Out of The Box Awakening (17 page)

“Mom, I don’t know what to say—I never in a million years would have thought you and Dad would divorce.”

Kellan gets on with Lainey and I tell him, “I didn’t want to upset Lainey, with the pregnancy and all.”

“Mom, I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. We need to worry about you. This is awful!”

“Well, I went to see an attorney. She’s a little bulldog. She said that I should get myself a little apartment. At least I have a full-time job, so can pay rent. Our things should be here in the next few days, and Sarah, my boss has arranged for storage. I don’t even want to go through our things right now.”

“Mom,” Dalton says, “if you need help paying for the divorce, I will send you whatever money you need. I just can’t believe Dad has done this. Is he having a midlife crisis or something? Who is he involved with?”

“Honey, I have no idea who the other woman is, and I don’t even want to know. I really don’t care. I just want this to be over so I can get on with my life.”

“Are you moving back to Houston, Mom? What about the house?”

“No, I don’t want to move back to Houston. I have a feeling we’ll end up selling the house. Abby, my attorney is researching our assets. The house is paid for, as far as I know—Dad handled all the money, so I have no idea what bills we owe.”

“I’m gonna call Dad and tell him I never want to see him again,” Dalton says.

“Honey, I don’t want you, Bradley, or Lainey to do that. He’s still your father, whether he has messed up or not. Don’t let our failed relationship affect yours. Lainey, he will be your child’s grandfather, so don’t taint that relationship, please! Just promise me that.”

“Mom, we are here for you. You know that, right?”

“Yes, I do. We will all get through this, I promise. Lainey—you’re still coming for Christmas, aren’t you?”

“Yes mom of course we are! I’m closing down the office for two weeks, so we’ll come before Christmas and stay until New Year’s, if that’s okay…”

“Damn! I wish I could be there too mom!” Dalton says. “Especially now. It’s just not possible, with my job.”

“Dalton, I do understand, and now that I know how to Skype, you better believe I will be talking to you often!”

“Oh—hi Mr. Harper!” Lainey says, as Ash comes to sit by me.

“Ash…please, call me Ash, both of you!”

“We are so glad you are there with our mom. Did you have any idea this was going on with Dad?”

“No, guys I had no idea—believe me. I would have told your mother if I knew he was cheating.” Ash has his hand on my leg, rubbing it gently. The kids can’t see, thank God. I am so glad he is here beside me!

“So, Mom, when do you think the divorce will be final?”

“Well, Abby says that it should be fairly simple, since there are no child support or custody issues involved. She thinks in a couple of months.”

“So, you may be divorced by your birthday?”

“Yes, could be. Look, I’m sorry to have to tell you this way. I had planned on coming to Houston to talk to you, Lainey, but money is tight now and I can’t be gone from work. I’m a working lady now, you know!”

“Oh Mom! Please don’t worry. The way you handled it is fine. Dalton, let’s plan on Skyping with Mom lots—are you down with that?”

“Yep! I sure am. And, Mom, stay strong. You can do this. We are all here for you.”

“Okay, then. You don’t all hate me, do you?”

“Heavens, no! We are disappointed in Dad—I still don’t know how he could leave you for someone else. But it’s his loss, Mom. Remember that.”

“Okay, kiddos. I feel so much better now. Telling you was killing me, and I’ve been a bundle of nerves ever since before Thanksgiving. I love you—every one of you. You are my life, and I thank God every day that I have such amazing kids. Muahhh! I love you!”

“We love you, too, Mom! Talk to you soon!”

“Okay, bye for now. Love you. Sleep tight and don’t let the bedbugs bite!” That’s what I used to say every night when I tucked them in.

We disconnect, and I start to cry.

“You did so well, Olivia! See, you did it!”  He tenderly puts his hands on my face and wipes my tears with his thumbs. “Come with me.”

We get our glasses of wine and I follow him into the music room.

“Here, sit.” He motions me to sit on the piano bench, closes his eyes, and begins to play. The song he is playing is slow and very pretty. Softly, he begins to sing…he’s singing to me. What a beautiful voice he has and such a pretty song. He turns to me, looks into my eyes and sings the chorus. It’s a song about lights guiding you home and of someone being there. I listen to the words of the song with my eyes fixed on his face.

“Ash, that was beautiful!”

He takes my face into his hands… “I’ll take care of you my beautiful, beautiful Olivia!”

“And I will let you,” I whisper. To lighten the subject, I ask something I have been curious about. “Ash, how did you come into music? It seems so natural for you, and you seem to know how to play so many instruments. Is there anything you don’t play?”

“Well, my dad played the drums. He was a lawyer by trade, but loved playing. Mom played piano and was very gifted. They met in college. Mom went on to teach music. She taught for over thirty years. Some of her students have even gone on to professional music careers. Mom and Dad made sure Ellen and I took music lessons. We both took piano, and I took an interest in guitar in high school, so took lessons. Dad taught me how to play drums, which I haven’t played in a long time, but I can say I do know how to play them. Ellen still plays piano, too, though I don’t think Melissa ever took an interest. Our family…Dad and Mom, Ellen, and I were all about music. Someone was always playing or singing in our crazy, happy household. When we were kids, our friends always liked coming over, ‘cause Dad would play the drums for them and act goofy.”

He laughed, smiling at old times, then continued, “Good memories! Then, after the Air Force…don’t laugh, but I played in a band. We played coffee shops and I really loved it. Matter of fact, I would have been happy making that my career. Anyway, when Anne and I got married I gave it up. She wasn’t into the music scene, unfortunately. There were no musicians in her family—only academics.“

“So, I guess this is where Tommy gets his musical talent?”

“Yep. It’s from me. Tommy went to college for a short time, but dropped out. We never let Anne know that he wasn’t in school. She thought he should go to law school, but he just wasn’t into college. Some kids just aren’t college material, and Tommy was one of them. He felt guilty, but I told him to do what was in his heart. She never knew he wasn’t in law school, so once she got sick we kind of let her think Tommy had been accepted and was attending. We knew she was terminal, so didn’t want to let her think otherwise. I guess she went to her grave thinking Tommy would be a Perry Mason!”

“So, how did all of the guys in Tommy’s band hook up,” I ask.

“They all grew up together, except for Brian. The rest all played their music since high school. Recreational stuff mostly. Brian played in a band in New Orleans, and met them one night on Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras. I’m pretty sure they were all trashed… Tommy convinced him to move to Chicago and join the band. They were mostly a cover band, but they’ve started writing their own music and incorporating that into their sets. I’m really proud of them. God knows, they could have chosen a worse career, huh? So tell me about your childhood. About your folks and growing up an only child.“

“Well, my childhood was pretty mundane. I always wished I had brothers and sisters, but my folks weren’t into kids. They tried for eight years before they had me, and I guess one was enough. Don’t get me wrong, I had a happy childhood, and loved my parents, but my parents just weren’t demonstrative and fun. My dad was a CPA and Mom was a homemaker. Dad had his own business and was pretty successful, I guess. We lived in a really nice house, and I remember Dad always had a new Cadillac. He worked a lot, I remember“

“So, what were they like?”

“Well, my folks were pretty private people. They were affectionate, but in a reserved sort of way. Every day when dad came home from the office, they had cocktails together in the living room. I wasn’t allowed to go into the living room during their cocktail hour. Mom always closed the doors so they could be together just the two of them. That was their time. Period. She had martinis ready every day at five-thirty. Her dinner was already in the oven, so she and dad could have their happy hour uninterrupted. Dinner was served every night straight up at six-thirty. Mom was a fabulous cook and she always had dinner parties for dad’s clients. I remember sitting at the bottom of the stairs in my pajamas when I was supposed to be in bed, to spy on their dinner parties. Everyone was dressed up. The ladies wore cocktail dresses and the men were in suits. Funny, I haven’t thought about that in years.

“My folks were in love and very happy,” I continued, “though I don’t remember ever seeing them display a lot of affection. They had date nights and Dad brought Mom flowers every single Friday. I don’t think he ever missed a week, even when they got older. When Dad retired, they moved to Florida and bought a condo where they lived until they passed away. My mom passed away first; four years later, Dad died. I think he was devastated and just lost the will to go on without her. “Sounds like they were pretty much in love. My folks, on the other hand were over the top affectionate. Dad was always patting her behind and grabbing her, giving her a dip and planting a big kiss on her mouth!”

“That must be where you get your thoughtfulness and charisma!“

“Could be. They definitely had the PDA thing going on!”

The grandfather clock chimes eleven.

“It’s getting late, my dear,” Ash says, “So I guess I’ll head out.”

“Ash, please stay here tonight—don’t go back to the condo.”

He looks at me with a puzzled face. “I would love to stay with you tonight. Are you sure about this? I know you need your space, and respect that. One thing I don’t want to do is crowd you right now, Olivia. And remember, I have to leave in the morning for Seattle. “

“Oh yes, I did forget” I guess I get a sad look on my face, because Ash takes my hand and kisses it.

“I’ll be gone a week, but it’ll go by fast—we’ll talk every night and you can Skype me“

“Uhhhh…Skype you, huh? That sounds kinky and very interesting!” We both laugh and I feel so secure. He carries me into his bedroom and we make love...very passionate love. I still can’t believe that every nerve in my body can be ignited by his touch, but Ash has made that happen. I take every inch of him into me and combust into three incredible orgasms.

“Ash, how do you do that to me? Every time you touch me I just want to explode! I had no idea that breasts were anything other than two things that fit into a bra, but every time you touch them I just…..”

“Like this?” He teasingly touches me there.

“Oh, God, yes! How is that possible? Every nerve in my body is so sensitive to your touch. It’s like I’m on fire and I tingle every time you touch me…even when you look at me!”

“Well, that’s the beauty of intimacy and love,”

I whisper, “Ash, do I please you?”

“Of course you do, Liv! Why in the world would you ask something like that?”

“Well, I just feel… like …well…like...” I trail off. I feel so embarrassed.

“Spit it out, silly! What are you trying to say?”

“Ash, you know I don’t know a lot about sex …I mean I do, but I don’t—you know what I mean? I guess what I’m trying to say is that I’m not experienced in some things.”

Ash smiles at me and takes my face into his hands. “Olivia, as soon as this divorce is final, and we can concentrate on us and our relationship, I promise you we will explore, and I’ll show you things you’ve only heard of before. I’ll take you to that next level—and we’ll go there together…deal?”

“Oh, yes! Deal!”

“By the way, when is your birthday? I heard Lainey mention that you may be a single lady by your birthday. We’ve never talked about our birthdays.”

“February 16th is my birthday. When is yours?”

“June 15th. “So, I am Aquarius, and you are…?”

“Gemini.”

“Hmmmm, wonder if we are compatible?”

“I think we definitely are—don’t you?”

“For sure!”

Before we fall asleep, Ash’s cell phone rings. It’s late, so we are both startled.

“Hello?” Ash says.

“Dad? Hey, sorry it’s so late—I just looked at the clock. Crap! Sorry!”

“Oh, hey, Tommy! No problem. What’s up son? Everything okay?”

“Yes Dad, I just wanted to know if I could come stay at the condo with you tonight. Nothing’s wrong, just though I’d swing by.”

“Well, son, if I was there, of course you could swing by. I’m at the house, leaving in the morning for Seattle, but of course you can stay at the condo. Listen, you’re still down with coming over Saturday to put up Christmas tree lights for Olivia, huh?”

“Sure thing, Dad! Todd and probably the rest of the guys are coming, too. Been a long time since we had a Christmas tree, huh? Too long.”

“Yes, son, it has been a very long time. Jose is putting the lights up in the morning and I think she wants to decorate at night. Aunt Ellen is coming over, too. I think Olivia is cooking, so she’ll probably make enough for you guys.”

I give him a thumbs up. Okay. Now I am getting excited. Christmas tree, matchmaking Tommy and Emily, oh, this is gonna be fun!

“Okay, Dad. So…you’re in Seattle for a week? You said you are gonna be working on a case with Hayden and Wes?”

“Yes, it will only be for a week. Let’s do dinner when I get back“

“All righty then…see you when you get back. Love you, Dad.”

“You too, son. Glad you called.”

“Tell Olivia I said hi and I’ll see her on Saturday.”

“Ash?” I ask.

“Yeeessss?”

“What kind of work is it that you do with Hayden and Wesley?”

“Security consulting.”

“Like FBI spy stuff?”

He snorts, amused. “Yes, kinda like that!” He puts his finger up to my lips. “Shhhhh.No more talking. Time to go to sleep. I have to get up early and we both need some rest.” He kisses the back of my neck.

I sense that he can’t or doesn’t want to talk about it, so I drift off into a peaceful sleep, his front to my back, wrapped in his arms. Ahhhh! Maybe, if I’m lucky, the sleeping giant will wake me up in the morning.

“Mornin’, Sunshine! You up for the giant and giving me a sendoff?”

“And a send off for me? Yessssss! Please…”

Morning bliss before Ash leaves for Seattle and I head out to work. He doesn’t disappoint. How am I going to be able to concentrate on work today after a morning like this? Today I am going to pick out the tree and arrange delivery. My plan is to ask Emily to come over Saturday night and help me put up the tree. I’m going to make my famous tortilla soup and cornbread. Looking forward to decorating, seeing the guys and Ellen, and maybe doing a little matchmaking.

Around noon, my cell rings. It’s Abby. She tells me that she has spoken with Alan’s attorney and the divorce is moving forward. The house is fully paid for—no mortgages against it, which I am happy to hear. I didn’t know how Alan paid for our remodel. I just figured he had taken out a second mortgage, but it seems he paid cash for everything. Thank God! As for the assets, she tells me that Alan wants me provided for. I think to myself that if he didn’t, Abby would go after him with bared claws. I feel better knowing this isn’t going to be turned into a War of the Roses scenario.

So, knowing things are progressing, I feel confident that I will be single by my birthday, which is my goal. I want to begin the next year of my life free of baggage and start to build on my own happiness.

I think of Ash all day, and every time I think about him, my body tingles. I can’t wait for him to get home—it has been less than a day and I miss him already!

Emily and I talk while there’s a slow time in the store. “Emily, I’m going to put the tree up Saturday night and would love for you to come over and help me. I’ll make a pot of soup and have some appetizers, and we can listen to Christmas music and decorate.”

“That sounds wonderful, Olivia! I haven’t decorated a tree in forever. What can I bring? Don’t tell me nothing. I insist on bringing something.”

“Why don’t you bring a couple of bottles of whatever wine you like? Ash’s sister Ellen is going to stop by and return some silver pieces she borrowed, so it will be a girl’s night!”

Ha! I think to myself. I won’t tell her about Tommy and the guys coming over. If I do, she probably won’t come.

“Sounds like so much fun! I can’t wait. Thanks so much for asking me!”

Since it is just Emily and me in the store today, we have to take separate breaks. I head down to the coffee shop to grab a quick sandwich and a cup of coffee. I find a quiet table all to myself, put my ear buds in, and listen to my music.

“Olivia?“

All the blood leaves my head.

“Huh?” I take the ear buds out. Standing in front of me is Alan. My first thought is to slap him in the face and tell him to get lost, but I don’t want to cause a scene in a public place.

“Mind if I sit down?”

Hesitantly, I nod and motion for him to sit. “How did you know I was here?”

“I went into the shop and the young lady working there told me where to find you.”

Damn! I haven’t told Emily what’s going on in my life, so I can’t blame her, but this is definitely what I don’t need today.

Alan sits across from me and takes my hands. “Olivia, look, I am so sorry about all the pain I have caused you. I really didn’t intend for things to fast track the way they did. I feel like I need to explain a few things to you.”

I feel anxiety coming on and I don’t want him to think that this even fazes me. Just keep your cool, Olivia… Keep your cool…Deep breath!

“Alan, you don’t need to explain anything to me. Your kids are the ones who deserve an explanation. They are devastated and didn’t deserve this. I’ve moved on and will be just fine. I really don’t want to talk about the divorce with you and I definitely don’t want to know a thing about your little play toy.”

“Olivia…, Look she and I have been seeing each other—”

I hold up my hand and cut him off. “Alan, please….not interested…don’t care. You’ve made it clear that you don’t want to be married to me anymore, so there really isn’t anything left to say, or anything that I would care about anyway. Are we clear? Anything you want to say to me, your attorney can convey to my attorney.”

“Believe me, babe, I will make it right with the kids. I’ve talked to Bradley, but not Dalton and Lainey. I will in good time, and all I can hope for is that they understand.”

“First off, don’t call me ‘babe,’ and second, well, you do know that Lainey is pregnant, don’t you? Of course, you missed the formal announcement at Thanksgiving dinner, unfortunately.”

“Yes, Bradley told me. I swear I will make it right with her.”

“Just tell me one thing Alan—was this the first time you cheated on me?”

He looks down and the table takes a deep breath, and I don’t think I want to hear the truth. Ash said he thought Alan had cheated before, but hearing it… Do I really want to know?

“No, it wasn’t. You asked, so I’ll be honest. Look, I have been with other women. It was for sex. Until this time, it was all just physical. Traveling like I did and all….a man has needs after all….”

Okay. Slap in the face…the ugly truth.

“Ahhhh, right, traveling and all. Good thing to blame it on, Alan. Classic excuse!”

Fighting tears, I look over to the coffee counter and I see Jocelyn. Holy crap! The absolute one person I don’t want to see right now. She recognizes me, smiles a totally fake smile and waves. I casually wave back, hoping she won’t get on her phone and blab to Ellen, but I know she is chomping at the bit to do just that. Her friend was the one who dated Ash, so I suspect she will tell Ellen that she saw me holding hands with another man. I probably should call Ash, but decide I’ll do it in private tonight. Surely he’ll understand.

“Look Alan, I have to get back to work…some people have to work for a living.”

“Olivia, whatever you want from our things, feel free to take. I don’t want anything but my guns and coins.”

“Well, how totally nice of you, but my attorney will work things out. I have our things in storage, and I’m sure she will want you to go over and get what you want.”

He looks concerned. “So, are you living at Ash’s house still?”

“For now, but I am in the process of moving into an apartment. I will be on my own soon, so you don’t have to worry about me.”

“I do worry about you. I’ll provide for you financially, Olivia. This isn’t about money.”

“Alan, I appreciate that.” I think to myself...oh you have no idea how you are going to provide for me financially!

He offers to pay for my lunch, and I feel liberated in telling him that I will pay for my own, as well as his coffee.

I walk out of the coffee shop and back to the store. Emily meets me at the door.

“Hey, Olivia! Some guy came in and asked where he could find you. He said he was a relative.”

“He found me. Thanks. So, were we busy while I was gone?”  I hope she doesn’t ask more. More than that, I hope Alan doesn’t come in here. This is my one place of refuge, and I don’t want him contaminating it.

Later in the day we aren’t busy, so I head over to the nursery to pick out my tree. Ash told me to ask for Sam, so I do. An older black man comes up to me.

“Hi, Miss Olivia! I’m Sam. Mr. Harper said you would be coming in to pick out a tree. I’ve taken the liberty and selected five for you to look at. Follow me, and if you don’t like what I’ve picked, we’ll keep looking until you do.”

We go into the back and there are five beautiful trees… all of them twelve feet tall. My eye immediately goes to the perfect one.

“Sam, I think this one is it!”

“Yes, ma’am, that’s the one I was thinking of for you. It’s a noble fir—the Cadillac of Christmas trees! So, when would you like it delivered?”

“Would Saturday morning be okay?”

“Absolutely, ma’am! I can have the guys at your house by nine. Will that work? They’ll set it up in the stand and get you ready to put those lights on. Do you need lights? If you do, we have some here. I would suggest about twelve hundred lights for your size tree.”

“Yes. Thank you so much, Sam.”

“Oh, my pleasure, Miss Olivia! You’re gonna love this one…she’s a real beauty. And listen, please tell Mr. Harper that Sam says hello.”

I can’t even imagine how much all this costs, but I don’t care. It’s perfect.

On my way back to the office, I decide to call Todd and tell him about my matchmaking plans. I dial his number and he answers.

“Talk to me!”

“Todd, hi. Um, this is Olivia.”

“Yeah, I kinda thought so,” he says.

“How did you know it was me?”

“Well, let’s see—I have you in my contacts, and your ringtone is ‘My Amigo’ by KOL?”

I laugh. “Seriously? Todd, you are too funny! I’m honored to be in your contacts. Look, is this a bad time?”

“Well, uhhhh, actually, it kinda is, I mean……”

Oh.My.God! I am totally embarrassed! Did I call while he was in bed with someone? Ewwww! Awkward!

“Oh, my God! I am so sorry! Can you umm… just… Ummm, can you call me back later, then?”

He gives a shout of laughter. “Olivia! I was just teasing. I’m not really busy. What? Did you think you caught me screwing or something?”

“Something like that, yeah.”

“Well, contrary to what you might think, I don’t screw all the time. Geez! I’m actually by myself right now, so you caught me at a good time and with my pants up for a change. So, what’s up…did you finally decide to get your tattoo and want me to come with you?”

“No… I haven’t decided on that yet. I wanted to talk to you about something else.”

“Okay—shoot!”

“Well, I don’t know if Tommy has mentioned that y’all are coming over Saturday night to help me put Christmas lights on the tree yet, but…”

“Wait! You want us to get on the ladder to put up lights so you won’t fall and bust your ass, but we will?”

“Something like that, yeah.”

“ Just kidding! Yeah, Tommy said we were coming over. Sounds like fun. Got beer?”

“Yes, of course. Beer and food!”

“All righty, then. Will work for food and beer.”

“There’s something else. I have a girl from work coming over. I want to introduce her to Tommy and…uhhhh….”

“And you don’t want me hitting on her, right?”

“Well, again, something like th

“Olivia, I’m sure if you picked her, she is hot as hell, but if you picked her for Tommy, I’ll keep my hands off. Promise”

“Oh, thanks Todd! I think she’s perfect for Tommy, and I hope they get along.”

“Okay, Olivia, I’ll keep my hands to myself and I’ll help any way I can. I think it’s pretty awesome that you found someone for him. God knows, he needs someone special in his life. So is she cute?”

“Of course! I wouldn’t pick anyone for him or you who wasn’t perfect!”