“You guys still there?”
“Yes—about finished I think. Todd may stay with us tonight. Is that okay?”
“About finished. Hmmmm…Todd or you?”
“Todd, silly! See you soon—wait up for me? ILY!”
“Waiting and wanting! ILYB!” I smile and let out a laugh.
Noticing that, Todd remarks… “So is Mr. H. checking up on us?”
“Yes, that was him.”
“Was he sexting you?”
“Well, of course he was!”
“Did you sext him back?”
“Yeah, something like that.”
He rolls his eyes. “Well, well. Maybe y’all will do it tonight! Do it to it!”
Scott laughs, and Todd tells him how much he likes messing with me. “Yeah, she’s pretty cool for an old lady!”
I roll my eyes and wave him off.
So, at midnight, we are headed home. I had no idea it would take that long, but it makes sense now.
“I hope you don’t mind if I crash with you guys tonight,” Todd says. “I’m kinda sore.”
I ask him how long it will take to heal. He tells me that it will probably take about a week.
“Once we get back to your house, I’ll need to put ointment on it. I’ll let you see, if you want.”
“Do you have the ointment?”
He tells me that Scott always sends him home with the bandages and ointment. “He takes good care of me.”
Even though it’s late, we call Tommy from the car.
“Tommy! My man! What’s up?” He tells us that they’re at the condo and that they did the ice-skating thing and dinner.
“Well, we’re on our way back to your dad’s casa. Got my tattoo. Olivia went with me. Couldn’t convince her to get one though. She met Scott and Angelica, and I think she had a good time. Her first trip to a tattoo parlor.” He giggled, gleefully, then continued, “Gonna crash at your dad’s house tonight. Just checking in, bro. Catch up with you tomorrow. Tell Sweet Em we said hi. Okay, man, you too. Yeah, I think she had fun. ” I nod yes! Todd laughs again, saying, “Take that back. Hell yeah, she had fun! Later!”
We pull up at the house. Ash is waiting for us.
“So, how did my girl hold up?”
“She was a trooper, Mr. H.! Think I’ll head up and get greased up so I can crash. Thanks for lettin’ me stay. Night guys! Hasta manana!”
I realize that I’m really tired as well. Ash gives me a big hug.
“Its late, hon. Let’s get some sleep.”
I’m getting ready for bed when Ash comes into the bathroom. I’m bent down picking up my clothes and he pulls my panties down.
“What are you doing, Ash Harper? Are you coming on to me?”
“Just checking on the goods. Had to look at your backside and make sure you didn’t get inked tonight.”
“Well, you can rest assured that I did not! Maybe for my birthday, but I’m definitely not ready yet.”
He swats my rear, picks me up and carries me to bed. God! I love this man. If this were Alan, he could be mad because I was gone so long…or, for that matter, he wouldn’t have let me even go in the first place. Another first to add to my list, tonight: a visit to a tattoo parlor. Can’t wait to tell Lainey.
Chapter 22
That lovely Monday morning, I come down into the kitchen. Ash has gotten up before me and has coffee made. He greets me with my favorite morning greeting.
“Mornin’, Sunshine! Sleep well?”
“Ummmm!”
He comes over to me and takes me into his arms. We kiss and kiss and kiss. I could do this all day long.
Todd comes into the kitchen.
“Ummmm…excuse me? You guys need to get a room! Take it out of the kitchen, pleeeease! Coffee ready?”
“Yes, it is. How’s the new tattoo?”
“Wanna see?” He unbuttons his shirt and proudly displays it.
“Ouch!” Ash says.
“It’s not so bad, really. I’ve been through this before. Olivia, how’d you like visiting Rebelution?”
“It was fun. Nothing like I expected—actually much better than I expected. I really like Scott and Angelica. They’re a cute couple.”
“Yep, they’re good people. Angelica’s pretty inked and pierced, huh?”
I ask Todd how he met them.
“Brady hooked me up with Scott. He’d done all of his tats, and once I went to him, I knew he was my man! Angelica is damn talented, too. They met at a tattoo convention a long time ago and have been together ever since. She moved here from L.A.”
“Are they married?” I ask.
“Yeah, he made her an honest woman about three years ago.”
“I am still impressed with your car, Todd. It’s beautiful!”
“Yeah, it’s one of the better things I have. I’ll never sell her. She ranks up there with Grammy.”
My phone rings; its Lainey.
“Hey, Mom. How are you?”
“Hey, sweetie! What’s up? I’m just having morning coffee with Ash and Todd.”
“Todd? What’s he doing there at this time of the morning?”
“Well, let me just tell you what I did last night. I went with Todd to get a tattoo. I spent four hours in a tattoo parlor,” I laugh.
“What?”
“Yep! Todd got an awesome tattoo on his heart—a tribute to his Grammy—and he asked me to go. It was so much fun! Can you believe I did that?”
“Ummmmmm…. No, mom, I can’t! You didn’t get one, did you?”
“Of course not! Are you kidding? I just went with him. He picked me up and it was really late when he finished, so he just came back here and spent the night.”
Lainey tells me that she got the contract to do all of the blow dry salons. “Mom, this is huge! I am so excited! I can’t even begin to tell you how much money this means for the company. It will definitely take me to that next level.”
“Oh, Lainey, I just knew you’d get it. There was no doubt in my mind. I’m so proud of you, honey! Congrats! How’s Kel doing? And how are you and my grandbaby?”
“Great. We’re all good. We are so looking forward to coming in for Christmas. We’re shutting down the office for two weeks, and Kellan has taken time off, so we’ll be totally yours for the holidays. Can’t wait! Oh, by the way, have you talked to Dalton?”
“Not lately, why?”
“Well, I don’t want to spoil the news then”
“Lainey Elizabeth! You can’t just start something and not finish. Spill the beans, little lady!”
“Well, you have to promise to act surprised when he tells you that he got a promotion and they’re moving him to Oklahoma…and soon! He’ll probably be back in the states before New Year’s!”
“Oh, my God! That’s amazing! He hasn’t called….I wonder why?”
“Well, probably because he literally just called me. He’ll call you, Mom. Just act surprised and don’t say I told you…promise?”
“Promise. What about Kat?”
“Well, she’ll still be in Malaysia from what he said. She put in to be transferred to Oklahoma, too, but that could take some time.”
“Are they really serious?”
“Mom, I have no idea…just going by what he said. You’re over-thinking, Olivia Petersen. Stop!”
“Okay, you’re right. Just glad he’ll be in the States! So…have you talked to Dad?”
“No. Obviously, his kids aren’t on his frequent call list, these days. None of us have heard from him lately. It’s his loss though, Mom, I can’t let his screw-ups affect my life. So, how’s the divorce coming? Any news?”
“No, not really. Abby said she still thinks it will be final before or by my birthday. How ironic would it be if it were final ON my birthday? The day of my birth and the day of my re-birth!”
“Wow! Wouldn’t that be something! Mom, I still can’t believe this. I want to ask you, and you don’t have to answer me, but are you and Mr. Harper seeing each other?”
I hesitate for a few seconds. “Lainey, honey, so much has happened in my life. And it’s happened really fast. I’ve had so many things to process, so much to sort through. You know how I am, and how I just don’t process change well. Ash has been a stable force in my life. I don’t have my kids here, so he was the only thing I could turn to for support. He was there with me the night Dad called and told me he wasn’t coming home. God! It was awful! Probably the most awful day in my life. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. This wonderful man was there to pick up the pieces and console me. Get me back on track. I can’t tell you how much that meant. He saw me at perhaps the lowest point in my life.”
“So are you with him now? It’s not a bad thing, Mom, just be honest and tell me. I’m not judging you, I swear! You can talk to me—you know that. We’ve always shared things.”
“Well, Lainey, yes. I care for him deeply. He’s brought me out of the darkness of despair. He’s shown me how to express feelings and has encouraged me to become my own person. So, yes; I would tell you that we are together. You don’t hate me for that, do you?”
“Oh, Mom, no! Absolutely not! I feel better now that you’ve told me. Somehow, I suspected it, and could tell that he cares for you. I think he’s an amazing man. I just wasn’t sure what was going on between you. To tell you the truth, I feel so much better knowing that you have someone. We’ve all been around him and know what kind of man he is. Believe me, we all love him.”
“Wow! That’s a big load lifted off of me. I was so torn as to how and when to tell you about us. I was afraid you’d fault me and think I was doing this as a knee-jerk reaction. God knows it was horrible enough having to tell you about Dad and me. Just wasn’t sure when to talk to you guys about Ash. I know that eventually I’d have to say something, and it was so hard to keep my feelings secret during Thanksgiving. Do you think the boys know?”
“Pretty sure they suspect. We saw Mr. Harper kiss you over Thanksgiving, so, yes, I’m pretty sure they do know. No worries though, Mom!”
“Oh, sweetie, I miss you so much! I can’t wait for you to get here. This will be the best Christmas ever…I promise! Do me a favor, though: call him Ash, please?“
“Will do, Mom! Gotta go. Talk soon? Love you mucho.”
“You too, my sweet! Hugs to Kellan, and give my grandbaby a rub on the tummy from Gigi!”
Tears well up in my eyes. Todd and Ash come over and give me a group hug.
“Awww Olivia…your kids really love you, and now that your fling with Mr. H. is out, don’t you feel mo’ betta?”
Ash gives him the thumbs up and kisses the top of my head. He laughs, and says, “Yeah, our fling is finally out in the open, so I guess we can suck face in public now!”
“You guys are too much!”
Almost instantly, the phone rings again.
“Mom?”
“Hey, Dalton. How are you?”
“Well, got some good news. You ready?”
“Of course I’m ready! Give it to me!”
“Mom, I got a promotion and they’re moving me back to the States. I’ll be working in Oklahoma! Good news, huh?”
“Oh! Honey, that’s wonderful news! When will you be home?”
“Before New Year’s! I can probably come for New Year’s to visit. Aren’t you happy?”
“Very! What about you?”
“I’m stoked! I love living here, but it’s so damn far away. I’m glad I’ll be close, so I can maybe be there when Lainey has the baby. Weekend flights to visit you and you to visit me…damn! I can’t wait. Plus, I got a huge raise and am going to be in a supervisory role.”
“I’m more than happy, son, I’m elated. And so proud of you! Have you talked to Lainey and Bradley?” I don’t let him know that Lainey has already called.
“Yep! Just talked to Lainey, matter of fact. Bradley didn’t answer, but I left him a voice mail.”
“And Dad? Did you tell him?”
“No. Not planning on letting him know. I just can’t talk to him, Mom. After all he’s done; I really don’t think I’ll get past this. I have no desire to let him know anything about my life. He pretty much told us all to fuck off by leaving you, in my book.”
“Awww, honey, please don’t feel that way. Just because your father and I parted ways doesn’t mean he doesn’t love you and want to be part of your life. He’ll always be your father, you know.”
“Mom, you just lie down and let Dad walk all over you. You always have. You’re too good a person. You always see good in people and overlook the bad things. I’m not gonna let him do that to you or us ever again. Please. Don’t try and change my mind. It only pisses me off when you try and make excuses for him, so just stop, Mom! He’s fucking scum in my book, so please stop with the ‘please be nice to your father’ talk.”
I stop trying to reason with him, because it’s going nowhere. Maybe he does have a point. I change the subject, asking, “What about Kat?”
His mood changes for the better. “She’s put in to transfer to Oklahoma. Don’t know yet how that will play out. If there’s a spot in my department, I may be able to request her to transfer there, but I’d be her boss. Wouldn’t that be a hoot?”
“So, how does she feel about your coming back to the States?”
“Mom, she’s a professional. We both love our careers, and we both understand with the work we do, there’s always a chance the job will take us somewhere new at any time. We’ll miss each other, sure, but it’s not gonna be forever. We aren’t engagement-type serious, if that’s what you’re thinking though. I know that’s what you wanted to ask, so thought I’d just put that out there,” he laughed.
“Well, I can’t wait for you to get home to the States. Call me when you have more news?”
“Sure thing! I love you, Mom! Gotta go—my meeting’s about to begin.”
Ash tells me that he’s got some really fun things planned for when my kids come in for Christmas.
“Oh! Please, tell me... I want to know!”
“Well, Christmas in the Windy City is pretty spectacular…lots to see and do. On the fifteenth, which is a Saturday, I’ve planned for us to go to the Christkindlmarket. It’s on Daley Plaza, and is a huge German-themed outdoor market. You guys will love it!”
“Sound marvelous! What else?”
“Well, I’m not gonna tell you everything. I have a few surprises up my sleeve so you gotta trust me. You’ll love it all.”
“I absolutely can’t wait! I’m so excited!”
“You should get online and look up the Christkindlmarket. I’m sure they have pictures and probably a blog site.”
I can’t wait to check it out!
The week goes by really fast. Emily and I can hardly cop a spare minute to talk, as the shop is crawling with customers from the time we open until closing. Sarah says this is probably her best holiday season, and I’m so happy for her. God knows, she’s had her fair share of unexpected romance endings in her life, and has worked so hard to get her little shop up and profitable.
Emily and I chitchat one day after work, briefly. She tells me that she and Tommy hit a little rough patch in their relationship. Seems she’s still stuck on the notion that she’s damaged goods because of Tony.
“I suggested that we take a break. He got really upset and said that I’m being totally unreasonable. I have a hard time showing my feelings because of the toxic Tony relationship. Tommy’s so open and he communicates feelings well, which makes it really hard for us to move forward. He’s been more than patient with me, but I just can’t open up like he does. I’m afraid to tell him why I’m afraid… does that even make sense? Honestly, Olivia, I really care for him, but after what happened, it scares the crap out of me. What if Tony comes back around? What if when he gets out of jail, he continues to stalk me? That could lead to Tommy getting hurt. He has too much going for him with his band and all. I mean, I would just die if something bad happened. Maybe it’s best if we just end before we really start…you know what I mean
?”
“Oh Emily! I told you before that you can’t worry about things like that. That would be letting Tony control your life, and he wins. You just can’t let that happen. You’re too smart a girl to let a man take control of your destiny. Are you back at your apartment?”
“Yeah, I told Tommy that I couldn’t stay at his father’s condo forever. As nice as it is, I have to go home sometime, and it’s just best this way. He was pretty peeved when I told him I was ready to go back home. He just kept asking why. He’s called twice today, and I haven’t returned the calls. He left messages, asking if I’d come watch them play this weekend, but I just don’t know if I can do that.”
“Well, will you at least think about coming with us Saturday night to watch the guys play? Ash and I can come pick you up.”
“We’ll see. Let me think on it.”
“Oh, and I forgot to tell you…my kids are coming in next week—two of them, at least. I can’t wait for you to meet Lainey. You’ll love her!”
“What about your other son? Dalton, right?”
“Well, as I told you, he’s in Malaysia, but good news! He’s been transferred back to the States and will be stateside by New Year’s!”
“Fabulous! I know you can’t wait to see him!”
We talk in the parking lot for a bit longer before she says that she needs to get going.
“Well, call me once you’re home and inside. Remember to lock the doors. Do you have an alarm?”
“Oh, heavens, no! My place is just a little tiny place in an old building. But, yeah, I’ll let you know when I’m in and safe and sound.”
Tommy calls his dad while we are eating dinner and says they have been practicing every night, putting in some pretty long hours. They’re doing some new songs of their own, as well as some new cover songs. Ash tells him that I’ve asked Emily to come with us.
“Tell, her I appreciate that, but things are not going my way, Dad. She’s freaked out about that Tony guy, and it’s really messing with my head. I think I just need to play my music and forget about her, but it’s really hard. I finally find someone who I can have a good time with and am really into, and then this happens. Geez! I just don’t get it, Dad.”
Out of The Box Awakening Page 25