Desperation drives a woman to do what few women can...
“What I am about to do shouldn’t harm those I love,” Meredith said to herself. Determined, she rehearses each planned event in her mind. A tightening in the throat comes as she realizes that after contacting him, there’s no turning back. “It may be selfish,” she sighs, “But happiness comes by taking bold steps.”
Meredith Novak is 44, widowed three years before by a dreadful plane crash.
The opportunity ahead will be much like starting her first job at 41; with only determination and common sense as tools. These qualities had propelled her to succeed in the demanding field of residential real estate.
Her letter to him included,“We were two special persons at one time, and I wonder if we could meet and go from there.” Tactfully, she adds, "Should you be happily married, I would rather we not meet under strenuous circumstances.”
She smiles at the hint of a new personal adventure with the man who had once possessed her, and might relish doing so again. The two of them must get together, so the words of her brief note are upbeat and promising.
“Hi there. This is Paul,” his voice flowing into every corner of her being, and his low mellow greeting melting all doubt. It was the second day after she mailed the letter, so he was taking the bait quickly.
“Thank you for calling, Paul,” Meredith replies, “It’s wonderful to hear from you. You probably think I’m a bold widow, but an urge to contact you hit me, and I wrote before it left me."
“Meredith, its great to speak with you,” he begins. “I want to know all about you, so when could we get together? You will love this small café tucked away from distractions, with excellent food, where we can talk the afternoon away.” She doesn’t believe he would want to talk that much, but she agrees to his invitation two noontimes away.
Their lunch appointment time of 12:30 passes, and he tries to not be irritated. But, at 12:52 he is still staring at the empty chair before him,
fretting that a woman uses time to make a man more pleased when she finally arrives. Fuming internally at 1:15, he whispers to himself, “She’s lost her nerve and will not be coming.” Telling the waiter he doesn’t care to eat, the $20 tip keeps his reputation solid, as he strides out the door.
A few minutes past ten the next morning, Meredith places her apology call. Paul’s secretary reports a meeting going on, and that she will give him the message. Minutes before noon, his slightly disappointed voice speaks volumes, “I waited for almost an hour.”
“I know, my dear,” she said, in an attempt to comfort his ego. “I’m sorry that I couldn’t get word to you. Things happen, and yesterday, they did,“ Meredith coos. “I do hope we can arrange everything again so it will happen this time.”
Standing him up was deliberate, because she wanted him to want to be with her, and counting on the promise of her, would surely bring him. Agreeing to her invitation, Paul hangs up his phone, trembling in anticipation like a college student ready for a romp with this tempting mystery woman for a second great moment in time.
She had asked him to meet her on the corner, three blocks from his office, since she was taking him to a favorite small café, and where warm old-world walnut paneling always gladdened her heart. The setting would provide an intimate alcove. Her trap finally set, she admits to a veiled desire to join him in mutual seduction.
Paul agrees that sighting each other on the corner would be fun. Minutes before noon on the special day, he checks himself in a mirror, and begins to relish a promising mid-life venture
rekindling young passion. Walking briskly to the designated corner, he couldn’t believe that she would wear green on the day after Saint Patrick’s. She had reasoned that green would make her a stand out for easy recognition.
A strikingly attractive woman smiles to greet him, and several passersby stare at her day late costume. Startled somewhat, Merideth enjoys his kiss on her quivering lips. Neither wanted an ending, but as it cools, both are into instant recall of a long-ago intense sharing. He would never know her anxiety about the next few hours as they walk a half-block to stride through doors to noontime trysting.
Meredith finds it easy to relax with the assurance of a partner who has danced this number many times before. Paul remembers her favorite wine and moves to order two glasses, but a finger touches his hand as she whispers that taking an anti-biotic doesn’t go well with alcohol. He nods, and accepts her urging that he have his regular drink. Over a keen vodka favorite, Paul soaks up years of missing highlights, ending with her success in business.
During Paul’s second cocktail she quickly ends reporting about her life values, aware that he isn’t telling much about himself, so her direct questioning isn't easily ignored.
Meredith learns that he is married to a prominent member of the city's highest society. She whistles low indicating her respect for "Old Money.” It pleases him that she is aware of the pinnacles reached in his family and business. However, she knows that he’s listening to her responses in the casual manner of those who provide him with personal services and needs, and she is appalled.
The conversation rapidly becomes condescending, and her words bring little more than nods, while in his thoughts he proceeds to undress her, removing the green suit coat from her shoulders, a blouse and bra from her breasts, and the skirt from her hips, leaving only thin green panties to tempt the sinner he aspires to be.
She sees the gleam brightening in an imagined embracing of her body, and his dreamy devouring of its more delicious places. Her timing allows him to build an appetite for her on a bed of perfection, discretely closeted in a nearby hotel room. Meredith had forgotten how audacious a man could become when his immediate target is a woman’s body.
As they play with dessert, he is like a young boy at his own birthday party; wanting to get on with opening things. She decides that this is the time to bare everything to Paul Dillingham. No other man could come close in her desire to please him, and for a time, become the center of his world. She is ready and prays that their actions will be the result of love for what they both wwould cherish.
He doesn’t see the signal of putting a handkerchief to her eyes, followed by an attractive young woman entering their cubical, smiling and greeting them with a friendly, “Hello.”
Annoyed by the interruption, Paul tries to smile when Meredith hugs the young woman who she introduces as her daughter, Allison. “My oldest daughter,” she emphasizes. On his feet by now, he takes her extended hand shaying how nice it is to meet a member of Meredith’s family.
“And I am please to meet you, Mr. Dillingham - after all these years.” The statement falls on silence, as Paul reaches for its meaning. Allison is seated, and turning to Paul, continues, ”You and I have much
more to discuss today, than does Mother and her lover of long ago.” The words ring in Paul’s ears, and he wants to shake his head to clear away the fuzz and understand this directly speaking young lady.
Looking at him without visible emotion, Allison changes their lives forever with, “Mr. Dillingham, I am told by my mother that you are my natural father, and if true , that makes me your daughter. I know that this comes as a shock to you, so please join me in that, for such news is busily shaking up my life.”
Paul’s mind races for clarification, jumping back to a Saturday afternoon when Meredith and he were alone in his fraternity house; his “brothers” 70 miles away, attending a strong rivalry football game. And, he remembers their laughing nervously sampling the booze, and both getting a bit tipsy before going upstairs to undress each other for two hours of unrestrained sex. Doing the math quickly, and studying the young woman’s features, Paul agrees that Allison is their child, the product of an afternoon of beautiful young indulgence.
His words are honest and without questioning what he had just been told. His look at Meredith is met with a pleading smile, so he turns to Allison, to speak as a father, “My dear, the facts appear to engulf me, so I say to you, that they being true , it is a privilege to be your father, for your mother is a sweet and loving person in whatever she undertakes, and she has outdone herself in helping to produce you.”
Meredith says nothing, and seeing her daughter rise and go to embrace her living father, she begins sobbing quietly. The older two assure Allison that they believe the seeds of love are planted. Seated again, Paul asks, “Why now, so many years later?”
It is time for Meredith to speak again, “You are a sensitive, beautiful, and loving man, Paul, my dear. Where is there another man who believes himself young enough to take up with an old flame for a middle age fling, and now, is ready to accept unsuspected new parenthood in those middle years? You are showing us an integrity that includes Allison as a part of your life, and I couldn’t be more pleased.”
Allison tells Paul that the situation is even more critical, “Mom has been diagnosed conclusively with a fast moving cancer. Her time is four to six months at best. She wanted you and me to know each other before it happens, and now that we do, she will not go with this as a burden. We are glad that the young man who spawned the baby that kept her from completing college, now fills the need for whatever time the three of us may have together.”
Allison’s compassion confirms to Paul that his wife and their grownup children would be as gracious. She volunteers to be a part of breaking the news to his family, if wanted.
"This would allow them to know me from the start, with the hope that they will, in time,to love me, and I, them,” she suggests. Allison pledges to her new father, “I will never intrude into your family’s affairs, and do not expect to be one of your heirs, because, the father I’ve known and loved,provided generously for Mom and her children,” she concludes.
Meredith’s tears dry with the realization that Allison, and perhaps, her half sister and brother, may have found an enlarged family circle into which they could fit with a few adjustments. She agrees that unless there are unseen problems arising, she will handle her limited life span with pride and confidence in family. She feels whole again, and gestures to Allison that they now leave Paul to the future.
I go with what Leann said. It is too bad that everyone isn't as forgiving or understanding and accepting as the characters in this story. You have written a real heartfelt, and emotional story of love, kindness, and acceptance, and I enjoyed every word.
This story grips the reader from the very start, and continues holding the reader to the last word. Thanks for sharing this wonderfully enlightening story of affection.
May the Lord Jesus bless you, and those whom you love, and be with you always, and at your side constantly. With much love in my heart, joy to the world, peace on earth, & ((((((((((MANY WONDERFUL SISTERLY HUGGGGSSSS)))))))))), sister Barbie
Very well done story, Bill; please do more of them! BRAVO!
(((HUGS))) and much love, your friend in Tx., Karen Lynn. :D
Reviewed by Linda Wells
11/8/2006
Bill,
Out of curosity I read this story. It seems you have written a page out of my life again! I have been in Meredith's shoes. I haven't introduced my son to his bilogical father yet, but, someday some way, I hope to. I have loved the father of my son through all my marriages, affairs, and lovers. I have always thought we could have made a good life for him together, but it just was never to be. He beleives the man who raised him is his father, but I would someday like to tell him different. Have come close many, many times. I would hope for such a ending as Meredith, but she is more bold than I. This really held my interest and not because I related so closely to the situation. It is excellent material, and shows that there is a need to feel loved and wanted at any age of life. You have a very sensual imagination, I like that in men!!
