by J. M. Mason
Zac leaned toward me, took my hand in his, and smiled. My heart melted in a nice warm puddle in my belly. I’m happy I didn’t speak; it would’ve destroyed the mood.
“Stella, while the evening was a little unusual when we first met,” Zac said. “I found it was perfect for me. I really don’t think the incident could be repeated, although I wouldn’t be opposed to the treatment at a later private time.” His smile caused a wave of butterflies to flutter in my tummy. “It seems when we have an accident, the same thing doesn’t repeat itself. Sometimes I think we’re some giant children’s puppets, and they create these things for us to do to entertain themselves and others.”
“I think that too sometimes,” I said. “Are we weird?”
Jenny poked Zac across the table as she laughed. “Remember when I asked you if it was good for you?”
“Yes,” Zac said. “That’s why I said it was perfect for me, and for the record, I don’t smoke so that I won’t need a cigarette.”
We were laughing when Michael returned to the table. He winked at me and smiled. I was tempted to do a high five with him for his help.
He picked up the menus that were sitting on the table to my left, handed one to each of us after he opened it.
“Is everything OK here?” Michael asked. “I came to get your drink orders. I can take your food order when I return with the drinks.”
During the meal, we discussed things that bother many people around the world. The night was enjoyable; however, it had to come to an end. I was thankful I didn’t have any mishaps, and no one was embarrassed to my knowledge.
Several times during the meal, I noticed staff peeking around a corner, and smiling at us, which was followed by laughter. I knew Michael was gossiping about the events of the past. While I wanted to tell them to mind their own business, I chose not to destroy the fun I was having with the people I loved.
Chapter Sixty-One
Jenny got up from the table, and my attention was drawn to her because she coughed into her cupped hands, cocked her head toward the bathroom to indicate she wanted me to follow her. Lassie had a better method to get folks to follow her so she could save the day.
What did she want from me now? In the past, she never required someone to hold her hand when she went potty. Despite this fact, I rose to my feet.
John and Zac stood and stepped back so that we could leave the table. I thrilled at the feel of Zac’s warm palm in the small of my back as I walked in front of him.
“Please excuse us, gentlemen,” Jenny said. “Stella and I need to powder our noses. We’ll be back soon.”
As we walked to the bathroom, I leaned toward Jenny.
“Thank you for reminding me to go to the bathroom to reapply lipstick. I have some of those packets in my clutch tonight. I don’t want a repeat of another date with those packets.”
“I didn’t need to remind you about the lipstick,” Jenny said. “It’s something else.”
I stopped, grabbed Jenny’s arm, and looked at her with my eyes bulging. My mind went directly to concern that I’d done something wrong as usual, and she wanted to discuss it with me alone.
“What did I do this time?”
“Come on, wait until we’re out of hearing of the people in the room. You didn’t do anything wrong, so relax.”
“OK,” I said. “I’m going to go while we’re here. No one else is in here, so tell me what’s bothering you.”
“Zac wants to take you home in his car, and I’ll take John home in mine. If you don’t want to go with him, I’ll understand and take you home.
“Either John or Zac will ask if you mind the plan. I wanted to give you fair warning so that you won’t be surprised and do something you’ll regret tomorrow.”
“Oh, is that all? Well, I would love to have Zac drive me home. You and John need your time alone. It’s been a long time since you’ve had some alone time.”
The men rose from their chairs to help us into ours when we returned to the table. We discussed the good time we were experiencing when Jenny loudly yawned. She needs to learn a more feminine way of telling her man she wants to go home to snuggle.
“I’m ready to go if you all are ready,” John said. “I’ll pay the check and Zac if you wouldn’t mind taking Stella home, Jenny, and I’d like to get reacquainted with each other.”
“John,” Zac said. “You picked up the check last time, and it’s my turn.”
“I’ll let you pick up the check next time, and I intend to have lobster and steak.”
“You’re on,” he said as his widened with confusion. “Why lobster and steak? You never had it any time I’ve known you. Do you even like lobster?”
“No, I don’t like lobster, I just wanted to let you know that the ticket will be high priced just for you.”
“Very funny.”
Zac turned and looked at me. I loved his eyes when he smiled; they crinkled at the corner in a sexy way sending shivers up my spine.
“Stella, if you don’t mind,” Zac said. “I’d love to take you home.”
“I’d be happy for you to drive me home, thank you.”
John paid the check, then he and Jenny walked hand and hand to the exit to go home. I saw Michael standing by the wall. I approached him, hugged him, and placed a large tip in the palm of his hand.
“Thank you, Michael. This was a great night,” I whispered in his ear.
“No problem. Tell Walter hello for me. Our work schedules prevent us from seeing each other much. I’m happy you had a terrific night. Goodnight and good luck.”
Zac had a small frown on his face when I returned to his side.
“He’s my son’s friend. I just wanted to tell him we had a good time and he should make time to visit more often with his friends,” I said.
Zac took my hand as he walked me to his car. When he got in, he buckled his seat belt, and then placed the key in the ignition as he turned to me, my heart skipped a beat or two.
“It’s not late,” Zac said. “Would you like to go to a movie or something? I just don’t want to say goodnight yet. I’ve had a great time with you on both of our dates. I must admit this one was a lot quieter, yet it was just as enjoyable.”
“You’re easily entertained then. A movie sounds good. I don’t know when the last showing begins. However, the theater is just a few blocks from here, and they have several movies scheduled. Let’s go check.”
If you were to ask me the name of the movie we watched, I couldn’t tell you. All I remembered about the film was sitting in the dark with Zac’s arms around my shoulder as we munched on popcorn and sipped our drinks as my head rested against his arm.
We spent more and more time together throughout the weeks. In just a few weeks, we learned as much as we could about each other’s past. The closeness we felt at times was overwhelming and instilled feelings of apprehension for me. Yet, on the other hand it was good to feel alive and wanted. It didn’t hurt to feel my toes curl, either.
Chapter Sixty-Two
The first time we met, Zac said he had extra fishing equipment to take me fishing if it was something I wanted to do. One day, he showed up at my home wearing a cap with fishing flies hooked in the bill and a Cheshire Cat grin on his face.
“Let’s go to Lake Alice to fish for carp. I hear that’s all that is biting, but they’re so darned fun to catch, they fight like a son-of-a-gun.”
He wiggled his brows at me. I hadn’t even gotten dressed yet, because I planned to catch up on my reading. However, it was time to change my mind. Fishing was more fun than staying home cleaning house and reading. The housework will be there long after I’m dead.
“What the heck, why not. Just give me enough time to get dressed, and we can go,” I said. “Do you want me to make us some sandwiches to eat? I have some canned beverages in the frig. The ice chest is in the hall closet, and there is plenty of ice in the freezer. If you pack the drinks, I’ll dress and come out to make us some sandwiches.”
“I stopped
and bought some fried chicken,” Zac said. “And I got a couple of salads, and a case of soda packed in a foam chest. I got it covered. Go on and get dressed.”
We didn’t catch a single fish, yet we learned many things about each other in a different environment. He’s in his element when we played outside and relaxed. I enjoyed watching him as he cast his line onto the lake only to have the wind blow it back to shore.
Once, when I attempted to cast out my line, I accidentally caught his cap and cast it with my bobber on the surface of the lake. He quickly waded out to fetch it while I sat in my chair and laughed.
The wind caught the hat and pushed it down the shore line, then to make it worse, the receding waves kept pushing it further into the lake. After several attempts to retrieve the cap, he finally grabbed the water-soaked, limp headcover and walked back to shore, clutching the item in his hand.
The sun was warm and dried his clothes quickly. I managed to keep out of his reach while his clothing was drying. He wanted to share the smelly old lake water with me and thought it would be fun to snuggle so he could warm himself.
The seagulls swooped toward the water against the wind, looking for the fish hatchlings. The gust picked up, causing our lines to float back to shore again. We finally called it a day and went back home to eat our picnic lunch.
I sat thinking about how close we were becoming and tried to think of a technique I did to make it happen. No specific memory came to mind, that would allow me to write a book on how to succeed in the dating game of life. However, I remembered every emotion that was awakening inside of my being along the way. It was fun and fulfilling to get to know Zac and spend time with him.
Every day was a discovery as we kept our eyes on the future. Jenny and John were a big part of our getting to know one another. We all became great friends when we double dated.
Chapter Sixty-Three
One day, Jenny came gliding into the office with a silly grin on her face. It was one time that Jenny didn’t come into the office loudly proclaiming the state of the weather as she crossed the threshold of the office. She wasn’t usually a quiet person, so we were becoming concerned.
Jodie and I looked at her as she was obviously safely encased within her mind. She wasn’t aware of our presence, and that was unusual for her, as well. Knowing our business was her duty, and her comments on the thoughts of the day made her day go smoothly even when she caused bumps in others.
She sat down at her desk as a deep sigh crossed her lips. She held her left hand in front of her face as another sigh escaped.
“OMG! Are you engaged?” Jodie yelled.
I told you about Jodie’s laugh. However, I didn’t touch on her squeal. When I was a girl, I caught a baby pig by his back legs, and he squealed so loudly his mother attempted to break the fence to get to me because she thought I was killing her baby. The mama’s squeal was louder, but Jodie would put that mama to shame.
“Let’s see the ring!” I said. “When did he propose to you?”
“John came home from work and announced he wasn’t going to make three-month trips out of town anymore. He said he missed me too much, and he didn’t want to be separated any more than was necessary.” She took a deep breath. “Before I could get excited about that news, he pulled the ring box out of his pocket, bent over like he was bowing, and asked me to be his wife.”
“No getting down on one knee or flowers or moonlight or anything?” I asked.
“I don’t need that kind of thing to know that I love John enough to want to spend the rest of my life with him, married to him or living with him, it doesn’t matter, I love him, but no, to all the things you asked me about. It was simply ‘Will you marry me?’”
“The ring is beautiful,” Jodie said. “I’m so happy for the two of you.”
“Do we get to be in your wedding party?” I asked. “I call dibs on the maid of honor.”
“Oh, Stella,” Jenny answered. “It would be great to have you as my maid of honor, but years ago, I promised my little sister she got the title, and I’d be her maid of honor when she got married. But I want the two of you to be my bride’s maids. I hope you’re not upset and understand.”
“Of course,” I said. “She should be the maid of honor for her big sister’s wedding. I love being a bride’s maid. Except I’ve never been either a maid of honor or bride’s maid. What do we do? Have you set a date for your wedding, found a venue, and a wedding planner?”
“No to all the above for now. We just became engaged last night. We want it to happen as soon as possible, and we don’t want something too big that we’ll be lost in the hubbub.”
“Stella and I are here to do what we can to make your day the best. Aren’t we, Stella?” Jodie said.
“Thanks, I love you, girls. Now we need to get to work before Dr. Johnson gets here. I want to tell her because she’ll have to find someone to work for me while I’m on my honeymoon in Hawaii.”
“You’re taking us, aren’t you?” I asked.
“I would, but John would want to take his Aunt Gussy, and you don’t want me to have to contend with Aunt Gussy. She is full of gas from both ends, which she relieves wherever and whenever she feels the urge. I don’t know what that woman eats, but believe me, you don’t want me to have to honeymoon with Aunt Gussy.” Jenny giggled. “If the smell isn’t bad enough, she is busy telling everyone loudly, ‘It’s better to let it out than to keep it in, so you don’t bloat like a cow.’”
The laughter again filled the clinic but ended before the doctor arrived.
Chapter Sixty-Four
“Stella, since the first night I met you,” Zac said. “I’ve been obsessed with you and your sense of humor. Through the months, I’ve grown to love you, and I hope you feel the same. I fell in love with you the first rub of the napkin in my lap. Who wouldn’t love a woman who gets right to the point before a man has a chance to ask? No chit chat, no chocolates or roses and barely a hello.”
I wasn’t sure how I was to react to his speech. If I giggled at the memory of our first meeting, the mood might be dampened. Then my eyes misted as I gazed into the chocolate depths of his gold flecked eyes. He knelt in front of me, holding a black jewelry box in his left hand. I was speechless for a change as I waited for him to finish what he was saying to me.
“That reminds me, bub. You owe me one or both of those things for the joy you got the first night we met.”
“I’ll fix that right now. I know it hasn’t been long since that first date, just less than a year. However, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. The weeks we were apart seemed like a lifetime, even though I was busy getting settled in my job. I’m glad you didn’t find someone while you were dating. He opened the little box. “Will, you do me the great honor to become my wife and marry me as soon as possible?”
Tears flowed down my cheeks. I knew he cared for me, and I know that the love I feel for Zac was different than what I felt for my ex. For the first time in a long time, I thought that I could now have someone to rock with me in our chairs on the front porch as we watched the young folks making fools of themselves.
I didn’t think I would have anyone I could sit and place judgment on the youth of the day and feel the invisibility of age with one who loves me just as I am. Many different men either fell at my feet or jabbed me with the member of their body that they felt the most pride, yet not one of them thought of me as a person first, until Zac.
“I love you more than I’ve loved anyone other than my son’s,” I said. “To not be with you for the rest of my life would leave a huge empty spot in my heart. It’s my honor to become your wife. Will you do me the honor to marry me and be my husband?”
“It definitely is my honor to be your husband.”
Zac placed a white-gold ring with a small solitaire diamond on the finger next to my pinky on the left hand. I know it’s called the ring finger, but I want to make sure you all know where he placed the ring. I love how it looks when I hold the pinky up as I dri
nk my coffee and tea during the day. The pinky finger frames the ring to show its beauty. Grandma would be proud.
Chapter Sixty-Five
Jenny and John married and spent their honeymoon in Hawaii, two weeks after she returned from her first vacation with her husband, she stood with me and witnessed my marriage as my Matron of Honor, during my nuptials. My sons served as Groom’s Men and Michael was an honored guest for helping me.
Jodie was happy to be a bride’s maid for me like she was for Jenny. She’s still looking for a mate and seems to like the chase better than being in a long-term relationship. This is good for her and makes her happy.
Zac and I did a tour of the National Parks of the western United States for our honeymoon. We fished and snuggled in our sleeping bag under the stars.
My journey to find the one male meant for me among all the men in the State was an exciting adventure that I wouldn’t wish on my enemy. Then I thought about how my man came from another State to find me, leaving an imbalance in that State and more than one man for each of us who lived in Colorado for a short time. I’m thrilled I didn’t have to share him.
I still believe there needs to be a book written for those feeling the need to find the one and only. If it can’t be Dating for Dummies, then it must be a rule book for each gender to make the game fair.
The rules would include that no one can cheat on a spouse to make the efforts of those who are looking for the right mate for them easier. No one can have more than one mate, which reduces the playing field.
Who am I kidding? No one is going to write a playbook for the dating game. It’s a lot more fun finding all those who aren’t meant for you yet will fit like a leather glove for someone else. Which if one dwelled on this fact, it would make a good thriller movie right next to the slasher films. So, let’s not think about it.
Zac and I found each other because we each had a friend who cared enough to put us together, not once, but twice; fate made the connection enjoyable. He still discusses the first night I made him want me like no woman has ever done before. He knew from that close and personal encounter we would be the best of lovers, and it ultimately led to friendship that is needed when the glow of love fades a little, which hasn’t for the past eighteen years we have been married.
