Weekends, page 7
I nodded my head as I continued. “The coffee is ready.” I pulled cups from the cupboard and turned with them in my hands. Setting them down, I reached for the pot and brought it to the counter and set it on the hot pad. Without looking up to meet her eyes I finished the French toast and plated them. Sprinkling them with cinnamon and powdered sugar, I set the plate down for her. “The syrup is in that small carafe.” I made my way around the counter to sit next to her and eat.
“We can sit at the table if you prefer.”
“No this is fine, thanks.”
“Ok, this is yummy. Wow, I will have a sugar high all the way home. Tell me what’s going on, please?”
“Sorry, it was just such a nice weekend. I hate to see it end. Thank you so much for coming down here to visit with me. It was so much fun.”
“Yes, it was. Do you want to get together again?”
“It’s such a long drive, Candi. We only get one of three days together. That isn’t fair to either of us.”
“Oh, ok so you don’t want to get together again. I get it. But let’s keep in touch ok, in case you change your mind. I personally would love to see you again.” She turned to face me now.
I was eating and wouldn’t turn to look at her. She turned my stool and I almost missed my mouth.
“Hey”
“I don’t want you to look so sad. We will get together again Dana. What about the weekend at the ocean from Jerry and Brad. Maybe you want to bring someone else next time. Do you want me to head out now? I wasn’t planning on leaving this early but if you need me to, I will. This is your choice, Honey.”
“Can we not talk about this right now?”
“Ok what would you like to talk about Love?”
“It was nice making love with you. It was nice sleeping with you also. You feel amazing.”
“I definitely agree with you on that. It was wonderful. Does that mean you want to get together again?”
“That would be great if it ever happens again. I would love for us to be together again.”
I was still picking at my breakfast. She was finished, so she went around and started to load the dishes to wash. I couldn’t eat anymore, so I brought my plate over and dumped it then added it to the rest.
“I’m going to toss on my shorts and tank. Let’s sit in the sun for a little while and soak up some rays.”
“Ok”
She opened her bag and pulled them out. Then she stripped right there in the room and put on the shorts and tank. Grabbing her coffee, she walked to the deck doors. “You coming?”
“Yes” I followed behind.
“Great we’re back to one-word answers. Ok.” She sat in one of the chairs and lifted the middle of her shirt, tucking it under her boobs. She laid back and closed her eyes.
I didn’t lift my shirt. Instead, I opened my book and started to read.
“What is it you want me to say Dana?”
“What?” I looked up at her.
“I’m trying to figure out what it is you’re looking for me to say. Do you want me to say I love you? I do love you, but I figured it was too soon to say so. I thought it would freak you out.”
“Oh, I don’t want you to say that. We don’t have a good chance at making it work. I think if we are lucky enough to get together once in a while, that will be all we can hope for. Don’t put out expectations that we can’t meet.”
“I guess I hit a nerve. Maybe I should head out now before we say something we can’t take back.” She got up and headed inside. She quickly changed back into her jeans and tee shirt, stuffing the shorts and tank back into the duffle.
I came back inside. It was going to be a long lonely day once she left. I wasn’t looking forward to it. I stood quietly by the counter.
She brought her bags out to the Jeep then came back inside. She was watching me closely trying to figure out what was going on in my head. “I can’t read your mind Honey, please talk to me.”
I just shook my head not able to say how I felt.
She stepped over to me and put her hands on my hips. “Thank you, Dana, for a wonderful weekend. Friday night was amazing and Saturday you looked beautiful and were so eloquent. Last night loving you was so special and again this morning. I certainly hope we will have more weekends together. You were worth the drive down here and the drive home. Please don’t lose hope of us being together as often as possible. I am most definitely in love with you Dana. I’ll call you tonight, when I get home. Enjoy your day and don’t be sad, please.”
Tears were burning my eyes when I looked up into hers. She pulled me into a hug and held on tight.
“Don’t cry. I’ll see you soon.” She pulled back away from me and kissed me gently on the lips. Her eyes searching mine for an answer.
“Drive safe, I’ll miss you. I love you too.” I walked with her to the door then waved as she backed out and pulled away.
**
I spent the day on the deck. I read for a while. I did yoga for a while. I came inside for a while. I was bored. I cleaned out the dishwasher. I changed my sheets and washed them. I had my dress ready to bring to the drycleaner. I cleaned the bathroom. I paced and sat to read then I paced again. I turned on the music and scanned it not knowing what I felt like listening to. I finally decided on the oldies. I sat again to read.
It was finally time to make something for dinner. I looked in the fridge and found the leftover salad. That would work. Pulling it out, I put some dressing on it and brought it to the couch with me. I never ate on the couch but I was in a mood. I finished the salad and washed it by hand since it was just a bowl and a fork. I kept looking at the clock.
What the hell is wrong with me? This is ridiculous. I am not this person. I don’t fall in love and I don’t have expectations about phone calls being made. I need to see this as what it was, a great weekend and nothing more.
Realizing I was making too much of this experience, I decided to turn in for the night. I closed up the condo and checked the locks. Bringing the music remote and the phone, I headed up the stairs. I changed the music to the classical that I used to fall asleep with and climbed in bed. The phone lay on the other side of the bed. I closed my eyes and rested.
I jumped awake when it rang. I had fallen asleep. Grabbing it, I answered. “Hello”
“Hey Baby, I’m home.”
“Wow that took a long time.”
“Yeah, there was an accident on the turnpike and I was caught behind it. We were all delayed by two hours. It was a long trip.”
“I’m sorry it was so bad.”
“I’m not sorry that I came down there. What are you doing?”
“I was resting in bed. It was a long day for me too.”
“Well you go to sleep now Babe, we’ll talk again soon. Have a good week at work.”
“You too. Good night.”
SEVEN
Monday morning everyone wanted the details. I walked by and into the office. The numbers were together on my desk along with the expenses involved.
Yes, I thought to myself. This was really good. I was happy with myself and the group. I needed a coffee so headed back to the kitchenette.
“So, are you ever going to tell us anything?”
“I had a great time at the benefit on Saturday night. Did you all have a good time?”
“Yes, it was great but we want to know about your date.”
“Candice was my date. She is a very nice woman.”
“So, are you dating now or living together?”
“No of course not. She doesn’t even live near here. It was sweet of her to come all this way to be my date though.”
“Are you moving to where she lives?”
“No one is moving anywhere. She has her life and I have mine. We are friends and if she has time off again, she is welcome to come back to visit.”
“Are you sure?”
“Am I sure what?”
“Are you sure you want to leave her unattended.”
I chucked at that. “Would you like the address where she lives so you can go and visit her?”
That flustered Lauren. “No, that’s not what I meant Dana. But aren’t you worried?”
“No, I’m not. She has her life and I have mine. End of story. Now I would like to get my cup of coffee.” I stepped past them.
When Shirley arrived, I was back at my desk.
“Good Morning Dana. How was the rest of your weekend?”
“Fine and yours?”
“It was fine, Maryellen was sorry she missed the dinner. I told her about your date.”
“Really, what did you tell Maryellen?”
“I told her that she was very sweet, and attentive, and helpful. And she never took her eyes away from you. You were beautiful Dana; and you looked very happy.”
“Thank you, Shirley, I had a great time but I doubt I will see her again for quite some time. It’s a long ass drive. You know she spent most of Friday on the road and even longer on Sunday due to an accident she got behind. So, we really only had Saturday to spend together. She only gets one weekend off a month.”
“Yes, I understand long distance relationships can be a pain in the butt. So, she said she is a border patrol officer. That definitely limits her ability to move around. Are you going to be moving north?”
“No. I have no plans on moving anywhere. Certainly not back up there. We have no plans for a future at this point. It is what it is Shirley.”
“Ok, I just think it’s a shame because you two looked so good together, and I don’t just mean good looking. It seemed like a perfect fit.”
“The numbers look good from the night.”
Now the day could continue and move on.
Wednesday evening, I got a weird phone call.
“Hey Dana. What’s going on?”
“Rick, nothing much, what’s going on with you?”
“Well I was forwarded an interesting post today.”
“I don’t do those sites, what are you talking about?”
“Sonja sent it to me. I understand that you and Candice have become an item. Are you moving back north?”
“WHAT! Can you snip it to me so I can see this? No, I am definitely not moving anywhere.”
“Well she changed her status from single to taken.”
“Well that would be her mistake. Maybe she met someone. I don’t know.”
“Didn’t she go down there for the weekend?”
“What does it matter? You know I don’t talk about my private life. I never have. If I spent the weekend with her or not, is my business. It should not have ended up on a frigging social media site. Good night Rick.”
I was fuming. I called her phone and got voice mail.
“Candice, what the fuck did you do? How could you EVER put anything about our time together on the god damn internet? Christ, what were you thinking? You know what, never mind. I can’t believe I trusted you.” I disconnected the phone.
I was getting more and more upset as the night went on. Finally, I had to just let it go. I went and made some tea then went out to the deck to relax with my book and earbuds for music. I didn’t hear my phone ring and I wouldn’t have answered it if I had heard it. I was too pissed off.
When I came inside, the little light was blinking. I opened it up and saw the image Rick had sent to me. Someone who knew her had sent out the question.
“How was your weekend?”
She replied. “I had an incredible weekend with Dana. I’m so glad I made the trip to her place. Can’t wait until we can get together again.”
The other person replied. “Go get her.”
And up in the personal information, it was noted that she was “taken”.
I was shaking, I was so angry.
I listened to the next message.
“Dana, what is going on? What are you talking about Babe? Call me right back. I just got home from work.”
I couldn’t call her. I didn’t want to call her. I was too angry to call her. I just deleted the message and went to bed. It was a restless night.
I was bitchy all day at work the next day. Finally, Shirley couldn’t stand it anymore.
“What happened to you Dana? Why are you so bitchy today?”
“Are you on social media?”
“I have an account but I rarely ever use it, why?”
“She frigging put information about our weekend out there. I don’t do Facebook, or tweeting, or Instagram, or any other stupid thing.”
“What did she write?”
I showed her the text I was sent.
“Well it’s not that bad. She just seems happy that you two got together.”
“I don’t care. I don’t like my shit being put out there for everyone to see.”
“Did you talk to her?”
“I left her a message.”
“She didn’t call you back?”
“She did, I didn’t answer, and no I didn’t call her back.”
“So, is it over before it began? Are you not going to see her again?”
“I don’t know. I hate this.”
“Well you have to talk to her and work through this one way or another. Don’t just leave it hanging. That isn’t fair.”
“I’ll be glad when this week is over.”
Friday night, Candice hadn’t tried to call me again. I figured I had better check my email since I hadn’t for a few days. I deleted the junk quickly. That left four, all from Candice. Yikes!
Dana,
Baby, what is going on? I don’t know what you’re talking about. Call me or email me, something.
C – XO
Next;
Dana,
Damn it, will you please call me or email me. I am totally in the dark here, PLEASE!
C
Then;
Dana,
Ok now you’re pissing me off. Damn it Dana. What the fuck?
C
Last;
ARE WE DONE? ARE YOU NOT EVEN GOING TO TELL ME WHAT THIS IS ABOUT?
**
Shit, now what am I going to do? I should have been checking my emails. I decided to send her one with a forward of her post.
Candice,
Attached is a copy of what this is all about. You know that I don’t regularly do email. I never do social media or any of those other things that take the human out of humanity. I got a phone call on Tuesday or Wednesday about our relationship and what a weekend we had. I was floored. I would never speak about our intimate time together with anyone. I was asked by people at work if we are a couple or if one of us is moving, I answered none of these questions because they are no one’s business. How could you put anything about us on the fucking internet? I’m just very sad about the whole situation. I don’t know, are we over?
Dana
I hit send and went to bed.
**
Candice read my email and looked at the attachment. She didn’t get it. It wasn’t intimate details in her mind. She read the continued comments that had popped up. A few of them were slightly raunchy. She knew I hadn’t even seen them, if I had, it would have been way worse. She pulled the original post and any of the comments to it. Then she posted a new statement.
“It has been brought to my attention that due to other’s comments on my post about my current romantic relationship, I don’t want to include any information about it. I have removed that post and those comments. I will not be posting anything about my relationship in the future. I will however say that I am in love with a wonderful woman.” End of post.
She then took a picture of that post and attached it to a new email to me.
Dana,
Sweetheart, though I truly didn’t see the original post as being something intimately invasive, I understand your hate of anything internet. So, I removed that post and any comments to it and I replaced it with the attached post. I’m sorry that you felt I was being boastful or egotistical about our relationship. I will post nothing further that has to do with you or us. I do so still care very deeply for you Dana and I hope we can get past this misstep on my part and spend time together again in the future.
Love you,
Candice XO
She had to work the weekend otherwise she would have driven down to my condo right then and there.
**
The email was waiting for me when I woke up. I started a pot of coffee and opened it to read. I didn’t know you could remove something once it was posted. I was happy that she took care of it.
Candi,
Thank you for what you did. I know I’m like the only person in the world that feels this way about the internet but I do. I feel this will be one of the downfall factors of the human race. Anyway, thank you for doing it. Yes, I hope we can get together again at some point. I hope you stay safe at work.
Love you,
Dana XO
**
Candice had worked the night shift so got home at about seven forty-five am. She would normally just change and crash but it was a nice day and there weren’t many left before the cool weather would be moving in. So instead of crashing in bed she threw on shorts and a tank and made her way down to the dock with her coffee and laptop. She logged in and opened the newspaper she subscribed to from home in New Mexico. She liked to keep up to date. Next, she opened the local paper to see any news from this area. Nothing much, so she moved on. She logged into her emails. Candice was big on everything internet so she always had a lot. There were quite a few from friends that also were on her page. They wanted to know what was up with the removed posts and comments. They, like she, were all about the internet.
She replied to them stating simply that Dana, the woman she was dating, did not do or like the pages or the internet for that fact. So out of respect for her privacy, the relationship information would not be put on her page. Since there were several people asking the same question, she had emailed them all together.
She got some shocked replies. But they respected her choice. Once those were cleared, she skimmed through a bunch of ads from companies she dealt with, nothing much there. Finally, she got to the one from me.
