The Road To Bliss

by Denise N Wheatley

  “Hold that thought,” Brian interjected. “I need to get going. But we can continue this discussion over dinner at my place tonight. We’ll have some great food and watch the rest of that comedy special. How does that sound?”

  “Why don’t I call your office later this afternoon?” Timber stalled.

  “You do that,” Brian said, bending down and kissing her. “I’ll see you tonight at my place.”

  Timber did not confirm the plan and instead got up to walk Brian to the door.

  “No, no, you stay there and eat,” he said. “I’ll see myself out. Call me later.”

  “I will.”

  When Brian left, Timber began pacing the floor. This wasn’t good. He should have known that last night wasn’t going to change anything. Neither was skirting around her issues and feelings and jumping right back into their relationship with no resolution whatsoever.

  Timber couldn’t handle this alone. She needed some support. So she called Eva, who would know exactly what to do. Eva understood the ins and outs of her and Brian’s relationship. So she would be able to come up with a way to retract the mixed message that Timber may have sent last night.

  “Hello?” Eva answered groggily.

  “Wake up,” Timber said. “I need to talk to you.”

  “I’m exhausted,” Eva groaned.

  “So am I.”

  “What time is it?”

  “A little after nine o’ clock.”

  “Are you insane? You know I don’t wake up before eleven when I’m in between assignments!”

  “I know, Eva. And I’m sorry, but this is an emergency.”

  “Oh, that’s right,” Eva said, her voice perking up. “I forgot about your dinner with my father last night. How’d it go?”

  “We had a nice time.”

  “Good, I’m glad!” Eva replied. “Sooo, does this mean that you two are going to work things out?”

  “No, it doesn’t. And that’s why I’m calling you.”

  “Okay,” Eva said slowly. “What’s the problem?”

  “We had a nice time because we didn’t address any of our issues. Brian brought me flowers and champagne, took me to the same restaurant that we went to on our first date, and even reserved the same table that we sat at that night. He ordered all of my favorite things, fed me dessert...I think that the romance of it all just overshadowed our problems.”

  “But I thought the purpose of you two getting together was to actually discuss your problems.”

  “It was. But I think we got caught up in each other’s company. I didn’t really want to go in the first place because my mind was already made up. But I did, so I figured I might as well have a good time. And since Brian wants us to get back together by any means necessary, he made an effort to avoid all problematic conversation at all costs.”

  “So he thinks he’s just gonna win you back, and you’ll give in and do things his way, huh….”

  “I believe so. Which is why he avoided discussing our issues.”

  “You know, back when you two were still together, my father was so comfortable in your relationship that he refused to take a good look at why it needed to end.”

  “I agree. Brian was definitely content with the way things were and couldn’t accept the life changes I’d made.”

  “He’s still in denial, too, acting like you all should’ve worked things out. My father really thought this was it for him. But if he’s not willing to accept your growth, then you have to be the mature one, put your foot down and tell him that it’s really over. And he just has to accept that.”

  “Well…see, that’s why I called you,” Timber said, not wanting to tell Eva how she may have misled Brian with the way they’d ended the date; not to mention their alleged dinner plans tonight.

  “I’m actually glad you called this early,” Eva yawned, “because I need to return some phone calls. I think I’m going to go jump in the shower first.”

  “Hey, before you go,” Timber began hesitantly, “I have something else to tell you.” Visions of the evening flashed through her mind, and she dreaded having to share the details with Eva.

  “Okay, shoot,” she said.

  “Brian came in for a cup of tea after dinner when he dropped me off. And…one thing led to another, we started watching TV…and I ended up falling asleep.”

  “Okay,” Eva said. “What’s so bad about that?”

  “Well, I fell asleep on Brian’s shoulder, he kissed me before I drifted off, and told me that he loves me. He ended up staying over and made me breakfast this morning, and invited me to dinner at his place tonight.”

  “Wow. Okay. See, that kind of changes things, Timber. You definitely sent the wrong message if you’re not planning on getting back together with him. Are you?”

  “No,” Timber replied quietly. “I’m not.”

  “Well if that’s the case, then last night should have just ended with dinner. You should’ve never let him come in afterwards. But since you know that you’re not going to get back together with him, are you going to break the news to him gently at dinner tonight?”

  “I’m not planning on having dinner with him.”

  “But he thinks that you two are having dinner?”

  “I believe so…yes,” Timber responded shamefully.

  “This is not good,” Eva moaned. “I’m sure he’s got his hopes up beyond belief. Timber, what were you thinking?”

  “I don’t know,” she sighed, swallowing the ball of guilt that was creeping up her throat and thinking back on the evening. Between allowing Brian to feed her dessert to letting him stay over, she was regretting the entire night and wondering how the hell she could fix it.

  “Dinner was so nice,” she continued, “and we just got carried away. I know that I shouldn’t have let him come in. But I can’t change what happened, and I just need to know what I should do now.”

  “Well I can’t help you there,” Eva replied. “I’m sorry, but what you did was pretty thoughtless. And I’m sure my father thinks that things are back on again, doesn’t he?”

  “I think so,” Timber said, feeling the sting of Eva’s words in her chest. “But I tried to tell him that they weren’t during breakfast. He just refused to listen.”

  “You should’ve made him listen, Timber. But instead you let things go too far. At this point, considering how much he cares about you, I think he deserves for you to be honest with him. No more leading him on with this one foot in the door, one foot out.”

  “I know,” Timber said, closing her eyes and pressing her fingertips against her forehead. “You’re absolutely right.”

  “Just go easy on him, okay?”

  “I will,” Timber lamented. “Are you mad at me?”

  “No. But this isn’t easy, for any of us. I just want for you and my father to both move on and find happiness.”

  “So do I,” Timber sighed. “Well, I’ll let you know how it goes.”

  “Good luck.”

  “Thanks. Talk to you later.”

  After Timber hung up the phone, she sauntered into the bathroom and decided to devise her plan over a long hot bath. She slipped a sheer Soothing Bliss cloth bath bag filled with dried rose petals, lavender flowers, lemon peel slivers and oatmeal into the tub, then climbed in. As she laid her head back, Timber closed her eyes and began contemplating how she should tell Brian that she still wanted out.

  Chapter Seven

  Timber pulled her car out of Ashe University’s chemistry lab parking lot, slammed down on the accelerator and sped off, anxious to get away from the campus. Her brilliant plan to talk to Brian in person about where their relationship stood at this point had ended in utter disaster. She didn’t know what she was thinking. She should have just called and told him how she felt over the phone. But no. Instead she’d decided to go to his office. She thought that would be the womanly thing to do. But now she realized just how bad of an idea that had been.

  When Timber had arrived at Brian’s office, she k
nocked on the door and walked in unannounced. The moment he laid eyes on her, he broke out into a huge grin and jumped out of his chair.

  “Hey, you!” he beamed, embraced her warmly.

  “Hi,” Timber replied somberly, her fallen expression filled with despair.

  Brian stared at her intently, his arms dropping from her waist. “Everything all right?”

  Timber’s breathing began to quicken. She could see the deep concern in his eyes and hear the panic in his voice. His reaction wasn’t making this any easier. “Can we sit down? I need to talk to you.”

  Brian’s elated expression quickly fell. He walked around his desk and slumped into his chair. Then he propped his elbows up, folded his hands and rested his chin on top of them.

  Timber felt a stabbing pain shoot through here chest as she watched Brian stare down at his desk. It was obvious that he knew what was coming. She slowly sat down across from him.

  “Why?” he asked before she had a chance to say anything.

  “Brian, I’m really sorry,” she replied shakily. “I didn’t expect last night to go the way that it did.”

  He sat in stony silence.

  “You know I care about you,” Timber continued. “But my feelings about us being together haven’t changed. And one enjoyable night isn’t going to fix the things that were wrong in our relationship.”

  “I never thought anything was wrong in our relationship,” Brian said. “I was completely happy. And I thought you were, too, until the day you came over and broke up with me out of the blue. I knew you were having problems at Boris, but I had no idea your state of depression had anything to do with me.”

  “Brian, why did you rush out and buy that ring and propose to me?” Timber questioned, inching towards the edge of her chair and leaning onto the desk. “Was it because you truly wanted to marry me, or because you were afraid of losing me? I find it hard to believe that you had no idea I wasn’t happy in our relationship. And it’s ironic that after almost six years in, you suddenly decided to end your anti-marriage campaign and propose during my state of depression. I personally think it was a desperate, last ditch effort on your part to keep me around.”

  “So what if it was?” Brian retorted. “Isn’t that what you wanted? A ring and a husband and a white picket fence? You’re right, I didn’t want to lose you. So yes, I did what I had to do to keep you.”

  “Wow…really Brian?” Timber asked, a sick feeling hitting her right in the gut.

  “Yes. Really. Plus I knew I’d have much more influence over you as a husband than I would as a boyfriend. And as your husband, I would’ve been able to convince you to stay at Boris, which is where you belong. And I would have made you understand that Serene Being or whatever your little company is called should have been a hobby rather than a career—”

  “You see?” Timber interrupted, glaring up at him. “That’s exactly why I don’t want to be with you, Brian. You don’t realize just how disrespectful and insensitive you are. You don’t even know the name of my company!” She got up and grabbed her purse. “I really wish we would’ve had this discussion before last night. That way we wouldn’t have ended up in this predicament now.”

  “Oh, we’re in no predicament,” Brian said, walking over to the door and holding it open, “Because at this point I don’t want to be with you anymore. I don’t even know you anymore. So let’s just chalk last night up as a good meal and a final goodbye.”

  “So that’s it? Is that how we’re going to end things?”

  “Goodbye, Timber. Have a nice life.”

  Timber stormed out of Brian’s office without saying another word and winced when she heard the door slam behind her.

  And now, as she swerved her car into her driveway and slammed on the brakes, she regretted ever agreeing to go out with him in the first place. She knew nothing would change, yet she went anyway. She knew her behavior had been misleading, but Brian was the one who couldn’t seem to let go even though he knew where she stood. And no matter what, her decision hadn’t warranted the callous way in which he had spoken to her.

  When Timber unlocked her door and walked through the house, memories of last night came flooding back. Teacups were still sitting on the coffee table. The scent of Brian’s cologne still lingered in her entertainment room. The breakfast dishes were still strewn across the kitchen table. The whole scene made Timber’s stomach turn. It convinced her that she never wanted to see Brian’s face or hear his name again. But unfortunately for her, he was her best friend’s father. So she would always be connected to him in some way.

  Timber took a deep breath and began straightening up the living room. Then she cleaned the breakfast dishes, desperate to wash away every memory of last night. Afterwards she unlocked her cell phone and checked her text messages and recent calls, hoping that Eva had contacted her. She hadn’t.

  Disappointed, Timber resisted the urge to call and tell Eva about her disastrous conversation with Brian, and instead used her frustrated energy to head downstairs and clean up her workspace.

  Chapter Eight

  On Saturday morning, Timber was sitting at her desk tabulating the large number of orders that had been placed on her website. All this new business meant that the next week or two would be a total grind. But considering all the havoc that had just been wreaked upon her, the work came as a much needed distraction.

  Timber printed out her customers’ invoices, made sure that the information on her new exfoliants and body sprays had been added to her company website, then clicked onto her message board to read the feedback and suggestions. After that, she examined the contents of her refrigerator to see what products were already prepared, wrote up a list of the ingredients that she needed to purchase, then went back over to the computer to check her personal email.

  As usual, Timber’s inbox was jam-packed. Several of her sorority sisters and old college friends had sent messages, as did a couple of ex-coworkers from Boris. After she responded to all of the emails and deleted the junk mail, a new message popped up in her inbox. The subject read, Sorry For The Interruption... She didn’t recognize the address. Her forehead wrinkled in confusion as she leaned in and double-clicked on the message. When it opened, she saw who it was from. When she saw who it was from, it took a few moments for the sender’s name to register. When the sender’s name registered, Timber gasped and fell back so hard that she almost flipped out of her chair. The message was from Alex Witherspoon.

  Timber quickly straightened herself back up. She leaned in so close to the computer that the static from the screen nipped at her nose. The message read:

  Hello Timber. I hope you don’t mind my emailing you, but I wanted to apologize for what happened when we met at the party. You and I were interrupted while in the middle of a great conversation that I would like to continue. So I went online in hopes of finding you through your company. It was much easier than I’d thought.

  Is this really happening? Timber asked herself ecstatically, her face now practically pressed against the screen. Next paragraph:

  I checked out your website, and I am blown away by all of the products that you sell! Would two weeks be enough time for you to put something together for me? My parents’ 35th wedding anniversary party is then, and I’m sending them on a trip to Hawaii. I would love to give them a couple of your gift baskets to take with them. They’re both extremely busy, so a couple of Serenity baskets would be perfect. And while you’re at it, maybe you could throw in some stress-relievers for me, because I’m losing my mind trying to get their party together and promote Absolutely Nowhere all at the same time. I’ve got the puffy red eyes and all lol. But anyway, enough about my problems. I know this is short notice, so please let me know if that is doable.

  As if I’d ever tell you no, Timber thought as her eyes began to burn. Last paragraph:

  If I remember correctly, the last thing I tried to tell you at the party was how nice it was meeting you, and that you’re a beautiful woman. Looking forward t
o hearing back from you. All the best, Alex.

  Timber backed away from the computer slowly. A stunned smile spread across her face. Was she dreaming? Or had a bona fide movie star just emailed her? One who she never thought she’d see again. One who had actually sought her out and sent her a message. And checked out her company. And was so impressed that he actually wanted to purchase something. For his parents and himself. It was so mind-blowing that all she could do was sit back and stare up at the ceiling in utter disbelief.

  But then Timber abruptly shot back up. What was she doing? Why was she just sitting there? Didn’t she have a response to send? Alex needed to know whether or not she’d be able to fill his order. Was he crazy? Did he know who he was? She could have had anything on that website made and shipped within the hour if he’d wanted.

  Timber quickly hit the reply button and began typing her response. First paragraph:

  Hello Alex. It’s good to hear from you. It was nice meeting you as well, and don’t worry about what happened at the party. I should be the one apologizing for spilling champagne on your jacket!

  Good start. Not too much, not too little. Next paragraph:

  Congratulations on your parents’ 35th wedding anniversary! Of course it would be no trouble at all making the Serenity baskets for them. I can have them to you early next week. And I’ll throw in some therapeutic stress relievers for you as well. Just send me the address where you would like to have everything shipped.

  Professional and personable, all at the same time. Nice. Last paragraph:

  Thank you for your business, and for the compliments, too. All the best, Timber.

  After she hit the send button, Timber jumped up and ran over to her Soothing Bliss recipe book that she’d created. She flipped through the pages in search of the section titled “Rejuvenation.” When she found it, Timber turned the pages slowly until she got to her remedies for tired eyes and muscles. She added the ingredients to her shopping list, along with everything that she would need for Alex’s parents’ gift baskets. Then she ran out the door and headed to the store, eager to get started.