Kissing Robert

by Jennifer Wilson

  “You may have one piece of broccoli,” Olivia answered, resolute.

  After they were done eating, the cookies were passed out and the fortunes read.

  “No fair,” Beatrice pouted. “Mine’s not a fortune at all, it’s just advice. ‘Seek, and the answers will come’. See? Dumb.”

  “I’m sorry, dear,” Olivia said. “What does yours say, Bradley?”

  The boy handed his mother the slip of paper and she read it aloud: ‘Your open heart will gather you many friends’. Well, I think that’s very nice. And true. How about you, Dolf?”

  “’A beautiful woman with two children will fall madly in love with you’” he read, the tiniest of smiles hiding behind his beard.

  “It does not say that!” Olivia exclaimed, blushing. Beatrice laughed. Bradley frowned slightly. She snatched the paper away from him and read it instead. “’Fortune awaits’. That’s what it really says!”

  “Same difference,” Dolf said with a shrug, his smile broadening. “What about you? What does yours say?”

  “’From trials come strength’,” she read. “Hm. Well, I sure hope that’s true! Lord knows I’ve had my share of trials lately!”

  “Aw,” Dolf said, rising to clear the table of plates. He dropped a kiss onto the top of her head on his way to the sink. “I think you’re plenty strong.”

  “Even after my face-plant the other day?” she laughed.

  “There are all kinds of strength, you know,” he said. “And yeah, that was pretty cute, though.”

  “Dolf, do a cool yoga pose for us!” Beatrice said suddenly. “What’s the hardest one you can do?”

  “Well, I can nail a kapotasana on a good day, but not likely in jeans,” he laughed. “Come here, though…maybe I can show you something.”

  He led them into the living room and moved the coffee table to the wall. Balancing slowly on his palms, he brought his body up, rigid as a piece of wood, and rose until he was level with the floor. He stayed there for ten seconds and then brought his knees to the floor. He then balanced on his elbows, fingers interlocked behind his head in a perfect headstand.

  “This is called sirsasana,” he said, eyes closed in perfect peace.

  “Looks like a headstand,” said Beatrice.

  “Or a headstand,” he chuckled.

  “I wanna try!” Bradley said, as Dolf lowered his feet once more to the floor.

  “Here,” he said, directing the five-year-old to the wall. “It’s easier to start against something solid. Try this.” He helped Bradley get into the proper position and then stepped away. For an instant the boy stayed motionless, then fell with a crash to the ground.

  “Shoot,” he said, trying again.

  “It’s quite a bit harder than it looks,” he said. “But I’m sure with practice you’ll do it as well as me!”

  “You make it look really easy,” Beatrice said, impressed. “How long have you been doing yoga?”

  “Fifteen years now,” Dolf said, musing. “I was twenty-three when I started.”

  “And how long have you been throwing pottery?” Olivia asked.

  “Longer than that. I discovered my love and affinity for that in college when I was twenty. I just learned very quickly that it wasn’t going to pay the bills.”

  “I getcha,” Olivia said, nodding.

  “At any rate, it keeps me in shape,” he said, patting his stomach. “And I have quite the beer habit to support!”

  “Right!” she laughed. “Speaking of which, would you like one? I don’t have any at the moment but could run out and grab some.”

  “Allow me,” he said, grabbing his keys from the counter. “What about you? Want anything?”

  “A bottle of red, if you please.”

  “Sure thing. Be back in a jiffy.”

  “I sure like him,” Beatrice said as he drove out of sight. “Are you guys going to get married?”

  “What? No! I mean, I don’t know! We’re just taking things slowly, okay?”

  “Okay,” Beatrice said, nodding sagely. “Brittany says her mom takes everything too quickly, and that’s why she’s been divorced four times. So I think it’s good to go slow.”

  “Indeed,” Olivia agreed.

  “Married?” Bradley was tired of practicing headstands against the wall and flopped onto the couch. “Mommy, you can’t get married. You just can’t. You’re married to Daddy!”

  “She’s not married anymore, Bradley!” Beatrice shouted. “Dad left us and you need to accept that!”

  “Don’t shout, Bea,” Olivia said, crossing the room and taking Bradley in her arms. Hot tears

  streaked his face. “Bradley, honey, try to understand—“

  “I do understand. I do. I’m not a baby! I just hate it. I hate it!” He pounded a couch cushion furiously and cried more earnestly.

  “Bradley, don’t cry, please honey.”

  “Dolf’s a really nice guy and he likes mom!” Beatrice continued to shout. “And I think he’s better than Dad, anyway! At least he likes to be around us!”

  “He’s not better than Daddy!”

  “He is!”

  “He is not!”

  “Both of you, stop it now!” Olivia commanded in her most authoritative tone. They stopped. “Now, listen. Daddy and I are not getting back together. Daddy doesn’t love me anymore and I…I don’t love him anymore, either. I don’t. So that’s that. Try to understand, Bradley. We still love you and Beatrice so much. So, so much. We will always love you, do you believe that?”

  “Y—yes,” he sniffled.

  “What about you, Bea. You believe that?”

  “Yes,” she said, her eyes red but not spilling over.

  Her phone rang. Jacob’s number. Of course.

  “Hello?”

  “Olivia, hi.” Awkward silence. “Listen, I’ve been thinking, and it’s really not fair, what I’ve been doing. I’ve been really selfish.” Long pause.

  “Okay,” she said, waiting.

  “I was just wondering…I was hoping…that I might have the kids for Thanksgiving. Listen, I know I’ve been an ass, but I really do miss them. Please? Let me have them for Thanksgiving weekend. And then you can have them for Christmas. I’d really appreciate it.”

  “No Cabo plans now?” she asked. “No fancy places you have to be with Ali?”

  “No; God no. I swear. It will be me and the kids here at my place. No funny business. I’ll be with them the whole time. Ali has to be on a shoot and I can’t go with her this time.”

  “I see,” she said. The reason was clear enough, but at least her children were his second choice.

  “Let me talk to them. I’ll get back to you.”

  Hanging up, she turned to her children, their faces expectant.

  “Was that Daddy?” Bradley asked, rubbing his nose on his sleeve.

  “Yes, it was. He wants to see you both at Thanksgiving. What do you think?”

  “Yes! Yes-yes-yes!” Bradley cried, jumping up and down for emphasis. Beatrice was more hesitant, but Olivia could tell by the flush blooming over her face that she, too, would agree.

  “Okay. I guess,” she finally said. “But is Ali going to be there?”

  “He says not. He says it’s only going to be you guys and him at his place. No Ali.”

  “Good. Where is she going to be?”

  “At a photo shoot. Where else?”

  “Okay then. But if she comes back early and they get all mushy, I’m calling for early pick-up.”

  “Fair enough,” Olivia answered.

  “But will you be okay, Mom?” her daughter asked. “I mean, you’ll be all alone on Thanksgiving. Is that going to be all right?”

  “She won’t be alone—she’ll have Dolf!” Bradley exclaimed, still jumping up and down.

  “Promise you won’t be sad, Mom. And then I’ll agree to go,” Beatrice said, with finality.

  “I promise. I won’t be sad.”

  “Okay then.”

  “It will be good for you gu
ys to see your dad for a few days. I’m excited for you!”

  And though she said the words, she knew they were a lie. Thanksgiving suddenly seemed bleak and dark to her mind, devoid of anything to make it memorable. What would she do? She sighed. Beatrice viewed her narrowly.

  “You’re sure?”

  “I’m sure.” Come on, Olivia, get your act together. She thought. Your daughter can see through any pretense; smile, dammit!

  And so she did. She put on her brightest smile, though her heart was breaking for the family she used to have. As she did so, Dolf walked in. “What’s up?” he said, brow furrowing slightly. “The tension in here is…thick.”

  “Really?” she said. “Your radar is impressive. I just got a call from Jacob. He wants the kids for Thanksgiving.”

  “Well that’s good,” Dolf said, setting the beer and wine on the kitchen counter. “I mean, are you happy about that, kids?”

  “Yeah!” Bradley said, tears still drying on his face.

  “Yes. I guess so,” Beatrice agreed. “But I’m worried about Mom being alone that whole weekend. I don’t want her to be lonely or depressed, you know?”

  “I do know,” he said gently. “But don’t worry at all. Your mom will be with me, okay? I’ll make sure she’s neither alone nor depressed.”

  “Great,” Beatrice said, relieved.

  “Dolf, you don’t have to—” Olivia began.

  “Livie, I know,” he said. “But you’ll make my own plans way more exciting if you agree, okay? You can finally come to my place; see my pottery studio. I can take you on the whole five-minute tour. And we’ll go to a museum or something, huh? We’ll find some cool stuff to do, without these stinky brats along to mess everything up.” The last sentence was said while speaking in a loud stage-whisper and waggling his eyebrows towards Bradley and Beatrice in an exaggerated fashion. Beatrice laughed but Bradley scowled.

  “Oh come on, Bradley,” Beatrice said. “He’s just joking.”

  “Yeah, just joking, my man!” Dolf assured him, raising his palm to receive a high-five. Bradley looked suspicious still, but obliged. “Ah, you didn’t leave me hanging! I take that as a good sign.”

  “At any rate, what do we want to do now that that’s settled?” Olivia asked, texting Jacob their answer.

  “Drive my car!” Bradley said.

  “So what’s new?” groaned his sister.

  “I think it’s actually a good idea,” Olivia said. “Let’s all walk to the park, shall we? Bradley can drive his car. It’s not far.”

  A few minutes later they were strolling down the sidewalk, Bradley zipping ahead in the car and slowing only when implored to by his mother. Dolf and she walked behind Beatrice as she trotted to keep up with her brother, and Olivia took great pleasure at the feel of the Swede’s warm hand in hers. It had been a long time since she held hands with anyone; Jacob had not liked public displays of affection. She sighed and inhaled the cool fall air deeply. The evening was lovely, with the promise of a glorious sunset.

  “You okay?” Dolf asked quietly.

  “Yeah, I’m fine,” she said, smiling up at him. “Better than fine.”

  “It’s always hard when the ex calls,” he said. “Although I haven’t heard from mine in a year at least. Just have no reason to talk, like you guys do. No kids to fight over.”

  “I don’t want to fight over them, that’s just it,” she said. “I just want him to realize that they are growing up fast, you know? And make them a priority.”

  “I understand,” he nodded. “My ex—Gina is her name—didn’t want any kids. She convinced me to get a—” here he lowered his voice still more so that the kids couldn’t hear. “You know…snip snip. I regret it now, of course. I didn’t know we wouldn’t be together forever. And I think I would have liked to have had kids after all. Especially after meeting yours, Olivia.”

  “Shoot,” she said. “That’s one of the nicest things you could have said to me. But you know, you could get a reversal. Someday, I mean. If you really wanted—” She stopped abruptly, aware suddenly of how it sounded. “I mean, not with me necessarily, but—” She smacked herself in the forehead with her open palm. Dolf laughed.

  “I know what you mean,” he said, sparing her any more embarrassment. “No worries.”

  They walked on in comfortable silence then, although Olivia still felt warm all over just thinking about babies in general and making babies, with Dolf, in particular.

  They arrived at the park and the kids scrambled over the giant plastic structure and swung on the swing set while they sat on a park bench and watched. Dolf bent closer and kissed her gently.

  “I’ve missed your lips for the past couple of weeks,” he said softly, and she felt a thrill go through her body.

  “Yours too,” she answered, looking into his clear blue eyes. “Sorry I’ve been so busy with rehearsals and stuff.”

  “No worries,” he said again. “Just wanted you to know.” He kissed her once more, longer this time, and from the jungle gym she heard Bradley emit a long groan. They laughed.

  “Can’t wait for Thanksgiving to come around,” he whispered. “You and I…we’ll make up for lost time.”

  “I’m looking forward to it,” she whispered back.

  ~~~~~~~~~~

  Rehearsals were intense, but so much fun that Olivia was forever grateful to Tad for insisting she come to tryouts. The other cast members were entertaining, jolly people who were old hands at Community Theater. She and Tad were the newbies, and as such, endured much good-natured teasing and practical jokes, which they understood to be affectionate.

  By the week of Thanksgiving, everyone had their lines memorized and was strictly off book. The rehearsals were halting at first but became more fluid as time went on, everyone dutifully studying their lines in their spare time. Tad and Olivia practiced at work during lunch break, and Olivia let Beatrice read the other parts for her at home so she could rehearse there as well.

  “What’s this play even about?” asked Beatrice after one such session the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. “A bunch of crazy people?”

  “In a nutshell,” Olivia laughed. “But it’s really about finding the good in people, about extending grace and about combatting cynicism and greed. Mrs. Savage is committed to the asylum by her children, who want the money that Mr. Savage left to her. They want her to be declared incompetent.

  But she isn’t at all. She meets unusual people in the asylum and figures out a way to keep her money to give to those less fortunate. Does that make sense?”

  “Sort of,” Beatrice said. “And Tad plays Jeffrey?”

  “Yes.”

  “Is he pretty good?”

  “He’s very good. I enjoy watching him perform a lot.”

  “I can’t wait to see you guys do the play when it’s ready!”

  “I’m pretty excited myself. It’s going to be a lot of fun!”

  “Do you get any money?”

  “Nope. But there is a great big cast party at the end. I need to get gifts for everybody, come to think of it. It’s only two and a half weeks away!”

  “I’m proud of you, Mom. I really am. I think being in a play would be super scary.”

  “Thank you, honey. I’m proud of you, too.” Olivia was flattered and humbled by her daughter’s words.

  “I really like Miss Francine. And if you’d never tried out, we never would have gotten to know her. She’s lots of fun. We play lots of charades with her.”

  “I’m glad. She’ll be here in just a few minutes. Hey, are you packed for your dad? He’s coming tomorrow morning to get you guys, remember.”

  “I remember. How could I forget? Bradley hasn’t stopped talking about it all week.” She rolled her eyes. “Are you totally sure you’ll be okay without us?”

  “I’m sure,” Olivia nodded. “I’ll miss you, but I’ll stay busy.”

  “I’ll bet.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Nothing,” Beatric
e cackled. “You know!”

  The doorbell rang and Olivia went to answer it; her daughter’s comment hanging in the air. Tad and his mother stood on the doorstep and she ushered Francine in while grabbing her coat off the coat rack.

  “I’ll see you kids later; be good for Miss Francine, you hear me?”

  “Okay Mommy,” Bradley said, running to her for a hug good bye.

  “See you later,” Beatrice said. “Hey Miss Francine, can we make some cupcakes and decorate them? Mom bought the stuff we need.”

  “Sure sweetie,” said Francine, hanging up her hat, gloves, and coat. “Sounds like fun.”

  With that, Tad and Olivia hopped in his car and headed towards the theater.

  “My kid,” Olivia said, shaking her head. “Knows way too much for nine years old.”

  “What do you mean?” asked Tad.

  “Oh, she just makes comments that worry me. She’s got this friend who fills her head with nonsense about relationships and I don’t know…I just worry. Between that and the separation, I am afraid she’ll have a skewed sense of what love is, you know?”

  “Yeah, I think I know what you mean,” Tad replied. “But try not to worry. Lead by example. Show her what a healthy relationship is, and she’ll want it too.”

  “Healthy. Yes. That’s what I want. I think that’s what I have with Dolf, so far, anyway. I just want to do right by her. I don’t want her to be screwed up because of my bad choices.”

  “What bad choices? Your husband left you, not the other way around.”

  “I know. But I’m not perfect, you know? I make mistakes.”

  “So do we all, Olivia. Try not to worry too much. You’re doing a great job from what I can tell.”

  “Thanks. I try.”

  “And it’s hard as shit as far as I can tell, too. I have no end of admiration for you.”

  “Thank you again.”

  “I want you to know…if you ever need to talk, I’m here. And if Dolf hurts you, I’ll mess him up good.”

  The image of Tad—five foot seven inches tall and slight of build—taking on her boyfriend in any kind of physical match made her smile.

  “I appreciate that, my friend.”