by Cee, DW
“Yes, it’s William, but we’re not dating. He happened to be in Orange County and...” I started to answer, “I’m sure you’re not interested in the fine details.” I left it at that.
“Where is he? Are you meeting him here?”
“He’s here somewhere. We separated for a bit so I could get dressed for dinner. What brings you here, tonight?”
“A...date...” He was slow in getting those words out, but I was quick to feel devastated. It became awkward between us once those two words appeared.
Did I have any right to feel this crushed knowing he was on a date with someone? How hypocritical of me when I was on a “date” myself. This crazy elated excitement of running into Donovan took a nosedive and drowned in the Orange County Sea as soon as I learned of this plans.
“Well, I guess I shouldn’t keep you. It was nice seeing you. I...miss...” My heart sped up and almost crashed when I almost blurted that I’d missed him while he was gone.
“What was that?” The smile on this man’s face told me he wasn’t going to let my misstep go.
“Nothing. I’ve got to go.” I started walking away. “I have to get to my dinner.”
“He’s a lucky man, Delaney...” he pulled me back to him and almost admired me. That made my heart melt, and I started to panic a little. My heart was up, down, to the right, to the left—aargh! I didn’t like feeling so crazed every time I saw this man. “You look beautiful tonight, and I’m sure your date will find you almost as enchanting as I do.”
Do you really find me enchanting? Do you think I look pretty tonight? My mind and heart were in such disarray, I stopped listening, or at least I thought I’d stopped listening, until of course he asked his next question. “Can I walk you to your destination? Are you dining at Studio?”
He put out his arm, like a Hollywood leading man, and dared me to hold onto it. I curled my hand into the crook of his elbow and we looked like Hollywood royalty walking through the hotel, by the pool, and onto the ground level to the restaurant that faced the ocean. What would it feel like to be on a date with this man? How would it really be if he were to show interest in me and I told him about my love for him since I was ten?
“Do you see your date?”
“Yes. He’s over there.” I pointed in William’s direction.
“Well, I see that you’re not the only surprise here for me tonight.”
I had no idea what he was talking about. He walked me to our table and I saw that glamorous woman from earlier—the same woman who knew Jake—give Donovan a blinding smile. I slowly let go of his elbow, not that he noticed. Then it dawned on me. The truth stabbed me like a battering ram. This was Kate. The same Kate, Donovan dated back in college, the same Kate, Donovan had asked to marry him, the same Kate, who usurped my proposal ten years ago.
“Donovan...” The unspoken words from this Kate said a lot more than the spoken one. He walked over and lightly, but sensually embraced her—not enough so it would look casual to the nonchalant observer, but just enough for it to suggest a past, a history, and possibly a future to those like me who cared. They were still together...
I couldn’t express the heartbreak that just occurred with their embrace. If I could, I would have walked right back to my room and cried an ocean. After believing that he found me enchanting, stunning, and beautiful, he went off to his woman who was the true symbol of beauty. Rather than enchanting, stunning, and beautiful, I was silly, nothing special, and cute. I knew at this very moment, that I’d “lost” Donovan, again.
Everyone greeted one another in surprise and we all sat to a long meal. Jake appeared to have a knowing look of what would happen even before dinner began.
I had a hard time eating. William was overly attentive and close to overbearing—sitting next to me, taking care of me every which way he could. He asked me if he should get me more water, more bread, was I hot, was I cold, was I OK with the tasting menu...aahhh! Just leave me alone! I knew he was only trying to be nice, but all the coddling was annoying.
“These boys, or at least at the time they were boys, stayed at my place,” Kate said as she explained that she, Donovan and Jake spent every weekend together. I didn’t want to hear that.
“Are you not hungry?” William hovered, again.
“I’ll eat, William. You enjoy your meal.” I answered softly, but looked up to see Donovan and Kate in a serious discussion. They looked so beautiful together, so intimate, so...perfect. I felt numb. No matter how hard I tried to make Donovan a nobody in my life, he persistently stayed a somebody. Who was I kidding? In the short month he’d reappeared in my life, I’d let him become everything to me again. How stupid was I to let a man control my emotions? I had to leave the room.
“Laney, you don’t look good,” William repeated for the tenth time.
“I’m OK William. I think I’ll go outside for some fresh air.”
“I’ll go with you,” was what I think he answered, but I didn’t stay to reply. To my chagrin, I’d brought too much attention to myself as I abruptly got up and left the room.
“Laney...” Emily came outside and found me. “Is everything all right?”
“No...”
“Does it have anything to do with Donovan?” I must have given her a how did you know look because Emily uncharacteristically laughed at me. “Have you liked him long?”
“Oh my gosh, is it that obvious?”
“No, it’s not obvious to most. Laney, I find myself drawn to you more than the other cousins because we are similar in many ways. There are times where I catch you looking at Donovan, and you have that same look of longing that I had when Jake and I were separated. It was so painful knowing that he was right there, but that he didn’t want me. Is that how you feel?”
“I don’t know how I feel, Emily. I’ve been in ‘love’ with him since I was ten. I saw him for the first time in Aunt Sandy’s kitchen, and I knew that he was the one I wanted to marry. You know, I actually asked him to marry me when I was twelve years old.” I started laughing and was about to tell Emily the entire story when William walked our way.
“I’ll take him back in,” Emily said. “Do you want to join us or are you done for the night?”
“I think I’ll go to my room. Will you make up an excuse for me?”
“Definitely.” Emily gave me a quick hug and kiss on the cheek and met William before he could reach me.
It was going to be a long night for me.
February 24, 2013 The Morning After
I’m unsure if I slept last night after that debacle of a dinner. Emily told me that dinner went well and William left after the meal. I woke up to texts, and a couple of voicemails from William that I’ve yet to return. Sitting on the grass with James, and listening to the waters crashing, soothed a broken heart that wouldn’t mend anytime soon.
“Can we join you two on the grass?” My dream man who had found his dream woman last night came over with Ellie, and plopped down next to me and James. “You feeling OK? You left the dinner table early last night.”
“I’m well today, thank you.” I pretended to help James gather his toys because the sight of Donovan all sweaty and gorgeous after his workout was making me flustered.
“What are you up to today, Delaney?”
“I’ll be going home with Gram and Sir Ascot after brunch. What will you be doing?” I asked out of courtesy. It’s not like I didn’t know what he and that stunning woman would be up to once they got back to her residence.
“I think I may go surfing or paddle boarding. It’s a beautiful day. I’d like to jump in the water. Why don’t you stick around and join me? I’ll drive you back home later if you can’t catch a ride with anyone else.”
That was a very tempting offer, but did I want to be a third wheel? Did I have that much of a masochistic side to me? “Won’t Kate mind if I stick around? It looked as though you two were getting reacquainted last night.” My more than snarky remark coincided with
Donovan’s chuckle.
“Reacquainted...” the jerk thought on that word. Did he need to rub it in? “That’s about as apt a word as any. Did you see William again after you left?”
I shook my head no.
“He didn’t stop by your room last night?”
This time, I looked at him in horror. “Hell-o, why would he stop by my room?”
Donovan chuckled again. “Never mind. Stick around. Kate’s not much into water sports. I’d like to see if you’re as good in the water as you are on the mound.”
“Buddy, I could whip your ass in the water. That’s my sport.”
“Is that right, Little Girl? You can whip my ass? Let’s see you try.”
That damn ‘little girl’ moniker would stay with me for life. “I think your Kate will mind if I stick around. I prefer not to force a bicycle into a tricycle.”
“What?” He looked thoroughly confused.
“I prefer not to tagalong.”
“Kate won’t mind a sweet young girl like you tagging along. Why you’re younger than my youngest sister. Kate’s an only child. I’m sure she’d love to get to know you.”
...sweet young girl tagging along... That’s me...Whatever!
“Thank you for the fun offer, but I think I’ll go back home. I still have some stuff to do for school and I’m sure you and Kate need time to get reacquainted. You two make a beautiful couple. I guess you’re over my cousin, Jane?”
Now what had possessed me to ask that question? I didn’t need to know about his private life, and I especially didn’t need to know if his private life concerned Jane.
Donovan, of course, didn’t answer my questions concerning him, Kate, or Jane. I figured he wouldn’t.
James called out to me and took my attention back to him. He pointed toward the family, so I figured he wanted his mother.
“You want to go back to Mama?” I asked, picking him up.
“Mamamama,” he muttered.
“Excuse me, I think I’ll take James back to Emily.”
Donovan grabbed my arm and said, “Would it kill you to address me by my name?”
“Not at all. I’ll see you later, Mr. Taylor.” I addressed him by his name as he’d asked and walked away.
February 27, 2013 Play Ball
I dreaded another game without Donovan. I’d overheard Jane and Jake talking about Donovan staying down at the beach this week with the oh-so glamorous Kate, so I knew I was in for another lonely time up on the mound. William and I were done. I felt bad calling him after I got back home, rather than the morning of, but the hovering at the dinner table put me over the edge. One of my biggest no-no’s was anyone who babied me or tried to take care of my every need. I liked my man strong, but not overbearing (though I’d never really been with a man, so perhaps that was what I thought I liked). William was weak and motherly—NOT for me! Today, I’d let him know.
“What’s the nightmare about? Your face looks completely disgruntled.”
Donovan! “What are you doing here?”
“I’m here for the same reason you’re here—to play ball.”
“Jake said you were staying down at the beach this whole week.”
Donovan had a weird smile on his face all of a sudden. “You checking up on me, Little Girl?”
“Get a life!” I pretended the best I could to feel flabbergasted. “You are not the focal point of my life,” LIAR, “and I did not ask about you. Jake said it in passing.”
“Yeah, sure!” This conceited man didn’t believe me. With the way he was looking at me, I’d swear he was seeing right through me. Shit! Was I that transparent? “Let’s go play ball, Little Girl.”
Our game was phenomenal! I pitched well, batted well, and hung out with Donovan the entire game. We sat next to one another in the dugout, joked around, and I’d forgotten that he had a woman who was waiting for him back at her home on the beach.
“You ready?” William approached me once the game was done.
“Huh?” I had no clue what he was talking about.
“You promised me a date.” I was still drawing a blank. “Last week? When I asked you to dinner, you said you couldn’t, but today was OK.”
Shoot! Had I really done this? I guess I had. This was my chance to end the little we started. “Where shall we go?” I asked with a smile.
“Whatever strikes your fancy, my lady. I’m just happy to have a meal with you.”
“Jake told me you and William weren’t dating anymore.”
What the hell? Donovan just outed me in front of half the softball team.
“Laney?” William looked surprised.
Damn Donovan Taylor! I spoke in a pissed-off manner. “Don’t you have a woman and a beach to get back to?”
“Are you dismissing me?”
There was a look of shock on Donovan’s face, and I’d put it there. That made me smile. “Yes, Mr. Taylor. You’re dismissed.” I stuck my tongue out at him like I used to do when I was ten years old. “Let’s go, William.”
Date with William? Productive.
The look on Donovan’s face when I stuck my tongue out at him? Priceless!
March 8, 2013 Cinderella at the Ball
Gram and Sir Ascot decided to move up their wedding date to this weekend, which threw Mom into an absolute tizzy! She put me on decorating duty, though I didn’t know much about decorating. Actually, I was in charge of sending men and women to their correct locations. We were transforming Aunt Sandy’s backyard into an English garden. To my utter surprise, by the end of the day, I thought we had all been transported back to old-England.
“Laney! I need your help over here.”
“Mom. The caterers are here, and I need to show them where to set up.”
Mom ran around like a chicken with its head cut off.
“Should I get Mom a stiff drink?”
“Doug! You know that’ll make her go straight to sleep. She’s needed here.”
“Dude. I’m eloping if Mom goes this psycho every time there’s a family wedding.”
I laughed. “You can’t do that. You’re her only son. She’ll want to throw you a grand wedding.”
“No thanks. Nick and I’ve already decided we’re eloping to Vegas. This isn’t for us.”
“A wedding is for the bride, not for the groom. Trust me. Your wife is not going to want a Vegas wedding, and you’d break Mom’s heart if you eloped.”
“Damn! I guess I just won’t get married.”
“Whatever.”
The entire day was happily spent getting the house ready for a rehearsal tea and an English wedding tomorrow morning.
“Don’t you look dapper, Master James.” I picked up James and kissed him all over his cheek. Emily had dressed him to look like a little English boy from back in the olden days. He had a white button down shirt, knickers, matching suspenders, bowtie and a hat. His sister Ellie looked beautiful in her dress and matching hair-bow, but it was James that made me squeal. I couldn’t wait to have little kids of my own.
“Emily, the kids look incredible.”
“I think they look sweet, too. I couldn’t stop kissing these two once they were dressed.” Emily herself was so cute, talking about the babies.
“Me too. I think James is afraid to come anywhere near me because I attacked him the moment I saw him.”
“Laney, can I ask you and Nick to be in charge of the twins today?” Jake was always putting his wife’s needs first and the depth of his love for his wife always put a smile on my face.
“Jake, don’t do that. Let them enjoy the day. I’ll be with the kids.” Emily was quick not to inconvenience any of us.
Without hesitation, Nick and I agreed to watch the kids.
Nick, the kids, and I happily hung out together till dinner was over, then our soon-to-be grandfather went up and continued our fun Reid tradition of “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.” Our family loves trad
ition and each time anyone gets married, the soon-to-be groom has to follow the tradition his predecessor set. The last person to get married was Jake, and since Grandfather was in a class of his own, we were all wondering what he might do to continue our Reid tradition.
He did not disappoint!
“When I approached Estelle’s five sons a few months back,” my future grandfather started his speech, “and told them about my intention to marry their mother, they told me about the long-standing tradition you have in the Reid family. Though I’m not a Reid, I was told that I couldn’t marry Estelle unless I agreed to honor and continue this tradition. Now, I don’t quite fit into any category since I’m not the first child to get married, of any of your generations. Jerry picked the tradition of something old and started with a pearl necklace. Henry, the cheap bastard, picked something blue, and gave his wife a blue garter.” Everyone would always pick on Dad for his gag gift. What most people didn’t know was that he’d also bought Mom a set of emeralds, sapphires and rubies—ring, bracelet, necklace, and earrings—as her wedding present. Those stunning sets would become our personal heirlooms. “Jake, with the help of his gracious grandmother, gave his lovely wife not only the prize ring, but also something old and something new, with a pair of diamond earrings. Since I needed to best the young man who robbed the Reid family coffers, I brought the Ascot family jewels to refill what’s been plundered.”
The atmosphere changed from curious to absolute wonder when the large chest was opened and the jewels sparkled brighter than the heavenly night. I’d never seen so many jewels in one place!
Our little Ellie was the first one to go up and pick her gift. She “walked” away with a tiara. Sir Ascot proclaimed this was the greatest treasure in the chest. Her gummy grin sparkled brighter than the tiara. The look on her face when Jake put the crown on her head was precious. The entire family got a picture of that smile.
Next up was Auntie Sandy, and she picked a beautiful Tahitian pearl ring. Mom chose a bracelet, her jewel of choice, Emily picked a very small and understated broach, Jane picked a cute pendant, and when it was my turn, I knew immediately what I wanted.
