A Wife for Stephen

by Valcine Brown

  After the greetings are made, in which Stephen rubbed the beast on his head, they make their way to Celeste’s car and their appointment with fun.

  Celeste doesn’t give voice to her surprise that Thomas appeared cautious of Stephen. Thomas usually likes everyone. After thinking it over a bit, she chalks it up to the fact that Thomas hasn’t been introduced to many men since Tyrone had been the only she’s dated and brought to her house. Setting Thomas’ reaction aside, Celeste focuses on navigating them safely to the freeway.

  Chapter Fourteen

  It isn’t that crowded at the amusement park since it is not tourist season, and they are afforded plenty of time to ride many of the rides since the lines are not that long. Each line they wait in gives them more of an opportunity to talk and get to know one another better. Although Celeste has been doing that over the past few months, she much prefers talking with him face to face and watching his facial expressions change during their conversations. And Stephen has a very expressive face.

  The cooler weather of Orange County in October calls for a light jacket which each of them dawn with their comfortably faded jeans. They had each started out wearing different tops, but it had been Stephen’s idea that they purchase matching Disneyland tops and beanies. After buying them, they both went into their gender respective rest rooms and put on their new items.

  Celeste knows that clothes do not make the man but that they are an expression of the individual who wears them. She is very much enjoying this kinship Stephen is expressing with their matching ensemble. Celeste never could have imagined that such a thing most people would consider trifle and adolescent, would cause her heart to swell and warm.

  Besides being an opportunity to show their connection, they also afford Stephen a bit of a disguise. Usually he does not mind being recognized by his fans and being asked to sign autographs and take pictures. But today it is his sincerest desire to keep a seriously low profile. The time he is spending with Celeste in developing their blossoming relationship is important to him, and something he doesn’t take lightly.

  Every line they wait in gives Stephen a chance to get closer to Celeste and hold her in his arms. Nothing to heavy, just a gesture of togetherness.

  After riding most of the rides in the theme park and eating their fill of snacks, they decide to call it a day since Celeste still has to work in the morning.

  After dropping Stephen at his hotel, which happens to be close to her office, Celeste heads for home, tired yet exhilarated at the same time. But not before Stephen had placed one of his warm caressing kisses on her and said, “I’ll see you tomorrow.” Tomorrow they are meeting for a late lunch and the appointment with Valerie to view the studio.

  On the drive home, Celeste thinks to herself, man can he kiss. I wouldn’t mind spending the rest of my life with him. Celeste is caught up short with her thoughts. Where had that come from? She doesn’t have time to delve deeper because her phone begins to ring. She is supposed to call Stephen when she gets home but apparently he couldn’t wait that long. Without checking her caller ID she pushes the send button and answers the call, “Yes, Stephen.”

  But the voice that answers her is not Stephen. And the time has come upon her quicker that she had hoped. “Stephen?”

  “I’m sorry, Jenny. I thought you were Stephen.” “Uh huh. Where have you been all weekend? I have been trying to get in touch with you, but all I got was your voice mail.”

  “I’m sorry. I was going to call you back but-”

  Jenny saying, “For goodness sake, will you quit apologizing,” cuts off Celeste from her explanation. “And that is not an answer to my question. Where have you been?”

  Deciding simplicity is the key, Celeste says, “Philadelphia.”

  “Philadelphia? And what, pray tell, is in Philadelphia?” Jenny counters. But before Celeste has time to answer, Jenny adds, “Or should I say ‘who’ is in Philadelphia?”

  “Stephen.”

  “Oh...”

  “He invited me to come there to meet his parents. Could you hold on one second, Jenny?” Celeste pauses from their conversation to pick her way through the heavy traffic of the freeway. “Now where was I? Oh yeah, he invited me there to meet his parents.”

  “You said that already.”

  “So I did,” is all that Celeste can say.

  “Did you have a good time?”

  Surprised by this unexpected question, Celeste says, “I had a great time, actually.”

  They talk for a few minutes more in which Celeste fills Jenny in on her trip. Before getting off the phone, they make plans to go to lunch on Wednesday.

  Celeste is grateful to arrive home having spent the last hour battling other motorist. Upon entering her home, she is greeted by her loving companion, Thomas. Instead of heading straight to take a bath, which had been her first thought while driving, she seats herself on the floor and rubs Thomas.

  Thomas shows his excitement at having Celeste back home without a visitor by licking her and wagging his tail happily. The guilt of having been gone for the weekend calls to Celeste to spend extra time with her furry buddy. After a long hot soak in the tub, Celeste is so exhausted she falls asleep the minute her head touches the pillow only to be awakened by the shrill of the telephone into the quiet darkness of her bedroom.

  Sleepily she answers, “Hello?”

  “Were you sleeping?” Stephen asks.

  “I’m sorry. I was supposed to call you when I got home.”

  “That’s all right. Obviously you were tired. I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Sleep well.”

  Celeste is so weary that she barely manages to replace the receiver before her eyes close yet again.

  Stephen calls her again early in the morning just before her alarm clock rings to awaken her. It is in this moment that Celeste understands how a person can wake up alongside the same person every day of their life and never grows tired of seeing them first thing their eyes open.

  “I slept well,” Celeste answers Stephen’s question. “How did you sleep?”

  “As well as can be expected since I don’t have the comfort of sleeping in my own bed under my own covers. I won’t be glad enough when my contract is up so that I can spend more time at home.”

  At the mention of home, Celeste wonders where exactly is home for Stephen, they had never discussed it. But she decides to leave that question for their luncheon date. After saying, “See you later,” Celeste takes extraordinary care in selecting her clothes for the day and getting dressed.

  At the office, Jayla is somewhat surprised that her boss is taking off early for the day since Celeste in the past has always made work a priority in her life. At a lull in the workday, Jayla says to Celeste, “Being with Stephen looks good on you.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “What I mean is, ever since you two have established a closer relationship, you’ve been utterly transformed. You no longer work yourself to the bone, and you are starting to take time out to enjoy life. I mean, seriously, you told me that yesterday you two went to Disneyland together. And although you talked about how Stephen had not had a chance to enjoy it in a long time, when was the last time you enjoyed it?” Jayla pauses to let her words sink in before continuing. “That’s good, Celeste. Without a doubt, I can see that the man makes you happy. I’m so pleased for you.”

  Celeste sets back in her chair, and as she ponders what Jayla has said to her, her face begins to glow with awe and amazement. It is true, every word of it. Stephen has given her a reason to enjoy life and not just live it day to day to get ahead at work. She has different goals now, family goals that she never for once thought she would have. “Yeah. Isn’t it great?”

  Jayla chuckles before leaving Celeste’s office to return to her own desk.

  The two o’clock hour goes by too slowly for Celeste as she spends most of it watching the clock waiting for it to read three o’clock. When it does she is more than excited to put away her workload and gather up her purse to leave
the office. She strides from her office with nothing but her handbag on her shoulder. Which is another change; she used to carry her briefcase almost everywhere with her during the workweek.

  Jayla smiles knowingly at Celeste as she passes Jayla’s desk and says, “See you in the morning.”

  Just on the threshold of the office, Celeste pauses at the door and turns to look at Jayla, “Jayla, why don’t you take the afternoon off. You deserve it.”

  “Thank you, Celeste. I’ll do just that.”

  When Celeste arrives at Stephen’s hotel to pick him up she finds him waiting in the lobby for her. The second she walks into the lobby he approaches her and gathers her into his arms. “I’ve missed you,” he says before kissing her senseless.

  Celeste decides to take him to her favorite luncheon spot close to her office since it is only minutes away from the hotel. The greeter is surprised to see Stephen at Celeste side, although he hides it well. Celeste can tell that he is surprised, not by whom Stephen is, but by the fact that he is with Celeste since she has never been here with a man before.

  After they place their entree orders, they hold hands across the table and talk. They speak about nothing and about everything. They talk because they enjoy each other’s company and the sound of each other’s voice. During their conversation, Celeste asks the question that had come to her mind earlier that morning, “Where is home for you, Stephen? I know you love Philly, but is that where you stay when you’re not on the road or traveling?”

  “I have two condos, actually; one in Philly and one in New York.”

  Celeste plows ahead and asks the question that she is not yet sure if she is ready to hear the answer to, “So where are you going when you’re done with your tour?”

  “I plan on coming out here.” Seeing the look of surprise on Celeste’s face, he assures her that he is not trying to crowd or rush her into a deeper relationship than she is ready for by adding, “I want to check on that studio and see if it is adequate. Then I’ll need to spend some time getting things up and situated the way I would like.”

  “Oh. I guess you’ll only be out here temporarily then.”

  Is that disappointment I see and hear, Stephen questions himself? He chances all to ask his next question, “Would you like it to be more than temporary?”

  “Well… I was really hoping that we could spend more time together once you were done with your tour, but I don’t want to get in the way of any plans you might be making or have already made. Besides...” Celeste cuts herself short realizing that in her nervousness, she is again rambling.

  “Baby, that’s what I want too. I just don’t want to rush you. I’m on new ground here, so I’m treading carefully.” Would he ever learn to accurately gauge what’s going on in her head and stop feeling like he’s walking on eggshells, afraid that she’ll break away or bolt at any minute?

  Stephen realizes that he must take care, but also that he must be honest, with himself as well as Celeste. He has no problem being honest about his feelings and just what he desires for their relationship. His only problem is not knowing how much honesty is too much honesty to share with Celeste.

  Frustration and uncertainty wells up within him like nothing he’s ever experienced before. Tentatively he begins, “Celeste, I want to spend as much time with you as I can. I just don’t want to push you away by being too demanding of your time.”

  “You could never be too demanding of my time.”

  “I’m sure glad to hear you say that.”

  When they finish their meal, they get into Celeste’s car to drive over to the address that Valerie has given Stephen. Since Celeste has lived in Los Angeles all of her life and is quite familiar with the way the streets run out here, she navigates to the neighborhood of the studio and uses her GPS to navigate the rest of the way with no difficulty.

  As they exit the vehicle in front of the address, a petite woman exits and stands with her hand shielding her eyes from the sun. This must be Valerie, Celeste thinks to herself. Her thoughts are confirmed when Stephen takes her hand and guides her the short distance up the walkway and makes introductions.

  “Celeste, this is Valerie. Valerie, this is my girl, Celeste.”

  “How wonderful to meet you, Celeste,” Valerie says as she reaches out to shake hands with Celeste. Valerie’s grip is warm and strong in Celeste’s hand. “Well, if you both would follow me, I will show you around.”

  Since Celeste has never been into a recording studio before, she has nothing by which to compare what she is seeing. The tour takes about thirty minutes and then Stephen asks Valerie if he and Celeste can look around by their selves.

  When Valerie agrees, Stephen takes her on a more personal tour and points out what each piece of equipment is and its significance. He tells her the importance of a good deadening wall and adequate insulation for each booth. After all of Stephen’s explanations, Celeste feels better abreast of what she is looking at and looking for.

  To Stephen’s delight, the studio appears to be exactly what Valerie had termed, ‘The one on the market that best meets your needs.’

  Celeste only has one question, which she asks of Stephen, “Is it a plus or a minus to have this studio in a home rather than an industrial building? I mean, I know it won’t disturb the neighbors, but it just doesn’t fit the image I had of a recording studio.”

  “It’s definitely a plus. It means better parking, and with the second level of the house being unconverted, it means better accommodations for the entertainers. Sometimes in the middle of heavy recording you might need an hour or two of rest before you get back to it. Having bedrooms upstairs means you don’t need to spend that hour getting to and from your hotel. You just go upstairs and crash for a bit.”

  Celeste nods her head in understanding of the benefits that Stephen has brought to her attention. This, coupled with everything else that Stephen has taught her today, does make this studio seem like a good choice. But being far from an expert she asks Stephen, “What do you think?”

  “I think it’s perfect. I’m gonna make an offer. I just need to sit down with Valerie and determine how much of an offer.”

  When Valerie and Stephen begin talking over the terms of his offer on the studio, Celeste excuses herself from the room. “Where are you going?” Stephen asks.

  “I want to go look around a bit more,” Celeste says.

  “All right.”

  Ten minutes later Stephen finds Celeste gazing out the window to the front of the house. “What are looking at?”

  “Nothing really.”

  He wraps her in his arms and kisses the top of her head, “I’m ready to go when you are.”

  Leaving the studio, they decide where they want to have dinner and settle on Tony Roma’s. A place for ribs.

  Early Tuesday morning, Celeste picks up Stephen from his hotel and drives him to the airport. “I told you you didn’t need to take off the morning from work just to see me to the airport. I could have taken a cab or something.”

  “No. I wanted to.” Celeste gives voice to only part of what she is thinking. She is so gripped by the fun they have had together; she doesn’t want it to end. She couldn’t imagine not seeing him off and missing out on getting one last kiss.

  Arriving at the airport departure terminal of LAX, Stephen gives Celeste exactly what she wants. Stars burst in the sky like fireworks on a crystal clear, cloudless night, leaving Celeste wishing that he could continue to hold her in his arms.

  “Hey, Babe,” says an all too familiar voice calling her on the phone one evening in late October.

  “Hey there, yourself.”

  “What are your plans for Thanksgiving?”

  “Hmm. I don’t have any,” Celeste answers.

  “Your mom and dad haven’t asked you to have dinner with them yet?”

  At the mention of her parents in the same sentence, almost as if they were still a couple, Celeste stiffens slightly. “No. I haven’t spoken to either one of them in the last coup
le of weeks actually.”

  Stephen could not imagine having such a wonderful daughter as Celeste and not making it a point to keep in close contact. He is a grown man and talks to his family at least twice a week. No matter where he is. “Will you come and have Thanksgiving dinner with me and my family, in Philly?”

  Although Celeste had felt well received by Stephen’s family when she had met them, and Joyce had told Celeste not to wait too long before returning for a visit, Celeste feels that she might be intruding on their family visit if she visits that particular weekend.

  “Nonsense, my mom would be delighted to see you across from her table,” Stephen commented when Celeste had shared with him her thoughts. He further tugged at her heartstrings by saying, “It would mean a lot to me if you would come.”

  Celeste could no more disappoint this man than she could sprout wigs and fly. “If you really want me to.”

  “I do. So I’ll make all the reservations. Can you leave on Wednesday morning so that you might avoid some of the holiday travelers?”

  “I suppose so. Our ad campaign is wrapped up, and I am well underway in the planning stages of the three new campaigns that have been placed on my desk. Wednesday will be fine.”

  “Great.” Stephen is relieved since he has already purchased her ticket in anticipation of her agreement. “You want to know a secret?”

  “What?” Celeste could barely contain her excitement.

  “Now if I told you, it wouldn’t be a secret now would it.” Stephen says before laughing so hard he almost falls off the bed he is lying on in his hotel room.

  “You stinker,” Celeste says before beginning to laugh herself.

  “No, for real. I do have a surprise for you, but you have to wait until Thanksgiving.”

  “Ooh. You’ve peaked my interest.”

  “Good. I’ll talk to you tomorrow,” he had forced himself to say before he said more than he ought.

  “Wait. What can I do to make you tell?”

  “Perhaps if you kiss me I’ll tell you. But since you can’t do that with me in Atlanta and you in Los Angeles, you’ll have to wait until next week.”