by Bailey West
The attendant at the boutique helped me into the dress. It fit perfectly. I walked out of the dressing room to show Nette and Zora.
“Oh, my goodness. Olivia, it’s beautiful and perfect for you,” Zanetta gushed.
“Do you think Paxton will like it?”
“Of course, he will. He will love anything you wear but this is amazing, and it fits your vision to a tee,” Zora said while walking around me.
They both stood behind me as I examined myself in the mirror. I felt the tears coming.
“Oh, no you don’t!” Zora said. “This is a happy day. Only happy tears are allowed. You love Pax and Pax loves you. Nothing else matters, okay?”
“Okay,” I said as I wiped the stray tears that had escaped.
The attendant came and placed my custom-made crown on my head. I am not going to wear a veil.
“Now, I’m going to cry,” Zora laughed.
“This is perfect.”
Paxton
I stayed with Nigel for two more days. I helped him with the crops. I showed him pictures of Olivia and told him about my plans to build her and her mom a house. I sent Olivia a text every morning and one in the evening before I went to bed. She sent short responses, but she did respond. Nigel and I fixed a part of the fence around his property that was broken, and I helped him at his booth at the farmer’s market. He’s a big hit with the local women at the market. I had so many older women winking at me while I helped him. A couple women asked if Nigel was my brother. I told them he was my father and that really had them smiling. One woman brought her daughter back to meet me. I had to let her know that I was taken. Nigel gave away almost as much as sold. He’s very generous.
I was in my bedroom sending Olivia a text telling her about my day when I heard trumpet playing coming from the back of the house. I finished the text then followed the music and found Nigel in a small room surrounded by instruments.
He stopped playing and motioned for me to enter the room.
“Do you still remember what I taught you on the guitar?”
“For the most part.”
He pointed to an acoustic guitar in the corner.
“Pick that up, let me see what you got.”
I picked up the guitar and sat in a chair next to Nigel. He started playing a song that I remember from my childhood. I followed along with him on the guitar. I remember hearing him play the trumpet as a child but I don’t think I understood or was able to appreciate how talented he is. I was impressed by his skill. It felt good to play with him. The song ended, and we both smiled.
“You are great on the guitar.”
“So are you on the trumpet. Have you thought about recording?”
“Naw, man that time for me has passed.”
“I don’t think so. You should talk to Blue and Zeke. We have that whole state of the art recording studio in Houston. I think it would be a great thing if you recorded.”
“Would you play a song with me if I did it?”
I thought about it for a second.
“Yes, I would. I would be honored to accompany you.”
“Then, I will do it.”
Nigel and I were sitting on his porch the night before I was scheduled to fly back to Houston.
“I’m going to get a ramp built so Selle can come and visit me.”
“She said she wants to come?”
“Yeah, she wants to see what I have been up to. I told her if she would get rid of that old flip phone then we could video chat, and I could show her the house.”
“Yeah, she’s not getting rid of that phone.”
We laughed.
“That’s when she said she wanted to visit. It’s so many steps to get up to the house, so I want to build a ramp so she won’t have to fuss with the steps. I know she can do the steps, but she said some days are better than others. I want her to be comfortable.”
“I can pay for that ramp for you.”
“I appreciate that, but you already do so much for both Selle and me, I can handle it. I’m going to win her back if she will have me. I know I don’t deserve her, but I love her.”
“Nigel, I want to apologize. I should have had this conversation with you a long time ago. I didn’t know you, and I judged you based on my childhood memory. I should have written you while you were in prison. I should have asked to visit.”
“Pax, you don’t shoulder any blame in this situation, man. I am the Father. I should have never put you in that situation. You didn’t visit me because I wouldn’t put none of you on the visitor’s list. I didn’t want my family seeing me locked up like that. Plus, I needed that time to get myself together. I should have been the one to initiate this dialogue. I’ve practiced my speech to you for years. I’ve started the conversation with you on more than one occasion only to switch subjects before you knew what I really wanted to discuss. I was afraid of what you would say. I was afraid to hear what my only son thought of me. I got over the fear because I needed to hear what you thought, but I still couldn’t bring myself to follow through with talking to you. I’m sorry Paxton. I’m sorry that I messed up. You deserved a better father than me. You are the best thing I have ever done. The one true joy in my life. You are my pride, my only seed, and my legacy. You make me want to be a better man. I love you, Son. Please forgive me.”
I embraced the moment as I embraced my Father. I held on to my father and cried. I cried for all the years I spent angry instead of getting to know him. I cried for all the years he lost in prison for a mistake that he felt he needed to pay for. I cried for almost losing the love of my life because I was stubborn, then, I let it all go. I decided to move forward from this point and never look back.
“I forgive you. I love you too, Dad.”
20
Paxton had been gone for four days. He sent me daily text messages telling me about his day. He said that he’s talked with Nigel and he was surprised by some of the things he learned during their conversations. I would acknowledge each text but I didn’t respond because the only thing I really wanted to say is: I miss you. I miss you. I miss you. I knew sending that text would be counterproductive to me sending him away, so I just stuck with simple responses like, “okay” and “that’s good.”
We had moved my office from the church to the ABA. The school is on the same property as the church, so I was still close but not in the same building. I used the furniture that I had in my office at the church with a couple other pieces that Zanetta added. She changed out the red chairs and replaced them a softer rose color that made the space feel more inviting.
We were in the process of filling the last administrative positions to prepare ourselves for the upcoming school year. I hired a secretary who is doing a great job of keeping me on task with the ABA and with the wedding. Paxton’s secretary was a godsend as well. She keeps up with all of the payments and deadlines for the wedding.
Someone knocked on my closed office door. I figured it was June, my secretary, informing me that she’d returned from lunch.
“Come in,” I called out.
I was surprised when Paxton walked through the door holding a vase of fuchsia roses. I wanted to jump up from my seat and run into his arms, but I kept my composure and smiled back at him when he smiled at me. He put the vase on the table near the door.
“Hi, Ollie.”
“Hey, Paxton.”
He didn’t move to sit down.
“Please, have a seat.” I motioned to the chairs in front of my desk. I couldn’t get too excited because I wanted to make sure he took care of business and was not here on some foolishness. He looked delicious in his black tailored suit with a black and white striped shirt and black and white polka dot tie. He had a fresh haircut. His beard and mustache were trimmed drawing my attention to his full lips that I wanted to kiss so badly.
“Welcome back.”
My face and posture were a complete mask. I was about to jump out of my skin. I missed him so much.
“Thank you.”
“When did you get back?”
“This morning.”
“Good.” I folded my hands in front of me on my desk and waited for him to speak.
“So, I visited with Nigel, and it went well. I realized that I had a lot of misconceptions about him and me. He answered a lot of questions. He told me a lot that I didn’t know about him and Giselle. I was finally able to see what was blocking me.
“What was that?”
“I have excelled at everything that I have tried in life. What I realized is that it’s not determination, focus and all that stuff I told the kids at my old high school, it’s fear. Plain and simple. Fear is what drives me to be the best. Fear of messing up. Fear of not being what you need. Fear of failure. Fear. I’ve always worked so hard at things because I didn’t want to fail. It seems like the harder I worked at this relationship, the more afraid I became. I was afraid of being like Nigel but now I realize that being like Nigel is a really good thing. He is a great man.”
“I’m happy to hear that, Paxton.”
“I stopped by to ask if it is okay if I come back home?”
I want to be excited. I wanted to say, “hell yeah you come back home,” but I couldn't. I couldn't until I knew that he was okay and that something had changed. I couldn’t until I knew that this was the man that I really want to spend the rest of my life with.
I knew that this moment, this decision of whether or not Paxton can return will remain with me forever. I would look back on this decision for the rest of my life, either positively or negatively. Either way, I would never forget this moment. I knew that this was the turning point of this relationship and it will solidify my position in this relationship. This decision would determine how he looked at me, how he treated me, how he respected me. So, I had to make sure that I was making the right choice. I know I want him to come back home, but is he ready to come back home?
“I don't know if you can come back. Are you sure you are ready to come back? Do you really want to be there with me?”
“Yes, I’m ready to come back. Hell, yes, I really want to be there with you.”
“How do you know? How do you know that this isn’t just some form of jailhouse salvation? Meaning that when you come back home, you won’t still be on some bull?”
“I know because I'm here to tell you that I love you. I'm sorry that it took me so long to say it, but I felt it immediately, and I knew what it was instantaneously. I can't live without you. I can't breathe without you. You dominate my thoughts. You dominate my plans. My whole life revolves around you, and if I can't have you, then I don't want anything.” He stood from his chair. Walked around my desk to my chair and offered his hand. I stood up in front of him while he held my hands in his. “I love you, Olivia, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I'm ready to come home and be the man that you need me to be. I want to be the husband that you need me to be. I want to build a family with you. Whatever it takes; getting your surgery reversed, adopting kids, stealing kids, whatever.”
“Stealing kids?”
“Yeah, I’m not above it. It may be hard to find a couple of little red head kids unattended but I won’t stop searching. I will do whatever it takes to make you happy. Can I come home?”
I started crying somewhere between love and you. He grabbed some tissues out of the box on my desk and gently wiped my face.
“Yes, you can come home. I love you too, Paxton.”
He pulled me in and kissed me just like I wanted him to as soon as he walked into my office. Just as we were about to get deep into the kiss, someone knocked on my door.
“Yes?” I called out without removing my arms from around Paxton’s waist.
“Doctor Callahan, I’m back from lunch,” June called from the other side of the door.
“Thank you, June,” I called back.
“Can you leave?” Paxton looked at me with hunger in his eyes. I was just as hungry for him as he was for me.
“I have a quick meeting in fifteen minutes, then I will meet you at the house.”
Paxton
I got home before Olivia, so I took a quick shower and ordered some Thai for dinner. I pushed the patio doors into the wall and set up the food outside. It was a nice breeze outside, perfect for sitting out and enjoying dinner.
I had just finished setting up the food when Olivia arrived. I met her at the elevator and led her outside. I pulled out her chair, and she sat down. I sat down next to her.
“I ordered us some green curry, drunken noodles and…”
“Pax,” she stood from her chair and loosened the knot in the belt on her dress. The dress opened to display her pink see-through lace bra and matching panties. “I would rather have you.” She shimmied out of her dress and moved to straddle my lap. I wanted her too, but I was trying to do the right thing and feed her first. I’m definitely not opposed to changing the plan. She smelled so good and was so soft. I missed her so much. I grabbed the back of her neck and pulled her face to mine to kiss her. I hungrily thrust my tongue into her mouth. She did the same. I was on a mission to discover any remaining place in her mouth that I hadn’t discovered yet. I pulled her closer to accomplish that mission. I wanted to be inside of her so bad, but I knew I had to take my time and make up for these last few weeks that I hadn’t given her the attention she deserves. We continued to kiss while I reached around and unhooked her bra. I pulled back from the kiss to pull it from her body. I stood from my seat, still holding her, I moved the food containers to the side and gently rested her back on the table. I pulled my shirt over my head and threw it behind me. I hungrily kissed her again while I rubbed her nipples the way I imagined she rubbed them when I listened to her pleasure herself over the phone. I moved from her lips and sprinkled kisses down her body until I reached the top of her panties. I grabbed her panties on each side of her thighs and pulled them down her legs. I discarded them. I started at her ankle and kissed my way back to her calf, behind her knee, her thigh then finally her center. I lightly kissed her mound and heard her take in a deep breath. I spread her legs more and started with gentle circles on her bud. I felt her hand on my head. That was my signal to do more. I flattened my tongue and took a long slow lick.
“Pax!” she screamed.
I did it again but inserted my finger into her opening. I alternated licks and sucks and picked up the pace until her screams caught in her throat, and her back arched off the table. She put her hand on my forehead to push me away. I moved back up her body, cherishing every part and kissed her again. She held me in place by the back of my neck while she licked my lips clean of her juices.
I stood up to remove my shorts. I was about to climb on top of her when she said, “Sit down,” and motioned to the chair. I followed her instructions.
She climbed down from the table and moved into a squatted position between my legs. I watched her as she licked, in one fluid motion, from the base of my shaft to the top. She did it again before sliding me into her moist, warm mouth. The muscles in my stomach tightened, and I could feel that I was dangerously close to blowing already. She tried to take my entire manhood into her mouth. I could feel the back of her throat as she gagged a little and pulled back. That didn’t deter her. She changed her angle and kept going. She kept me wet using her salvia, as she massaged my shaft with her hands and her mouth. My toes tried to clinch the concrete. I felt for a handle on the chair to grab ahold of, there was nothing to hold on to. I laced my fingers behind my head so that I could breathe through this tightness I felt in my stomach. She looked up and saw my distress. She grinned.
Cocky…
She released me from her mouth and slowly moved up my body while situating herself on my lap. She lined me up with her opening and slid down. I felt her fingernails dig into my back as she rocked back and forth to adjust to me.
“Baby, you feel so damn good. I love it when you are inside of me.” I adjusted myself in the chair and grabbed on to her behind while she rode me. She used my shoulders as leverage to
move me in and out of her.
“Baby, I missed you.”
“I missed you too.”
She kissed me then pulled away quickly to throw her head back. I felt the tightening of her walls as she increased her thrust.
“I love you, Olivia.”
“Paxton!” She yelled my name as she ascended.
I stood from the chair and put her back on the table. I pushed her legs back to her ears and pumped into her wetness, ferociously. That caveman feeling had returned and I all I wanted to do was claim all of her for myself. I pumped until my stomach muscles clinched so tightly that I had to hold on to Olivia to keep my balance. This was intense!
Thunder crashed, and the skies opened, pouring down rain, just as I roared my release. I picked Ollie up without losing our connection and carried her in the house. I still had some work to do.
Paxton
I stood in the mirror of the hotel suite while Nigel tied my white bowtie. I was wearing an all-white tuxedo for Olivia and my wedding.
“There, I think we have it,” Nigel said.
I looked in the mirror.
“Yeah, that’s perfect. Thank you,” I smiled. I had been fussing with that bow tie for several minutes before Nigel stepped in to help.
“You look good, Son,” my dad said.
“You do,” Nigel said. “I’m happy for you. Olivia is a beautiful woman inside and out.”
“Thank you. She is beautiful. I’m blessed to have her. I’m blessed that she was willing to put up with me until I got myself together.”
“That’s how you know she is the one. She didn’t run in the face of adversity, she dug her heels in and fought for you,” Roman said.
Someone knocked on the door.
“Who is it?” Ezekiel called out.