Sex in another City
By the time we touched down it was completely dark outside and still snowing. We ambled off the plane, and as we left I could not help but catch the look the blond flight attendant gave Erik as we passed. I glared at her and she looked away.
Erik did not notice at all. He was more elated at the fact that he had survived the flight, and in all truthfulness he had very little fright left for the airplane. In fact, he was now just as fascinated by the technology that enabled a massive object like the plane to stay airborne as he had been by my television set.
"That was not so bad now was it?" I asked Erik as we waited to pick up our luggage in the tiny tine Rochester Airport.
"No, it was quite fascinating actually," I laughed. Had I known why it was so fascinating to him I might not have found it so funny.
It was difficult to get our luggage to the rental car pick up. I got one of those luggage pulley things, but I had packed so much that my bags kept toppling off of it. The worst part was I could tell Erik was in pain and needed to relax and sit down.
It was freezing outside, I was shivering in my Prada trench coat, and I got the bags into the car as quickly as I could. I told Erik to sit in the car while I did this. As expected, his manly pride prevented him from doing this and he stood beside me, shivering in the cold.
We drove out from the parking garage and Erik got his first taste of Rochester.
"It's…" He began,
"Tiny compared to New York," I finished for him,
"It is," Erik said as he looked out the window, "It…like a baby city,"
I laughed, "No it's like a black sheep city; I have said all my life the Upstate New York is the weird cousin New York City never talks about,"
It was Erik's turn to laugh, "I can tell you have put some thought into this,"
"Just a little," I smiled in the dark.
We finally arrived at the hotel. It was nice enough, no Plaza but it would do. I asked a confused looking bell hop to help me bring the bags up to our room. In Rochester, people carry luggage for themselves. However, as it was me verses an army of my own wardrobe, Erik's things, plus multiple Christmas presents, I called in reinforcements.
All totaled, it was very late by the time Erik and I were settled into our room. Erik sat gratefully on the bed and turned on the TV while I jumped in the shower. Erik felt exhausted and he figured he would fall asleep quite soon. He was already dressed in sweatpants and a sweater. Not his own fashion choice, but the only thing he really could comfortably wear with casts.
When I came out of the bathroom he was already nodding. He woke up slightly more on my entrance however.
"How's the bed?" I asked him as I put away the clothes I had been wearing,
"Very nice, come and see for yourself," He said sleepily,
I gladly climbed into the bed; the room was cold and I was grateful for the warm Erik, and the comforter, offered. I slid up beside him and closed my eyes as I draped an arm over him. It was then that I realized how miserable I would have been going home and staying in a hotel without him.
I opened my eyes again, "I'm really happy you're here with me," I said,
Erik had nearly been asleep but the sound of my voice saying these words kept him awake, "I wouldn't want to be anywhere else," he tightened the arm he had placed around me.
I don't remember ever being so happy, and for me to say that while in a hotel in Rochester when I have been living in New York City in an amazing apartment, was really saying something.
The way things were planned, I would not have to see my family for another couple of days. Christmas was not until Sunday and it was only Wednesday. So, we got to sleep in late and stay in bed for most of the day. There were things I had to do though.
"Erik, I should get up," It was about three in the afternoon and I had hardly moved out of the bed. I made to dislodge myself from his arm.
"No you shouldn't," He said, and I relaxed against him again, "We have all we need here," He continued, "Food," he pointed at the bag of chips between us, "Drink," He pointed at the water on the bedside table, "And entertainment, well…sort of entertainment," We were watching King Arthur on HBO. It was a bit of a bad movie.
"I know, and I don't want to leave," I said, "But I still have to get things for my family and I don't want to wait another day because everything will be gone,"
Erik sighed, "I just wish I could go with you," He glanced at his arm and leg,
"I'll be back soon," I promised him, kissing him lightly as I got out of the bed. The moment I stood I felt the cold air rush to my body, "God its freezing!"
"That's why you should stay here," Erik said, watching me as I hurried to get on my warm robe,
"Believe me I would love to," I said, "But if I show up at my family's house with only gifts for you…"
"And what would those gifts be?" Erik said cunningly,
I laughed, "I am not going to tell you! It'll ruin all the fun,"
Erik laughed as I went into the bathroom. He was as excited for Christmas as most small children were. This was because he had never had a Christmas before. He had never had anyone give him anything, except fear and loathing, and he had never had anyone to give anything to. Unless you counted Christine, Erik thought, and he did not because the only thing he had ever given Christine that she had actually wanted was her voice.
"Alright," I came out of the bathroom and pulled on my trench, "I'll be back as soon as I can; do you want me to bring something home for dinner?"
"We could just go out," He suggested,
"Are you up to that?" I asked,
"I'm not dying Olivia," Erik said sternly,
"Ok," I understood that it must be hard for him to be unable to have the full freedom of his body, "When I get back we'll pick somewhere to go,"
I kissed Erik goodbye and hurried off to the tiny Marketplace Mall. As I reached the parking lot and climbed into the car, it occurred to me that Erik had just requested that we go out. I laughed, remembering when I had had to bend his arm to get him to even go outside.
Up in the hotel room Erik had just realized the same thing. He had to laugh as well; it seemed that that Erik was now left far behind, and he could not imagine not going out.
The mall was very busy; which meant that it looked like a normal New York City street. There were the usually corny Christmas decorations; the big red ribbons hanging from the ceiling, fake snow, and of course a fake Santa taking pictures with a bunch of children. I noticed as I passed that all of these kids were in varying degrees of happiness ranging from delighted to absolutely miserable.
I found I was somewhere in between emotions as well. I was happy that Erik was here with me, but I felt absolute dread when I thought of mixing him with my family. I had never brought a boyfriend home before; I was to scared he would turn and run when he met the family I was from.
My sister and her husband would look down on him (they looked down on everyone from the city) their children would annoy him; my mother would say embarrassing things…the only one I was not worried about was my father. He usually got along with everyone. And of course, if my oldest sister Andy had come…
"Olivia!" I whipped around, shocked, "Andy!" I was the youngest of my sisters, and my oldest sister Andy was a journalist who lived in San Francisco. She was married to a very successful artist who had grown up in France. We were always on good terms, but we were both so busy I hardly ever got the chance to see her or speak to here, and she hardly ever came home.
"Andy!" I yelled and ran to embrace her, "Why didn't you tell me you were coming!"
"I wanted to surprise you!" she said happily. I turned to greet her husband, Leo, who appeared to be carrying all the things they had bought.
"Lily called me and I told her not to tell you," Andy continued, "I always knew she would be good for something," I smiled at her. She looked exactly the way she had when I had seen her three years ago; she had come out for my wedding that had never happened. "Hey, Lily told me you brought somebody; where is he?"
I smiled again. I knew Andy would be happy for me; she had seen how upset I had been after Mark. "He's back at the hotel; he was in a car accident and he broke his arm and leg,"
"Oh my God! That's awful!" Andy was quite sincere,
"But he will be at the house for Christmas," I added,
"Liv, hasn't the poor man been through enough?" Andy laughed,
I laughed to, "What are you two doing tonight?"
"Well, I was planning on calling and surprising you, but I guess I just did that so…dinner? Around eight?" Andy said,
"Perfect, where?"
Andy stopped, "I don't even know what places are around here anymore!" she laughed,
"Me neither," I laughed along with her, "I passed an Olive Garden on the way over here,"
"As long as they serve food,"
And so, at the end of the day, I returned to the hotel with packages in hand and dinner plans in head.
Erik had spent the time I was gone sleeping and half watching another Law and Order marathon. He kept having the strangest dream; I was a detective and I kept figuring out where he had really come from. He was glad I was back to keep him awake.
"Did you find everything you needed?" Erik asked, and he eyed the numerous bags in my hands,
"Yes," I smiled, dropped the bags and climbed onto the bed, "And I found something else too," I kissed him on the cheek, "I ran into my sister,"
"Lily?" He asked,
"No my other sister Andy,"
"How many sisters do you have?"
I smiled, "Just the two; Andy lives in San Francisco and she came up here and surprised me!" I snuggled down beside him on the bed, "We are meeting her and her husband tonight at eight,"
Erik could tell I was happy about this, so he was determined not to show his nerves. He could tell I actually liked this sister, so he actually had to impress this sister.
At quarter to eight we made it down to the car. It was difficult for Erik to get ready; he could not get his casts wet and usually I had to help him. He did however, exchange his sweats for slacks and a button up shirt and coat. Erik got into the passengers side, with some difficulty and I climbed into the driver's side.
"Do you still want to learn how to drive?" I asked Erik as we pulled out of the hotel,
Erik looked down at the cast on his leg, "Maybe later,"
I nodded, "So where are we going?" Erik asked me,
"Olive Garden," I said, "It's the only place we could think of that was not completely hideous,"
"As long as they serve food," Erik said,
"That's exactly what Andy said!" I exclaimed, "You are going to love her! She's really great, and her husband is really interesting too; and he's French! So you two should have a lot to talk about,"
Erik felt his stomach twist a little. Erik's guess was that France had changed some since he had last been there 124 years ago. Andy's husband probably knew a lot about things there that he did not. What if he asked Erik what street he used to live on? Or where he used to work?
He looked over at me. Would it be better to just tell me now? "Olivia?" he began as I pulled the car into the parking lot and found a space,
"Yeah?" I looked at him as I put the car in park,
The words were on his lips, and then he stared at me. My eyes were wide and innocent seeming; and he couldn't do it. "I love you," he finished.
I smiled widely, "I love you two,"
I'm a coward Erik thought bitterly as he followed me inside. I scanned the lobby and saw my sister and her husband waiting there already.
"Andy!" I greeted her with the same ferocious hug I had earlier in the mall. I hugged Leo as well. Erik stood awkwardly behind me. He scanned the room quickly and caught sight of himself in a mirror. He suddenly remembered that as far as these people were concerned, he was never anything but a normal man. Erik felt him confidence rise as I stepped back and introduced him,
"Andy, Leo, this is Erik Duval, Erik, this is my sister Andy and her husband Leo Orlick,"
Leo extended a hand, and then switched hands because he realized which of Erik's arms was in a cast. Andy was never a hand shaker; she just hugged him.
"It's so good to meet you!" Andy smiled, "Olivia has told me so much about you,"
"Well then I am sorry your sister subjected you to that," Erik said nervously; he already felt awkward compared to Leo, who stood relaxed next to his wife.
"Don't be silly!" Andy said, and at that moment the little black round thing in Andy's hand began to vibrate, indicating that our table was ready, "Oh God, it's trying to attack me!" Andy was unfamiliar with this mode of calling one to ones seat.
"I think that means they are ready for us," I laughed as my sister looked suspiciously at the black round thing.
As we followed the host back to a table, Erik realized that for the first time, he knew without any doubt that no one was looking at him at though he was some sort of freak. He had convinced himself that he did not care, and that the sidelong glances and murmurs meant nothing, but in truth it still bothered him. But now, he knew that the only people who were looking at him were the ones who were wondering how he broken his arm and leg.
This was all only a fleeting thought in Erik's mind; like momentarily considering purchasing an outfit you know you will only wear once. Erik had bigger things on his mind. He stared across the table at Andy and Leo.
Four dinner orders and some red wine later, we finally started talking.
"So," Andy, never at a lack for words or bluntness, began, "How long have you two know each other?"
"Since…" I looked at Erik and thought,
"Since the beginning of the summer," Erik finished for me; thinking briefly of that time when he had first met me. It was strange, Erik thought, at that time he had thought that he might be able to live without me, but now he knew he could not. And what was more, I was thinking the same thing about him.
"Ah, and how did you meet?" Andy continued, interested,
"He moved into my building," I said, and under the table I placed my hand on his thigh,
Erik momentarily reviled in my light touch before speaking, "I literally ran into her one morning; she was late and trying to pull on those high heals she wears,"
Leo smiled and Andy laughed out loud, "That sounds like my sister…so how did you ask her out?"
"Well I didn't actually," Erik said, milling over the strange way our first date had come about, "She was trying to get away from a…what did you call him?" Erik looked at me,
"Toxic bachelor," I said quickly,
"Yes, that…and so she lied to him and said she had plans with me,"
"And you what? Just pulled him into a cab and drove off?" Andy was smiling widely and our odd little New York fairy tale.
I nodded guiltily and turned to Erik, "You must have thought I was absolutely mad for doing that…We didn't even know each other's names!" I did not mention that at the time I had thought he was the one who was mad.
"I just thought maybe it was something American girls do," Erik smiled at me, and under the table he placed his hand over mine on his leg.
"Ah yes," Leo spoke up, "You are hiding your accent well but I can tell you are from France yes?"
Erik felt his heartbeat quicken as the subject he feared came up, "yes," he said,
"Where in France?" Leo asked interested,
"Paris," Erik knew that whatever had happened, at least Paris was still a city in France,
"I lived in Paris for five years; marvelous city, tell me, where did you live?"
Shit, Erik thought. He should have been prepared for this. He knew this would come up! And what could he say? The only residence he had ever retained in Paris was under the friggin' opera! And he could not say that…so the truth was out. To make things worse, the only time he had left his underground abode was when he needed supplies for something, and this hardly provided him with any knowledge about the residential areas and street names.
Realizing that it was taking him entirely too long to answer a very simple question, a name suddenly popped into his head. The Persian…
Erik blurted out the name of the street and apartment number where the Persian used to live and hoped.
"Hmm, never hear of it," Leo said, but to Erik's relief his voice was completely un suspicious, "Paris is one of those cities though, where you can live in it all your life and still not know ever street name,"
Erik nodded, agreeing wholeheartedly. He also let out a huge, mental sigh of relief.
"So where did you work in Paris?" Leo asked,
Shit Erik thought again.
"I used to write music, but I doubt you would have ever heard any of it," Erik added quickly, "I was not very good,"
"Oh no!" I said, "You're very talented! I've heard you sing, and you played the organ at the wedding…"
"At whose wedding?" Andy asked quickly, and Erik hoped that this might turn the conversation in another direction.
"Elizabeth Parker and Dwight Munroe," I said, "Their organist fainted and Erik stepped in instead," I beamed at Erik as I remembered that day in August when we had gone to the wedding together.
"Yes, it was all very nice, until your friend's boyfriend elbowed me in the eye," Erik narrowed his eyes in a teasing sort of way that made him look very handsome.
"Well, that was too bad…" I smiled as I remembered him holding the frozen corn to his eye,
"Wait what happened?" Andy and Leo leaned in closer,
"You remember my friend Susan?" I began, "Her boyfriend at the time was jealous of Erik…"
"He was a loony," Erik muttered,
"And he accidentally on purpose elbowed Erik in the eye on the dance floor,"
"Poor man!" Andy looked sympathetic even though she was smiling, "So you've had a hurt eye and now your whole body is broken! What is Olivia doing to you?"
"I'd tell you," Erik said, taking a sip of the red wine, "But there are children at the next table," everyone laughed.
The rest of the dinner went on in the same way; pleasant conversation and amusing anecdotes. To Erik's delight, the topic of his time in Paris did not come up again. Full, I made an announcement,
"I'm going to the bathroom," I said,
"Congratulations," Erik teased me. I threw him a would be angry look,
"You are lucky you are so cute," I said to him,
"I think I will go too," Andy said standing with me.
Together we walked to the bathroom,
"Well Liv, you've finally done it," Andy said once we got into the bathroom, "You finally found a man that's worth your time,"
"So you like him?" I turned happily toward her,
"Olivia he's wonderful! I always said the French ones were the best," Andy hugged me, "And you love him?"
"With all my heart," I answered honestly,
"So is there a wedding in the future?" Andy asked excitedly,
"If he asks I will say yes," I said,
"Olivia…my baby sister is in love!" Andy squealed and she hugged me. I hugged her back and sort of jumped up and down. A woman came out of one of the stalls behind us and stared at us before quickly leaving.
"Oh, I'm so happy for you," Andy beamed at me and I knew what she meant without her having to say it. She had seen how hurt I had been after Mark. Andy knew what it would take for me to actually want to marry a man again.
While Andy and I shared a sweet sister moment, Erik and Leo shared an awkward moment. Leo finally broke the tension by speaking, in French.
"You and Olivia seem very happy together,"
It took Erik a moment to process what he had said; it had been so long since he had heard the French language being spoken, and it had changed some since he had last been familiar with it. Still, he understood and responded, "We are,"
"That it good, because no one deserves it more that Olivia; she has mentioned Mark Berry to you?" But Leo did not need Erik to answer; he knew by the sudden flash of anger in his eyes that Erik knew what had happened. "I have come to think of Olivia as a younger sister, and I hated to see her so devastated…I imagine that will not happen again?"
Erik felt a heat rise within him, but he could not be angry with Leo; he had my best interests at heart. Erik shook his head, "I would never do anything to cause her pain,"
Leo nodded and they were silent for a moment. Then Erik spoke, "You and Andy…how long have you two been married?"
The expression on Leo's face changed completely. Though he laughed often he usually wore a sarcastic smile and just now, speaking to Erik, he had been quite tough seeming. However at the mention of Andy he cracked a genuine smile and his eye lit slightly, "Almost ten years now,"
"That's quite awhile; congratulations," Erik said,
"I still remember everything about the day I first met her; she came to interview me about an upcoming gallery opening of mine. Her hair was long then, if you can imagine, and she wore a blue dress with black heals," He smiled and shook his head, "I knew I loved her the moment I saw her,"
Erik blinked and nodded, for once understanding what someone meant when they talked about love. "We only dated for a month before I proposed," Leo continued, "Everyone thought we were mad, except for Olivia. She supported us all the way; she even helped me pick out the ring I gave to Andy," Leo paused for a moment, "What about you? Do you plan to propose?"
He nodded and opened his mouth to speak but then he saw Andy and me returning. Hurriedly he whispered, "I do, I'm just waiting for the right time," And there was no time for Leo to respond before we reached the table.
"What are you laughing about?" Erik asked me, switching back to English.
Andy and I were both still giggling at what we had seen on the way back to the table, "You two Frenchmen are creating quite a stir," I explained, "Every woman in the restaurant was staring at this table while you two were speaking,"
"And while we were in the bathroom two more women had come in, both completely taken by the two Frenchmen at the next table," Andy laughed as she told this story. Then she craned her neck slightly, "Ah yes there they are," she indicated the table behind them, "The blond has claimed you darling," Andy patted her husbands knee, "and the brunette feels very bad that you are hurt Erik, but she has sworn to make you feel all better,"
Both Erik and Leo laughed before Leo spoke, "Well, Erik, I think it would be rude if we did not go introduce ourselves to these two ladies,"
"Right you are," and they both made to stand up and leave.
I knew very well they were both joking, but something inside me did not listen to reason. I grabbed Erik's hand with the speed of someone reaching for the last dress in their size at a sample sale.
"Darling you know I'm only joking," Erik said to me softly,
"I know," I said, but I had still not released his hand. The truth was I could not enjoy this the same way Andy could. Andy and Leo were married. Erik and I were in love, but we were not engaged. I did not have the same sort of security Andy did.
Dinner was over and we had to part ways for the time.
"I really have to come out here more often," Andy said as she embraced me. We were standing outside in the parking lot. It had started to snow and we were all shaking slightly.
"And I will have to come out to see you more too," I said before we broke apart.
I moved to Leo and embraced him as well, "It was lovely to see you again," I said to him,
"It's always good to see you Olivia," and then he whispered in my ear, "And it's good to see you so happy,"
Erik stared awkwardly at Andy, "It was very good to meet you," he said, and he extended a hand.
Andy laughed at him, "You're practically family! We don't shake hands!" she embraced him as well, saying in his ear, "Thank you for making my sister so happy,"
Erik did not really know what to say. He patted Andy on the back with his good arm and then she backed away. Erik did shake hands with Leo, who he was relieved he actually liked.
"We'll see you at Christmas!" I said to them as we walked to our cars,
"See you then!" Andy called back.
On the way to the hotel Erik had a lot on his mind. Watching Leo and Andy made him realize how much he wanted what they had. And when Andy had called him 'practically family,' he had realized that if he married me, he would not only be getting a wife. He would be getting sisters and brothers in law, and a mother and father in law. Normally this prospect would scare the Ralph Lauren pants off of a man, but to someone who had never had a mother, or a father, or a sister or brother, it was exciting. Especially since he genuinely liked Andy and Leo.
Seeing Andy and Leo together had affected me as well. I saw their happiness and how much they loved each other. And I knew I wanted that. Erik loved me; I was fairly sure of that. So why had he not proposed?
At the restaurant, it had occurred to me that if Erik did ever want to leave, he could. He was not attached to me. He had not asked me to spend the rest of our lives together. By the time we reached the hotel this was all I could think about. I tried to act as though nothing was bothering me and I retreated to the shower.
Normally the water calmed me, but this time I would not be comforted. What if Erik never proposed? What if I never had what my sister and Leo had? What if I died alone and miserable? The truth was that after Mark I was convinced of this fate. Erik seemed too good to be true…so what if he was? What if everyone around me lived happily ever after and I died alone? I was too far gone to think rationally and I sank to the floor of the shower and started to cry.
I tried to tell myself that I was being foolish and creating a lot of drama for nothing. I reminded myself that Erik loved me, but I still remembered how he had left me after what happened with Mark and I could not control myself.
It happened that Erik picked this moment to retrieve the book he had left in the bathroom. When I heard the door open I tried to stop crying, but Erik heard the sound over the running water anyway.
"Olivia are you alright?" Erik moved to the shower and spoke through the curtain,
"I'm fine," But my voice sounded shaky and he could tell I had been crying. He grabbed the edge of the shower curtain and pulled it back. Erik stared at me shocked; I was still crouched on the floor and my eyes were red.
Quickly he reached for the knobs and turned off the water. Grabbing a towel he handed it to me, "Olivia, what happened? What's wrong?"
Taking a deep breath I wrapped the towel around me, "It's nothing…seeing my sister again; it just brought back a lot of memories,"
Erik stared at me, leaning against the wall for support. He did not understand; everything had gone so well, "What made you so upset?"
"Nothing," I lied, "I just…I see how happy they both are…"
"We're not happy?" Erik searched his memory; had he done something to upset me without realizing it?
"No…we are happy…" there was a long pause. "I just worry sometimes," I began heavily, "When Mark left me I though I would never really love someone again, and then when you left me it killed me…"
"Olivia I'm so sorry," Erik reached out with his good arm and took my hand, "I did a stupid thing and I wish I hadn't, but please believe me; I never want to be away from your side again,"
"Then marry me Erik," I said
"Pardon?" Erik raised his eyebrows,
"I said marry me," my voice was a bit stronger now as I came to a conclusion. My whole life, I had taken a strong approach to get exactly what I wanted out of my career, my wardrobe, my landlord…but when it came to men I always found myself weak and scrambling. "Erik, I can't be in another relationship that ends in heartbreak and I love you too much to just let it run on so…I need to know now; Erik Duval, will you marry me?"