Just This Once *part two*
Christine had showed Adam to the living room where he made himself comfortable on the sofa and excused herself to put water on to boil. While in the kitchen she made a phone call to her best friend and co-worker, Deena. "Deena, I need a huge favor."
"Christine, where are you? Today is the deadline on the November reports, you are so going to get in trouble for this!" Deena sighed, "and, by the way, happy birthday!"
Christine smiled, she knew that Deena would never forget her birthday. "Thank you girl! I knew I could count on you for that. But I do need a favor... or two. Could you please..."
Deena cut her off mid-sentence, "why in the hell are you whispering? You have company? Did you go out last night and pick up a little somethin' somethin'?"
"Deena, I did not go anywhere last night," Christine giggled, "besides, why would I when I can meet the most incredible man in my front yard!"
"Christine, I'd love to hear all about it, but sadly that'll have to wait. You know I'll do anything for you, especially today, but you've gotta assure me that the damn reports are done. This is your ass, you know? Not mine. So, what's up? And please notice that I'm holding my breath in anticipation of hearing that the reports are here somewhere."
"OK, fairly simple favors. First of all, please fill out an emergency vacation form so that the day doesn't count against my flawless attendance." Christine grinned knowing that Deena was cringing at that comment, as Deena was already in the second step of a four step attendence program.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Deena mumbled.
"Secondly, get my computer booted up and on the desk top you'll see a folder named 'Aunt Flo', that's Capital A-u-n-t Capital F-l-o."
"Aunt Flo?" Deena asked laughing.
"Yeah, you know, monthlys." Christine laughed, "inside that folder you'll find Novembers reports, just open 'em up and print 'em out and give 'em to the big man. Fineto, or whatever they say."
"Consider it done. You enjoy your birthday and tell who ever is there with you I hope to meet him sometime, after all, it's been so-o-o-o-o-o-o long since you've gotten any."
"I love you too Bitch," Christine laughed and hung up the phone.
She prepared two cups of hot tea and joined her guest in the living room where, to her surprise, he sat exactly where she'd left him. What in the hell am I doing? she asked herself. The thoughts just seemed to drift around in her head, the more she tried to control them or push them aside to concentrate on her company the more they seemed to flood every brain cell. At one point she thought she might just open her lips and all her private thoughts would fall out between them. Who is this mystery man? Would a man that handsome ever consider being with me or is he just being polite? That small voice of negativity that oftened reared it's ugly head answered that for her, 'he's being polite, I'm sure.'
Christine smiled and handed him his cup of tea, "I hope you don't mind, it's just a simple herbal, the fancier teas don't agree with my stomach."
"Oh, they've never much agreed with mine either, I like the simple things in life." He smiled as he lifted the tea cup to his lips.
My God, those eyes! She thought as she sat staring at him, but he was staring back. He hadn't taken his eyes off her as he'd drank of his tea. Those eyes have got to be the most wonderfully handsome eyes I've ever seen. His lips and his eyes... His hands and his... She cut these thoughts off before they carried her completely away from the present. "As do I," she finally managed to say.
They sipped their tea in a comfortable silence for a few minutes before she finally spoke again. "So, I was thinking, Adam, I still don't really know you and I really do not make a habit of inviting strangers into my house."
"May I start a fire?" he asked as he waved his hand towards the fire place. "We shall sit and talk in front of a nice warm fire."
"Is it too cold in here for you? I mean, by all means, if we'd like a fire I don't see why not, I just had the chimney checked out and it's safe." She took a breath wondering if there was any topic she couldn't talk to death. "But, what I meant to ask, was if you were cold or uncomfortable?"
"Oh, on the contrary, I'm more comfortable than I've been in years. And on that note, warmer than I have been as well." He was grinning and Christine was sure she seen a slight blush enter his cheeks. "I just thought it'd be nice to perch in front of a nice cozy, warm fire, that's all."
Christine returned his smile and felt her face flush, "please do, I think a fire would be great on a day like today." She collected her cup and headed towards the kitchen for more tea but turned before leaving the room. "Adam, perhaps while we sit in front of the fire I can get you to talk more?"
He grinned sheepishly, "perhaps."
The two of them sat among a pile of throw pillows on the floor in front of the fire place and simply enjoyed each others company for hours. They talked about the weather and the town, they talked about jobs and houses, they spoke of everything. He shared with her memories of his childhood and she told him of hers. They spoke of anything that came to mind without any discomfort. The time passed too quickly for Christine, she felt as if she could spend eternity in his eyes. His voice, Christine thought, is only added value, his eyes are certainly the best part of the package.
Lunch time rolled around and although Christine didn't usually eat lunch at work she heard her stomach rumble and felt her cheeks flush. Surprised at how hungry she felt she glanced at the clock, "oh, my! It's nearly one o'clock."
"Am I keeping you from something?" Adam asked thoughtfully.
"Not really, the only thing I was supposed to do today was go to work and I've already missed that." She laughed at his surprised look, "I was on my way to work when I nearly ran you over, but I took the day off."
"I'm sorry, you didn't have to do that for me... For tea, I mean."
"Don't be silly, I did it more for myself than anything. I need a day off, I think I deserve it after the sh... stuff we've been dealing with at work." She sighed, "after the events of September we've been rather busy trying to get new accounts and hold onto the ones we have. Our country is in a recession you know."
"Oh, I wasn't aware of that. I don't pay much attention to the news I guess." He lowered his eyes, "I guess you could say I'm not really up to date on current events."
"You're not saying you don't know about the twin towers in New York City are you?" It was impossible to hide the shock in her voice or the surprise in her face.
"Oh, of course I know about them..." he laughed, "I just wasn't aware we were in recession." He hoped he sounded convincing and made a mental note to find out what the twin towers were.
"How about lunch?" Christine grinned. "I make a pretty mean phone call to the pizza place." She laughed, "meaning, I don't cook."
Adam joined in her laughter, "well, actually I should be going and I'll leave you to your phone call. However, if you don't mind, I'd like to see you again."
Mind, Christine thought, like I would mind?! OK, don't look too eager, she told herself. "Well, Mr., ahh, what is your last name?"
"Bradshaw, Adam Bradshaw." He smiled warmly.
"Well, Mr. Adam Bradshaw, I think that would be nice and I'll be looking forward to it." She gave herself a mental pat on the back for not sounding hard-up.
"Wonderful," his eyes met hers again, "would tonight be too soon? Am I being too pushy? It's just that I'm dying to hear about your house, it's very old, is it not?"
"Ah, yes, very old indeed. I'm not exactly a history buff, but I did research the house in depth before purchasing. It's not only old, it's interesting." She cleared her throat as she searched for the proper words, "and, no, tonight is not too soon. If you're busy though, I'll be home after work tomarrow afternoon."
"Perhaps five, after dinner?" His eyes had not left hers.
"I'll be expecting you, you'll eat before you come then?"
"Ahh, yes, I have a dinner appointment." He looked away then.
After seeing Adam out Christine began to clear away their cups and noticed his was full. I don't recall refilling his cup the entire morning, she thought. Shrugging she just told herself she must have, he had to have drank something.
After cleaning up she made her way to the attic to dig out her Christmas decorations. And, she thought, perhaps today I can dig through some of the older crates that were left in the attic and see what I find. That thought made her smile, some of the crates, she was sure, had been there from the original owners.
Digging through her own boxes she chose all clear lights for her fake tree and all green lights for the shrubs outside the house and set them in an empty box. She then chose white beads for her tree and a thick white garland, adding them to the box she decided that all white and gold decorations would be grand. Once all her chosen decorations were in the box she pushed it to the head of the stairs along with the box that held her fake Christmas tree. Now she was free to rumage through the dusty old crates that were pushed to the back of the attic. Three of the crates, she knew, belonged to Mr. and Mrs. Brody. She had agreed to store them until they had their new, smaller house set up and had places for the contents.
Rubbing her hands together she spoke aloud, "the six crates over there are going to be the fun ones." Six crates that the Brodys had never touched, six crates of God only knew what that could have been left by any of the houses previous inhabitants. The first crate Christine opened was full of clothes that looked to have been a century old, and judging by the styles, they probably were. Probably clothing left behind by patrons of the boarding house or brothel in the late nineteenth century, Christine figured. Pulling some of the clothes out and looking at it she began sorting the clothes into two piles, the clothes that she would give to goodwill and those she would keep and do something with. One of the dresses she pulled out reminded her of something from an old western, a dress that one of the women who hung out in the bars and kept a room upstairs would wear. The colors were red and black with white underneath, Christine loved it and decided to have it cleaned.
Once she had made it to the bottom of the crate she shoved most of the clothes back in it and pushed it towards the other end of the attic, this crate was to be taken to goodwill or the library for historic value. She then turned her attention randomly to another crate. This crate was also full of clothes, baby clothes. The clothes were well taken care of and the crate had been packed with moth balls, the clothes were in great condition. There were a variety of small boys and girls clothes, Christine automatically thought of Deena who was expecting her first child. This Crate was then pushed near the front of the stairs where it would be easy for Deena and her boyfriend to come look at them.
Stretching, Christine was about to open another crate when she decided better of it, she'd made enough of a mess today. She stacked her own boxes neatly against the wall and shoved the crate of baby clothes off to the side, but left them near the head of the stairs. The crate for Goodwill was pushed next to it, it too would be out of the way there. Finally she gathered up the clothes she'd decided to keep and draped them over the railing that stood along side of the opening where the stair case was. I'll be back for you another time, she thought as she laid out the dresses one by one. I've already got two trips ahead of me with the Christmas stuff.
Once her Christmas decorations were set in the living room she checked the time, it was after four already. She'd been upstairs longer than she'd thought! Deciding that since she'd not eaten after Adam left she'd better do it soon if she were to be finished before he returned. Christine ordered a pizza and told the person on the phone that although they didn't normally deliver she'd give them ten bucks if they would, that always worked with her favorite pizza place.
The girls who worked there always said the same thing to her, "Christine, you live four blocks away, it'd cost you fifty cents in gas and yet you pay us ten bucks to bring it to you?"
"No, I offer ten, most of the time you girls don't take the money," Christine laughed, she didn't normally admit to them that most girls didn't take the money.
"I never have taken it, I just wish you'd come get it! Why don't you?"
"Missy? I knew it was you, you sound like your sister."
"I sound nothing like Deena, thank you!" the sixteen year old laughed. "Now, about you picking up your pizza..."
"Ten bucks Missy, come on... I pick them up myself in the summer, but it's cold out!"
"Fine, Chris, fine, I give up!" Missy laughed, "see you in half an hour."
As Christine hung up she caught her reflection in a decorative mirror on the opposite wall and looked down at herself, she was filthy! No wonder the damn crates didn't look so dusty after a while, I'm wearing it all! She ran for a quick shower before her pizza arrived and especially before Adam arrived.