Until the Stars Fall From the Sky

by Mary Crawford

  Wow! :D

  I take it from her goofy emoticon that she likes my present. I figured she would, but I never take this stuff for granted.

  Do you like it? Not too nerdy?

  Yes. It was very sweat. Thanks

  *sweet Ugh! Stupid autocorrect! I <3 chocolate almost as much as Half and Half.

  What color is your dress going to be?

  IDK. Heather has to make a decision between copper and green or so I’m told. Why?

  Full service date, remember? ;-)

  Oh…umm…OK… I’ve never had anybody care about that stuff before.

  Obviously, you’ve been dating the wrong class of guys.

  Tell me something I don’t know. ;) LOL TTYL

  ~*~

  Fortunately, Mr. Carter lets the law clerks leave a couple of hours early on Friday. I stop to get a haircut on the way home. When I tell him it’s my first formal date with my girl, he gives me an old fashioned shave for free. I run by Ty’s place on the way home to swap rigs so that Kiera doesn’t have to ride in my death trap.

  I pause to get my mail. I thumb through it with disinterest until I see a letter from the Blue Lake Merchant’s Association. I’ve already received my final paycheck as a lifeguard from the city, and I told them that because of the bar exam, I probably wouldn’t be back next year. As I open the letter, I am surprised when a check flutters to the floor. I bend to pick it up, and I collapse to the floor in shock when I catch a glimpse of the amount. I rub my eyes to clear them, certain that I have misread the amount.

  No, it’s all there in black and white – Pay to the order of: Jeffery C. Whitaker, the sum of $20,000.00. I’m tempted to look around for hidden cameras. This kind of stuff doesn’t happen to me. There must be a catch. I pick up the letter that accompanied the check and try to make sense of it all.

  Dear Mr. Whitaker:

  We hope that you will accept this scholarship gift as a token of our appreciation. We, the Merchants of Blue Lake, consider you to be our adopted son and want to thank you for your 10 years of excellent life saving services and the outstanding image you have provided as a representative of our city. We hope you return to Blue Lake after you complete graduate school.

  Sincerely,

  Elizabeth Winters

  Merchant Association President

  I have to read it three times before the reality sinks in. Oh my God! This is real! I’m not going to have to cobble jobs together. This one check represents half my tuition for the year. I have already received a couple of smaller merit based ones and am waiting for my grades from the summer session online class to see if I qualified for a third.

  Lucky comes over to nudge me, and I realize I’m behind schedule. I use him to balance as I stand up on shaky legs. I shower and brush my teeth carefully. I splash on some cologne. I smile as I remember how much Kiera appreciated my cologne the last time we were together. I wonder if she still smells like exotic tea. Why is the mere thought of her enough to leave me in a semi-hard state most of the time?

  I walk over to my closet and pull out my black suit. I pair it with a white shirt and a peach colored tie with thin green stripes. I stick a clean handkerchief in my inside breast pocket along with my phone and two extra ten dollar bills. I grab my wallet and the box from the fridge. I program her address into the GPS in Ty’s Blazer and reach for my Tic-Tacs. Damn, I left them in my bomber jacket. I know it’s like a nervous tick for me, but I want everything to be perfect.

  When I get to her house, I realize I’m 18 minutes early. I turn on the radio and jump a little as country music blasts through Ty’s premium speakers. Even I recognize Taylor Swift as she is singing about white horses and disappointed princesses. It is a stark reminder of what I have at stake tonight. Abruptly, my thoughts are interrupted by a tennis ball hitting the glass by my head. Instinctively, I roll down the window and look for the source of the intrusion.

  My heart literally skips a beat when I see her. Kiera was cute, quirky and even sexy on our previous encounters; I’m not expecting the Kiera that resembles a fashion model. Her hair is glorious, settling around her shoulders in soft copper waves. A man could get lost in that hair. My fingers itch with the need to touch it. She is wearing a dark green strapless dress. It has a cool metallic sheen to it, and she is wearing copper colored shoes with delicate straps. I notice these shoes have butterflies on the heels too. Belatedly, I remember to close my gaping mouth.

  Kiera giggles when she sees my dazed expression, “What are you staring at, PC? Even trucker’s daughters know how to put on some spit-n-polish for a date. Are you coming in the house or are you going to sit in the driveway all night?” With that flurry of speech, she spins around and goes inside. I follow her like a lost puppy.

  Somehow I regain my power of speech, “Pip, while you need absolutely no polish to be stunning to me, you look exquisite tonight. I’m going to have to protect you from all the other jealous dates at dinner.”

  Kiera rolls her eyes at me as she snorts, “Yeah right! It’s not as if anyone would ever be jealous of me.”

  I give her a knowing smile, “Just wait, I bet I have the most beautiful partner there.” I pull the wrist corsage from behind my back and give it to her, “I brought this for you as part as your full-service date.”

  She studies the artfully arranged miniature peach roses, ferns and baby’s breath. She whirls her chair around and quickly leaves the room. I stand there in astonished confusion. Well, that wasn’t the reaction I was hoping to get. How do I get this date back on track after such a colossal blunder?

  Just as I’m pondering my next move, Kiera comes back into the room with a radiant smile on her face. She has swept one side of her hair back and she has the wrist corsage attached to a fancy comb behind her ear. She pulls me down to a kneeling position “That’s better. You’re so tall; I’m going to get a crick in my neck. I hope you don’t mind that I modified it a little. I’m afraid if I wear it on my wrist, it might get caught in my spokes. It is so beautiful. I didn’t want it to get ruined. You are the first guy to bother to get me flowers. So far, you’ve got the record since you not only gave them to me once, but twice.” Kiera explains as she leans in and brushes a feather-light kiss on my lips.

  Every cell in my body is screaming at my brain to take the kiss deeper as I inhale her sweet, spicy scent and thread my fingers through her shiny, impossibly soft hair. For about three seconds, I forget that I’m a gentleman, then my fingers trail over her collarbone and hit the edge of her strapless dress. I tear my mouth away and stand up. I walk a few steps away and try to subtlety turn my back so I can adjust my suddenly painful erection. “Oh God Pip, give me a minute to catch my breath and to remember why we got all gussied up. At the moment, I’d just as soon stay here and make out with you.” As I glance over at Kiera, I notice that she is breathing a little heavy too.

  “Umm, I’m just going to go fix my lipstick and my bra because it suddenly feels too tight. You can adjust whatever you need to,” Kiera casually remarks. She suddenly blushes bright red and gets a horrified expression on her face as she exclaims, “Oh Soufflé! Did I just say that out loud? Dandelions! I knew my dad’s habit of talking about every bodily function known to mankind was going to come back to haunt me.”

  A startled laugh escapes me because she is such a puzzling mix of slightly bawdy bartender and prim schoolteacher with her frank admission of desire and faux cuss words. “I don’t know about that, Pip. Discussing bodily functions with you sounds like a spectacular idea. Especially if there are visual aids.” I say with an exaggerated leer.

  “Why PC, I thought you were a gentleman,” Kiera responds folding her hands on her lap primly. Before I can take her too seriously, she gives me a saucy smile.

  “Only if you want me to be,” I answer honestly, my voice hoarse, even to my own ears. She is so beautiful that I keep forgetting to breathe.

  Kiera wheels toward the bathroom and winks over her shoulder, “I’ll have to think on that one, PC.” />
  The forty-five minutes it takes to drive to the conference center passed by in the blink of an eye as Kiera and I talk about life. Remarkably, given how nerdy my tastes tend to run, we are fans of the same television shows, movies and music. I think she is even more ecstatic than I am over my unexpected windfall. It is remarkably moving to have my own cheerleader. A guy could get used to this. She starts to tell me about her math class that is giving her fits.

  “You know, I know a really smart math tutor. Some people have told me he’s pretty cute too,” I offer.

  Kiera looks at me, nonplussed for a second, “You do? Who?”

  “Me. My undergraduate degree is in Organic Chemistry,” I explain.

  “Why?” Kiera sputters. “Why would you do that to yourself?” Kiera slaps her hand over her mouth, “Don’t mind me. You know I have an appalling habit of blurting every thought as it comes into this vacant head of mine.”

  Since we’ve safely pulled into a parking spot, I lean over to kiss her temple. “I know for a fact there isn’t a vacant spot in that head of yours, Ms. Grad Student and I don’t think anybody who puts themselves on the line every day for kids like you do could ever be appalling.”

  Kiera flushes slightly as she fans herself, “My goodness; this is a full service date with compliments and everything.”

  I retrieve her chair out of the back of the Blazer, taking care to assemble it correctly this time. As I lift her out of the SUV, I snuggle her to my chest and watch as her dark red hair falls in luscious waves over my arm. It never ceases to amaze me how a simple touch from Kiera ignites me faster than elaborate seduction scenes staged by other women. Instinctively, I embrace her a little tighter, and I run my thumb along the hollow of her waist. Kiera moans as she bites her bottom lip.

  My body immediately responds to her throaty sound. “Pip, baby, you can’t do that if you ever want me to put you down,” I murmur.

  Kiera tilts her head up and gently kisses the side of my jaw. “Where did you get the silly idea that I wanted you to?” she whispers in my ear.

  My whole body shivers in response. All the blood in my body seems to have rushed to my groin. “Well, Kiera, I’m sorry,” I respond as I smoothly place her in her wheelchair and tuck her dress around her legs. “I’m not going to let you cheat. I promised you a date with all the trimmings and to do that we actually have to get in the door.”

  Kiera sticks her bottom lip out in mock protest. It’s too much temptation to resist. I lean down to kiss her. I run my tongue along her bottom lip and gently suck it into my mouth as I deepen the kiss. She even tastes like peaches. My hands reach down to cup her jaw and thread through her hair. Eventually, I have to stop to take a breath. I hear Kiera talking to me.

  “Jeff, you’re not exactly helping to convince me here,” Kiera says with a gasp as she tries to fix her hair.

  “You‘re right, let me get you inside before I do something very ungentlemanly to you in the middle of the parking lot.” I retort, angry at my own lack of control. Smooth move, Romeo. Scare her the freak out, why don’t you?

  Kiera winks and blushes, “I don’t know, under other circumstances that sounds like it might be fun.”

  Then again, she may not be so scared. I try to tame my thoughts and reign in my body. Right now, a nice formal reception full of idle chatter is the last thing on my mind.

  After she stops in the restroom to fix the lipstick that I have so carelessly demolished, we took our places in the grand ballroom. I look around at the place cards and note that there is a former Oregon Supreme Court Justice slated to be seated at our table. I start to explain who he is to Kiera, but she surprises me when she assures me that she already knows. Before I can pursue the discussion further, the waiter offers us drinks. In stereo, we both say, “Oh, no thank you.”

  “Jeff, you don’t need to do that on my account. Its okay, have whatever you want. I can call Heather if I need to.”

  “Kiera, I would never do that to you. I not only don’t drink and drive. I don’t drink at all after seeing what alcohol does to my step dad. It’s a personal choice. I just don’t want any substance to have that much control over me,” I explain.

  She nods as her eyes meet mine. “I understand your choices better than you think. I don’t drink either. Partially, because I have autonomic dysreflexia. This makes it hard for me to regulate my body temperature and alcohol makes it worse. Also, my mom died of a brain tumor and I have cancer markers in my genes. So, why tempt fate?” she replies.

  I try to process the information she just gave me. Yet, any combination of the puzzle pieces forms the same alarming picture in my mind. “Kiera, are you telling me the day that you rescued the little boy, you were at real risk of dying of something other than drowning and nobody knew it except you?” I ask insistently.

  “I guess you’re right. I was freaked out by the situation and not really giving you all of the details,” Kiera concedes with an acquiescent shrug.

  I gaze into her big, light-bluish-green eyes and plead earnestly, “Pip, promise me you’ll get a medical alert bracelet so that we know how to help you if you get into trouble.”

  “I promise, my PC. I didn’t mean to scare you.” Kiera replies as she grabs my hand and interlaces her fingers. I smile contentedly as she places our joined hands on her lap. Gradually, more people begin to arrive at our table, and Kiera adopts the role of table hostess. I’m amazed at her ability to connect to everyone. Not only does she remember everyone’s name, she seems to be able to draw out obscure facts that draw everyone together. How she brought two ham radio operators together from four tables apart is beyond me. Just then I see former Justice Gardner.

  “Your Honor,” I stammer. I look over at Kiera, and I note that she is beaming from ear to ear.

  As I am about to shake his hand, he leans over and collects Kiera in a bear hug. As she recovers, she chatters happily, “William, it’s great to see you. How is Grace doing? I miss her. PT just isn’t the same without her.”

  I was worried about her being uncomfortable because she didn’t know anyone, yet she seems to be on a first name basis with people I’ve only admired from afar. I watch her in awe as she introduces me. His Honor teasingly asks her if I’m a good guy and if her daddy would approve.

  She nods and answers solemnly. “Yes sir, I believe he will. Jeff is one of the few men I’ve ever known to even try to stand in my daddy’s shadow, let alone his shoes. He is a great guy. Your profession is better with him in it.”

  I am profoundly touched by Kierra’s public declaration. Not since my grandfather was alive has anyone truly rooted for me. Now, I have Pip and the merchants of Blue Lake. At this moment, it’s abundantly cool to be me.

  The former Justice scrutinizes me carefully before sagely pronouncing, “I hope you have enough smarts to keep this one. I met a girl like her once at the Five and Dime. We’ve been married for 42 years.”

  I smile broadly as I reply, “Trust me, your Honor, I plan on it.”

  As we eat our mediocre banquet food, I watch with growing pride as Kiera manages the conversation at our table like an accomplished conductor of an orchestra. She makes sure that everyone is comfortable contributing to the conversation and balances the topics between work and other things. It is amazing to watch because she does it with such ease. I have to consciously work to be engaging at social gatherings because I’m naturally shy. As the former Justice is sharing a funny anecdote about his grandson’s gymnastics tournament, Kyle Best, an associate in our office, bursts into our conversation.

  “Jeffery, my man, who’s your hottie?” he asks, leering down Kiera’s dress.

  “Kyle, you interrupted someone that was speaking,” I reply tartly. “The woman is my girlfriend. If she chooses to share her name with you, it’s fine with me.”

  I look over at Justice Gardner. He gestures for Kyle to continue. “Something tells me this may be more stimulating than what I was saying,” he adds wryly.

  Kyle pumps Kiera’s ha
nd roughly “Hi, I’m Kyle Best, and when you get tired of this schmuck, you can just call me the ‘The Best Man’,” he says as he laughs loudly at his own joke.

  Kiera raises an eyebrow at me. “I’m Kiera Ashley. You may call me Ms. Ashley,” she responds primly, trying to ease her hand out of his death grip. She grimaces suddenly.

  “I know you!” Kyle exclaims, “You’re that head-shrinker over at county. I heard you guys picked up a gnarly case last week. You guys got some kid to spill her guts using naked dolls or dirty pictures or something…” Kyle trails off as he sees the look of shock on everyone’s face.

  “Put a cork in it,” I growl, dropping my voice to a menacing whisper. Kiera rests her hand on my arm and flashes me a reassuring smile.

  “Actually, I am a social worker that specializes in childhood trauma. As such, I couldn’t possibly talk about any cases that we may or may not have pending. However, I am glad to see you have such an interest in the welfare of children, Mr. Best. It’s encouraging to see, since attorneys are mandatory reporters in Oregon,” Kiera says in her best public service announcement voice.

  I stand up and give a half bow in front of Kiera. I grasp her hand and kiss the back of it as I say, “Well said, milady. May I have this dance?”

  Her eyebrows shoot up in surprise as she replies, “You understand that dancing is not a God-given talent for me, right? You are taking your life in your hands. It could be downright catastrophic,” Kiera responds with a laugh.

  “Hey, you don’t know what my skill level is. People assume that I have rhythm because I’m black. They forget about the half of me that’s white. I could end up riding in your lap before the night is over,” I answer with a teasing grin.

  “Am I supposed to find some bad news in that scenario?” Kiera replies. She arches her eyebrow as she allows me to escort her to the dance floor.

  The DJ is playing Celebration by Kool and the Gang. After a couple of cringe-worthy false starts, Kiera and I end up developing a modified swing dance where she twirls her chair in a tight circle under my arm at the end of each pass. Her control of her chair is something to behold as she spins it deftly on two wheels and stops it on a dime. She is remarkably strong and her strapless dress highlights the long toned muscles in her back, shoulders and arms as I glide her through the arcs at lightening speed. Her hair is trailing behind her like a comet made of fire. Kiera has an expression of unbridled delight on her face. Her eyes are glowing with contagious joy and her smile is so wide it practically covers the width of her face. I can’t help but laugh with her. This is the most fun I’ve had in ages. After two more fast dances, the DJ takes pity on us and plays Heaven by Bryan Adams. I wheel Kiera to the side of the dance floor and kneel down to murmur in her ear, “Do you trust me, Pip?”