Pick Me (Wait for Me Series Book 2)

by Walters, Dawne

  Colette

  Putting the note in his hand, he ran upstairs and pushed the door to his room open. Upon his bed, his eyes feasted upon Colette lying in the middle wearing only a pair of black panties, a matching bra, and the Chuck Taylors that he’d surprised her with yesterday.

  “Nice shoes,” was all he could say.

  “Thanks.”

  “So…”

  “Shh,” Colette whispered, putting a finger to her lips and got up off the bed. “I feel fine. Just because I can’t have sex, doesn’t mean that I can’t take care of you.”

  “Nope,” he said, shaking his head. “How about I sing you a song?”

  “You told me once that you can’t sing.”

  “That is true. However,” he help up a finger as moved to his closet and pulled out his guitar, “I do play a mean guitar.”

  Sitting down on the bed, Gabe played the guitar for her for a few minutes, then tried to sing.

  “Oh Colette...she flies in a jet. She drives a green corvette...and baby, I’ll just bet...you’ll let me pet...” he kept searching for words that rhymed with let, “or I’ll let you pet....hmmm.”

  Colette raised an eyebrow at him, “Pet what?”

  He gave her a smile setting down the guitar as Colette moved around and undid his belt and buttons on his pants as he took off his ACU top. She opened the flaps of material and slid her hands up the hardness of his cock underneath his black boxer-briefs.

  Colette smiled as she released his cock and licked the tip of it. Gabe sighed and fell back on the bed. Taking his harness in her mouth, she slid her tongue over the tip as she moved him in and out of her mouth.

  “It’s not going to take long baby,” Gabe groaned.

  Colette sucked hard as she moved him in and out of her mouth. At one point, she wasn’t sure she was in control anymore, because Gabe had her hair in his hands as he was pushing into her mouth at a frantic pace.

  “Here I come...ahhh, Amante!” he cried out. “Take it...all....ahhh, yes.”

  She swallowed frantically as he came in her mouth. When he was finished, he sat up and pulled her in for a gentle kiss.

  “You didn’t have to do that for me.”

  “Yes, I did.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Welcome,” she smiled up at him.

  “Hungry?”

  _____

  By Thursday, Colette needed to get her car and at least make an appearance at the Colonel’s house for dinner. Since she was feeling much better, she’d called Meavy and told her that she’d be at work for the Friday shift. She needed to get her life back to normal again. So, that afternoon, Gabe had come home with sandwiches, and they ate quickly. Then he took her to get her car. Pulling up behind McGruder’s, Gabe kissed Colette sweetly before she got out with a promise to get a call later that night. He watched as she got in her car and it started up after a few tries. Following her until she turned off onto her street, she honked and waved as she turned, and he went back to work.

  Colette pulled into the drive and parked in her usual spot when she saw the trunk of Clair’s Lexus open, and folded boxes were propped up against it. Knitting her eyebrows in confusion, Colette looked at the car one more time, and then made her way to her door. Just when she pushed it open, she saw Lannie come down to get more boxes.

  “Letty!” Lannie called as she diverted and ran to her sister. “How are you feeling?” she asked, as Colette took her in a hug.

  “I’m better,” Colette smiled.

  “Clair’s leaving.”

  Colette’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Is that what all of that is?” She pointed toward the car.

  “Yeah,” Lannie looked down at the ground, “Bunnie and the Colonel don’t know yet.”

  That was even more shocking.

  “She’s moving in with her boyfriend,” Lannie offered.

  “Oh,” Colette whispered. “Good for her,” she smiled.

  Clair breezed through the door and out to her car a moment later. Colette watched as she started grabbing boxes from the trunk and lifted her head to call for Lannie when she looked over and saw that she was talking to Colette.

  “Colette,” she smiled genuinely, leaving the boxes as she walked over to give Colette a quick hug. “How are you feeling?”

  “I’m good. What’s all this? Lannie said you’re moving out.” Colette pointed toward the car again.

  “Oh…well,” Clair sighed, “I got into it with Bunnie a few days ago, decided that I needed to spread my proverbial wings and fly the nest.” She tried a confident smile, but couldn’t quite convince anyone, much less herself.

  “How’d Bunnie take it?”

  Clair looked down at the ground, then back up to Colette shyly. “She doesn’t know.”

  “Well,” Colette started, “It’s not like she’ll notice.”

  “True,” Clair answered.

  “Need some help?” Colette offered.

  “I don’t want you to get hurt.”

  “I can help pack things. Just can’t lift heavy stuff,” Colette answered.

  “Let’s do this,” Clair smiled.

  The sisters made their way up to Clair’s room. She had the second master suite on the opposite side of the huge house from their parents. Once inside, the sisters started packing anything that wasn’t nailed down, talking as they packed. Clair had said that she was taking the furniture, even though Shawn and Cale had a king size bed. She wanted to make sure that her sisters could visit any time they wanted. She’d looked at Colette with a genuine smile when she said it. Colette had packed the boxes and Lannie or Clair would pick them up and stack them. After a few hours, the girls were tired and had all of the room packed that would still let Clair get through the week in relative comfort. That and the pictures on the walls, the bedding on the bed and some clothes that Clair needed to wear for the next few days.

  Colette was sitting in one of the chintz wingback chairs in the sitting area of the room, taking a break and looking around thinking maybe it was time for her to leave as well. Her miscarriage was an eye opener, one that she really wasn’t willing to share with Bunnie or the Colonel. Bunnie didn’t approve of Gabe in the first place; she wasn’t sure what the Colonel’s thoughts were. Yep, she’d start her apartment search again after dinner. She wanted a place downtown though. Somewhere near the pub and SCAD. Her thoughts were wandering back to a little apartment that was under a thousand square feet, and how it would work for her, when Lannie was standing in front of her waiving her hands, trying to get her attention.

  “You okay?”

  Colette smiled, “Yeah, I’m fine. Just a bit tired.”

  “Why don’t you go rest. I think we’re done here for the most part,” Clair offered. “Shawn and Cale are helping me move this weekend when Bunnie and the Colonel go to Jacksonville to visit friends.”

  Colette stood up, hugged Lannie, when Clair came up behind her and hugged her again. As she pulled away, Clair looked at the surprise on Colette’s face and smiled.

  “I’m so sorry that we couldn’t be closer when we were little,” Clair smiled sadly, “but, when you are feeling better, I’d love to sit down with you and…well…I’d like to be the sister that you deserve, instead of the sister that I was.”

  Colette took Clair’s hands and squeezed, “I’d like that very much.” She smiled, letting go of Clair’s hands, kissed Lannie on the head and made her way down to her bedroom.

  Closing the door, she took a quick look around and saw that everything was just as she’d left it. She plugged her phone in, set it on the night table, took off her shoes and smiled as she put them in the closet next to the ones that Carter had given her. Making her way to her bed, she picked up the remote for her stereo, hit play and listened as Jared Leto’s voice filled the room, singing about bright lights, a big city, and love. Smiling brightly, she lay down on her bed and stared at the picture of her mother that sat against the urn.

  _____

  Waking up to a soft knock
, she didn’t realize that she’d fallen asleep.

  “Come in.”

  Her door opened a crack and Lannie came through slowly, smiling. Always with a smile. “Hungry?”

  “I think I can eat a little something, yes.”

  “Good,” Lannie said, “because dinner’s ready.”

  “What’s on the menu?”

  “Spaghetti.” Lannie’s eyes got big. It was one of her favorite meals.

  “Give me a minute to pee, and I’ll go up with you.”

  “Okay,” Lannie said, walking to the stereo, turning it up and singing.

  After a few minutes, Colette came out of the bathroom, walked to her closet and slipped on a pair of flip flops. The she grabbed Lannie’s hand, took a deep breath, tand hey made their way up to the dining room.

  Chloe had just walked back into the kitchen when Colette and Lannie come in from the hall. She smiled politely at Colette and grabbed a few glasses off the counter when Bunnie turned around from the stove.

  “Lannie, why don’t you…” Bunnie paused as she looked at Colette, “well, look who decided to finally grace us with her presence.” She looked impassive as she said it, but Colette knew better.

  “Well, I don’t want you to think I’m taking advantage.” Colette smiled sweetly as she walked to where the four glasses were sitting on the counter to be moved to the dining room. She looked right at Bunnie when she pushed the glasses together and picked them up to carry them to the table. Bunnie pursed her lips together at the sight of Colette before her.

  Lannie started to giggle when she felt someone smack her back. Clair. Then, she tried to disguise it as a cough. “Thanks Clair, I needed that.” Clair gave her a warning look, then winked conspiratorially.

  “No problem,” Clair responded.

  Dinner was the same as it always was. Questions on how Chloe was doing in school, what Lannie was up to, then Bunnie’s work and what new events were coming up that she had to attend. She and the Colonel would be going to Jacksonville, Florida this coming weekend. The girls would be on their own and were told not burn down the house. It wasn’t a surprise that Colette was still not included in the dinner conversation, but what was, was that Clair wasn’t included tonight. There was no, ‘what deals did you close?’ or ‘what headway have you made on selling this house or that.’ Clair sat there like Colette had so many nights around the dinner table. Silent. Withdrawn.

  “Lett…you feeling okay?” the Colonel cleared his throat, “You’re looking a little pale.”

  Before she could answer, Bunnie chimed in.

  “Oh yes, Colette,” Bunnie chimed in, “tell us what has you looking so pale.”

  Colette and Clair both looked at Bunnie with shock on their faces, then Clair looked at Colette with sadness on her face, shaking her head in silent apology. Colette gave her a tight smile and looked down at her plate.

  “It was nothing. I’m fine,” Colette whispered into her plate.

  “Oh come on Colette,” Bunnie declared, “It was probably the best thing to happen to you.”

  Colette, Clair and Lannie all looked up at Bunnie with their mouths open. Not one of them could believe that she’d said that.

  “The best thing to happen to me?” Colette bunched her eyebrows together in confusion. “Why the fuck would you say that?”

  Bunnie waived her fork non-chalantly in front of her for a second before she placed it on her plate and put both of her hands on the edge of the table, leaning in and glaring at Colette.

  “Do you seriously want everyone to know that you were knocked up by that…that, spick? Do you know what that would do to the Colonel’s reputation?” Bunnie sat back in her chair and pulled the sleeves of her shirt down as if she hadn’t just transformed back into miss merry homemaker.

  “Can you just imagine what people would say? I mean seriously Colette. What were you thinking, spreading your legs for a...”

  “Mother…” Clair started in a warning tone.

  “How. Dare. You!” Colette screamed, standing so fast that her chair fell back against the wood floor. Her fork clattered to her plate. “I just lost a baby that was conceived out of love and you can sit there and say that miscarrying was the best thing that could happen to me? You are one sick and twisted bitch. All you can think of is yourself and your reputation!”

  “Really Colette…if you are going to be dramatic, please excuse yourself from the Colonel’s table properly and go cool off in your room,” Bunnie said evenly, without a care, not looking at her.

  Colette looked at the Colonel now. He looked like a statue. He hadn’t moved. Like everything that was just said hadn’t happened. He was staring at Bunnie with a blank look on his face, his elbows on the edge of the table, his hands poised over his plate in paused animation. Clair on the other hand, had pushed her chair out from the table and stood.

  “Well mother,” Clair stated, “since we are clearing the air, shall we really let the bombs drop?” Clair had a devious smile on her face, her eyebrows raised.

  Bunnie looked up at Clair as if she’d been smacked. “Clair…” Bunnie started with a warning tone to her voice.

  “Really mother,” Clair waved her hands in the air, “don’t be so dramatic.”

  “You are excused from the table. Leave your plate for your sisters to clear,” Bunnie stated, lifting one eyebrow as she looked from Clair to Colette.

  When neither of them moved, Bunnie looked at Colette. “Get out,” she said sternly. Then to Clair, “Leave! Now!”

  Colette moved first, putting a hand on a crying Lannie’s shoulder. She squeezed as Lannie rubbed her cheek on her sister’s hand. Clair was right behind her as they exited the dining room into the kitchen. They parted ways without saying anything as Colette headed back down to her room and Clair raced up to hers. She closed the door and leaned against it, replaying Bunnie’s words over and over in her head as her father just sat there looking like a bump on a log. Maybe he was in shock. Looking around her room, her eyes fell on her mother’s picture for the second time that day. Walking over, she picked up the picture from the table and sat on her bed. Her hand wiped over the glass and she smiled.

  She wished so badly she could talk to her mother. She’d often spoken out loud to her when she was upset or mad, but it wasn’t the same. She didn’t know what it was like to have a mother to talk to. She only had her father’s family. She barely remembered her mother, and what she did remember wasn’t the happiest of times. Her mother was sick. Then, she remembered visiting her in the hospital. The next day she was gone. This same picture was the one that sat on the altar of the church, next the urn, in the little country chapel on the outskirts of Paris.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  It had all happened so fast. She was saying goodbye to her mother in a hospital. Then the next day she was in a little chapel, and her mother was in an urn atop an altar. Her French family didn’t come to sit with her or say goodbye. What could you say to a little girl who’d just lost her mother?

  Her father was dressed in a black suit with a crisp white dress shirt and a black tie, his shiny service shoes on his feet. He looked impeccable as always. He’d come into her hotel room and laid out a black dress to wear, on her bed. It looked like a flower girl’s dress. He’d laid out black tights and black patent leather Mary Jane shoes with it, and then left, closing the door with a soft click. Colette had gotten up, showered and dressed. Her father returned to pull her hair up a pony tail and kneeled down to see her eye to eye. He didn’t say anything. He just looked at her with sad eyes. Then, he stood and took her hand.

  He drove her to the chapel, walked her to the front and motioned for her to have a seat.

  “Take as much time as you need Colette Amilie.”

  Colette looked up at her father and nodded.

  “I’ll be right outside,” he pointed to the doors.

  “You aren’t going to stay daddy?” she asked as she sat down.

  “I’m going to make sure that grandma and g
randpa can find us. So, I’m going to stand outside and wait for them,” he answered.

  “Are you sad daddy?” Colette asked, sitting her hands in her lap.

  “Maman is in a better place now, than she ever was with me,” he answered.

  “Where is she?”

  “Somewhere much better,” he whispered.

  “Do you want her back?” she asked, looking straight ahead.

  “No,” he whispered again.

  “I do,” she whispered in response.

  She was quiet for a moment, so Theodore Hughes took the opportunity to start walking toward the doors.