Sedona's Heart

by Sasha Fino

  “Tell me about it! Hell, we will never know if Annette and Dad were a match. Not that I care to know! As long he comes home by one o’clock, then nothing happened. But I am still wondering why my Dad and your aunt came outside together.”

  “Oh, please, I bet they found out that they are aunt and father to us. I told you that before we ran into Ms. Patella,” Kimberly said, thinking how she saw her aunt looking at Mr. Heller. She couldn’t remember another time that Aunt Blanche looked at anyone like that. Not since Kimberly came to Sedona

  “It must have slipped my mind. Do you want some ice cream to celebrate no more, Brianna?”

  “Sure, why not?” Kimberly answered as she slipped off of Lexy’s bed

  Kimberly and Lexy made their way down to the kitchen. When they were in the kitchen, Lexy found Horace reading the newspaper and ask him if he could make ice cream for them. After Horace gave Lexy a hard time for having ice cream at ten o’clock, he gave in and got the box of ice cream out of the freezer and made two bowls for them

  “Thanks, Horace,” Lexy said, taking her bowl of ice cream from him “You’re lucky I’m not telling Mr. Heller about this. He would have a cow if

  he knew.”

  “Yes, trouble seems to be my middle name,”

  “Your mother, god bless her, never did ask for ice cream at ten o’clock,” Horace said

  Kimberly was shocked that Horace would mention Lexy’s mother. She was still getting used to talking about people who pass on. She remembered her father telling her that he didn’t like to talk about death; it was rude and just made us sad

  “Kimberly, did I ever tell you that Horace had been my mother’s butler since the day she was born?

  “Ah, yes, I have devoted my life to raising two fine little girls. I will be ready for the third one when it comes; I hope it will be a long way away,”

  “Please, I don’t have time for boys,” Lexy told them

  “Someday you will,” Horace said with a wink

  Lexy just rolled her eyes at him and changed the subject as they ate their bowls of ice cream and laughed over silly stuff with Horace

  Chapter 11

  Max led Blanche to the art gallery where they pulled the cork from the halffinished bottle of wine they’d taken to the creek. With a glass in hand, Max gave Blanche the grand tour.

  “This is amazing, Max,” Blanche said as she examined one of the pieces of art.

  “Yeah, I love that one. I wish I was in the painting looking out. There’s one more I want you to see. Max led her to a window.

  “Do you see the shop diagonally across the way?”

  “Yes,”

  “Imagine it as an empty canvas just waiting for you to paint on it.” “Max, I can’t. I’ve told you why.”

  “And I just happen to know where there’s a loan with your name on it,” he said

  “I’m scared. It is a huge undertaking.”

  “Is that you talking or someone else?” Max asked gently turned her face toward him, touching her face.

  “Please, I can’t afford it.”

  “Do it for you.” They looked at each other for a few sweet moments, “I can’t. Sorry,” Blanche said, turning away from him. “Because I’m Max Heller, the billionaire?”

  “Yes. I have very little education and a drunk for a husband. I know nothing about art or fine wines. We can’t afford to buy either,” Blanche told him.

  “You are in another league, a world apart.” As she sat down on an oversize sofa. Sweet, quiet hang in the air between them.

  “Why? You have an appreciation for the art, and you liked the wine. It doesn’t take a lifetime of study to know what you want and enjoy what you see.” Sitting down closely next to her to put a kiss upon her lips.

  Blanch and Max look at each other. Felling his manhood swell.

  “May you make love to me, take me…” Blanche started to say, but Max cut her words short with a kiss. She found her hands of their own accord moving along his arms, his broad chest, and around his back. Surprised by her responsiveness, he slid his arms under her knees. As he laid her on the sofa. He tenderly stroked her chest, moving down her body and along the inside of her thighs. She moaned and kicked off her shoes so she could turn on her side and make room for him beside her. As he lay facing her, she started to unbutton his shirt, sucking on his nipples and slipping her fingers under the band of his slacks to draw his shirt loose. He moaned as she unzipped his pants and admired his aroused manhood. He, in turn, pulled at her blue dress to release her magnificent breasts and fondle them, lovingly.

  He helped her as she struggled to slip off her dress--once again running his hands along her thighs, and as the tension built, he slid his hand under her panties and found her most sensitive place. As she arched her back, her breasts stroked his chest, and he felt himself grow and harden. The suspense was exquisite. As he stretched himself over her, she slid down the length of the bed and suckled his manhood, making him groan with pleasure.

  “My god, Blanch, you are so stunningly beautiful,” he told her.

  As he slid down to come even with her, their lips met, and hers opened beneath his. Letting his tongue explore her mouth and throat.

  “Hello handsome,” Blanch gasped as they came up for air.

  “Hello, beautiful,” Max replied, gently caressing her face.

  With touching gentleness and concern for her pleasure. Max parted the lips to her sex and tickled her with his tongue. Excited and aching for him, as he was for her, she pushed him away. She took his manhood into her, reveling in his thrusts deeper and deeper, almost penetrating her soul. He held back until he could feel her orgasm and, with her muscles clenched tight around him. Max let himself go, then they climaxed together, riding a cloud of ecstasy.

  Recovering faster than Max, she ran her tongue along his shaft to the sensitive end and delighted in his body’s response. Hitching herself up over his body, she took the initiative and slid herself down upon him and rode him like he was a bucking bronco. Which he was! They spent until the wee hours of the morning letting their sexual needs to be met, falling asleep in max’s strong arms.

  Blanche re-dress as Max just lay there watching her, waking up.

  “You fascinate me, Blanche.” Blanche made no comment, making her way back to stare out the window at the shop Max was offering her. Then she sighed and turned away

  “Will you regret this… being with me forever,” he questions her.

  “Will I, Max? That sex was the best I ever had.”

  “Ture, but I am talking about having one of your dreams come true, owning your cafe.”

  “Yesterday, I got a job offer in Prescott with good pay and moving expenses. I’m accepting the job on Monday. Rents are lower there, too, so I can put a little money aside. And maybe separating Dean from his drinking buddies will help, too.”

  “What? Move? What about Kimberly and Lexy?”

  “Kimberly knows and, she doesn’t want to move because of Lexy. Yet I wish. Blanche gazed out the window at the shop for a moment. Well, there would be no harm in just looking at it…

  “Max, I will look at it. If I say no to the shop, I want your promise that you will let it be.”

  “Agreed.”

  Afterward, fully dress, Max walked her over to the shop, opening the door with his master key. “Welcome,” he said, turning on the lights.

  “Wow, this is it!” Blanche said falling in love

  “Yup, it’s in pristine condition because I never found the right person to rent it to

  “Why me?”

  “I know in my heart that you are the person to make it come alive. It’s even got a fireplace?”

  “There’s a light switch in the kitchen that turns it on. Come along, and I’ll show you the kitchen.”

  The kitchen was the top of the line—spacious and filled with every appliance and utensil imaginable. Blanche could picture her coffee house in every nook and cranny of the shop. She began to suspect that this was the place Kim
berly had seen and envisioned as a new start for them both

  “So, what do you think?”

  “I love it! It’s everything I have dreamed about and more! I must be crazy, or the afterglow of last night, but I want it!”

  “Great, I am happy to hear it. The girls will be, too.”

  “But how am I going to afford it? I won’t be a woman that slept with Max Heller and got her café or something along these lines.

  “Don’t worry, you won't; let’s act like last night didn’t happen,

  remember we agreed on being like two ships that pass in the

  night.

  “Alright, let us stay like two ships that pass in the night,” “I shall help you out give you a really good deal, bank loans and such. To make it all legal,” Max said with a gleam in his eye. “I believe in you, and I will invest in your shop.”

  Great! Wow, I guess there’s some truth to what people say— you never know who you will meet and where you will be at the end of the day! This morning when I got up, I never dreamt that I would meet you, or end up renting a shop!”

  “No, we never know how each day will end. There is something special about you,”

  “Thanks, but I’m just a ‘plain Jane.’”

  “I don’t think so.”

  Blanche laughed. “Thanks for everything!”

  “You’re welcome, Blanche.”

  They shook on it, business partner to business partner, but their clasped hands lingered.

  “Oh, one last thing. I am having a summer party at the mansion the Saturday following the last day of school. I would like to invite you, Kimberly, and your husband to join us. It will be a great opportunity to meet your other business neighbors.”

  “Yes, I know Kimberly will be set to go.”

  “I bet that Lexy already invited Kimberly.”

  They both laughed at this.

  The next morning Lexy walked Kimberly to her front door while Max waited in the car. It was a sunny Sunday and promised to be the first hot day of the coming summer. Kimberly found it odd that Max offered to take her home with Lexy coming along for the ride. She had known Max for a month, and he had never offered to take her home. She always returned in the limo with the driver.

  She also didn’t have the heart to tell Lexy that she was moving, because she didn’t want to believe it, herself

  “Ok, well last night was fun, wasn’t it?” Lexy told Kimberly as they stopped at the door

  “Yep, you can say that again and again,” Kimberly said smiling at Lexy “Well, see you at school, tomorrow,” Lexy told her unable to say what was

  on her mind

  “We will talk at school tomorrow,” Kimberly told her “Sounds great; I don’t want to keep my dad waiting,”

  “No, you shouldn’t. Tell your dad that I said, ‘thanks’ for letting me stay the night.”

  “Okay then, bye, Kimberly.”

  “Bye, Lexy,” she said, opening the front door. Kimberly walked into the cool interior. Blanche was sitting at the table working on something. Kimberly closed the door and set her bag on the floor. “Does ‘The Sedona’s Heart Cafe’ sound good to you?” Blanche asked, looking up at her. It took Kimberly a minute to reply

  “Do you mean we are not moving and will be opening a shop?” Kimberly asked, walking to her aunt.

  “Yes, I met Mr. Heller last night, and he took me to see the shop after the event. He was adamant that I follow at least one of my dreams, and we ended up making a deal for me to rent the shop from him at Heller Plaza.”

  “No way!” Kimberly yelled happily and ran to Blanche to give her a big hug and a kiss

  “This is the best news ever!”

  “Yes, I can’t believe it, myself.”

  “Wow, we have a shop, Aunt Blanche!”

  “Now sit down, I want to tell you the game plan,” Blanche said happily, “Yes!” Kimberly yelled ecstatically

  “We will serve more than just coffee—we will need to have homemade bread, cakes, pies, pastries, and sandwiches.”

  “Can you do all that?”

  “Sure. My friend Bette has a bakery in uptown Sedona and will be thrilled to have her bread, cakes, and pies showcased in our shop. I just talked to her. Ten minutes ago. I also found a great coffee website so we can order our coffee needs. Meantime, we can pick up staples in Cottonwood.”

  “Can we afford it?” Kimberly asked shyly

  “Kimberly, over the years, I put money away in an account that should cover most of it and I planning on talking out a bank loan,” Blanche said

  “Show me the plans!”

  Chapter 12

  Blanche woke up at the crack of dawn on Monday morning. Like always, she sat at her makeup vanity, brushing her long, flowing blonde hair. Her green eyes stared back at her in the reflection of the mirror

  Sitting at her vanity, Blanche felt the winds of change approaching. She felt different today like a new beginning was just around the corner. With excitement, Blanche thought about how she was going to open Sedona’s Heart Café and what she needed to do next. Putting down the brush. Looking at an old picture of her with her mother and sister that sat on the table. How she wished that they were still alive to see how wonderful Kimberly turned out to be and to help her to open her business. Placed next to her mother and sister was a photograph of Bethany in the happy days before she became terminally ill. How she missed her baby! The death had not only robbed her of seeing her daughter mature into a beautiful woman, but had robbed her of the man Dean had been, as well

  Blanche was no longer frightened to open a business. She let her mind wander back to last Saturday night with Max, how they made love. That Max had decided almost immediately to rent the shop to her. It gave her a warm feeling for him. Their relationship was impulsiveness were something she both liked and admired in Max.

  They certainly didn’t live up to their reputations! Max, as a playboy and Lexy as a spoiled brat, discouraging any relationship he developed. Blanche had reconsidered her initial objection to Kimberly’s friendship with Lexy, and now felt they were good for each other. She had also revised her opinion of Max. Even though Kimberly had confirmed that he was loose with women and they just happen to have a one-night stand, casual sex.

  She moved from the vanity to dress for the coming day, with Max still on her mind. She found Max interesting and mysterious and was very sexually attracted to him. Yet, she knows that she needs just keep it professional, not personal having Max as her landlord.

  She completed her chores around the house and saw Kimberly exit her room dressed and ready for school. “Morning, Aunt Blanche,”

  “Good morning, Kimberly, breakfast is already on the table,” Blanche called from the dining room where she sipped her coffee “Who called last night?”

  “Uncle Dean called last night to say it was a bad year for

  hunting, he’d be coming home tonight.”

  “Oh. I thought that we could buy a soda machine and put it

  somewhere in the new shop,” Kimberly said changing the subject

  as she sat down at the table

  “There are already two, like new soda machines sitting by the

  fireplace.” “Oh, cool! When will I see the shop?”

  “Soon, I hope. I have a meeting with Max at noon to sign the

  papers for it.”

  “Wow, this is so cool! Do you think Lexy knows you are

  renting the shop from her dad?”

  “I don’t know. I am really surprised that you didn’t call Lexy

  and tell her right away!”

  “I tried, but she didn’t pick up. Oh, I forgot to tell you that

  Lexy invited me to a party at the mansion one week from Saturday.

  Can I go?”

  “Yes. Uncle Dean and I will also be going. Mr. Heller invited all

  of us. I am looking forward to it!”

  “Oh, no, Aunt Blanche! Uncle Dean will get drunk and

  embarrass us in front of everyone! I
don’t want him to go to the

  Heller Party! There will be plenty of affluent and influential

  people there who will be affronted! The Hellers have never seen

  him drunk. And he could discourage people from coming to the

  shop, “Kimberly! He is your uncle. You should not be ashamed of

  your uncle,” Blanche snapped at her, knowing in her heart that

  Kimberly was right about Dean. Blanche could not explain to

  Kimberly how different it had been when Bethany was alive and

  how Dean had changed at her death. How many times had she

  told Herself that women heal while men smolder? It is why Blanch had stayed devoted to Dean despite the abuse. She still loved him.

  To Kimberly, he was no more than a violent drunkard “I promise that Uncle Dean will be sober. He is a wonderful

  man when he is not drinking,”

  “Oh, sure. I’ve never seen it, and I have lived here for three

  months now.” “Uncle Dean is having a bad time at work, and then

  you moved into Bethany’s room and made her death permanent

  for him. He still blames himself for getting sick and bringing it

  home to her.”

  “Is that why he drinks?”

  “Yes, he hardly ever touched alcohol before her death. You see,

  his father and grandfather were alcoholics, and it can be

  hereditary. We graduated high school the same year. He was class

  valedictorian and graduated with honors. I was the salutatorian

  and also graduated with honors. We were all set to move to

  Arizona and attend the university in Tucson when my father

  would not let me move in with Dean before getting married. So,

  we married in the courthouse and planned to have a big wedding

  in the summer. Still, the week before the ceremony, Dean’s father

  hurt himself badly, and Dean had to care for him for the rest of his

  dad’s life. Dean told me to go to Tucson without him and get my

  university degree, but I didn’t want to leave my husband. She

  sighed, remembering the lost opportunity