. “I have one, sweetheart,” he replied. “you didn’t need to bring one.”
Stacey smiled that special smile at him, as they headed to retrieve her luggage. It didn’t take long as there was not a lot of people on the flight. It took longer to get to his ca
r. It was a silver jaguar waiting on the first car park landing. The ride to Shane’s flat didn’t take long as the traffic was sparse this time of the morning. They were getting on the garage lift when someone yelled, “Hold it.”
It was Diane, “Oh, thanks, I’m beat,” She saw Stacey and said, “Oh yes, miss uh...”
“Scott,” Stacey said.
“Yes, well I owe you an apology, miss Scott. I’ve already apologized to Shane. That was unforgivable of me, I was very rude. Although, I must say, you do look a bit more mature now. Last summer you looked about sixteen.”
“Yes,” Stacey smiled and said. “I’m afraid I’m a bit more than sixteen, and your apology is accepted.”
“Did you just arrive?” Diane asked.
“Yes I did,” Stacey said.
“Well, goodnight, or good morning, as it is,” Diane said.
As they went down the hall to the flat, Stacey said, “That was nice of her. What is her vocation?”
“She’s a doctor,” Shane said.
“Oh really, what field?”
“She’s a pediatrician,” Shane said.
Stacey was astonished. “But she doesn’t even like kids.”
As Shane opened the door to the flat, he asked. “How do you know that?”
“I don’t know,” Stacey said, “but I do.”
“Well, you’re right, she doesn’t, but she is a very qualified pediatrics doctor.”
Diane was forgotten as they took the luggage upstairs. “I need to shower,” Stacey said.
“Only if I join you,” Shane said, smiling.
Between their kissing and touching, the shower led to other things. They were satiated and happy in each others arms. When they finally went to sleep, the dawn was breaking.
Shane was awake before twelve. He had told Stacey last night, he would need to drop by the hospital and check on a couple of patients.
“That’s fine,” Stacey said. “I’ll go see Annie for a while”
“Has she told you the news, that she and Hugh are getting married?” Shane asked.
“Yes, of course, did Hugh tell you anything else?”
“Yes,” Shane said chortling. “Old cynical Hugh about lost it when the opportunity presented itself. He found out much the same way as I did with you.”
“That’s the best way, don’t you think?”
“I know it was for us, but a woman of Annie’s age, you don’t expect that gift now days.”
“If you knew her past, you would understand why,” Stacey said.
Stacey called Annie and she came to Stacey. They had so much to talk about with Hugh asking Annie to marry him. After his first disastrous marriage, Hugh thought he would never marry again, until he met Annie and fell hopelessly in love.
“Have you told him about your family yet?”
“No,” Annie said, “however, I will before Christmas, I’m going to introduce him then.”
“What about Friday night?” Stacey asked.
“Oh, my uncle knows already.”
“What are you gonna’ tell Hugh?”
“I’m not sure, I’ll think of something?”
“What about the truth?” Stacey suggested.
“Yes, that has crossed my mind, but there is the possibility of losing him.”
“I don’t think he’ll give a damn. I hear he’s crazy in love with you.”
“I know, but you know what snobs my family are, all except my uncle.”
“They treat me okay, now.”
“Yes, now, because you told them all to stick it.”
“If I know Hugh,” Stacey said. “I have a feeling he may tell them the same thing. After all, he’s not chopped liver. He’s a very successful doctor of cardiology. No matter how aristocratic they may be, they might need him one day. There’s an old saying: “Help me to be careful of the toes I step on today, as they may be connected to the ass that I may have to kiss tomorrow.”
“For goodness sake Stacey. Where do you get all these old adages you come up with out of the blue?” Annie asked laughing.
“Oh, here and there. That one came off the computer.”
“You know Stacey, sometimes I think you’re not connected to the same web the rest of the world is. I think you have this little web all your own, that you pull people into and then mesmerize them.”
“Do you think?” Stacey said, as she grinned at her.
Annie was just leaving as Shane came home. “Don’t let me rush you off, Annie,” Shane said.
“You couldn’t if you tried,” she said, “but I have a man to see about a family. See you kids later.”
“How do you like that? Now we’re kids,” Shane said.
“Well one of us is, anyway,” Stacey said as she smiled a provocative smile at him, then ran up the stairs.
“Guess I’ll have to show you again,” Shane said as he ran upstairs right behind her. From the doorway, Stacey said, “I sure hope so.”
As always after making love, they laid and talked to one another. Stacey was telling Shane about Annie’s family and how she had grown up feeling like an outcast. She was always so tall and gawky. She had to wear special shoes because of her feet problems, and she wore thick dark rimmed glasses. Contacts had been around for ages, but she didn’t get them until after we met.
She had two brothers that made fun of her and ridiculed her. They would bring their friends home on weekends and make her life miserable. Her parents sent her to a private school in Switzerland at age fourteen. When Annie returned to England, she moved in with her uncle. She went to the university under her mother’s maiden name. When she turned twenty-one, she had it changed legally. When I met her three years ago, she was very shy and introverted. She was pretty, but nothing like she looks today. She was so self conscious of her large breast that she stood hunched over, and with her feet problems, she walked badly. At the digs, she was on her knees as much or more than her feet. I liked her so much. If you really listened to her, she was funny as all get out and we became fast friends. Eric would take us places we would never have been able to go without him. This seemed to give her new zest for life. As she gained more self esteem, guys couldn’t see her for looking at her breasts.
“She does have a good figure,” Shane said.
Stacey gave him a look and said, “Yes, I know, now may I finish my story?”
“Yes, of course, darling. Sorry,” he said, with a laugh.
It seemed she attracted jerks. By the time I met her, she wouldn’t date at all. The second year she and I double dated. She was a professor and me a student, but we understood each other. She had her feet operated on to remove extra bones. After the operation, she could walk better and wear feminine shoes. I don’t understand why her family didn’t have that done when she was young. They’re very wealthy, however, they neglected her terribly. Her life reminded me of the, ‘Ugly duckling’ story.
Annie is a beautiful woman now. She took me to meet her family and Shane, they didn’t even recognize her. I told them what I thought of them, then we caught a plane to Texas. She stayed with us for three weeks. When she returned to England, she told them a thing or two. She sees them now because they beg her too. Mostly, she does it for her uncle. I think her family loves her, they just don’t know how to show it.
“You think Hugh is going to be able to handle these people?” Shane asked.
“Yes, I do. Friday night will be his first encounter. I have no doubts by the holidays he’ll have them eating out of the palm of his hand.”
“I suppose we’re going to be there too,” Shane said.
“Oh yes, of course,” Stacey said.
Shane held her close, kissed her and said, “Life surely is most interesting when you’re around.”
“Are you sure you don’t mind going to this, what did you call them last summer, ‘The idle rich?”
Shane laughed and reminded her, “You said, you weren’t one of them.”
“I’m not, Annie is connected, that’s all. Wait unti
l you see the little town I come from and smell the horse and cow poop on the ranch. Half of the time when you come to the house, it’s on your boots and sometimes on you too. Mr. Chen won’t let you in the house until you’re out of your boots and sometimes your britches too. Now, do you still want to come to my house for Christmas?”
Shane caressed Stacey’s cheek and said, “I wouldn’t miss it lass, or Friday night either. Life gets more and more interesting with you in my life. I never realized what an ordered, mundane life style I lived, until I met you.”
Stacey kissed Shane and laughed at him. On a more serious note she said, “Shane, I want to tell you about Eric and our special friendship.”
“It’s not necessary, sweetheart. Annie mentioned that he is your foster brother.”
“Yes, he is. Harlan asked Dad to give him a job. He was seventeen and I was thirteen. I was always hanging around him talking about archaeology. He wasn’t much of a talker, he would keep working and grunt once in a while. He had earned a scholarship to Baylor, but had it deferred until later. He knew he would need money for expenses, so he came to work on the ranch. When I say he came from a dysfunctional family, well that doesn’t tell the half of it. His parents were both alcoholics. One night they were so jacked up they drove right off into a deep ravine and were both killed.
He had two older brothers, that were killed six months later in a drug deal gone bad. Eric disappeared for two days after he heard. I guess it was too much to soon. I had a Great Dane I called Scooby. Mom and Dad gave him to me when I was eight. He and I went looking for Eric. We found him down by the lake. We stayed there with him just to keep him company. One day we were out on the lake in an old boat when I flipped over backwards and didn’t come up. He got worried and came after me. When he saw I was okay I stuck my tongue out at him. Back in the boat he said, “I aughta’ knock your block off.”
I said, “Go ahead and I’ll knock yours off.” We both started laughing. He talked and talked and told me the hell of a life he had lived. When I started college, he did too. He is the closest thing I have to a brother and he is one of my two best friends.