On my walk home I call Pierson.
"Hi. How did your interviews go?" I ask.
"Great. I got the mechanic job at Don's Auto body Shop," he exclaims.
“That’s wonderful. Congrats! When do you start?" I ask.
"Monday, and I already have a place to move into as well. I’m renting it." He says, I can tell he is beaming into the phone.
"Well you've been busy then," I say.
"Yes, I have. This calls for a celebration. How bout I swing by and take you to dinner tonight? And I won't take no for an answer." How I love it when he pulls a sly one on me.
"Fine, but since we are celebrating your employment and your new place, it's my treat," I insist without leaving room for argument.
"Okay by me. I'll pick you up at seven." It feels nice being able to talk to him again. I hope he does settle down here permanently. Even if we don’t become more than friends, I like having him back in my life.
Chapter Seven
After lunch, Ruby and I head over to the storage unit. I couldn't deal with my parents' belongings after their death, so I put everything in storage, and sold the house not long after the funeral. After paying the funeral costs I had some money left from their life insurance and the sale of their house to start my catering business when I graduated college.
I lift the storage unit door and it is jam packed. Ruby and I start sorting everything into piles for donations, keepsakes, trash etc. The memories are flooding back to me as I sift through the clothes, pictures, keeps sakes and it makes my heart hurt.
Ruby looks at me. "We don't have to do it all in one day."
"I know, but it needs to be done. I need to close this chapter of my life."
As I sift through the stored objects, I come upon a box containing the lighthouses my mom collected. Knowing she loved them so much, I decide to put a few in the keepsake pile and put the rest in the donation pile. I only hope someone else will cherish them as much as my mom did.
Opening up a dusty box I find some of my dad’s clothing. I pull out a dress shirt and inhale the smell of it. It still smells like him, earthy and woodsy. It almost feels as if he’s beside me. Knowing I can’t keep all of his things, I decide that it wouldn't be wrong to keep a few of his shirts. I also keep a few trinkets. There is a lot of stuff to donate and a few things that I can use. I tell Ruby she can keep anything she wants as well.
An hour into it I glance over at Ruby. She's holding a box that appears to be a jewelry box but isn't. She opens it and pulls out what looks to be unopened envelopes. I work my way out of the unit towards her. The strange expression on her face makes me nervous. "What is it?" I ask.
"I believe these are addressed to you," she says with concern in her eyes.
"Who are they from?" I ask,
"Pierson."
Searching for the dates on the envelope, I see the first one. It is dated nine months after he left.
"I knew your parents didn't like him, but I didn't know they hated him enough not to give these to you," Ruby says with furrowed eyebrows.
"That's exactly what I was thinking."
I grab the stack of letters and tell Ruby we can continue another day. We did get a lot accomplished already. We pile the stuff into her SUV and make the drop offs for the donations.
Before heading home I decide to stop and get flowers from the local grocery store and make a visit to my parents’ grave site. It has been quite a while since my last visit. I step up and lay the flowers in front of their stone. Kneeling down on my knees I tell them I miss them terribly and I hope they are proud of me. It's been a struggle to put my life back together and now I can't help but wonder why they kept the letters from me. That’s something I will never know.
It's four o'clock by the time we arrive home and I'm dying to dive into these letters. In my room I rip the first one open and read it.
Dear Maura,
I know it has been a while since we've spoken or seen each other. I hope eventually you can forgive me for the way I left. I couldn't bear the thought of you hating me. Please respect my decision and know that this is what I wanted to do to honor my father. I've officially entered the war zone and I’ve seen things that I never wish to see or wish anyone else to see for that matter.
I think about you every day and dream of you every night. When I close my eyes I picture us walking around the lake. Just picturing your face smiling back at me is enough to get me through.
I hope college is treating you well. I'm sure with Ruby it is an adventure. You two are a force to be reckoned with.
Sorry to cut this short. I just needed you know that I think of you and love you...still.
Love,
Pierson
It's hard to read the words because my eyes are watery, but it still doesn't take me long to read the rest of them, twelve in total. He tells me about the war zone, about the friends he's made, and his feelings for me. He also writes about the picture of us that he carries with him everywhere he goes.
My heart is achy and my chest hurts. Ruby peeks in my room and asks if I'm okay. I nod no in response. Sitting on the edge of the bed next to me she puts her arm around my shoulders and takes a letter from my hand. As she reads, she too begins to cry.
"Well, you don't have to doubt that he loved you. Even leaving you, he loved you from afar. I just can't fathom why your parents kept these from you." She shakes her head in disbelief.
"Imagine how I feel about it. I'm pissed at them and sad for him," I admit.
I jump off the bed. "Shit, I forgot he is picking me up tonight at seven to celebrate his new job and place. I look an absolute mess." Pure panic washes over me and I start pacing.
"Relax, you have time. Take a shower and I'll help you get ready," she says. I give her a huge hug and run into the bathroom.
Out of the shower and back in my room I see Ruby has laid out dark wash jeans, a gray sequins tank top, and black heels. I couldn't have a better friend.
Chapter Eight
Pierson arrives right on time. He looks great in a pair of jeans that hug his firm body in all the right places and he's wearing a black and white MMA tee shirt. We exchange greetings and a hug before heading out the door and into his truck.
"So, where are you taking me?" he asks.
"It's your celebration and I'm treating, so you pick."
Pierson starts driving towards Memphis BBQ just outside of town. During the drive I attempt to figure out how I'm going to broach the subject of the letters. I'm sure he has no idea that I never read them, until today. I wonder how he will take it.
"Everything okay?" He asks.
"Yes, so did you get your place set up?" I ask.
"I did. Maybe I can show you later. I think you will like it."
"Sounds good. I’m excited to see it."
A few minutes later we are parked and seated inside Memphis BBQ. We both order a beer and bbq from the menu.
"Are you excited to start your new job?"
"Yes. I know my way around a car pretty well. How did your day go?" He asks.
"It went okay. I did some paperwork at the office and then Ruby and I cleaned out the storage unit that I had my parents' stuff in. I wasn’t able to deal with all of it before, so I’m just now getting around to it." I tell him, nervous about how the conversation will go.
"I'm sorry I wasn't here for the funeral." The genuine sympathy on his face touches my soul. I'm thankful that the food arrives at that exact moment or I would have cried.
"It's okay. Your mom was a lifesaver. She had the knowledge of how to plan a funeral from when your dad died. I wouldn’t have known what to do if it hadn’t been for her," I confess.
I brace myself and continue. "Ruby found something in the unit that took me completely by surprise."
"What was it?" He asks.
Looking down at my food, I take a bite before putting my fork down. “It was the letters you wrote me when you were away. I never even knew about them, until today. My parents kept them fro
m me. I was shocked to find them."
Pierson looks like he was just stabbed in the heart. I already feel like someone did that to me. He runs his hands through his hair and closes his eyes for a good minute.
"Say something," I plead with him.
"Today is the first that you knew about them or read them?" His eyes are piercing through me, searching for the truth behind my words. They are, so green.
"Yes. I had no idea until today," I answer honestly.
"It doesn't surprise me that your parents never gave them to you. All this time I thought you were trying to forget about me. I thought you wanted me out of your life forever.” The agony written across his face pulled at my heart strings and caused liquid sadness to pool in my eyes.
"You have been my life since the day we met. I knew that would never change. It's kind of hard to forget your first love," I say, offering what reassurance I could.
It must have worked because his face relaxes. "I'm just trying to wrap my head around this."
"How do you think I feel, finding them after all these years?"
"So, I take it you read them?"
"Yes, I did. Reading about your time in the war and your decision on why you did what you did left me in tears. Also knowing that you never forgot about me, and how you felt about me at the time, was hard to handle, especially since I had always wondered if you thought about me after you left."
"I still feel that way Maura. You’re even more beautiful now than before, if that's even possible." His words along with the adoration swimming in his eyes, was impossible to ignore. I felt his emotion radiate across the table and wrap loving arms around me.
Trying to keep the conversation from heading down a path I wasn't sure I was prepared to take, I made light of it. "Thank You. You’re not so bad yourself."
The butterflies are back and they are dancing and fluttering in my stomach to a universal orchestra, making it difficult to finish all my food. We decide to get to-go boxes as I pay the bill and he guides me outside. The weight of his hand on the small of my back sends shockwaves rippling through my body. Again I curse the flesh that betrays my mind.
"Would you still like to see my place?" He asks once we're inside the truck.
"Sure."
On the way I try to calm my stomach and keep from smiling like a cheese head.
We pull up to his newly rented ranch style house. The yard is big and there are a few bushes lined along the house. The two car garage attached to the side, gives it a family feel.
"Your place is not far from mine," I tell him.
"It’s about a half mile from yours and it's only a short walk to the shop I'll be working at which makes it the perfect location,” he says.
Stepping inside the living room I notice a brown suede sofa against the wall with a matching chair across from it. To the left is the kitchen with a half wall separating the two rooms. Turning right from the living room is a hallway with two bedrooms and a full bathroom in between. All the rooms are spacious and come with the basic furnishings.
"It's not much, but it has everything I need," he says, downplaying the home's spaciousness.
"Pierson it is a lovely place and it's definitely you," I say, taking it all in.
We walk through the kitchen again which leads to the back yard. There is a small deck which sports a grill along with a table and chairs.
"Please have a seat,” he motions. "Would you like a beer?"
"Yes, please." I reply, taking a seat on one of the chairs while he goes inside to grab it. I take a deep breath, inhaling the fresh evening air. Glancing over the yard, I see that it leads into a wooded area, making the house perfectly secluded from curious minds.
"Here you go," he says handing me a beer and sitting in the chair next to mine.
"Thanks for showing me your place. It's really nice." The smile on my face comes easily.
"Cheers," he says as we clink our bottles and continue the conversation. "My mom gave me some stuff she wasn't using, mainly kitchen stuff, but I still need other things for the house. Would you care to go shopping with me and help pick some things out? I think I need a woman's touch so it doesn't turn into the typical bachelor pad."
"I'd be happy to. I have work tomorrow and Saturday, but I'm free in the evening. Or we could do it Sunday since I'm closed on Sundays?"
"Sunday sounds good. Maybe we can make a whole day of it, so I can test this bad boy out." Grinning from ear to ear, he taps the grill.
Once we finish our beers Pierson takes me home and we plan for Sunday. He walks me to my door and bids me goodnight. I wave as he drives off.
Ruby is not home, but I’m sure she will want the full rundown of tonight so I decide to wait up for her. It’s no secret she wants Pierson and me to get together. It has been a long time since I have been with someone, so I know she is happy he's back.
Chapter Nine
The next day, Sam and I handle the catering for a couple that is renewing their vows after twenty five years. Sara hangs back at the office manning the phones and prepping for the next event scheduled for Monday.
I’m looking forward to spending Sunday with Pierson. I know it will be fun. He is easy to be around. Deep in thought, I wonder if the butterflies in my stomach will ever go away. Probably not, I mean this is Pierson we are talking about.
"Earth to Maura," Sam says, waving his hands in my face and breaking my train of thought.
"Oh, sorry Sam. What do you need?"
"What is up with you? You have been acting weird all week."
"I'm fine, just a lot on my mind." That wasn't a total lie.
“I just wanted to know if I can start loading the van, so we can go?" He asks.
"Sure, I’ll help you."
Later that day I walk in the house and catch Ruby and Trevor making out on the couch. Since I had already eaten at work, I go straight to my room to lie down.
******
Ruby and I are at club Aurora. She is dancing with Trevor and I'm seductively dancing with a guy I just met. All of a sudden I feel a large hand on my arm, pulling me away. "What did I tell you about dancing with other guys?" Pierson growls.
"You said it drives you crazy. And that I shouldn’t be dancing with anyone else,” I reply, taunting him.
Pierson pulls me through the crowd and I can barely keep up. In the alley behind the club, he shoves me against the wall, pressing his body into mine. Hooded with lust, his green eyes bore into mine. He lands a hard kiss on my lips and I succumb to the pleasure of his tongue. His hands roam my body before pressing into my ass to lift me. Filled with a hunger which has been long denied, I wrap my legs around his waist. His aggressive longing has me thirsting for more.
I jolt awake and I’m sad to realize it was just a dream, but the moisture between my legs is real. After showering, I wrap myself in my favorite plush robe and head to the kitchen and make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Ruby comes in wearing a huge grin on her face.
"Somebody was getting hot and heavy earlier," I say to her with raised eyebrows.
"At least someone in this house is getting some action," she replies with a wink.
Does my dream count? If only she knew. She fills me in on the latest Trevor news. They are officially a couple. It's been awhile since either of us has been in a relationship. I tell her I am happy for them. With another wink and a smile, she grabs two bottled waters and bids me goodnight.
The next morning I wake, tossing on a pair of jean shorts, a pink tank top and pink and black sneakers I head over to Pierson's place in Ruby's SUV. She agreed to let me borrow it since it's more practical for what we have planned. Pulling into his driveway, I see he is already out front waiting for me.
"Ready?" I ask as he opens the door.
"Yes." He flashes me his toothy grin and hops in the passenger seat.
We decide to stop at one of the more popular decorative chain stores in town. With a few suggestions from me and a few ideas from Pierson, we finally agree upon the throw pillow
s for the couch, place mats for the kitchen table, a comforter for the bed, lamps for the spare room, along with many other needed items. By the time we are finished, Ruby's SUV is jammed packed.
"Thank Ruby for allowing you to borrow this," he says, shutting the hatch closed.
"She didn't mind. She’s out with her boyfriend, so she didn't need it."
"I want to thank you for helping. Without you, it might have turned into a bachelor pad, decorated with beer bottles and dart boards,” he jokes.
"We couldn't have that now, could we?" I tease. "Besides, I had fun doing it."
We pull in his driveway, go inside and put everything in its place.
Pierson stands back to access the room. The house looks warmer, lived in and generally more inviting. "Not bad. Not bad at all."
"Did you doubt my decorating skills?" I ask, pretending to be appalled.
"Of course not," he says shaking his head laughing.
Oh that laugh. I have missed him more than I thought.
"Should we go to the store and get groceries for dinner?"
"Sure." I reply whole heartedly.
We make a quick grocery store trip and are back at his place in a flash.
"So you really are going to grill?" I asked as sarcastically as possible. I had never seen him grill before.
"Are you questioning my grilling skills?" He asks, mimicking my earlier comment.
"Me? Of course not," I mimic back. I can feel the electricity sparking between us. It’s almost as if he never left. I know he feels it too.
He must have picked up a grill master certificate while he was away because the meal was perfectly executed. "Oh. My. God. That steak was amazing."
"Yes, It was hard not to notice your eyes rolling to the back of your head with every bite," he laughed. That remark earned a light punch on his shoulder.
"Never question my grilling skills," he says with the face of a seriously seasoned chef defending their latest creation.
Coming Back to You Page 3
