Chapter 52: True Love

After Joel leaves, she gets dressed. She throws on a super soft sunflower print sundress. I love the fabric, because not only does it cling to me, but it is so soft to the touch. As she walks out to the porch, she notices the clouds rolling in. “Oh nice, it looks like it’s going to rain tonight. I didn’t bring an umbrella, but then again, I didn’t think I would need one. Oh, well.”

Deciding to go for a stroll on the beach, she tries to figure out which way to go. She takes her phone with so she can call Samantha. Kelly decides to go to the left because she will be seeing Joel soon enough.

As she walks, she calls Samantha. “Hey sis you were right, I am messing with fire. He walked in on me just after I showered, because I accidentally left the front door open when you called. He came in to make sure I was alright and well there I was standing naked in front of him. I grabbed a towel but kept dropping it. Boy, he just stared at me. He said something about the only time he forgets about his ex-fiancé is when he is looking at me naked, then he says he is finding it hard to restrain himself.”

“You sound strange, what is going on?” Samantha asks.

“I am strolling on the beach. The wind is pushing me back because it is going to storm soon.”

“Oh, so anyway. I think that you are just trying to find excuses to not deal with your real problem. Aaron and Grayson.”

“When I was talking to Joel, he clarified something for me. He told me that if I don’t start missing them like crazy, then I must not really love them. That maybe, my problem is that I am just sexually attracted to them.” Kelly keeps having to catch her breath.

“He sounds intelligent. You should talk to him more and find out if he can help you. So, anyway. What does he do for a living?” Samantha asks.

“All I know is that he is an artist, and he can play the piano and sing. I think he sells his paintings for a lot of money. He looks like he is wealthy.”

“How old is he?” Samantha wonders.

“I’m pretty sure he is either 30 or 29. Why?”

“I Just wondered if he was older or younger.”

Kelly gets to the end of the beach and turns back. As she does, she sees someone coming towards her. “I must go sis, someone is coming. I will talk to you later.” Kelly hangs up. She sees that it is Maggie’s grandson, followed by Maggie.

He runs up to her and smiles. “Want to play catch me if you can?” The little boy runs.

“Sure.” Kelly yells as she runs after him. Maggie and Kelly take turns chasing him down and tickling him to death.

As she tickles him, she notices that he is the cutest little thing she has ever seen. He looks like a cherub. His light blonde hair and blue eyes remind her of a baby.

She finds herself back at the front of her beach house as she chases the little boy down. She catches him and she trips in the sand. They roll over and she tickles him. He laughs uncontrollably, as his little face scrunches up trying to stop from giggling. Maggie just laughs as she watches the two of them roll over in the sand for a while. Finally, Kelly stands up and says, “You got me, I’m all worn out. You won little man.” She bends over and gives him a kiss on the cheek.

Maggie takes him back and Kelly tries to wipe off all the sand that accumulated on her dress, and skin. She sits down and swings on her porch seat, feeling the air under her dress. The clouds start to fill up the sky so she can no longer see the sun. It starts to get a little darker out, she realizes that it is almost seven. She goes in the house and shuts the windows, then once it hits seven, she walks over to Joel’s.

Of course, just before she gets to his door the sky opens and down pours. She runs to his door, soaked and knocks. As he opens the door, a look of surprise spreads across his face. “Come in, your wet. Let me get you a towel.” He runs to the bathroom and brings one back. “Here, dry off, then we can eat. I guarantee that you will like it.” He says with a charming smile.

She takes a few minutes to wipe off her skin and hair and then wipes down her dress. “Are you ready?” He comes in.

“Yes, I’m starving.” She follows him into the dining room. He holds the chair out for her and then pushes it in, then he brings in the plates of food.

After he sits down, he asks her, “So, did you have fun today? I saw you rolling around with Maggie’s grandson earlier. You looked like you were having a lot of fun.” Kelly takes a bite of food and savors it. He really can cook, too.

“Yes, it was great. The only problem was that afterwards I was wiping sand out of every crevice. It took me a bit. By the way, this is good.” She takes another bite of food.

“Thanks, I do try.” He smiles again.

“You’d laugh, but Maggie came over today to introduce herself. When she did, she made a point of telling me that I should make sure to get to know you better.”

“Really. She is a little troublemaker at times.” She notices that his eyes light up as he thinks about something.

“Why don’t I ever see her husband playing with their grandson?”

“Oh, he is in a wheelchair. He has been that way for about two years now, I believe.”

She looks at him, “How sad. She seems to be the type of person who loves to do outdoor things. It must really tie her down?”

“Yes, it does, but she really loves him. That woman does everything for him and she never complains. She is quite a woman.”

She stares at him while he eats, “Maybe, I haven’t felt real love then. If that is what it feels like.”

He looks up at her, “What do you mean?”

“When John got sick, I was devastated, but if I had to take care of him for a long time like that, I don’t think I would have. It is not because I couldn’t, it is just because love is supposed to make you stronger, and I wasn’t. With Maggie, she is stronger because of their love. She can get through anything if she has him by her side. She sounds like she has found true love.”

“I think we all hope to find true love, but we settle with what we get. For you, it sounds like you lead your relationships with sex and do not ever find out if you can get along without it. What would happen if one of them became wheelchair bound? Would you still stay with them? Maybe you need to think about that, then come to your decision.” He looks out the window at the rain.

“You’re right. Thank you for dinner it was wonderful. I think I am going to go for a swim. I have always wanted to while it was raining.” She starts getting up when he stops her.

“I will too. Do you want to go home and get your swimming suit?”

“No, I think this way is just fine.” She walks to the door and runs out to the beach. He follows her as he pulls his shirt off and throws it on the sand.

She gets to the water first and jumps in. She strips off her dress and throws it ashore. He lets the current push him towards her. She sees him coming and swims towards him. When she reaches him, she splashes. He dives under water and grabs her, sweeping her off her feet. When she resurfaces, she sees him smiling at her. “I caught myself a mermaid, what do I get?” He looks at her with a charming smile.

“A kiss.” Smiling and then kissing him on the lips softly. She turns and starts to make her way to the beach as he catches her arm.

“Wait a minute, where are you going?” He looks deep into her eyes.

“I’m cold. I must go dry off and get changed.”

“Why don’t you come back, and I can put your dress in the dryer? You can wear that shirt that you slept in last night, till it dries.” He lets go of her arm.

“I probably should go back to my house.” She looks down at the sand.

They see a lightning strike off in the distance. “I’m not going to let you walk home in this. No ifs, ands, or buts.” He picks her up and carries her inside.

“Was that necessary? I’m a big girl, daddy.” She jokes.

“Oh, sorry. Did I seem too protective? I get that way sometimes.” An awkward silence falls over the room.

“Can I get that shirt?” She stands there soaking while they talk.

“Oh, yes. Sorry.” He retrieves it from the bedroom and hands her a towel. He walks back into the bedroom and changes his shorts after he wipes off. When he comes back out, she has her back turned to him and is putting the shirt on, but she seems to be having a time getting her underwear off, because it is sticking to her.

After she finally gets it off, she wipes down. He notices her lacy underwear on the floor and suddenly is aware of the hardness in his pants. Trying to hide it, he hurries and sits down on the couch.