She Writes Love... (12 page)

Tears started to fill my eyes as I stood there and listened to my sister speak those words to me. Piper smiled as her fingers lightly touched the end of my hair.

“We’re sorry, but we just want you to be happy again because we miss you.”

I looked up at the ceiling to prevent the tears from falling and ruining my makeup.

“Keaton, get us a tissue,” Charlotte commanded.

“Don’t get all weepy, sis,” he said as he handed me a tissue.

“I’m fine.”

“Now that we know you’re okay and you’re going to be okay, we’re going to go. Come on, Keaton,” Piper said.

“You better call me in the morning,” he said as Piper and Charlotte dragged him out the door.

As soon as they left, I went into the garage for a quick smoke before I headed to Ben’s house.

****

Ben

I
picked up my bottle of Polo Blue from the dresser and, for the first time in a year, I dabbed some on. I didn’t even know why I did it. I looked at the clock on the nightstand. It was five minutes after six. Nerves started to settle inside me as I walked around the house, making sure that everything was picked up and clean. As I was straightening the pillows on the couch, the doorbell rang. I didn’t know why I was such a nervous wreck. I opened the door and gasped at the beautiful woman standing before me. She smiled and I stood there speechless.

“Come on in. You look amazing.”

“Thank you.”

She stepped inside and I could tell she was just as nervous as I was.

“You have a very nice house, Ben.” She walked over to the sofa table and ran her hand across it. “This is beautiful. I’d been looking for one almost like it. Where did you find it?”

“I made it.”

Paisley turned to me with a shocked expression on her face. “You made this?”

“Yeah. Remember I told you that making furniture was my hobby?”

“I do remember, but—”

I laughed. “You thought that I wasn’t really that good, right?”

Her expression turned to embarrassment. “Oh my God, no. That’s not what I meant at all.”

“It’s okay, Paisley.” I smiled. “I’m teasing you. Would you like to see what I just finished?”

“I would.” She nodded.

I led her to the garage and showed her the finished dining set.

“Oh, Ben. This is beautiful. Wow. You are really, really good.”

“Thanks.” I smiled shyly. “We better get going.”

I placed my hand on the small of her back as she walked past me. She looked so incredibly beautiful that I was having a hard time concentrating on anything else.

****

W
e walked into the restaurant and the hostess took us to the table where my family was sitting. The minute my mom and dad saw us approaching, they both stood up.

“Hi Mom, Dad. I would like you to meet Paisley Logan. Paisley, this is my mom and dad, Lucinda and John Preston.”

“It’s so nice to meet you.” She smiled as they lightly shook hands.

“You’ve already met Finn and Olivia.”

“Nice to see you both again.”

We took our seats and I noticed that my mom was eyeing Paisley.

“You aren’t by any chance Dear Paisley, are you?”

“I am.” She shyly smiled.

The smile on my mom’s face grew wide. “That’s wonderful. I really enjoy your column.”

Dinner went well, just like I expected it would, and Paisley seemed to settle in comfortably. She talked a lot with Olivia and my mom and everyone seemed to really like her. No one brought up what happened one year ago today and I was relieved.

Paisley

“G
ood morning, Romeo,” I said as I scratched his head. I decided that I was going to work from home today and not bother going into the office. More than enough work was piled in my computer and I would get more done at home on the comfort of my couch. After I rolled out of bed, I fed Romeo and popped a k-cup in the Keurig. Picking up my phone, I noticed there was a text message from Ben.

“Good morning. I just wanted to thank you again for yesterday and last night. It meant a lot.”

I smiled as I took my cup and sat down in my office. Meeting Ben’s family last night was nice. They were nice, and the fact that his mom read my column made it a little more comfortable.

“Good morning. You’re welcome. I enjoyed meeting your family. They’re very nice.”

“I know they enjoyed meeting you too. My mom already called me this morning and asked when she would see you again. Don’t be surprised if she invites you to another dinner real soon.”

“I look forward to it.”

“Have a great day, Paisley. I’ll talk to you soon.”

“You too, Ben. Bye.”

As I set down my phone, I couldn’t help smiling. I opened up my computer and my email with the list of questions that were waiting for me in my inbox.

Dear Paisley,

My husband has secretly been watching porn behind my back and it’s ruining our marriage. I’ve never liked porn and always refused to watch it with him, even when he begged me. He said he stopped, but I found porn sites on his computer and text messages on his phone to his friends about different porn sites. Our sex life is almost non-existent because of his porn addiction. I feel my marriage is ending and I don’t know how to save it. Please help.

Feeling Betrayed.

~*~

D
ear Feeling Betrayed,

Is your sex life really non-existent because of porn or are you using porn as the excuse for some other reason? Sit down one night and surprise him by watching some soft core porn with him. You may surprise yourself and like it, plus it may enhance your sex life with your husband. If you’re open about it, then he won’t feel the need to sneak around and watch it behind your back. Communication is the key. You also need to explore other reasons why your sex life has become non-existent. It’s very easy to use something we hate as an excuse instead of facing the truth.

A couple of hours later, my phone rang. When I looked at it, I saw it was Charlotte calling.

“Hello.”

“Hi there. I have Piper and Keaton on the line too.”

“Hey,” they both said.

“How did it go last night with Ben and his family?” Piper asked.

“It went good. His family is really great.”

“I’m sure not as great as us,” Keaton said.

“I wouldn’t be so sure of that.” I laughed.

“So...was there anything else that was great?” Charlotte asked.

I rolled my eyes. “If you’re asking if we had sex, the answer is no.”

“How about the kiss?” Piper asked.

I sighed. “The kiss on my cheek was nice.”

“There she goes with that ‘nice’ word again,” Keaton interrupted.

“I’m sorry you aren’t getting the juicy details you called for, but I have to go. I’m in the middle of working. Goodbye siblings.”
Click
.

I looked over at Romeo and smiled as he lay curled up on the rug, sleeping. A thought came to my mind. One that hadn’t been around for a very long time. I clicked on the Word document titled: “She Writes Love” and stared at the one paragraph that sat on the screen. The only paragraph I could manage to get out of me before breaking down. I wrote that paragraph ten months ago and hadn’t looked at it since. The only reason I opened it today was because of a conversation Ben and I had last night on the way home.

“Do you write anything else besides for your columns?” Ben asked.

“Like what?”

“I don’t know. Maybe poetry, short stories, novels.”

“I’ve always wanted to write a novel.”

“Why don’t you?” he asked with seriousness.

“I don’t know. I’ve thought about it.”

“I think you should think about it again.” He smiled.

That conversation made me think of the day I wrote that paragraph. If I would have kept going, the book would have been finished by now. But I couldn’t. I wasn’t strong enough. Even ten months later, I still didn’t know if I was strong enough.

****

Ben

D
avid was already sitting down at the bar when I sat down.

“Hey, good to see you, man.” I smiled.

“Good to see you too. How was your week?”

Damian set a bottle of beer in front of me and told me that my fish and chips would be up soon.

“My week was...it was good,” I said with a smile on my face.

“That wouldn’t have anything to do with Paisley, would it?”

I took a swig of my beer and nodded my head. “Actually, it does. I met her family and she met mine. She helped me get through a tough day. It was the one-year anniversary of Amy’s death a couple of days ago.”

“Oh man, I’m sorry,” he said with sympathy. “I’m glad she was there for you.”

“Me too.” I arched my eyebrow.

“Sounds like the two of you are becoming close.”

Damian set the plate of fish and chips down in front of me. “She’s an amazing friend. She’s all I think about every second of the day. I feel guilty, David.”

He reached over and put his hand on my shoulder. “There’s no need to feel guilty. Amy wouldn’t want you to feel that way. You’re young, Ben. You can’t spend the rest of your life alone or not taking chances because of guilt.”

“I know and there’s something about Paisley that captivates me. From the moment I saw her sitting in that chair at the meeting, I haven’t been able to get her out of my head. I had a dream last week about Amy and she told me to go and be happy and live my life. She also said Paisley’s name. It was weird, man. So weird and it felt so real.”

“Maybe it was. Maybe Amy was coming to you in your dream and telling you that it’s okay.”

“What? You mean like an angel?”

“Yeah. That’s exactly what I mean.” He smiled.

“Nah. I don’t really believe in that sort of thing.”

He shrugged his shoulders and took a bite of his fish and chips. “Where is she tonight?” David asked.

“I don’t know. I haven’t talked to her today.”

“Why not?”

“I sent her a text message yesterday. I don’t want to be pushy or overbearing.”

“Do you want to see her?”

“Of course I do.”

“Then call her.” He smiled.

I pulled out my phone and dialed her number.

“Hello.”

I smiled when I heard her sweet voice. A voice I had just realized I missed.

“Hi, Paisley.”

“Hi, Ben.”

“I was wondering if you’d like to come over to my house tomorrow night for dinner.”

“I would love to. What time should I be there?”

“How about six o’clock?”

“Six is great. Would you like me to bring something?”

“Just yourself would be great.”

She giggled. “Okay, but I’m bringing some wine.”

“Wine sounds good. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Bye, Ben.”

I looked at David and noticed the huge grin on his face. “Good job.”

Now I needed to decide what I was going to cook.

Paisley

M
y dearest husband,

Another week almost gone. Thanksgiving is next week and the first without you. I want you to know that I will always love you, no matter how many years pass. You were my first love and I will treasure what we shared and had forever. I met a new friend; his name is Ben and his wife passed away a year ago from cancer. He’s a fireman and he builds beautiful furniture. It’s really nice to have someone to talk to who shares the same pain I do. The pain of losing the love of your life and trying to figure out how to move on. Until next week, my love.

Love forever,

Paisley

As I folded up the letter and slipped it into the envelope, my phone rang.

“Good morning, Mom.”

“Good morning, honey. I’m right around the corner at that little French bakery and I thought if you were up, we could have pastries and coffee. I can be over in five.”

“I’m up, Mom. Come on over.”

“Great. See you soon,” she said in excitement.

I put the letter in the drawer and went to the kitchen to make some coffee. A few moments later, my mom walked through the door.

“
Bonjour
.” She smiled as she walked into the kitchen and gave me a kiss.

“
Bonjour
.”

She set the white box in the middle of the table while I poured us coffee. I opened the box and took out a croissant.

“Thanks for bringing these.” I smiled as I took a bite.

“Thanksgiving is next week and dinner is at three o’clock. I was thinking that maybe you could spend the night at my house and help me with the cooking. Just like you used to when you still lived at home.”

I knew what she was doing. She didn’t want me home alone since it was my first Thanksgiving without him. I could see the desperation on her face as she looked at me.

“Sure, Mom. That sounds nice. It’s been a while since we cooked together.”

Her face lit up as she placed her hand on my arm. “It’ll be so much fun, Paisley.”

She was happy. “How’s Ben doing?”

I knew it was only a matter of time before she asked about him.

“He’s doing fine. In fact, he invited me over to his house for dinner tonight.”

“How nice. You are going, right?”

“Of course I am.” I smiled.

“I’ll be right back,” she said as she got up and went out the door.

I sat there in confusion.
Where the heck did she go?

She walked back into the house with another white box in her hands. “Here, take this to Ben’s tonight. It’s that lemon tart your father loves. I’ll pick another one up on my home.”

“No, Mom. It’s okay. Take that to Dad.”

“Don’t be silly. You’re taking this and that’s all there is to it. Do you have a nice bottle of wine to bring as well? If you don’t, I can run out and grab one.”

I laughed. “Mom, sit down. Let’s enjoy these amazing French pastries you brought over. I have a bottle of wine and now I have a lemon tart. Ben will be thrilled. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” She smiled. “Why don’t you ask Ben to come to Thanksgiving dinner?”

“He has his own family, Mom. I’m sure he wants to spend it with them.”

“It would have been nice to see him again.” She smiled as she pet Romeo.

I got up from the table and took our plates to the sink. “I’ll tell him you said hi.”