chapter 5 - Edie confession

When we reached the beach, I wondered if Edie felt our budding relationship was special. I held out my hand to see if she wanted to hold it, and she did. Not only that, once they hold each other, both of them don't want to let go. I take the handshake as a special sign that something good is happening between us.

Holding hands with the prettiest girl, the prettiest on the beach and probably the whole country, walking together, I feel so proud that she chose me to go with her that afternoon. I felt like a teenager on my first date, and that was with the prom queen.

When we got back to the car, I cleaned his feet. They were beautiful, and all proportionate to her body, and smooth, with no ugly bumps or bruises. Her toes are beautiful and her fingernails are painted a very girly pink. I wanted to kiss them but I held back or she would think I was too naughty.

Standing up, I decided to dare to kiss Edie. If she doesn't want to, she's close to my age and she can say something. I leaned back in the car and kissed her. She clung to me and hugged me. We ended up kissing about twenty times. I find myself holding my breath, savoring each kiss. I finally had to get up and almost gasp.

It was time for dinner, so I suggested dinner. She was nervous when she arrived at the restaurant in beach clothes. I told him not to worry.

I drove to Shack Beach, which my late wife and I frequented. We were popular there, and despite the eclectic crowd and low-end decor, this place serves good food.

As we entered, I heard a loud “JIM! From the bar. The bartender, Dan, ran to the end of the bar and gave me a hug.

Dan was excited, “God, it's nice to meet you. We heard about your wife a while ago, and I just thought we'd lost you. I'm so glad you fell in love with our door once again. We miss you. "He turned and smiled at Edie, 'Is this your bride? "

I laughed," This is our first date, but yeah, it looks like she'll be my bride. "

" Dan Wisnieuski at your date ma'am...and welcome to the best diving in town and the best seafood within a hundred miles. He laughed, but clearly judged Edie. She looks like a million dollars. While I looked my age, I realized that Edie looked about forty or even younger.

Dan urged us to come and sit at the bar, and Edie nodded that it would be fine. Before long, we met several Harley Davidson couples in addition to a thoracic surgeon and his wife, a lawyer and girlfriend, a civil engineer, and his living partner, who run a software company. They are neighbours.

Edie confessed to me that she has a stereotype of Harley owners left over from a Marlon Brando movie called The Wild One. After talking with other couples, especially the surgeon's wife, I thought Edie wanted to go for a walk. I've memorized it as something to come back to another day. Earlier in my life, I had had a small motorcycle for about ten years, but it was just weekend fun when the weather was warm, and Diane often chose not to come with me. Everyone at Beach Shack greeted me like a long lost son, the waiters, waitresses and even the chef came to greet me. Between two conversations with my old friends, Edie forced me to explain to her why I was popular here. This led to some revelations from me about my diverse food habits, Diane, and my marriage. I've said enough to let Edie know that we've had a strong marriage, have had a few docile children, and been going through a period of grief over the loss of Diane.

Edie responded based on my question, about Harry.

Somewhere along the line, we had one of Beach Shack's best seafood dinners and a bottle of wine. We also talk...and talk...and talk. Neither Edie nor I knew the time until Dan approached the table. He pulled up a chair.

Dan said, "I know you guys get along really well, just looking at the two of you can tell; but I have to get you out of that relationship. It's time to end."

I look around me. No one else was there. Even the kitchen and the waiters are gone.

Dan said, "You've been here for about six hours. I have your account, but it's past midnight and I'm the only one left here. Saturday night was quiet for some reason, so I was 'thinking myself' I'll be home soon ... if you don't mind.”

I apologize for ignoring our welcome. We settled in with Dan and left a large tip, then stepped out of my car as Dan started to turn off the spot lights.

I turned to Edie, "Guess I'd better take Cinderella home."

Edie put her arm around my neck and pulled me in for a kiss. "I've never liked dating or not dating, or anything, since... ever. Thanks."

We stood there in the parking lot, surrounded by a man in his sixties and a woman in his fifty-eight. I burst into laughter as we were like a teenage couple on a hormone overdose.

Dan came out of the Beach Shack, locked the front door, and looked at the two of us standing with her in my arms by the car. He yelled to both of us, "Room." Waved then disappeared in his car and drove away.

In the dark, I looked at Edie. I said, "This thought scares me for some reason."

"Do you have a room?" Edie asked.

I nodded.

"Me too," she whispered. "We don't have to decide now tonight."

"I know. There's another long discussion there."

I stopped, I kissed Edie again, and I said, "Let me take you home."

She got in the car and I closed the door for her, then I went around and got in the driver's seat. I drove us a few miles to his door.

When we kissed good night on her front door step, she said, "You'll call, won't you?" "

" what time is good? Tomorrow night? "

She nodded," Yes, please. "

" I think we both have to deal with what happened today. I know yes.

Edie smiled, “Don't analyze this too much. It was a good day. No, on second thought, it was a beautiful day. "

" I wouldn't, but I like this line. "

" Me too, and you still sound like a NASA engineer. "She was to me. to emphasize his teasing

"Good night, Cinderella."

“Good night, Prince Charming.”

* * * * *

Saturday is hazy. We were together almost continuously for more than twelve hours.

I received three calls from Rita on my answering machine and one from Mindy. Rita told me in her last text that since it was ten o'clock at night and I wasn't home, she was glad I was still there for her "lunch date". I knew I would have to talk to him the next morning or face a firing squad for not disclosing top secret information.

Around nine o'clock the next morning, Rita called. “OK, spill the beans. What happened?

I describe the physical features of our date: sitting at Lloyds for four hours, walking on the beach for two hours, sitting at the Beach Shack for six, but somehow that doesn't work. Rita is satisfied. She pushes and pushes about what we talk about and how we feel for each other.

It wasn't until I talked about 'love' with Rita that I realized that I loved Jim enough. Every time I think of him sitting together in the afternoon sun, holding hands as we walk on the beach, holding hands on a table at the Beach Shack, I get hot and confused. I'm worse than a teenage crush on this man. I think I'm ready to spend the rest of my life with him. I was wrong.

I cursed myself after hanging up the phone with Rita. That's exactly what I was afraid of, suddenly developing an attachment to a man who wasn't Harry.

My feet grow cold as the afternoon fades. I'm sure Jim wouldn't call, that I was just a nice distraction for a Saturday, that he had other irons in the fire, that he didn't mention other women. that he loves… more than me. He admitted that I bullied him, and at the time I thought we did, but maybe he's reconsidered how he feels and I'm a jerk. I'll be the pretty girl no one invites to the prom because no one thinks she can judge herself. Am I doomed to relive my childhood past? I tormented myself in the house all afternoon, alternating between the sweet thoughts of what had happened and the feeling of coming home last night, warm with the few kisses we shared, then the disaster I had. are becoming because of confidence and trust that things. would be effective if they hit the earth faster than a burning meteor in the atmosphere.

I have decided to drink alone. I opened a bottle of wine and poured myself what I thought was a chardonnay. I was pretty short at the time. I was alone for more than four hours, almost all afternoon. I feel lower than whale shit.

At half past five the doorbell rang.

I walked to the front door barefoot, wondering which of my neighbors might stop and for what reason.

I slammed the door shut, and there was Jim standing with a huge bouquet of roses in his hand.

I just sobbed and threw myself into his arms, wrapping my arms around him. I choked out, "I'm... sure... you... won't call...." I started to cry tears of joy because he was there.

Jim kissed me on the forehead. He said, "I didn't call. I can't bear to be away from you one more minute, so I have to get through. I hope..."

Jim didn't say other words because my mouth was on his mouth, kissing her in a way that lets her know that I wholeheartedly approve of her not having a call. I think he got the idea within the first sixty microseconds.

I dragged him inside and into my living room. I pushed him onto the sofa, then sat down on his lap, then I started kissing him again with renewed passion. The flowers lay on the ground nearby where I had carefully placed them. Jim is beyond my wildest dreams. He likes me. He will stay in my life.

After pausing our kiss, I confessed, "I'm really mad about you... that you wouldn't call. That you don't love me."

Jim said, "Oh, that seems like a lot more than 'like' to me right now. I barely sleep; you've made such an impression on me. I wondered and wondered all day if I should come. In the end, I couldn't stand it. I need to know if you feel the same way as me. "

" Yes. That's right, I literally yelled, kissed her again and hugged her face.

Jim said: "At the risk of going too fast... I ... be your faithful girlfriend. "

" OH YES, "I fell in love and kissed her madly again. I added, 'Whatever. All what you want. I'm yours. Body, mind and spirit. You have the complete package. I, anyway, you want me.

Jim said, "Well, let's... let's be together a lot, and we can see where we're going." From our kiss, there's no doubt about what he's feeling, but he's thinking longer than how we feel right now. I kissed him with all my might.