PART FOUR
7-4-07/Wednesday, Independence Day.
Bay Area Rapid Transit deposits Joan safe and sound at the Berkeley station right at noon. Adam is waiting, and they immediately enjoy a wonderfully passionate kiss. Once again Joan feels her spiritual connection fading in the face of so much hormonal overdrive, but she doesn't care. The kiss tells her everything. Adam is ready and very willing. They exit the station arm-in-arm.
Keeping his word, Adam does indeed take her on a tour of the U. C. Berkeley campus, but Joan can tell by the way Adam keeps checking his watch, this tour is just a formality. He too is eager for them to be alone. They tour the botanical gardens, which are beautiful and romantic. Tney stop frequently for deep kisses and wonderfully exciting caresses. The rest of the campus goes by quickly as it is a national holiday and everything is closed. The campus, normally containing 30,000 students, is nearly deserted. They do stop at the university's museum, and a friend of Adam's who works security allows them a quick run through of the place, but neither seems all that interested in the exhibits.
Still checking his watch, Adam finally leads Joan to his off campus studio apartment. They have come nearly full circle as the apartment is only a few blocks from the BART station. The apartment building is used exclusively by students, but there are few people home as everyone else seems to be out celebrating the day. Adam and Joan share a long kiss at his door in preparation of their own type of celebration.
"Here it is, Jane. Like I told you, it isn't much."
Joan looks at the small apartment and is pleasantly surprised. The furnishing is a little sparse, rather dormroom like, but it is clean and has good quality…everything.
"Adam, it's wonderful, and surprisingly clean considering a bachelor lives here."
"You mean two."
"Two?"
"Yeah, my room mate Wil. Remember, I described him in an e-mail I sent you shortly after I arrived here."
Joan pauses, searching her memory. "Oh yeah, that was early last September. I was…unusually distracted at the time. Wait, is it because of your room mate you haven't invited me back here before now?"
"Well, duh. I had to wait until I could get Wil out of the way. He's only taking one class this semester, and his girlfriend is back east for the summer, so he's been moping around here almost all of the time."
Joan shakes her head. It was so simple, and here she was imagining all sorts of crazy ideas as to why Adam wasn't trying to seduce her. In this small studio apartment, three was definitely a crowd.
"Uh, when are you expecting your room mate back?"
"Not until Monday. I talked it over with him, and since he was going home to San Jose for a fourth of July family barbeque, he agreed to stay away until his class on Monday."
"So, we can be alone for the rest of the week?"
"Oh yeah." Adam says as he takes Joan into his arms and kisses her. Passion quickly builds between them as caresses become intimate and eagerness overtakes them.
"Jane…are you sure this is what's right for us? I want you so much, but I don't want us to be hurt in the process. The ripples…?"
"Adam, I don't know the future, and I can't tell what this will do for our relationship, but I now I want this more than I've ever wanted anything else. Uh, where is your bed?"
Adam chuckles as Joan looks around the only large room of the place. On opposite sides of the room, there are comfortable looking futons, but no bed.
"We don't have beds, but these futons fold down to make really comfortable beds of their own. This one is mine. Help me with the sheets?"
Joan nods and Adam produces bedding from a nearby closet. They prepare the futon, and soon it looks just like a bed, although a little over-stuffed as a mattress. Adam adds a couple of pillows to complete the effect.
"Would you like something to drink? I have some wine."
"Yes…wine would be great." Joan says, suddenly feeling nervous.
As Adam enters the tiny kitchenette, Joan nervously sits on the futon. Well, this is it. What you've been waiting for. Joan remembers a time from when she was dating Dylan, when the two of them came so close… That is until she panicked and called the whole thing off at the last possible second. Joan gulps, oh please, don't let that happen now. You want this. You can do it…
"I hope white wine is okay?" Adam says as he returns and hands Joan a glass.
Joan nods as she takes a sip, coughs a bit and then drinks about half the glass down. Adam sips his own wine, smiles and takes Joan's hand.
"I know you're nervous. Everyone is the first time. I promise to be gentle, and if there is anything that is making you uncomfortable or if you want to pause for awhile, it's okay. Let me know what you like, and what you don't like. It will be okay."
Joan attempts a joke. "Only okay?"
"Well, I don't like to brag… Really Jane, just know that I love you and I only want you to be happy."
Joan nods and finishes her wine. Adam finishes his and puts their glasses on the nearby coffee table. They share a gentle, romantic kiss, and Joan begins to relax.
Adam gives her a sheepish grin. "I know this isn't very romantic, but before we start I have to…ya know."
Joan giggles. "I'll be waiting until you get back."
Adam enters the bathroom and Joan waits patiently on the futon, wondering if it would be okay if she had another glass of wine. Why not? Joan goes to the kitchenette and finds the wine in a compact refrigerator. She pours herself another glass and returns to the futon. As she sips the wine, Joan wonders what she should do. Maybe Adam expects her to undress while he is out of the room? Should she be naked when he comes back? But what if he is fully dressed? That would be awkward. On the other hand, if she stays fully dressed and he comes out naked… Joan blushes at that thought. Maybe Adam would enjoy undressing her—Dylan always did. Oh crap, she doesn't need that mental image right now. What is taking him so long? Maybe he's looking for condoms. Should she tell him she has a generous supply in her purse? Or maybe he has a ritual where he psyches himself…'up'? Joan giggles at this thought. Okay, that's enough wine.
Joan returns her half full glass to the coffee table and notices one of Adam's sketch books. It is a lot larger than the one he use to carry in high school, but with fewer pages. Curious as to what he has been working on, Joan opens the book. A naked woman. Oh…okay, Adam is an artist and occasionally does work with nudes. Joan turns the page—another naked woman. Joan begins flipping through the pages quickly and finds one naked woman after another. Dozens of them, all beautiful and sexy. Joan gulps nervously. He said there were only two. She was sure he was telling the truth.
Adam exits the bathroom, he is wearing a white tee, white boxers and white socks. Joan thinks he looks cute, but she can't help holding up the sketch book and shouting, "Adam, what the hell?"
"Jane?"
"You said there were only two!"
"That I slept with. Those are my final sketches for the portraits I've been painting."
"This is what you meant when you said you were staying at Berkeley because your work had picked up?"
"Well, yeah. What did you think?"
"That you were selling your sculptures and work like your mural."
"I wish. I've been making extra money painting some very commercial, very quickly produced boudoir type pictures. Most of those women have them done as gifts for their husbands or boyfriends."
"Oh…" Joan pauses, feeling a little foolish, but a new thought occurs. "Are those 'two' in here?"
"Jane, don't go there."
Joan nods, returns the sketch book to the coffee table, and grabs her wineglass. She downs the rest of her drink and turns back to Adam. "Okay, showtime."
Adam chuckles. "How romantic."
"Sorry. How…do we proceed?"
"Well, you could start by taking off your shoes."
Joan kicks off her shoes and smiles. "What else would you like me to take off?"
Adam smiles and comes closer. He removes the wide black belt that divides her grey skirt from her white silk blouse. Adam begins to slowly unbutton the blouse, and Joan feels a thrill run through her body. Oh yes, there would be no last moment backing out this time. When the last button is undone, she removes her blouse and tosses it aside. They tumble upon the futon, kissing passionately. Joan guides Adam's hand around to the back of her bra…
The phone rings. In unison, they groan in frustration.
"Sorry. There's no voice mail on the landline. I'll get that and then unplug it."
As Adam leaves the futon, Joan whispers, "Hurry."
Joan rests her head on the pillow and listens to Adam's side of the conversation. She can't make out the caller's words, but from the tone, it is a woman... "Hello?...Oh, it's you…This isn't a good time…What's wrong?...He did? What should we do?...It still needs a few finishing touches…Okay, I promise. I'll do it…Yeah, me too. Goodbye."
Adam turns, running his fingers through his hair. He seems agitated and very worried. He looks at Joan and a few tears appear in his eyes.
"Joan, I'm so sorry, but something has come up. There's something else I have to do."
Joan stares at Adam in disbelief. "Are you kidding me? I know what's come 'up', and the thing you have to do is me! Whatever that call was about, whatever SHE might want, I'm the one in your bed."
"Joan, it's not like that. I just really have to take care of something very important."
"More important than me? More important than this? And why am I suddenly 'Joan' again?"
"Sorry, I guess I'm not thinking clearly."
"I'll say. Are you actually kicking me out of your bed to hook up with another woman?"
"What? No, how can you think that? This is...uh, a business matter. Something I have to attend to right away."
"You were always a lousy liar Adam Rove."
"Jane, please believe me, I love you and the last thing I want is for you to go. God, you have no idea how much I want to be with you, but this is something out of my control."
Joan leaves the futon and slips on her blouse, holding it closed with her hand. She retrieves her shoes and belt with her other hand. She is furious, but a part of her wants to believe Adam. Even if there is another woman, it seems impossible he would treat her this way.
"I guess I better go."
"I'm sorry Jane. Really sorry. Look, I'll see you at Dean Bloom's birthday party this evening. Maybe, we can leave early and come back here tonight?"
Joan stares at Adam as if he has lost his mind. "So, you think I have no pride left? Goodbye Adam."
"I can walk you to the station."
"Don't bother!" Joan shouts as she exits, slamming the door as hard as she can.
X X X X X
"Wow!" Joan says for the third time. The first time was when she, Florene and kate stepped off the elevator into the ornate, golden foyer of the penthouse apartment of David Bloom. The second time was when they entered the main salon of the Bloom home - it is the biggest room Joan has ever seen in a private residence. The third 'wow' was in reaction to the spectacular view of San Francisco Bay through the sliding glass doors that lead to the rooftop terrace.
Kate Bloom chuckles, "You bet, 'Wow'. This place and that view costs David the price of a new car every month. He had a perfectly lovely home in Berkeley before he married Ashley, but it wasn't good enough for her. She wanted to live in the city where the action is. Now she spends her days shopping and her nights throwing parties or going to them."
Joan reluctantly turns from the view as Kate and Florene escort her over to their host. Joan thinks it a little odd that the two women in love are wearing identical dresses, but is too polite to say so. As for her, Joan is once again back in her little black dress. After making their way through a crowd of a hundred plus and a catering crew of over a dozen, they arrive at the birthday boy. David Bloom is a fit man with slightly greying dark hair and is about six feet tall. From the empty champagne glass he is holding, it is not hard to see he is a little buzzed.
"Happy birthday big brother." Kate says as they share a quick hug.
"Thank you, Kate. Florene, always good to see you." David says as he and Florene exchange cheek kisses.
Florene responds, "Happy birthday, David. Allow me to introduce my young cousin..."
"Oh, I know who this is. I've heard Adam talk on and on about his beautiful hometown girlfriend, and I've seen his mural. Hello Jane."
Joan shakes hands with David. "Nice to meet you, sir. Happy birthday, and...my name is actually Joan."
"Joan? I thought for sure..."
"Jane is the nickname Adam calls me, and sometimes...even he forgets." Joan says a litlle bitterly.
Florene asks, "David, when we entered we were handed this balloon. What are we suppose to do with it?"
David grumbles, "Ashley's bright idea. Guests are to tie the balloon to their present and then deposit the gift on our bed in the master suite. Black balloons with the number 50 on them! I ask you, aren't birthdays suppose to be festive occasions? What is celebratory in a reminder of approaching death? Am I wrong?"
Joan replies, "My Dad had those at his fiftieth birthday, and he was not amused."
"Exactly." David says as he exchanges his glass for a full one from the tray of a passing waiter. "Jane, I mean Joan, feel free to try the champagne, or if you think you're too young, the pink glasses contain a non-alcohol variety. Another of Ashley's ideas."
As she is tying the balloon to their gift, Kate grunts, "At least she is capable of a good idea once in a blue moon. So David, have you made the big decision? Will you become a daddy in your fifties? You know, those big teats of Ashley's will never be the same after she breast feeds."
David shakes his head. "I promised I'd tell Ashley tonight. When the fireworks begin, and everyone is on the terrace watching, I'll privately give Ashley my decision in our bedroom. Once she knows, then I'll tell my sister-slash-lawyer. I'll let you pass on the news to Charlotte."
"I haven't heard from our sister. She's still doing her psychic thing somewhere in the Rockies."
"I got a text message from her this morning wishing me a happy birthday. She thinks she is closing in on her teen runaway."
"She always thinks that, and usually she's right. Now, if you will excuse us, we live only to serve Ashley's whims." Kate says as she leads the way to the bedroom, the helium filled balloon bouncing along at every step.
"Wow!" Joan again says as they enter the master bedroom. It is a huge chamber with a 20 foot vaulted ceiling.
Kate places the gift on the enormous bed (custom made). It rests amongst dozens of other gifts - all with an attached black balloon.
Kate comments, "Yes, apparently everything in Ashley's life must be enormous, just like her boobs. Too bad her I. Q. doesn't match."
A voice from the open doorway says, "How typically 'sweet' of you, Kate."
The group turns, and it is all Joan can do not to say 'wow' again. In a very low cut pink dress and holding a matching pink glass of champagne, Ashley Bloom is an impressive sight with big hair, big diamonds, and truly the biggest breasts Joan has ever seen. They are on prominent display aided by a pushup bra that must be a marvel of engineering. Joan tries not to stare. Tries.
Florene whispers in Joan's ear, "And...they're real."
"Hello, gold-digger." Kate sneers.
"Hello bitch. Florene, at least it is good to see you again."
"You too, dear. It's a lovely party, Ashley."
"Thank you. David has a lot of friends. There are even people here who like me." Ashley says as she glares at Kate.
"Been shopping for the world's biggest crib yet?" Kate asks.
"I'm...waiting for David's answer."
"Like the good little wife you are. Remember, piss David off and get a divorce for ANY reason, you get squat."
"Yes, I remember the pre-nup you forced on me, and pleasing David is why I'm here. In honor of his birthday, he requests that we 'make an effort'."
"Since David is watching from the salon, of course I'll pretend to get along. That's as close as I'll ever come to liking you."
"Ditto."
The two women exchange a phony 'air kiss' and smile benignly before Ashley walks away - the eyes of all men and most women following her every bouncy step.
Joan wishes she could 'read' Ashley to see if she is as big of a gold-digger as Kate thinks, but her spiritual abilities are still suppressed. In the hours since she stormed out of Adam's apartment, she has been unable to calm down for more than a few minutes at a time. Constant flashes of that humiliating scene keep going through her mind. And despite her anger, confusion and annoying sexual frustration, Joan can't help but think that a lot what has been going wrong this week is her fault. 'Damn you Adam, why can't I get you out of my head, my heart and...my libido'.
Joan circulates through the party, sipping a glass of champagne (the real stuff) and enjoying that it really does tickle her nose. A couple of men flirt with her, but Joan isn't interested. There is only one guy Joan wants to find at this party. It takes her a long time, but eventually Joan tracks Adam down to a remote corner of the rooftop terrace. Joan pauses as she sees he is talking to Ashley Bloom. Joan watches them converse, and sees they have a casual manner between them. Of course they know each other since she is the wife of Adam's mentor, and they must have met several times. Still, Joan admires the way Adam avoids staring at Ashley's cleveage, even with the close proximity of that deep valley. He isn't even doing that guy thing of taking frequent sneaky peeks while pretending not to. Either Adam has more willpower than any other man here, or his respect for his mentor must be immense.
Ashley walks away looking disappointed, but soon she is surrounded by grinning men who pay the appropriate attention to her munificence. Does the woman never stand next to her husband? Joan walks over to Adam and taps him on the shoulder...
Adam turns and gulps guiltily. "Jane...you came!"
"I came with Kate and Florene to fulfill my promise to be here."
"I guess you hate me now."
"I've had times when I was fonder of you."
"I...wish I could explain. I swear, I'm not currently involved with anyone."
"Sure you are. With me."
"You mean, you're forgiving me? I thought at least you would slap my face."
In response, Joan raises her hand in a slap motion. Adam winces, but Joan stops and smiles. She lowers her hand. "If you ever do that again..."
"Never, I swear. Jane, I'm so..."
"Stop. Don't apologize."
"But I should. What I did..."
"Was a mistake. No matter what is going on, and I'm not asking, you could have handled this afternoon better. But, who am I to judge? Since arriving in town, I've made one mistake after another. I show up after nearly a year, and I just assume we can pick up right where we left off as if nothing had happened. But you've been living your life, and you should. It was unfair of me to think of you as 'on hold' until I showed up. Both of our lives are moving forward, and I shouldn't have expected you to drop everything in order to...service me."
"So, your visit was just...a bootie call?"
Joan takes Adam's hand and kisses it. "Yes."
Adam pulls his hand back. "Don't you love me anymore, Jane?"
Joan brushes Adam's hair and smiles. "Really, how can you ask? Adam, whenever I see you four things go through my head. One, I love you. Two, I'm sorry we have hurt each other so much. Three, I wish there was some way to make it work between us. And four, I want to have sex with you."
Adam smiles. "I have the exact same list."
"Except that this week I kinda got the order mixed up. It was so sweet of you to try so hard to rekindle our relationship, but I think you had as many doubts as I did. That if we tried and failed just one more time..."
"We would lose each other forever."
"Yes, you've realized that too."
"So where does that leave us, Jane?"
"A change of scenario. Adam, I'm almost twenty and I'm still a virgin. I want, no - I need to have this experience, and it might as well be with you..." Joan bites at her words, but too late - they are already out.
"Are you trying to hurt me?"
"No, no - I didn't mean it like that. I meant, that if it isn't you then yes, I'll move on and find someone else. Hopefully, it wouldn't be an experience that I look back on with regret. But Adam, I really hope it is you because I care for you so much, and it seems right that the first guy I truly loved will be...my first."
Adam pauses, considering Joan's words. "So to be clear, you're suggesting friends-with-benefits?"
"Yes. What do you say, Adam? Will you be my friend and do me the favor of deflowering me? Will you make love to me, rock my world, make me moo?"
Adam laughs. "Make you moo?"
"Sure, haven't you ever made a girl moo before?"
"I don't think so."
"Then here's your chance. Okay...?"
Adam nods. "Okay."
They smile and share a brief kiss. Hand in hand, they wander over to the railing and enjoy the view - Joan's head resting on Adam's shoulder. As they stand there, they slowly begin to talk of their lives together. They recall the good times, the cherished memories. They speak of their hopes for the future - separately. In this time their friendship grows, even as they lay to rest any more attempts at reconciliation.
As the time for the fireworks nears, almost everyone comes on to the terrace to watch. The people pack in close - too close for the intimate way they are feeling...
"Jane, should we stay for the fireworks, or..."
"Or go back to your apartment to experience some fireworks of our own? I've seen fireworks before. I'll tell Florene we're leaving, and...not to expect me back tonight."
They share a brief kiss, and Joan edges through the crowd until she gets close to her cousin. Joan wears a happy smile, and Florene seeing her smiles back, guessing why Joan is so happy. Joan opens her mouth to speak, but before she can say a word...
A gunshot rings out.
To Be Continued. Please review.