Love's Awakening (17 page)

Read Love's Awakening Online

Authors: Kelly Stuart

BOOK: Love's Awakening
5.8Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub

Malcolm laughed. “Yep. Have fun.”

After Erin disposed of the poo, they bought Cokes from a machine. Malcolm said he would take Ms. Goodbar for a stroll around the park.

Oliver’s mind was a blank as Malcolm and the puppy left. He was about to reach into his pocket for a list of questions he had prepared for this exact occurrence when Erin piped up: “Paul doesn’t like you. He says Shannon’s better than you.”

“Oh.”

“I like you, though.”

“I like you, too. And Paul.”

Erin fiddled with the tab on her Coke can.
Crackle
crackle
crackle.
“Can I stay with you sometime?”

“That’s up to your parents.”

“Paul’s stupid.”

“No, sweetie. He’s not.”

“Is too.”

Oliver winked at the child. “I don’t make stupid kids.”

Erin’s lips tugged into a little smile.
Crackle
crackle.
“Your dad was in a wreck.”

Oliver licked suddenly dry lips. “Yes. He sure was.”

“I Google your name a lot. And your dad’s name, too.”

“Sure, why not.”

“Is he okay?”

“Not really. He’s in a persistent vegetative state. It’s like a coma. He probably won’t come out of it.” Oliver scanned the park for Malcolm; he was halfway around.

Erin studied her Coke can thoughtfully. “I didn’t tell Paul or Mom and Dad about the wreck.”

“That’s fine. You don’t have to tell them everything.”

“I wouldn’t mind going to see your dad.”
Crackle.
“If you wanted. I’d be cool with it.”

“He doesn’t look good.”

“What’s he look like?”

“Not like a person. He looks like he has no feeling. No awareness.”

“How come you don’t hug me? Or touch me?”

“I hug you,” Oliver protested. “I hugged you after dinner at Applebee’s.”

“Oh.” Erin bit her lip. “Guess so. Hey, do you have a girlfriend?”

Oliver sipped from his Coke. “No,” he said. “Not right now. Work and school keep me really busy.”

“You jealous about Shannon gettin’ married?”

“I’m happy for her.”

“You wanna be with her?”

Oliver grinned. “No.”

“She said y’all were together from sixth grade to tenth grade.”

Please
don’t
ask
when
we
started
having
sex.
“That’s right.”

“Did you love her?”

Oliver scratched his cheek. “Did I love…yes. I did. I loved your mother—I mean, Shannon.”

“Y’all don’t talk much anymore.”

“We drifted apart. We, uh, after we broke up, we were sad, so we didn’t talk much. Then we went to different colleges, and then I headed over to Europe.”

“What’d you do there?”

“I backpacked a lot. My mom’s family lives in England, so I spent some time with them. Hey, you going to Shannon’s wedding? I think I might.”

Erin glowered. “I can’t. Mom says we’re on vacation. But she didn’t tell me about the vacation until I asked to go to Shannon’s wedding.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Is your dad nice?”

“Uhh, he’s—yeah. He’s nice. I have a stepmother. She’s very nice, too. I showed her your picture. She said you’re beautiful.”

“I guess you’re kind of like my stepdad, aren’t you, Oliver?”

“That’s one way to look at it.”

“Hey, guys.” Malcolm was back.

“Hi, Daddy.”

Oliver got out the Frisbee, and the three of them played for about an hour. Then it was time to head back. Malcolm put his arm around Erin’s shoulder, she held Ms. Goodbar’s leash in one hand, and after a moment, used her free hand to take Oliver’s hand.

Erin’s hand was small. Callused. Perfect. Oliver never wanted to let go, and he hoped Sherelle would let her daughter stay with Oliver one night.

At the house, Oliver hugged Erin—a good hug—marveled at how thin and bony the girl was, and kissed her on the cheek. “Bye, sweetie.”

“Bye, Oliver.” Erin returned the kiss. “I hope your dad gets better.”

*****

Celia decided that night not to wear the black dress on the double date. She would save it for Oliver. She riffled through her closet and settled on a pair of black pants and a dressy blue shirt.

Her date, Donald King, seemed nice. Somewhat like a younger version of David, if David had a tan, spiky blond hair and blue eyes. Donald did not ask about David. Janet had debriefed him on the situation, and Donald had to know this outing was casual, very casual. He should not expect anything serious from it.

They ate at Mr. Chen’s, a new Chinese restaurant. Donald had a child too, a nine-year-old boy, and they talked about him and Caleb. Janet and Chester discussed having kids, maybe in the next couple of years. After dinner, the four of them went to the symphony.

Nice night. Nice conversation. Nowhere near nice enough to get Celia’s mind off Oliver.

*****

Celia’s call came right after midnight. Oliver was on his bed in the dark and secretly hoping the date had crashed and burned. Been from hell.

“How did it go?” Oliver asked. He imagined Celia’s lips hungrily covering his. Celia mounting him. He imagined Celia mounting her faceless date.

“He was cute. Nice.”

“Going out with him again?”

“I might.”

Oliver made a fist around his bed sheets. “Great. Happy for you. What’d you all do?”

“We went to dinner, then the symphony.”

“Awesome.”

“One big problem with him. Makes me have second thoughts about going out with him again.”

Oliver snapped to attention. “Yeah?”

“He has a tail that leaves orange goo everywhere he walks.”

Oliver grinned and closed his eyes.
Be
still,
my
heart.
“Does he clean up after himself?”

“He owns a robot dog who licks the goo.” Celia paused. “You okay?”

“I’m good. Don’t worry about me.”

“I don’t want to hurt you,” Celia whispered.

“You’re not. One of the best things for you right now is to go out and meet people. I’m fine.” Oliver squeezed the bed sheets again.

“Are you going out with other people? Other women?”

“Work and school keep me busy enough.”

“I don’t feel right going out with people if you’re not.”

Oliver snorted. “Me dating other people is the least of our issues, don’t you think?”

“I—okay. You’re right.”

“Look, Celia. Go out and have fun. Meet men to get your mind off Dad. You don’t need to tell me when you have dates. We should probably, uh, okay, I’ll go on a few dates, all right? Will that make you happy?”

“Probably for the best,” Celia whispered.

“I’m actually really busy the next few weeks.”
No,
I’m
not.
I’m
my
usual
ordinary
busy.
“So this is a good time for you to go out lots.”

“No problem. Um, okay. Well, give me a ring when you’re free. We’ll do something.”

“Celia, wait a sec.”

“What?”

“I—I didn’t mean—I really am busy.”

“Like I said, no problem. Give me a ring when you’re free, okay? Take care.”

“Wait.”

Celia hung up.

“Shit!” Oliver said. “Shit, shit!”
Don’t
you
dare
sabotage
this.
She’s
too
good
for
you
to
do
this
to
her.

Oliver called Celia, and she answered on the third ring. “Can I come over?” Oliver asked. “And give you a good night kiss?”

A hesitation, then a soft: “Okay.”

“And can I…” Oliver swallowed. “I saw Erin today. It went— it was okay. I’d like to tell you about it. Celia, do you know you’re the only person I’ve told about the kids?”

“I am?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Oliver shrugged. “Because I never wanted to tell anyone else. Besides, you needed the distraction.”

“I’m glad you told me.”

“So am I. I’m very glad.”

Chapter
Fifteen

The next day, Oliver was annoyed. Every time he showed up at Pinewood, Shirley was there.

Every. Damn. Time.

The thought that Oliver might want to be alone with his father for a few minutes apparently did not occur to Shirley. Oliver accepted that it was partly his fault. He never hinted. He showed up, patted David on the shoulder, listened to Shirley read a while, then left.

Today, though, enough was enough. Shirley and a couple of nurses had dressed David in a new shirt and jeans, and Shirley was about to take David to the duck pond.

“Hey, Grandma. You look like you need a break. I’ll take Dad outside, and you get a coffee or something. Bring me back a frappuccino.”

Understanding dawned in Shirley’s expression. “Of course, Oliver.”

Oliver scribbled down his order, and Shirley left. Oliver pushed his father outside in the wheelchair. Oliver liked the duck pond, but lots of people were out today. No problem. Pinewood’s grounds were expansive. Oliver found an isolated bench off a walking trail and applied the wheelchair brake.

“You look good today,” Oliver said. “Nice new jeans. Bet the sweatpants get old, huh?”

“Me? You like my shirt?” Oliver shot his father a rueful glance. “No, it’s not new. Remember, Dad? Every time you see this shirt, you ask if it’s new. Anyway, I figure we have maybe thirty minutes. I’ve been wanting to talk to you. Uh, I met someone.”

And
it’s
because
of
that
someone
I
can’t
think
right
this
morning.
Celia had allowed Oliver inside her last night—and miracle of miracles, he hadn’t been an eager beaver comer. He and Celia worked together slowly, leisurely. For a long time. No urgency to it, just a deep, rhythmic in and out with her on top, and
God
. Oliver had loved it. True, they’d both been clothed, but oh well.

Celia had welcomed him at her door with a smile. They got into bed—not naked, of course. Oliver talked. Talked while Celia fucked him, yep. He told Celia about Erin and about Paul. The ache and the pain of the memories had been dull and distant last night because Oliver was with Celia, she was on top of him, and the world was right.

A robin landed on the walking path, and David fastened his gaze on the creature. Oliver shivered. Papers and doctors could say what they wanted, but it was damn eerie how once in a while, his father truly seemed attentive. To random things, though. That was how Oliver knew it meant nothing. If his dad was going to be attentive, it wouldn’t be to a damn bird.

Shirley loved pointing out when David apparently tracked objects and people. “His eyes are following the nurse around the room,” Shirley whispered one time. Not in Oliver’s opinion, but whatever. Once, though, he’d thought his father was watching trees sway outside the window. The day was windy, and the trees moved as if engrossed in a tennis match. So did David’s gaze for a precious five or ten seconds.
Tricks
of
the
mind.

The robin stepped on a leaf.
Crackle.

Blink
blink
blink.

“Hi, bird,” Oliver murmured.

The robin flew away. David’s gaze remained transfixed to the spot on the walking path.

“Hey, Dad, so I met someone. Uh…I really like her. I’m thinking about sending her flowers tomorrow. Roses, probably. Kinda boring, and I’m trying to think of something more interesting. But, hey. Roses will do, right? Nothing wrong with being old-fashioned and romantic once in a while.”

Oliver’s chest was about to burst. He wanted to say more. So much more. That he’d never felt like this. That he was falling in love, truly in love, and quite possibly for the first time in his life. Oliver wanted to say the woman’s name. That she had a baby. That this new woman was different, that Oliver could see many, many years with her. Perhaps a lifetime. The doctors said David was dead. His brain was nothing. But in case David flickered in there somewhere, Oliver would say nothing identifiable.

Oliver glanced around, foolishness crowding him for what he was about to perform. He adjusted David’s wheelchair so David faced him. “Blink once for yes. Twice for no.” Oliver made a thumbs-up. “Am I holding up any fingers?”

No blinks.

Oliver frowned. “A thumb isn’t a finger. You’re right. You and your lawyer mind, huh, Dad?” He let himself laugh.

Blink
blink
blink.

Oliver held up his pointer finger. “Am I holding up one finger?”

Blink.

Oliver’s heart nearly stopped. Coincidence.

“Are we outside, Dad?”

Blink
blink.
Wrong answer.

“We’re outside,” Oliver said softly. “Let’s try another question. Is my name Oliver?”

David went
blink
blink
blink
blink
blink
.

“Are your parents Shirley and Richard?”

Blink
blink
blink.

“Is my name Oliver?”

Blink
blink.

Nothing stirred in that brain.

“I miss you, Dad.”

David grunted, a low, rough sound.
Blink
blink
blink.

Oliver remembered Celia kissing him the first time in his apartment. Celia on top of him last night, her soft moans as she shuddered and came. “We haven’t gotten naked yet. Hard to believe.”

Blink.
David’s eyes were as animated as marbles.

“She says she isn’t ready for a relationship, but that’s not a problem. We’ll figure out a way. A relationship is what the people in it make it to be. You know?”

Blink
blink
blink.

Other books

The Architect of Aeons by John C. Wright
El-Vador's Travels by J. R. Karlsson
Ugly Girls: A Novel by Lindsay Hunter
Leashing the Tempest by Jenn Bennett
Not Stupid by Anna Kennedy
His Love Lesson by Nicki Night
The Bay by Di Morrissey
Detection by Gaslight by Douglas G. Greene