Saturday morning means no sleeping in for me because of my second job. I can't help myself but feel like I could kill everybody today. I wake up after my alarm clock decides that I have slept enough. Slavedriver. I stand up and go to the bathroom, brush my teeth, strip down and take a short shower. After I step outside I feel the urge to be naked, so I waddle around in the bathroom. I apply a little more make up than usual. I have to draw a face on my head to look like a human today. My hair is going to be in a messy ponytail, simply because I'm unable to do a decent one. I hate this day already. After finally putting on my bathrobe I shuffle over to my closet. I go through my clothes and the best I can find to accentuate my mood is a black sweater and a pair of jeans along with black shoes.
Downstairs I wake Christian and tell him to deal with the kids. I have no energy for that. I make my way over to the couch and see Andy once again sleeps at Christian's side. What the hell! He usually sleeps in my bed, beside I'm his mother, who carried him nine fucking months in her belly and was there for him three fucking years. I throw myself onto Christian – literally – paying attention not to wake Andy. He wakes up with a scared look on his face and gasps.
"Cheesecake, you do want to kill me, right?" he yawns still tired.
"Christian, today I have a bad temper coming on", I whine and hide my face in the crook of his neck.
He sighs, hugs me tight and plays with my hair.
"How about a hot chocolate then?" he suggests.
"How about you go to work and I snuggle up in my blanket and sleep all day?" I ask him.
"How about I go to work, so I get the right of lying in the fluffy, cozy, soft bed in the bedroom and you sleep on that damn couch", he curses.
"How about you wake the boys and I make breakfast, because your blood sugar level is obviously so low, you're hallucinating", I grunt.
"How about we stop beginning our sentences with ‚How about'?" he says annoyed.
"That would be great!" I giggle, stand up and go into the kitchen to make breakfast. I yawn. Damn, today is going to be one hell of a day, I can feel it. Maybe I really need a hot chocolate. With marshmallows. And whipped cream. And chocolate sprinkles. And a brownie. Maybe that will help me to survive this day.
While eating breakfast, Christian and I discuss todays battleplan. Well, I decide and he has to do what I say would describe it better. So I list him his chores for the day.
"In the morning you will look after the boys", I say and the boys are cheering.
"Hey dad, may we go outside to the park to ride my new bike?" Tommy asks.
"Sure, buddy", he answers.
"Me too!" Andy screams.
"Yeah, you too", Christian says and ruffles his hair.
"Sorry to interrupt you guys, but may I have your attention please? At ten Ray picks up both of them, so you have time to do the yard work. You should hurry up, because tomorrow we are going to be in Portland to help José with a photo shoot and from Monday on, you are going to work for Ray at his company. It would be fantastic, if most of the tasks would be done by today", I fire off my plans for the day.
"That's ok. I don't need free time or even a break. I was at the hospital, but that was already two days ago, so I should be just fine", he says sarcastically.
"That's the spirit!" I say smiling and fist bump the air ignoring the sarcasm. Oh how I love to annoy him.
I stand up and don't bother to do any of the chores. I will have no stress today, everything is going to be Christian's problem. At least that is something good about today. So I go to Clayton's to begin my work shift.
After a couple of hours I know I was right about this day. There are so many stupid people in this world, it's unbelievable. But I keep smiling and hide my disapproval, because it's my job to do so. I really hate this day. Around lunchtime, I check on some orders at the register behind the counter while eating a bagel. Then, for some reason, I glance up and stare into bold grey eyes.
"Christian!" I whisper.
"Mrs. Steele, pleasure to see you again", he says formally.
I grin. "Mr. Steele", I say and an uneasy feeling spreads through me. His and Brads name together are still unfamiliar to me. "What can I help you with?"
"I need to stock up on a few things. To start with, I'd like some cable ties", he orders.
"They're with the electrical goods, aisle eight", I tell him.
"After you", he murmurs.
I head down to the aisle and say: "We have various lengths."
He examines them and takes a package. "These will do. Then I'd like some masking tape."
"This way", I indicate the direction and show him to the decorating aisle. I take two different masking tapes and he choses the wider one.
"Anything else?" I ask him all professional.
"Some rope, I think", he says.
I show him the way and move towards the relevant aisle.
"What sort do you need? We have synthetic, natural filament rope, twine, cable cord, …" giving him a list of our goods in stock.
"Five yards of the natural filament rope, please", he orders.
I measure five yards and cut it, then coil it neatly before tying it in a slipknot.
„Were you a girl scout?" he asks amused.
"Yep, the whole nine yards. Short skirts, tight blouses, two braids tied with bows." I bite my lip. "Anything else you need?"
He rubs his chin. "I don't know. What else would you recommend?"
I think of something as my gaze lands on his snug jeans.
"Coveralls", I suggest.
He raises an eyebrow and looks amused.
"You don't want to ruin your clothes", I explain.
"I could always take them off", he says seductive.
"You're right. When I think it over, the coveralls are sold out", I say and smile tempting in his direction.
He chuckles, takes a step forward and whispers in my ear: "Just say when and I'll give you a show. In our bedroom. And I'll do it with so much passion, that afterwards, I will have no energy left to leave your bed."
I giggle. I love this running gag. "Anything else, Mr. Steele?"
"Just these items", he answers.
I turn and head for the register, ring up the items and think of what he's doing with them in my little paradise, called my back yard.
"A rope, masking tape and cable ties - an interesting selection. What do you do with it?" I ask curiously.
"Who knows? Maybe I'll tie you to the couch and sleep in your bed", he answers dryly.
I gape with an open mouth. "You wouldn't dare", I challenge him.
"I'm desperate, cinnamon stick, my back is killing me", he whines.
"Well, behave and maybe I'm giving you a massage", I say seductively, arching my back.
He looks at my breasts, gets this shit-eating grin on his face, lifts his eyes and says: "Everywhere I want?"
Oh, he's getting brave. I like that. Even though I'm blushing bright red like the color of The Communist Manifesto.
"One step at a time, don't strain yourself!" I say, putting his items in a bag. "Don't forget to pick up the boys on your way home. I'll be home at six thirty, provided that I survive this hell of a day."
"Shitty day, hmm?" he asks and I nod. He wraps his arms around my waist and kisses this certain spot behind my ear. Goosebumps are all over my body in an instant. I lose myself in the moment and cling to him, inhaling his scent and I close my eyes. Oh how I missed that – a man in my life. After what seems like hours, I let go. "Better?" he asks sympathetically. "Absolutely!" I answer and smile at him. He gives me a peck on my lips, says goodbye and turns around, ready to go, but I am not ready. I pull him back to me and take his face with my hands and say: "Hey, in case you don't remember it: I am the one who dismisses everybody!" I kiss him, in front of the entrance, where everybody could see us, but a fat lot I care. He is hesitant though and during the kiss the scales fall from my eyes. Fuck! That was exactly, what he said to me the day he fired me. Oh no Annie! That was a brilliant performance. I let him go again and whisper an apology. I wipe the drool off my mouth and make a few steps back. He looks confused and sighs, while he runs his fingers through his hair. "I better go, I do not want to be late", he says and then he's gone. I spend several minutes staring at the closed door through which he's just left before I return to planet Earth.
As I stroll home, I enjoy the silence. It was an exhausting day and I'm looking forward to dinner with my family. When I open the front door I hear whispering. I go to the living room and chuckle. Christian lies on the floor besides the couch and is sound asleep and the boys are playing on him. Andy lets his toy car drive along Christian's leg and Tommy uses Christian's chest as a table and draws some pictures. I laugh at the sight and take a picture with my phone. Poor Christian! I go to the kitchen and start cooking dinner. The boys come over to me and tell me about their day. Christian had a little accident including the power saw and the scarecrow. I giggle. Then they played cops and robbers and then he fell asleep. I tell them to set the table and waltz across to Christian, kneel down and take a look at him. I stroke his hair, lean in and have a sniff. Have I mentioned, just how I love his hair? Nothing happens. Must have been one hell of an afternoon. I lean in and whisper in his ear: "Wake up!" and again, nothing happens. I giggle. I stroke his lips with my fingers. Still nothing. My finger moves along the jawline to his chin, down his throat past his chest. I'm panting. I lead my finger slowly over his stomach to the navel. My mouth goes dry as my finger goes further south. As I reach the belt all of a sudden his hand stops mine. My eyes widen and I feel caught. Damn!
"Mrs. Steele, what's on your mind?" he asks curiously.
"Do you ever start rubbing your eyes and it feels so good and you can't stop. Is that what you call 'eye masturbation'?" I ask dryly.
He laughs out loud.
I get up and say: "Get up! Dinner is almost ready!" He sighs and stands up.
At the table, Andy has one of his famous temper tantrums.
"Cookie!" he yells.
"No Andy, eat your noodles and then you will get a cookie!" I say strictly.
"Nooooo!" he screams once more.
"Andy!" I say a tad louder, but he stands up, screams bloody murder and runs around the living room. Because of his anger, he begins to undress himself. Suddenly Christian yells in his CEO voice his name and Andy stops and looks wide-eyed at Christian.
Christian stands up and kneels in front of him. "You do not run around the house. Please take your seat and eat at least three bites of your food!" he says calmly but firm. Andy indeed does as he is told and sits at his place. Big tears are rolling down his cheeks, but he eats a tiny bit.
"Good boy!" Christian praises.
I look at Christian and think, that I absolutely need his CEO demeanor.
After dinner, Christian takes the children upstairs and gets them ready for bed. I go to the bathroom and take a well-deserved shower. Afterwards I dry myself off and stand naked in front of the mirror looking at myself. I'm quite a pretty little thing, even after two pregnancies. As I examine myself, I feel like a woman for the first time in an eternity. I smile.
Wrapped in a bathrobe I go to my bedroom and open the door, just to see Christian rummaging through the drawers. I instantly get nervous and stumble into the room. Oh no, not again my clumsy self. Christian looks at me with this strange look.
"The door!" he says, pointing a finger at me. "And you!" he says.
"That is right. This is me, and I'm in front of the door", I say not knowing what he means.
He tilts his head. "Something's familiar!" he says and is all smiles. Shit. Fuck. Damn! He remembers. No, not yet.
"Yeah, that's clumsy me. Pleasure to meet you", I say, trying to be funny.
He chuckles and says: "You must be a professional when that's the first thing I remember!"
I giggle. "Yeah, that's me." I look at Christian. He has changed into pajama bottoms, without a t-shirt. Don't drool, don't drool is my mantra for this. He resumes rummaging through my closet and drawers.
"Hey, what are you doing?" I ask him inquisitively.
"Looking for memorabilia", he murmurs.
"Memora-what?" I ask shocked. No! No, no, no, just no!
"Scrapbooks, Photographs. Something that will spark some wisps of a memory. Do we or do we not possess these things?" he asks me impatiently.
"Uh, well …" Shit. What do I say? José will give me the edited photos tomorrow. I have to hold him up.
"Do you mean to tell me there is no photographic evidence of our life together … anywhere in existence?" he asks incredulous.
"Well, I don't know where they'd be because, uh …" Come on, Annie, make up a story. "… you know, we lost a lot of stuff during our move. Either that or maybe they are in one of the moving boxes. There are still some to be done. Listen, how about you go to sleep and tomorrow, I'll look through the boxes. I'm sure, I'll find something", I assure him.
"And with ‚go to sleep' you mean the couch downstairs?" he asks despairing.
I sigh. I don't think I'm ready for this.
"Yup", I say. He nods and kisses me goodnight. Fuck, I could get used to this. I go to bed and sigh, take up my book and try to read a bit, but after a few minutes I fall asleep.
I decided to post this story also in the German language, because I have to translate it for my mother-in-law anyways and with just four stories, there's an obvious lack of German stories here ;D. So for the few of you, who want to read it in German, you can switch to "Verschwunden & Gefunden".
The quotes from the last chapter: One was guessed - the prayer Christian said was from the movie "Sister Act". Furthermore there was Ana's order to call her food - that was one of my favorite scenes of "Ally McBeal". The way uh huh uh huh she liked it uh huh uh huh that Christian laid an arm around her was from the song "That's the way (I like it)" by KC & The Sunshine Band. And when she sang Zippedy Doo-Dah ..., it was a quote from "Overboard", which quoted Disney's "Song of the South". There are no quotes in this chapter besides "Overboard" and "Fifty Shades Of Grey".
If you want to suggest, which food Ana will be called in the remaining chapters, then review or pm me ;)
I would tell you all GLADLY, how the story will end, but I can't. So know that it's sometimes really hard to answer your reviews ;).
Andristasia Grey-Darcy - I think, it's the least I can do to answer all reviews ;). But I have to say, that other writers get maaaaany more reviews than me, so answering each and every one of them is an impossible task for them. I'm glad you like the story so far.
ashley . mercer . 16 - I think I just love your reviews, because they are so vivid. You have to know that we Austrians (not Australians ;D - Austria in Europe) are the complete opposite of vivid. When we are exited about something, we say: "It's ok!". Period. ;D You are no idiot! It was just a little quote! I swore to myself never to watch the remake of "Yours, mine and ours" because of how I love the original and until today, I succeeded. It's ok when you don't watch "It". Ana's opinion on the movie was actually mine ;D. I was surprised how scary it was although the special effects were not state of the art. Yap, Ana will like more and more about Christian ;D. Christian has the same background as in the books. And even to you I can't give away the end. SORRY ;)
Christian618 - Give Ana some time to get a guilty conscience. It's easy to fool a stranger, but when you get to know him, it's not so easy anymore ;).
hettyblue - We will see how Christian reacts ... in chapter 15 ;) Until then: Happy reading ;D
Grey Steele fan - I'm glad, you're enjoying the story, too. It's good to get a little reassurance here and there ;D
Ladybellatrix - YAY, you were right!
meigs37 - I really really like it, that every now and then a reviewer (like you) guesses right what will happen next! So in the next chapter, there will be an "incident" ;)