Out of The Box Awakening

by Theriot, Jennifer

  “Ready? I thought our next stop would be at Neiman’s. Let’s get you a knock-out outfit for New Year’s Eve!”

  I am totally angry now. I really don’t feel like shopping anymore and have lost the Christmas spirit.

  “Ash, you are not buying me anything and you haven’t heard the last of this yet…I swear! You’re not on my list of favorite people right now. I mean it!”

  “Ohhhhh! I’m really scared!”

  I know he is kidding but this really doesn’t sit well with me. All the independence I’ve attempted to gain has just been shot to hell. He puts his arm around me and tries to tickle me.

  “Come on! Let’s go shopping for you!”

  Gabrielle comes to walk us out of the store. “Great seeing you again, Mr. Harper. Don’t be a stranger…I’m sure this beautiful lady would love a nice handbag for herself! Come back and I’ll help you pick out the perfect one!”

  He kisses her on the cheek and we head out to shop for me. Arrrrrggggh! This man is incorrigible! I have no idea how I’m going to pay for these! This is totally out of my budget, dammit! I’m mad at myself for letting him do this. Yes, the kids are going to love their gifts, but I didn’t pay for them, he did! This takes away from what I had planned and I feel like he has taken control. I am tired of being controlled. I want to do things on my own. I know he wants to do things for me, but right now I just wanted to buy gifts I could afford. How do I handle this? Why did I even let him purchase these? Arghhhhh! Men!

  He tells me we are off to look, just look for New Year’s Eve dresses. Just look, huh? Somehow, I think I’ll end up with an entire outfit, from outside down to the lingerie as we head to Neiman Marcus to look for cocktail dresses. We are in the upscale designer department. God! I’ve never in my life shopped these kinds of dresses. Of course, there is a sales lady who knows him. Why does this not surprise me?

  “Angie! How are you?”

  She comes over to him and kisses his cheek.

  He sparkles for her. “How’s my favorite sales lady? Great to see you! How are the kids?”

  “Very well, Mr. Harper. All graduated from college, with respectable jobs. They’re all functioning members of society. Thanks so much for asking! And just who do we have here?”

  “A very special lady, Angie! She’s actually the love of my life. Beautiful, isn’t she?”

  He is beaming and proud. He just melts my damn heart! Angie nods, and extends her hand to me.

  Embarrassed, I say, “Ummmm…Pardon him, please. I’m Olivia. So nice to meet you Angie.”

  Ash tells her, “We’re looking for an over-the-top cocktail dress for New Year’s Eve. Can you fix her up?”

  “Oh, my! Of course we can! Just let me go pull a few things and you just sit here. What are you dear, about a size six?”

  “Yes, that’s me!”

  “Okay, then, I’ll be right back!”

  She pulls several dresses…dresses by designers I have read about, but never actually tried on! After trying on and modeling several for Ash, in blacks, greens, reds and silver, the final one is a fabulous Carmen Marc Valvo navy blue strappy, ruched, to-die-for-beautiful dress. It’s a bit bare for me, but Angie insists I try it.

  “You don’t think I’m a bit old to wear something like this?”

  “Oh, honey, absolutely not! I think it’s perfect for you.”

  I’d just about given up before this one. Each time I put one on and go out to show Ash, he doesn’t seem to feel they are right, and I have to agree, I don’t either. When I put this one on, my body relaxes and I know this is the one I like. I hope he does, too. It is beyond beautiful! Angie comes in to see if I’ve got it on yet.

  “Dear God! This was absolutely made for you, honey!”

  Angie turns me around to face the mirror.

  “Go on…show him! I have a gut feeling this is going to be the one he likes”

  I turn look at myself in the mirror. The dress fits me like a glove. This is absolutely the most beautiful dress I have ever tried on. It is perfect! I walk out to where Ash is sitting. When he sees me, his eyes light up. He stands up and opens his arms.

  “Wow! You are absolutely beautiful. Mine?”

  “Yes, Yours?”

  “This is definitely it! What do you think?” I guess he can tell by my smile what my answer is.

  “Angie, we’ll take it!”

  “Excellent choice, Mr. Harper She looks fabulous! Let me put it on a hanger for you.”

  “I think we need to go to lingerie, next, and then find her some shoes. Can you fix us up?”

  “Of course I can! Let me call Val in lingerie I’ll have her pull some things to compliment this dress and this fabulously beautiful woman, Mr. Harper!”

  “Thanks, Angie!”

  He squeezes my hand and kisses me. Although I remind myself that I am angry with him, I’m beaming! I can’t believe he is paying for this beautiful dress…a dress I could never, ever afford! I look down at the price tag and I am floored.

  “Ash, this dress is so expensive! It’s way too much.”

  Damn! I’ve let him do it again! Where is my backbone? I just succumb to him and let him have his big-spending way. Arghhhhh!

  “Liv, please, just let me spoil you! I haven’t done this in forever. I love you, and I want to buy this for you. Please! Stop with the bargain thinking. Geez! You take all the fun out of shopping. Shopping’s supposed to be fun, right?”

  “Right, but how do I rate this?”

  “Well, you just do! The sooner you let go and let me spoil you; the better things will be. Stop being a killjoy! Come on…let’s go get you some sexy lingerie, so you’ll look as great underneath as you do on the outside! That way, every time I look at you, I’ll be thinking about what I know is underneath that hot dress! God! This is so much fun!”

  He really is having fun. He is totally into this shopping thing.

  We head to the lingerie department and Val is there to greet us.

  “Mr. Harper, so nice to see you! And, this must be Olivia. Angie called and told me your dress selection, which I might add is fabulous. Soooo…I’ve got some wonderful suggestions to go under your beautiful dress, so if you’ll come with me…”

  I follow her and she tells me that she has in mind a La Perla bra and panties set in navy blue lace, of course to match my dress. I’m sure these are over-the-top expensive as well. She measures me.

  “Voila! Exactly the size I thought! Here, love, try this on. I have several others pulled, but seeing you, I do feel this one is perfect for your body. Such a cute figure you have! Oh, and I’ve pulled you the panties to match, too.”

  Once I get them on, she comes into the dressing room and gives me thumbs up.

  “So, are we going to model them for Mr. Harper?”

  I say no, but Ash hears and quickly says, “Yes, Val, she does want to model for me! I’m coming in!”

  Ash comes into the dressing room. When Val sees him, she quickly exits the room, giving me a wink and smile.

  Ash puts his hands on my hips. “Oh. My. God! Olivia! You look out-of-this-world desirable! What do you think, hon?”

  “They’re beautiful of course! Way, way too expensive though. What do you think Mr. Ash?”

  He laughs and replies, “Mr. Ash thinks this was made for you, honey! Just like the dress. Wow! I can’t wait for New Year’s! So we’ll take them both! You see anything else here you want? We can go look for a nighty if you want.”

  “Absolutely not, Ash! This is more than enough. Remember, I’m still pretty not-happy with you right now!”

  ” Mine?” he jokes with me.

  “Yes, Yours?”

  “The giant is dying about now! I really need to get you home! You’re killing me!”

  I hold up my hand “Well, don’t forget, that you did promise me dinner!”

  “Yes, I did, and no, I haven’t forgotten! Now, let’s go get your shoes! After shoes, I’m hungry, and then we’re heading home for sure.”

  Val p
ackages the lingerie and we head over to the shoe department. Nina in shoes has been called and already has some pulled a variety of dress shoes for me to try on. I’ve never been pampered like this, and I absolutely love it. I could get used to this! She has pulled a pair of expensive silver strappy sandals along with several others. Of course, the silver ones are perfect for the dress. They have almost a four-inch heel, and I wonder if I can pull this off. I’m used to wearing no more than three-inch heels.

  “Damn! Those are so sexy, hon!”

  “You don’t think they’re too high?” I ask.

  “Oh, hell no! They’re perfect!” he tells me.

  Nina reassures me that they are perfect with the dress. “Olivia, these are absolutely made for this dress!”

  I have to say that I agree. Once I’ve put them on, they are the ones! So, with dress, lingerie, and shoes in tow, along with our leather purchases, we head to the car and off to dinner.

  “Have fun tonight?” He asks.

  “Oh.My.God! Yes! I’ve never been shopping in the designer section before. I’ve been to Neiman’s, but only in the ‘last call’ section. This was amazing, Ash! I love shopping with you. Thank you so much! How can I ever repay you?”

  “Liv, you’ve already repaid me over and over. Don’t you realize that? And, you do realize that you’re gonna be the most beautiful woman at the party, don’t you?”

  Not quite as confident as he is, I tell him “Well, I wouldn’t go so far as to say that, but I do love the outfit!”

  He reassures me. “Well, you’re going to make heads turn, believe me! And to think that you’re mine! Going to the party and you are mine! Wow! What more can a man ask for?”

  I think to myself, yes Ash, I am yours!

  We decide on Italian food and find the perfect place. At the table, Ash playfully takes my hand. “Mine?”

  “Yeeessss Yours?”

  “Have I told you how much I love you?”

  “No, I don’t believe you have…not in the past few minutes anyway!” I say.

  “Well, let me just tell you. I friggin’ love you, Olivia Petersen!”

  “Yours?”

  “Yes, Mine?”

  “You sound like Todd with the friggin!”

  “Mine?”

  “Yes, Yours?”

  “I take that as a compliment!”

  “And a compliment, it is!”

  The waiter has brought us a fabulous bottle of wine. We raise our glasses in a toast, and are enjoying our night, when out of nowhere comes Alan.

  Are you kidding me? I totally don’t need this tonight! He walks up to our table with a woman, I suspect is his new significant other, and speaks to us.

  “Ash, Olivia. Hello! Wow! What a surprise! How are you?”

  Ash looks at me and I look at him. We’re at a loss for words.

  Alan introduces her. “This is Kelly. Kelly, this is Olivia and Ash.”

  “Cool! So nice to meet you both!” she says, smiling.

  Cool? What the hell is that about? Cool certainly wouldn’t be the word I’d use. Awkward, yes, but cool? Oh, I don’t think so. She’s maybe thirty-five, definitely no more than forty. Ash looks at me and it’s all we can both do to keep from laughing.

  Alan senses that we really don’t want him and his eye candy at our table and ends this awkward encounter “Well, enjoy your dinner. It was nice seeing you both.”

  Ash and I both tell Kelly that it was nice meeting her, and she replies, ”So, maybe we can all do dinner one night when the kids are in for Christmas. That would be fun, huh?”

  The kids? Oh, honey, those are my kids, and I really don’t think so. Ash and I look at each other and he is nice enough to reply for us both.

  “ Ummm. Kelly, I would say that you and Alan should contact his kids and take them to dinner with just the two of you. I think that would mean more.”

  They both get it and head back over to their table.

  “Well, that was weird,” I say.

  “Yeah, it was all I could do to not kick his butt, Olivia! Can you believe he even had the balls to come over here? You okay, hon?” he asks.

  “I’m more than okay. Look, I’m the one who made out like a fat cat in this deal. I have the most wonderful man, who loves me and who I love back, so yes, I can honestly say that I am totally okay. It was just weird and kind of caught me off guard!”

  “Cool! Me too, hon! Geez!” he teases.

  We laugh and he kisses my hand across the table. I know Alan is watching us, but I don’t flippin’ care! I’m relieved that his significant other isn’t someone I would envy. I’ll have to admit, I was curious what this woman who ended my marriage would look like. Surprisingly, she is not overly attractive, which I had pictured her to be. For some reason, I thought she’d have big boobs, a knockout figure and be very sexy looking. She’s far from it. While she has long pretty hair, she’s actually pretty ordinary looking. They seem to be pretty happy and I sense they’ve been a couple for a good while. I actually pity him, though.

  “Well, seeing the two of them together, I can honestly say they deserve each other. She’s definitely not what I expected,” I say.

  “Let’s change the subject. I think the kids are gonna love their gifts don’t you?”

  “Oh, without a doubt Mr. Big Spender!”

  “So do you have any LV purses,” he asks.

  “No, Ash, I can’t say that I do. We bought Lainey one for her graduation, but I just never could justify the expense for myself. They’re beautiful, though. I’m probably the only gal who doesn’t have one!”

  I really can’t wait for the kids to open their gifts. They are going to be so surprised! Even though I haven’t technically paid for them yet, I fully intend to pay Ash back. I do feel better knowing that, in my mind, I have a weekly amount I am going to give him. It’s so important to me that I pay for their gifts. I don’t know why, but it is. Once I get him paid back, I’ll feel much better! Let’s see, at a hundred dollars a week, ninety two hundred dollars, I should have him paid back in 92 weeks…which roughly translates into almost two years…geez!

  Chapter 25

  When we finally get home, Ash’s phone rings, and he tells me that it’s a business call. I give him a panicked look, and he immediately realizes this is what Alan used to tell me.

  “Honey, this really is a business call…I promise! Just give me two minutes.” He kisses me, scoots me out of the room and after about two minutes, he’s back. “Ok. I’m all yours now!”

  I zone out, because that’s almost word for word what Alan told me.

  Ash senses that and immediately tries to defuse the issue. “Liv, honey I swear that was a business call. Please, don’t over-think this! Sorry, I couldn’t help it. It’s a call I’ve been waiting for. You do believe me, don’t you? Because we can call the number back and I’ll let you talk to who I was just talking to, it’s no big deal.”

  Realizing that I have no reason to suspect anything other than what he’s told me, I make myself relax. “No, I believe you, not necessary. Sorry…I just had a flashback moment.”

  “Well, then, let’s go get naked, you beautiful woman!”

  We go into the bedroom and begin to get ready for bed. I wash my face, then go into his side of the bathroom and start to talk.

  “So, I was thinking,” I stop at the bathroom door and find that he is peeing. Mortified, I immediately step back. I put my hands up to my mouth. “Oh, my God! Sorry!”

  “Liv, come here!”

  I step way back and say it again. “Sorry, I didn’t realize”

  “Realize what? That I’m peeing?”

  “Yes, didn’t mean to intrude. I’m so sorry!”

  “Come here!”

  I quickly exit the area.

  “Come here! Geez! I’m just peeing. Come back!”

  I step back, just outside of the doorframe, and start talking to him, but am hiding behind the door. “Liv! Come in…really…why are you acting like that?”

  �
��Well, I didn’t realize you were using the restroom, that’s all.”

  “I’m peeing, for God’s sake! Come here!”

  I walk to the door and see that he is doing just that. Sexy as hell, he is buck-naked and standing, bent forward in front of the commode; his beautiful body is indeed peeing. Just peeing. “I’m just kinda embarrassed, you know. I didn’t mean to intrude”

  “Hey! Come here I said! How many times do I have to say come here before you’ll come here?”

  “What?”

  “Well, you started to say something and then just bailed. What’s that all about?”

  “Well, Ummmm…privacy, please?”

  “Honey, if I needed privacy, I’d have closed the door.” He starts to laugh and I am really uncomfortable. “You can talk to me while I’m peeing you know. What did you want to say?”

  I suddenly forget everything I started to say. “Geez! I can’t even remember now.”

  “So, want to grab hold and help me?”

  “Ash, oh my God! NO!”

  “Well, you can if you want, I don’t mind. In fact, I’d love it!”

  “Ash, you nut! I can’t believe you just said that!”

  “What? That I wanted you to take hold of me and help me pee? You wouldn’t do that?”

  “No! I would not!”

  “Honey, look, I seriously don’t mind if you see me peeing. That’s natural, and a part of intimacy. You didn’t ever see Al?”

  I cut him off mid-sentence and say, “No! Never! He always locked the door when he used the restroom! I would never have dreamed of standing there watching him use the restroom.”

  “Honey, I don’t ever want you to think you can’t come in while I’m going to the bathroom…please, don’t act like that. Come here, really.”

  I walk into the commode and find myself with my hands on my hips, looking up at the ceiling. “Ummmm, I’m down here. Hellllloooo! Look down.”

  I look him square in the eye.

  “Lower, come on, you can do it…”

  I lower my eyes to his privates.

  “There you go! Bingo!”

  Wow! He is beautiful!