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Upliftingfiction.info
Category:
Romance
Publisher: Ann M Streetman
Type: Fiction
Pages: 310
Copyright: Oct. 2, 2015
ISBN-13: 9780990967088
Price: $1.99 (eBook)
John just kept surprising Patricia by remembering little things about her and about their life together. Should she take a chance on him again?
John just kept surprising Patricia. Remembering little things about her and about their life together. He was like the sexy sweet man she had fallen in love with in college. Not like the man she had spent so much time hating and avoiding and keeping from their daughter and granddaughter. Could she trust him? Should she take a chance on him again?
The twists and turns, zigs and zags of their second-chance love story exemplify John Donaldson’s analogy, “Love on life’s zip line is the messiest and most complicated experience of all, but it is oh so worth it.”
Excerpt
Chapter 3
Patricia was glad that she had bought a new swim suit and matching cover up for the trip. It’s a wonder that she did because she had thought she wouldn’t swim with anyone but strangers at the condo timeshare pool.
She got into the swim suit and put on full makeup and sun screen. She brushed her mid-length bobbed hair toward her face. It would be useless to do any waving for a frolic in the water and sun.
She slipped into her tan wet-dry sandals which she didn’t like very much, but they were practical. She packed her beach bag and went to the couch to wait for John.
Patricia jumped up from the couch at his first knock and opened the door. The screen was not hooked.
She said, “Hi, come in.”
“You look lovely in that green striped cover up.”
“Oh my gosh, we match,” she said.
His loose shirt was the same color green, and he wore green and tan plaid shorts.
“What are the odds of that happening?” he asked. “Maybe we ought to be at the poker table today instead of wasting our luck and karma on swimming.”
They laughed.
“Do you play poker these days, John?” she asked.
“I haven’t played poker in at least 30 years, maybe more. It’s a waste of time and money. I was just joking.”
“Good. You know I never did like to gamble,” she said.
“Are you ready?” he asked.
“I am.”
He picked up her beach bag, and she locked the door behind them.
Patricia took his arm and playfully felt his bicep as they started down the steps. He looked at her and smiled.
As they went down the steps toward the car, John said, “We’ve got a good day for this. It’s the coolest day we’ve had this week.”
He put her into the car and they pulled away from the curb.
“I have pasta salad for lunch and a couple of pieces of key lime pie.” He looked at her. “Do you still like key lime pie?”
She said, “It’s a lifelong weakness. I don’t eat it very often, but I will today. It was sweet of you to remember that I like it, John.”
“We’ll have to stay in the cabin a while to digest the food before we go for the swim. And, it takes a few minutes to motor to the private spot where we’ll swim. I hope you’ll like it.”
“I’m sure I will, John. You’ve been spoiling me with special treats. It’s very kind of you. Thank you.”
He smiled at her. “I am way behind on spoiling you,” he said.
When they got to his parking place, he helped her out of the car and escorted her to the boat. He got on first and steadied her as she came aboard.
“I suggest we go straight to the galley to have lunch.”
“That works for me. I hear the key lime pie calling my name,” she said.
She descended the stairs into the living area and went on into the galley.
She sat down at the table.
“Here I am like a little bird, waiting to be fed,” she said.
John retrieved the pasta salad from the fridge, brushing her arm as he set it in the middle of the table.
She looked up at him and smiled. “That looks terrific. Salmon? Tuna?”
Sitting down, John said, “Chunky tuna. May I help you?”
“Yes, please.”
John watched her take a bite, admiring the way her hair framed her face. How did she stay so beautiful all of these years?
++++++
John watched as Patricia took off her cover-up. She was wearing a green one-piece swim suit with straps. She always did have the best butt, best tits, best legs, and everything else.
“We’ll climb down over there,” he said pointing to the ladder.
“You first. I’ll follow,” she said.
“OK.” He disappeared over the side of the boat.
She walked to the edge so she could watch him.
He slipped off into the water and started treading. Looking up at her, he said, “Come on in Patricia. It feels good.”
He watched her carefully descending the ladder. Didn’t know how she had done it, but she was still a babe.
When she was at the bottom of the ladder, he held out his arms. “Come on. I’ve got you.”
She stepped off the ladder into his arms.
“The water is colder than I expected,” she said.
“Don’t worry, you’ll adjust to it.”
Patricia maneuvered out of his arms and treaded water, still facing him. Her right strap slipped onto her arm.
“Here, let me help you with that,” he said.
John gently put it back in place, brushing his hand across her shoulder.
“What are you smiling about?” she asked.
“I was just remembering the first time I saw you in a bathing suit.”
She chuckled and said, “Barton Springs. I was so cold I was afraid you'd hear my teeth chattering.”
He said, “I did, but I didn't care. I liked the cold water because I could put my arms around you to warm you up, just for your comfort, of course.”
“Of course,” she said, smiling slyly. “And, it did help.”
He moved closer and put his arms around her. He looked into her eyes and said, “Just for old time's sake,” kissing her on the forehead.
She smiled at him.
He asked, “Want to swim a circle around the boat? Just a leisurely swim together?”
She said, “Let's go.”
They swam side by side almost in sync as a team. John took pleasure in the ease with which they swam together.
When they completed the circle, they stopped near the ladder.
“Ready to go up?” he asked.
She nodded yes.
She swung onto the ladder first and climbed upward. John was close behind, forcing himself not to pat her on the butt.
Patricia looked back and smiled and stepped onto the deck.
He climbed onto the deck, pulling her to him and embracing her wet body.
Still holding her, he reached for a bright towel and handed it to her.
He watched her dry off her face and hair and shoulders and legs and feet.
She looked up and gave him a quizzical look.
He said, “I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable.”
She shrugged her shoulders and said, “It's OK.”
“Do you want to stay up here and get a little more sun?”
She said, “Yes, but I forgot to bring extra sun screen.”
“Want to use some of mine?”
“Yes, thanks.”
She watched him walk across the deck and descend to the cabin. In a few minutes, he reappeared with sun screen and two diet Dr. Peppers.
“I hope you still like Dr. Peppers.”
She nodded yes and he handed her one.
He popped his own can and set it on a nearby table.
He said, “Why don't you tuck your straps under to protect your lovely tan line?”
Without looking up, she carefully folded the straps under. He handed her the sun screen. She rubbed it across her exposed chest and shoulders.
“John, will you help me with the back?”
She handed him the sun screen and turned her body so he could reach her.
John touched her left shoulder with the cool cream. He put the cream down and worked both hands across her shoulders gently, slowly, smoothly.
She turned her head and said, “That's just right. Thank you, John.”
They lay on chaise lounges, sipping their ice cold Dr. Peppers.
“This feels so good,” Patricia said, “I may doze off and get blistered.”
“You can go ahead and take a little nap. I won’t let you sleep too long. I’m taking care of you.”
Patricia looked at him and smiled. “Thank you, John. I’ll just take a little kitty cat nap.”
John smiled. That’s what she used to say on Sunday afternoons when they got in bed for an afternoon nap. It was good to hear her say it again.
Patricia was awakened by John’s kiss on her forehead.
He said, “Patricia, that was a nice little kitty cat nap, but it’s time to get out of the sun now.”
Patricia sat up straight. “What time is it?” she asked.
“I don’t have my watch on, but I’m guessing it’s about 3:30. Let’s go below and find out.”
They got up and walked toward the cabin. John motioned her to go down first.
At the bottom of the stairs, she said, “It’s nice and cool down here.”
She sat down on the couch.
John picked up his watch. “3:45. I didn’t miss it much. Would you like to have another Dr. Pepper?”
“No, thanks, but some cold bottled water would be good.”
He went into the galley and returned with two bottles of very cold San Pellegrino. He handed her one.
“Thanks, I love this stuff.” She took a swig. “It tastes really good after being out in the sun.”
John said, “After we cool off some more, I could get some takeout and we could have an early supper here.”
“Sounds like fun, but I have to get back to the condo now. I need to start getting my things together and get ready to button down the condo since I’m leaving day after tomorrow.”
“I could help you.” he said.
“John Donaldson, if you are as bad at housework as you used to be, I’d better do it all myself. But thanks.”
“I am better than I used to be, but maybe not good enough. If you can wait a minute or two, I’ll shower and put on some clothes and take you home. OK?”
“Thanks, but I think I’ll just walk this time. My swimsuit is almost dry under the cover-up, and I have my hat and sunglasses in my bag.”
They both stood up. “OK, I’ll see you off the boat.”
He followed her up the stairway and onto the deck.
She had left her bag next to her chaise lounge.
She sat on the lounge while she put on her hat and sun glasses.
She stood up and he took both of her hands into his. “Thank you for coming over this afternoon. It was a lot of fun.”
“I’m the grateful one,” she said. “The lunch, the swim. The....”
He pulled off her sunglasses and kissed her on the mouth, and she kissed him back.
“I’ve got an idea,” she said. “I’ve got food in the fridge that I need to use before I go. I could whip up a this-and-that supper tomorrow evening. Are you interested?”
“Yes, of course.”
“We may have some crazy combinations of food. We’ll see.”
“What time shall I come?”
“Come at 7. That will give me plenty of time to get the place squared away.”
He kissed her again, and she whispered, “Thanks for everything, John.”
He helped her off the boat and watched her until she turned a corner.
He went down below and into the galley to look in the fridge for leftovers. He smiled, thinking about the crazy things Patricia might serve at her clean-out-the-fridge dinner tomorrow evening.
She had always been a creative fun-to-be-with woman. Their time together today had been wonderful. And the best part was she had been relaxed and happy and obviously enjoying his company. He didn’t know how much to hope for. Slow and easy. No rushing. Following her cue. That was his only plan.
++++++
When Patricia got home, she went straight to the bathroom to shower and shampoo her hair.
She pulled off the barely-wet swim suit and stepped into the shower, luxuriating in the hot water that was just right.
After shampooing, she applied conditioner, a necessity after being in the hot sun today. She let it stay in her hair for several minutes while the hot water streamed over her body. Finally, she rinsed it and dried herself off.
She wiped the mirror over the sink and checked her naked upper body. No sunburn, thank goodness.
She remembered John’s strong hands, smoothing sunscreen over her shoulders. His touch was gentle, and it felt good. It couldn’t have been a more pleasant day. Just enjoying each other’s company, no strings attached.
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