Part III

TARA

The day was postcard-perfect, the weather is the kind that feels like a kiss of summer without the fiery heat of noontime in August. Blue skies, no wind, and ambient temperature - it's more like an absence of weather really. It was a little late in the afternoon when I finished getting dressed, I was becoming more excited, and Eric will be here any minute.

It wasn't a moment later when I hear a knock on the front door. Eric is a gentleman; he didn't honk his horn or call me from his cellular. My totally fine date lightly tapped on the door and patiently waited with his hands planted nervously to his side.

It took me a moment to get the saliva flowing in my mouth as I peered at him through the screen. I forced my feet to move across the living room and I opened the door.

"Hi." I wrapped my arms around his neck, a smile eternally stained upon my lips, I closed my eyes and savored the moment, His touch made the room warmer somehow. I leaned back and peered into his sky-blue eyes, and somehow nothing else mattered, I wanted to stay just like this, in his arms forever.

"You are so pretty Tara Mae." He gives me a smile, bright as the sun that's so genuinely sweet with just the right touch of shyness; that unexpected warmth rushes through me.

I turn my head to the sound of something falling. I began to pray when I hear my mother groan out loud and curse as something else falls, this time it sounds like glass breaking. I knew she was headed out of her room. I just hoped she managed to pull herself together just a little bit and hopefully she put on the pink robe I had bought her in replacement of the old ratty and torn blue one.

"Tara" She shouted and then let out a dry throaty, sounding cough. The door swung open and there she was. My excitement, my bliss shifted from a dream to a nightmare. I was mortified, frozen to the spot. My mother used to be beautiful until she let alcohol and cigarettes take that way. Now she looks a hot mess, her hair matted to one side, wearing something that resembles a smock, through the sheer material, you can see a dirty bra littered with sweat stains and some gym shorts that should have been thrown away years ago. She stumbles towards us, sleepy-eyed with an uneven gait, indicating that she is still shit-faced drunk.

"Well hello, handsome!" Her voice was slurry and terribly hoarse. She extended her hand, Eric quickly scooped up her hand, firmly gripping it in a confident handshake. I could smell the sour scent of alcohol permeating off her unwashed skin and I cringed inside.

"Hello, Mrs. Thornton." He smiles warmly, totally unaffected by my mother's horribly disheveled appearance. She scratches the pile of messy uncombed hair on her head and she blushed invisibly beneath her dark skin as Eric nudged himself towards my side again.

"Well look at ya'll two fine young thangs! Those red-bone, high-yellow heifers ain't got nothin on my little dark chocolate doll!" Her hearty laugh morphed into another dry throaty cough and she turned and stumbled her way towards the kitchen, mumbling something about coffee and cigarettes.

"Let's go!" I whispered in a panic, I didn't wait for a response, I just rushed towards the door. Luckily, Eric was right on my heels. Out of the corner of my eyes, I could see him chuckling. I latched the screen door and shouted.

"See you later on mamma!"

We rode in his Corvette to Rain-Tree Park, the lake-side air was pungent with the fragrance of jasmine. He unloaded the trunk for us and set on our way. He carted a large red cooler, mine blue and small, both had long handles and wheels made, so walking and talking was no problem.

The slight breeze cooled my skin as we strolled along chatting nonstop, hand in hand.

We came to a place underneath a sycamore tree where the view of the countryside bathed in brilliant summer sunlight, grass grows taller in the meadows, swaying, rustling as cricket's chirp. He pulls the large navy-blue bag off his muscular shoulders and allows it to fall to the ground.

"Is this spot okay?" He asked as he reached into his bag and pulled out a large navy blue fleece blanket.

"It's perfect," I smiled, the grass is a soft green that almost has a hint of blue and in the sky, is enough pristine white cloud to show you how beautiful God truly is. "Here, let me help you with that," I say while I'm reaching for the blanket. I grab one end, unfolding, and placing it on the ground, he mirrors my actions and in less than a minute, we are both seated closely and comfortably on the large plush blanket.

He opens the big red cooler and I watch like a child watches his sibling opening presents at Christmas time. I'm happy, I can't wait to see what we are having for our picnic lunch. mamma would have a conniption fit if I ate the last of her corn flakes.

The big red cooler actually folds out into a small table and inside the ice-filled encasing are several Mason jars and Tupperware containers, big and small. He's smiling sweetly and we are just enjoying each other's company, he reaches for the blue backpack and pulls out a plastic grocery bag and hands it to me.

"Will you make the table Tara Mae?" He asked me and I giggled with delight, "Why of course I will." He had elegant disposable dinnerware, something you'd see at an outdoor wedding. I unrolled the red checkered cloth napkins, flat on the tabletop and our plates on top of the napkins; then the fork knife and spoon. He even had wine flutes for us.

"Very nice dark chocolate doll." His handsome, devilish smirk mutated into a gut-busting chuckle, his laugh was contagious, and even though I wish that moment had never happened, I couldn't help but laugh about it now.

"Shut up, god my mom is so embarrassing."

"What parents aren't?" He said coolly and shook some tortilla chips onto my plate and then his. "Try this Spring Salsa, my mom made it, everything else was made by yours truly."

He set out a large plastic bowl with this colorful chunky salsa made of corn, tomatoes, cilantro and a blend of favorable spices. One taste and I was in food paradise.

"Yummy!" I said in between bites, "this is amazing, tell Mrs. Northman I said thank you."

"Will do...She'll love to hear that." He opened the little blue cooler and made me a Lime Fizz. This perfect summer drink consists of simple syrup and lime soda.

"I have some vodka in there too if you want to turn that into an adult beverage." He said wagging his wheat-colored eyebrows suggestively and I rolled my eyes playfully.

"It's not happy-hour yet Jimmy Buffet."

"Fine," he huffed, only pretending to be disappointed, "I have some bottled water and homemade peach tea in the blue cooler."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome, babe." He said while chomping on a mouthful of chips and salsa. "Let's have the main course."

"Okay," I said eagerly and he pulled out two huge trays. He pulled the lid off one and inside was the most eye-pleasing kabobs I'd ever seen. My goodness, this kabob consisted of mozzarella balls, grape tomatoes, fresh basil, cheese tortellini, pepperoncini slices, and Italian dry salami.

"Wow, Eric, you made this?" I asked, according to Pam, Eric can burn water.

"I really did make every single kabob, my mom only supervised as I boiled the tortellini."

"This is really good."

"Will you kiss the chef?"

"Only if the chef has a desert."

He opened the other lid and showed me this colorful array of fruit kabobs. One fruit kabob consisted of chocolate coved strawberries and marshmallows; the other had watermelon, kiwi, cantaloupe, and grapes. I didn't say a word and I just crawled around the cooler like a cat stalking its prey. My eyes fixated on his sexy lips.

"Come here," I said before pressing my lips against his, he groans while caressing my cheek.

After a moment we pull away for air and we both are smiling at each other, enjoying that wonderful silence again.

We eat a few more Italian kabobs, lots of fruit kabobs, and we both finished off the salsa and I was stuffed. We lay back on the blanket, staring at the clouds, basking in contentment.

To be in his company is a little slice of heaven as if his aura were an elixir. Emotions swim in his eyes, in his body language, in the inflections of his voice - and all of that is so masculine, so sexy to me.

"Tara," He turned his head to me. "Yes Eric," I said turning my head to him, his eyes are dark and stormy, and at that moment, I knew what he was going to ask me, what he wanted.

"You are very special to me, and I know I'm moving fast, but I'd like for you to be my girl, exclusively."

I didn't answer him, my arms reached over and tangled around his thick, strong neck and I kissed him. I kissed him because I didn't want to tell him, no, but the reality was we are both going in different directions. I will be starting my freshman year of college in New Orleans he will be going back for his sophomore year at LSU. Even though our colleges are only a two-hour drive, I don't own a car, I'd have to ask him to me or pick me up every time. Besides, there is so much going on in college, the curriculum, the sports, the girls. Our relationship would fizzle out in a few months, just like he did with Sookie last year. Unlike, Sookie, I wouldn't be able to bounce back so easily. She had several other guys waiting on the sidelines for her. I'll make out with him and maybe before he leaves, we'll have sex, but afterward, we'll need to go our separate ways, it's for the best.

ERIC

The lake mirrored the sky above, both of them the kind of blue that colors those impossibly bright tourist brochures.

When she kissed me the world fell away, for the first time in forever I could feel my heartbeat... every single pound in my chest. I stroked her long black hair and pulled her into me and my mind relaxed. Her arms wrapped right around me brings a peace I've never known before, a calming of the storms in my heart.

"You didn't answer me." I whispered into her coconut scented hair, "Do you want to be my girl?"

"Eric," she sighed, her eyes are as rich as the earth's soil, looking into them you can see the truth, she kept her eyes steady, the sorrow already building as she stared off into the distance. I watched her breath hitched and she sighed. The breeze that ran unchecked over the rippled surface blew her long bangs from her eyes and she said nothing. I could tell a million thoughts swam in her mind, a thousand words were on the tip of her tongue, yet she said nothing. Despite myself, I was becoming impatient.

"I guess, I can assume, the answer is no... And that is your choice, but it would be nice to know why, I mean, I know this town is very small-minded, but who cares about them, at least our moms are okay with us dating." I was rambling, but it was all I had at this moment.

"I've never given a damn what people think, that's why Pam and I get along so well," She smiled slightly, but not enough to make me assume she'd changed her mind.

"So, if it isn't other people, then it's me?" Is it because you've heard about my past with some of the girls around here?"

"Your ho-status is none of my concern, besides, you don't even come close to being the biggest whore in town." When she giggled my heart began to warm again. All I wanted to do was make her happy. I know I could if she'd only let me.

"Let me think Eric...I'm not saying no, I just need time to think..."

"That's fair," I said, trying to mask my disappointment, but I could hear it in my voice, I am sure she can see it all over my face.

She leaned in and kissed me with her perfect lips and again, I am overwhelmed by that wonderful, yet unexplained feeling. I haven't figured out how to do it just yet, but I have got to have her. Tara has got to be all mine.