Thirty-nine
“She’s ready to open to me. I should go now. Knock on her door and look at the surprise and love in her eyes.” He craned his neck back around to look at her house. How much longer could he stand the build-up of desire? He wanted to have her now. Four weeks had been an arbitrary number; there was no real need to suffer their love in silence.
He dangled the small round charm in front of his eyes. It glimmered in the light of the front porch light. Alpha Mu Epsilon.
“First comes love.” He looked at Rachel’s photo. Her face was criss-crossed with the shadow of the branches in the street light’s glow. So lovely with sweet innocence. But she would surrender to his touch when he revealed who he really was. She would run to him like she had run into her house tonight. Every woman before had surrendered. All of them were shy at first but when the moment of decision came they followed their hearts.
He touched her picture. “Let me tell you all about it. I’ll be your fantasy. I will step from the shadow. You will look at me and say ‘It was you all along.’ Then we’ll embrace.” He brought the photo to his lips and gently kissed it.
“Next, we will surrender ourselves to the desire burning inside of us.” He slid out of his hiding space. “Only four more ribbons are on the shelf.” He whispered facing her house. All the curtains were drawn now so he could safely cross the street.
He jogged across and walked straight to Guardian.
“That a good chew treat?” He said using his baby-dog voice. He rubbed Guardian on the head. “You take good care of her until tomorrow.” He rubbed Guardian one last time.
When he took Rachel for his own Guardian would come with him. A dog deserved a big yard in the country. Not that nasty little chain in the front yard. He would reward Guardian for his loyalty and his protection of Rachel.
Logan returned to his car and drove off. The next four ribbons were the most important. No more leaving them on the porch or the mailbox. They needed to be personal. Send her a message that would point to him.
“The last one I’ll give her personally.” He was 2/3 the way to that moment. He glanced in his mirrors side mirror and pulled on to the quiet street. He left his headlights on until he reached the end of the small block. The moon was nearly full in a cloudless sky so with the street lamps he had enough light to pull ahead discreetly.
The patrol car would be around again soon. He flipped on his lights. Almost immediately a car pulled out from behind him. He tried to maintain the calm. The road he was on led out of the neighborhood and in to the main driveway. He turned right down the side street. The other car followed.
Had he missed a patrol car? That was impossible unless he’d been spotted with Guardian. He calmly turned down one street then another. He should have gone to her tonight. Enough on Romance, it was time for culmination. They should have been together tonight when he was there with her. His timing was all off. Why had he left? She wanted him tonight. She would have given in? The lights got closer to him. He needed to keep his head about him. There was no way anyone saw him or what he’d done.
He slowed down to let the other car pass him. The car stayed on his bumper close enough for Logan to see past the headlights. There was a man in the front seat. Who was he? Logan looked back in time to crank the wheel and avoid hitting a parked car. The other car followed him still.
“Go around.” He hissed. No one was going to keep him from his precious Rachel. Logan reached under the seat of his car and felt around. His fingers latched on the rope and knife right away but the can of Mace was just beyond his reach. He sat up and slid the rope and knife on his floor mat then leaned down a second time. The little can of Mace rolled back and forth just at the edge of his grasp. He looked in his mirror and slammed on his breaks. The car behind him swerved then went around him. Logan bent down and grabbed the can of Mace that had been thrown forward and stuck it under his thigh.
The car that had pursued him continued on its path down the road before turning in a parking lot.
Alpha Mu Epsilon would always be rewarded. It was the way of the world.
You are reading A Face in the Shadow by Tiffany Colter.
Tiffany is a writer, speaker and writing career coach. She is a frequent contributor to print and online publications in addition to her regular marketing blog at http://www.writingcareercoach.com/
Get each new chapter delivered to you by signing up for the Tiffany Colter Fiction Blog using the link on the right.
This story is copyright Tiffany Colter. 2007. It may not be copied, distributed, sold or included in any larger work without the expressed written permission of Tiffany Colter.
Bloggers may comment on or link to this blog from their own blog. To link directly to this posting click the title, then copy the address in the browser.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
A Face in the Shadow Part 2 Chapter 38
Thirty-eight
She darted her hand in, grabbed the rose, threw the letter in the box and ran in the house in one lighting motion. Before the screen door could slam behind her this time she had the bolt, chain and wedge in their place. The rose was on the floor where she had thrown it when she ran in.
She cried. He had been here. Had he been watching her kissing Curtis on the couch? Was the rose to taunt her? Was he ever going to leave her alone? She slid down with her back to the door. The curtains were open, was he watching her now?
She crawled below the window-sill and grabbed the pull strings on the drapes. At least he wouldn’t see her. She continued to the second and third set of curtains then went to the kitchen to pull those. Outside something scratched across her driveway in the wind. She ran to the window over her sink closed and latched it. She scanned the room.
The door leading to the basement was cracked open few inches. She flipped on the light and crept down fear burning her skin and adrenaline pushing her forward. She never used the sliding door to the basement so she never checked it. She could call Curtis. He couldn’t be more than a mile or two away. She reached down. No cell phone. It was in her purse upstairs. She crept through the near empty basement. The furnace and a few stacks of boxes would be the only cover for an intruder. She peeked around those and saw nothing. The only other place would be behind the curtain for the basement’s sliding glass door.
She picked up a broken broom handle that she’d remembered was under the steps and crept forward. Something creaked and she stopped, holding her breath so she could listen for the slightest sound. Slowly she tiptoed closer to the curtain. It moved slightly and she caught a scream in her throat.
What she was doing was insanity. She looked back at the steps. It would make more sense to run upstairs and call the cops. She lifted the bat over her head and in a quick motion ripped the curtains back and swung the bat. The curtain rod gave way and crashed down on her. She screamed and ran up the steps never once looking back. She slammed the door shut and leaned against it.
Not a sound came from the basement. She waited then opened the door a crack. There was nothing. She bent over and looked in the basement. The curtains were in a pile with the rod but there was no sign anyone had been in that basement but her. A small bit of relief washed over her and she ran to the back door to double check its lock. When she was satisfied the kitchen was secure she moved to the second floor and checked every window.
He was close by but he wasn’t getting in.
Rachel dialed the police.
A man with a gruff voice answered the phone.
She identified herself, “I’ve found another rose.”
You are reading A Face in the Shadow by Tiffany Colter.
Tiffany is a writer, speaker and writing career coach. She is a frequent contributor to print and online publications in addition to her regular marketing blog at http://www.writingcareercoach.com/
Get each new chapter delivered to you by signing up for the Tiffany Colter Fiction Blog using the link on the right.
This story is copyright Tiffany Colter. 2007. It may not be copied, distributed, sold or included in any larger work without the expressed written permission of Tiffany Colter.
Bloggers may comment on or link to this blog from their own blog. To link directly to this posting click the title, then copy the address in the browser.
She darted her hand in, grabbed the rose, threw the letter in the box and ran in the house in one lighting motion. Before the screen door could slam behind her this time she had the bolt, chain and wedge in their place. The rose was on the floor where she had thrown it when she ran in.
She cried. He had been here. Had he been watching her kissing Curtis on the couch? Was the rose to taunt her? Was he ever going to leave her alone? She slid down with her back to the door. The curtains were open, was he watching her now?
She crawled below the window-sill and grabbed the pull strings on the drapes. At least he wouldn’t see her. She continued to the second and third set of curtains then went to the kitchen to pull those. Outside something scratched across her driveway in the wind. She ran to the window over her sink closed and latched it. She scanned the room.
The door leading to the basement was cracked open few inches. She flipped on the light and crept down fear burning her skin and adrenaline pushing her forward. She never used the sliding door to the basement so she never checked it. She could call Curtis. He couldn’t be more than a mile or two away. She reached down. No cell phone. It was in her purse upstairs. She crept through the near empty basement. The furnace and a few stacks of boxes would be the only cover for an intruder. She peeked around those and saw nothing. The only other place would be behind the curtain for the basement’s sliding glass door.
She picked up a broken broom handle that she’d remembered was under the steps and crept forward. Something creaked and she stopped, holding her breath so she could listen for the slightest sound. Slowly she tiptoed closer to the curtain. It moved slightly and she caught a scream in her throat.
What she was doing was insanity. She looked back at the steps. It would make more sense to run upstairs and call the cops. She lifted the bat over her head and in a quick motion ripped the curtains back and swung the bat. The curtain rod gave way and crashed down on her. She screamed and ran up the steps never once looking back. She slammed the door shut and leaned against it.
Not a sound came from the basement. She waited then opened the door a crack. There was nothing. She bent over and looked in the basement. The curtains were in a pile with the rod but there was no sign anyone had been in that basement but her. A small bit of relief washed over her and she ran to the back door to double check its lock. When she was satisfied the kitchen was secure she moved to the second floor and checked every window.
He was close by but he wasn’t getting in.
Rachel dialed the police.
A man with a gruff voice answered the phone.
She identified herself, “I’ve found another rose.”
You are reading A Face in the Shadow by Tiffany Colter.
Tiffany is a writer, speaker and writing career coach. She is a frequent contributor to print and online publications in addition to her regular marketing blog at http://www.writingcareercoach.com/
Get each new chapter delivered to you by signing up for the Tiffany Colter Fiction Blog using the link on the right.
This story is copyright Tiffany Colter. 2007. It may not be copied, distributed, sold or included in any larger work without the expressed written permission of Tiffany Colter.
Bloggers may comment on or link to this blog from their own blog. To link directly to this posting click the title, then copy the address in the browser.
Friday, July 24, 2009
A Face in the Shadow Part 2 Chapter 37
Thirty-seven
The lock on her front door clicked. She was coming out. What luck. Both that he was going to watch her and that he made it to his hiding place in time. It would be very disappointing if she ruined the fun by finding out it was him too early.
She came out the door and right to the mailbox. Heat surged through his body. Rachel going directly to his rose could only mean one thing. She was beginning to think like him. Their minds were meshing together as one. Like Adam and Eve, the first two perfect people.
“The symbol of our love.” Logan said so quietly he could only feel the vibrations in his throat. He was too close to say it any louder. Only twenty-five feet separated them at this moment. As if on cue Rachel snatched up the rose and flew in to her house.
“Yes, Rachel. It’s for you.” The branches moved in the breeze and he slid down into them to shield himself from the wind. In another couple of months this would no longer work as a hiding place. The branches would be too bare. He pulled a laminated photo out of his pocket. Much as he had tried to protect it the edges were bent and the plastic wasn’t as shiny as when he made it. So many nights of taking it out of his pocket and putting it back in. So they could be together always. Hers was the first face he saw in the morning and the last one at night.
You are reading A Face in the Shadow by Tiffany Colter.
Tiffany is a writer, speaker and writing career coach. She is a frequent contributor to print and online publications in addition to her regular marketing blog at http://www.writingcareercoach.com/
Get each new chapter delivered to you by signing up for the Tiffany Colter Fiction Blog using the link on the right.
This story is copyright Tiffany Colter. 2007. It may not be copied, distributed, sold or included in any larger work without the expressed written permission of Tiffany Colter.
Bloggers may comment on or link to this blog from their own blog. To link directly to this posting click the title, then copy the address in the browser.
The lock on her front door clicked. She was coming out. What luck. Both that he was going to watch her and that he made it to his hiding place in time. It would be very disappointing if she ruined the fun by finding out it was him too early.
She came out the door and right to the mailbox. Heat surged through his body. Rachel going directly to his rose could only mean one thing. She was beginning to think like him. Their minds were meshing together as one. Like Adam and Eve, the first two perfect people.
“The symbol of our love.” Logan said so quietly he could only feel the vibrations in his throat. He was too close to say it any louder. Only twenty-five feet separated them at this moment. As if on cue Rachel snatched up the rose and flew in to her house.
“Yes, Rachel. It’s for you.” The branches moved in the breeze and he slid down into them to shield himself from the wind. In another couple of months this would no longer work as a hiding place. The branches would be too bare. He pulled a laminated photo out of his pocket. Much as he had tried to protect it the edges were bent and the plastic wasn’t as shiny as when he made it. So many nights of taking it out of his pocket and putting it back in. So they could be together always. Hers was the first face he saw in the morning and the last one at night.
You are reading A Face in the Shadow by Tiffany Colter.
Tiffany is a writer, speaker and writing career coach. She is a frequent contributor to print and online publications in addition to her regular marketing blog at http://www.writingcareercoach.com/
Get each new chapter delivered to you by signing up for the Tiffany Colter Fiction Blog using the link on the right.
This story is copyright Tiffany Colter. 2007. It may not be copied, distributed, sold or included in any larger work without the expressed written permission of Tiffany Colter.
Bloggers may comment on or link to this blog from their own blog. To link directly to this posting click the title, then copy the address in the browser.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
A Face in the Shadow Part 2 Chapter 36
Thirty-six
She stepped in the back door and locked it. There was plenty of time to sort through the mail and handle a little paperwork for the office before bed. She opened the electric bill.
“I’m not home enough to pay this much for electricity.” The difference in her utility bill from a two-bedroom apartment to a three-bedroom house had put a bite in her fun money. She was due to have her roots touched up but they’d have to wait a couple more weeks. Money hadn’t been an issue before the house. She stacked the bills back into a pile and plopped them in the wire basket.
“They’re not going away.” She snatched them back up and went to her desk drawer to get her checkbook. She hadn’t seen a balance this low since she was in college. The electric bill was more than the insurance on her car was this month.
“What in the world?” Why was she getting a bill from Outdoorsman magazine?
“Wrong house.”
She picked up all the envelopes and walked to the front of the house. The sun was completely gone with the slightest bit of purple lingering above the trees. Houses had porch lights on and those that didn’t had their curtains drawn. Life in a fishbowl.
She unhooked the chain, turned the deadbolt, slid the wedge out from the bottom of the door and opened it. Her mailbox was a long rectangle against the house just outside her door. Usually she dropped her letters off at the big blue mailbox on the way to work. Too many people were getting things stolen, like their identity, from people invading mailboxes. She figured this should be safe.
She lifted the lid of the mailbox but was sideways and couldn’t keep it open and stick the letter out. She stepped down on the porch. The door clapped shut behind her. The breeze was cool this evening. It made her shiver. Twice she looked over her shoulder in the few seconds on the porch. Someone could slink out of the darkness and on to the porch before she knew they were there.
She lifted the lid and saw the rose almost immediately.
You are reading A Face in the Shadow by Tiffany Colter.
Tiffany is a writer, speaker and writing career coach. She is a frequent contributor to print and online publications in addition to her regular marketing blog at http://www.writingcareercoach.com/
Get each new chapter delivered to you by signing up for the Tiffany Colter Fiction Blog using the link on the right.
This story is copyright Tiffany Colter. 2007. It may not be copied, distributed, sold or included in any larger work without the expressed written permission of Tiffany Colter.
Bloggers may comment on or link to this blog from their own blog. To link directly to this posting click the title, then copy the address in the browser.
She stepped in the back door and locked it. There was plenty of time to sort through the mail and handle a little paperwork for the office before bed. She opened the electric bill.
“I’m not home enough to pay this much for electricity.” The difference in her utility bill from a two-bedroom apartment to a three-bedroom house had put a bite in her fun money. She was due to have her roots touched up but they’d have to wait a couple more weeks. Money hadn’t been an issue before the house. She stacked the bills back into a pile and plopped them in the wire basket.
“They’re not going away.” She snatched them back up and went to her desk drawer to get her checkbook. She hadn’t seen a balance this low since she was in college. The electric bill was more than the insurance on her car was this month.
“What in the world?” Why was she getting a bill from Outdoorsman magazine?
“Wrong house.”
She picked up all the envelopes and walked to the front of the house. The sun was completely gone with the slightest bit of purple lingering above the trees. Houses had porch lights on and those that didn’t had their curtains drawn. Life in a fishbowl.
She unhooked the chain, turned the deadbolt, slid the wedge out from the bottom of the door and opened it. Her mailbox was a long rectangle against the house just outside her door. Usually she dropped her letters off at the big blue mailbox on the way to work. Too many people were getting things stolen, like their identity, from people invading mailboxes. She figured this should be safe.
She lifted the lid of the mailbox but was sideways and couldn’t keep it open and stick the letter out. She stepped down on the porch. The door clapped shut behind her. The breeze was cool this evening. It made her shiver. Twice she looked over her shoulder in the few seconds on the porch. Someone could slink out of the darkness and on to the porch before she knew they were there.
She lifted the lid and saw the rose almost immediately.
You are reading A Face in the Shadow by Tiffany Colter.
Tiffany is a writer, speaker and writing career coach. She is a frequent contributor to print and online publications in addition to her regular marketing blog at http://www.writingcareercoach.com/
Get each new chapter delivered to you by signing up for the Tiffany Colter Fiction Blog using the link on the right.
This story is copyright Tiffany Colter. 2007. It may not be copied, distributed, sold or included in any larger work without the expressed written permission of Tiffany Colter.
Bloggers may comment on or link to this blog from their own blog. To link directly to this posting click the title, then copy the address in the browser.
Friday, July 17, 2009
A Face in the Shadow Part 2 Chapter 35
Thirty-five
Logan pulled his car to the curb at the end of the block. Rachel’s house was halfway back along the street. She couldn’t see him from here. A large blue spruce tree blocked the view. He sat for a minute, thinking about Rachel, his lovely Rachel, just a short distance away. She’d be going about her evening ritual, not dreaming he was here. He climbed out of his car and walked down the street toward her house. The sky had darkened and the evening air was cool and damp. The scent of her perfume lingered in his nostrils. He’d bought her brand and smelled it whenever he was lonely for her touch.
He looked around at the dark splotches that blanketed the neighborhood. The shadows formed when the street lights hit the trees. The sun was gone. “It’s shadow time.” He whispered. He crossed the street and walked on the sidewalk opposite her house. Today was a special day for the two of them. They had passed the two-month mark. He deserved a pat on the back for patience and spending so much time with her, thinking about her but still unable to satisfy his inner hunger.
“That’s what Alpha Mu Epsilon is all about.” He reached down to pet the dog in the yard down the street from Rachel. He’d given the dog the name “Guardian” since he would alert Logan to danger and because the dog guarded Rachel’s house from across the street.
“I got something for you tonight boy.” He stuck his hand in his jacket. Guardian walked as close to him as he could stretch. He whimpered and strained against the chain. Logan remained just out of reach until he’d found the treat in his coat pocket.“There you go boy.” He gave Guardian a pig’s ear dog chew. Guardian grabbed it greedily and plopped down on the grass a few feet away and chewed on it. He was a smart dog. He almost never barked at Logan anymore when he came. “That should hold you until tomorrow.”
It was getting late. He scanned the sidewalks. They were clear so he walked down past her house, double-backed then to her sidewalk. He had to hurry so he wouldn’t get caught. That would take the fun out of their game. He looked around one more time and zipped up her porch steps, slid the rose in her mailbox then retreated to his usual hiding place.
You are reading A Face in the Shadow by Tiffany Colter.
Tiffany is a writer, speaker and writing career coach. She is a frequent contributor to print and online publications in addition to her regular marketing blog at http://www.writingcareercoach.com/
Get each new chapter delivered to you by signing up for the Tiffany Colter Fiction Blog using the link on the right.
This story is copyright Tiffany Colter. 2007. It may not be copied, distributed, sold or included in any larger work without the expressed written permission of Tiffany Colter.
Bloggers may comment on or link to this blog from their own blog. To link directly to this posting click the title, then copy the address in the browser.
Logan pulled his car to the curb at the end of the block. Rachel’s house was halfway back along the street. She couldn’t see him from here. A large blue spruce tree blocked the view. He sat for a minute, thinking about Rachel, his lovely Rachel, just a short distance away. She’d be going about her evening ritual, not dreaming he was here. He climbed out of his car and walked down the street toward her house. The sky had darkened and the evening air was cool and damp. The scent of her perfume lingered in his nostrils. He’d bought her brand and smelled it whenever he was lonely for her touch.
He looked around at the dark splotches that blanketed the neighborhood. The shadows formed when the street lights hit the trees. The sun was gone. “It’s shadow time.” He whispered. He crossed the street and walked on the sidewalk opposite her house. Today was a special day for the two of them. They had passed the two-month mark. He deserved a pat on the back for patience and spending so much time with her, thinking about her but still unable to satisfy his inner hunger.
“That’s what Alpha Mu Epsilon is all about.” He reached down to pet the dog in the yard down the street from Rachel. He’d given the dog the name “Guardian” since he would alert Logan to danger and because the dog guarded Rachel’s house from across the street.
“I got something for you tonight boy.” He stuck his hand in his jacket. Guardian walked as close to him as he could stretch. He whimpered and strained against the chain. Logan remained just out of reach until he’d found the treat in his coat pocket.“There you go boy.” He gave Guardian a pig’s ear dog chew. Guardian grabbed it greedily and plopped down on the grass a few feet away and chewed on it. He was a smart dog. He almost never barked at Logan anymore when he came. “That should hold you until tomorrow.”
It was getting late. He scanned the sidewalks. They were clear so he walked down past her house, double-backed then to her sidewalk. He had to hurry so he wouldn’t get caught. That would take the fun out of their game. He looked around one more time and zipped up her porch steps, slid the rose in her mailbox then retreated to his usual hiding place.
You are reading A Face in the Shadow by Tiffany Colter.
Tiffany is a writer, speaker and writing career coach. She is a frequent contributor to print and online publications in addition to her regular marketing blog at http://www.writingcareercoach.com/
Get each new chapter delivered to you by signing up for the Tiffany Colter Fiction Blog using the link on the right.
This story is copyright Tiffany Colter. 2007. It may not be copied, distributed, sold or included in any larger work without the expressed written permission of Tiffany Colter.
Bloggers may comment on or link to this blog from their own blog. To link directly to this posting click the title, then copy the address in the browser.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
A Face in the Shadow Part 2 Chapter 34
Thirty-four
“I’ll call you in the morning.” Curtis said before climbing in his car to leave. Their few hours had flown by so quickly. Rachel stood in the driveway behind her house with a leather jacket to keep her warm. Despite everything she said he insisted on leaving by eight p.m. He didn’t want to steal her beauty rest. She waved as he turned to go down the road but it was too dark to see if he’d waved back.
You are reading A Face in the Shadow by Tiffany Colter.
Tiffany is a writer, speaker and writing career coach. She is a frequent contributor to print and online publications in addition to her regular marketing blog at http://www.writingcareercoach.com/
Get each new chapter delivered to you by signing up for the Tiffany Colter Fiction Blog using the link on the right.
This story is copyright Tiffany Colter. 2007. It may not be copied, distributed, sold or included in any larger work without the expressed written permission of Tiffany Colter.
Bloggers may comment on or link to this blog from their own blog. To link directly to this posting click the title, then copy the address in the browser.
“I’ll call you in the morning.” Curtis said before climbing in his car to leave. Their few hours had flown by so quickly. Rachel stood in the driveway behind her house with a leather jacket to keep her warm. Despite everything she said he insisted on leaving by eight p.m. He didn’t want to steal her beauty rest. She waved as he turned to go down the road but it was too dark to see if he’d waved back.
You are reading A Face in the Shadow by Tiffany Colter.
Tiffany is a writer, speaker and writing career coach. She is a frequent contributor to print and online publications in addition to her regular marketing blog at http://www.writingcareercoach.com/
Get each new chapter delivered to you by signing up for the Tiffany Colter Fiction Blog using the link on the right.
This story is copyright Tiffany Colter. 2007. It may not be copied, distributed, sold or included in any larger work without the expressed written permission of Tiffany Colter.
Bloggers may comment on or link to this blog from their own blog. To link directly to this posting click the title, then copy the address in the browser.
Friday, July 10, 2009
A Face in the Shadow Part 2 Chapter 33
Thirty-three
“Where would you like to eat?” Curtis whispered into Rachel’s ear. His cologne was woodsy. Not what she had expected from a straight-laced man. His 5 o’clock shadow scratched the back of her ear when he spoke. The office was empty except for the two of them standing in the lobby trying to decide where to have dinner. Curtis leaned against the wall when he arrived and Rachel slid in his arms. They’d stood there, chatting about their day for over thirty minutes.
“No where.” She leaned back on her heels and pulled his arms tighter around her waist. Her fingers were laced between his and she resisted the urge to kiss his hand. “I want you to come back to my place.”
“You aren’t hungry at all? My stomach is eating my spine.” He squeezed her.
“We can grab some Boston Market on the way.”
“If you’re sure that’s what you want.”
She laid her cheek against his arm and watched the cars pass by on the road outside her office. “That’s exactly what I want. Boston Market at my place. A quiet evening in.”
“I suppose we could be classified as an old dating couple now.”
“Why because we’re eating in?”
“We’re eating take-out.”
“Well if you want something else-“
He pulled her in close to him and rested his chin down on her shoulder. “If that is what you want then that is what you’re going to have. My lady gets what she wants.”
She reached back and touched his rough face. His stubble gave him a rugged look Rachel tried to resist.
“If we’re going to get it though we should go.”
She laid her head against him one last time. Even with him standing behind her holding her close there was distance between them. She wanted more of him. Her heart ached to hear his deep voice or to feel his soft fingers caress her skin. He wasn’t willing to start a physical relationship with her, which only made her want him more. Slowly she turned to face him.
“Do you want to pick up the food or should I go?” She held his hand while she spoke. She didn’t want to let go of him until they were each in their own cars.
“No reason for you to go. Head home and I’ll be there soon.” He leaned down and kissed her tenderly. She released his hands and slid her arms around his waist. Why wouldn’t he start a physical relationship? Her insides screamed but she knew on that point he wouldn’t budge.
“I’ll wait while you lock up.” He said and led her by the hand to the front door. She locked everything and kissed him again before she got in the car. Rachel drove through town to the tree-lined streets leading to her home. She had never noticed how many kids lived on the block closest to her house. Today she watched elementary aged boys running around the yard and girls off to the side chatting in small huddles. She heard a familiar song on the radio.
A familiar tune played quietly on the radio. She turned it up a bit. “Woo-hoo, I love this song.” She cranked the volume button to the right and screamed out the words of the song while tapping out the rhythm on her steering wheel.
It didn’t matter that the woman she let cross the street in front of her car crinkled her nose and smirked a bit. Singing opened her up. At least the woman didn’t see her waving her arms around at the next stoplight. Throwing off inhibitions and cutting loose was good for a person every once in a while. She wasn’t going to live every moment of her life in a stiff, regimented schedule with no time to decompress.
She turned in her driveway and gathered her purse, sweater and satchel from the passenger seat. Curtis said she’d have about twenty minutes before he’d be there with the food. She came in the back door and set her things on the counter then walked to the front of the house and got the mail from the mailbox on the front porch.
“Junk, Junk, Junk.” She tossed them in a pile. The rest went in the wire mail basket. The clock in the kitchen clicked out the seconds and the refrigerator hummed to life. She scooped up the credit card applications to shred and pushed the answering machine.
A robotic voice said “You have no messages.” She switched on the shredder and shredded those few things.
“Oh no, my lilac sweater is still at the cleaners.” Rachel turned off the shredder scurried in her stocking feet from the kitchen up the steps to her bedroom. That lilac sweater always drew compliments and the weather was cool enough today that she could have wore it. Not that it mattered that much. What she had on was just fine.
“But these pants aren’t comfortable.”
Would Curtis worry too much about her outfit? It wasn’t a first date by any stretch. When they’d met she was in jeans and an Old Navy T-shirt.
“Where’s the blue one?” She scanned across her closet from left to right. Her finger stopped on her blue top. It looked great with jeans. She pushed the hangers to the side and pulled out a sweater then her favorite jeans. The outfit flattered her figure without being sensual then slid on her house slippers. She was attractive but relaxed. Curtis had a knack for being early. She shot a glance to the clock and dashed downstairs to tidy up before he arrived.
There wasn’t much to do after her weekend cleaning spree so instead she lit candles around the room, turned on a CD of piano music and set two places at the dining room table. This was a real relationship. Not since her breakup with Nate had she had an adult meal at home. Instead they’d eat out someplace and then end the evening at one house or the other. The Chinese takeout her and Curtis had shared on moving day didn’t count. She felt more like a woman, an adult.
And now her man was here.
She watched him get out of the car with the bag. She went through the kitchen and out the back door. “Anything I can help you carry in?”
I left something in the car.” He said.
She grabbed the one small bag, closed his car door and held the door for him. He put the bag he was carrying next to the one Rachel brought in and went back out the door. She lifted the food out and started scooping potatoes, vegetables and baked apples in to serving dished.
“I thought the point of eating take out was to avoid a mess.” He said when he walked back in the house and saw what she was doing.
“It’s our first meal in as a couple. I want it to be nice.” She said then she smiled and looked up at him.
“Here.” He handed her a bouquet. “Put these on the table too. They’ll look nice.”
She took the bouquet of mixed flowers and smelled them. She loved the way different flowers always seemed to blend to make a fragrance as beautiful as the blooms. She’d yet to find a combination of blooms that didn’t smell great together.
“Thank you.” She said, still not putting them down.
“You’re welcome.” He kissed her then started collapsing the bags. They carried the serving dishes out to the dining room.
“Music, candles and flowers. Rachel are you trying to seduce me?” He said when he walked in.
She laughed at his movie reference. “I won’t tell.” And she set the bowl down. They filled their plates and ate without saying much for the first few minutes. It was Rachel who first broke the silence.
“Beyond being a Mortgage Broker what do you like to do?”
“This.”
“Eat?” She smiled.
“Exactly. I love to eat. It keeps me alive.”
“Boston Market sustains you, huh?”
“I like spending quiet time at home. My workdays have crept from eight or nine to more like ten to twelve some days. After all that time with people, ringing phone and paperwork it is nice to come home and have a quiet dinner and put my feet up. What about you?”
“I love to read. Give me a romance novel and I’m a happy woman.”
“Oh, you don’t read those things do you?”
“Those things?” She put her fork down. “Those things can be great.”
“But you always know what’s going to happen in the end.”
“And you don’t know in a movie that they’ll live happily ever after?”
He shrugged in response.
“That’s what I thought. The fun in them is the adventure. You know that the good guy will be handsome and perfectly romantic. Then one or the other will feel intimidated by the relationship or have a personality problem. There will be attraction; a wrench will be thrown in the works. Then they will live happily ever after.”
“And yet you read them?”
She smiled and shook her head. “I like predictable.”
“Somehow I knew that about you.”
“Is that a bad thing?”
“No. Predictable.” He smiled at his joke.
“Ha, ha.”
“What was the most unpredictable thing that has ever happened to you?” Curtis asked. Icy fingers of fear pricked up and down her skin. Curtis looked up at her and his smile dropped. “Are you okay?”
She needed to get a grip. Don’t ruin this moment with that. Don’t let the Fratboy ruin this moment. She cleared her throat. “I’m fine. I’d have to say the most unpredictable thing I’ve done was one summer during college instead of getting a summer job I pulled some money out of savings and spent two weeks in southern France near the French, Italian, Swiss border.”
“Impressive. What was it like? I’ve never been over there.”
“It was a bit intimidating to tell the truth.” She took a sip of water. The fear was fading but she hadn’t yet regained her carefree mood.
“Did you know the language?”
“I spoke French pretty well. Unfortunately I had studied French all through high school and college but everyone failed to tell me that in France they don’t speak French.”
“What do they speak then?”
“Verlan.”
“Verlan?” He pronounced it with a hard American accent.
“No, it’s Ver, like in Very. Ver-law. But you have to talk through your nose at the end.” She smiled and demonstrated. He repeated back with an increasingly bad American accent.
“Okay, I can’t say it. What is it?”
“French slang.”
“Then why didn’t you just say French slang.” He laughed and tried to say Verlan again.
“Because it’s called Verlan.” She smiled. “It is a crazy language. They flip the syllables around and use different verbs. It’s like French pig Latin but people use and understand it.”
“Guess you learn something new every day.” He pushed his plate back.
Rachel stood to clear the table. Curtis stopped her by putting his hand on hers.“
Go sit. I’ll clear these up.”
“You don’t know where they go.”
“Go sit down.” He pointed to the couch then stacked the plates and serving dishes. Rachel scooped up the napkins with the last bowl and followed him to the kitchen.
“I thought you were sitting.”
“I can’t sit down in the other room while you clean my kitchen.” She rinsed the plates and arranged them in the dishwasher.“I still get credit for being a nice guy.” He gave her a bowl and she put it in the top.
“Yes, you get credit.”
In five minutes the kitchen was picked up and the leftovers were in the fridge. They walked back to the living room and sat down next to each other on the couch. She leaned her head against his chest and listened to the thudding of his heart. Curtis squeezed her against him and she tilted her head up to look at his face. The last of his aftershave or cologne filled her nostrils. She pressed her face in to the side of his neck.
“What are you thinking about?” He said.
“Nothing. I’m enjoying the quiet.” She was thinking about how she was living a romance novel.
“I was thinking about you.”
“What about me?”
“I was thinking that when I met you there would have been no way I would have imagined I’d be dating you.”
“Why’s that?” He pulled his arm tighter around her.
“You aren’t really my type?
She laughed. “That’s fine because you’re not my type either.”
His cell phone chirped on his hip.
“You need to get that?”
“No, that is a business call. There aren’t mortgage emergencies after seven so it can wait until morning.”
“You don’t answer your business phone after seven.”
“Not unless I’m expecting a call.”
She couldn’t imagine ignoring any call, whether business or personal. What if there was an emergency that needed to be handled before the next morning. He didn’t budge. It was as if the phone call never happened. Until a couple of months ago it was rare when she left the office before seven.
“You’re not even a little curious who called you.” She said.
“Nope.” He kissed her forehead. “Not a bit.”
“I can’t imagine.”
“It takes a lot of practice but now I don’t think twice about it. I even have two cell phones with two different numbers. I forgot to take my work one off and leave it in the car. Usually I don’t carry it when I’m with you.”
They sat in silence again for two or three minutes.
“Curtis?”
“Hm?”
“I’m going on the women’s retreat at your church with my mom.”
He leaned back and spun to face her. “Are you really?” He was beaming.
“I talked to her about it yesterday. I think it will be fun. I’ve wanted to hear Carol Adnaw speak for some time.”
Curtis grabbed her face with both of his hand planted a kiss square on the lips. She held on to his arms and kissed him back.
“Thank you. It means a lot to me that you would do that.” He said.
“You’re welcome. I had no idea you’d be that happy.”
“I am.” He leaned back on the couch and pulled her head back against his chest. She stretched her legs out and propped them on the coffee table and snuggled down against him.
“Hey, have you talked to my brother much?”
“I’d say we’ve talked a couple times a week plus I see him at church.”
“Has he talked about his wife at all to you?”
“Yvonne? Yes a little.”
She sat up and leaned forward on the couch and spun her rings. “My mom doesn’t like Yvonne at all. I don’t get in to it but there’s no reason for Mom not to like her. She isn’t doing anything to mess the two of them up is she?”
“No, I don’t think so.”
“Then what happened with them?”
He took her hand. “They’re fighting all the time. She wants to come back to Ohio and he won’t.”
Her brother was the most pig-headed person she knew. When he thought he was right there was not changing his mind. “Then why is he in Ohio?”
Drew shook his head. “I asked him the same question. Adam said it was different because he was here to work some things out. It wasn’t the same as moving.”
“He’s the only one who thinks they need to be out there.” When they’d left Adam had been so sure he was doing what God told him to do. That was the danger in taking the God thing to far. Now he was willing to destroy his marriage rather than admit he was wrong. Of course, if that happened it would be God’s fault too.
“I’m praying for him and we’ve prayed together quite a bit.” Curtis continued. “He’s starting to come around.
“I might call Yvonne and see how she’s doing.”
“That would be a big help. I’ve only talked to her once and that was because she happened to call your parents on the voice phone when I was there. She told me the thinks your family wants them to split up-.”
“I don’t.”
“Call her and check in with. That will mean so much to her.
You are reading A Face in the Shadow by Tiffany Colter.
Tiffany is a writer, speaker and writing career coach. She is a frequent contributor to print and online publications in addition to her regular marketing blog at http://www.writingcareercoach.com/
Get each new chapter delivered to you by signing up for the Tiffany Colter Fiction Blog using the link on the right.
This story is copyright Tiffany Colter. 2007. It may not be copied, distributed, sold or included in any larger work without the expressed written permission of Tiffany Colter.
Bloggers may comment on or link to this blog from their own blog. To link directly to this posting click the title, then copy the address in the browser.
“Where would you like to eat?” Curtis whispered into Rachel’s ear. His cologne was woodsy. Not what she had expected from a straight-laced man. His 5 o’clock shadow scratched the back of her ear when he spoke. The office was empty except for the two of them standing in the lobby trying to decide where to have dinner. Curtis leaned against the wall when he arrived and Rachel slid in his arms. They’d stood there, chatting about their day for over thirty minutes.
“No where.” She leaned back on her heels and pulled his arms tighter around her waist. Her fingers were laced between his and she resisted the urge to kiss his hand. “I want you to come back to my place.”
“You aren’t hungry at all? My stomach is eating my spine.” He squeezed her.
“We can grab some Boston Market on the way.”
“If you’re sure that’s what you want.”
She laid her cheek against his arm and watched the cars pass by on the road outside her office. “That’s exactly what I want. Boston Market at my place. A quiet evening in.”
“I suppose we could be classified as an old dating couple now.”
“Why because we’re eating in?”
“We’re eating take-out.”
“Well if you want something else-“
He pulled her in close to him and rested his chin down on her shoulder. “If that is what you want then that is what you’re going to have. My lady gets what she wants.”
She reached back and touched his rough face. His stubble gave him a rugged look Rachel tried to resist.
“If we’re going to get it though we should go.”
She laid her head against him one last time. Even with him standing behind her holding her close there was distance between them. She wanted more of him. Her heart ached to hear his deep voice or to feel his soft fingers caress her skin. He wasn’t willing to start a physical relationship with her, which only made her want him more. Slowly she turned to face him.
“Do you want to pick up the food or should I go?” She held his hand while she spoke. She didn’t want to let go of him until they were each in their own cars.
“No reason for you to go. Head home and I’ll be there soon.” He leaned down and kissed her tenderly. She released his hands and slid her arms around his waist. Why wouldn’t he start a physical relationship? Her insides screamed but she knew on that point he wouldn’t budge.
“I’ll wait while you lock up.” He said and led her by the hand to the front door. She locked everything and kissed him again before she got in the car. Rachel drove through town to the tree-lined streets leading to her home. She had never noticed how many kids lived on the block closest to her house. Today she watched elementary aged boys running around the yard and girls off to the side chatting in small huddles. She heard a familiar song on the radio.
A familiar tune played quietly on the radio. She turned it up a bit. “Woo-hoo, I love this song.” She cranked the volume button to the right and screamed out the words of the song while tapping out the rhythm on her steering wheel.
It didn’t matter that the woman she let cross the street in front of her car crinkled her nose and smirked a bit. Singing opened her up. At least the woman didn’t see her waving her arms around at the next stoplight. Throwing off inhibitions and cutting loose was good for a person every once in a while. She wasn’t going to live every moment of her life in a stiff, regimented schedule with no time to decompress.
She turned in her driveway and gathered her purse, sweater and satchel from the passenger seat. Curtis said she’d have about twenty minutes before he’d be there with the food. She came in the back door and set her things on the counter then walked to the front of the house and got the mail from the mailbox on the front porch.
“Junk, Junk, Junk.” She tossed them in a pile. The rest went in the wire mail basket. The clock in the kitchen clicked out the seconds and the refrigerator hummed to life. She scooped up the credit card applications to shred and pushed the answering machine.
A robotic voice said “You have no messages.” She switched on the shredder and shredded those few things.
“Oh no, my lilac sweater is still at the cleaners.” Rachel turned off the shredder scurried in her stocking feet from the kitchen up the steps to her bedroom. That lilac sweater always drew compliments and the weather was cool enough today that she could have wore it. Not that it mattered that much. What she had on was just fine.
“But these pants aren’t comfortable.”
Would Curtis worry too much about her outfit? It wasn’t a first date by any stretch. When they’d met she was in jeans and an Old Navy T-shirt.
“Where’s the blue one?” She scanned across her closet from left to right. Her finger stopped on her blue top. It looked great with jeans. She pushed the hangers to the side and pulled out a sweater then her favorite jeans. The outfit flattered her figure without being sensual then slid on her house slippers. She was attractive but relaxed. Curtis had a knack for being early. She shot a glance to the clock and dashed downstairs to tidy up before he arrived.
There wasn’t much to do after her weekend cleaning spree so instead she lit candles around the room, turned on a CD of piano music and set two places at the dining room table. This was a real relationship. Not since her breakup with Nate had she had an adult meal at home. Instead they’d eat out someplace and then end the evening at one house or the other. The Chinese takeout her and Curtis had shared on moving day didn’t count. She felt more like a woman, an adult.
And now her man was here.
She watched him get out of the car with the bag. She went through the kitchen and out the back door. “Anything I can help you carry in?”
I left something in the car.” He said.
She grabbed the one small bag, closed his car door and held the door for him. He put the bag he was carrying next to the one Rachel brought in and went back out the door. She lifted the food out and started scooping potatoes, vegetables and baked apples in to serving dished.
“I thought the point of eating take out was to avoid a mess.” He said when he walked back in the house and saw what she was doing.
“It’s our first meal in as a couple. I want it to be nice.” She said then she smiled and looked up at him.
“Here.” He handed her a bouquet. “Put these on the table too. They’ll look nice.”
She took the bouquet of mixed flowers and smelled them. She loved the way different flowers always seemed to blend to make a fragrance as beautiful as the blooms. She’d yet to find a combination of blooms that didn’t smell great together.
“Thank you.” She said, still not putting them down.
“You’re welcome.” He kissed her then started collapsing the bags. They carried the serving dishes out to the dining room.
“Music, candles and flowers. Rachel are you trying to seduce me?” He said when he walked in.
She laughed at his movie reference. “I won’t tell.” And she set the bowl down. They filled their plates and ate without saying much for the first few minutes. It was Rachel who first broke the silence.
“Beyond being a Mortgage Broker what do you like to do?”
“This.”
“Eat?” She smiled.
“Exactly. I love to eat. It keeps me alive.”
“Boston Market sustains you, huh?”
“I like spending quiet time at home. My workdays have crept from eight or nine to more like ten to twelve some days. After all that time with people, ringing phone and paperwork it is nice to come home and have a quiet dinner and put my feet up. What about you?”
“I love to read. Give me a romance novel and I’m a happy woman.”
“Oh, you don’t read those things do you?”
“Those things?” She put her fork down. “Those things can be great.”
“But you always know what’s going to happen in the end.”
“And you don’t know in a movie that they’ll live happily ever after?”
He shrugged in response.
“That’s what I thought. The fun in them is the adventure. You know that the good guy will be handsome and perfectly romantic. Then one or the other will feel intimidated by the relationship or have a personality problem. There will be attraction; a wrench will be thrown in the works. Then they will live happily ever after.”
“And yet you read them?”
She smiled and shook her head. “I like predictable.”
“Somehow I knew that about you.”
“Is that a bad thing?”
“No. Predictable.” He smiled at his joke.
“Ha, ha.”
“What was the most unpredictable thing that has ever happened to you?” Curtis asked. Icy fingers of fear pricked up and down her skin. Curtis looked up at her and his smile dropped. “Are you okay?”
She needed to get a grip. Don’t ruin this moment with that. Don’t let the Fratboy ruin this moment. She cleared her throat. “I’m fine. I’d have to say the most unpredictable thing I’ve done was one summer during college instead of getting a summer job I pulled some money out of savings and spent two weeks in southern France near the French, Italian, Swiss border.”
“Impressive. What was it like? I’ve never been over there.”
“It was a bit intimidating to tell the truth.” She took a sip of water. The fear was fading but she hadn’t yet regained her carefree mood.
“Did you know the language?”
“I spoke French pretty well. Unfortunately I had studied French all through high school and college but everyone failed to tell me that in France they don’t speak French.”
“What do they speak then?”
“Verlan.”
“Verlan?” He pronounced it with a hard American accent.
“No, it’s Ver, like in Very. Ver-law. But you have to talk through your nose at the end.” She smiled and demonstrated. He repeated back with an increasingly bad American accent.
“Okay, I can’t say it. What is it?”
“French slang.”
“Then why didn’t you just say French slang.” He laughed and tried to say Verlan again.
“Because it’s called Verlan.” She smiled. “It is a crazy language. They flip the syllables around and use different verbs. It’s like French pig Latin but people use and understand it.”
“Guess you learn something new every day.” He pushed his plate back.
Rachel stood to clear the table. Curtis stopped her by putting his hand on hers.“
Go sit. I’ll clear these up.”
“You don’t know where they go.”
“Go sit down.” He pointed to the couch then stacked the plates and serving dishes. Rachel scooped up the napkins with the last bowl and followed him to the kitchen.
“I thought you were sitting.”
“I can’t sit down in the other room while you clean my kitchen.” She rinsed the plates and arranged them in the dishwasher.“I still get credit for being a nice guy.” He gave her a bowl and she put it in the top.
“Yes, you get credit.”
In five minutes the kitchen was picked up and the leftovers were in the fridge. They walked back to the living room and sat down next to each other on the couch. She leaned her head against his chest and listened to the thudding of his heart. Curtis squeezed her against him and she tilted her head up to look at his face. The last of his aftershave or cologne filled her nostrils. She pressed her face in to the side of his neck.
“What are you thinking about?” He said.
“Nothing. I’m enjoying the quiet.” She was thinking about how she was living a romance novel.
“I was thinking about you.”
“What about me?”
“I was thinking that when I met you there would have been no way I would have imagined I’d be dating you.”
“Why’s that?” He pulled his arm tighter around her.
“You aren’t really my type?
She laughed. “That’s fine because you’re not my type either.”
His cell phone chirped on his hip.
“You need to get that?”
“No, that is a business call. There aren’t mortgage emergencies after seven so it can wait until morning.”
“You don’t answer your business phone after seven.”
“Not unless I’m expecting a call.”
She couldn’t imagine ignoring any call, whether business or personal. What if there was an emergency that needed to be handled before the next morning. He didn’t budge. It was as if the phone call never happened. Until a couple of months ago it was rare when she left the office before seven.
“You’re not even a little curious who called you.” She said.
“Nope.” He kissed her forehead. “Not a bit.”
“I can’t imagine.”
“It takes a lot of practice but now I don’t think twice about it. I even have two cell phones with two different numbers. I forgot to take my work one off and leave it in the car. Usually I don’t carry it when I’m with you.”
They sat in silence again for two or three minutes.
“Curtis?”
“Hm?”
“I’m going on the women’s retreat at your church with my mom.”
He leaned back and spun to face her. “Are you really?” He was beaming.
“I talked to her about it yesterday. I think it will be fun. I’ve wanted to hear Carol Adnaw speak for some time.”
Curtis grabbed her face with both of his hand planted a kiss square on the lips. She held on to his arms and kissed him back.
“Thank you. It means a lot to me that you would do that.” He said.
“You’re welcome. I had no idea you’d be that happy.”
“I am.” He leaned back on the couch and pulled her head back against his chest. She stretched her legs out and propped them on the coffee table and snuggled down against him.
“Hey, have you talked to my brother much?”
“I’d say we’ve talked a couple times a week plus I see him at church.”
“Has he talked about his wife at all to you?”
“Yvonne? Yes a little.”
She sat up and leaned forward on the couch and spun her rings. “My mom doesn’t like Yvonne at all. I don’t get in to it but there’s no reason for Mom not to like her. She isn’t doing anything to mess the two of them up is she?”
“No, I don’t think so.”
“Then what happened with them?”
He took her hand. “They’re fighting all the time. She wants to come back to Ohio and he won’t.”
Her brother was the most pig-headed person she knew. When he thought he was right there was not changing his mind. “Then why is he in Ohio?”
Drew shook his head. “I asked him the same question. Adam said it was different because he was here to work some things out. It wasn’t the same as moving.”
“He’s the only one who thinks they need to be out there.” When they’d left Adam had been so sure he was doing what God told him to do. That was the danger in taking the God thing to far. Now he was willing to destroy his marriage rather than admit he was wrong. Of course, if that happened it would be God’s fault too.
“I’m praying for him and we’ve prayed together quite a bit.” Curtis continued. “He’s starting to come around.
“I might call Yvonne and see how she’s doing.”
“That would be a big help. I’ve only talked to her once and that was because she happened to call your parents on the voice phone when I was there. She told me the thinks your family wants them to split up-.”
“I don’t.”
“Call her and check in with. That will mean so much to her.
You are reading A Face in the Shadow by Tiffany Colter.
Tiffany is a writer, speaker and writing career coach. She is a frequent contributor to print and online publications in addition to her regular marketing blog at http://www.writingcareercoach.com/
Get each new chapter delivered to you by signing up for the Tiffany Colter Fiction Blog using the link on the right.
This story is copyright Tiffany Colter. 2007. It may not be copied, distributed, sold or included in any larger work without the expressed written permission of Tiffany Colter.
Bloggers may comment on or link to this blog from their own blog. To link directly to this posting click the title, then copy the address in the browser.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
A Face in the Shadow Part 2 Chapter 32
Thirty-Two
“Rachel.” Curtis’ sounded genuinely happy when he answered the phone. “Good to hear from you.” There was no hint of the terse words they’d shared the last time they spoke.
“Sorry. I’ve needed some time to sort a few things out.”
“Anything I can help with?”
“No, thank you though.” There was a long silence on the phone. She searched for a thought but nothing seemed to be appropriate, or even interesting. “What have you been up to?” It seemed a safe question.
“I’ve started a new Bible study at the church. It is on the book of Hebrews.”
“Oh.” Not what she was looking for. Reluctantly she continued. “What are you talking about?”
“This last time we were talking about Faith.” His voice trailed off. “The book deals a lot with our faith in God and his faithfulness to us.”
“Oh.” She used the most interested voice she could muster.
“Rachel, I’m sorry about how things ended before.”
“It’s okay.”
“No, I’m not trying to push anything on you. I wish that you’d want the joy and peace God has given me but that is something you have to work out yourself. I can’t force it on you and I shouldn’t have pushed you.”
“Really, don’t worry about it. I was a little touchy on it.”
“I was a bit overeager because I want you to be a part of my life. My relationship with God is a huge part of who I am and I didn’t feel like you could really understand me if you didn’t understand where my faith comes from.”
“You have to understand that my parents drug me to church my whole life. It was fine when I was little but once I was a teenager it got old. They finally left me alone and let me stay home when I was in high school. Then a few years ago they started a new church, the church you go to with them. Then they started bugging me all the time.”
“Sometimes when God gets a hold of us we get really excited, and possibly a bit over enthusiastic in some people’s opinion.”
She softened a bit. He was really listening to her and what she thought instead of jamming a bunch of verses down her throat. “I understand. My parents, especially my mom, really changed when they started at the new church. I think it is great for them. If that is their truth and brings them happiness then they should do that.”
“But it doesn’t bring you happiness.” He sounded disappointed.
“I don’t feel I need a set of rules imposed by man to live a good life.”
“Maybe that is where the two of you aren’t connecting. You think you’re talking about the same thing but you’re really talking about two different things.”
Rachel stood up and walked around the living room, geared up for a discussion that was surely coming. “We’re both talking about church.”
“No, you’re talking about religion and they’re talking about relationship.”
“Fine and speaking of relationships, let’s get back to ours so we don’t get another fight brewing.”
“Okay, I want to see you.”
Rachel smiled. “When?”
“Ideally now, but I’m on my way to a business meeting in about twenty minutes.”
“You have meetings at seven at night?”“You have them whenever you need them to get the business.”
“I guess that’s true. We could meet after work tomorrow.” She wrote it down in her calendar.
“That will be fine.” He paused for a moment before continuing. “You’ve asked a bit about me. Besides working through a few things how are you, Rachel.” When he said her name it caused her voice to catch in her throat, a ridiculous reaction.
“There’s been a lot going on. I want things to calm down so I can breathe again.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
She did want to desperately. “I do want to talk to you a bit but now isn’t a good time. You have your meeting.”
“Are you sure I can’t do something to help before I have to get there?”
“No. We can talk about it tomorrow.”
“I understand.” He paused for a few moments. “I missed you these last few days.”
She’d tried not to think about him but he had lingered in the corner of her thoughts since the last time they were together. He was opening the door. Why did she keep playing this safe game of not telling him how much she needed him in her life?
“Why’s that?” She tried to sound playful. That was the safest route. Keep playing the game.
He laughed a little bit. “Why do you miss people? I wanted to see you and you weren’t around.”
“In that case I guess I missed you too.”
“I’m glad to hear it. For a minute there I thought I’d made a huge faux pas.”
She got a bottle of water from her fridge and sat back out on her chaise. “Why would you think that?”
“I thought maybe I was reading too much in to this relationship.”
Rachel’s mouth was dry. She took a slow sip of water. Every muscle in her body tensed up. “Um,” she began, trying to form the words that were sticking in her throat. “How do you see this relationship?”
Silence on the other end. She scolded herself for sounding judgmental when she said it. Curiosity was the tone she was after but clearly he had heard something very different. How could she continue now that she had stuck her foot in her mouth?“
Right now I guess I’d say we’re seeing each other. Does that sound vague enough?” He laughed.
She exhaled the breath that, until that moment, she didn’t realize she was holding. “You don’t have to be vague. You can be honest.” Her voice sounded a bit more natural. Curiosity overcoming fear.
“How do you see it?”
“No,” she laughed nervously “I asked you first.”
“I hope you’re the one but…” He stopped abruptly. Rachel tensed up again.
“But, what?”
“But, that isn’t a decision I can make on my own.”
“We can start investigating together tomorrow at dinner.” Her curiosity now giving way to excitement. What if he was the one?
“I’ll call you tomorrow and let you know when my last appointment is and we can make arrangements then.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
“I have to make my appointment now.”
“Okay, bye.”
Rachel hung up the phone and sat it on the end table. Maybe he was the one. She let out a squeal and grabbed her phone again.
“Shannon.” Rachel said her name almost before Shannon had finished saying Hello.
“Is everything all right?”
“Yes, why?”
“What do you mean why? Today. The rose.”
Rachel had chosen to forget the events of earlier in the day. She was no longer interested in being controlled by fear. For the moment she could smile and be excited and she was going to do it as long as possible. “I’m past that, for the moment. I just had the best conversation with Curtis.”
“With Curtis? I thought you were having dinner with Drew.” There was a clear I-told-you-so quality to her voice.
“I decided that Drew had some qualities I couldn’t deal with.”
“Such as?”
“A rather nasty temper.”
“What happened?”
Rachel briefly recapped the evening.
“I can’t believe he was like that. If he got so worked up in a public place I don’t want to think about what could have happened in a long term relationship.”
“Those were my thoughts.”
“So you ended it tonight.”
“I don’t think he’ll call back. He left in a huff after I paid the bill.”
“You paid the bill? What a winner.”
“I’m a 21st century lady. I can pay my own way but he is the type…never mind.”
“What type?”
“He just…No, I don’t want to talk about him. I want to talk about Curtis. That’s why I called in the first place.”
“Tell me about it.”
Rachel jumped out of her chair again and paced from the dining room to the living room and back. “I felt a connection with him tonight I’ve never felt before.”
“Like?”
“Like when we talked about church. I didn’t feel like I was going through the inquisition. He didn’t act like he was the be all and end all on wisdom.”
“Why don’t you go to something at church?”
Rachel took a sip of water and planned her words very carefully. “Why would I want to do that?”
“Same reason you do it for your mom. Look like you’re making an effort.”
“What’s wrong with him accepting me for who I am?”
“We’ve already talked about this.”
“But-.”
“Do you go on a date looking like you rolled out of bed?”
“No.” Her voice was flat.
“Then you try to impress him even though you know that is not who you really are.”
“That is absolutely not the same thing.” She sat on her chaise and scooted back in its cushions.
“Fine. All I am saying is if you went to some church event you will look like you’re really trying to understand him and you won’t have to deal with all the church stuff.”
“What, you mean like a picnic.” She could tolerate a social event with some church people. That would not be awful.
“Something like that. Find out if there are any social gatherings you can go to and do that. I think that’s your best plan. You’re bound to have to go to some of these if you get serious anyway so why not start them on your own terms.”
Rachel let the idea roll around in her mind a moment. “The idea isn’t awful.”
“Is that supposed to be a compliment?”
“If you want it to be. I know my mom has some women’s professional seminar going on soon. There’s a woman speaking I read about in Fast Company magazine. You know, Carol Adnaw, I could get a chance to talk to her and score brownie points at the same time.”
“Well there you go.”
They chatted for a few minutes about how Rachel could casually ask about the event without letting her mom think she was going to start coming to church.
“The best way will be to tell her you want to go see the speaker.”
“She’ll ask why you’re not coming with me.” Rachel picked at her fingers as she spoke. She was way overdue for a manicure. “Then what will I tell her?”
“Tell her I don’t want to come. We don’t do everything together.”
“Wish me luck.”
“Thinking good thoughts.” Shannon lifted her voice an octave or two in exaggerated excitement.
Rachel clicked the phone off and snuggled down in her chaise. A day of listening to a top woman executive wouldn’t be bad at all. They’d throw in a few things about Jesus and likely talk about how it’s all because of God that she is where she is today then the real teaching would begin. What women do to impress the men they love.
She didn’t necessarily think that love described her feelings toward him yet. It was more of eager fascination or strong interest. He knew how to make her heart jump in her chest. Many times he also knew how to infuriate her as well. She enjoyed challenge and Curtis represented a real challenge. He was different then other men she’d dated, which was part of his charm. The sting of lost loves ate at her. Life for Rachel marched as a series of regrets, what-ifs and if-onlys.
You are reading A Face in the Shadow by Tiffany Colter.
Tiffany is a writer, speaker and writing career coach. She is a frequent contributor to print and online publications in addition to her regular marketing blog at http://www.writingcareercoach.com/
Get each new chapter delivered to you by signing up for the Tiffany Colter Fiction Blog using the link on the right.
This story is copyright Tiffany Colter. 2007. It may not be copied, distributed, sold or included in any larger work without the expressed written permission of Tiffany Colter.
Bloggers may comment on or link to this blog from their own blog. To link directly to this posting click the title, then copy the address in the browser.
“Rachel.” Curtis’ sounded genuinely happy when he answered the phone. “Good to hear from you.” There was no hint of the terse words they’d shared the last time they spoke.
“Sorry. I’ve needed some time to sort a few things out.”
“Anything I can help with?”
“No, thank you though.” There was a long silence on the phone. She searched for a thought but nothing seemed to be appropriate, or even interesting. “What have you been up to?” It seemed a safe question.
“I’ve started a new Bible study at the church. It is on the book of Hebrews.”
“Oh.” Not what she was looking for. Reluctantly she continued. “What are you talking about?”
“This last time we were talking about Faith.” His voice trailed off. “The book deals a lot with our faith in God and his faithfulness to us.”
“Oh.” She used the most interested voice she could muster.
“Rachel, I’m sorry about how things ended before.”
“It’s okay.”
“No, I’m not trying to push anything on you. I wish that you’d want the joy and peace God has given me but that is something you have to work out yourself. I can’t force it on you and I shouldn’t have pushed you.”
“Really, don’t worry about it. I was a little touchy on it.”
“I was a bit overeager because I want you to be a part of my life. My relationship with God is a huge part of who I am and I didn’t feel like you could really understand me if you didn’t understand where my faith comes from.”
“You have to understand that my parents drug me to church my whole life. It was fine when I was little but once I was a teenager it got old. They finally left me alone and let me stay home when I was in high school. Then a few years ago they started a new church, the church you go to with them. Then they started bugging me all the time.”
“Sometimes when God gets a hold of us we get really excited, and possibly a bit over enthusiastic in some people’s opinion.”
She softened a bit. He was really listening to her and what she thought instead of jamming a bunch of verses down her throat. “I understand. My parents, especially my mom, really changed when they started at the new church. I think it is great for them. If that is their truth and brings them happiness then they should do that.”
“But it doesn’t bring you happiness.” He sounded disappointed.
“I don’t feel I need a set of rules imposed by man to live a good life.”
“Maybe that is where the two of you aren’t connecting. You think you’re talking about the same thing but you’re really talking about two different things.”
Rachel stood up and walked around the living room, geared up for a discussion that was surely coming. “We’re both talking about church.”
“No, you’re talking about religion and they’re talking about relationship.”
“Fine and speaking of relationships, let’s get back to ours so we don’t get another fight brewing.”
“Okay, I want to see you.”
Rachel smiled. “When?”
“Ideally now, but I’m on my way to a business meeting in about twenty minutes.”
“You have meetings at seven at night?”“You have them whenever you need them to get the business.”
“I guess that’s true. We could meet after work tomorrow.” She wrote it down in her calendar.
“That will be fine.” He paused for a moment before continuing. “You’ve asked a bit about me. Besides working through a few things how are you, Rachel.” When he said her name it caused her voice to catch in her throat, a ridiculous reaction.
“There’s been a lot going on. I want things to calm down so I can breathe again.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
She did want to desperately. “I do want to talk to you a bit but now isn’t a good time. You have your meeting.”
“Are you sure I can’t do something to help before I have to get there?”
“No. We can talk about it tomorrow.”
“I understand.” He paused for a few moments. “I missed you these last few days.”
She’d tried not to think about him but he had lingered in the corner of her thoughts since the last time they were together. He was opening the door. Why did she keep playing this safe game of not telling him how much she needed him in her life?
“Why’s that?” She tried to sound playful. That was the safest route. Keep playing the game.
He laughed a little bit. “Why do you miss people? I wanted to see you and you weren’t around.”
“In that case I guess I missed you too.”
“I’m glad to hear it. For a minute there I thought I’d made a huge faux pas.”
She got a bottle of water from her fridge and sat back out on her chaise. “Why would you think that?”
“I thought maybe I was reading too much in to this relationship.”
Rachel’s mouth was dry. She took a slow sip of water. Every muscle in her body tensed up. “Um,” she began, trying to form the words that were sticking in her throat. “How do you see this relationship?”
Silence on the other end. She scolded herself for sounding judgmental when she said it. Curiosity was the tone she was after but clearly he had heard something very different. How could she continue now that she had stuck her foot in her mouth?“
Right now I guess I’d say we’re seeing each other. Does that sound vague enough?” He laughed.
She exhaled the breath that, until that moment, she didn’t realize she was holding. “You don’t have to be vague. You can be honest.” Her voice sounded a bit more natural. Curiosity overcoming fear.
“How do you see it?”
“No,” she laughed nervously “I asked you first.”
“I hope you’re the one but…” He stopped abruptly. Rachel tensed up again.
“But, what?”
“But, that isn’t a decision I can make on my own.”
“We can start investigating together tomorrow at dinner.” Her curiosity now giving way to excitement. What if he was the one?
“I’ll call you tomorrow and let you know when my last appointment is and we can make arrangements then.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
“I have to make my appointment now.”
“Okay, bye.”
Rachel hung up the phone and sat it on the end table. Maybe he was the one. She let out a squeal and grabbed her phone again.
“Shannon.” Rachel said her name almost before Shannon had finished saying Hello.
“Is everything all right?”
“Yes, why?”
“What do you mean why? Today. The rose.”
Rachel had chosen to forget the events of earlier in the day. She was no longer interested in being controlled by fear. For the moment she could smile and be excited and she was going to do it as long as possible. “I’m past that, for the moment. I just had the best conversation with Curtis.”
“With Curtis? I thought you were having dinner with Drew.” There was a clear I-told-you-so quality to her voice.
“I decided that Drew had some qualities I couldn’t deal with.”
“Such as?”
“A rather nasty temper.”
“What happened?”
Rachel briefly recapped the evening.
“I can’t believe he was like that. If he got so worked up in a public place I don’t want to think about what could have happened in a long term relationship.”
“Those were my thoughts.”
“So you ended it tonight.”
“I don’t think he’ll call back. He left in a huff after I paid the bill.”
“You paid the bill? What a winner.”
“I’m a 21st century lady. I can pay my own way but he is the type…never mind.”
“What type?”
“He just…No, I don’t want to talk about him. I want to talk about Curtis. That’s why I called in the first place.”
“Tell me about it.”
Rachel jumped out of her chair again and paced from the dining room to the living room and back. “I felt a connection with him tonight I’ve never felt before.”
“Like?”
“Like when we talked about church. I didn’t feel like I was going through the inquisition. He didn’t act like he was the be all and end all on wisdom.”
“Why don’t you go to something at church?”
Rachel took a sip of water and planned her words very carefully. “Why would I want to do that?”
“Same reason you do it for your mom. Look like you’re making an effort.”
“What’s wrong with him accepting me for who I am?”
“We’ve already talked about this.”
“But-.”
“Do you go on a date looking like you rolled out of bed?”
“No.” Her voice was flat.
“Then you try to impress him even though you know that is not who you really are.”
“That is absolutely not the same thing.” She sat on her chaise and scooted back in its cushions.
“Fine. All I am saying is if you went to some church event you will look like you’re really trying to understand him and you won’t have to deal with all the church stuff.”
“What, you mean like a picnic.” She could tolerate a social event with some church people. That would not be awful.
“Something like that. Find out if there are any social gatherings you can go to and do that. I think that’s your best plan. You’re bound to have to go to some of these if you get serious anyway so why not start them on your own terms.”
Rachel let the idea roll around in her mind a moment. “The idea isn’t awful.”
“Is that supposed to be a compliment?”
“If you want it to be. I know my mom has some women’s professional seminar going on soon. There’s a woman speaking I read about in Fast Company magazine. You know, Carol Adnaw, I could get a chance to talk to her and score brownie points at the same time.”
“Well there you go.”
They chatted for a few minutes about how Rachel could casually ask about the event without letting her mom think she was going to start coming to church.
“The best way will be to tell her you want to go see the speaker.”
“She’ll ask why you’re not coming with me.” Rachel picked at her fingers as she spoke. She was way overdue for a manicure. “Then what will I tell her?”
“Tell her I don’t want to come. We don’t do everything together.”
“Wish me luck.”
“Thinking good thoughts.” Shannon lifted her voice an octave or two in exaggerated excitement.
Rachel clicked the phone off and snuggled down in her chaise. A day of listening to a top woman executive wouldn’t be bad at all. They’d throw in a few things about Jesus and likely talk about how it’s all because of God that she is where she is today then the real teaching would begin. What women do to impress the men they love.
She didn’t necessarily think that love described her feelings toward him yet. It was more of eager fascination or strong interest. He knew how to make her heart jump in her chest. Many times he also knew how to infuriate her as well. She enjoyed challenge and Curtis represented a real challenge. He was different then other men she’d dated, which was part of his charm. The sting of lost loves ate at her. Life for Rachel marched as a series of regrets, what-ifs and if-onlys.
You are reading A Face in the Shadow by Tiffany Colter.
Tiffany is a writer, speaker and writing career coach. She is a frequent contributor to print and online publications in addition to her regular marketing blog at http://www.writingcareercoach.com/
Get each new chapter delivered to you by signing up for the Tiffany Colter Fiction Blog using the link on the right.
This story is copyright Tiffany Colter. 2007. It may not be copied, distributed, sold or included in any larger work without the expressed written permission of Tiffany Colter.
Bloggers may comment on or link to this blog from their own blog. To link directly to this posting click the title, then copy the address in the browser.
Friday, July 3, 2009
A Face in the Shadow Part 2 Chapter 31
Thirty-One
Logan lifted a ribbon off the bookshelf. Not many left, soon they’d be together. A surge of desire swelled inside. He looked at the open photo album on the table. Rachel on every page.
Whenever they spoke every bit of manhood inside fought to drive in to her house, not to wait. He had to discipline himself. He needed patience if he was going to do it right. She was battling within. She had two men fighting for her affections. The poor thing couldn’t know which way was right.
He would show her.
But now wasn’t the time. Everything had to be perfect. There were still ribbons on the shelf. He still had roses to be given. Win her slowly. Take her slowly.
It was the anticipation of the revelation that kept spice in relationships. Most often what isn’t said and what isn’t shown that keeps the relationship refreshing. She had to suspect by now it was him leaving the gifts for her. Who else could it be?
He smelled the bloom. Each one was sweeter than the last because it brought him one step closer to touching and loving his beautiful Rachel.
He walked to the picture of Rachel on the shelf that was on eye level. “Are you excited?” He asked it. “You have it figured out, don’t you?” A shiver ran down his body. “You’re playing along. I like that.” His voice was low and soft. It was the voice he was going to use when he stepped from the shadows and in to her life.
Forever.
He was going to be her fantasy. They would be like a couple in a romance novel. He would be her dream man who would show her things she never realized she wanted or needed.
When they spoke now there was always a spark. They had a connection that continued to draw her to him. No matter how many times she wavered she always came back to him. She’d come back this time too.
She had hurt him with her rejection when they last spoke. Her voice was cold and she was distant. She was lucky he was a man who was committed to her. All was forgiven.
Alpha Mu Epsilon.
You are reading A Face in the Shadow by Tiffany Colter.
Tiffany is a writer, speaker and writing career coach. She is a frequent contributor to print and online publications in addition to her regular marketing blog at http://www.writingcareercoach.com/
Get each new chapter delivered to you by signing up for the Tiffany Colter Fiction Blog using the link on the right.
This story is copyright Tiffany Colter. 2007. It may not be copied, distributed, sold or included in any larger work without the expressed written permission of Tiffany Colter.
Bloggers may comment on or link to this blog from their own blog. To link directly to this posting click the title, then copy the address in the browser.
Logan lifted a ribbon off the bookshelf. Not many left, soon they’d be together. A surge of desire swelled inside. He looked at the open photo album on the table. Rachel on every page.
Whenever they spoke every bit of manhood inside fought to drive in to her house, not to wait. He had to discipline himself. He needed patience if he was going to do it right. She was battling within. She had two men fighting for her affections. The poor thing couldn’t know which way was right.
He would show her.
But now wasn’t the time. Everything had to be perfect. There were still ribbons on the shelf. He still had roses to be given. Win her slowly. Take her slowly.
It was the anticipation of the revelation that kept spice in relationships. Most often what isn’t said and what isn’t shown that keeps the relationship refreshing. She had to suspect by now it was him leaving the gifts for her. Who else could it be?
He smelled the bloom. Each one was sweeter than the last because it brought him one step closer to touching and loving his beautiful Rachel.
He walked to the picture of Rachel on the shelf that was on eye level. “Are you excited?” He asked it. “You have it figured out, don’t you?” A shiver ran down his body. “You’re playing along. I like that.” His voice was low and soft. It was the voice he was going to use when he stepped from the shadows and in to her life.
Forever.
He was going to be her fantasy. They would be like a couple in a romance novel. He would be her dream man who would show her things she never realized she wanted or needed.
When they spoke now there was always a spark. They had a connection that continued to draw her to him. No matter how many times she wavered she always came back to him. She’d come back this time too.
She had hurt him with her rejection when they last spoke. Her voice was cold and she was distant. She was lucky he was a man who was committed to her. All was forgiven.
Alpha Mu Epsilon.
You are reading A Face in the Shadow by Tiffany Colter.
Tiffany is a writer, speaker and writing career coach. She is a frequent contributor to print and online publications in addition to her regular marketing blog at http://www.writingcareercoach.com/
Get each new chapter delivered to you by signing up for the Tiffany Colter Fiction Blog using the link on the right.
This story is copyright Tiffany Colter. 2007. It may not be copied, distributed, sold or included in any larger work without the expressed written permission of Tiffany Colter.
Bloggers may comment on or link to this blog from their own blog. To link directly to this posting click the title, then copy the address in the browser.
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