Friends with Benefits

by Olivia Gaines

  Charlize knelt and gave him a big hug as well, accompanied by a wet raspberry on his cheek, “I’m here if you or Bok Choy should need me,” she scratched the dog behind the ears.

  Marquez gave her a big hug and climbed into the back seat of the car, followed by Bok Choy, who took his seat looking out the window.

  “Thank you both,” Uncle Arthur said as he held Grayson very close with tears in his eyes, “I appreciate you both so much.” He reached out an arm and pulled Charlize in for a hug as well.

  Charlize and Grayson stood on the porch waving as they drove off. Minutes later, Grayson loaded up his car with his things and headed home to get himself ready for his week. Alone in her home, it suddenly felt cold and empty. She changed the sheets in the guest rooms, ran a mop over the floors, and vacuumed dog hairs from her bed after she changed those linens as well.

  The patio had been tidied and she was grateful for the outdoor kitchen, but the grill needed to be cleaned. She threw away the makeshift dog bowl for Bok Choy and then inspected the back yard. Marquez had done a good job cleaning up after his buddy. As it approached three o’clock, her stomach signaled it was time to eat something. She felt a sudden wave of sadness; she did not want to eat alone.

  The doorbell rang. She wasn’t expecting anyone. A quick peek through the keyhole and she found Grayson standing on the front porch with his arms loaded with clothes. Curiosity urged her to open the door, and he breezed past her headed towards her bedroom, “Again, I am done eating and sleeping alone, Charlize.”

  And that was how Grayson Broche handled asking her to live together.

  Chapter Twenty- Two

  AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER flew by as the two learned how to live with each other. Grayson put his condo on the market and it sold fast. The friendship became stronger as they determined what worked well for them as a couple. Their weekly dinners were moved to Saturday gatherings, as friends and family fought over who was headed to their house for an evening of fine dining. The cookbook, Cooking With Love, A Couples Guide To Low Cal Dinners, was finally finished and sent in to the publisher. One weekend, when her parents were over, they both noticed Dr. Filleman’s face.

  Charlize’s father did not approve of Grayson moving in without making her his wife first, as he voiced his concern privately to each of them. He was shocked to find out the delay in marriage was not on Grayson’s part, but his own daughter’s. Charlize looked him square in the eyes when she told him, “I have some things I have to work out in me, Daddy, before I can agree to be his wife and the mother of his children.”

  Grayson was less tactful, “I understand your feelings, sir, but I have to respect hers. When she is ready to marry me, she will.” Grayson wanted to add that she would probably have it all arranged and just tell him what to wear and when to show up. He knew he had taken a chance moving himself in without discussing it with her, but it wouldn’t be that simple getting her to the alter. It bothered him a bit that she loved him, but understood, the children thing needed some time.

  “Well, you are doing better than the last one. You know she kicked him out the car with her feet? And he was driving.” Her father put his pipe back into his mouth and left the subject alone. He always worried about Charlize. She was more like him and not one prone to a great deal of emotion. He saw this trait in his grandson, Frazier III, as well. The doctor wrapped his arms around his wife as he smiled, grateful to Grayson for giving Charlize the time and space she needed. He had to admit, he like Grayson a heck of a lot more than his other two sons in law.

  In mid-October, while sitting in her office gazing out the window, she was hit with a whiff of something that curdled her stomach. One of the players walked in with a rash that was infected and the wound appeared almost septic. It stupefied her that these men could have so much money, but take such poor care of themselves. The doctor in Charlize took over, and tended to the needs of the patient, but the woman in her was really sick of this damned job.

  “Dr. Filleman, you have a call on line three; it is a Marquez Broche.” She was smiling from ear to ear as she slapped a bandage on the rash, wrote a script for antibiotics and left the room.

  “Hey, Kiddo, Bok Choy missing me?” His laughter sounded like magic sprinkles on pink cupcakes to her and his next words hit her in the chest and made her go all soft inside.

  “I don’t know about him, but I am missing you.” Charlize’s eyes got teary. She was truly falling in love with this kid. “Can we come up for Halloween weekend?

  She assumed the ‘we’ meant him and the dog, “Sure, you and Bok Choy?”

  “Yeah, and can Frazier III stay over too so we can go trick-or-treating together?”

  She saw no reason why not, but asked why he wanted to come so far for such a random holiday. “All the people who live in Grammy & Pop-Pop’s neighborhood give you boxes of raisins and fruit instead of candy. I am not sure if it is supposed to be a trick or something....but Grammy says it’s good for your bowels.” He paused for a minute, “Doc, why do old people always talk about their bowels and pooping? Is it hard to make a poop when you get old?”

  She found herself laughing. He brought lots of laughter to their lives. She ended the call with him and made three phone calls of her own. The first of course was to Grayson, who was excited as well. The second call was to her brother, to secure Frazier III for Halloween. The last call was to a head hunter to help her find a new job.

  Yep, her attitude had changed.

  Chapter Twenty- Three

  HALLOWEEN ARRIVED WITH a big announcement from her nephew that he no longer wanted to be called Frazier III, but Trey. After putting their heads together, Trey decided that Marquez had to come to the Lake House for Thanksgiving as well. Charlize tried to explain that Marquez’s grandparents may not be okay with that idea, which prompted the two boys to get on the phone and make a call. By the end of the conversation, Marquez had convinced his grandfather to come to Atlanta to spend the weekend with Uncle Arthur so they would not miss him too much.

  Charlize pulled him to the side, “Marquez, there is a big difference between showing initiative and being manipulative; right now, you are manipulating people to get your way.”

  Marquez’s face was crushed, but she could not allow him to think what he was doing was okay, “It is up to me and your grandparent’s as to whether or not you come to the lake. It will also be us who will decide. I will let you know my decision sometime around mid-November.” She shook her finger at Frazier III and told him as well that she wasn’t sure if she liked this Trey fellow he was pretending to be.

  Marquez was not ready to let it go, “But Doc, Pop-Pop said it was okay!”

  This was not a time to show weakness, and it panged her, but she stood firm, “Yes, he may have, but you never asked me. I am the one who decides. I will let you know my answer in mid-November, until then, the conversation is closed.” She gathered her things and headed back to the kitchen.

  Melea was standing in the hallway, “That’s right big sis. You let him know right away, that it is either your way, or no way.”

  Charlize did not bother to respond, but dismissed her sister’s words and went back to join the others. Melea was not ready to lay off, “That’s it Doctor Filleman, whatever you don’t like, you just walk away from and let go. Grayson better knock you up or put a ring on your finger before he disappoints you, then you abandon him too!”

  Grayson heard her words, but focused on Charlize’s face as she passed by. Melea was in a foul mood and itching for a fight, she yelled at the back of Charlize’s head, “Bitch!”

  Charlize stopped and turned slowly, eyeing her sister with nothing more than a mere annoyance, “How many times must we go through this Malea? It is Dr. Bitch, to you.” She turned her back once more on her sister, and walked away.

  Whatever has been brewing between these two sisters was about to come to a head. Charlize was going to have to deal with the pain her sister was feeling, or things would get ugly really fast. Grayson wasn�
�t sure what to do or say at this time, but he would approach it later.

  Chapter Twenty- Four

  AFTER A VERY LONG, but private conversation with Uncle Arthur and Aunt Delia, Charlize was close to making a decision, but she would allow Marquez to come to the lake for the Thanksgiving holidays. The boy had a very positive effect on Frazier III, who seemed to come out of his shell when Marquez was around. They were both very polite boys who cleaned up behind themselves, which was always a plus. As November rolled around, she found herself excited to see him and the dog when they arrived on Wednesday afternoon. Little time was spared packing to leave for the Lake.

  Bok Choy had made his way back to her bedroom where he rested on the floor until called to climb into the back of her vehicle. Frazier III chose to ride to the lake with them instead of his dad so he and Marquez could talk, “dude stuff, Auntie.” She wasn’t sure what dude stuff was and didn’t need to know. She sat in the passenger seat as Grayson maneuvered the vehicle up the I-75, headed towards the lake. Charlize was actually dreading the weekend, but the ride up was very pleasant. Her parents had placed Grayson in charge of alcohol, which had been secured in a crate in the back of the Enclave. The third row of seats had been removed to make room for Bok Choy and the suitcases. It helped that Frazier III’s things were being brought up by his parents.

  The dread of arrival was replaced by the enthusiasm of Marquez at the site of the house. “Come on,” said Frazier III, “I’ll show you around.” The boys took off with the dog behind them, running towards the water, but were stopped when the girls began to yell for their brother to come inside.

  Grayson broke her train of thought, “Where will we put Marquez, in with us?”

  Charlize only smiled as they made their way up to the second floor to her suite. “Open that second door, over there,” she said to Grayson, whose eyes were wide as he peered inside. “Each of the rooms are actually a suite, with a second room for the kids.” As they went inside, he realized that Charlize had decorated the room for Marquez to include a bed, dresser—and of course; Batman wall décor. Grayson embraced her and planted a very wet kiss on her mouth, “Ah, mi querida, I love you so much.”

  “I love you back, Grayson,” she said, wanting to tell him more, but she heard feet barreling their way and sure as the stars shine on clear nights, there stood Marquez, Frazier III, Bok Choy, the twins, and little Elaine, Melanie’s six year old. Peering into the room, Marquez yelled, “COOOOOOOL!” and went to lie upon his bed. Bok Choy seemed to be very pleased with his Batman dog bed as well.

  The day may have just gotten better, but the kids headed down the stairs to the game room where they played pool, drank pops, ate popcorn, and made a mess. Marquez was the first one to start the clean up behind the mess the kids made when Dr. Filleman walked in, “Why are you cleaning up?”

  Marquez was sweeping the floor, “I want to make sure I am a good guest, so I can come back again. I love it here!”

  Dr. Filleman took the broom and guided him out to the porch. As they stood on the second floor, looking out over the lake, he shared with Marquez the first time his grandfather and dad brought him to the lake. “I felt the same way you do now. Each time I come back, I find something new to love about it here.” He gave the boy his private tour, then sent for Frazier III to get some poles as he took them down to his favorite fishing spot. In a matter of hours, after catching bugs and worms as bait, the three returned from the lake with a string a fish, a sour odor, and “the one that got away stories.”

  Charlize sent Marquez straight to the showers, but he protested, “Awww, Doc, it’s just a little dirt! God made dirt and dirt don’t hurt.”

  She pointed to the stairs and Marquez begrudgingly headed up to take a shower before dinner. Suddenly feeling lightheaded, she reached for the chair but missed the back and collapsed on the floor.

  SHE AWOKE TO FRAZIER waving smelling salts under her nose and her father holding her hand. “Charlize, are you okay?” She shook her head yes, while trying to right herself on the couch. “I think my blood sugar may have dropped, and I just need something to eat. I’m okay everybody.” She felt emotionally tapped and very drained, but managed to get through dinner. Grazing, but barely eating, while feeling a sense of dread, she retired to the verandah outside of her bedroom. She had a book in hand; she thought she would just read.

  “Ah, so I see the mighty woman does have some kryptonite,” Melea said.

  “Can we just get through the weekend, Melea, without me having to deal with your bullshit?”

  Melea spat the words at her with undue venom, “Oh, so my feelings are bullshit? How I am handling my sister’s hatred of me is bullshit to you?”

  Charlize felt dizzy again, and would say anything to make the cause of her headache and stomach upset go away, “Honestly, I don’t hate you; you irritate the crap out of me, but I don’t hate you.”

  Melea took a seat, and looked at her sister, “Well what did I do to disappoint you so Charlize, where I have been relegated to being treated as if I was nothing more than gum stuck on your shoe? And don’t tell me it is about Karl. You treated me like this before him.”

  Charlize was fighting back the nausea that was threatening to consume her, “My problem with you is that you do not listen. If I say, ‘Melea, don’t stick your hand in that hole’, you are going to stick your hand in that hole, and the instant you get bit, you want everyone to stop and nurse your wound. You are 29 years old, and are still making dumb ass choices! Fine, you do that, but I am not inclined, now or ever, to come running to your rescue.”

  Melea was furious, “Not everyone can do and be exactly what Daddy wants. Some of us want a chance to try and fail, so that we can try again and get better.”

  “Instant gratification, is all you ever want. Some shit, you have to work at, Melea, perfect it, wait, let it grow, let it marinate, let it age and see how it feels on you.”

  “Is that what you are doing with Grayson?”

  Charlize wanted to knock her block off but she felt too weak to stand, “No, sis. I am allowing myself a chance to grow with him before we move into something more. I would have wanted the same for you and the man you would have chosen to marry.”

  “Well, I am married to Karl now,” she said with a matter of fact tone.

  Charlize was beyond caring, “And how is that working out for you?” There was no time to react as Malea slapped her hard across the face.

  “You are just jealous that he wanted me, and not you.”

  Charlize’s hand went to her stinging cheek, if she had felt better, the two of them would be in the midst of a knock down drag out fight, but maybe she deserved it. Maybe all the years of ignoring her sister and turning her back had just built up to where Melea’s only outlet was something physical. It wasn’t the right answer and as soon as she felt better, she was going to stomp a mud hole in her, for striking her, and in the face no less, but right now, the air had to be cleared. “I brought Karl to the lake for Daddy to do an assessment of him; something did not feel right about that guy; Malea, something is off with that man.”

  “Is that why you brought Grayson to the lake, for Daddy to assess him to?

  Charlize felt the bile starting to turn, “No, you nitwit. Didn’t you hear why I brought Grayson to the lake? I love him and wanted to be with him!”

  Malea, flopped down in the seat, and Charlize still wanted to knock her out, but she was feeling more concerned for her wellbeing. Maybe now was the time to let it all out. She began to explain.

  Karl was a physical therapist that had applied for a job on the team. Every question asked, he gave the perfect answer—almost textbook as if he had studied her and knew exactly what she wanted to hear. The on-staff psychologist had interviewed him and found him to be an excellent candidate, but Charlize did not trust any of them, which is why she brought him to the lake.

  Her father was an excellent psychiatrist and Frazier was a great clinical psychologist. Both had spent time separately
with the man, and both pronounced him a sociopath. Melea, misunderstanding Charlize’s interest in him, ran off to Vegas the following weekend and married him. Three years and two children later, Karl was seldom seen. The last time Melea saw him was six months ago when he emptied her accounts and she had to move back in with their parents.

  “I think everything would have been okay,” Melea said as she dropped her head, “if you had just given him the job.”

  Charlize was not doing well, “How would that have looked, Melea? I couldn’t hire my brother-in-law.” As a nurse, Melea recognized the signs and jumped up and grabbed a wastebasket and held it under her sister’s face in the nick of time as her dinner spilled into the trash can.

  Melea understood, but she was still angry, resentful and jealous, that Charlize got to have it all. Instead of being upset, her sister needed her and the nurse inside took over. “Charlize, does Grayson know you are pregnant?”

  Chapter Twenty- Five

  AFTER A HEALTHY DOSE of ginger ale and applesauce in her tummy, Charlize was feeling more like herself. She still ate very little and remained somewhat still over the Thanksgiving weekend. She could not forgo the annual Black Friday shopping trip with her mother and sister’s while the men stayed home, babysat, and watched the game. As much as Charlize was like her father, Melanie was more like her mother, quiet, soft spoken and reserved. Every word was carefully chosen, every action carefully thought through.

  Hattie Filleman had little to say to her eldest daughter unless it was a direct conversation, but small talk was really not her thing. After the shopping trip, she placed her right hand on Charlize’s stomach, “If you sing to them, it will lessen the nausea.” Charlize stood dumbfounded. Melanie smiled, and Frazier stuck out his tongue pointing at her and laughing. “I haven’t told Grayson yet. It is still so early. Frazier, Mom, please guys, keep it quiet.”