Coulson's Lessons

by McIntyre, Anna J

  “Where are you going?”

  “To pick Adam up from school,” she answered. Her hand held the doorknob, and she waited for his response.

  “Okay. See you later.” Ryan dismissed her casually and went back to his work. The fact that Adam’s school would not be out for four hours did not register with Ryan, and Ryan’s lack of awareness did not go unnoticed by his wife.

  As it turned out, Alex picked Adam up from school thirty minutes later. Tiny red dots covered his face—chickenpox.

  The rash progressed, and Alex attentively stayed by the child’s side, careful to keep his little fingers from itching and infecting the offending sores. She brought him into her bed, awake most of the night so she might soothe his discomfort with the cool lotion or a loving word.

  She did not see much of Ryan that week. Each night, he slept in the guest bedroom. Yet, he thoughtfully sent over lunch and dinner each day from the restaurant. Alex was grateful she did not have to worry about cooking.

  During the next week, the rash covered the young child’s skin. There was not an inch of his little body not affected. It was most unpleasant for both mother and son.

  Keeping Adam from picking off the dried scabs was as much work for Alex as it was keeping him from scratching the fresh sores. She tried to explain to him about scarring, yet he simply did not grasp the concept.

  Alex’s mother, Beth, kept saying I can’t imagine how he caught chickenpox in October. Isn’t it a spring disease? It was as if her mother did not believe the child had chickenpox, and somehow Alex had imagined the ten million red dots covering her son from head to foot. Alex was becoming cranky.

  By the time the illness had run its course, Alexandra discovered her house was in shambles. Mountains of dirty clothes filled the laundry room. Dirty glasses and dishes filled the sink. Beds needed to be changed. Bathrooms needed scouring. Alex was cranky.

  When the house was finally back in order and Adam was back to his old self, Alex decided to take a long-deserved soak. She had just settled into the steamy suds after easing her weary body into the deep tub. With her eyes closed and her head back, she could once again begin thinking ahead. What day was it? Oh yes, Tuesday. Tomorrow is Wednesday, Chamber meeting! She had already missed two. Smiling to herself, she was grateful she had somewhere to escape, even if it was a boring Chamber of Commerce meeting.

  Chapter 14

  They arrived at the same instant, pulling into side-by-side parking spaces, Alexandra’s blue Subaru station wagon, Garret’s red Jeep. Alexandra slammed her door shut, turned, and leaned against her car door, looking into Garret’s blue eyes. He remained seated in the convertible-like Jeep, his hands resting on the steering wheel, his eyes filled with amusement as he took in the sight of Alexandra. He smiled slowly, delighted to see she had finally returned.

  “Hello, stranger. Thought maybe we scared you away. Or bored you to death,” Garret greeted, still not attempting to leave his vehicle. He turned in the seat slightly, removed his right hand from the steering wheel, draped it casually over his seat, and leaned against the car door.

  “Looks like we’re the only ones here.” Alex quickly glanced around the empty parking lot. Garret leaned over his empty passenger’s seat and pushed open the door, inviting Alex to come and sit with him. She hesitated for a moment and then smiled as she reached for the handle, opened the door, and then slipped into the passenger seat of Garret’s Jeep. She gently shut the door, then turned to face Garret and leaned back.

  “So, where have you been?”

  “Chickenpox.” Alex smiled wearily. Garret noticed the dark circles under her eyes. God, she looks tired.

  “You had chickenpox?” he asked seriously, forgetting for a moment that it was commonly a child’s illness and involved a noticeable rash.

  “No.” Alex smiled at the thought. “My son, Adam, had chickenpox.”

  “How’s he doing?” He thought she looked as if she needed a nap.

  “He survived.”

  “Yes, but did his mother?” He wore the most curious frown of concern on his face.

  “Barely,” she responded lightly. Her fatigued hazel eyes swept up to meet his gaze. Clear blue eyes were locked on her, questioning and searching. Alexandra felt safe sitting with Garret. It was as if they had been friends for years or knew each other during another lifetime. She smiled at the thought.

  “How old’s your son?”

  “First grade,” she answered, pleased he asked about Adam. It showed he was treating her as a friend, not as a conquest.

  “Is he well enough for Halloween?”

  It was less than a week away. She thought it was sweet that he would ask. “Yes. And the way his face looks right now, he won’t need a mask.” Alex chuckled.

  Garret could not help but laugh at her comment. He loved women with a sense of humor.

  “Poor kid. Have it bad?”

  “It was pretty miserable for him.”

  “Looks like it was pretty miserable for you, too. You look terrible.” Garret’s eyes sparkled mischievously. She was a beautiful woman; even her dark circles and paleness could not mar the fact. He wondered how vain she was. Would she take his comment to heart and rush home to apply extra makeup to conceal her weariness?

  “Thanks a lot!” Alex feigned indignation, yet laughed as if she was not overly concerned. She noticed he was freshly shaven. Quite a contrast over the last time she had seen him. Unbelievably, he was even more handsome than before.

  “Do you have a girlfriend?” Her spontaneous question took him by surprise. He was speechless for a moment. When she explained, she inevitably burst his bubble.

  “I have this single younger sister,” Alex began slyly.

  “If she’s younger than you, then she’s far too young for me.” Garret wished Alex were the single sister.

  “Oh, you’re not that old. I bet there are a few miles left in you.”

  Hazel eyes danced in merriment; enjoying the obvious discomfort, this was causing Garret. Damn, he’s cute!

  “No one would intentionally set me up with their kid sister. I’m not exactly the kind of guy that comes to Sunday dinner.”

  She was not pleased that he sounded a little too serious. “Don’t be silly. Anyway, you’ll have to forgive my pushiness. I just can’t stand to see a good-looking guy go to waste. But I’d be happy to introduce you to Kate.”

  “Are you one of those women who thinks everyone should be married?” Garret settled back into his seat, shifting his weight slightly to become more comfortable.

  “No. I just don’t like to see people alone. It doesn’t mean they have to be married.”

  “Well, I tried marriage. Twice. Bad idea.” He shook his head in disgust.

  “Maybe it was a matter of bad choices, not the institution itself,” she said wisely, again catching his gaze in hers.

  “Perhaps you’re right. How long have you been married?”

  “Nine years.”

  “You said before you were very married. Does that mean you’re happy?”

  “Very.” She smiled.

  Garret hated her answer and envied her husband.

  “Does that mean we can’t have an affair?” he teased, yet sounded like a little boy who was asking for a second piece of pie after he had already eaten several. Alexandra began to laugh.

  “You are bad, Garret Coulson.” She playfully pushed his shoulder in a mock punch. “I’m especially flattered, considering how horrible I look today.”

  “You look pretty good to me,” he said softly, then added, “If I can’t have a wild affair with you, why don’t we be friends?”

  “Okay,” Alex said softly, silently questioning the whimsical expression that had passed over Garret. She held out her hand to seal the friendship. He took the offered palm and squeezed it gently, as he had the last time they met.

  “Friends,” he said.

  “Friends,” she agreed.

  Chapter 15

  Men and women can’t be just fr
iends. At least that’s what Garret always believed. He never had a woman friend. Perhaps if he had sisters, he would have had a broader and healthier view of the supposed fairer sex. Women were not exactly people. His mother certainly was not human. She was cold, detached, and cared more for social standing than her children’s welfare.

  Since adolescence, Garret concentrated his efforts on getting into the girls’ pants, not their heads. When he was older, he discovered women had brains, not that he didn’t already know it. He simply had not taken the time to think about it. Smart women did not intimidate him, nor did they especially intrigue him.

  He usually noticed intelligent women in the work place. Garret’s survival instincts told him that these women were off limits. He had no desire to work beside or negotiate with a woman he had once bedded. It made his life too complicated. Although, Garret’s primary reason for avoiding women in the work place had nothing to do with complications to his personal life. It was simply bad business.

  No one was more surprised than Garret when he discovered his talents extended beyond hell raising and seduction. He was a first-rate negotiator, insightful with a talent for predicting product trends. A valuable asset to Coulson Enterprises—even the old man was impressed. This contradictory facet of Garret’s character did not go unnoticed by his family. He was careless in his personal affairs and obsessively controlled in his business life.

  His assistant, Emily, was one of the women in his life who was off limits. She was young, attractive, and willing, though Garret would as soon take a rattler to his bed than Emily. He didn’t even view her as a woman. She was his employee—a one-dimensional character that Garret imagined simply disappeared from the earth when she was out of his sight. Of course, she really didn’t. She had her own life. Yet Garret didn’t know about it, nor did he care.

  When Garret had watched Alexandra walk across the community center, he had definite ideas of taking her to his bed. In his mind, he had already slipped off that lovely turquoise sweater, pulling it up over her outstretched arms. After quickly tossing the garment aside, he would then caress the bare arms, beginning at her wrists (which were still raised high over her head) moving down toward her shoulders, under her arms then cupping her full breasts, one in each hand. She would then lower her arms and wrap them around his neck, pull him closer, and beg for more. Yes, she would beg.

  After ten minutes with Alexandra, he realized his fantasy for what it was—a fantasy. She was obviously happily married. Even Garret Coulson did not pursue happily married women. That was almost as bad as pursuing unhappily married women. He was neither a home wrecker nor a rescuer. Give him a bored wife any day. They had no desire to end their marriage; they just wanted to pursue a little extracurricular entertainment.

  He attempted to dismiss Alexandra from his thoughts after her first Chamber of Commerce meeting. When she failed to attend the next two meetings, he was surprised at his disappointment.

  When Garret pulled his Jeep into the parking lot at the same instant as Alexandra, his heart slammed into his chest, and he felt a bit queasy. Thrilled to see her, Garret felt like an awkward schoolboy. He was utterly confused over his physical reaction to her.

  By the end of their second conversation, Garret knew he must create a new category for Alexandra. For some inexplicable reason, he wanted her in his life. Due to her circumstances, she couldn’t be his lover, and he certainly did not want her to fit into Emily’s category. He wanted more. If it meant simple friendship, he would take it. Unfortunately, friendship is not always simple.

  The concept of men and women friendships was not new to Alexandra. Nor was it unnatural. Since she was a small child, her friends included those from the opposite sex. Of course, she had a brother and understood there was no great mystery concerning the other half of the population.

  Her brother-in-law, Jimmy, had been one of her best friends throughout high school. The only reason she had agreed to go to the prom with him during her senior year was that she had recently broken up with a boyfriend at the same time Jimmy’s girlfriend called it quits.

  Alexandra genuinely liked men. She felt neither coy nor intimidated when in their presence. Nor did she have any foolish notion that they were exactly like women, wrapped in a different package. She was keenly aware of the differences. Overly confident in her perception of self and those around her, Alexandra believed in the possibility of a purely platonic relationship.

  Chapter 16

  Participating members of nonprofit organizations often view new members the same way in which lechers view nubile, young schoolgirls—prime for the taking. Alexandra never saw it coming. It began innocently enough. Garret should have warned her, yet he was so amused by her innocence, her eagerness, that he simply sat back and watched her volunteer for two different committees and accept the position as treasurer.

  Each year, the Coulson Chamber of Commerce promoted a safe Halloween by purchasing trick-or-treat candy locally, then distributing it to all the merchants to pass out on Halloween. They also printed up plastic treat bags, advertising the exact date, location, and times for the candy giveaway. They distributed the treat bags at the local grade schools and never formally publicized the event in the newspaper or on the radio. It was the Coulson Chamber of Commerce’s gift to the local children and not their intent to bring in children from surrounding communities.

  Alexandra had always liked the annual Halloween tradition. Yet, during the last few years, whoever purchased the candy for the Chamber had no imagination. Every merchant in town handed out exactly the same type of candy, usually some boring, inexpensive, hard, plastic-wrapped pieces of sugar.

  She voiced her opinion—variety. But that costs money. Again, she voiced her opinion. Solicit additional donations from the businesses to pay for the candy. Great idea. Now, who is willing to take on this new responsibility?

  In most organizations, the bearer of the recommendation better be prepared to volunteer for action or the idea will never materialize. That is how Alexandra became responsible for not only purchasing the Halloween candy but also for soliciting donations and distributing the treats.

  Of course, she couldn’t leave well enough alone. She was on a roll. Next, the Chamber’s treasurer, Andy Klein, complained that he just could not fulfill the position for the remainder of the year. (What was the big deal, there were less than three months left?) He knew exactly what he was doing. He had been stuck with that miserable office for five years. No one wanted to be treasurer. In walked a Chamberlain. Her father was the founder of the town’s most prestigious accounting firm, and if she was a Chamberlain, she had to know her way around a ledger. Klein could barely contain his elation when she volunteered for the Halloween committee.

  Alexandra had already revealed her weakness for projects aimed toward the welfare of children. When the Chamber members began discussing their annual toy drive to benefit underprivileged local children, all eyes drifted to Alexandra—sweet, naïve, unsuspecting Alexandra. The only reason Garret did not jump in at this point and save Alexandra from herself was the fact that he was the head of the toy drive committee. He could use every volunteer.

  When the meeting was over, Alexandra informed her new friend, Garret, that since she was helping him on his committee, he could reciprocate. Since he had no desire to beg candy money, he promptly pulled out his checkbook and donated an amount sufficient to cover the deficit. But he was not off the hook. Together, Alex and Garret visited every Coulson business that sold candy—grocery stores, specialty shops, and discount stores. Alex didn’t want to show prejudice; she wanted to spread the money evenly. Although Garret thought the entire thing was ridiculous, he was having so much fun that he forgot to mention his opinion. With his Jeep loaded with mountains of candy and Alexandra in the passenger seat, they distributed their purchases.

  They didn’t see each other again until Halloween night. It was an unusually warm, Indian summer evening. Although the sky was dark, Main Street Coulson was fully lit and
filled with costumed, short goblins.

  When Garret and his date stepped out from the Tavern, his favorite Coulson bar, onto the sidewalk, they found themselves dodging the overanxious trick-or-treaters, who flew by with sacks in hand. As he stepped out of the path of one such anxious child, he found his body thrown up against a lovely Indian maiden, holding the hand of a small redheaded cowboy.

  Their bodies slammed unceremoniously into each other, knocking the breath out of the woman. Garret regained his step, then gently but firmly grabbed hold of the maiden’s shoulders in an effort to steady her. It took him just moments to realize who it was. Alexandra’s hair was pulled into two braids, a leather headband held two feathers in place. She wore the most appealing, fitted, fringed dress, perhaps a little too short, a little too low cut.

  After Alex caught her breath, she began to laugh. Alexandra introduced her son. Garret introduced his date. Alex eyed the woman critically, telling herself Garret could do much better. Garret eyed Alex appreciatively, telling himself how he would love to play cowboys and Indians with her.

  Over the next few weeks, their friendship deepened. They sat together at Chamber meetings, chatting like old buddies with Emily silently giving Alex the evil eye. Emily wished Alex would join the PTA or become a den mother, and leave the business community alone.

  With the approaching holidays, business at the Lucky Lady increased, and Ryan found himself working longer and longer hours. He began leaving for work earlier and seeing his wife and son less. Alexandra, hungry for adult conversation, found herself spending more time with Garret. It began quite innocently when they met for coffee to discuss the upcoming toy drive.

  Most of Alexandra’s girlfriends had children around Adam’s age or younger. Whenever they got together, their conversations revolved around their sons and daughters. She had become so weary of discussing every imaginable topic concerning children, from discipline to diaper rash. When she did spend time with her husband, the only topic that interested him was the restaurant. Although she was concerned about the family business, she wanted her life to become broader. Garret provided that.