Today is Sunday, so I really don't want to open my eyes. It's my only free day of the week and I have the right to sleep in. But unfortunately, today we visit José in Portland so I have to stand up. I drag myself out of my bed and walk over to the bathroom where I meet Christian.
"Good morning", he says and yawns.
"Mmmm", I mumble and walk like a zombie. He chuckles. I lean against his back and whine: "I want to sleep seven days in a row. I really have no more energy left."
He hands me my toothbrush, ready to go with toothpaste on it. I take it and brush my teeth while he does the same. Suddenly he stops and says: "No wonder you are tired after everything we did in my dream last night", and then he fucking grins. I stop and look at him through the mirror and then, I resume brushing my teeth and can't help but smile. And blush. Oh how I love such a little flirting. Absolutely love it.
Having no energy to doll myself up I just curl my hair a little bit and put it halfway up. I go to my closet and look for something casual and decide on a cute cream dress with a brown cardigan and black tights. To complete this outfit I add my brown boots.
After breakfast, Ray and I along with Christian and the kids drive all the way to Portland. Ray wants to go fishing with a friend and we will meet him in the afternoon. In the meantime we will visit José at a park near the Heathman hotel, where he, Kate, Ethan and his fiancé Hannah are waiting for us. Being on time with kids is an impossible task for me. Nevertheless, José makes photos of us all, because he wants to make an exhibition and needs models for his photos. José greets us and I notice, how Christian tenses. I feel like Christian clings to me the whole afternoon and keeps body contact all the time. Not obviously, but there are little gestures, where he seems to mark his territory. For example his hands resting on my waist or on the small of my back, a kiss on my forehead or on my temples, nothing too obvious. It's been a while since I felt like somebody claims me. It's a weird feeling for me.
José arranges us in different poses and different compositions. It's actually hard work to pose for him, especially when you don't do that for a living. Nevertheless, Tommy and Andy have a lot of fun. In between shoots, they play soccer and football, they play tag and tussle around a bit. Christian grabs them and is swinging them around and around, launches them high into the air and catches them. After some time, the boys try to wrestle Christian down but fail, so they scream for help and Ethan runs by to help. Together they bring Christian down and José can't keep up with making photos of the bunch of testosterone, but I'm sure, he gets enough good photos out of this fight.
Kate comes over to me and grins. "Seeing men play with little kids is probably one of the most attractive things ever. Seems he gets along well with Tommy and Andy."
"Yes. Slowly but surely they are warming up", I say, still observing my men.
"Isn't that a good thing?" she asks bewildered.
"I don't know. Eventually Christian will either remember his life or somebody will find him or somebody will recognize him. So one day he will be gone", I say sadly.
"Yeah, but if you don't enjoy it now, you won't enjoy it ever. So roll with it and enjoy the ride as long as it lasts", she insists.
"Maybe you are right", I sigh.
José comes my way and gives me a bag with photo albums in it. I thank him and go to the car to put them in.
After I hid the albums in the trunk Christian appears by my side. He lays his arm around me, kisses my temple and says that José is finished. I call for my boys and we make our way to the hotel to do some more close up pictures indoors. Kate got José a suite for free. In between shoots, I go to the bed and rest for a few minutes, because I'm so freaking tired. José takes photos of me sleeping in bed. I don't know how I feel about that, but as I pout, he takes even more pictures. Christian glares at José most of the time, but José exploits even this emotion and makes photos of Christian, too. I giggle.
After the shoot, José has this shit-eating grin and says that he cannot wait to edit the photos. Christian suggests going to get a coffee. I agree because I'm still so tired and I really need a dose of caffeine. The children grumble, because they spotted a playground in the park, so Kate suggests that we bring them coffee to go and the rest take the children to the playground. So Christian and I leave the suite. We go to the elevator and wait for it to arrive. The doors open and a young couple, passionately embraced and kissing, jumps apart. Christian and I step inside and I suppress a laughing fit. At the ground floor the doors open and Christian takes my hand and leads me out of the elevator through the lobby and mutters: "What is it about elevators?"
As we reach the Portland Coffee House, he releases my hand to hold the door open for me. "Why don't you get a table and I order the drinks?" he says and I nod. "What do you like?" he asks. "A latte macchiato, thanks", I say and make my way to the last free table in this coffee shop. I hurry, because a really fat man with a sweaty head is greedy for this table, too. Sorry, sweetie, but I really want to sit, I'm damn tired and spent a fucking day helping out a friend of mine. After I'm seated, I observe Christian. He's a really gorgeous man. Tall, broad shoulders, slim and the unruly hair, I would give my first born puppy to lick his naked body. I look through the window at the street and see a man in a suit, buzz cut hair and sunglasses. I have an uneasy feeling about this guy, as if I know him and he means trouble. He goes down the street and disappears. Strange. Where have I seen him before? I can't remember.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Christian interrupts my pondering. He hands me my coffee and I eagerly take a sip of this legal drug.
"Mmmmhhhhh, this is just what I need!" I answer him. "This day was tiring!"
"Yeah, it was. Was he your boyfriend?" he asks out of the blue.
"Who?" I ask confused.
"The photographer. José", he clarifies.
I laugh. Eight months ago I was happily married and since then, I just try to survive. There is no time or energy for a boyfriend. But he doesn't know that. "No. He's just a friend from college. Why do you ask?"
"The way you two smiled at each other", he murmurs.
"He's like the brother I never had", I whisper.
He nods and eats his blueberry muffin.
"Do you have siblings?" he asks, continuing another round of verbal exchange.
"No. I wish I had though", I answer sadly.
"Tell me about your parents", he demands, eager to learn something new. Like Kate said, I stick to the truth.
"My mom currently lives with her fourth husband in Georgia and is a singing bowl manufacturer for the moment. My father died a day after my birth, so I don't know him. There were several step fathers, but no one has ever been interested in raising another one's child", I rattle on. I would have loved a step father like Ray, somebody who cares. Maybe my life would have gone in a different direction. Maybe I would have had a more innocent youth. But then I wouldn't have had Brad in my life and wouldn't have had Tommy and Andy. No, my life is good as it is. In the end, I would have ended up as an old maid, naïve and blue-eyed enough, to marry someone like CEO Mr. Grey, who would then boss me around the whole blessed day.
"I'm sorry", he says caring. "What about my parents?"
I take a sip of my coffee and smile. "Well you know Ray. Your mother died shortly after your birth." I'm deep in thought now. I never knew my mother-in-law. Reportedly, she was a real beauty – inside and out – and loveable too.
"I see." He's taking the last bite of the muffin and empties his cup of coffee.
"We'd better go. I'll get the coffee for the guys", he says and stands up.
I go to the door and wait for him. After he grabs the beverages, he takes my hand and pulls me with him. We stroll back to the park. At the corner in front of the park we stop at a crosswalk. As the green man appears, I want to go ahead but trip and stumble headlong into the road. Christian cries out: "Shit, Ana!" and catches me before I land on the ground and holds me tightly against his chest. "Are you okay?" he asks and looks at me worried. I'm not able to say something. He's bending me a bit backwards and I just stare at his beautiful mouth. I don't know if it is the adrenalin or just a dream, but I close my eyes bravely and just wait for what happens.
And it really happens. This soft pair of lips are touching mine. But not in passing, but deliberately. Oh how I missed that! To be cherished and treasured. Not to be the mother in charge, an asexual creature, but a damn hot woman. On the one hand, I feel like I'm betraying Brad, but on the other hand, I fulfilled the vows I gave to him. He is dead and man, am I dried out. After a moment of hesitation, I let the butterflies in my stomach take over, kissing him back. And damn, it feels right. I taste him and realize I have been starving. He kisses me like he is drowning and I am air. Our tongues are dancing and our hands are exploring each other. We break apart to catch our breaths and I must say, this kiss was beyond everything I was used to. And I know now, this wouldn't be our last, I'll make sure of that.
„I'm afraid that the coffee has gone to waste", I whisper, looking at the cups scattered on the ground. He chuckles. "Looks like we have to buy some more. Over there is another coffee shop. Let's go!" he says and puts his hand around my waist. After buying another round of coffee we go to the park, where the others are waiting. Kate takes her cup and looks at me. I blush and look down at my feet. Kate pauses for a moment and looks at me once again expectant. I know she knows something has happened, but I just shake my head. I'm a little bit confused and doubtful myself. I wanted to shortchange Christian and hated him for what he had done, but now I'm beyond ecstatic and head over heels and want nothing more than to kiss him once again.
In the meantime, Ray has arrived and is now gathering our children. He tells me that the others want to go to a bar and that I should have some fun. Oh my, when was the last time I went out with almost all of my best friends and without my kids, I don't know. So we go a few blocks to a bar we often visited during college. We sit in a booth and José is buying a pitcher of margarita for all of us. I gulp down the first margarita and Christian gives me the evil eye. I top up my glass and talk to Kate. The music is so loud, it's a bit hard to talk to her. After a few drinks, José rises to give a speech:
"Guys, I want to thank you all for the shoot today, I'm very pleased with the outcome so far and I hope to see you all at the exhibition", he says.
"Of course, José, I wouldn't miss it for the world", I say a little too cheerful. Damn, am I tipsy already?
"Thank you, Ana, this means a lot to me", he says. "Another drink?"
"Josè Luis Rodriguez, do you want to make me drunk, because I think it's working", I giggle. "I think, I'll have a beer."
"Pancake, don't you think you've had enough?" Christian argues concerned.
I snort. "Christian, I have two kids, I always take the responsibility for us. So I think it's ok, if I let loose once. Besides, you are sober and could take care of me. So with your agreement, I'll go to the bar and get us a pitcher of beer." I peck his lips and stand up without waiting for a response and grab the back of the chair because my head is spinning and I'm feeling dizzy. Faintly I hear Kate, who says giggling: "Ana Nirvana, I can't believe you leave your friends behind!" Promptly I reply: "I don't leave my friends behind, but when I do it's because my friends don't dance and if they don't dance, well then they're no friends of mine." I have to laugh and after a few moments, I dance my way to the bar, but half way there I change my direction to the exit. I step outside to get some fresh air. I'm not tipsy, I'm really drunk and feel a bit sick.
"Ana?"
I turn around to see José a few steps away.
"Are you alright?" he asks.
"Yeah, just a bit drunk." I smile weakly at him.
"Me too. Do you need help?" he asks as he wraps his arms around me.
"I'm ok, José", I giggle. "That rhymes!"
He's pulling me close. "Ana, please", he whispers.
Suddenly I start to panic. "José, what are you doing?"
"You know I like you Ana, please cariño!" One arm still rests on the small of my back while the other lifts my chin to throw my head back. Oh fuck, he wants to kiss me.
"No, please, José let me go! Stop!" I'm pleading. He kisses his way from my jaw to the side of my mouth. His breath smells of margarita and beer. This isn't helping my urge to throw up.
"José, stop it!" I scream and try one last time to push with all my strength against this wall of hard muscle. Unexpectedly, he shifts without any problem and I stumble backwards. It takes me a few seconds to process what is going on. Christian has pushed José away and punches him in the face, the rib cage, the stomach. In this moment I'm so unhappy I begin to cry uncontrollably. "Christian, stop! He's not worth it!" I shout but he doesn't react. He continues beating him. "Christian!" I scream as I double over and puke my guts out.
"Ugh! Dios mio, Ana!" José screams disgusted. Christian grabs my hair and leads me to a flowerbed. I vomit again and again. I'm so upset about José, I let it all out. After a while the dry heaves stop and I straighten up. Christian helps me up on my feet and takes me to the backdoor. As we walk past José, Christian hisses at him: "Don't you ever lay your hands on my wife again!" José chuckles and asks: "Your wife? You're sure about that?" I stop and look at him, with my jaw dropping on the floor. How dare he destroys everything. I thought he was my friend, I would have done everything for him and now he deceives me. I scowl at him and hiss through my gritted teeth: "I hate you!" and in this moment, I mean it.
I drag Christian to the door and whimper at him: "I really want to go home. Could you please get my bag and my cardigan and tell the others. I'm waiting here for you." He nods and walks in. After a few minutes he comes back and lays his arm around my waist while we're making our way to our car. As we approach the car, he whispers: "Ana?" I turn around to face him and bite my lip. "What did he mean?" I burst into tears and shake my head no. He takes me in his arms and rocks us, but I can't stop crying. Today was so exhausting and all of a sudden, it's all too much and I faint.
Christian618 - I totally agree.
ashley . mercer . 16 - They have yet another week to spend with each other so we will see what will happen. In chapter 12 e.g. she definitely will be aware how attached her children are to Christian.
Pielietje - Thanks for your encouraging review ;). The final result of the garden will be revealed in chapter 13.
joan . goldman . 9 - Yes, Christian is engaged to Elena. I think Christian and Ana are meant for each other, so when he learns that he is married to her, it's easy for him to fall for Ana and therefore accept his family. Oh he will very soon sleep in her bed ;)
Old Soul in Wonderland - Thanks for your kind review. I thought if Christian just fired Ana, she wouldn't 'kidnap' him from the hospital, so to push her buttons, he had to be cruel. I can't give away the end, so I hope for a HEA, too ;)
Grey Steele fan - It is possible, that he had a vision/glimpse. And he maybe or maybe not questions the physical features of 'his' children, at least he doesn't speak it out loud till the end.