Choices (8 page)

Brandon raised himself off the chair in one quick sweep and had a handful of dishes in his arms and disappeared into the kitchen before I even had a chance to reply. I was starting to feel dizzy and confused. Again, in his presence I’m swept away by his confidence and boldness and now his opinion of women.
I guess Paul was right. I am so transparent. I must be giving off vibes that I am neglected or is this boy just incredibly perceptive for someone so young. Was he really twenty two years old? I started to get up from the table to help him and he appeared at the French doors ready to grab another load of dishes.

“Hey, sit down. I’ve got this. It’s my way of saying sorry for getting too personal.”

“You didn’t get too personal. I’m just amazed at your candor. It’s unusual to see it in someone so young.”

“Really, it comes from being raised by only a mother. I saw how hard she worked to take care of me. She sacrificed many things for herself so I could hav
e the best of everything. I didn’t see my father doing that. I didn’t see my father at all. It almost makes me sick to say that I’m obviously a part of him too. Who could leave a woman when she was pregnant and not want to be involved with your own son? It just makes me determined to be the kindest gentleman I can and be the man that my father should have been.” He cleared the rest of the dishes and walked into the kitchen and placed them in the sink. He was now getting ready to do the dishes.

“You know Brandon
your parents were really young, younger than you are now. I’m sure Robbie was really scared.”

“Hmph!
Whose turn is it now at being direct?”  He turned around from the sink to face me. He placed his hands behind him on the sink. The humidity outside and the steam from the hot water made his hair curl even more at the top. One curl drooped down over his left eye. His eyes smoldered with intensity about his convictions. They turned an even deeper blue if that was possible. I couldn’t resist the urge to raise my hand and smooth back his misplaced curl. I took a small step toward him and indulged my urge. My gesture wasn’t ignored. He gently placed his fingertips along the skin of my arm and let his fingers drift gently toward my shoulder. That gentle touch left a current of electricity behind that made my hair on my arms stand at attention. He was close enough now that I could feel his breath on my face. I was trying to concentrate on stepping backwards but his other arm grasped me around my waist to pull me into him closer. Brandon eyes were so blue I felt I could see right through him. The hand that was on my shoulder now grazed my neck and his other arm that was around my waist was now traveling up my back until it met his other hand on the other side of my neck. He had both hands on opposite sides of my neck. His long fingertips were so soft and smooth. Brandon gently cradled my neck in his hands. With his long, graceful fingers in my thick, curly hair he placed his thumbs under my jaw so I had no choice but to raise my head toward him and slightly part my lips. His lips were very close to mine. I couldn’t breathe. I was dizzy and unfocused, lost. I couldn’t wrap my brain around his actions. Was he going to do what I wanted him to do since the first time I met him.

How on God’s green Earth could this be happening? Am I dreaming?
How could I even want this to happen? It’s been so long since I felt this way. Paul….

I pushed the thought of Paul out of my head and remembered a phrase Brandon spoke to me earlier in the afternoon, just be in the moment, Laurel.
I was always a planner, always organized, everything in its place. I don’t know what it was about him, I don’t know what it was that stopped my brain neurons from firing properly but, I decide to take his advice and so I was- in the moment. His lips brushed mine ever so gently at first. He pulled back slightly to look into my eyes to gauge my response. I was hesitant. I let him brush his lips gently to mine and I tentatively embraced his waist. His muscles were smooth and taut. His earthy, musky scent was so overpowering up close, it clouded my mind and my thinking. The kiss lingered and moved from gentle to something more earnest that really took my breath away. He pulled me tighter to him making it even harder to breathe and his intention even clearer. His lips found my ear and I heard his husky voice- “Laurel, open up and let me in. I want to explore.” Holy cow, that did it. No one has ever spoken to me like that before.  I melted into his kiss and his embrace and truly lived in the moment, living out all my ridiculous and unfathomable fantasies.  Ten seconds later, I withdrew my arms, placed them at my sides and released myself from his embrace. I must have looked shocked because Brandon was apologetic immediately.

“Laurel, I’m so sorry. I couldn’t help myself. I’ve wanted to kiss you since
I saw you step out of your car at my graduation party. I told you Jo says I need to slow down, not be so direct but, where’s that gonna get you?” He gushed. “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you. When my mother introduced us and I found out about your desire to redo your sunroom, I was determined to find a way to meet with you again. I’m sorry if I scared you or took advantage of you. I can be pretty intense and direct and single minded when I want something.”

WHAT!! Did I hear him correctly? Am I imagining this whole scenario?
It took me a minute to recover and engage my brain to form words.

“No, you didn’t scare me. I thought I was the only one that felt this way. I was sure I was being a total idiot lusting after a boy who was old enough or young enough for that matter to be my son.” He was cringing as I did my own fair share of gushing relaying my feelings to him. 

“Why are you looking at me like I just shot your foot off?” I asked breathlessly.

“Did you just call me a boy? I don’t think a boy could have kissed you like that.”
There was that lopsided, devilish smile again.

“
No, you’re right about that.” I laughed and gently traced my fingertips over my lips. “I’m sorry for calling you a boy. I take that back, but I am old enough to be your mother.”

“
I have a mother Laurel and I’m not looking for another one. You are so much more than just a mother.”

Whew again with the swooning! This boy, I mean man certainly knows the right thing to say to charm a woman.

“You are quite the charmer.” I murmured.

“Good, I’m glad you think so. That was my intention today. Honestly, kissing you was my first order of business today. The sunroom was a much lower priority. Yes, I like an ar
chitectural challenge but, the challenge of getting you close to me was much, much more appealing.” His smile was purely organic and totally caught me off guard, as he pulled me tighter yet again.

“Oh my gosh! The sunroom!
I totally forgot why you were here in the first place. I actually need to go and pick up my little people. Look at the time.” I whirled around the kitchen gathering up my keys and my pocketbook. I really need to go.” I gestured toward the door while I smoothed out my top, not looking at his eyes because I don’t think I would be able to resist him.

“Of course you do. Can I come back tomorrow and have a look at the sunroom, then?” He asked expectantly.

I hemmed and hawed while my brain function returned to normal and before I knew what I was saying I looked into his eyes, swallowed down the lump in my throat and nodded yes.

Bonnie’s George, another great guy in my circle of friends. Wow, you want to talk about smart, almost brilliant. I was a little intim
idated when I first met George Wellington III.  Impressive name isn’t it? George came from old, smelly money as he called it. For someone who seemed so formidable on paper, George is a really down to earth, everyday, guy. George is an obstetrician and gynecologist. He started out in pharmaceutical first but decided that wasn’t his thing so he went back to school again and studied obstetrics.  He would have been the perfect gyn doctor for me but it just would have been too icky since his wife is one of my best friends. George is patient, confident and always, always in control - always. He is in the best shape. Really, he puts our husbands to shame. I guess with him being a doctor, he knows the importance of keeping himself in tip top shape but honestly he says it is what keeps him sane. All those screaming mothers in pain, he once told me, was enough to drive a man insane, plus I have to run off all those calories I consume from Bonnie’s cooking.  Exercise is his release from having to stay so focused and meticulous. Once you get past the control freak factor and the super smarts, George is a really nice guy underneath all those degrees. He has a genuine heart and a desire to fix things. My Bonnie is pretty much the same way. She is incredibly smart, wise beyond her years and loves to fix things too, whether it be people’s hearts or just cooking a good old fashioned crowd pleaser. Those too are a good pair as well and I am thankful to call them friends.

Bonnie and George moved up from Florida right after he completed his residency in obstetrics. I met Bonnie wh
en her little one, Michael was going to preschool with my Vanessa. Bonnie and I hit it off immediately and I had to introduce her to Kristy and Joni. We quickly fell into a routine of swapping recipes, parenting woes and some slight husband bashing and thus our Girls Night In, GNI was born.

I
remember our first GNI. We had such a blast. We were all just starting to get to know one another. Our husbands were going to come and pick us up so we got toasted. It had been a long time for all of us at that point between being pregnant and nursing babies, we were all actually at a point when we could all drink together. That didn’t happen too often, so when it did we took advantage of it. We had a million questions for Bonnie because one - she, herself, was brilliant and two - her husband was even more brilliant and an ob/gyn so we had lots of questions.

“Bonnie do y
ou see any of George’s patients when you are out running errands?”

“Oh, that’s the funniest thing. Total strangers come up to me and say oh, your brownies are to die for.”

“Um, thanks, do I know you? is usually my reply.”  She giggled and then added,

‘Dr. Wellington
brings in all your desserts into the office and places your picture next to them. He’s so proud of you - says you should be a chef, not only his personal cook. That’s so kind of you to bake his expectant patients some yummy treats. Thank you.’ “Oh, you’re more than welcome, my pleasure. I respond.” She smiled and finished sharing her latest encounter with a patient.

Honestly, it was Bonnie’s pleasure.
Nothing satisfied her more, except being a mom and George’s wife. Joni, who was a little rough around the edges to start, and once you got a few drinks in her she was really sharp, usually asked the questions that no one had the courage to ask.

“Okay, Bonnie” She slurred.
“Enough with the suzy homemaker shit! Give us the dirt. You know, the good stuff. C’mon, somebody carrying a baby that isn’t their husbands? Who’s got VD? C’mon stuff like that.” Kristy and I inwardly cringed but also hoped Bonnie would have some good dish.

“Oh,
George doesn’t share information like that with me.”

“Are you shitting me?” Always full of grace our Joni.

“No, he doesn’t but that doesn’t mean I still don’t know what’s going on.”

“Ohhh, I knew it, I knew it.” Joni was almost salivating, come to think of it so were Kristy and I. We should be ashamed of ourselves but, hey this is what GNI is all about. What happens during
GNI stays in GNI.

“Well, the receptionists are a wealth of information.” She smirked over her martini glass.

“Out with it.” We yelled simultaneously.

“Okay, promise to keep it between us.”
“Yes.”  The three of us chimed.

“The high school principal’s wife, Mrs. Longfellow, well, she has Chlamydia. YIKES.”

“NO WAY!”

“YES WAY! Now, you promised, right!” We shook our heads in unison again. “Well, it seems she has a penchant for younger men, or should I say boys.”

“Gross.”

“Holy Crap.”

“More power to her. I hope she had a hell of a ride.” Joni raised her glass in a toast to Mrs. Longfellow.

“JONI!” We shrieked and howled with laughter at that one. I wasn’t sure if
Bonnie was feeling comfortable but when she joined in with the pillow fight against Joni, I figured she was good to go.

“So, Bonnie what made you and George decide to move up North?”  I asked innocently.

Bonnie looked incredibly uncomfortable and shifted in her seat. She raised her glass to her lips and looked away from my gaze.

“Um, wow, Bonnie, I didn’t…you don’t need to answer that if it makes you uncomfortable.” I quickly sat next to her and patted her hand.

“I’m sorry, that question always catches me off guard. It’s  a simple question really - not something I should jump out of my chair and run screaming from the room, right?”

Well, she all had our attention now.

“I’ve never told anyone and George would be upset with me if he knew I told anyone this, you know, airing out our dirty laundry so to speak, but I can trust you girls, right?” Again we all nodded silently. I spoke up first.

“Honestly, Bonnie, I didn’t mean to pry. Please don’t spill anything you don’t want to.”