23. Andrew - The Grave Digger
Chapter twenty-three
Andrew - The Grave Digger
E die’s girls were planning to be involved in some summer activities and her work had been exceptionally busy with their regular design clients and the Parade of Homes which had just wrapped up, so they didn’t plan on spending much time on the island. Her mother allowed her church group to use the cabins as long as they kept the grounds up. They were having a big Independence Day celebration on the island so Edie and the girls decided to join them. Most of the people were young with families and the girls fit right in and had a great time.
It was an enjoyable day with picture-perfect weather and one particularly picture-perfect young man who caught Edie’s eye. He was younger than her but so charismatic she looked at him as he played frisbee and volleyball and played with the kids in the pool. His name was Andrew; all bronze, firm, sun-bleached ponytail and eyes as blue as Tanzanite that drew her attention many times that day. She also caught him looking in her direction unless it was a silly fantasy, but hey, a girl can dream.
On Tuesday after the holiday weekend, she was pulling into her driveway to see a big truck from the local lumber yard unloading stacks and piles of wood. She hadn’t ordered this but soon found out that Les had bought it to have her large deck completely redesigned and constructed. They hadn’t discussed it, and since she wasn’t seeing him anymore and hadn’t for quite some time, she had to make him understand that she couldn’t accept his gift. She knew he was trying to buy her love but Edie was too emotional to be swayed by money. She had plenty of chances to hook up for money but that’s not what she was looking for. When she finally reached Les, he said he understood that their relationship was over but this was something he wanted to do for the girls and Edie…no strings attached.
As she got off the phone with Les, it rang again. “Hello?” she answered.
“Hi, Edie. It’s mom.” They didn’t talk often so she must have felt the need to identify herself.
“How did you like the picnic on Sunday? They’re a great bunch of people, don’t you think?”
“Ya, everyone seemed friendly and we had a nice time so thanks for including us. Listen, I’ve got to go. A huge load of lumber was just delivered on my driveway so I need to go check it out. We’ll talk later, Mom.”
She didn’t know what she would check out but it was a good excuse to get off the phone. She changed out of her grocery shopping clothes, put on some jean shorts and a tank, and twisted her hair in a ponytail, to head outside. Just as she began looking over the mountain of lumber an old beater of a car pulled into her driveway. Before she could make sense of it, Andrew from the island jumped out all smiles. “Hi, Edie. I’m Andy, remember?”
She scrunched up her face, confusion written all over it. “Ya, I remember you, but what are you doing here?”
“I was at your mom’s house helping with some yard work when she mentioned this load of lumber. She asked me to make sure it’s properly covered before the rains come so I brought some tarps.”
“Hold on,” she said a little grumpier than intended. “You don’t need to do that and doesn’t wood get wet when it’s a deck so what possible difference could it make if it gets wet now?”
He grinned. “Good point, but after the deck is built it will be sealed with a special coating that keeps it from warping. If it gets wet now it might not even be useable.”
She was pissed that her mother was nosing in her business especially since she’d been a less-than-perfect example of motherhood up till now. “Hmm, so she conned you into coming out here to help me, huh?”
“No conning was involved. I volunteered and thought it would be fun to get to know you better. Got any lemonade or iced tea?”
“Huh? Anything else you’d like?” she said with a smirk on her lips.
“Sure, but it probably wouldn’t be appropriate to say. How ‘bout a burger instead?”
“Seriously?” she scolded. “You’ve got nerve.”
“You asked, I responded,” he winked with an irresistible grin. “I’ll cover the lumber while you cook. Deal?”
“Burgers and lemonade it is.” Did I mention how much Edie loves men? They’re so unique and creative in their approach. We can usually see right through them but it’s fun to watch those wheels of progress turn in their brains. Edie squeezed fresh lemonade and cooked juicy burgers on the grill. Andy, the girls, and Edie ate on the deck as the sun slowly sank in a papaya and amethyst-colored sky. The girls went in to watch some TV while she made coffee.
They sat on the deck and got to know a bit about each other. “So, what is it you do, Andy except play a mean game of volleyball?” she asked.
He smiled a slightly lopsided grin. “You’re gonna love this,” he said. She was curious, to say the least. “Would you like to guess what I do for work?”
“Umm, sure.” She was going to have some fun with this. “Let’s see, you’re a Chippendale dancer. How many guesses do I get?”
He had a mischievous look on his face. “Just keep going. I’ll tell you when to stop.”
“Okay,” she said, tapping her cheek. “You’re a sky-diving instructor? A male escort? A medical intern? Owner of a junkyard for old beater cars? A pole dancer at a nursing home?” She was going to continue but he couldn’t hold his laughter any longer.
Slapping his leg he said, “Those were darn good guesses and I can understand where some of your ideas came from- especially the junkyard guess.” Wiping his eyes from laughter he said, “You would never have guessed,” nodding his head, “but I’m a grave digger.”
Shaking her head in disbelief, although someone has to do it, she said, “You just made that up. You don’t really do that, do you?”
“Actually, I do. It’s not a bad job. I do my work before the families arrive and finish after they leave. I’m never far away on my end loader but it gets to me sometimes to see people suffering in grief.” He hesitated. “It’s certainly not my goal in life. I have some ambitions that I’d like to pursue.” Changing gears, he said, “By the way, I’m bunking with a…” clearing his throat, “friend of yours, Daniel.”
“Now wait, this is getting weird,” she said. “How do you know Daniel?”
“I didn’t but he started coming to our church and needed a place to stay and we needed a fourth roommate.”
“Hmm, interesting. Let’s just leave it right there, okay?” She didn’t know any details about how much Andrew knew about her relationship with Daniel and that was fine with her. That conversation could die right there.
About 9:30 he stood and said he’d better get going. “Come on and walk me to the car, Edie.”
When they got to the car, he leaned his back against it and looked up at the sky. “Isn’t the beauty of the universe incredible?” She tipped her face upward and when she did, he placed his full luscious lips on hers. She was so shocked she couldn’t close her eyes nor could she resist. He continued to make love to her lips and she kissed him right back. She hadn’t had a stirring in her gut like that for years- not since Christopher kissed her in the kitchen at the old farmhouse. Maybe that’s not entirely true but her brain was temporarily fogged over.
She couldn’t let this Andy thing get out of control. He was ten years younger than her and only ten years older than her oldest daughter. Maybe it was because women reach their sexual peak at thirty and she was thirty-one now. Of course, that was it. Besides she wasn’t ready for a relationship. It had been a difficult couple of years; the murder of Kent had affected her more than she thought, though Farmer Matt and Craig had been interesting distractions.
As Edie’s friend forever when she told me about this young guy, I was smelling more than burning underwear. I was sniffing trouble. What good could possibly come from something like this? “Come on, Edie, where is your common sense? You’ve worked too hard to get involved with this guy who can’t even afford a decent car…and a grave digger? Seriously?”
“I know, Jenny. You’re probably right and I’m sure this won’t go anywhere but he’s so damn cute in a clumsy sort of way. His kisses are delicious and he makes me laugh. Nothin’ wrong with someone who makes you happy, right?” she asked.
“Why don’t you ever take my advice, girlfriend?”
“Let’s not forget that I have taken your advice and we ended up in serious trouble with your ex and mine. I can make my own mistakes. I don’t need you to tell me how ridiculous this is even though I know you’ll never give up, big sister.” We hugged before she went home.
The next couple of days she had trouble shooing the memories of those yummy kisses out of her mind. Busy with numerous projects around the house, she’d find herself back under those stars tasting those tantalizing lips. Though not actively working she was staying in touch with her assistant to answer questions from potential clients. Her assistant paged her to answer a call at two o’clock in the afternoon. “Kate, please take a message,” she instructed. “I told you I didn’t want to be disturbed at home since I’m not officially working. Please just take a message, okay?”
“Edie, the man on the phone said it’s an emergency and he needs to speak with you now.”
A bit aggravated she asked, “Who is this desperate person?”
“His name is Andrew Towns.” Her knees buckled and she couldn’t get to her phone quickly enough to take his call. She was acting like a schoolgirl.
“Hi Andy, what’s up? Something wrong?”
“Sorry, Edie, I may have exaggerated about the emergency but I think we should clear the air about what happened the other night. I’d like to take you to the Riverboat Springs Restaurant tonight so we can talk things out. Is 7:00 okay?”
She should have said no; she should have walked away, but she didn’t. This was probably just another man to put in her Hope Chest of memories to add to the collection but she didn’t even hesitate. Looking back, which may or may not be a good thing, she wouldn’t change a thing. The next sixteen years she spent with this fun-loving “I’ll do anything once and twice if I like it” guy gave her everything and more a woman could want. He changed her life.
She was distracted and kept thinking about her date. No, she couldn’t think of it like that. This was a clear-the-air meeting but it was at the swankiest place in our area. She skimmed through the mail and saw an envelope with no return address but the writing looked familiar. A slight quiver began in her hands as she sliced it open to read this note.
Dear Edie, I’m so sorry for the agony I’ve caused you. I have suffered, too but I wouldn’t change anything for just one more minute with you. If I had a million Years to spend upon the Earth, or if I had just one more Hour of life to live, I would spend it all with you. Maybe our paths will go in separate directions, but that Won’t change the bond we shared and what’s in our Hearts. I often struggle to say how I feel but I hope we never let go of our memories whether it’s across the miles or a short distance. You are, and will always be, a part of my life and me.
Love, Christopher
She couldn’t stop the tears that spontaneously gushed from her eyes. She didn’t know what his condition was or if he had been charged with a crime or where he might be. She had to accept some blame for his pain and she knew it must have taken a lot of strength for him to write. She will always love him in the deepest part of her soul but she couldn’t jeopardize her family and must let him go at all cost. The FBI scare was enough to extinguish the inferno that began so long ago. She had to do it.
She tucked the note into her Bible where she kept her most treasured gifts and got ready for her evening with Andrew. She picked a simple black sheath with a black and white short bolero, a strand of pearls, and black heels. When he came to the door a wolf whistle came from his lips. She was flattered but said, “Hey you, just cool it, will ya?”
He looked down with a slight pout and said, “I just can’t help myself. Will you forgive me for appreciating such beauty?”
How the hell did he know how to say just the right words to get to her? She was shocked when she regained her dignity to see the change in him. His ponytail was gone and his hair was nicely styled. Clean-shaven and dressed in a silky taupe suit with a salmon-colored shirt and coordinating tie. He cleaned up great. She could feel a new respect building inside for him. She was sure he did this for her, also out of respect. He looked as delicious as an ice cream cone on a hot summer day. Okay, this was all against her better judgment but when did Edie exercise good judgment when it came to men? Oh, the untold stories that still remain.
She had to remember the downside to this thing that was trying to lure her to an unknown fate. He’s too young, too inexperienced. He lives with her former roommate lover Daniel, he goes to her mother’s church and he doesn’t have a decent job. She, most likely would be supporting him and she doesn’t need another kid to take care of. He could never meet the challenges of being a surrogate dad and taking care of a household of women. There. Those are the reasons to file as a top priority when she starts twitching thinking about the physical aspect that she shouldn’t be thinking about in the first place.
This is a long story that I can’t possibly write in this short story of “Lovers” but I’ll try to give you enough for an understanding of the next sixteen years of Edie’s life because, as best friends do, I lived it with her. Their date was supposed to rewind the night they spent kissing by his car but ended up being the catalyst that pushed them into years of love, adventure, excitement, sex, challenges, and experiences they couldn’t have had without each other. Despite my warning to her about what the hell she was getting into, she threw all doubt and caution to the wind like a pan of dirty dishwater and jumped in like diving off a cliff with no parachute and no idea what was below. One would wonder why she didn’t give it more consideration and the answer to that is overwhelming love.
I know, I know. After all the lovers she’d entertained and the experiences she’d had, one would think she would have been more careful. She couldn’t explain it although you may have opinions about her lack of good judgement. There was something in the way he looked at her, the way he made her feel in any situation. He could flirt with her and set her on fire, touch her and she became a volcano. It wasn’t all physical; he was smart, thoughtful, clever, patient, and wonderful with Edie’s girls.
They were married only three months after that first kiss in a sweet ceremony with friends and family. Edie’s father walked her down the aisle under the beautiful trees on her island to say their vows. That was the only fatherly thing her dad had ever done and she was as emotional about her dad as her wedding. Moments before that exchange, I whispered in her ear, “Edie, it’s not too late to change your mind.”
She smiled and said, “Jenny, I know you’re worried and that’s why I love you so much, but I want this and I think it will be good. Please support me and try to be happy for me.”
Edie and Andrew never had sex until their wedding night so they were both curious, anxious, and hot. She knew he was a great kisser so that was a step in the right direction. They were so ready after abstaining for months, (Andy’s idea) and she was shocked that she had respected his wishes and hadn’t ripped his clothes off and hopped aboard long before that. Andy was either a natural at lovemaking or was well-taught but she wouldn’t ask. He was even more perfect than she had imagined in every way. She was totally in love with him though she tried to keep her heart protected; that’s hard to do when every breath is filled with passion.
Their first night was spent in the wedding suite at a luxurious hotel. Waiting three months for that initial sexual experience was well-rewarded. There was no tension, only loving, caressing, and touching each other the way she always thought love should be. “There’s lots to be said for a younger man in the bedroom,” Edie said. The nightie she wore said, “Nobody does it Better” and couldn’t have been more perfect. She didn’t have to remind herself to put any other relationships behind her. They were buried in a grave of ‘this is the first day of the rest of my life’.
The day following their wedding they flew to Florida where Andy had booked a beach cabin on the Gulf of Mexico. They both loved the ocean so it was perfect. He had rented a Mustang convertible and they drove a hundred miles through the Everglades on a two-lane road to reach their destination. She had made that trip many times from her fishing days and always loved the beauty of it. What she loved, even more, was looking at his hair blowing in the breeze and his occasional wink tossed in her direction. Their love was so new and exciting and she didn’t want to miss an opportunity to enjoy him. She reached across the console and put her hand on his upper thigh. His eyes flashed as he said, “Those actions will get you in trouble, wife of mine.”
“Exactly!” She was hoping to get into as much trouble as he could tolerate. They reached their honeymoon retreat and it was even better than she imagined. It was beachy and beautiful with white gauze curtains flowing in the breeze off the Gulf. Smooth floors that looked like they had been hewn from driftwood out of the ocean. The king-size bed gave them lots of room to roll and play and that was her plan for as long as he was hers.
He dove into the surf like a dolphin while she watched him with lust building in her body. The night before was magical, a complete fulfillment of the love she felt for him. They teased and chased each other on the beach and she couldn’t wait to have more of what they’d tasted the night before. The week was filled with playing like cub bears in the woods, tickling, laughing, and making love. They spent the next two weeks on a luxurious cruise exploring more than the sights, but each other, learning the depth of their passions and bonding like she’d never known before. She didn’t feel the age difference; She felt safe with Andy and she allowed him to take the lead in most situations unless she had an overwhelming urge for his body that he had not already reacted to.
When Andy moved into her debt-free home, they pushed his beater car up her driveway and parked it in her four-car garage next to her new Cadillac, as he carried his possessions in a black trash bag. It didn’t matter, none of it. She was committed to whatever was required to have him in her life. She was thirty-two and he was twenty-two so there was a little voice inside that was a reminder that this may not last forever. She couldn’t live life preparing for the end so she enjoyed every day of adventure as it came like it was her last. It’s not always easy to do but some people never get the opportunity to have any pleasure so she jumped on it like a bull rider at the rodeo.
It never occurred to her that perhaps he would take advantage of her financially. They were in this relationship 50/50. They were so compatible and comfortable together just as she imagined marriage should be. There was no doubt she loved this man and would do anything to make and keep him happy. He was clever although she never saw his actions as being a pretense. He seemed genuine and sincere and unless there was an indication otherwise, she would continue to live her life in bliss with this gift she had been given.
They spent many nights lying in each other’s arms planning their future together. Their dreams and goals were bigger than they had good sense to believe, but he was such a force, so enthusiastic about life if he said they could do it, she believed him. He grew up in a dysfunctional home and for that reason, he was determined to make something of himself. He needed to be respected; he wanted his name to be synonymously known for success. He trusted her as the voice of reason but often overrode her skepticism with his energy and excitement; he was usually right.
She wouldn’t say every day was a memorable day of heaven but if she had gone to the most exclusive manufacturer of ‘Make the Perfect Man’, paid millions of dollars, and custom-ordered him, it would have been money well-spent and he would have been the result. Andy was like no other man she’d ever met. He was kind, gentle, patient, enduring, sensible, loving, charismatic, fun-loving, and loyal. He had such a way with people he could tell you he was going to cut your leg off for no reason at all, and he could convince you it was something you couldn’t wait to do and you would probably pay him for the pleasure of spending time with him.
She soon learned he couldn’t read or write so that was the important first step to begin building the successful businesses that they planned to create. She tutored him every night teaching him how to write checks, read contracts, understand blueprints, and work on spelling and writing. He was so willing to learn that it became fun for both of them before or after their lovemaking. He never had to wonder if she was ‘in the mood’. She was always ready for him. She didn’t know she was such a sexual creature but having the right partner makes a difference. He could raise an eyebrow and she was peeling off her clothes. He made everything fun including sex. She didn’t know how or when he learned all the moves that made it special but he had plenty of tricks up his sleeve and elsewhere.
When it came to their financial goals, he was passionate. He grew up as poor as a New York street rat and he was determined to leave those memories in the rearview mirror. He had such an easy-going way about him he could work magic on even the biggest in the business to get information and favors to promote their business. He was a man’s man and everyone loved Andy. His interest and talent were custom homebuilding. Again, she didn’t know how he knew what to do. Sometimes, crazy as it sounds, she wondered if he was reincarnated. He was so knowledgeable about so much she was always amazed at his creativity, ambition, and attention to quality and detail. The building and design trade was familiar territory to Edie so she could connect with the right people to move things along.
They had great success working in tandem combining his building techniques and her interior design business and it became a winning story. They hired great people and Andy treated them like family. He dealt out bonuses, took his construction workers to a steak house once a month, and took them all golfing three times during the summer and still paid them their wages. They designed, built, and decorated huge homes for the wealthiest families in the area becoming one of the most respected companies in several counties.
Eventually, they bought a huge fine dining restaurant, built a one-hundred-ten-foot paddlewheel boat for dinner cruises costing over three million dollars, and built a home overlooking a river and state park that was nearly the largest home in the county. The home had seven bedrooms, six bathrooms, and a forty-eight-foot indoor pool with spa, tanning room, fireplace, workout room, and full kitchen in the lower level. That’s why she called him my ‘Go Big or Go Home Boy’.