Sweet Summer Days

by Sheryl Lister

  “I get so frustrated sometimes because the least little thing sets me off and I can’t explain why,” he said emotionally. “I see the looks in my parent’s eyes and feel like I’m a disappointment to them.”

  “TJ, your parents love you and just from talking with your mother, I know that’s not how she sees you. I’d venture to say the same about your father. More than anything, they’re probably feeling helpless because they don’t know how to make it better.” Thad listened to TJ pour out his heart. He didn’t talk, just sat and listened. The emotional battle he’d been dealing with sounded so familiar, Thad couldn’t help but be moved. He rose to grab a box of tissues and placed them on the table.

  TJ snatched a few out and hastily wiped his face. “Do you think I could call you sometime…you know, just to talk?”

  Before he could finish his sentence, Thad removed a card from his wallet and slid it across the table. “Anytime, son. I want to encourage you to talk to your parents, too. Let them know the things that set you off—sounds, smells, anything. They want to be there for you, so let them.”

  He nodded. “Thanks.”

  “I’m going to find your parents. You can join us when you’re ready.”

  “Okay.”

  Thad wound his way back to the classroom and spotted Trent and Deborah almost immediately. Deborah caught his gaze and rushed across the room.

  “Is he okay? What happened?”

  “He’s fine.” He waited for Trent to join them and told some of what he’d shared. “I encouraged him to talk to you about some of the things that trigger his flashbacks, and I think he will. He also asked if he could call me. I told him he could, but I want to clear it with you.” Thad spoke directly to Trent. As a father, he could understand how the man might take offense to his son wanting to talk to someone other than him.

  “Of course,” Trent said. “We’ll do anything to help him get through this. I really appreciate you taking time to talk to TJ.”

  “I gave my card to Deborah last week and I’m extending the same offer to you. If you have any questions, please give me a call.”

  Trent reached out to shake Thad’s hand. “I just may do that. Thank you.”

  Deborah smiled. “I have a feeling we’ll be seeing a lot of Thad, Trent. He and Celeste are dating.”

  Thad couldn’t stop the smile spreading across his lips. Yes, that might be true for now, but he was beginning to want more than just dating.

  Chapter 8

  Celeste lay face down on the table in the imaging center with her left breast hanging through a hole as the doctor prepared her for the biopsy. She felt the sharp prick of the needle as he numbed the spot and tried to send her thoughts elsewhere. Every bad scenario played in her head. She couldn’t have cancer. She couldn’t go through that again. Fighting back tears, she pushed down the fear and willed her mind blank until the procedure was over. They had instructed her to wear a tight sports bra and she didn’t know how the technician thought she could fit that ice pack inside, but Celeste made it work. “Now for the waiting game,” she said under her breath as she drove home.

  The doctor mentioned she might have some swelling and bruising and be sore for a day or two. However, other than a slight tenderness, she felt fine so far. Once she arrived home, Celeste ate a light lunch and sat out on her deck to read. Two pages in, her thoughts shifted to Deborah and whether she had been able to convince TJ to attend one of the support groups. Automatically, that made her think of Thad. They had laughed and talked on the phone for almost three hours last night. She leaned her head against the lounger and closed her eyes. Although she had been trying hard not to, she found herself comparing Thad to Gary. Where Gary had been more serious in nature, Thad had a great sense of humor. Gary had been gentle when it came to intimacy, but if Thad’s kisses were any indication, she suspected he’d be much different. The thought both frightened and excited her. “You’re getting way ahead of yourself, Celeste,” she mumbled. She checked the time and figured Deborah should be home from the mental health center by now and picked up her phone to call.

  “Hey, sis,” Celeste said when Deborah picked up. “How did it go today?”

  “Hey, Celeste. It went better than I ever expected. TJ actually went with us, and girl, Thad Whitcomb is a definite keeper. I don’t know how he did it, but he got TJ to open up to him.”

  “That is fantastic news.” She should have known that if anyone could get her nephew to talk, it would be Thad.

  “What’s even better is that TJ talked to us a little when we got home. He said he knows we want to help and asked us to be patient with him.”

  “Deb, you don’t know how glad I am to hear this. Emery said he was going to call and see if they can hang out.”

  “That would be great. Just let him know not to take TJ to a crowded place or somewhere with unexpected loud noises. Those are things he confided that make him uneasy.”

  “I’ll be sure to tell him.”

  “How did the procedure go?”

  “Okay, I guess. I’m a little sore and I have to keep an ice pack on it for the next day or so. I just hope it’s back to normal by Thursday. I’m going to San Diego with Thad and his friends to see Damien Escobar.”

  “Ooh, I love his music. He can play that violin. Are you spending the night?”

  “No, but we’ll be spending the weekend there when we go back for the jazz festival at the end of the month.”

  Deborah didn’t say anything for several seconds. “Wow. I take back everything I said about him moving slowly. Now, this is what I’m talking about. We’ve got to go shopping for a few cute outfits to wear during the day and night. We also have to find some sexy lingerie to knock him off his feet.”

  “Who said he’s going to see all that? He didn’t say anything about sharing a room.”

  “Hmph. You’re going to tell me that you can spend the entire weekend with that fine man and not want to get a little close up and personal?”

  “Deborah!”

  “Don’t Deborah me, Celeste. There’s no shame in admitting the man makes your blood boil. I’m not suggesting you sleep around with every man that comes along, but this thing with Thad is different. When I mentioned your name, his face lit up the same way Trent’s does when I show up naked in the bedroom. So, if all it takes is hearing your name to get him going, imagine what would happen if he saw you in some sexy scrap of lingerie.”

  It didn’t take much for her to imagine what would happen. She had sensed the deep passion in his kiss. “I can’t with you, girl.”

  “But you can with Thad,” Deborah said. “And you will. Mark my words. Sis, this guy is special and I have a feeling he’s going to be around a long time.”

  Celeste let out a short bark of laughter. “How did you get all that from talking to the man for five minutes? And I’ve only known him for what…two weeks?”

  “So. How long did you know Gary before you knew he was the one? Remember Mom and Dad met, dated and married within a month and they’re still acting like newlyweds fifty-five years later.”

  Deb had a point. Celeste had known within weeks that she and Gary would be heading to the altar at some point. However, she had always believed things like that only happened once in a person’s life. On the flip side, she could see herself and Thad in some kind of long-term relationship.

  “No comeback?”

  “No.”

  “I rest my case.”

  Celeste laughed and shook her head. “You are such a nut.”

  “Yeah, and you love me in all my craziness.”

  “I wouldn’t have you any other way.”

  “Ditto, sis.” They fell silent, both reflecting on their close bond. “Okay, enough of the mushy stuff. What do you know about Thad’s friends?”

  Still chuckling, she said, “Not much, aside from their first names—Nolan and DeAnna—and that they’ve been friends for almost forty years.” Celeste had no idea of what Thad had told them about her. If they had been friends
all those years, they most likely knew his ex-wife. Would they compare her to the woman? “I’m a little nervous about meeting them. Usually, you don’t introduce a woman you’ve just met to good friends. That’s something that happens a few months down the road. He also mentioned that his daughter is anxious to meet me.”

  “He has a daughter?”

  “Yes. Her name is Faith and she’s almost thirty-two. She due to deliver her first baby soon.” Mentioning Faith brought back their conversation about his ex taking her away. Celeste got heated all over again, even though it had nothing to do with her.

  “That’s wonderful. How do you think she’ll react to someone dating her father? She might see it as a competition or you taking her father away from her. Hopefully, she’ll have more tact than Emery.”

  “I have no idea, and no one can be as bad as Emery. Thad said she wanted to meet me, so I’m going to take it as a good sign.”

  “Keep me posted.”

  “I don’t have to because I know you’ll be calling me Friday on your first break.”

  “Ha ha, what can I say? Gotta go start dinner.”

  “Alright. We’ll talk sometime over the weekend.” Celeste disconnected. She tried to read, but her thoughts kept straying to Thad and that upcoming weekend. Instead of worrying about it, she decided she’d go with the flow, wherever it led.

  Thad’s cell rang as he turned into Celeste’s driveway Thursday. He engaged the car’s Bluetooth system. “Hello.”

  “Thad, it’s Dee.”

  “What’s going on?”

  “I know you had planned to drive today, but since you and Celeste are still in the getting-to-know-you stage, I figured Nolan can drive. That way, you can concentrate on your new lady, rather than the highway.”

  Leave it to Dee to still find a way to work on her matchmaking skills.

  “I had nothing to do with this,” Nolan chimed in.

  “I didn’t figure you did. This one time, though, I’m not going to argue with your wife. I’d take looking at Celeste all day over driving down a highway.”

  Dee squealed. “Ooh, I need to write this down. Thad, you’ve never agreed with me when it came to a woman. Hurry up and get here. I have got to meet Celeste. Bye.”

  The line went dead and Thad just shook his head. He loved Dee like a sister and didn’t know what he’d do without her and Nolan’s friendship. He got out and went to ring the doorbell. They had decided to dress business casual, but when Celeste opened the door wearing a pair of black slacks, black sleeveless tank with a sequined neckline and a sheer long-sleeved overblouse, it rendered him momentarily mute. Her soft laughter brought him around.

  “Does that look mean you approve of my attire?” Celeste asked, doing a slow turn.

  “I more than approve, and if we stand here one second longer, I’ll show you just how much I like it.” He leaned in and kissed her, trying to communicate exactly what he meant.

  “I need to get my purse.” However, she didn’t move for a moment. Finally, she backed away and came back a second later and they were off.

  Once they arrived at Nolan and Dee’s house, the group piled into the Gray’s Mercedes and headed out of town.

  Dee turned in her seat. “I’m so happy to finally meet you, Celeste. We’ve been waiting a long time for Thad to find someone special and I hope we’ll be seeing more of you. In fact, our family gets together about once a month on a Sunday for dinner and we’d love to have you. It’s a big group and we always have a good time.”

  Celeste slanted Thad a quick glance. “That’s very nice of you, DeAnna.”

  Thad leaned over and whispered. “I hope Dee hasn’t scared you.”

  She held his gaze. “I don’t scare easily.”

  Her statement brought back memories of when he’d told her the same thing. They shared a smile. Thad threaded their fingers together and made himself comfortable. The four laughed and conversed for the duration of the ride.

  When they arrived at the restaurant for an early dinner, Celeste pulled Thad aside. “Nolan looks really familiar. I know I’ve seen him somewhere.” She frowned as if trying to remember. “Maybe on TV or something.”

  “He did do a couple of commercials for the company, Gray Home Safety.”

  Her mouth fell open. “Wait, he’s that Nolan Gray? And you worked—”

  “As the executive vice president.” Thad shared the details of how the company started in Nolan’s garage after their discharge from the military due to the difficulties they had finding equipment and services for Thad. “He started designing them himself, I came on board after I was able and now it’s grown.”

  “I’ll say. It’s one of the largest in-home safety companies in the country. You are full of surprises.”

  He smiled. A hostess came and led them to a table. Over dinner the conversation continued and Thad watched the interaction between Celeste and his friends. She seemed to like them as much as he knew Nolan and Dee liked her. If DeAnna didn’t like someone, everyone around her knew it. The normally outgoing and friendly woman turned quiet and cordial.

  “Thad mentioned you were retired, Celeste,” DeAnna said as they ate.

  “Yes. Six months ago and I am enjoying it.”

  “So am I. Before Nolan and Thad retired, they had to be dragged out of their offices.”

  Thad and Nolan stared at Dee and Nolan said, “That’s not true.”

  Dee scooted her chair away from Nolan. “Let me move so I don’t get struck by lightning from that lie.”

  Celeste burst out laughing. “So, you and Thad were members of Workaholics Anonymous, huh, Nolan?”

  Nolan’s brows shot up. “Oh, brother. Dee has found her partner in crime.”

  Dee pointed her fork in Nolan’s direction. “Amen and hallelujah. Welcome to the club, Celeste.”

  “Glad to be a member, my sister.”

  Laughter broke out around the table and Thad thoroughly enjoyed himself. Afterwards, they drove over to where the concert would be held and found their seats. They were only ten rows from the stage in the center section. Damien Escobar hit the stage and put on a fabulous show.

  Celeste leaned close to Thad’s ear. “This puts a whole other spin on playing the violin.”

  “I’m glad you’re enjoying the music.” The young artist played pieces from several genres, including covers of Prince and Alicia Keys songs.

  “Honey, I’m more than enjoying this.” Damien started a slow ballad and Celeste reached for his hand.

  Thad smiled at her, feeling a small tug on his heart. Their gazes held for a long moment, then she trained her eyes on the stage. He didn’t let go of her hand for the rest of the show.

  “He is so good!” Celeste said as they walked back to the car.

  Dee nodded. “I know. I wish I could play an instrument.”

  “So do I. The only instrument I remember playing was that recorder in third grade.”

  Dee laughed. “Oh, my goodness. I forgot all about that. We had to learn how to play it, too, that and the autoharp.”

  Celeste chuckled. “Mmm hmm.” Both women started humming “Jacob’s Ladder” and pretending to strum the autoharp.

  Thad and Nolan laughed.

  Dee hooked her arm in Celeste’s. “Honey, we have got to get together and have lunch soon. I haven’t had this much fun in a long time.”

  “Yes, we will. I haven’t either.”

  Celeste and Dee talked like old friends all the way to Nolan and Dee’s house. After a round of hugs, goodbyes and a promise to do it again soon, Thad and Celeste departed. On the drive back, Celeste fell asleep. Thad stole glances at the woman who, in a short time, had him thinking about what he really wanted in his life. He couldn’t complain because his was a good one. He’d been content with occasional dating, but as Celeste lay asleep against his shoulder, he could see them doing this for the rest of their lives. The thought shocked him for a moment, since they had only known each other a short while. However, life was not promised and he v
owed to live each one of his days to the fullest. He now knew what he wanted and prayed it would work out as planned.

  She woke up a few blocks from her home. “Mmm, I’m sorry for falling asleep. I guess I was more tired than I realized.” Celeste stretched and shifted in her seat. “I had such a great time getting to know DeAnna and Nolan.”

  “They enjoyed you, too.” Thad turned into her driveway, shut off the engine and got out. He helped her out and they walked hand-in-hand to her door.

  “Would you like to come in?”

  “Just for a minute.” He followed her in, closed the door and gathered her in his embrace. “Thank you for making this such an enjoyable evening.”

  Celeste wrapped her arms around his neck. “Thanks for the invite. I can’t wait to do it again.”

  He lowered his head and trailed kisses from her temple to her jaw. “Neither can I.” He covered her mouth in a gentle kiss, infused with all the passion that had been steadily rising from the moment they’d met. His hands roamed down her back and over her hips, and he pulled her soft curves closer to the fit of his body. She moaned and the soft sound spiked his arousal. Thad wanted nothing more than to make love to her, but they were still getting to know each other and he didn’t want her to assume this was nothing more than a physical thing. He knew where he wanted the relationship to go. He could wait.

  Chapter 9

  Celeste sat in her primary care doctor’s office waiting for the woman to come in with the results of her biopsy. She had awakened that morning with memories of her wonderful night, and then the phone rang and erased her good mood. The fact that she hadn’t been given the information over the phone worried Celeste. If everything had come out clear, she wouldn’t have been given a same day appointment. The door opened and she jumped slightly.

  The doctor entered with a smile. “Good afternoon, Celeste.”

  “Good afternoon, Dr. Banos.”

  She nervously bounced her leg while the doctor logged onto the computer. As the seconds ticked off, Celeste did all she could not to ask the woman to hurry up.