Heart Of Stone

by Hayes, S. I.

  “I’ve started playing with a few things. It’s a work in progress.”

  “Kind of like us?” She yawned.

  “Yeah. Kind of like us.”

  “Would you do me a favor?” She asked letting go of his hand.

  “Anything.”

  “Go grab my purse? It’s just over by your dresser. I need something from it.”

  He pulled from her without question, and retrieved the oversized pocketbook. He never understood a woman’s need to carry so much stuff. “Here you are.” It hit the bed with a thud and a bounce.

  She rifled through it a moment then pulled out a small black envelope with electric blue designs on it. “I had a present for you back in New York, but since we were doing the shopping thing…” She flipped the envelope over in her fingers toward him.

  He looked down at her, strangely, as he made to sit back down. Then got up leaving the room in a hurry. She made a sound of protest, only to be silenced when he returned with a little red bag with green tissue paper sticking out every which way.

  “I was going to wait, but since you initiated…” He handed her the weighty bag as he took the envelope.

  “You really didn’t…”

  He looked at her, “Yeah… I really did, why wouldn’t-” His mouth dropped open as he fingered the papers in the envelope. “Are these… No fuckin’ way. AC/DC, front row center? VIP... In Sydney?”

  “The flight itinerary is there too.” Donnella grinned, seeing his whole face light up as he bounced in place excitedly.

  “Fucking, A... But there are two tickets, and it’s in May… Do you?”

  “If you want me to.” Her smile was beginning to hurt her face.

  “Fuck yeah.” He wrapped his arms around her kissing her repeatedly. “Of course I want you to come.”

  “Easy, you’re squishing me… Not to mention my present.” She squealed.

  He pulled away. “I hope you like it. Truth be told, I called in reinforcements for it.”

  She opened the bag, pulling out the tissues of paper, reaching down inside she found a small pedestal and then a snow globe. The snow globe contained inside a snowy scene of central park with a couple kissing on a bench. She turned it in her hands and the snow inside shifted, as it lit up, changing colors slowly from white to red to blue then green. Playing Wintertime Love by The Doors. A tear rolled down her cheek. Snow globes were a secret passion of hers. Having received her first one from her mother when she was just five years old. Harold… “Oh, Matthew.” She sniffled. Watching the snow fall inside.

  “Why are you crying?” He kneeled down in front of her. “Do you not like it? I just thought, it reminded me of that first night in my apartment. That couple on the bench?”

  “I know…” She put the globe aside, grabbing him by the sides of the face. “I love it.” She kissed him. “It’s perfect. Just like you.”

  11

  After two days in bed the smell of sausage and the sudden vibration of her cellphone woke Donnella, from the warmth of the covers. Reaching down she slid her fingers across the screen to answer. “This is Donnella Stone.”

  “Miss Stone?” Harold’s chipper voice chittered through the receiver. “It’s Harold, I hope you’ve had a Happy Holiday.” She could hear the smile cracking across his face.

  “It’s been nice. Mostly… And you?” She sat up, with a little grunt. Her stomach turning, her cramps returned.

  “Family, food. Drama, drama. The usual fun. Anyhow I wouldn’t interrupt except Donavan Kelly’s admin, called me at the butt crack of dawn to say that he has an opening.”

  She pushed her hair back, leaning forward. “Does he now? When?”

  “New Year’s Eve.”

  Donnella was quiet. She had promised Matthew that she would go out with him. Meet his friends.

  “Miss Stone? You did say you would take anything. This is what he had. Unless you want to wait until after January.”

  She squeezed her eyes shut, and opened them again, her head throbbed as it had been doing on and off these past few months. She knew she should see the doctor about the migraines, but also simply didn’t have the time. “No, no. Tell her I’ll take it. Just text me when and where.”

  “I’ve already added it to your schedule. He’s going to be at the Surry for the ball drop. But has reserved a meeting space, for six-thirty. He will be expecting you.” Herold’s voice was tense. She could hear the concern.

  “What else?”

  “It’s nothing, but are you sure that you want to go through with this. Is acquiring Mcloughlin this important?”

  “If I want to finish putting in the gardens in The Battery and restoring the Village. I have to have the name. The Mayor and the Governor have pretty much spelled it out. Especially after what happened. They think I’m still to impulsive. That the merger will show a more mature face, and a deeper connection to the city… Harold I have to make this deal happen.”

  “Understood, just please take Cordell.”

  She sighed. “Okay. That I’ll agree to. Do you feel better now?”

  “I’ll feel better when this business is concluded and you are back to normal.”

  “Me too.” She hung up the phone, heading to the bathroom to clean up.

  ***

  “Good morning.” Mary chirped putting down a plate of pancakes and sausage with peppered bacon, black coffee and a tall glass of orange juice. “We have blueberry and maple syrup, both organic and warm, as well as butter or margarine, as you may need. There’s sugar here, coco there, and creamer here.” Mary pointed at various places on the large round table before them. “Hope you’ve brought your appetite.”

  “I could eat a horse.”

  “I wouldn’t recommend it. Kind of gamey.” Matthew smiled, coming up behind her, laying a kiss on her cheek. “How are you feeling?”

  “Achy, but okay.” She sat down slowly. Taking the creamer and the sugar to her cup. “I’m sorry I’ve been such a bummer the last couple days. You ask me to stay and I end up a bloody mess. Literally.”

  “It happens… So what are you two kids up to today? I hear there’s gonna be some caroling down on the green.” Mary asked sipping her coffee, changing the subject to something more appealing.

  “I don’t know. Are you up to do anything, or did you just want to sleep?” Matthew rubbed her lower back, as he sat next to her, reluctant to leave her side. She continued to tell him she was fine, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong and when a feeling nagged at him hard, he always listened as nine out of ten, he was right.

  “Oh, you are going to hate me…” She sat back in the chair and he pulled his hand away, looking down sharply.

  “Harold called didn’t he? About that meeting?”

  She nodded looking down at her hands, her fingers laced together.

  Mary picked up her plate and taking her coffee retreated from the room. She knew when something was none of her business. Besides if they started arguing, she might just take Donnella’s side over her son’s, and that wouldn’t have gone over all so well.

  ***

  “You’re mad…” Donnella whispered fidgeting. It had been several minutes and Matthew had not said a word. Just looked at the floor. This was the second time he’d played the silent card with her. The last time ended with them not seeing each other for more than two weeks. “Please don’t be mad.”

  “I’m disappointed, Ella. There’s a difference. I really wanted to spend this time with you.”

  “I know.” She answered sheepishly. “But listen, I don’t have to leave until New Year’s Eve. Can’t we get together with them before? Then you could give me your itinerary for the night and I’ll hook up with you after the meeting?”

  “Would you actually do that?” He picked up his head. “I mean I know you’re feeling like shit. I don’t want to push you.”

  “Push me? I’ve messed up your holiday week with your mom. I owe you. Besides I’d rather be with you than in some lousy meeting
with Donavan Kelly.”

  “Who is this guy? Why’s he important? Can I ask?”

  “I don’t want to talk about my job. Is that okay? It gives me a headache. Why don’t I get dressed and we take Pepper for a run down on the beach?”

  “Sure we can do that.”

  ***

  The sun was warm as Pepper ran on ahead chasing seagulls. Matthew and Donnella walked along the sand bar. The tide was out and the pools of water left standing had the lightest bit of ice on the top. Matthew stopped from time to time to take a photograph of a bird or the waves as they walked. They had packed a few sandwiches and as the sun peaked they laid out a large blanket on the cold dry sand. Donnella had thought ahead, bringing an extra fleece blanket for them to snuggle under.

  “This is nice.” She mumbled her mouth full of turkey sandwich, some of it falling out, so she had to stuff it back in with her fingers. “And you’re mom cooks a mean turkey.”

  Matthew laughed just watching her. His camera around his neck. “Yeah… She does.”

  Donnella wore a chunky pale blue mohair sweater, and dark grey knit pants, with black leather knee high boots. On her head was a knitted hat that matched the sweater, which she had pulled down to cover her multi-pierced ears. He wondered why she never wore more than the one pair of diamonds. Her hair blew gently away from her face, and he noticed her freckles again. She’d gone out without putting on all the makeup she usually wore in public. She was fresh faced and looked more beautiful than an angel to him at that moment.

  “You’ve gotta teach me to cook this.” She sucked the last bits of mayonnaise off of her fingers. “I don’t know what she put in it, but I want it for all my sandwiches.”

  “One condition. Since you owe me and all.”

  “What?”

  “You have to let me take your picture.”

  “I really hate the camera.”

  “Please, the beach is gorgeous this time of year. And you look stunning.”

  “I look like a train wreck, I’m sure. No makeup, hair all messed up. I’m bloated, and probably put on fifteen pounds with all the food your mom keeps shoving at me.” She laughed, covering her face as Matthew lifted the camera to his eyes.

  “What if I promise that I’ll never show them to anyone? That they are just for me?”

  She raised an eyebrow. “Never?”

  “Never, unless you let me.”

  She heaved a sigh. “Okay…” She sat back in an unnatural pose.

  “No, not like that. Just act natural.”

  “I can’t not with you pointing that at me.”

  “Here, take some bread, go over to Pepper and the gulls, I’ll start from a distance. Maybe that’ll help.”

  She took the bread from him, heading for the water’s edge, and he set the lens on her as she wobbled in the uneven sand, giggling like a little girl. He snapped a few pictures as she looked back at him. The light bouncing off her curls reflecting them like a fiery halo around her. He took a few more as she kicked up sand and Pepper yapped at the gulls taking flight, around them. Then he got close and Donnella took off her hat, tossing it at him, shaking out her hair wildly. Roaring at him. He captured that too. Laughing when she flashed him, he hadn’t realised she wasn’t wearing a bra, and her nipples instantly stood on end when the icy air hit them.

  “No Bra? What were you up to?” He smirked over the top of the camera as she dropped the sweater back down with a little shriek, he let the camera drop to the ground easily as he chased her down. Scooping her up into his arms he spun her around crushing her in a kiss as she wrapped her legs around him and they hit the blanket once more. Pepper attacked them, wanting to play. They stopped kissing and gave her the attention she wanted, until she spied the gulls again and ran off.

  Donnella pulled her knees up into her abdomen, rolling toward him, trying to mask the pain she was feeling, she had been doing a good job ignoring her cramps, but just at that moment there was a twinge in her back that made her want to cry. Fortunately Matthew was watching Pepper, and by the time he turned back the pain had passed leaving her flushed.

  “You okay.” He asked his laugh subsiding.

  “Fine…” She smiled, reaching up for him. Taking his hand she slid it under her sweater. “Grab the other blanket?” A wicked grin crossed her cherub face.

  “But aren’t you still, you know? A mess?”

  “Sure way, down south. But you can get me off without diving in, you know.”

  “I don’t mind it, it’s just most women freak out over it.” He smiled, pulling the blanket down over the top of them, as she pulled her sweater up letting him have access to her breasts.

  “Listen, I don’t fuck on my period. But the girls and my mouth can handle the job, if that’s okay?”

  He nodded, kissing her. Then he went down slowly. First with little kisses to her throat. Then her shoulders. Clavicle. In between her breasts. Then each in turn, sucking on them.

  “Easy. They’re sensitive…”

  He nodded, lightening his pull. Leaving his hands to drag he moved to her stomach, and the waistband of her pants, then pulled them down and she lifted her hips, so he could take her panties too. He rolled everything down as far as the boots would allow. Then parted her knees, kissing just behind them. She kicked slightly with a little laugh.

  “Tickle, tickle.” He smiled, nibbling at her kneecap. She kicked again, laughing. Snaking up her legs he took turns from one side to the other. Teasing, kissing, sucking and biting lightly. She let out moans of encouragement. As her hands found their way in to his hair. He smiled, seeing the little string that stood between him and the sweetest woman he had ever wanted. But he would respect her wishes, no matter the torment.

  Her scent was different, the usual sweetened musk had a hint of metal mixed in, but that was the blood, that was normal. He remembered that much.

  ***

  Donnella writhed under Matthew’s touch. His good hand slid up over her smooth mound as his lips touched it, leaving a kiss.

  He licked her gently then blew softly, the cold chill sent a shiver through her.

  “Ooh.” She cooed, flexing her fingers against his head. His tongue flicked her swollen clit and she damn near sat up. A tremor shooting through her. Its sensitivity had gone into overdrive. She lifted her knees pulling them closer to the sides of his head, and his shoulders shook in a laugh, as she felt his fingers gently tug at the string to her tampon.

  “Matthew, I said…” She trailed off as the tampon was replaced by thick wide tongue. “Oh…My…”

  ***

  “Sure we can, man. Why not, I’ve always wanted to meet the Great Donnella Stone!” Janet Willowsong, Matthew’s best friend and up until a month prior roommate of over two years yelled in to the phone. She was still at the airport, coming back from her parents revival in California, when Matthew called about getting together early for New Years. “How early are we talking, I’m not an early riser you know.”

  “I don’t know… Start with lunch, she’s got to be back in the city for six-thirty.”

  “Hell why don’t we just go into the city then? I’ve never seen the ball drop live! Besides there are a couple headshops I’d like to checkout, heard good things about ‘um.” She hollered, in the terminal waiting for her luggage.

  “Could we do that?” He looked at Donnella who of course couldn’t actually hear the conversation so looked puzzled. “She’s says why don’t we go into the city? See the ball drop in the Square?” Or at least somewhere nearby…” He put the phone on speaker.

  “It would be more convenient.” She shook her head sitting down as she packed her things. “I mean that way we could spend the most time together, then I could go to my meeting and hook back up with you when it was done.”

  “So did we just make plans?” Janet asked through the speaker.

  “I think we did.” Matthew answered excitedly. Watching Donnella nod in the affirmative.

  “Awesome, now I just gotta tell Raj, he’s
gonna flip his shit! Dude! I gotta go, here comes my bag! I’ll see you guys soon!” With a muffle and a click Janet was gone.

  Matthew stood looking at the phone, then to Donnella. “So that was Janet. She’s a bit of a stoner. But good people.”

  “I gather from how she talks, slow but with purpose.” Donnella smiled. “So I’m gonna head back into the city tonight so I can go over my proposal one more time. Are you going to come with me? Or stay and come up with them tomorrow afternoon?”

  “I was gonna stay. But if you want me to come.”

  “It’s probably better if you don’t, actually. You can be a distraction, you know.” She smirked kissing him as he bent down to her. “Janet just got back, why don’t I drop you off there so you can hangout?”

  “I think that would be cool, I could bring Pepper, I’m sure Janet will freak to see how big she’s gotten.”

  “See good things all around. Then.” She smiled to keep the face of pain at bay

  12

  “It’s awesome to see you!” Janet squealed hugging Pepper as Matthew came through the front door of his old apartment.

  “Guess I’m chopped liver then.” He smirked as she was covered in puppy kisses.

  “No, just not this fucking cute is all.” Janet hugged him now as well. “Raj!” She hollered past him.

  The door across the hall flew open and Raj appeared in full Drag makeup. He looked like Liza Minnelli back when she did Cabaret. “Matty?” He cooed arms out, his fake boobs bouncing.

  “Is that a water bra?” Matthew laughed with a snort as Raj hugged him tightly.

  “You know it girl!” He smacked Matthew on the arm. “I’m trying out my look for the club. I have a gig!”

  “When did this happen?” Janet asked, as if just hearing about it.

  “My agent called this morning, Miss La T Da, has the shingles. So I the Raj Ma Tall, have just gotten the spot at the Hardware Bar, for Werk Her Wednesday!” He jumped up and down, his tap shoes making that unmistakable rattling noise, with his glee.

  “That is fucking awesome, Raj!” Matthew’s head bobbed up and down watching the diminutive man in drag leap for joy a final time.