by Harmon, AJ
“You have built an amazing company, Matt. I’m impressed.”
“Oh I didn’t do it by myself! I’ve had lots of help; Mark, Ryan. They were there almost from the very beginning. And I couldn’t have done it without my parents. They were so supportive. I was very lucky.”
“I don’t think you were lucky,” Janie shook her head. “I think you’ve worked very hard and very smart, and you deserve everything you have achieved.”
They reached the hotel and went up to Janie’s room. As Janie handed her room key to Matt, he hesitated, ever so slightly.
“You don’t want to stay?” she asked.
“I don’t want to presume,” he replied.
“Stay,” she whispered.
And he did.
*****
It was as if she had taken a sleeping pill. After making love twice, Janie had fallen into a deep and relaxed sleep on Matt’s chest. Her eyes fluttered open to the faintest of light, right before dawn. She rolled over and found the bed empty and listened for Matt. All was quiet.
Janie sat up and saw him on the sofa, a laptop on his knees, the dim light allowing her to see his face in deep concentration.
“Morning,” she said and stretched her arms over her head. “You’re up early.”
“I’m usually up early,” he said and put the laptop down and stood up. “Did I wake you?” He walked to the bed.
“No,” she smiled. “But now that I’m awake, what do you think we should do?”
“Are you flirting with me, Ms. Anderson? Are you trying to seduce me?”
“Hell, yeah!” she said.
Matt jumped on top of her, pushing her flat on the bed and tickled her and Janie roared with laughter.
“Shhhh,” said Matt. “Someone ‘s gonna complain about the noise,” he chuckled.
“Then why don’t you do something to keep me quiet.”
Matt stopped and he grabbed her hands, intertwining them with his and held them above her head. He kissed her forehead and then the tip of her nose and then her chin. He kissed her neck and the base of her throat and her breath hitched. He moved lower and he released her hands and she ran them through his hair. He kissed her breast in a little circle all around her nipple. And then he kissed her other breast, all around her other nipple. He moved lower down her belly, leaving soft kisses on the way. He kissed one hip and then the other hip and then kissed her mound, inhaling her scent.
His fingers found her nipples, one in each hand, and he gently pulled and twisted and a wave of desire engulfed her. Matt’s tongue licked and circled her clitoris and he moaned as he sucked on her and she came quickly and powerfully, her body exploding. Matt continued to rub his tongue along her to prolong her orgasm and her body quivered and shook and she was panting as he drew back from her, a wicked grin on his face.
Janie was trying to catch her breath as Matt climbed up next to her. He grabbed a condom from the bedside table and handed it to her.
“Put it on me.”
She ripped it open with her teeth and reached for his long, hard penis. It felt like such an erotic act to Janie, to place a condom on a man, and she looked up at him through her lashes and grinned. Matt’s eyes were filled with desire and he licked his lips as she rolled it down the length of him.
Matt moved swiftly and was on top of her, his knees pushing apart her legs and he entered her swiftly. “So wet and ready for me,” he whispered and kissed her cheek. He pulled out and then pushed back in again. “Open and willing,” and he kissed her other cheek.
He pulled out again and looked into Janie’s eyes. And then slammed into her and she gasped and bucked her hips up to him. He pulled out again and paused, and then slammed back in. Over and over again he repeated and Janie was writhing underneath him as the excitement built again, higher and higher.
Matt thrusted again and stayed inside her and pressed his body against hers moving his hips in a circular motion, feeling her getting closer and closer. Janie matched his rhythm and her fingers pressed into his back and she threw her head back and came, gloriously feeling the release through her entire body. And then Matt thrusted once more and went completely stiff and she could feel the muscles in his back turn to stone as he came right along with her.
“Fuck!” he gasped. “Your body is amazing; so responsive and your muscles so strong. You just milked me.”
He rolled off her and tried to catch his breath. “Fuck!” he whispered again.
*****
Matt and Janie cuddled a little while longer, enjoying a leisurely morning.
“Last Sunday I tried to be a true New Yorker,” she said.
“What does that mean? A true New Yorker?”
“I sat in bed and read The Times,” she giggled.
“And that makes you a true New Yorker?”
“Well in all the movies it does.”
“What about sitting in a coffee shop with the paper?” Matt asked.
“Do you do that?”
“No!” Matt laughed. “I don’t have time to sit a coffee shop, and I have people who read the paper for me.”
“You do?” Janie was shocked.
“Of course I don’t!” teased Matt.
“Well, what do you usually do on Sunday mornings?”
“If I’m at home, which is maybe two weekends a month, I sometimes go to church with my parents. Or I spend it in the gym, or at work, which is the more frequent reality.”
“You go to church?”
“Sometimes. Do you?”
“Not since I got married. Do you like going to church?”
“I like hanging out with my family, and if that means going to church, I go.”
“Is your mom expecting you this morning, seeing as though you’re in town?”
“Probably, but she won’t be surprised if I don’t show up.”
“Well, I don’t want to keep you from going,” said Janie, although she really didn’t want him to leave. But the revelation that he would go to church because he loved his family was so completely endearing to her that she didn’t want him to miss out. She knew how important it was to her to have time with her boys and she was sure that Maureen felt exactly the same way.
Matt was stroking her back, up and down her spine, and then he stopped. “We could go together,” he said, a slight hesitation in his voice.
“To church?”
“Yeah, and then we all go back to my parent’s house for Sunday dinner.”
“With your whole family?” Janie couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
“Yep.”
She didn’t know what to say. On one hand, she loved the idea of Matt wanting to be with his family, but on the other hand it meant she had to choose to let him go without her or she went with him, and that was a scary proposition. Janie knew nothing about the Catholic Church and Matt had six brothers, and that thought was very intimidating.
“Okay, I’ll go with you.”
“Really? We don’t have to go.”
“I know. But I’d like to go,” Janie said, even though she wasn’t one hundred percent sure it was the truth.
“Well okay then.”
10.
Dressed in her pale yellow sundress and Matt back in his suit from the previous evening, they travelled by cab to St. Luke’s, the Lathem family parish. Arriving just seconds before the service started, Matt located his family and luck was on their side as they snuck into the pew right behind them. The service was mostly full, with families seated together, multi-generational families. The building was magnificent with stained glass windows and beautiful woodwork throughout.
Maureen turned to see them sliding in and a huge smile appeared on her face. Matt warmly squeezed her shoulder and Janie mouthed ‘hello’. Maureen whispered something into Peter’s ear and his head shot back to look at them. He raised his eyebrows at his son and nodded at Janie. More whispering took place between the two and then they settled in for mass.
Janie had never been to a Catholic mass before. She really wasn’t rai
sed in a religious household, but Robert had been raised a Lutheran, so they had been married in his church, but they never attended services after that. She believed in a God and had comforted her boys after Robert died with the idea that he had gone somewhere wonderful and was at peace. And she really did believe that, or at least she strongly hoped she was right.
The service was kind of what she had expected; some praying, some singing, a couple of ‘ups and downs’ and there was Communion. Some of Matt’s family partook, but he stayed on the bench holding her hand. There was a sermon. A lovely sermon, Janie had thought. It had been on being grateful for God’s blessings, and appreciating those things right in front of us that we took for granted every day. It was good to be reminded.
As the service ended, people stood to leave. Maureen turned back to Janie and grabbed her free hand, noticing that Matt still held her other.
“How lovely to see you again, Janie,” she beamed. “And you got my boy to church instead of being holed up in his office all day.”
“Actually, it was Matt’s idea to come,” Janie admitted. “And I’m glad we did. The sermon was wonderful.”
“Oh yes,” agreed Maureen. “We just love Father Todd. He has been with us since Matt was baptized, so, forty years ago.”
I’m older than Matt, she grimaced. Great way to start back into the dating pool as a cougar!
Maureen was talking to Matt about the church fundraiser and something about a donation from Matt’s company. Peter looked at Janie with kind eyes and smiled, and then stood up and pulled at his wife.
“You can talk about this at home, Maureen,” he said. “You two are coming back to dinner, aren’t you?”
Janie smiled and nodded and Matt told his father they would meet them there; that they were going to walk to the house.
Peter took Maureen and they headed down the aisle and out of the church.
“Your parents are adorable,” Janie smiled.
“They are,” he agreed. “I guess they would be what Father Todd was talking about. God’s blessings and taking them for granted.”
“I think all parents expect to be taken for granted,” she chuckled.
“I wouldn’t know,” replied Matt, and he stood, pulling Janie up with him.
They walked in silence down the aisle to the door and Father Todd greeted them warmly, shaking Matt’s hand.
“Oh Matthew! It’s so good to see you. And please introduce me to your friend.”
“This is Janie Anderson, Father.”
“Lovely to meet you, my dear,” he said clasping her hand in both of his.
“And you,” Janie smiled brightly. “Your sermon was wonderful,” she added. “Just what we all need to be reminded of.”
“Well, thank you. Will I see you again?”
Janie froze and didn’t know what to say. Father Todd was obviously fishing for information and she didn’t have an answer for him.
Oh no! We are using each other for awesome sex while I’m here in town. No commitment, no emotional ties, just good old fashioned screwing around, she thought. Yeah, that’s the answer every priest wants to hear.
Matt saved her and explained that Janie was just in New York on vacation and that she would be returning to Portland in a few days. Father Todd nodded in understanding. Janie thought she heard something in Matt’s voice, but what it was she didn’t know.
*****
They walked arm in arm through the relatively quiet neighborhood, Matt regaling Janie with stories of his childhood. She was listening and laughing and Matt delighted in showing her a glimpse of his life.
They were walking up a tree-lined street with immaculately kept brownstones on either side of the road. Janie said that it seemed like a picture perfect place to grow up and Matt agreed. It was as perfect as he imagined a childhood could be.
He pointed out a window he had broken with a football and the tree he had fallen from when he was twelve and broken his arm. They laughed about his secret crush on Mrs. Woodley, who lived around the corner, and how he had convinced his youngest brother, Tim, that giant frogs lived in the storm drains and grabbed little boys with their tongues and ate them for dinner.
“That’s just mean,” but she laughed.
The conversation flowed easily and by the time they were in front of the Lathem home, Matt couldn’t believe all he had divulged to her. His ex-wives didn’t even know most of what he had shared.
But it was different with Janie. He knew that as well as he knew anything else. She was interested in what he had to say. She seemed interested and asked questions. She didn’t want anything from him. Yes, she was definitely different from his ex-wives.
And she was leaving in four days. And he didn’t like it. He didn’t like that at all.
*****
Sunday dinner was quite an affair. Maureen cooked like it was Thanksgiving. There was a massive turkey with all the trimmings and the table was set with beautiful china. The dining room was elegant and the table huge. It looked like it could seat an army.
Janie offered to help, but she and Matt were ushered up to the living room. It was also elegant and inviting and comfortable. There sat Mark and Peter, whom she already knew, but there was also four other men that she didn’t know.
“This is Janie,” he said, talking loudly over the other voices. The room hushed and all eyes moved to her.
“You brought a girlfriend to dinner, huh? This is a first.”
“Janie, this is my youngest brother Tim.”
Janie smiled, remembering the giant frog story.
“And this is David,” continued Matt. “And this is Andrew and his partner Rory. And it looks like Ben is outside on the phone, probably with his girlfriend.”
“It’s very nice to meet you all,” smiled Janie, feeling slightly overwhelmed.
Andrew jumped up and walked over to Janie and shook her hand. “Nice to meet you to,” he said, and guided her to a chair. “Please make yourself at home.”
Janie sat and looked around at all the testosterone in the room and she tilted her head, a question forming.
“You have six brothers?” she asked Matt.
Peter answered, “Yes, we have seven boys, and yes, there is one missing.” He looked serious.
Oh shit! Janie had put her foot in it now.
“Paul. He’s in Afghanistan,” said Mark. “Well, at least we think he’s in Afghanistan.”
Janie was puzzled but didn’t say anything.
Mark added, “He might not be there too. We really don’t know where he is. Paul joined the Navy Seals right after college. 9/11 had a huge impact on him and he wanted to serve his country and do his part, so, he could be anywhere.”
Fortunately, Maureen appeared at that moment to say that dinner was ready. She banged on the window and summoned Ben inside.
Matt led Janie to a chair and they all sat. Janie noticed an empty place at the table and wondered who else was coming. Peter led the family in saying grace and then the serving dishes started being passed around.
“You do this every Sunday?” Janie asked Maureen.
She smiled and nodded and Janie was astounded. Everything was perfect and the family laughed and talked about their week and she had a wonderful time.
“So, we think we’ve set a date,” said Andrew, as everyone was enjoying dessert; cheesecake with chocolate drizzle.
“It’s about time!” Matt clapped. “Congratulations! When is it?”
“Two weeks from Tuesday,” said Rory.
“Oh my! That’s fast!” said Maureen. “How are we going to get something together that quickly?”
“There isn’t anything to put together, Mom. We are just going to City Hall and making it all legal. We feel like we have been married for years, so this is just getting the piece of paper out of the way.” Andrew looked at Rory and smiled.
The dinner conversation continued about all the things they weren’t going to have to do for the upcoming wedding.
*****
&nb
sp; Janie helped Maureen with the dishes, despite her best efforts to refuse the offer. They talked about recipes and china patterns and Matt kissed them both on the cheek after carrying the last of the glasses to the kitchen and headed back upstairs to the men.
As he slumped into the couch, David looked over to him, a grin on his face and said, “So, Janie. Is she gonna be number 3?”
Matt gritted his teeth and began to stand.
“Whoa! Just kidding bro! Don’t get all riled up!”
Tim added, “Besides, Matt has said repeatedly he’s not getting married again, so she must be just this months’ flavor.”
Matt turned to Tim and glared at him.
Peter stepped in and told his sons to knock it off. He clicked on the television and tried to find some sports to watch.
Matt could hear Janie and his mom coming up the stairs, so he headed to greet them. They said their goodbyes and left, Maureen telling Matt to bring her back anytime.
Out on the street, they headed back the way they came and walked in silence until Janie said, “Matt? There was an empty place at the table. Who else was supposed to be there?”
Matt was quiet for a moment and then sighed, “That place was for Paul. Mom always sets a place for him when he is away. I guess it’s her way of willing him home safely.”
“Oh, that’s sweet,” she said. “So he’s a Navy Seal?”
“Yep, he wanted to join the army right after 9/11, but Mom and Dad wouldn’t let him, even though he was eighteen. He was taking a year off before he started college to decide what he wanted to do with his life, and then the twin towers happened and it made up his mind for him, I guess.”
“So he didn’t join the Army, right?”
“No, he went to Columbia and did their ROTC program and five years later he was a Navy Seal, heading off to God knows where, doing God knows what.”
“How long has he been doing that?”
“About five years, I guess.”
“Wow! He is a true hero.”
“Yeah, he is. But he’s my brother first and I worry about him.”
Janie looked up at Matt and could see the concern and love in his eyes.
“You’re a good brother,” she said.
“I try to be.”
