Chapter 1 #2
"It was. Excellent service as usual. You should be applauded. The flowers inside the lobby give everything a nice touch."
"And the food, I hope the kitchen provided excellent cuisine as well."
"They were complimenting the chef." He glanced at his watch, silently indicating that he was pressed for time.
"I will not keep you." Pierre bowed gracefully, snapping his fingers for the doorman. "Enjoy the rest of your night and we hope to see you again soon."
"Very well." Nodding to the doorman, he made his way out and was gratified for the efficient service as his car was brought around. Leaving the top down, he drove out of the brightly lit parking lot onto the street.
*****
"He's springing up so fast." Melanie murmured as she stared at her baby. "He's going to be tall."
"He already is. What's bothering you, honey?"
They were sitting on her grandmother's front porch, enjoying the breeze wafting through the trees and carrying the scent of honeysuckle in the air.
Freshly made lemonade complete with the skins of the lemons floating in the clear liquid was between them on a small antique table.
The plate of oatmeal cookies were freshly baked and were practically gone.
"Nothing." She shrugged when her grandmother continued to stare at her with that steady gaze. "Nothing much. Jessica is being unreasonable as usual." She picked up her glass and took a tiny sip. Her eyes strayed to her son, a smile playing around her lips. "He makes it all worthwhile."
"He's a great kid, but his mother needs a life of her own. When was the last time you had sex?"
A startled laugh escaped her as Melanie turned to face the elderly woman.
Eloise Foster was approaching eighty but was spry, fit, and looked ten years younger.
She was also a free spirit who believed in speaking her mind and doing whatever she pleased.
The woman was her rock, Melanie thought in wonder.
After losing her parents and discovering that she was pregnant, she had turned to her grams, who had been there for her ever since. "I shouldn't be so surprised."
Her grandmother snorted. Reaching over, she patted her hand, squeezing it lightly. "You haven't answered my question."
"And not going to."
Lifting their joined hand, she melted Melanie's heart by pressing it to her cheek.
"You're the only child of my beloved son and a woman I considered my daughter.
When I lost them both, I lost something inside me.
A hole that will never be filled." Her eyes moistened.
"You and that boy of yours have managed to fill it somewhat.
" Turning her cheek, she kissed her granddaughter's palm. "I love you."
"I love you too, grams." Melanie's voice was thick with emotions.
"Oh, I miss them every single day. I keep thinking that if they were alive, I might be in a better place.
" Her eyes strayed to where her son was chasing squirrels.
His happy and unaffected laugh as the animals raced up the old oak tree filled her with joy. "He's such a beautiful child."
"Like his mother." Leaning over, Eloise kissed her cheek. "Now finish the cookies and get out of here. Don't worry your head about young David, we have plans."
*****
"God, I feel old." Melanie drew down the leather skirt she had chosen to wear for the hundredth time. It occurred to her that she had made a mistake in choosing her attire. Chalk it down to pure madness. The entire evening stank of it.
Clubbing was not her thing. She usually avoided large crowds and would have preferred to spend her one stingy night off, just curled up in bed with a good book.
"Put your game face on." Her friend, wearing skin-tight leather pants and matching top, dragged her into the narrow passageway that smelled of sweat and smoke.
"We're going to have fun, even if it kills us."
"It might just come to that." Melanie muttered, shaking off a groping hand. "Back the hell off!"
Carrie grinned as the guy scurried away.
"You're fierce."
"He had his hand on my backside. I hate this."
"Let's go to the bar and loosen you up." Clamping a firm hand on her arm, Carrie marched her to the bar and miraculously found two empty stools next to each other.
"Ladies." The tall, black bartender beamed at them, eyes dancing flirtatiously. "Haven't seen you in my fine establishment before. Where have you been hiding your fine selves?"
"Here and there." Carrie beamed back at him, lashes fluttering. "My friend here needs something to make her relax."
"Not too relaxed."
The bartender's gaze settled on her face, brows raising in admiration.
The friend was hot, but she was hotter. He found himself getting comfortably lost in the large mahogany dark eyes.
"I have just the thing. A combination of good old Jamaican rum, a splash of coconut and strawberry.
" His smile turned flirtatious. "I guarantee it will put a smile on your face. "
"I'm intrigued." Melanie said dryly.
"So am I. I'm also single."
"Hey. I'm starting to feel invisible here."
"Can't have that."
He turned to attend to two patrons and went on to fix their drinks.
"He's interested." Carrie said in an undertone as she cracked on nuts.
"I'm not."
"How about those two hotties over there?" Carrie pointed to the men staring at them.
"They're wearing leather pants." Melanie pointed out.
"So are we."
"We're women."
Just then, their drinks were served.
"Don't leave without giving me a number. Name is Barry." With a flash of white teeth, the bartender went back to serving.
"You know what your problem is?"
"I have a feeling you're going to tell me." Melanie tasted the drink, her eyes going wide. "This is actually very good."
"You're too picky."
"I have good reasons to be. I often make the mistake of picking losers."
"David's father was an asshole. And an exception."
"In high school, there was Billy. He dumped me when I refused to let him have sex with me."
"That was—"
"Then in college, I surrendered my prized virginity to Malcolm Blake, and he dumped me for a white girl."
"Okay, fine." Carrie conceded, irritation coloring her voice. "How about we stop rehashing the past and get our boogie on."
"Just let me finish my drink first and I'm not dancing with me wearing leather."
Her friend snorted. Downing the drink like water, she waited for Melanie to finish before dragging her onto the dance floor.
After the first half hour of awkwardness, Melanie began to relax.
The music was too loud of course and the place too crowded, but she enjoyed the music and even danced with several men.
When one of them started to grind himself against her, she pushed him away and went back to the bar to have a friendly chat with Barry, who turned out to be charming and not too bad.
"If you change your mind and I hope you do, come and find me. I would love to take you out." Barry's charming smile flashed and brought out an answering one from her. They both looked over at Carrie, who was dancing up a storm with one of the guys wearing leather.
"I won't."
"I guess you're looking for Mr. Right." He had a moment to regret as he expertly sliced olives for a margarita.
"Just not looking." She lied. "I have a son to think about."
"I have two myself." He shrugged when she gazed at him. "Bad breakup with the ex-baby mama."
"How bad?"
"Real bad." Barry grinned as he slid the drink to the patron.
"She objected to being compared to a slut.
Don't worry, she deserved the name. Caught her in bed with my best friend.
I beat the crap out of him and told her to take a long hike.
She tried to hose me for more child support than was required.
When I refused to pay up, she took me to court. "
"What happened?"
"The judge denied it." He shrugged again. "Broke my heart in two. Really cared for that girl."
"So now you're trying to replace her." Melanie surmised.
"No, my lovely Melanie with the dimples, you've captured my heart. When you leave here, I will be pining. Until I see you again of course."
"Of course." She laughed. "I really like you."
"I really like you too. We could have a good thing going."
"I don't doubt that. Why don't we settle for friendship instead?"
His grimace was so comical, it made her laugh. "You're breaking my heart, pretty lady."
"I sincerely doubt that." She caught a glimpse of a leggy blonde approaching, her expression territorial. "Friend of yours?"
He looked over and this time his expression turned sheepish. "Say the word and I tell her to take a hike."
"She looks like a woman on a mission and that mission is to gouge my eyes out. I think I'd better go and be anywhere else."
"I will defend you." He called after her.
Turning, she waved at him, her smile flashing.
*****
Toeing off the ankle-length boots, Melanie padded into the tiny kitchen and just sat around the small counter.
It was after midnight, but surprisingly, she wasn't tired.
And she had enjoyed the outing. Men had come onto her and she had flirted back.
Harmless flirting, light banters and even another conversation with the bartender.
Carrie had noticed the glow on her face and considered it a job well done.
"I told you it would be good for you."
"You sure did. It took my mind off my problems for the night."
"We could do it again soon."
"I need a couple of weeks to recover." She waved several napkins with a grin. "I got some numbers. One is even worth following up. Most of the others were married men, looking for diversions."
"Bastards."
"I don't know, honey. One told me his wife didn't get him. Pretty original. Another said his wife was open to him having someone else. Makes it all the more interesting."
"Men." Carrie snorted. "Can't live with them and can't kill them."
She should make herself some tea, she decided.
But just could not find the effort to get up and put the kettle on.
She had just managed not to call her grandmother to check on her son.
The phone call at this late hour would not be appreciated.
Pushing herself from the counter, she went to put the kettle on.